Life after degrammaticalisation
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Laura Wright
Abstract
The present paper challenges the notion that grammaticalisation is opposed to lexicalisation, and that degrammaticalisation automatically entails lexicalisation. An equally plausible change of status of a former grammatical formative is for it to turn into a sociolinguistic marker. This point is made on the basis of the degrammaticalisation of present plural be in Standard English, and its subsequent reemergence as a sociolinguistic variable. Basilectal be was transmitted via the speech of transported London prisoners, among others, to the New World where it is now a prominent feature of African American Vernacular English.
The data for this survey are taken from the Bridewell Court Minute Books, 1559–1625. The language therein provides evidence of the speech-community from which many of the earliest Virginia indentured servants originally came.
Abstract
The present paper challenges the notion that grammaticalisation is opposed to lexicalisation, and that degrammaticalisation automatically entails lexicalisation. An equally plausible change of status of a former grammatical formative is for it to turn into a sociolinguistic marker. This point is made on the basis of the degrammaticalisation of present plural be in Standard English, and its subsequent reemergence as a sociolinguistic variable. Basilectal be was transmitted via the speech of transported London prisoners, among others, to the New World where it is now a prominent feature of African American Vernacular English.
The data for this survey are taken from the Bridewell Court Minute Books, 1559–1625. The language therein provides evidence of the speech-community from which many of the earliest Virginia indentured servants originally came.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction ix
- Three perspectives on grammaticalization 1
- Have to, gotta, must ? 33
- The semantic path from modality to aspect 57
- The passival and the progressive passive 79
- Corpus linguistics and grammaticalisation theory 121
- Grammaticalisation from side to side 151
- Are low-frequency complex prepositions grammaticalized? 171
- Life after degrammaticalisation 211
- Subject clitics in English 227
- Name index 257
- Subject index 261
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction ix
- Three perspectives on grammaticalization 1
- Have to, gotta, must ? 33
- The semantic path from modality to aspect 57
- The passival and the progressive passive 79
- Corpus linguistics and grammaticalisation theory 121
- Grammaticalisation from side to side 151
- Are low-frequency complex prepositions grammaticalized? 171
- Life after degrammaticalisation 211
- Subject clitics in English 227
- Name index 257
- Subject index 261
