The famous dictum, “grammars code best what speakers do most” coined by Du Bois, is a central postulate of all discourse-based approaches to grammaticalization (also known as grammaticization, grammatization). It points to the assumption that frequent repetition in discourse plays a crucial role in the development of grammatical forms, and that basicness is an inherent characteristics of most source concepts.
There is only a limited number of lexical items likely to be sources for grammaticalization. Since verbs form the core element of every sentence, expressing different conditions such as states, changes and activities, they provide a rich source for grammatical targets.
So how do verbs serve as a source of grammatical change? This academic paper gives answers to this question, discussing the grammaticalization of verbs, and how verbs typically evolve into prepositions, aspectual as well as quotative markers, and complementizers. Evidence is taken not only from English, but also from, i.a., Chinese, German, Spanish, French and African languages.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Grammaticalization and its Meaning
- 2.1. The Evolution of Grammaticalization
- 2.2. The Rise of Grammaticalization Research
- 2.3. Recent Trends in Grammaticalization
- 3. Where Does Grammar Come From?
- 3.1. Mechanisms of Change: Reanalysis and Analogy
- 3.1.1. Reanalysis
- 3.1.2. Induction, Deduction and Abduction
- 3.1.3. Reanalysis and Grammaticalization
- 3.1.4. Analogy
- 3.1. Mechanisms of Change: Reanalysis and Analogy
- 4. Characteristics of Grammaticalization
- 4.1. Grammaticalization From a Diachronic and a Synchronic Perspective
- 4.2. Grammaticalization Chains
- 4.2.1. Overlapping ("Layering")
- 4.2.2. Ambiguity
- 4.2.3. Asymmetry
- 4.2.4. Unidirectionality
- 4.2.5. Generalization
- 4.2.6. Frequency
- 4.2.7. Decategorialization
- 4.2.8. Specialization
- 4.2.9. Increase in Bondedness
- 4.3. Degrammaticalization
- 5. Motivations for Grammaticalization
- 5.1. Creativity versus Routinization
- 5.2. Inference
- 5.2.1 From Less to More Subjective
- 5.3. Metaphor and Metonymy
- 5.3.1. Metaphorical Extensions
- 5.3.2. Metonymic Strategies
- 6. From Source to Target – Basicness as a Relevance Factor
- 7. Auxiliary Verbs
- 7.1. Auxiliation Chains
- 7.1.1. Verb-to-TAM Chains
- 7.2. Stages of Auxiliation
- 7.3. Sit, Stand and Lie as Aspectual Markers
- 7.3.1. The Evolution of the Sit/Stand/Lie Aspectual Structure: Functional Need?
- 7.3.2. The Shift from Locative to Temporal Meaning
- 7.4. The Future: It Comes, It Goes, It Has to Be
- 7.4.1. Pathways of Future
- 7.4.2. From Desire to Prediction
- 7.4.3. From Motion-in-Space to Progress-in-Time
- 7.4.5. Obligation Futures
- 7.5. The Case of Used to
- 7.1. Auxiliation Chains
- 8. From Verb to Preposition
- 8.1. Prerequisites and Conditioning Factors
- 8.1.1. European Languages
- 8.1.2. Serial Verb Languages
- 8.2. Semantic, Morphological and Phonological Changes Involved
- 8.2.1. Between Verb and Preposition
- 8.2.2. Coalescence and Phonological Erosion
- 8.3. Source and Target Domains of Deverbal Prepositions
- 8.1. Prerequisites and Conditioning Factors
- 9. The Evolution of Complementizers
- 9.2. Evidence from Other Languages
- 9.3. Reanalysis at Work
- 9.4. Universals versus Substrate
- 10. A New Quotative Marker: English Be Like
- 10.1. A Teenage Phenomenon?
