Figurativeness in English grammar
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Graeme Trousdale
Abstract
This chapter considers the relationship between constructions and certain kinds of figurative language, namely metonymic tropes and schemes of repetition. The role of metonymy in shifts from morphological compounds to derivational affixes is explored, along with creation of affixoids. The chapter then discusses the diverse reduplication patterns of English. Both partial (e.g. nitwit) and full (e.g. night-night) reduplications are explored. It is suggested that speakers of English have conventionalised reduplicative patterns in different ways, some of which have resulted in atomic and substantive constructions, such as hush-hush ‘secret’, and some of which have resulted in more complex and schematic constructions, such as the contrastive focus reduplication construction (e.g. I need a drink-drink, not tea).
Abstract
This chapter considers the relationship between constructions and certain kinds of figurative language, namely metonymic tropes and schemes of repetition. The role of metonymy in shifts from morphological compounds to derivational affixes is explored, along with creation of affixoids. The chapter then discusses the diverse reduplication patterns of English. Both partial (e.g. nitwit) and full (e.g. night-night) reduplications are explored. It is suggested that speakers of English have conventionalised reduplicative patterns in different ways, some of which have resulted in atomic and substantive constructions, such as hush-hush ‘secret’, and some of which have resulted in more complex and schematic constructions, such as the contrastive focus reduplication construction (e.g. I need a drink-drink, not tea).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Foundations and historiography
- Investigating substance-based grammar 9
- Anderson’s case grammar and the history of localism 113
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Part II. Lexicon, meaning and syntax
- The substance of the lexicon in a Generative Lexicon 201
- Entitatives and Indo-European n-stems 225
- Just for the record 261
- Figurativeness in English grammar 311
-
Part III. Phonology
- Rhotics and the derhoticization of English 339
- On grounding, internalism, modularity and grammaticalization in phonology 365
- Degrees of complexity in phonological segments 385
- Language index 431
- Subject index 433
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Foundations and historiography
- Investigating substance-based grammar 9
- Anderson’s case grammar and the history of localism 113
-
Part II. Lexicon, meaning and syntax
- The substance of the lexicon in a Generative Lexicon 201
- Entitatives and Indo-European n-stems 225
- Just for the record 261
- Figurativeness in English grammar 311
-
Part III. Phonology
- Rhotics and the derhoticization of English 339
- On grounding, internalism, modularity and grammaticalization in phonology 365
- Degrees of complexity in phonological segments 385
- Language index 431
- Subject index 433
