Recontextualization and language change

Ferdinand von Mengden; Anneliese Kuhle

doi:10.1515/flih-2020-0008

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Recontextualization and language change

Ferdinand von Mengden und Anneliese Kuhle

Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 7. Dezember 2020

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Aus der Zeitschrift Folia Linguistica Band 54 Heft s41-s1

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of ‘recontextualization’ and its benefit for the study of language change. ‘Recontextualization’ refers to the use of familiar material, such as tools or gestures, which extend the body in variable contexts of behaviour. The concept is related to notions already established in other fields, such as primatology and anthropology. We claim that these parallels are meaningful as they represent an overarching principle which underlies the emergence of linguistic structures but which also connects linguistic usage with other types of behaviour and interaction. We thereby argue against notions of context-independent form-meaning pairings in language, which require assumptions like innovation or reanalysis as mechanisms of usage and, ultimately, change. In this sense, we concur with usage-based approaches that define the linguistic expression as inherently vague, underspecified and variable. But we further argue that the emergence and, as a consequence, the empirically observable properties of any linguistic structure are to be accounted for by speakers using the same material in novel contexts or situations. Any such ‘recontextualization’ then creates, in turn, new options for the re-use of a linguistic construction. The underlying categorizations, which typically form part of the linguistic descriptions, pertain to the reality of the observer (the linguist) and not primarily to that of the speaker.

Keywords: linguistic theory; synchronic-diachronic divide; language change; usage-based approach; emergent grammar; context; recontextualization

Corresponding author: Ferdinand von Mengden, Institut für Englische Philologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany, E-mail: f.vm@fu-berlin.de

Acknowledgments

A number of colleagues and friends shared their thoughts with us in discussions, after reading drafts at different stages of the development of this text, or at conferences where we presented our ideas. Among them are Tine Breban, David Denison, Lotte Flack, Isot Hübener, Martin Konvička, Muriel Norde, Uta Reinöhl, Horst Simon, Graeme Trousdale, Lars-Erik Zeige and the anonymous reviewers. We would like to express our gratitude to all of them. Their fruitful insights and critical comments contributed to whatever readers will find appreciable about this text. It goes without saying that the responsibility for flaws and inaccuracies remains entirely with us.

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Received: 2019-11-11

Accepted: 2020-07-03

Published Online: 2020-12-07

Published in Print: 2020-12-16

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Schlagwörter für diesen Artikel

linguistic theory; synchronic-diachronic divide; language change; usage-based approach; emergent grammar; context; recontextualization