- 10.2. A Notoriously Polyfunctional Item
- 10.3. Origin and Evolution of Like
- 10.4. Subjectification
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper investigates the process of grammaticalization, focusing on verbs as sources of grammatical change. The main objective is to explore the mechanisms and motivations behind this linguistic phenomenon, examining common pathways of grammaticalization and illustrating them with examples from various languages.
- Mechanisms of Grammatical Change (Reanalysis and Analogy)
- Characteristics of Grammaticalization Chains
- Motivations for Grammaticalization (Metaphor, Metonymy, Communicative Needs)
- Verbs as Lexical Sources for Grammaticalization
- Cross-linguistic Comparison of Grammaticalization Pathways
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central question of how and why grammatical structures evolve, framing the study within the field of grammaticalization. It introduces the concept of grammaticalization as the shift of linguistic expressions towards the functional pole of the lexical-functional continuum, highlighting the universal nature of this phenomenon and the role of discourse and frequency in shaping grammatical forms. The chapter emphasizes the importance of verbs as a core element of sentences, providing a suitable source for grammatical targets, and points to the significance of "basicness" in source concepts.
2. Grammaticalization and its Meaning: This chapter provides a historical overview of grammaticalization research, tracing its evolution and highlighting key developments and trends in the field. It sets the theoretical groundwork for understanding the subsequent chapters' analyses of specific grammaticalization processes and pathways. The chapter contextualizes the current understanding of grammaticalization within the broader linguistic landscape.
3. Where Does Grammar Come From?: This chapter details the mechanisms driving linguistic change, focusing on reanalysis and analogy. It explains how these mechanisms interact within the process of grammaticalization, providing a detailed explanation of how existing lexical items are reinterpreted and restructured to create new grammatical forms. The chapter establishes the cognitive and functional underpinnings of grammatical change.
4. Characteristics of Grammaticalization: This chapter delves into the defining features of grammaticalization chains, exploring concepts like unidirectionality, specialization, and the interplay between diachronic and synchronic perspectives. It meticulously outlines the semantic, phonetic, and morphosyntactic changes involved in the transition from lexical to grammatical material, providing numerous examples to illustrate these changes. The chapter also addresses the phenomenon of degrammaticalization, highlighting instances where grammatical items revert to lexical status.
5. Motivations for Grammaticalization: This chapter seeks to identify the driving forces behind grammaticalization. While acknowledging the significant roles of metaphor and metonymy, it also stresses the importance of individual communicative needs and the influence of socio-cultural context in shaping grammatical evolution. The chapter establishes a complex interplay between cognitive processes and communicative pressures.
6. From Source to Target – Basicness as a Relevance Factor: This chapter acts as a bridge between the theoretical foundations established in the first part of the paper and the empirical analysis of specific grammaticalization pathways in the second part. It identifies and lists several key verbal sources that are commonly involved in the process of grammaticalization, setting the stage for the detailed examination of these pathways in the subsequent chapters.
7. Auxiliary Verbs: This chapter focuses on the evolution of auxiliary verbs, a significant area of grammaticalization research. It examines the verb-to-tense/aspect/modality (TAM) chain, providing detailed analyses of how posture verbs become aspectual markers and how verbs of desire, motion, and obligation evolve into future markers. The chapter explores specific examples, such as the development of "used to," offering in-depth analyses of the pathways and the functional motivations driving these changes.
8. From Verb to Preposition: This chapter compares European languages and languages with serial verb constructions concerning their potential to yield deverbal prepositions. It investigates the semantic, morphological, and phonological changes involved in this grammaticalization pathway, exploring the relationships between source and target domains and providing detailed case studies. The cross-linguistic comparison enhances our understanding of the factors shaping grammaticalization processes across diverse language families.
9. The Evolution of Complementizers: This chapter explores the development of complementizers, often originating from verba dicendi such as "say." The chapter provides in-depth analysis of the processes involved, drawing on evidence from various languages to illustrate the universality and variability of these processes. The focus on cross-linguistic evidence highlights commonalities and differences in how complementizers emerge from lexical sources.
