Gradualness in change in English (augmented) absolutes
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Nikki van de Pol
Abstract
This paper investigates the gradual semantic and syntactic development of Absolute Constructions (AC) in English (an example from Present-day English is: With the teacher refusing to comply, Barry took the matter to the dean (Berent 1975: 11)). On the basis of a comprehensive study of ACs in the Penn Parsed corpora of English, as well as of selected data in the Helsinki Corpus, it is shown that augmented and unaugmented ACs underwent a gradual structural and semantic development. In particular, the AC expanded its array of predicate types making up its characteristic [Subject + Predicate] structure; at the same time, with-ACs in particular show a clear increase in semantic generality. It is argued that this development can easily be accommodated into Himmelmann’s view of grammaticalization as context expansion. Finally, the integration of this development in the framework of grammatical constructionalization (e.g. Traugott 2008a; Trousdale 2012b) is explored.
Abstract
This paper investigates the gradual semantic and syntactic development of Absolute Constructions (AC) in English (an example from Present-day English is: With the teacher refusing to comply, Barry took the matter to the dean (Berent 1975: 11)). On the basis of a comprehensive study of ACs in the Penn Parsed corpora of English, as well as of selected data in the Helsinki Corpus, it is shown that augmented and unaugmented ACs underwent a gradual structural and semantic development. In particular, the AC expanded its array of predicate types making up its characteristic [Subject + Predicate] structure; at the same time, with-ACs in particular show a clear increase in semantic generality. It is argued that this development can easily be accommodated into Himmelmann’s view of grammaticalization as context expansion. Finally, the integration of this development in the framework of grammatical constructionalization (e.g. Traugott 2008a; Trousdale 2012b) is explored.
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
