Reduction or expansion? A bit of both
-
Jakob Neels
Abstract
This paper presents a diachronic analysis of the German quantifier/degree-modifier constructions ein bisschen (‘a bitDIM’) and ein wenig (‘a little’). On the basis of data from two historical corpora, we examine to what extent these constructions followed a grammaticalization path comparable to the one Traugott (e.g. 2008a) observed for their English counterparts. Quantitative analyses on their gradual context expansion are combined with qualitative analyses on potential bridging contexts for reanalysis. Their combined histories suggest that the older German modifiers may have served as attractor sets for an increasingly strengthened mid-level quantifier/degree-modifier schema, promoting the emergence of younger modifiers. These observations stress the crucial role that network links between constructions can play in grammaticalization.
Abstract
This paper presents a diachronic analysis of the German quantifier/degree-modifier constructions ein bisschen (‘a bitDIM’) and ein wenig (‘a little’). On the basis of data from two historical corpora, we examine to what extent these constructions followed a grammaticalization path comparable to the one Traugott (e.g. 2008a) observed for their English counterparts. Quantitative analyses on their gradual context expansion are combined with qualitative analyses on potential bridging contexts for reanalysis. Their combined histories suggest that the older German modifiers may have served as attractor sets for an increasingly strengthened mid-level quantifier/degree-modifier schema, promoting the emergence of younger modifiers. These observations stress the crucial role that network links between constructions can play in grammaticalization.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Theoretical issues
- Grammaticalization meets Construction Grammar 3
- Three open questions in Diachronic Construction Grammar 21
-
Verb constructions
- Grammaticalisation cut short 43
- Pseudocoordination in Norwegian 75
- Evaluating grammaticalization and constructional accounts 107
-
Noun constructions
- Reduction or expansion? A bit of both 137
- Type frequency, productivity and schematicity in the evolution of the Latin secundum NP construction 169
-
Constructions at sentence level
- The development of the conditional caso construction in Spanish 205
- Constructionalization areas 241
- A Radical Construction Grammar approach to construction split in the diachrony of the spatial particles of Ancient Greek 277
- Construction index 312
- Index 313
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Theoretical issues
- Grammaticalization meets Construction Grammar 3
- Three open questions in Diachronic Construction Grammar 21
-
Verb constructions
- Grammaticalisation cut short 43
- Pseudocoordination in Norwegian 75
- Evaluating grammaticalization and constructional accounts 107
-
Noun constructions
- Reduction or expansion? A bit of both 137
- Type frequency, productivity and schematicity in the evolution of the Latin secundum NP construction 169
-
Constructions at sentence level
- The development of the conditional caso construction in Spanish 205
- Constructionalization areas 241
- A Radical Construction Grammar approach to construction split in the diachrony of the spatial particles of Ancient Greek 277
- Construction index 312
- Index 313
