Is Grammaticalization Unidirectional?

Exposé Écrit pour un Séminaire / Cours , 2014 , 17 Pages , Note: 1,7

Didactique de l'Anglais - Pédagogie,Linguistique

Grammaticalization is a well-attested process of language change and presents a complex sub-field of linguistics. Although grammaticalization is believed to be a rather young area of linguistics, its history is as old as the history of linguistics (cf. Narrog & Heine 2011: 1). The term ‘grammaticalization’ itself was apparently first coined by the French linguist Meillet, a pioneer in the field of grammaticalization. In his work L’évolution des formes grammaticales (1912), Meillet describes the process of grammaticalization as “Le passage d’un mot autonome au rôle d’élément grammatical” (1912: 131 cited in Ferraresi 2014: 1) indicating a change of an erstwhile autonomous sign into a grammatical element. A more recent definition of grammaticalization is given by Hopper and Traugott who define it as “the process whereby lexical items and constructions come in certain linguistic contexts to serve grammatical functions, and, once grammaticalized, continue to develop new grammatical functions” (2008: xv).
Although the field of grammaticalization is already widely explored, its studies remain interesting since several of them have been the subject of critical discussions. One of the most interesting and challenging hypotheses in grammaticalization studies is presented by the unidirectionality hypothesis: “the claim that changes that fall into the category of grammaticalization always move into the direction – from more to less lexical or from less grammatical to more grammatical” (Börjars & Vincent 2011: 163).
However, is it not possible for a grammatical item to become less grammatical or even lexical? On the basis of Norde’s recent study on degrammaticalization (2009; 2012), the paper will take a closer look whether the unidirectionality hypothesis is entirely true or not.
The following paper is structured as follows: section two provides a brief overview of central concepts and definitions involved in grammaticalization and finally it presents Lehmann’s parameters of grammaticalization (1995). In section three, the paper features a central approach on how the unidirectionality hypothesis can be explained. Section four presents two valid counterexamples of the unidirectionality hypothesis with respect to Lehmann’s parameters (1995). To conclude, the paper summarizes the main results.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Basic concepts and definitions in grammaticalization studies
  • Basic definitions and conceptual mechanisms
  • Lehmann's parameters of grammaticalization
  • Defining degrammaticalization
• Explaining the hypothesis of unidirectionality
• Case studies
  • Pennsylvania German wotte: from modal auxiliary to lexical verb
  • The English s-genitive: from inflectional genitive suffix to a clitic
• Conclusion
• References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This term paper aims to critically analyze the unidirectionality hypothesis in grammaticalization studies, focusing on the theoretical framework proposed by Lehmann (1995) and Norde (2009; 2012). The paper examines whether grammaticalization is truly a unidirectional process, moving from lexical to grammatical, or if there are instances of degrammaticalization, where grammatical items become less grammatical or even lexical.

• Basic concepts and definitions of grammaticalization
• Lehmann's parameters of grammaticalization
• The unidirectionality hypothesis and its theoretical explanation
• Case studies of degrammaticalization
• Implications for the understanding of grammaticalization as a dynamic process

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The second chapter provides a comprehensive overview of key concepts and definitions within grammaticalization studies. It distinguishes between lexical and functional items, highlighting the role of 'lexemes' and 'grammemes' in language. The chapter further explores the process of grammaticalization, emphasizing the shift from free to bound morphemes and the concept of 'emergent grammar'. It delves into the mechanisms of grammaticalization, including reanalysis, analogical extension, and semantic bleaching, using the example of the English auxiliary 'be going to' to illustrate these processes.

The third chapter focuses on explaining the unidirectionality hypothesis, which posits that grammaticalization always moves in one direction, from lexical to grammatical. The chapter examines the theoretical underpinnings of this hypothesis, drawing on the work of Lehmann (1995) and other prominent scholars in the field. It explores the arguments supporting the unidirectionality hypothesis and highlights the challenges it faces in light of recent research on degrammaticalization.

The fourth chapter presents two case studies that challenge the unidirectionality hypothesis. These studies examine the development of Pennsylvania German 'wotte' and the English 's-genitive', demonstrating how grammatical items can undergo degrammaticalization, moving from a more grammatical to a less grammatical or even lexical status. The chapter analyzes these case studies in detail, comparing them to Lehmann's parameters of grammaticalization and highlighting their implications for the understanding of grammaticalization as a dynamic and complex process.

Schlüsselwörter

The key terms and focus themes of the text include grammaticalization, unidirectionality hypothesis, degrammaticalization, Lehmann's parameters, case studies, Pennsylvania German 'wotte', English 's-genitive', lexical items, functional items, reanalysis, analogical extension, semantic bleaching, and emergent grammar. The paper explores the dynamic nature of grammaticalization, challenging the traditional view of unidirectionality and highlighting the potential for degrammaticalization in language change.

• Université: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Cours: Seminar English Linguistics
• Note: 1,7
• Auteur: Kim Frintrop (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2014
• Pages: 17
• N° de catalogue: V281042
• ISBN (ebook): 9783656755807
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656755814
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Grammaticalization, Degrammaticalization, The English s-genitive, Pennsylvania German wotte, Unidirectionality