10. A New Quotative Marker: English Be Like: This chapter examines the relatively recent development of "be like" as a quotative marker in English. While not strictly a case of verb grammaticalization, it showcases a lexical item rapidly acquiring new functions. The analysis focuses on the item's polyfunctionality, its origin, evolution, and the role of subjectification in its grammaticalization process. The chapter exemplifies how frequent usage can lead to functional changes, even in relatively short time spans.
Keywords
Grammaticalization, verbs, lexical sources, grammatical change, reanalysis, analogy, metaphor, metonymy, auxiliary verbs, complementizers, semantic change, morphosyntactic change, phonological change, unidirectionality, frequency, discourse, basicness, cross-linguistic comparison, English.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview on Grammaticalization
What is the main topic of this language preview?
This preview comprehensively explores the process of grammaticalization, focusing on how verbs evolve into grammatical functions. It examines the mechanisms, motivations, and pathways involved, using examples from various languages.
What are the key themes covered in the preview?
Key themes include the mechanisms of grammatical change (reanalysis and analogy), characteristics of grammaticalization chains, motivations for grammaticalization (metaphor, metonymy, communicative needs), verbs as lexical sources, and cross-linguistic comparisons of grammaticalization pathways.
What are the main objectives of this study?
The main objective is to explore the mechanisms and motivations behind grammaticalization, examining common pathways and illustrating them with examples from various languages. It aims to provide a deep understanding of how lexical items transform into grammatical structures.
What mechanisms of grammatical change are discussed?
The preview extensively covers reanalysis and analogy as the primary mechanisms driving grammatical change. It explains how these mechanisms interact to create new grammatical forms from existing lexical items.
What are the characteristics of grammaticalization chains?
The defining features of grammaticalization chains are thoroughly discussed, including unidirectionality, specialization, and the interplay between diachronic and synchronic perspectives. Semantic, phonetic, and morphosyntactic changes are detailed with multiple examples.
What motivates grammaticalization?
The preview explores the driving forces behind grammaticalization, highlighting the roles of metaphor and metonymy, individual communicative needs, and socio-cultural context. It emphasizes the complex interplay between cognitive processes and communicative pressures.
What types of verbs are examined as sources of grammaticalization?
The preview extensively analyzes auxiliary verbs, examining their evolution from verbs of posture, motion, desire, and obligation into markers of tense, aspect, mood, and modality. It also discusses the grammaticalization of verbs into prepositions and complementizers.
How does the preview approach the study of grammaticalization cross-linguistically?
The preview employs a cross-linguistic comparative approach, drawing examples from various languages to highlight both the universality and variability of grammaticalization processes. Comparisons are made between European languages and serial verb languages to demonstrate the diverse pathways of change.
What specific examples of grammaticalization are analyzed?
Specific examples include the development of auxiliary verbs (including "used to"), the evolution of verbs into prepositions, the emergence of complementizers, and the relatively recent development of "be like" as a quotative marker in English.
What is the role of "basicness" in grammaticalization?
The preview highlights the significance of "basicness" in source concepts, suggesting that more basic lexical items are more likely to be recruited into grammatical functions.
What is the significance of the chapter on "A New Quotative Marker: English Be Like"?
This chapter demonstrates how frequent usage of a lexical item can lead to functional changes in a relatively short time, showcasing the dynamic nature of language evolution even in contemporary usage.
What are the key takeaways from this language preview?
The key takeaway is a comprehensive understanding of grammaticalization as a dynamic, multi-faceted process driven by various interacting factors, including cognitive mechanisms, communicative needs, and socio-cultural contexts. The preview provides a robust framework for analyzing and interpreting grammatical change across different languages.
- Quote paper
- Melanie Bobik (Author), 2004, The Grammaticalization of Verbs. Verbs as Sources of Grammatical Change, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/456274
