How did we think?
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Karolien Janssens
Abstract
This paper presents a diachronic corpus investigation into the Dutch mental state predicate denken ‘think’. It investigates both the semantic development (specifically, the evolution in the non-attitudinal vs. the attitudinal meanings of the verb) and the grammatical development (the evolution in terms of the types of grammatical patterns with which the verb appears), and the correlations between the two, from Old Dutch onwards. The discussion focuses specifically on the implications for our understanding of the processes of grammaticalisation and subjectification, and their correlations: the verb shows clear signs of a process of semantic subjectification, but not of structural grammaticalisation, hence it offers evidence for the assumption that these two processes are less intimately intertwined than is often assumed in the literature.
Abstract
This paper presents a diachronic corpus investigation into the Dutch mental state predicate denken ‘think’. It investigates both the semantic development (specifically, the evolution in the non-attitudinal vs. the attitudinal meanings of the verb) and the grammatical development (the evolution in terms of the types of grammatical patterns with which the verb appears), and the correlations between the two, from Old Dutch onwards. The discussion focuses specifically on the implications for our understanding of the processes of grammaticalisation and subjectification, and their correlations: the verb shows clear signs of a process of semantic subjectification, but not of structural grammaticalisation, hence it offers evidence for the assumption that these two processes are less intimately intertwined than is often assumed in the literature.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
-
Introduction
- On the relatedness of functionalism and pragmatics 1
-
I. Methods in the analysis of language and discourse
- Developing comprehensive criteria of adequacy 19
- A method of analysing recontextualisation in the communication of science 37
- Contrastive corpus annotation in the CONTRANOT project 57
- Form and function in evaluative language 87
- Life before Nation 111
-
II. Pragmatics and grammar
- A lexico-paradigmatic approach to English setting-constructions 133
- How did we think? 149
- The adverb truly in Present-Day English 169
-
III. Current trends in pragmatics and discourse analysis
- Nominal reference and the dynamics of discourse 189
- ‘Pragmatic punting’ and prosody 209
- Besides as a connective 223
- Searle and Sinclair on communicative acts 243
- Strategies of (in)directness in Spanish speakers’ production of complaints and disagreements in English and Spanish 261
- Name index 285
- Term index 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
-
Introduction
- On the relatedness of functionalism and pragmatics 1
-
I. Methods in the analysis of language and discourse
- Developing comprehensive criteria of adequacy 19
- A method of analysing recontextualisation in the communication of science 37
- Contrastive corpus annotation in the CONTRANOT project 57
- Form and function in evaluative language 87
- Life before Nation 111
-
II. Pragmatics and grammar
- A lexico-paradigmatic approach to English setting-constructions 133
- How did we think? 149
- The adverb truly in Present-Day English 169
-
III. Current trends in pragmatics and discourse analysis
- Nominal reference and the dynamics of discourse 189
- ‘Pragmatic punting’ and prosody 209
- Besides as a connective 223
- Searle and Sinclair on communicative acts 243
- Strategies of (in)directness in Spanish speakers’ production of complaints and disagreements in English and Spanish 261
- Name index 285
- Term index 289
