John Benjamins Publishing Company
Diachronic clues to grammaticalization phenomena in the Cimbrian CP
Abstract
Saying that a minority language proves to be quite a fascinating object of research when it comes to describing how it is affected by a stronger (standard) language is quite obvious. However, the way in which elements (both lexical and functional) borrowed from the stronger language infiltrate the weaker one is far less evident. Observing the Cimbrian CP, I will take into account both the complementizer ke (Italian loanword, competing with the earlier az) and other (CP-related) particles that I take to have undergone a process of reanalysis from a diachronic point of view, putting forward that the "expansion" of loanwords (especially functional ones) does not take place randomly. I also will show that synchronic data - especially when it comes to the so-called semi-speakers - can confirm this hypothesis. Key words. Complementation, minority language, cartography.
Abstract
Saying that a minority language proves to be quite a fascinating object of research when it comes to describing how it is affected by a stronger (standard) language is quite obvious. However, the way in which elements (both lexical and functional) borrowed from the stronger language infiltrate the weaker one is far less evident. Observing the Cimbrian CP, I will take into account both the complementizer ke (Italian loanword, competing with the earlier az) and other (CP-related) particles that I take to have undergone a process of reanalysis from a diachronic point of view, putting forward that the "expansion" of loanwords (especially functional ones) does not take place randomly. I also will show that synchronic data - especially when it comes to the so-called semi-speakers - can confirm this hypothesis. Key words. Complementation, minority language, cartography.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of abbreviations ix
- List of contributors xi
- Why study Sprachinseln from generative or structural perspectives? 1
-
Section 1. Phonetics & Phonology
- On final laryngeal distinctions in Wisconsin Standard German 13
- Past participles in Mòcheno 33
-
Section 2. Morphology & Lexical studies
- Plautdietsch gender 67
- Anaphors in contact 111
- Lexical developments in Texas German 129
- Gender assignment of English loanwords in Pennsylvania German 151
-
Section 3. Syntax I - Verb clusters
- Synchrony and diachrony of verb clusters in Pennsylvania Dutch 165
- Looking for order in chaos 187
-
Section 4. Syntax II - The syntax of Cimbrian German
- Spoken syntax in Cimbrian of the linguistic islands in Northern Italy- and what they (do not) betray about language universals and change under areal contact with Italo-Romance 233
- Diachronic clues to grammaticalization phenomena in the Cimbrian CP 279
- Hidden verb second 301
- Revisiting the Wackernagelposition 347
-
Section 5. Syntax III - The syntax of Pennsylvania German
- Changes in frequency as a measure of language change 371
- From preposition to purposive to infinitival marker 385
-
Section 6. Pragmatics & Conversation analysis
- Word choice, turn construction, and topic management in German conversation 415
- Texas German discourse pragmatics 455
- Index 475
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of abbreviations ix
- List of contributors xi
- Why study Sprachinseln from generative or structural perspectives? 1
-
Section 1. Phonetics & Phonology
- On final laryngeal distinctions in Wisconsin Standard German 13
- Past participles in Mòcheno 33
-
Section 2. Morphology & Lexical studies
- Plautdietsch gender 67
- Anaphors in contact 111
- Lexical developments in Texas German 129
- Gender assignment of English loanwords in Pennsylvania German 151
-
Section 3. Syntax I - Verb clusters
- Synchrony and diachrony of verb clusters in Pennsylvania Dutch 165
- Looking for order in chaos 187
-
Section 4. Syntax II - The syntax of Cimbrian German
- Spoken syntax in Cimbrian of the linguistic islands in Northern Italy- and what they (do not) betray about language universals and change under areal contact with Italo-Romance 233
- Diachronic clues to grammaticalization phenomena in the Cimbrian CP 279
- Hidden verb second 301
- Revisiting the Wackernagelposition 347
-
Section 5. Syntax III - The syntax of Pennsylvania German
- Changes in frequency as a measure of language change 371
- From preposition to purposive to infinitival marker 385
-
Section 6. Pragmatics & Conversation analysis
- Word choice, turn construction, and topic management in German conversation 415
- Texas German discourse pragmatics 455
- Index 475
