This paper reconsiders the focalizing function of the Demotic second tenses (i-ir=f sḏm [past/present], i-ir=f (r) sḏm [future], and i-ir ḫr sḏm=f [aorist]) in main clauses. In Demotic grammatical studies, it is generally stated that the second tenses are constructions with a focalized adverbial adjunct. This widely accepted analysis, however, does not account for all actual examples of the second tenses, because there are cases where there is no adverbial adjunct. Therefore, an alternative analysis which can explain such “exceptions” also is required.
By comparison with the analysis of the second tenses in Sahidic Coptic (cf. BSNESJ 56/2), another focus type, i.e., the sentence focus (one whose focus domain corresponds to a whole sentence), is considered as a possible solution to the problem. Therefore this paper considers the following hypothesis: The Demotic second tenses can serve a sentence-focalizing function as well as an adverbial-focalizing function.
In order to test this hypothesis, selected examples exhibiting three different structures are discussed: (1) examples with no adverbial adjunct (ʽOnchsheshonqy 23, 14; P. Cairo 30692 12; Setne II 4, 27-28; Demotic Chronicle 4, 1); (2) examples with an adverbial adjunct (ʽOnchsheshonqy 23, 7; P. Cairo 30692 12; Setne II 4, 17; Demotic Chronicle 5, 18 and 5, 19); (3) examples followed by a conjunctive (Hermopolis Legal Code 8, 13-14; P. Jumilhac 11, lower margin).
The results of the examination demonstrate that the second tenses had already gained the sentence-focalizing function at the stage of Demotic before Coptic.
