Do we really need a Multimodal Construction Grammar?
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Alexander Ziem
Abstract
A multimodal construction is said to be a conventional pairing of a complex form, comprising at least a verbal and a kinetic element, with a specific meaning or a specific function. Do we need a new constructional approach to account for such multimodal constructions? What are the challenges to account for multimodality? The aim of this contribution is to provide a precise notion ‘multimodal construction’ and, on this basis, to indicate possible pathways for future investigations. The paper opts for cautiously extending the scope of existing constructional approaches in order to include non-linguistic meaningful behavior. In particular, it is argued that even though Construction Grammar invites for treating multimodal on a par with linguistic constructions, there is a huge lack of substantial empirical support to arrive at a more detailed and data-based understanding of the nature of multimodal constructions.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Elisabeth Zima and Alexander Bergs – the editors of this special issue on multimodal constructions – for their helpful support. I am also grateful to the anonymous reviewers who provided helpful comments. It goes without saying that the usual disclaimer applies.
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© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Multimodality and construction grammar
- Multimodal constructs – multimodal constructions? The role of constructions in the working memory
- Utterance Construction Grammar (UCxG) and the variable multimodality of constructions
- Apposition: A multimodal construction? The multimodality of linguistic constructions in the light of usage-based theory
- Is there a multimodal construction based on non-deictic so in German?
- Multimodal existential constructions in German: Manual actions of giving as experiential substrate for grammatical and gestural patterns
- On the multimodality of [all the way from X PREP Y]
- Timelines and multimodal constructions: Facing new challenges
- Multimodal form-meaning pairs for blended classic joint attention
- Multimodal rhetoric: Fictive interaction strategies in political discourse
- The “Negative-Assessment-Construction” – A multimodal pattern based on a recurrent gesture?
- The shrug as marker of obviousness
- Multimodal Construction Grammar issues are Construction Grammar issues
- Do we really need a Multimodal Construction Grammar?
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Multimodality and construction grammar
- Multimodal constructs – multimodal constructions? The role of constructions in the working memory
- Utterance Construction Grammar (UCxG) and the variable multimodality of constructions
- Apposition: A multimodal construction? The multimodality of linguistic constructions in the light of usage-based theory
- Is there a multimodal construction based on non-deictic so in German?
- Multimodal existential constructions in German: Manual actions of giving as experiential substrate for grammatical and gestural patterns
- On the multimodality of [all the way from X PREP Y]
- Timelines and multimodal constructions: Facing new challenges
- Multimodal form-meaning pairs for blended classic joint attention
- Multimodal rhetoric: Fictive interaction strategies in political discourse
- The “Negative-Assessment-Construction” – A multimodal pattern based on a recurrent gesture?
- The shrug as marker of obviousness
- Multimodal Construction Grammar issues are Construction Grammar issues
- Do we really need a Multimodal Construction Grammar?
