Ladverbio

Ladverbio is a linguistic term used in some descriptive grammars to designate a subclass of adverbs that primarily function at the sentence level, signaling the speaker’s stance, attitude, or the evidential status of the entire proposition rather than modifying a specific verb or adjective. In many grammars these items are described as sentential adverbs, stance adverbs, or discourse modifiers, and the label ladverbio is employed in a limited number of sources to emphasize their characteristic discourse function.

The term ladverbio is a neologism and not widely standardized. It is encountered mainly in comparative or didactic discussions, where researchers compare it with the more established category of sentential adverbs. The concept is intended to capture a family of expressions that contribute to the overall discourse texture rather than to degree or modality in a narrow syntactic sense.

Characteristics: Ladverbios typically have wide scope over the clause, are often used to convey stance or evidentiality, and attach to whole propositions rather than to single words. They can express attitude (positive, negative, ironic), evaluation, or assessment of the information. They are commonly found in sentence-initial, medial, or final positions, and may interact with negation, mood, or polarity. Their exact status—adverb, particle, or discourse marker—varies by grammar.

Examples: English items such as frankly, apparently, fortunately, evidently, indeed, and sadly function as sentential adverbs and can be regarded as ladverbios in discussions that adopt the label.

Cross-linguistic notes: Many languages have equivalent discourse modifiers; in some theories they are treated as a separate category from adjectives and adverbs, while in others they are subsumed under sentential adverbs or discourse particles. The term ladverbio remains a niche label and is not universally accepted.