Contractions, constructions and constructional change
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Robert Daugs
Abstract
In this paper, I argue that construction grammarians may have to consider integrating modal contractions into the English modal system as distinct constructions rather than variants of their uncontracted forms. Based on data from COHA, it can be shown that the contractions investigated here have emancipated themselves from the full forms both in terms of relative usage frequency as well as function over the past two centuries, thus yielding a series of constructional changes. From a usage-based, constructionist perspective, these results contribute to modelling the modal network as possibly represented in the minds of speakers, but they also support the understanding that this network appears to be much more heterogeneous than perhaps desired (by some linguists).
Abstract
In this paper, I argue that construction grammarians may have to consider integrating modal contractions into the English modal system as distinct constructions rather than variants of their uncontracted forms. Based on data from COHA, it can be shown that the contractions investigated here have emancipated themselves from the full forms both in terms of relative usage frequency as well as function over the past two centuries, thus yielding a series of constructional changes. From a usage-based, constructionist perspective, these results contribute to modelling the modal network as possibly represented in the minds of speakers, but they also support the understanding that this network appears to be much more heterogeneous than perhaps desired (by some linguists).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Modality in Diachronic Construction Grammar 1
- Contractions, constructions and constructional change 13
- Exploring relative degrees of auxiliarization empirically in German modal constructions with wissen and verstehen 53
- Grammaticalization of verdienen into an auxiliary marker of deontic modality 81
- The diachrony of Galician certamente and seguramente 123
- Unfolding constructions 149
- Horizontal links within and between paradigms 185
- Constructionalization of Japanese koto imperatives 219
- Index 247
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Modality in Diachronic Construction Grammar 1
- Contractions, constructions and constructional change 13
- Exploring relative degrees of auxiliarization empirically in German modal constructions with wissen and verstehen 53
- Grammaticalization of verdienen into an auxiliary marker of deontic modality 81
- The diachrony of Galician certamente and seguramente 123
- Unfolding constructions 149
- Horizontal links within and between paradigms 185
- Constructionalization of Japanese koto imperatives 219
- Index 247
