Brems Layering of Size and Type Noun Constructions in English

1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-3-11-025292-7
Verlag: De Gruyter
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 74, 420 Seiten

Reihe: Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL]ISSN

On the basis of synchronic and diachronic data analysis, the volume takes a close look at the synchronic layers of binominal size noun and type noun uses (a bunch/a load of X; a sort of X; aYtype of X) and reconsiders the framework of grammaticalization in view of issues raised by the phrases under discussion. As a result, a construction grammar-approach to grammaticalization is developed which does justice to the syntagmatic lexical, or collocational, reclustering observed in the data within an eclectic cognitive-functional approach.

Zielgruppe

Scholars from a variety of Linguistic Frameworks, such as Grammaticalization, Construction Grammar and Corpus Research, but also People working in Stylistics and Pragmatics

Autoren/Hrsg.

Brems, Lieselotte

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Einzelne Sprachen & Sprachfamilien
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Semantik & Pragmatik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Grammatik, Syntax, Morphologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Acknowledgements;6
2;Table of contents;8
3;Part I: Preliminaries;14
3.1;Chapter 1: Description of the topic and state of the art;15
3.1.1;1.1 Description of the topic: Sort of a lot of size and type nouns;15
3.1.1.1;1.1.1 Size noun constructions;21
3.1.1.2;1.1.2 Type noun constructions;29
3.1.2;1.2 State of the art: reference grammars and theoretically-oriented literature on size and type nouns;32
3.1.2.1;1.2.1 Discussions of SNs in the literature;32
3.1.2.2;1.2.2 Discussions of TNs in the literature;40
3.1.2.3;1.2.3 Conclusions: a joint treatment of SN- and TN-constructions;50
3.2;Chapter 2: A cognitive-functional constructional framework for the English NP;54
3.2.1;2.1 Requirements of a framework for SN- and TN-constructions;54
3.2.1.1;2.1.1 Halliday’s systemic-functional approach;55
3.2.1.2;2.1.2 Langacker (1991): A radical functional account underpinned by dependency;60
3.2.1.3;2.1.3 McGregor’s semiotic grammar: Syntactic combinatorics in the NP;69
3.2.1.4;2.1.4 Conclusion: An eclectic functional model of the NP;72
3.2.2;2.2 A constructional framework of the English NP;73
3.2.2.1;2.2.1 Elaborating the functional model: SN- and TN-patterns as partially filled constructions;73
3.2.2.2;2.2.2 Background: From idioms to Construction Grammar;75
3.2.2.3;2.2.3 CxG as a family of constructional approaches: General tenets;76
3.2.2.4;2.2.4 A construction grammar approach to SN- and TN-patterns;81
3.2.3;2.3 Conclusion: A dynamic model of the NP for SN- and TN-constructions;91
3.3;Chapter 3: Grammaticalization, delexicalization and subjectification in SN- and TN-constructions;92
3.3.1;3.1 Grammaticalization, synchronic variation and emergent grammar;92
3.3.2;3.2 Grammaticalization: Changing perspectives;93
3.3.2.1;3.2.1 A morphology-based approach to grammaticalization;95
3.3.2.2;3.2.2 Criticism of Lehmann’s parameters and semantico-pragmatic approaches to grammaticalization;96
3.3.2.3;3.2.3 A construction-based approach to grammaticalization;99
3.3.2.4;3.2.4 Criticism of grammaticalization research;104
3.3.2.5;3.2.5 Discussion and conclusion;105
3.3.3;3.3 Grammaticalization of SN- and TN-constructions: From source to target construction;106
3.3.4;3.4 Factors at work in the grammaticalization of SN- and TN-constructions;107
3.3.4.1;3.4.1 Reanalysis and analogy;109
3.3.4.2;3.4.2 Semantic changes, layering and persistence, (inter)subjectification;116
