Chris H. Reintges
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199560547
- eISBN:
- 9780191721267
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199560547.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology, Historical Linguistics
To come to terms with the logical problem of language change, many historical linguists subscribe to the view that the syntax is in a state of equilibrium and does not change by itself. This chapter ...
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To come to terms with the logical problem of language change, many historical linguists subscribe to the view that the syntax is in a state of equilibrium and does not change by itself. This chapter develops an alternative theory, which derives the complexity of syntactic change from the inherent dynamism and flexibility of an autonomous syntactic component. In explaining syntactic variation and change in terms of language design, it seeks to bridge the gap between historical linguistics and (synchronic) syntactic theory.Less
To come to terms with the logical problem of language change, many historical linguists subscribe to the view that the syntax is in a state of equilibrium and does not change by itself. This chapter develops an alternative theory, which derives the complexity of syntactic change from the inherent dynamism and flexibility of an autonomous syntactic component. In explaining syntactic variation and change in terms of language design, it seeks to bridge the gap between historical linguistics and (synchronic) syntactic theory.
D. Gary Miller
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199583430
- eISBN:
- 9780191595288
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199583430.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics
This book investigates a large range of changes and their motivations in all parts of the grammar and lexicon. The core argument is that, in the absence of a Grand Unification Theory in linguistics, ...
More
This book investigates a large range of changes and their motivations in all parts of the grammar and lexicon. The core argument is that, in the absence of a Grand Unification Theory in linguistics, a unified account of change is impossible without ignoring the bulk of natural language changes. Changes occur in successive formal grammars. Differences among successive I-languages constitute a change in the E‐language, but this work rejects the customary high premium on acquisition to the near exclusion of the role of adults and adolescents in the incrementation of change. Many innovations arise from competition in contact accommodation, but contact is only a catalyst. Features determine parametric variation and structures provide evidence (cues) for features. Since changes are typically not macroscalar, this work adopts a (micro)cue theory of parametric variation. The traditional view required a categorical (off/on) value setting. Through multiple binary cuts and different microcues, the new view permits a language to have, for instance, V2 in some structures but not others. With the reduction of UG (Universal Grammar) to a universal inventory of formal features, the once extravagant role of UG has been largely replaced by principles of efficient computation to explain crosslinguistically frequent changes. Additionally, neurolinguists have concluded that some constraints have evolved over time into a multilevel representation in the nervous system. Taking this and structure-building features into account, this work argues that some changes are grounded in synchronic cognitive constraints, a large number in principles of computation, many in extralinguistic factors, some in processing and functional motivations, and some just accidents of history.Less
This book investigates a large range of changes and their motivations in all parts of the grammar and lexicon. The core argument is that, in the absence of a Grand Unification Theory in linguistics, a unified account of change is impossible without ignoring the bulk of natural language changes. Changes occur in successive formal grammars. Differences among successive I-languages constitute a change in the E‐language, but this work rejects the customary high premium on acquisition to the near exclusion of the role of adults and adolescents in the incrementation of change. Many innovations arise from competition in contact accommodation, but contact is only a catalyst. Features determine parametric variation and structures provide evidence (cues) for features. Since changes are typically not macroscalar, this work adopts a (micro)cue theory of parametric variation. The traditional view required a categorical (off/on) value setting. Through multiple binary cuts and different microcues, the new view permits a language to have, for instance, V2 in some structures but not others. With the reduction of UG (Universal Grammar) to a universal inventory of formal features, the once extravagant role of UG has been largely replaced by principles of efficient computation to explain crosslinguistically frequent changes. Additionally, neurolinguists have concluded that some constraints have evolved over time into a multilevel representation in the nervous system. Taking this and structure-building features into account, this work argues that some changes are grounded in synchronic cognitive constraints, a large number in principles of computation, many in extralinguistic factors, some in processing and functional motivations, and some just accidents of history.
D. Gary Miller
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199583423
- eISBN:
- 9780191723438
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199583423.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics
This book investigates a large range of changes and their motivations in all parts of the grammar and lexicon. The core argument is that, in the absence of a Grand Unification Theory in linguistics, ...
