Keywords
Abstract
The concept of "period" as a complex syntactic construction has deep historical and linguistic roots. Originally derived from the Greek "periodos,"
meaning a complete circuit or cycle, the term evolved within classical rhetoric to denote a structurally complete sentence composed of balanced clauses. This paper explores the etymology of "period" as a syntactic construction, its historical development through classical, medieval, and modern linguistic traditions, and its structural characteristics in English. Additionally, this study compares the "period" with the "prosaic stanza," another form of extended syntactic construction, highlighting their functional similarities and differences in shaping textual cohesion and rhetorical effectiveness.
References
Curzan, A., & Adams, M. (2012). How English Works: A Linguistic Introduction. Pearson.
Harper, D. (2020). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com
Kennedy, G. A. (1994). A New History of Classical Rhetoric. Princeton University Press.
Murphy, J. J. (1987). Rhetoric in the Middle Ages: A History of Rhetorical Theory from Saint Augustine to the Renaissance. University of California Press.