Grammaticalization and models of language
-
Nigel Vincent
Abstract
The focus of this paper is the role of theory for the understanding of linguistic change. We argue that ‘formal’ and ‘functional’ should not be seen as two incompatible ways of viewing linguistic data, but as necessary aspects of any linguistic theory. We consider how theories which are formal, but which incorporate functional information can advance our understanding of linguistic change, for instance Dynamic Syntax and Lexical-Functional Grammar, especially when combined with Stochastic OT. We consider analyses which show that formal semantics can provide more insightful accounts of certain changes than purely syntactic analyses such as those proposed in some papers in this volume. We compare approaches particularly with respect to analyses of gradience and the directionality of grammaticalization.
Abstract
The focus of this paper is the role of theory for the understanding of linguistic change. We argue that ‘formal’ and ‘functional’ should not be seen as two incompatible ways of viewing linguistic data, but as necessary aspects of any linguistic theory. We consider how theories which are formal, but which incorporate functional information can advance our understanding of linguistic change, for instance Dynamic Syntax and Lexical-Functional Grammar, especially when combined with Stochastic OT. We consider analyses which show that formal semantics can provide more insightful accounts of certain changes than purely syntactic analyses such as those proposed in some papers in this volume. We compare approaches particularly with respect to analyses of gradience and the directionality of grammaticalization.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface 1
- Gradience, gradualness and grammaticalization 19
- Grammaticalization, the clausal hierarchy and semantic bleaching 45
- Grammatical interference 75
- Category change in English with and without structural change 105
- Features in reanalysis and grammaticalization 129
- How synchronic gradience makes sense in the light of language change (and vice versa) 149
- What can synchronic gradience tell us about reanalysis? 181
- A paradigmatic approach to language and language change 203
- Grammaticalization and the it-cleft construction 221
- Grammaticalization in Chinese 245
- Grammaticalization and models of language 279
- Language index 301
- Subject index 303
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface 1
- Gradience, gradualness and grammaticalization 19
- Grammaticalization, the clausal hierarchy and semantic bleaching 45
- Grammatical interference 75
- Category change in English with and without structural change 105
- Features in reanalysis and grammaticalization 129
- How synchronic gradience makes sense in the light of language change (and vice versa) 149
- What can synchronic gradience tell us about reanalysis? 181
- A paradigmatic approach to language and language change 203
- Grammaticalization and the it-cleft construction 221
- Grammaticalization in Chinese 245
- Grammaticalization and models of language 279
- Language index 301
- Subject index 303