More
This book investigates a large range of changes and their motivations in all parts of the grammar and lexicon. The core argument is that, in the absence of a Grand Unification Theory in linguistics, a unified account of change is impossible without ignoring the bulk of natural language changes. Changes occur in successive formal grammars. Differences among successive I‐languages constitute a change in the E‐language, but this work rejects the customary high premium on acquisition to the near exclusion of the role of adults and adolescents in the incrementation of change. Many innovations arise from competition in contact accommodation, but contact is only a catalyst. Features determine parametric variation and structures provide evidence (cues) for features. Since changes are typically not macroscalar, this work adopts a (micro)cue theory of parametric variation. The traditional view required a categorical (off/on) value setting. Through multiple binary cuts and different microcues, the new view permits a language to have, for instance, V2 in some structures but not others. With the reduction of UG (Universal Grammar) to a universal inventory of formal features, the once extravagant role of UG has been largely replaced by principles of efficient computation to explain crosslinguistically frequent changes. Additionally, neurolinguists have concluded that some constraints have evolved over time into a multilevel representation in the nervous system. Taking this and structure‐building features into account, this work argues that some changes are grounded in synchronic cognitive constraints, a large number in principles of computation, many in extralinguistic factors, some in processing and functional motivations, and some just accidents of history.Less
This book investigates a large range of changes and their motivations in all parts of the grammar and lexicon. The core argument is that, in the absence of a Grand Unification Theory in linguistics, a unified account of change is impossible without ignoring the bulk of natural language changes. Changes occur in successive formal grammars. Differences among successive I‐languages constitute a change in the E‐language, but this work rejects the customary high premium on acquisition to the near exclusion of the role of adults and adolescents in the incrementation of change. Many innovations arise from competition in contact accommodation, but contact is only a catalyst. Features determine parametric variation and structures provide evidence (cues) for features. Since changes are typically not macroscalar, this work adopts a (micro)cue theory of parametric variation. The traditional view required a categorical (off/on) value setting. Through multiple binary cuts and different microcues, the new view permits a language to have, for instance, V2 in some structures but not others. With the reduction of UG (Universal Grammar) to a universal inventory of formal features, the once extravagant role of UG has been largely replaced by principles of efficient computation to explain crosslinguistically frequent changes. Additionally, neurolinguists have concluded that some constraints have evolved over time into a multilevel representation in the nervous system. Taking this and structure‐building features into account, this work argues that some changes are grounded in synchronic cognitive constraints, a large number in principles of computation, many in extralinguistic factors, some in processing and functional motivations, and some just accidents of history.
Montserrat Batllori, Maria-Lluïsa Hernanz, Carme Picallo, and Francesc Roca (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199272129
- eISBN:
- 9780191709821
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199272129.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
In this book the methods and theories of formal syntax are focussed on grammatical variation and change. The book opens with a detailed introduction to the ideas and techniques deployed in the book ...
More
In this book the methods and theories of formal syntax are focussed on grammatical variation and change. The book opens with a detailed introduction to the ideas and techniques deployed in the book and the phenomena and issues on which they are brought to bear. Seventeen chapters follow, divided into two parts, the first part concerned with grammaticalization and the second part with parametric variation. These show what the application of contemporary theories of syntax and language variation can reveal about syntactic change and variation and the processes of parametric change which lie behind them. The chapters also demonstrate the value of testing and constructing synchronic theories on the basis of historical data. The analyses range over many languages and language families, including Germanic, Romance, Greek, and Chinese.Less
In this book the methods and theories of formal syntax are focussed on grammatical variation and change. The book opens with a detailed introduction to the ideas and techniques deployed in the book and the phenomena and issues on which they are brought to bear. Seventeen chapters follow, divided into two parts, the first part concerned with grammaticalization and the second part with parametric variation. These show what the application of contemporary theories of syntax and language variation can reveal about syntactic change and variation and the processes of parametric change which lie behind them. The chapters also demonstrate the value of testing and constructing synchronic theories on the basis of historical data. The analyses range over many languages and language families, including Germanic, Romance, Greek, and Chinese.
MONTSERRAT BATLLORI, MARIA-LLUÏSA HERNANZ, CARME PICALLO, and FRANCESC ROCA
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199272129
- eISBN:
- 9780191709821
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199272129.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter begins with a brief discussion of the term grammaticalization. It explains the theoretical framework of this book. The chapter then discusses functional categories and syntactic change ...
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This chapter begins with a brief discussion of the term grammaticalization. It explains the theoretical framework of this book. The chapter then discusses functional categories and syntactic change and the minimalist programme. An overview of the subsequent chapters is presented.Less
This chapter begins with a brief discussion of the term grammaticalization. It explains the theoretical framework of this book. The chapter then discusses functional categories and syntactic change and the minimalist programme. An overview of the subsequent chapters is presented.
