Verstärkungsprozesse. Zu einer Theorie der „Sekretion“ und des „Re-konstruktionellen Ikonismus“ [Strengthening processes. Toward a theory of “secretion” and “re-constructional iconicity”]
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Rüdiger Harnisch
Abstract
Challenged by the claim that grammaticalization processes are unidirectional, an increasing number of attempts have been made to prove the existence of degrammaticalization processes. In this paper it is argued that phenomena of degrammaticalization, i.e. status raising on a scale of constructional levels (from pure phonological substance to an affix, from an affix to a word, and so on) connected with semantic concretion, and phenomena of „de-lexicalization“ as they are called here, i.e. resegmentation connected with folk-etymology like remotivation of formerly opaque elements, should be described within the framework of a „secretion theory“ and explained by means of a theory of „re-constructional iconism“.
The theory of „constructional iconicity“ claims that features of semantic markedness and of formal marking should preferably be in line. If they are not, they should be brought into line by means which re-construct iconicity. Such correlation may be missing on two grounds: Either meaning (+sem) is unexpressed (-sym); this kind of discordance can be healed by adding some morphemic substance (+sym). Or formal substance exists (+sym) but lacks a semantic correlate (-sem); this kind of discordance – the main subject of this paper – is healed by segregating this (junk-like) substance and by re-using (exapting) it as a sign, i.e. giving it a semantic interpretation, and thus moving it upwards on the scale of linguistic entities.
Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Entwicklungen und Fragen in der Grammatikalisierungsforschung [Developments and questions in grammaticalization research ]
- Theory and method in grammaticalization [Theorie und Methode in der Grammatikalisierung]
- Grammatikalisierung und Subjektivierung: Traugott und Langacker revisited [Grammaticalization and subjectivization: Traugott and Langacker revisited]
- Verstärkungsprozesse. Zu einer Theorie der „Sekretion“ und des „Re-konstruktionellen Ikonismus“ [Strengthening processes. Toward a theory of “secretion” and “re-constructional iconicity”]
- Submorphematische Motiviertheit als Grammatikalisierungsergebnis: zur Grammatikalisierung von Reflexivpronomen [Submorphematic motivatedness as a result of grammaticalization: on the grammaticalization of reflexive pronouns]
- Unterdeterminiertheit in der Schnittstelle Syntax/ Semantik bei Grammatikalisierungsphänomenen am Beispiel schon [Underdeterminateness at the syntax/semantics interface in grammaticalization phenomena based on the example schon]
- Der Gebrauch von Präfixverben zum Ausdruck von Aspekt/Aktionsart im Altenglischen und Althochdeutschen [The use of prefixed verbs in expressing aspect/aktionsart in Old English and Old High German]
- Jein, Fortschrott und Ehrgeizhals. Wortkreuzungen in der deutschen Gegenwartssprache [Jein, Fortschrott und Ehrgeizhals. Blends in present-day German]
- Die Lesbarkeit der Stadt [The readability of the city]
- Tagungsbericht IADA-Workshop in Chicago [Proceedings of the IADA Workshop in Chicago]
- Dialektforschung im Internet [Dialect research on the Internet]
- Zeitschriftenschau
Articles in the same Issue
- Entwicklungen und Fragen in der Grammatikalisierungsforschung [Developments and questions in grammaticalization research ]
- Theory and method in grammaticalization [Theorie und Methode in der Grammatikalisierung]
- Grammatikalisierung und Subjektivierung: Traugott und Langacker revisited [Grammaticalization and subjectivization: Traugott and Langacker revisited]
- Verstärkungsprozesse. Zu einer Theorie der „Sekretion“ und des „Re-konstruktionellen Ikonismus“ [Strengthening processes. Toward a theory of “secretion” and “re-constructional iconicity”]
- Submorphematische Motiviertheit als Grammatikalisierungsergebnis: zur Grammatikalisierung von Reflexivpronomen [Submorphematic motivatedness as a result of grammaticalization: on the grammaticalization of reflexive pronouns]
- Unterdeterminiertheit in der Schnittstelle Syntax/ Semantik bei Grammatikalisierungsphänomenen am Beispiel schon [Underdeterminateness at the syntax/semantics interface in grammaticalization phenomena based on the example schon]
- Der Gebrauch von Präfixverben zum Ausdruck von Aspekt/Aktionsart im Altenglischen und Althochdeutschen [The use of prefixed verbs in expressing aspect/aktionsart in Old English and Old High German]
- Jein, Fortschrott und Ehrgeizhals. Wortkreuzungen in der deutschen Gegenwartssprache [Jein, Fortschrott und Ehrgeizhals. Blends in present-day German]
- Die Lesbarkeit der Stadt [The readability of the city]
- Tagungsbericht IADA-Workshop in Chicago [Proceedings of the IADA Workshop in Chicago]
- Dialektforschung im Internet [Dialect research on the Internet]
- Zeitschriftenschau
