[Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XII.. No. 13, pp. 549 to 588, May 22, 1900.] 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO AVESTAN SYNTAX, THE CON- 

 DITIONAL SENTENCE. 



Louis H. Gray. 



(Read March 27, 1899.) 



Among the numerous problems presented to the scholar by 

 the syntax of the Avesta ^ the question of the original distinction 

 between the subjunctive and the optative is one of the most 

 interesting.^ The view of Delbriick with regard to this primary 

 distinction between the two moods in Indo-Germanic has long 

 been accepted by the majority of scholars. He formulated his 

 opinion in the following sentence (Gebrauch des Conj. und Opt. 

 13): " Dieser relative Grundbegrifif ist fur den Conjunctiv der 

 Wille, fur den Optativ der Wunsch." " Will " is defined as a de- 

 sire for the attainable ; " wish " implies a longing for what may 

 perhaps be unattainable (ibid. 16, cf his Vgl. Synt. ii., 374). 

 Delbriick has reiterated his view with regard to the fundamental 

 difference between the subjunctive and optative more than once, 

 and he still retains it as being the most probable working hypo- 

 thesis in the study of the modal relations of the Indo-Germanic 

 (Grundlagen der griech. Synt. 116— 117, Altind. Synt. 302, Vgl. 

 Synt. der Indo-Germ. Sprachen ii., 349-352). On the other 

 hand, the same scholar, Grundlagen der griech. Synt. 1 1 7, recog- 

 nizes the possibility of regarding the subjunctive as a nearer 

 future and the optative as a remoter future. This is the view 

 which has been maintained Avith much energy and feeling by 



1 My deepest indebtedness is due to my teacher, Professor Jackson, of Columbia 

 University. It is his collection of examples from the Avestan texts that has 

 formed the nucleus of the present paper. To him I express sincerest thanks. 



2 The principal literature as far as the Avestan is concerned is as follows : Spiegel, 

 Gramm. der altbakt. Sprache 322, 337-338 ; Vgl. Gramm. der alteran Sprachen 

 499-504 ; Jolly, Conjunctiv und Optativ und die Nebensatze im Zend und Altper. 

 especially 70-104 ; Bartholomae, Altiran. Verb. 181-219. 



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