Ana Maria Martins and Jairo Nunes
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199560547
- eISBN:
- 9780191721267
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199560547.003.0009
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology, Historical Linguistics
This chapter discusses the emergence of hyper‐raising constructions in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). Assuming Dresher's (1999) cue‐based approach to language acquisition, it argues that the loss of ...
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This chapter discusses the emergence of hyper‐raising constructions in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). Assuming Dresher's (1999) cue‐based approach to language acquisition, it argues that the loss of Romance‐type pro‐drop in BP prompted a chain reaction that led to a reanalysis of finite Ts as optional Case‐assigners/checkers (Ferreira 2000) and, therefore, to the incorporation of hyper‐raising structures into the grammar.Less
This chapter discusses the emergence of hyper‐raising constructions in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). Assuming Dresher's (1999) cue‐based approach to language acquisition, it argues that the loss of Romance‐type pro‐drop in BP prompted a chain reaction that led to a reanalysis of finite Ts as optional Case‐assigners/checkers (Ferreira 2000) and, therefore, to the incorporation of hyper‐raising structures into the grammar.
John Whitman, Dianne Jonas, and Andrew Garrett
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199582624
- eISBN:
- 9780191731068
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199582624.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
As research on syntactic change within a broadly generative framework enters its fifth decade, it is possible to look back at the development and accomplishments of this enterprise. Three ...
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As research on syntactic change within a broadly generative framework enters its fifth decade, it is possible to look back at the development and accomplishments of this enterprise. Three publications which appeared in the late 1970s serve as a useful demarcation of its beginning: the collection of papers in Li (1977), David Lightfoot's (1979) book, and Lightfoot's (1979) review of the Li volume. The three features that Lightfoot criticizes are the absence of a careful formal description of the synchronic stages referenced in the diachronic analysis, reliance on assumptions about reconstructed stages of a language, and a focus on independent diachronic principles and constraints on ‘diachronic processes’. The methodology of diachronic generative syntax as it has developed over the past four decades is closely based on Lightfoot's injunctions. Some theoretical assumptions change, but the methodology has remained remarkably consistent. Thus, while the chapters in this volume represent a broad theoretical range within the general rubric of a formal approach to language changes, their methodology hews largely to the basic scheme, which are outlined in this introductory chapter. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.Less
As research on syntactic change within a broadly generative framework enters its fifth decade, it is possible to look back at the development and accomplishments of this enterprise. Three publications which appeared in the late 1970s serve as a useful demarcation of its beginning: the collection of papers in Li (1977), David Lightfoot's (1979) book, and Lightfoot's (1979) review of the Li volume. The three features that Lightfoot criticizes are the absence of a careful formal description of the synchronic stages referenced in the diachronic analysis, reliance on assumptions about reconstructed stages of a language, and a focus on independent diachronic principles and constraints on ‘diachronic processes’. The methodology of diachronic generative syntax as it has developed over the past four decades is closely based on Lightfoot's injunctions. Some theoretical assumptions change, but the methodology has remained remarkably consistent. Thus, while the chapters in this volume represent a broad theoretical range within the general rubric of a formal approach to language changes, their methodology hews largely to the basic scheme, which are outlined in this introductory chapter. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.
George Walkden
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- September 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780198712299
- eISBN:
- 9780191780837
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198712299.003.0002
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter lays out a framework for the reconstruction of syntax. Section 2.2 is dedicated to the question of syntactic variation: it defends an implementation of Principles & Parameters theory ...
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This chapter lays out a framework for the reconstruction of syntax. Section 2.2 is dedicated to the question of syntactic variation: it defends an implementation of Principles & Parameters theory against the criticisms of Newmeyer (2004). Section 2.3 addresses the question of syntactic change, arguing that it is desirable to reduce ‘language’ to individual grammars as assumed within the generative tradition, and that the task of diachronic linguistics then becomes to investigate the historical relationships between these grammars, mediated by transmission and acquisition. In section 2.4 an attempt is made to draw parallels between lexical-phonological and syntactic reconstruction, and, where these fail, to work around them as far as possible.Less
This chapter lays out a framework for the reconstruction of syntax. Section 2.2 is dedicated to the question of syntactic variation: it defends an implementation of Principles & Parameters theory against the criticisms of Newmeyer (2004). Section 2.3 addresses the question of syntactic change, arguing that it is desirable to reduce ‘language’ to individual grammars as assumed within the generative tradition, and that the task of diachronic linguistics then becomes to investigate the historical relationships between these grammars, mediated by transmission and acquisition. In section 2.4 an attempt is made to draw parallels between lexical-phonological and syntactic reconstruction, and, where these fail, to work around them as far as possible.
