On the idiomatization of “ give + O + to ” constructions
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Minoji Akimoto
Abstract
This paper discusses the idiomatization process of the “give + O + to” construction (e.g. give rise to and give way to). Investigation of this construction from Middle English to Present-Day English based on various corpora shows that, in the process of change of “give + indirect object + direct object” to “give + O + to”, the latter construction has strengthened its idiomatic nature leading to the development of many idioms based on this construction in Present-Day English. The function of eventive objects without suffixes (e.g. credit and rise) as direct objects is essential in this process of idiomatization. Of various factors contributing to the idiom formation of the “give + O + to” construction, weakening of nouniness of the direct object, construction and frequency, and French influence play the most important roles.
Abstract
This paper discusses the idiomatization process of the “give + O + to” construction (e.g. give rise to and give way to). Investigation of this construction from Middle English to Present-Day English based on various corpora shows that, in the process of change of “give + indirect object + direct object” to “give + O + to”, the latter construction has strengthened its idiomatic nature leading to the development of many idioms based on this construction in Present-Day English. The function of eventive objects without suffixes (e.g. credit and rise) as direct objects is essential in this process of idiomatization. Of various factors contributing to the idiom formation of the “give + O + to” construction, weakening of nouniness of the direct object, construction and frequency, and French influence play the most important roles.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
part iVerbal constructions
- “Þonne hate we hine morgensteorra” 11
- Tracking and explaining variation and change in the grammar of American English 29
- Prevent and the battle of the - ing clauses 45
- Prescription or practice? 63
- On the idiomatization of “ give + O + to ” constructions 79
- The clausal complementation of good in extraposition constructions 95
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part iiModality and (marginal) modals
- The ‘ fail to ’ construction in Late Modern and Present-Day English 123
- The interplay of modal verbs and adverbs 143
- Current change in the modal system of English 165
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part iiiDevelopments in the English noun phrase
- Discontinuous quantificational structures in Old English 185
- Genitive variation in letters, history writing and sermons in Late Middle and Early Modern English 197
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part ivSyntactic variation and change through contact
- On the use of beon and wesan in Old English 217
- The reflexes of OE beon as a marker of futurity in early Middle English 237
- Stylistic fronting in the history of English 255
- Subject and Word index 279
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
part iVerbal constructions
- “Þonne hate we hine morgensteorra” 11
- Tracking and explaining variation and change in the grammar of American English 29
- Prevent and the battle of the - ing clauses 45
- Prescription or practice? 63
- On the idiomatization of “ give + O + to ” constructions 79
- The clausal complementation of good in extraposition constructions 95
-
part iiModality and (marginal) modals
- The ‘ fail to ’ construction in Late Modern and Present-Day English 123
- The interplay of modal verbs and adverbs 143
- Current change in the modal system of English 165
-
part iiiDevelopments in the English noun phrase
- Discontinuous quantificational structures in Old English 185
- Genitive variation in letters, history writing and sermons in Late Middle and Early Modern English 197
-
part ivSyntactic variation and change through contact
- On the use of beon and wesan in Old English 217
- The reflexes of OE beon as a marker of futurity in early Middle English 237
- Stylistic fronting in the history of English 255
- Subject and Word index 279