3.3.4.3;3.4.3 Decategorialization: A positive interpretation;124
3.3.4.4;3.4.4 Paradigmaticization: A dynamic interpretation;126
3.3.4.5;3.4.5 Syntactic extension;126
3.3.4.6;3.4.6 Coalescence and phonetic erosion;128
3.3.4.7;3.4.7 Frequency;129
3.3.4.8;3.4.8 Cyclical processes of renewal;130
3.3.4.9;3.4.9 Lexicalization and grammaticalization;131
3.3.5;3.5 Conclusion: Grammaticalization as functional and formal approximation of a target construction;132
4;Part II: Synchronic and diachronic corpus studies;136
4.1;Chapter 4: SN-constructions;138
4.1.1;4.1 Introduction to SNs and issues overarching SNs and SSNs;138
4.1.2;4.2 Description of the synchronic data set, selection of the SNs and method of analysis;139
4.1.3;4.3 Head and quantifier constructions: heap(s) versus pile(s) and lot(s);145
4.1.3.1;4.3.1 Heap(s) versus pile(s);145
4.1.3.2;4.3.2 Lot of and lots of: Head, modifier and ambivalent uses;170
4.1.4;4.4 Towards valuing (quantifier) uses;173
4.1.4.1;4.4.1 Load and loads of;173
4.1.4.2;4.4.2 Bunch and bunches of;189
4.1.5;4.5 Premodification patterns and decategorialization: A case for collocationally constrained constructions;204
4.1.6;4.6 Degrees of grammaticality;214
4.1.7;4.7 Diachronic corpus study of heap(s) and lot(s);217
4.1.7.1;4.7.1 Introduction;217
4.1.7.2;4.7.2 Data sets and methodology used;219
4.1.7.3;4.7.3 Heap and heaps;220
4.1.7.4;4.7.4 Lot and lots;223
4.1.7.5;4.7.5 Discussion of findings;226
4.1.7.6;4.7.6 Conclusions;228
4.1.8;4.8 Comparative study: English heap(s) and bunch versus Dutch hoop, hopen and stel, stelletje, zooi and zooitje;229
4.1.8.1;4.8.1 Head and (valuing) quantifier constructions of English and Dutch SNs;229
4.1.8.2;4.8.2 Introduction to the data and methodological issues;230
4.1.8.3;4.8.3 Quantitative and qualitative data analysis;231
4.1.8.4;4.8.4 Discussion and conclusion;241
4.1.9;4.9 Synchronic layering of SN-constructions;242
4.2;Chapter 5: Small SN-constructions;247
4.2.1;5.1 Introduction: Similarities and differences between regular SNs and SSNs as sets of meso-constructions;247
4.2.2;5.2 Description of the corpus data and methodological issues;251
4.2.3;5.3 Hoffmann (2004): Frequency and analogy in low-frequency complex prepositions;253
4.2.4;5.4 Polarity sensitive contexts in SSN-constructions;256
4.2.5;5.5 Individual discussions of SSN-constructions;258
4.2.5.1;5.5.1 Bit of;261
4.2.5.2;5.5.2 Positive polarity SSNs;265
4.2.5.3;5.5.3 Negative polarity SSNs;267
4.2.6;5.6 Discussion and conclusions;276
4.3;Chapter 6: TN-constructions;283
4.3.1;6.1 Introduction;283
4.3.2;6.2 Description of the synchronic data sets;286
4.3.3;6.3 Classification of NP-internal TN-uses and extended uses;287
4.3.3.1;6.3.1 Head use construction;288
4.3.3.2;6.3.2 Quantifier construction;294
4.3.3.3;6.3.3 Modifier uses;297
4.3.3.4;6.3.4 Postdeterminer use;305
4.3.3.5;6.3.5 Qualifying use;320
4.3.3.6;6.3.6 Discourse marker use;330
4.3.3.7;6.3.7 Marker of onomatopoeia and quoted speech and thought;332
4.3.3.8;6.3.8 Ambivalent contexts;333
4.3.3.9;6.3.9 Conclusion: Synchronic layering of TN-constructions and comparison with S(S)N-constructions;339
4.3.4;6.4 Register analysis of the functions of TN-constructions;344
4.3.5;6.5 Diachronic case study of sort(s), kind(s) and type(s);348
4.3.5.1;6.5.1 Introduction;348
4.3.5.2;6.5.2 Data sets and methodology;349
4.3.5.3;6.5.3 Nominal constructions with type nouns;350
4.3.5.4;6.5.4 Diachronic paths of change and chronology;358
4.3.5.5;6.5.5 Summary;366
4.3.6;6.6 Conclusion;368
4.4;Chapter 7: Descriptive-theoretical consequences and prospects for further research;370
5;Corpora;375
6;Notes;377
7;References;390
8;Index;417

Über Autor(innen)

Lieselotte Brems, University of Leuven, Belgium.