Paola Crisma and Giuseppe Longobardi (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199560547
- eISBN:
- 9780191721267
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199560547.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology, Historical Linguistics
This book considers developments in the study of diachronic linguistics and linguistic theory, including those concerned with the very definition of language change in the biolinguistic framework, ...
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This book considers developments in the study of diachronic linguistics and linguistic theory, including those concerned with the very definition of language change in the biolinguistic framework, parametric change in a minimalist conception of grammar, the tension between the observed gradual nature of language change and the binary nature of parameters, and whether syntactic change can be triggered internally or requires the external stimuli produced by phonological or morphological change or through language contact. It tests their value and applicability by examining syntactic change at different times and in a wide range of languages, including German, Chinese, Dutch, Sanskrit, Egyptian, Norwegian, old Italian, Portuguese, English, the Benue-Kwa languages of Niger-Congo, Catalan, Spanish, and old French. The book is divided into three parts devoted to theoretical issues in historical syntax; external (such as contact and interference) and internal (grammatical) sources of morphosynactic change; and parameter setting and reanalysis.Less
This book considers developments in the study of diachronic linguistics and linguistic theory, including those concerned with the very definition of language change in the biolinguistic framework, parametric change in a minimalist conception of grammar, the tension between the observed gradual nature of language change and the binary nature of parameters, and whether syntactic change can be triggered internally or requires the external stimuli produced by phonological or morphological change or through language contact. It tests their value and applicability by examining syntactic change at different times and in a wide range of languages, including German, Chinese, Dutch, Sanskrit, Egyptian, Norwegian, old Italian, Portuguese, English, the Benue-Kwa languages of Niger-Congo, Catalan, Spanish, and old French. The book is divided into three parts devoted to theoretical issues in historical syntax; external (such as contact and interference) and internal (grammatical) sources of morphosynactic change; and parameter setting and reanalysis.
Andrew Garrett
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199582624
- eISBN:
- 9780191731068
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199582624.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter suggests that the interest in reanalysis as a mechanism of change, while rightly focusing attention on syntactic structure, also contributes to a blinkered view of diachrony. It ...
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This chapter suggests that the interest in reanalysis as a mechanism of change, while rightly focusing attention on syntactic structure, also contributes to a blinkered view of diachrony. It exemplifies this view with accounts of two widely discussed changes: the Middle English emergence of for noun phrase (NP) to verb phrase (VP) infinitivals, and the Early Modern English emergence of the be going to future. These accounts illustrate an approach whose goal is not just to characterize reanalyses but to understand what lies behind them. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 3.2 comments on the modern interest in reanalysis and then treats alleged reanalysis changes as cases of analogy or grammaticalization. Section 3.3 shows that radical reanalysis in syntactic change has been overemphasized, and that most of the changes involved in one well-known alleged case (the English for NP to VP pattern) are broadly analogical. Section 3.4 proposes a new account of the emergence of the English be going to future. This case shows how the combinatorial properties of a source pattern give rise to the properties of an emergent one in grammaticalization. Section 3.5 concludes.Less
This chapter suggests that the interest in reanalysis as a mechanism of change, while rightly focusing attention on syntactic structure, also contributes to a blinkered view of diachrony. It exemplifies this view with accounts of two widely discussed changes: the Middle English emergence of for noun phrase (NP) to verb phrase (VP) infinitivals, and the Early Modern English emergence of the be going to future. These accounts illustrate an approach whose goal is not just to characterize reanalyses but to understand what lies behind them. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 3.2 comments on the modern interest in reanalysis and then treats alleged reanalysis changes as cases of analogy or grammaticalization. Section 3.3 shows that radical reanalysis in syntactic change has been overemphasized, and that most of the changes involved in one well-known alleged case (the English for NP to VP pattern) are broadly analogical. Section 3.4 proposes a new account of the emergence of the English be going to future. This case shows how the combinatorial properties of a source pattern give rise to the properties of an emergent one in grammaticalization. Section 3.5 concludes.
