Regularity in Semantic Change

Regularity in Semantic Change

Author: Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2001-12-20

Total Pages: 363

ISBN-13: 1139431153

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This important study of semantic change examines how new meanings arise through language use, especially the various ways in which speakers and writers experiment with uses of words and constructions in the flow of strategic interaction with addressees. There has been growing interest in exploring systemicities in semantic change from a number of perspectives including theories of metaphor, pragmatic inferencing, and grammaticalization. Like earlier studies, these have for the most part been based on data taken out of context. This book is a detailed examination of semantic change from the perspective of historical pragmatics and discourse analysis. Drawing on extensive corpus data from over a thousand years of English and Japanese textual history, Traugott and Dasher show that most changes in meaning originate in and are motivated by the associative flow of speech and conceptual metonymy.


Book Synopsis Regularity in Semantic Change by : Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Download or read book Regularity in Semantic Change written by Elizabeth Closs Traugott and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2001-12-20 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This important study of semantic change examines how new meanings arise through language use, especially the various ways in which speakers and writers experiment with uses of words and constructions in the flow of strategic interaction with addressees. There has been growing interest in exploring systemicities in semantic change from a number of perspectives including theories of metaphor, pragmatic inferencing, and grammaticalization. Like earlier studies, these have for the most part been based on data taken out of context. This book is a detailed examination of semantic change from the perspective of historical pragmatics and discourse analysis. Drawing on extensive corpus data from over a thousand years of English and Japanese textual history, Traugott and Dasher show that most changes in meaning originate in and are motivated by the associative flow of speech and conceptual metonymy.


Regularity in Semantic Change

Regularity in Semantic Change

Author: Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 9780521583787

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This new and important study of semantic change examines the various ways in which new meanings arise through language use, especially the ways in which speakers and writers experiment with words and constructions in the flow of strategic interaction with addressees. Drawing on extensive corpus data from over a thousand years of English and Japanese textual history, Traugott and Dasher show that most changes in meaning originate in and are motivated by the associative flow of speech and conceptual metonymy.


Book Synopsis Regularity in Semantic Change by : Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Download or read book Regularity in Semantic Change written by Elizabeth Closs Traugott and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new and important study of semantic change examines the various ways in which new meanings arise through language use, especially the ways in which speakers and writers experiment with words and constructions in the flow of strategic interaction with addressees. Drawing on extensive corpus data from over a thousand years of English and Japanese textual history, Traugott and Dasher show that most changes in meaning originate in and are motivated by the associative flow of speech and conceptual metonymy.


Regularity in Semantic Change

Regularity in Semantic Change

Author: Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Regularity in Semantic Change by : Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Download or read book Regularity in Semantic Change written by Elizabeth Closs Traugott and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Semantic change and "regularity"

Semantic change and

Author: Henry M. Hoenigswald

Publisher:

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 16

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Semantic change and "regularity" by : Henry M. Hoenigswald

Download or read book Semantic change and "regularity" written by Henry M. Hoenigswald and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Principles of Historical Linguistics

Principles of Historical Linguistics

Author: Hans Henrich Hock

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2021-10-25

Total Pages: 1101

ISBN-13: 3110746441

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Historical linguistic theory and practice consist of a large number of chronological "layers" that have been accepted in the course of time and have acquired a permanence of their own. These range from neogrammarian conceptualizations of sound change, analogy, and borrowing, to prosodic, lexical, morphological, and syntactic change, and to present-day views on rule change and the effects of language contact. To get a full grasp of the principles of historical linguistics it is therefore necessary to understand the nature of each of these "layers". This book is a major revision and reorganization of the earlier editions and adds entirely new chapters on morphological change and lexical change, as well as a detailed discussion of linguistic palaeontology and ideological responses to the findings of historical linguistics to this landmark publication.


