Grammaticalization of converb constructions
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Masayoshi Shibatani
Abstract
This paper examines the patterns of grammaticalization of motion verbs (verbs of coming and going) in Japanese converb complex predicate constructions. The -te converb form is the most widely used connective device in Japanese, and the forms combining with motion verbs are among the most frequently used converb constructions in the language. Among the -te converb constructions involving motion verbs, those that appear to have grammaticalized are most numerous in the corpus data. Detailed examinations of the decategorialization pattern of the motion verbs involved indicate a clear cline of grammaticalization, which contradicts some earlier studies such as Teramura (1984) and Hasegawa (1996). The paper also addresses a number of important issues in grammaticalization studies and questions some of the current understandings of them, which include the following: (1) What drives grammaticalization – frequency of use and metaphor (Traugott and Heine 1991; Heine, Claudi, and Hünnemeyer 1991)? (2) What are the possible paths of grammaticalization in the development of temporal meanings from motion verbs (Bybee, Perkins and Pagliuca 1994)? (3) Are grammaticalization processes always gradual (Bybee, Pagliuca and Perkins 1991; Brinton and Traugott 2005)?
Abstract
This paper examines the patterns of grammaticalization of motion verbs (verbs of coming and going) in Japanese converb complex predicate constructions. The -te converb form is the most widely used connective device in Japanese, and the forms combining with motion verbs are among the most frequently used converb constructions in the language. Among the -te converb constructions involving motion verbs, those that appear to have grammaticalized are most numerous in the corpus data. Detailed examinations of the decategorialization pattern of the motion verbs involved indicate a clear cline of grammaticalization, which contradicts some earlier studies such as Teramura (1984) and Hasegawa (1996). The paper also addresses a number of important issues in grammaticalization studies and questions some of the current understandings of them, which include the following: (1) What drives grammaticalization – frequency of use and metaphor (Traugott and Heine 1991; Heine, Claudi, and Hünnemeyer 1991)? (2) What are the possible paths of grammaticalization in the development of temporal meanings from motion verbs (Bybee, Perkins and Pagliuca 1994)? (3) Are grammaticalization processes always gradual (Bybee, Pagliuca and Perkins 1991; Brinton and Traugott 2005)?
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Connectivity as an object of linguistics 1
-
Aspects of language change and language acquisition
- Grammaticalization of converb constructions 21
- Contact, connectivity and language evolution 51
- Allora 75
- Some notes on the syntax–pragmatics interface in bilingual children 101
-
Pronouns, topics and subjects
- Distribution and function of clitic object pronouns in popular16th-18th century Greek narratives 139
- Nominative subjects of non-finite clauses in Hiberno-English 165
-
Finiteness in text and discourse
- Aspectotemporal connectivity in Turkic 187
- Connectivity by means of finite elements in monolingual and bilingual Turkish discourse 199
-
Subordination – coordination
- Alternative subordination strategies in Turkish 231
- Studying connectivity with the help of computer-readable corpora 259
- Discourse coordination in Turkish monolingual and Turkish-German bilingual children’s talk: işte 291
-
Adverbials, particles and constructions
- Modal adverbs as discourse markers 329
- „So, given this common theme...“ 345
- An utterance-transcending connector 367
- Between connectivity and modality 395
- Matrix constructions 419
- Language index 449
- Name index 451
- Subject index 457
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Connectivity as an object of linguistics 1
-
Aspects of language change and language acquisition
- Grammaticalization of converb constructions 21
- Contact, connectivity and language evolution 51
- Allora 75
- Some notes on the syntax–pragmatics interface in bilingual children 101
-
Pronouns, topics and subjects
- Distribution and function of clitic object pronouns in popular16th-18th century Greek narratives 139
- Nominative subjects of non-finite clauses in Hiberno-English 165
-
Finiteness in text and discourse
- Aspectotemporal connectivity in Turkic 187
- Connectivity by means of finite elements in monolingual and bilingual Turkish discourse 199
-
Subordination – coordination
- Alternative subordination strategies in Turkish 231
- Studying connectivity with the help of computer-readable corpora 259
- Discourse coordination in Turkish monolingual and Turkish-German bilingual children’s talk: işte 291
-
Adverbials, particles and constructions
- Modal adverbs as discourse markers 329
- „So, given this common theme...“ 345
- An utterance-transcending connector 367
- Between connectivity and modality 395
- Matrix constructions 419
- Language index 449
- Name index 451
- Subject index 457