Bettelou Los, María José López-Couso, and Anneli Meurman-Solin
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199860210
- eISBN:
- 9780199949601
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199860210.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, English Language
This chapter begins with a description of the terms and definitions used in the relatively field of information structure. It then discusses what the study of syntactic change can tell us about ...
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This chapter begins with a description of the terms and definitions used in the relatively field of information structure. It then discusses what the study of syntactic change can tell us about information structure and vice versa, and challenges of research into discourse and information structure. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.Less
This chapter begins with a description of the terms and definitions used in the relatively field of information structure. It then discusses what the study of syntactic change can tell us about information structure and vice versa, and challenges of research into discourse and information structure. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.
JOHN WHITMAN and WALTRAUD PAUL
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199272129
- eISBN:
- 9780191709821
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199272129.003.0006
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
The relegation of syntactic variation to lexical features under the Minimalist Programme has led to a growing awareness that syntactic change should be characterized in the same way: by changes in ...
More
The relegation of syntactic variation to lexical features under the Minimalist Programme has led to a growing awareness that syntactic change should be characterized in the same way: by changes in the discrete features of individual lexical items. This insight has given rise to the following distinctively minimalist typology of syntactic change: (a) loss or gain of a feature driving movement; (b) grammaticalization as shift ‘up the tree’ to a functional category; and (c) reanalysis as relabelling: lexical items change categorial or projection ([±max, ±min]) features under preservation of hierarchical (c-command) relations. This chapter applies this typology to several well-known examples of syntactic change in Chinese. It shows that earlier analyses exaggerate the scope of syntactic change in the long-documented history of Chinese languages. The changes that are in fact attested can be characterized as featural change, without rearrangement of hierarchical structure.Less
The relegation of syntactic variation to lexical features under the Minimalist Programme has led to a growing awareness that syntactic change should be characterized in the same way: by changes in the discrete features of individual lexical items. This insight has given rise to the following distinctively minimalist typology of syntactic change: (a) loss or gain of a feature driving movement; (b) grammaticalization as shift ‘up the tree’ to a functional category; and (c) reanalysis as relabelling: lexical items change categorial or projection ([±max, ±min]) features under preservation of hierarchical (c-command) relations. This chapter applies this typology to several well-known examples of syntactic change in Chinese. It shows that earlier analyses exaggerate the scope of syntactic change in the long-documented history of Chinese languages. The changes that are in fact attested can be characterized as featural change, without rearrangement of hierarchical structure.
Dianne Jonas, John Whitman, and Andrew Garrett (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199582624
- eISBN:
- 9780191731068
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199582624.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book advances research on grammatical change and shows the breadth and liveliness of the field. Leading international scholars report and reflect on the latest research into the nature and ...
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This book advances research on grammatical change and shows the breadth and liveliness of the field. Leading international scholars report and reflect on the latest research into the nature and outcomes of all aspects of syntactic change including grammaticalization, variation, complementation, syntactic movement, determiner-phrase syntax, pronominal systems, case systems, negation, and alignment. The chapters deploy a variety of generative frameworks, including minimalist and optimality theoretic, and bring these to bear on a wide range of languages: among the latter are typologically distinct examples from Germanic, Romance, Slavic, Greek, Korean and Japanese, Austronesian, Celtic, and Nahuatl. They draw on sociolinguistic evidence where appropriate. Taken as a whole, the volume provides a stimulating overview of key current issues in the investigation of the origins, nature, and outcome of syntactic change.Less
This book advances research on grammatical change and shows the breadth and liveliness of the field. Leading international scholars report and reflect on the latest research into the nature and outcomes of all aspects of syntactic change including grammaticalization, variation, complementation, syntactic movement, determiner-phrase syntax, pronominal systems, case systems, negation, and alignment. The chapters deploy a variety of generative frameworks, including minimalist and optimality theoretic, and bring these to bear on a wide range of languages: among the latter are typologically distinct examples from Germanic, Romance, Slavic, Greek, Korean and Japanese, Austronesian, Celtic, and Nahuatl. They draw on sociolinguistic evidence where appropriate. Taken as a whole, the volume provides a stimulating overview of key current issues in the investigation of the origins, nature, and outcome of syntactic change.
Thórhallur Eythórsson
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199250691
- eISBN:
- 9780191719455
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199250691.003.0011
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter shows how two tendencies, Normative Sickness (NS) and Dative Sickness (DS), can coexist and what their relative domains say about the nature of syntactic change. It argues that NS and DS ...
