Breban English Adjectives of Comparison

Lexical and Grammaticalized Uses
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-3-11-021601-1
Verlag: De Gruyter
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, Band 63, 408 Seiten, Gewicht: 10 g

Reihe: Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL]

The book is concerned with a hitherto underresearched grammaticalization process: the development from quality-attributing adjective to determiner in the English noun phrase. It takes a bottom-up approach, based on extensive synchronic and diachronic corpus studies of six English adjectives of comparison: , , , , and . Their functional diversity in current English is proposed to constitute a case of layering, representing the original descriptive use, which expresses how like/unlike each other entities are, and a range of grammaticalized referential uses, which contribute to the identification and/or quantification of the entities denoted by the NP. Diachronic and comparative data material is invoked to verify and further develop the grammaticalization hypothesis.

The development of adjectives of comparison involves several key concepts identified in the literature. Crucially, it is described as a case of textual intersubjectification driven by the optimalization of recipient-design. The actual grammaticalization paths are diverse and are characterized by lexical as well as structural persistence, i.e. the same lexical meaning develops into different grammatical functions in different syntagmatic configurations.

In order to define the NP as a locus of diachronic change, this study offers a new angle on the description of adjectives and the modelling of NP structure. It advocates the abandonment of the traditional class-based model in favour of a radically functional one, in which functions are defined in terms of prototypicality so as to allow for gradience between and within them. The described grammaticalization processes involve developments from prototypical lexical to grammatical reference-related use within the adjectival category, which can be the starting point of further gradual change to determiners. The traditional relation between classes and positions is envisaged as a correspondence between functional and syntactic zones. The change in form concomitant with grammaticalization in the NP is argued to consist of the reconfiguration of structural combinatorics and progressive leftward movement.

The book is of interest to linguistic researchers and graduate students in linguistics who focus their attention on grammaticalization and subjectification, the functional description of adjectives, questions of deixis and theoretical issues relating to nominal reference.

Zielgruppe

Linguistic Researchers and Graduate Students in Linguistics who are interested in Grammaticalization and Subjectification, the Functional Description of Adjectives, Questions of Deixis and Theoretical Issues Relating to Nominal Reference

Autoren/Hrsg.

Breban, Tine

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Einzelne Sprachen & Sprachfamilien
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Grammatik, Syntax, Morphologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Acknowledgements;6
2;Table of contents;8
3;Introduction;14
4;1. Constructing a dynamic functional combinatory model of the English NP;24
5;2. Grammaticalization and subjectification in the English NP;53
6;3. English adjectives of general comparison;70
7;4. The grammaticalization hypothesis;92
8;5. The role of subjectivity and subjectification in the grammaticalization of prenominal adjectives of comparison;124
9;6. Adjectives of difference;162
10;7. Adjectives of identity;210
11;8. Adjectives of similarity;254
12;9. Adjectives of comparison in postnominal position;286
13;10. Diachronic corpus study of six adjectives of comparison;300
14;11. Diachronic corpus study of six adjectives of difference;334
15;12. Summary;364
16;Corpora;374
17;References;375
18;Index;406

Über Autor(innen)

Tine Breban, K.U. Leuven, Belgium.