Chapter 7. The emergence of a new adverbial downtoner
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Kristel Van Goethem
Abstract
The English expression far from, denoting spatial or metaphorical distance, has developed into an adverbial downtoner (De Smet, 2012). In this corpus-based study, our first purpose is to analyze to which degree the Dutch counterparts of the English [far from X] construction, that is [ver van X] and [verre van X], have also developed into downtoners. We show that synchronically ver van mostly has a spatial or metaphorical meaning, while verre van is generally used as an adverbial downtoner. As a second objective, we explore the diachronic pathways taken by both constructions and argue that the category change undergone by [verre van X] is part of a true constructionalization process, while [ver van X] has been affected by minor constructional changes only.
Abstract
The English expression far from, denoting spatial or metaphorical distance, has developed into an adverbial downtoner (De Smet, 2012). In this corpus-based study, our first purpose is to analyze to which degree the Dutch counterparts of the English [far from X] construction, that is [ver van X] and [verre van X], have also developed into downtoners. We show that synchronically ver van mostly has a spatial or metaphorical meaning, while verre van is generally used as an adverbial downtoner. As a second objective, we explore the diachronic pathways taken by both constructions and argue that the category change undergone by [verre van X] is part of a true constructionalization process, while [ver van X] has been affected by minor constructional changes only.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
-
Part I. Introduction
- Chapter 1. Category change from a constructional perspective 3
-
Part II. Category genesis
- Chapter 2. Category genesis in Chitimacha 15
- Chapter 3. Derivation without category change 47
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Part III. Category change in syntactic constructions
- Chapter 4. Grammaticalization, host-class expansion and category change 93
- Chapter 5. Why would anyone take long ? 119
- Chapter 6. Category change in the English gerund 149
- Chapter 7. The emergence of a new adverbial downtoner 179
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Part IV. Category change in morphological constructions
- Chapter 8. Category change in construction morphology 209
- Chapter 9. Evaluative morphology in German, Dutch and Swedish 229
- Chapter 10. Constructional change on the contentful-procedural gradient 263
-
Part V. Discussion
- Chapter 11. Change in category membership from the perspective of construction grammar 291
- Construction index 309
- Subject index 311
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
-
Part I. Introduction
- Chapter 1. Category change from a constructional perspective 3
-
Part II. Category genesis
- Chapter 2. Category genesis in Chitimacha 15
- Chapter 3. Derivation without category change 47
-
Part III. Category change in syntactic constructions
- Chapter 4. Grammaticalization, host-class expansion and category change 93
- Chapter 5. Why would anyone take long ? 119
- Chapter 6. Category change in the English gerund 149
- Chapter 7. The emergence of a new adverbial downtoner 179
-
Part IV. Category change in morphological constructions
- Chapter 8. Category change in construction morphology 209
- Chapter 9. Evaluative morphology in German, Dutch and Swedish 229
- Chapter 10. Constructional change on the contentful-procedural gradient 263
-
Part V. Discussion
- Chapter 11. Change in category membership from the perspective of construction grammar 291
- Construction index 309
- Subject index 311