Chapter 9. A case of constructional contamination in English
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Martin Hilpert
Abstract
This chapter discusses a case of what Pijpops and Van de Velde (2016) call constructional contamination. Specifically, we investigate the influence of English modified noun phrases on variation in adverb placement in the passive. On the basis of data from the COCA, we argue that highly frequent nominal expressions such as sexually transmitted disease influence adverb placement in the passive, which offers speakers a choice between adverb-initial order (The disease was sexually transmitted) and adverb-final order (The disease was transmitted sexually). Our results thus corroborate findings from Dutch corpora (Pijpops and Van de Velde 2016) and suggest that construction al contamination is a phenomenon that can be observed across different languages. We further discuss the role of constructional contamination for analogy and contrast.
Abstract
This chapter discusses a case of what Pijpops and Van de Velde (2016) call constructional contamination. Specifically, we investigate the influence of English modified noun phrases on variation in adverb placement in the passive. On the basis of data from the COCA, we argue that highly frequent nominal expressions such as sexually transmitted disease influence adverb placement in the passive, which offers speakers a choice between adverb-initial order (The disease was sexually transmitted) and adverb-final order (The disease was transmitted sexually). Our results thus corroborate findings from Dutch corpora (Pijpops and Van de Velde 2016) and suggest that construction al contamination is a phenomenon that can be observed across different languages. We further discuss the role of constructional contamination for analogy and contrast.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Editors and contributors ix
- Foreword xi
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. From theory to data-driven research
- Chapter 1. What could be more fundamental? 15
- Chapter 2. Diagrammatic iconicity and rendering time in a narrative text 47
- Chapter 3. Analogy in action 61
- Chapter 4. ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend.’ 83
- Chapter 5. Contrast and analogy in aspectual distinctions of English and Polish 115
-
Part II. From data-driven research to theory
- Chapter 6. From nouns to verbs 159
- Chapter 7. Complex prepositions of analogy and contrast in English 193
- Chapter 8. Emergent categories 245
- Chapter 9. A case of constructional contamination in English 283
- Chapter 10. Analogy and contrast at the morphology-syntax interface 303
- Chapter 11. Modeling constructional variation 341
- Chapter 12. Moving reader or moving text? 371
- Chapter 13. Contrasts and analogies in cluster categories of emotion concepts in monolingual and cross-linguistic contexts 405
- Index 439
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Editors and contributors ix
- Foreword xi
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. From theory to data-driven research
- Chapter 1. What could be more fundamental? 15
- Chapter 2. Diagrammatic iconicity and rendering time in a narrative text 47
- Chapter 3. Analogy in action 61
- Chapter 4. ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend.’ 83
- Chapter 5. Contrast and analogy in aspectual distinctions of English and Polish 115
-
Part II. From data-driven research to theory
- Chapter 6. From nouns to verbs 159
- Chapter 7. Complex prepositions of analogy and contrast in English 193
- Chapter 8. Emergent categories 245
- Chapter 9. A case of constructional contamination in English 283
- Chapter 10. Analogy and contrast at the morphology-syntax interface 303
- Chapter 11. Modeling constructional variation 341
- Chapter 12. Moving reader or moving text? 371
- Chapter 13. Contrasts and analogies in cluster categories of emotion concepts in monolingual and cross-linguistic contexts 405
- Index 439
