Colloquialization and “decolloquialization”
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Paula Rodríguez-Puente
Abstract
Given that phrasal verbs are generally related to colloquial styles in Present-day English, the increase of these structures in a particular text type can be interpreted as a sign of colloquialization. Conversely, a decrease in their use may imply the development of more formal, literate features or a tendency towards “decolloqualization”. The present paper examines the development of phrasal verbs in the most formal genres of ARCHER (A Representative Corpus of English Historical Registers), namely medicine, science and sermons. Findings show that the number of phrasal verbs decreases in medicine and science over time, thus displaying a clear tendency towards more literate styles or “decolloquialization”; in sermons, however, phrasal verbs tend to increase. In the light of this evidence, this paper analyzes the differences in use within formal genres, and also compares the use of phrasal verbs between formal and informal genres over time.
Abstract
Given that phrasal verbs are generally related to colloquial styles in Present-day English, the increase of these structures in a particular text type can be interpreted as a sign of colloquialization. Conversely, a decrease in their use may imply the development of more formal, literate features or a tendency towards “decolloqualization”. The present paper examines the development of phrasal verbs in the most formal genres of ARCHER (A Representative Corpus of English Historical Registers), namely medicine, science and sermons. Findings show that the number of phrasal verbs decreases in medicine and science over time, thus displaying a clear tendency towards more literate styles or “decolloquialization”; in sermons, however, phrasal verbs tend to increase. In the light of this evidence, this paper analyzes the differences in use within formal genres, and also compares the use of phrasal verbs between formal and informal genres over time.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- At the crossroads of language change, variation, and contact 1
-
PART I: Language change
- Knitting and splitting information 11
- The order of adverbials of time and place in Old English 39
- The demise of a preterite-present verb 61
- Gradience in an abrupt change 83
- Vowels before /r/ in the history of English 95
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PART II: Language variation
- “Pained the eye and stunned the ear” 113
- Watching as -clauses in Late Modern English 137
- Colloquialization and “decolloquialization” 163
- Letters of Artisans and the Labouring Poor (England, c . 1750–1835) 187
- New-dialect formation in medieval Ireland 213
- Tracing uses of will and would in Late Modern British and Irish English 239
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PART III: Variation and change in contact situations
- The subjunctive mood in Philippine English 259
- Revisiting a millennium of migrations 281
- <U> or <o>: A dilemma of the Middle English scribal practice 305
- Index 325
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- At the crossroads of language change, variation, and contact 1
-
PART I: Language change
- Knitting and splitting information 11
- The order of adverbials of time and place in Old English 39
- The demise of a preterite-present verb 61
- Gradience in an abrupt change 83
- Vowels before /r/ in the history of English 95
-
PART II: Language variation
- “Pained the eye and stunned the ear” 113
- Watching as -clauses in Late Modern English 137
- Colloquialization and “decolloquialization” 163
- Letters of Artisans and the Labouring Poor (England, c . 1750–1835) 187
- New-dialect formation in medieval Ireland 213
- Tracing uses of will and would in Late Modern British and Irish English 239
-
PART III: Variation and change in contact situations
- The subjunctive mood in Philippine English 259
- Revisiting a millennium of migrations 281
- <U> or <o>: A dilemma of the Middle English scribal practice 305
- Index 325