Book Synopsis Principles of Historical Linguistics by : Hans Henrich Hock

Download or read book Principles of Historical Linguistics written by Hans Henrich Hock and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2021-10-25 with total page 1101 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Historical linguistic theory and practice consist of a large number of chronological "layers" that have been accepted in the course of time and have acquired a permanence of their own. These range from neogrammarian conceptualizations of sound change, analogy, and borrowing, to prosodic, lexical, morphological, and syntactic change, and to present-day views on rule change and the effects of language contact. To get a full grasp of the principles of historical linguistics it is therefore necessary to understand the nature of each of these "layers". This book is a major revision and reorganization of the earlier editions and adds entirely new chapters on morphological change and lexical change, as well as a detailed discussion of linguistic palaeontology and ideological responses to the findings of historical linguistics to this landmark publication.


The Comparative Method Reviewed

The Comparative Method Reviewed

Author: Mark Durie

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 1996-05-16

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 0195362101

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Historical reconstruction of languages relies on the comparative method, which itself depends on the notion of the regularity of change. The regularity of sound change is the famous Neogrammarian Hypothesis: "sound change takes place according to laws that admit no exception." The comparative method, however, is not restricted to the consideration of sound change, and neither is the assumption of regularity. Syntactic, morphological, and semantic change are all amenable in varying degrees, to comparative reconstruction, and each type of change is constrained in ways that enable the researcher to distinguish between regular and more irregular changes. This volume draws together studies by scholars engaged in historical reconstruction, all focussing on the subject of regularity and irregularity in the comparative method. A wide range of languages are represented, including Chinese, Germanic, and Austronesian.


Book Synopsis The Comparative Method Reviewed by : Mark Durie

Download or read book The Comparative Method Reviewed written by Mark Durie and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1996-05-16 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Historical reconstruction of languages relies on the comparative method, which itself depends on the notion of the regularity of change. The regularity of sound change is the famous Neogrammarian Hypothesis: "sound change takes place according to laws that admit no exception." The comparative method, however, is not restricted to the consideration of sound change, and neither is the assumption of regularity. Syntactic, morphological, and semantic change are all amenable in varying degrees, to comparative reconstruction, and each type of change is constrained in ways that enable the researcher to distinguish between regular and more irregular changes. This volume draws together studies by scholars engaged in historical reconstruction, all focussing on the subject of regularity and irregularity in the comparative method. A wide range of languages are represented, including Chinese, Germanic, and Austronesian.


From Polysemy to Semantic Change

From Polysemy to Semantic Change

Author: Martine Vanhove

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 422

ISBN-13: 9027205736

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This book is the result of a joint project on lexical and semantic typology which gathered together field linguists, semanticists, cognitivists, typologists, and an NLP specialist. These cross-linguistic studies concern semantic shifts at large, both synchronic and diachronic: the outcome of polysemy, heterosemy, or semantic change at the lexical level. The first part presents a comprehensive state of the art of a domain typologists have long been reluctant to deal with. Part two focuses on theoretical and methodological approaches: cognition, construction grammar, graph theory, semantic maps, and data bases. These studies deal with universals and variation across languages, illustrated with numerous examples from different semantic domains and different languages. Part three is dedicated to detailed empirical studies of a large sample of languages in a limited set of semantic fields. It reveals possible universals of semantic association, as well as areal and cultural tendencies.


Book Synopsis From Polysemy to Semantic Change by : Martine Vanhove

Download or read book From Polysemy to Semantic Change written by Martine Vanhove and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2008 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the result of a joint project on lexical and semantic typology which gathered together field linguists, semanticists, cognitivists, typologists, and an NLP specialist. These cross-linguistic studies concern semantic shifts at large, both synchronic and diachronic: the outcome of polysemy, heterosemy, or semantic change at the lexical level. The first part presents a comprehensive state of the art of a domain typologists have long been reluctant to deal with. Part two focuses on theoretical and methodological approaches: cognition, construction grammar, graph theory, semantic maps, and data bases. These studies deal with universals and variation across languages, illustrated with numerous examples from different semantic domains and different languages. Part three is dedicated to detailed empirical studies of a large sample of languages in a limited set of semantic fields. It reveals possible universals of semantic association, as well as areal and cultural tendencies.


