Archivum Lithuanicum

This article investigates the variation of the third person subjunctive forms būtų ~ būt and the genitive plural forms mūsų, jūsų ~ mūs, jūs in the poetical works of Christian Donelaitis (1714–1780). Following an introduction into the formal principles of Donelaitis’s poetry delineating the basic prosodic schema and rules of its hexametrical verse, the investigation turns to a detailed prosodic and syntactic survey of the distribution of the variant forms būtų ~ būt and mūsų, jūsų ~ mūs, jūs. The findings of this survey reveal that the distribution of the variant forms essentially relies on the prosodic rules of Donelaitis’ hexametrical verse and the basic rules of Lithuanian grammar (prosody and especially syntax). Observations on the syntactic level allow for the assumption that, in spite of its dependence on the prosody of hexametrical verse, the distribution of the variant forms būtų ~ būt, mūsų, jūsų ~ mūs, jūs in Donelaitis’ poetical works could reflect a more original distribution that not only applied to hexametrical poetry but to Lithuanian in general (be it natural discourse/ prose or poetry). This motivates further comparative research that should also take into account the relevant Lithuanian dialect material.