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This chapter shows how two tendencies, Normative Sickness (NS) and Dative Sickness (DS), can coexist and what their relative domains say about the nature of syntactic change. It argues that NS and DS are conditioned by different factors: NS is motivated by syntax (structure), but DS is motivated by semantics (thematic roles). Specifically, it suggests that both changes can be accounted for in terms of a cue-based approach, on the assumption that case can be a cue in language acquisition. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 11.2 presents some basic facts about case-marking and thematic properties of subjects in Modern (Standard) Icelandic. Section 11.3 describes the domain of the two changes in Modern Icelandic and summarizes the results of two previous studies of the case alternations. Section 11.4 focuses on the diachronic development of the changes in Icelandic, and Section 11.5 contains some comparative evidence of similar changes in other languages. Section 11.6 attempts a ‘diagnosis’ of NS and DS, concluding that both ‘diseases’ involve morphosyntactic leveling of productive patterns attributable to frequency. Section 11.7 proposes a cue-based account of the changes in question in the spirit of Lightfoot (1999). Section 11.8 concludes the chapter.Less
This chapter shows how two tendencies, Normative Sickness (NS) and Dative Sickness (DS), can coexist and what their relative domains say about the nature of syntactic change. It argues that NS and DS are conditioned by different factors: NS is motivated by syntax (structure), but DS is motivated by semantics (thematic roles). Specifically, it suggests that both changes can be accounted for in terms of a cue-based approach, on the assumption that case can be a cue in language acquisition. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 11.2 presents some basic facts about case-marking and thematic properties of subjects in Modern (Standard) Icelandic. Section 11.3 describes the domain of the two changes in Modern Icelandic and summarizes the results of two previous studies of the case alternations. Section 11.4 focuses on the diachronic development of the changes in Icelandic, and Section 11.5 contains some comparative evidence of similar changes in other languages. Section 11.6 attempts a ‘diagnosis’ of NS and DS, concluding that both ‘diseases’ involve morphosyntactic leveling of productive patterns attributable to frequency. Section 11.7 proposes a cue-based account of the changes in question in the spirit of Lightfoot (1999). Section 11.8 concludes the chapter.
Brady Clark
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199582624
- eISBN:
- 9780191731068
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199582624.003.0013
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of change in the syntax of early English subjects within the framework of Stochastic Optimality Theory (StOT). It shows that positional discrepancies ...
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This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of change in the syntax of early English subjects within the framework of Stochastic Optimality Theory (StOT). It shows that positional discrepancies between subject pronouns and full noun phrase (NP) subjects in Old English (OE) and early Middle English (EME) can be accounted for if pronouns are non-projecting (do not project to a maximal phrase) and appear in the IP domain, whereas full NP subjects can appear in Spec,VP or Spec,IP. The structure of the chapter is as follows. After stating some preliminary assumptions about early English syntax, the chapter presents an analysis of subjects that accounts for the positional discrepancies between full NP subjects and subject pronouns. Next, it shows that StOT, given the theory of syntax embodied by the constraint set, provides an illuminating model of change in the syntax of subjects in OE and ME.Less
This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of change in the syntax of early English subjects within the framework of Stochastic Optimality Theory (StOT). It shows that positional discrepancies between subject pronouns and full noun phrase (NP) subjects in Old English (OE) and early Middle English (EME) can be accounted for if pronouns are non-projecting (do not project to a maximal phrase) and appear in the IP domain, whereas full NP subjects can appear in Spec,VP or Spec,IP. The structure of the chapter is as follows. After stating some preliminary assumptions about early English syntax, the chapter presents an analysis of subjects that accounts for the positional discrepancies between full NP subjects and subject pronouns. Next, it shows that StOT, given the theory of syntax embodied by the constraint set, provides an illuminating model of change in the syntax of subjects in OE and ME.
John Sundquist
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199582624
- eISBN:
- 9780191731068
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199582624.003.0015
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter analyzes the Negative Movement (NM) pattern in Norwegian, where, as in other Scandinavian languages, objects containing a negative quantifier (e.g., no books) must appear to the left of ...
