Micro-processes of grammaticalization
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Letizia Vezzosi
Abstract
After the pioneering work of Lehmann (1982), grammaticalization has been at the centre of linguistic discussion, both as a theoretical basis for empirical diachronic studies and as a topic of inquiry itself. The present paper pertains to the first line of research and deals with an ongoing micro-process of grammaticalization in Italian: the emergence of a new reciprocal marker, namely uninflected l’un l’altro, which appears to be commonly produced by young people and frequently used in the language of the Internet. Synchronic analysis of its occurrence has revealed that the new pattern is semantically restricted to either intransitive or ordinary reciprocal predicates, whereas it is totally avoided in inherently reciprocal situations and always expresses the iteration or sequentiality of the sub-actions. These semantic constraints play a significant role in the diachronic development of a two-quantifier construction into a reciprocal marker; evidence of the fact that the two constructions are likely to represent two different but subsequent stages of the same linguistic development.
Abstract
After the pioneering work of Lehmann (1982), grammaticalization has been at the centre of linguistic discussion, both as a theoretical basis for empirical diachronic studies and as a topic of inquiry itself. The present paper pertains to the first line of research and deals with an ongoing micro-process of grammaticalization in Italian: the emergence of a new reciprocal marker, namely uninflected l’un l’altro, which appears to be commonly produced by young people and frequently used in the language of the Internet. Synchronic analysis of its occurrence has revealed that the new pattern is semantically restricted to either intransitive or ordinary reciprocal predicates, whereas it is totally avoided in inherently reciprocal situations and always expresses the iteration or sequentiality of the sub-actions. These semantic constraints play a significant role in the diachronic development of a two-quantifier construction into a reciprocal marker; evidence of the fact that the two constructions are likely to represent two different but subsequent stages of the same linguistic development.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
part I Basic questions
- On some problem areas in grammaticalization studies 17
- Issues in constructional approaches to grammaticalization in English 51
- Reconsidering erosion in grammaticalization 73
- Grammaticalization, subjectification and objectification 101
- Degrammaticalization 123
- Degrammaticalization and obsolescent morphology 151
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part II Grammaticalization and the explanation of language change
- An analogical approach to grammaticalization 181
- Does grammaticalisation need analogy? 221
- What grammaticalisation can reveal about same-subject control 241
- How the Latin neuter pronominal forms became markers of non-individuation in Spanish 273
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part III Case studies of micro-processes of grammaticalization
- The Grammaticalization of the German adjectives lauter (and eitel ) 297
- Is German gehören an auxiliary? 323
- Micro-processes of grammaticalization 343
- List of contributors 373
- Index 375
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
part I Basic questions
- On some problem areas in grammaticalization studies 17
- Issues in constructional approaches to grammaticalization in English 51
- Reconsidering erosion in grammaticalization 73
- Grammaticalization, subjectification and objectification 101
- Degrammaticalization 123
- Degrammaticalization and obsolescent morphology 151
-
part II Grammaticalization and the explanation of language change
- An analogical approach to grammaticalization 181
- Does grammaticalisation need analogy? 221
- What grammaticalisation can reveal about same-subject control 241
- How the Latin neuter pronominal forms became markers of non-individuation in Spanish 273
-
part III Case studies of micro-processes of grammaticalization
- The Grammaticalization of the German adjectives lauter (and eitel ) 297
- Is German gehören an auxiliary? 323
- Micro-processes of grammaticalization 343
- List of contributors 373
- Index 375
