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The relevance of origin

Exploring the connection between the origin and frequency of Maltese prepositions
  • Maike Vorholt
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Diversity in Contact
This chapter is in the book Diversity in Contact

Abstract

This paper takes a closer look at the origin and token frequency of Maltese prepositions to describe a possible connection between the two. What is known about adposition borrowing in general is compared to the Maltese situation. The composition of the word class of prepositions is analyzed and the integration of borrowed prepositions into the language is described. Possible other factors influencing frequency are discussed. Regression analyses of origin and other factors are conducted to see which of them is best to model token frequency.

Abstract

This paper takes a closer look at the origin and token frequency of Maltese prepositions to describe a possible connection between the two. What is known about adposition borrowing in general is compared to the Maltese situation. The composition of the word class of prepositions is analyzed and the integration of borrowed prepositions into the language is described. Possible other factors influencing frequency are discussed. Regression analyses of origin and other factors are conducted to see which of them is best to model token frequency.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part I
  5. Differential impact of colonial languages on written languages 3
  6. Contact in World Englishes at the nexus of language and culture 91
  7. Far beyond the Caucasus 111
  8. Scenarios of Basque Language Contact 145
  9. The relevance of origin 165
  10. On the morphosyntax of place names vs. common nouns in pidgins and creoles 195
  11. Places, manners, and the areal phonology of Europe 249
  12. Travellers in time and space 327
  13. Part II
  14. The city as multilingual utopia 369
  15. Fluid registers and fixed language concepts in postcolonial spaces 439
  16. Prolegomena to a study of code-switching in Togo and its metapragmatic functions 477
  17. Index of Authors 513
  18. Index of Languages, Language Families, and Linguistic Areas 521
  19. Index of Subjects 527
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111323756-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part I
  5. Differential impact of colonial languages on written languages 3
  6. Contact in World Englishes at the nexus of language and culture 91
  7. Far beyond the Caucasus 111
  8. Scenarios of Basque Language Contact 145
  9. The relevance of origin 165
  10. On the morphosyntax of place names vs. common nouns in pidgins and creoles 195
  11. Places, manners, and the areal phonology of Europe 249
  12. Travellers in time and space 327
  13. Part II
  14. The city as multilingual utopia 369
  15. Fluid registers and fixed language concepts in postcolonial spaces 439
  16. Prolegomena to a study of code-switching in Togo and its metapragmatic functions 477
  17. Index of Authors 513
  18. Index of Languages, Language Families, and Linguistic Areas 521
  19. Index of Subjects 527
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