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Chapter 10. On the divergent developments of two German causal subjunctions

Syntactic reanalysis and the evolution of causal meaning
  • Ira Eberhardt and Katrin Axel-Tober
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Micro- and Macro-variation of Causal Clauses
This chapter is in the book Micro- and Macro-variation of Causal Clauses

Abstract

This chapter discusses the development of two German causal subjunctions weil and zumal. In particular, it introduces a new proposal for the syntactic reanalysis of weil in the C0-position from a free relative clause. Later, weil-clauses also underwent a shift in meaning in the course of which weil developed from a temporal into a causal subjunction. The development of temporal into causal meaning is widely-attested cross-linguistically. This chapter argues that in the case of German, the actuation of this general path was probably enabled by prior extensions of the temporal meaning, which had made the subjunction into a universal subjunction of simultaneity relations. The subjunction zumal, by contrast, developed from the combination zumal weil ‘especially since’ after zumal had been reanalyzed in the C0-position. The reanalysis only concerned the internal syntax of the clause. Its external syntax and the meaning remained stable and corresponded to zumal weil-clauses. Based on these findings, it will be argued more generally that the development of new elements in the C0-position takes place through the fusion of the properties of the new and the old C0-elements. After the reanalysis, the new C0-element has the subordinating force of the old C0-element as well as the semantic content of the new and the old C0-element.

Abstract

This chapter discusses the development of two German causal subjunctions weil and zumal. In particular, it introduces a new proposal for the syntactic reanalysis of weil in the C0-position from a free relative clause. Later, weil-clauses also underwent a shift in meaning in the course of which weil developed from a temporal into a causal subjunction. The development of temporal into causal meaning is widely-attested cross-linguistically. This chapter argues that in the case of German, the actuation of this general path was probably enabled by prior extensions of the temporal meaning, which had made the subjunction into a universal subjunction of simultaneity relations. The subjunction zumal, by contrast, developed from the combination zumal weil ‘especially since’ after zumal had been reanalyzed in the C0-position. The reanalysis only concerned the internal syntax of the clause. Its external syntax and the meaning remained stable and corresponded to zumal weil-clauses. Based on these findings, it will be argued more generally that the development of new elements in the C0-position takes place through the fusion of the properties of the new and the old C0-elements. After the reanalysis, the new C0-element has the subordinating force of the old C0-element as well as the semantic content of the new and the old C0-element.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface and acknowledgments vii
  4. Chapter 1. Outline of the volume 1
  5. Part I. Setting the scene
  6. Chapter 2. Adverbial clauses and their variation 15
  7. Part II. Synchronic variation
  8. Chapter 3. Types of German causal clauses and their syntactic-semantic layers 51
  9. Chapter 4. Pragmatic subordination 101
  10. Chapter 5. English rationale since and a reassessment of the typology of adverbial clauses 129
  11. Chapter 6. Expressing non-volitional causality in English 167
  12. Chapter 7. Layers of subordinate clauses 184
  13. Chapter 8. On the syntax of causal clauses in Mandarin Chinese 221
  14. Chapter 9. Three ReasonPs 250
  15. Part III. Diachrony
  16. Chapter 10. On the divergent developments of two German causal subjunctions 269
  17. Chapter 11. Factors for the integration of causal clauses in the history of German 311
  18. Language index 347
  19. Subject index 348
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.231.10ebe

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface and acknowledgments vii
  4. Chapter 1. Outline of the volume 1
  5. Part I. Setting the scene
  6. Chapter 2. Adverbial clauses and their variation 15
  7. Part II. Synchronic variation
  8. Chapter 3. Types of German causal clauses and their syntactic-semantic layers 51
  9. Chapter 4. Pragmatic subordination 101
  10. Chapter 5. English rationale since and a reassessment of the typology of adverbial clauses 129
  11. Chapter 6. Expressing non-volitional causality in English 167
  12. Chapter 7. Layers of subordinate clauses 184
  13. Chapter 8. On the syntax of causal clauses in Mandarin Chinese 221
  14. Chapter 9. Three ReasonPs 250
  15. Part III. Diachrony
  16. Chapter 10. On the divergent developments of two German causal subjunctions 269
  17. Chapter 11. Factors for the integration of causal clauses in the history of German 311
  18. Language index 347
  19. Subject index 348
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