The μὴ ἵνα + subjunctive construction in Greek documentary papyri

Abstract The construction of μὴ ἵνα + subjunctive, which is attested in Greek documentary papyri of the Roman and Byzantine periods, is conventionally explained as an inversion of ἵνα μή + subjunctive. By reference to various examples, it is argued here that the two patterns (i. e. ἵνα μή and μὴ ἵνα) are not in fact syntactically equivalent variants, but rather convey different meanings and functions on both the syntactic and the pragmatic level. In reality, μὴ ἵνα with the subjunctive does not constitute a subordinate clause but rather represents an instance of grammatical ‘insubordination’. The investigation combines a morphosyntactic analysis with a pragmatic and cognitive approach.