Semantic motivation of the English auxiliary
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Ronald W. Langacker
Abstract
Motivation offers a viable middle ground to extreme positions that are clearly untenable. Here I consider the semantic motivation of grammar, as exemplified by the English auxiliary. Properly characterized in terms of systems of elements serving particular semantic functions, the auxiliary is seen as being efficient and highly motivated. Its apparent idiosyncrasies reflect the functions served and the meanings of the elements employed.
Abstract
Motivation offers a viable middle ground to extreme positions that are clearly untenable. Here I consider the semantic motivation of grammar, as exemplified by the English auxiliary. Properly characterized in terms of systems of elements serving particular semantic functions, the auxiliary is seen as being efficient and highly motivated. Its apparent idiosyncrasies reflect the functions served and the meanings of the elements employed.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Motivation in grammar
- Semantic motivation of the English auxiliary 29
- The mind as ground 49
- Motivating the flexibility of oriented - ly adverbs 71
- The cognitive motivation for the use of dangling participles in English 89
- What motivates an inference? 107
- The conceptual motivation of aspect 133
- Metaphoric motivation in grammatical structure 149
- Motivation in English must and Hungarian kell 171
- The socio-cultural motivation of referent honorifics in Korean and Japanese 191
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Part II. Motivation in the Lexicon
- Conceptual motivation in adjectival semantics 215
- Metonymy, metaphor and the “weekend frame of mind” 233
- Intrinsic or extrinsic motivation? 251
- Motivational networks 269
- The “meaning-full” vocabulary of English and German 287
- Name index 299
- Subject index 303
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Motivation in grammar
- Semantic motivation of the English auxiliary 29
- The mind as ground 49
- Motivating the flexibility of oriented - ly adverbs 71
- The cognitive motivation for the use of dangling participles in English 89
- What motivates an inference? 107
- The conceptual motivation of aspect 133
- Metaphoric motivation in grammatical structure 149
- Motivation in English must and Hungarian kell 171
- The socio-cultural motivation of referent honorifics in Korean and Japanese 191
-
Part II. Motivation in the Lexicon
- Conceptual motivation in adjectival semantics 215
- Metonymy, metaphor and the “weekend frame of mind” 233
- Intrinsic or extrinsic motivation? 251
- Motivational networks 269
- The “meaning-full” vocabulary of English and German 287
- Name index 299
- Subject index 303