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This chapter analyzes the Negative Movement (NM) pattern in Norwegian, where, as in other Scandinavian languages, objects containing a negative quantifier (e.g., no books) must appear to the left of the verb, albeit with a slightly archaic or marginal flavour. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 15.2 discusses Complement-Verbmain (XV) and Verbmain-Complement (VX) order, and gives a presentation of word order patterns in Early Norwegian that resemble scrambling, quantifier movement (QM), and NM in modern Germanic languages. These three types of XV word order are described in terms of semantically-driven movement regulated by information structure. QM and NM in nineteenth-century and contemporary Modern Norwegian is also discussed. Section 15.3 discusses NM as a remnant of these once-productive movement operations, framing the discussion in terms of Virus Theory. It examines four characteristics shared by grammatical viruses and point out the similarities between NM and other prestige constructions in Modern Standard English. The chapter concludes with a discussion of Virus Theory as a tool for the description and analysis of data on syntactic variation and change.Less
This chapter analyzes the Negative Movement (NM) pattern in Norwegian, where, as in other Scandinavian languages, objects containing a negative quantifier (e.g., no books) must appear to the left of the verb, albeit with a slightly archaic or marginal flavour. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 15.2 discusses Complement-Verbmain (XV) and Verbmain-Complement (VX) order, and gives a presentation of word order patterns in Early Norwegian that resemble scrambling, quantifier movement (QM), and NM in modern Germanic languages. These three types of XV word order are described in terms of semantically-driven movement regulated by information structure. QM and NM in nineteenth-century and contemporary Modern Norwegian is also discussed. Section 15.3 discusses NM as a remnant of these once-productive movement operations, framing the discussion in terms of Virus Theory. It examines four characteristics shared by grammatical viruses and point out the similarities between NM and other prestige constructions in Modern Standard English. The chapter concludes with a discussion of Virus Theory as a tool for the description and analysis of data on syntactic variation and change.
Éric Mathieu and Robert Truswell
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- August 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198747840
- eISBN:
- 9780191810732
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198747840.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This introduction discusses current trends in diachronic linguistics with a focus on syntactic change and reviews the fifteen other chapters included in the volume. In the spirit of modern diachronic ...
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This introduction discusses current trends in diachronic linguistics with a focus on syntactic change and reviews the fifteen other chapters included in the volume. In the spirit of modern diachronic syntax, the selected articles show that very general patterns of change, emergent, multigenerational diachronic phenomena, interact with small, discrete, local, intergenerational changes in the lexical specification of grammatical features. General topics include acquisition biases, cross-categorial word order generalizations, typological particularities and universals, language contact, and transitional changes, while specific linguistic topics include tense and viewpoint aspect, directional/aspectual affixes, V2, V3, Stylistic Fronting, directional/aspectual prefixes, negation, accusative and dative marking, analytic passives, complementizer agreement, and control and raising verbs.Less
This introduction discusses current trends in diachronic linguistics with a focus on syntactic change and reviews the fifteen other chapters included in the volume. In the spirit of modern diachronic syntax, the selected articles show that very general patterns of change, emergent, multigenerational diachronic phenomena, interact with small, discrete, local, intergenerational changes in the lexical specification of grammatical features. General topics include acquisition biases, cross-categorial word order generalizations, typological particularities and universals, language contact, and transitional changes, while specific linguistic topics include tense and viewpoint aspect, directional/aspectual affixes, V2, V3, Stylistic Fronting, directional/aspectual prefixes, negation, accusative and dative marking, analytic passives, complementizer agreement, and control and raising verbs.
Chiara Gianollo
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- December 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198812661
- eISBN:
- 9780191850448
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198812661.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics
This chapter is a study of Latin indefinites in direct-negation contexts. These indefinites are interesting from a theoretical point of view because of their extreme dependence on the surrounding ...
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This chapter is a study of Latin indefinites in direct-negation contexts. These indefinites are interesting from a theoretical point of view because of their extreme dependence on the surrounding structural conditions, and because of the variety of their instantiations in different linguistic systems. Two phenomena of Latin grammar with wide-ranging implications for the development of Romance indefinites are discussed: the syntax of negation and the diachronic pathways followed by indefinites interacting with it. Latin is a Double Negation language, whereas Early Romance exhibits Negative Concord. The study proposes that this typological shift is linked to another major change from Latin to Romance, namely the change from OV to VO. Late Latin is analyzed as a ‘concealed’ nonstrict Negative Concord language, in which restrictions in the use of the ‘old’ negative indefinites emerge, as well as new patterns with (new) negative-polarity items.Less
This chapter is a study of Latin indefinites in direct-negation contexts. These indefinites are interesting from a theoretical point of view because of their extreme dependence on the surrounding structural conditions, and because of the variety of their instantiations in different linguistic systems. Two phenomena of Latin grammar with wide-ranging implications for the development of Romance indefinites are discussed: the syntax of negation and the diachronic pathways followed by indefinites interacting with it. Latin is a Double Negation language, whereas Early Romance exhibits Negative Concord. The study proposes that this typological shift is linked to another major change from Latin to Romance, namely the change from OV to VO. Late Latin is analyzed as a ‘concealed’ nonstrict Negative Concord language, in which restrictions in the use of the ‘old’ negative indefinites emerge, as well as new patterns with (new) negative-polarity items.
