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Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity

  • Ekkehard König
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Similative and Equative Constructions
This chapter is in the book Similative and Equative Constructions

Abstract

Starting out from the observation that comparisons and assessments of similarity and difference are fundamental cognitive processes and play an important role in a variety of human activities, this article shows that the most basic verbal means for the expression of similarity are demonstratives of manner, quality and degree (Frenchainsi,tel,tellement). It is shown that the gestural (exophoric) use of such demonstratives provides the source of a wide variety of constructions in a wide variety of languages, so that these demonstratives are instantiations of a semantic category of “similatives” par excellence. Building on earlier work by the same author, the article analyses and describes the wide-spread processes of grammaticalisation leading from exophorically used demonstratives to various types of anaphors, to quotatives, conjunctional adverbs, comparative constructions and to affirmative or approximative particles. The illustrations provided for these pervasive changes are mainly taken from European languages, but occasionally also enriched by exemplification from languages outside of Europe.

Abstract

Starting out from the observation that comparisons and assessments of similarity and difference are fundamental cognitive processes and play an important role in a variety of human activities, this article shows that the most basic verbal means for the expression of similarity are demonstratives of manner, quality and degree (Frenchainsi,tel,tellement). It is shown that the gestural (exophoric) use of such demonstratives provides the source of a wide variety of constructions in a wide variety of languages, so that these demonstratives are instantiations of a semantic category of “similatives” par excellence. Building on earlier work by the same author, the article analyses and describes the wide-spread processes of grammaticalisation leading from exophorically used demonstratives to various types of anaphors, to quotatives, conjunctional adverbs, comparative constructions and to affirmative or approximative particles. The illustrations provided for these pervasive changes are mainly taken from European languages, but occasionally also enriched by exemplification from languages outside of Europe.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation
  5. Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective 9
  6. Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions 33
  7. Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) 79
  8. Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond 91
  9. Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity 143
  10. Part II. Case studies from around the world
  11. Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria 167
  12. Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) 189
  13. Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic 213
  14. Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) 239
  15. Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami 259
  16. Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon 291
  17. Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker = kán in Pesh 321
  18. Part III. Similative constructions and language contact
  19. Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa 341
  20. Chapter 14. The morpheme ‑ (ä)ŋä in Xamtanga 359
  21. Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido 387
  22. Language index 419
  23. Name Index 423
  24. Subject index 429
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.117.06kon

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation
  5. Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective 9
  6. Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions 33
  7. Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) 79
  8. Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond 91
  9. Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity 143
  10. Part II. Case studies from around the world
  11. Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria 167
  12. Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) 189
  13. Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic 213
  14. Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) 239
  15. Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami 259
  16. Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon 291
  17. Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker = kán in Pesh 321
  18. Part III. Similative constructions and language contact
  19. Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa 341
  20. Chapter 14. The morpheme ‑ (ä)ŋä in Xamtanga 359
  21. Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido 387
  22. Language index 419
  23. Name Index 423
  24. Subject index 429
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