Is the development of linking elements in German a case of exaptation?
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Renata Szczepaniak
Abstract
The development of linking elements in German has usually been analysed as a case of exaptation. In this paper, a more differentiated picture of this development is presented. What at first sight seems to be a clear case of exaptation (old form > new function) turns out to be a complex process consisting of two stages: (1) the development of a first layer of linking vowels in Old High German (new but related function) out of Proto-Germanic primary suffixes (old form); and (2) the subsequent development of a second layer of linking elements from inflectional (genitive) endings. Based on historical evidence, it is argued that the second stage should be analysed as a case of formal renovation. This is due to the fact that this reinforcement took place while the old linking system was still productive.
Abstract
The development of linking elements in German has usually been analysed as a case of exaptation. In this paper, a more differentiated picture of this development is presented. What at first sight seems to be a clear case of exaptation (old form > new function) turns out to be a complex process consisting of two stages: (1) the development of a first layer of linking vowels in Old High German (new but related function) out of Proto-Germanic primary suffixes (old form); and (2) the subsequent development of a second layer of linking elements from inflectional (genitive) endings. Based on historical evidence, it is argued that the second stage should be analysed as a case of formal renovation. This is due to the fact that this reinforcement took place while the old linking system was still productive.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Exaptation 1
- Being exacting about exapting 37
- Co-opting exaptation in a theory of language change 57
- Exaptation in Japanese and beyond 93
- Functional changes and (meta-)linguistic evolution 121
- Exaptation from the perspective of construction morphology 163
- Exaptation and degrammaticalization within an acquisition-based model of abductive reanalysis 197
- Allogenous exaptation 227
- How functionless is junk and how useful is exaptation? 261
- The history of nominative -er in Danish and Swedish 287
- Is the development of linking elements in German a case of exaptation? 317
- Exploring and recycling 341
- Exaptation and adaptation 377
- Language index 403
- Subject index 407
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Exaptation 1
- Being exacting about exapting 37
- Co-opting exaptation in a theory of language change 57
- Exaptation in Japanese and beyond 93
- Functional changes and (meta-)linguistic evolution 121
- Exaptation from the perspective of construction morphology 163
- Exaptation and degrammaticalization within an acquisition-based model of abductive reanalysis 197
- Allogenous exaptation 227
- How functionless is junk and how useful is exaptation? 261
- The history of nominative -er in Danish and Swedish 287
- Is the development of linking elements in German a case of exaptation? 317
- Exploring and recycling 341
- Exaptation and adaptation 377
- Language index 403
- Subject index 407
