Gothic conjuction iba(i) and the perspective of semantical analysis
The article discusses the meaning of Gothic conjunction iba(i). It introduces hypothetical undesired consequence of the present situation both in affirmative contexts and in interrogative rhetorial utterances, the latter determined to subvert the true value of the initial condition. The analysis proves that such specific usage of iba(i) builds up due to semantic interaction of three particles that constitute its body. The hypothesis is introduced that certain Gothic compound conjunctions might undergo compositional analysis.