Anne Breitbarth
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- November 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199687282
- eISBN:
- 9780191767050
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199687282.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter summarizes the assumptions regarding syntactic change in general and change in the expression of negation in particular, and discusses different approaches to the syntax of negation and ...
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This chapter summarizes the assumptions regarding syntactic change in general and change in the expression of negation in particular, and discusses different approaches to the syntax of negation and negative concord. It is argued that a NegP-free account is more elegant and empirically adequate than the traditional NegP-based accounts. It is argued that negative markers are phrases with internal structure such as argued for pronouns (Cardinaletti and Starke 1999) and modal particles (Grosz 2007). The position in the clause of different types of negators is determined by their licensing requirements depending on the amount of structure they lack, not because of a fixed negative projection. Diachronically, 'weaker' forms are derived from 'stronger' forms by two third-factor principles—Minimize Structure and Feature Economy—given triggers provided through other changes (‘inertia’, Keenan 1994, Longobardi 2001). For negative concord, a Pairwise Agree account with maximal matching (Haegeman and Lohndal 2010) is adopted.Less
This chapter summarizes the assumptions regarding syntactic change in general and change in the expression of negation in particular, and discusses different approaches to the syntax of negation and negative concord. It is argued that a NegP-free account is more elegant and empirically adequate than the traditional NegP-based accounts. It is argued that negative markers are phrases with internal structure such as argued for pronouns (Cardinaletti and Starke 1999) and modal particles (Grosz 2007). The position in the clause of different types of negators is determined by their licensing requirements depending on the amount of structure they lack, not because of a fixed negative projection. Diachronically, 'weaker' forms are derived from 'stronger' forms by two third-factor principles—Minimize Structure and Feature Economy—given triggers provided through other changes (‘inertia’, Keenan 1994, Longobardi 2001). For negative concord, a Pairwise Agree account with maximal matching (Haegeman and Lohndal 2010) is adopted.
Joan Maling and Sigríđur Sigurjónsdóttir
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- April 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199687923
- eISBN:
- 9780191767319
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199687923.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
A new impersonal construction is developing in Icelandic. The New Impersonal (NI) appears to have passive morphology, but differs from canonical passives in that the verbal object remains in situ and ...
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A new impersonal construction is developing in Icelandic. The New Impersonal (NI) appears to have passive morphology, but differs from canonical passives in that the verbal object remains in situ and gets assigned accusative case. Scholars differ in their assessment of whether the NI is a passive or an active impersonal construction. Maling and Sigurjónsdóttir (2002) argued that the NI is an active impersonal with its roots in the reanalysis and gradual extension of the traditional impersonal passive of intransitive verbs. This chapter expands that argument, using two kinds of evidence: syntactic evidence, focusing on the occurrence of bound anaphors, evidence on control into bound adjuncts, and use of nonagentive/unaccusative verbs; and socio‐linguistic evidence for the hypothesis that a reanalysis has occurred and that it is not yet stable—specifically, the significant age‐related variation observed in adults, which is what would be expected during a period of syntactic change.Less
A new impersonal construction is developing in Icelandic. The New Impersonal (NI) appears to have passive morphology, but differs from canonical passives in that the verbal object remains in situ and gets assigned accusative case. Scholars differ in their assessment of whether the NI is a passive or an active impersonal construction. Maling and Sigurjónsdóttir (2002) argued that the NI is an active impersonal with its roots in the reanalysis and gradual extension of the traditional impersonal passive of intransitive verbs. This chapter expands that argument, using two kinds of evidence: syntactic evidence, focusing on the occurrence of bound anaphors, evidence on control into bound adjuncts, and use of nonagentive/unaccusative verbs; and socio‐linguistic evidence for the hypothesis that a reanalysis has occurred and that it is not yet stable—specifically, the significant age‐related variation observed in adults, which is what would be expected during a period of syntactic change.
