A case study on the relationship between grammatical change and synchronic variation
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Miriam Voghera
Abstract
Over recent decades the Italian word tipo (Eng. type) has developed numerous non-nominal uses. This paper seeks to address the issue of whether synchronic variation in the use of tipo reflects diachronic development. Findings indicate that, (1) the complex path of grammaticalization of tipo led to the availability of new signs for the expression of vagueness and approximation; (2) the distribution of different non-nominal uses of tipo varies in relation to different dimensions, the most relevant of which is the textual and register variation; (3) the co-presence of multiple meanings and functions of non-nominal tipo does not result in fuzzy morphosyntactic boundaries between different uses of the word, and differences between specific instances of tipo can be represented in terms of prototypical vs. less prototypical realization of categories.
Abstract
Over recent decades the Italian word tipo (Eng. type) has developed numerous non-nominal uses. This paper seeks to address the issue of whether synchronic variation in the use of tipo reflects diachronic development. Findings indicate that, (1) the complex path of grammaticalization of tipo led to the availability of new signs for the expression of vagueness and approximation; (2) the distribution of different non-nominal uses of tipo varies in relation to different dimensions, the most relevant of which is the textual and register variation; (3) the co-presence of multiple meanings and functions of non-nominal tipo does not result in fuzzy morphosyntactic boundaries between different uses of the word, and differences between specific instances of tipo can be represented in terms of prototypical vs. less prototypical realization of categories.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors ix
- Synchrony and diachrony 1
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Part I. The role of analogy and constructions in the synchrony-diachrony interface
- Gradualness in language change 27
- Gradual change and continual variation 43
- Can you literally be scared sick ? 79
- The reputed sense of be meant to 105
- Gradualness in analogical change as a complexification stage in a language simplification process 125
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Part II. Synchronic variation and language change
- Semantic maps, for synchronic and diachronic typology 153
- Synchronic gradience and language change in Latin genitive constructions 177
- Double agreement in the Alpine languages 201
- On variation in gender agreement 237
- Synchronic Variation and Grammatical Change 261
- A case study on the relationship between grammatical change and synchronic variation 283
- Grammaticalization in the present – The changes of modern Swedish typ 313
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Part III. Gradualness in language change
- Gradualness in change in English (augmented) absolutes 341
- Grammatical encoding of referentiality in the history of Hungarian 367
- Gradualness in contact-induced constructional replication 391
- Binding Hierarchy and peculiarities of the verb potere in some Southern Calabrian varieties 419
- Author index 441
- Subject index 447
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors ix
- Synchrony and diachrony 1
-
Part I. The role of analogy and constructions in the synchrony-diachrony interface
- Gradualness in language change 27
- Gradual change and continual variation 43
- Can you literally be scared sick ? 79
- The reputed sense of be meant to 105
- Gradualness in analogical change as a complexification stage in a language simplification process 125
-
Part II. Synchronic variation and language change
- Semantic maps, for synchronic and diachronic typology 153
- Synchronic gradience and language change in Latin genitive constructions 177
- Double agreement in the Alpine languages 201
- On variation in gender agreement 237
- Synchronic Variation and Grammatical Change 261
- A case study on the relationship between grammatical change and synchronic variation 283
- Grammaticalization in the present – The changes of modern Swedish typ 313
-
Part III. Gradualness in language change
- Gradualness in change in English (augmented) absolutes 341
- Grammatical encoding of referentiality in the history of Hungarian 367
- Gradualness in contact-induced constructional replication 391
- Binding Hierarchy and peculiarities of the verb potere in some Southern Calabrian varieties 419
- Author index 441
- Subject index 447