Modality, Subjectivity, and Semantic Change

Modality, Subjectivity, and Semantic Change

Author: Heiko Narrog

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2012-07-19

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 0191613126

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This book is a cross-linguistic exploration of semantic and functional change in modal markers. Its approach is broadly functional typological but makes frequent reference to work in formal semantics by scholars such as Angelika Kratzer and Paul Portner. The author starts by considering what modality is and how it relates to and differs from subjectivity. He argues that modality cannot be defined in terms of subjectivity: both concepts are independent of each other, the first exhibiting different degrees of subjectivity, and the second being operative in a much wider range of grammatical and lexical categories. Subjectivity, he suggests, should not be defined solely in terms of performativity, evidentiality, or construal, but rather from the interplay of multiple semantic and pragmatic factors. He then presents a two-dimensional model for the descriptive representation of modality, based on the notion that among the many aspects of modal meaning, volitivity and speech-act-orientation versus event-orientation are two of its most salient parameters. He shows that it is especially the dimension of speech-act orientation versus event-orientation, parallel to category climbing in syntax, that is operative in diachronic change. Numerous examples of diachronic change within modality and between modality and other categories are then examined with respect to their directionality. With a focus on Japanese and to a lesser extent Chinese the book is a countercheck to hypotheses built on the Indo-European languages. It also contains numerous illustrations from other languages.


Book Synopsis Modality, Subjectivity, and Semantic Change by : Heiko Narrog

Download or read book Modality, Subjectivity, and Semantic Change written by Heiko Narrog and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2012-07-19 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a cross-linguistic exploration of semantic and functional change in modal markers. Its approach is broadly functional typological but makes frequent reference to work in formal semantics by scholars such as Angelika Kratzer and Paul Portner. The author starts by considering what modality is and how it relates to and differs from subjectivity. He argues that modality cannot be defined in terms of subjectivity: both concepts are independent of each other, the first exhibiting different degrees of subjectivity, and the second being operative in a much wider range of grammatical and lexical categories. Subjectivity, he suggests, should not be defined solely in terms of performativity, evidentiality, or construal, but rather from the interplay of multiple semantic and pragmatic factors. He then presents a two-dimensional model for the descriptive representation of modality, based on the notion that among the many aspects of modal meaning, volitivity and speech-act-orientation versus event-orientation are two of its most salient parameters. He shows that it is especially the dimension of speech-act orientation versus event-orientation, parallel to category climbing in syntax, that is operative in diachronic change. Numerous examples of diachronic change within modality and between modality and other categories are then examined with respect to their directionality. With a focus on Japanese and to a lesser extent Chinese the book is a countercheck to hypotheses built on the Indo-European languages. It also contains numerous illustrations from other languages.


Lexicalization and Language Change

Lexicalization and Language Change

Author: Laurel J. Brinton

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2005-10-27

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13: 9781139445733

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Lexicalization, a process of language change, has been conceptualized in a variety of ways. Broadly defined as the adoption of concepts into the lexicon, it has been viewed by syntacticians as the reverse process of grammaticalization, by morphologists as a routine process of word-formation, and by semanticists as the development of concrete meanings. In this up-to-date survey, Laurel Brinton and Elizabeth Traugott examine the various conceptualizations of lexicalization that have been presented in the literature. In light of contemporary work on grammaticalization, they then propose a new, unified model of lexicalization and grammaticalization. Their approach is illustrated with a variety of case studies from the history of English, including present participles, multi-word verbs, adverbs, and discourse markers, as well as some examples from other Indo-European languages. The first review of the various approaches to lexicalization, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars of historical linguistics and language change.


Book Synopsis Lexicalization and Language Change by : Laurel J. Brinton

Download or read book Lexicalization and Language Change written by Laurel J. Brinton and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2005-10-27 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lexicalization, a process of language change, has been conceptualized in a variety of ways. Broadly defined as the adoption of concepts into the lexicon, it has been viewed by syntacticians as the reverse process of grammaticalization, by morphologists as a routine process of word-formation, and by semanticists as the development of concrete meanings. In this up-to-date survey, Laurel Brinton and Elizabeth Traugott examine the various conceptualizations of lexicalization that have been presented in the literature. In light of contemporary work on grammaticalization, they then propose a new, unified model of lexicalization and grammaticalization. Their approach is illustrated with a variety of case studies from the history of English, including present participles, multi-word verbs, adverbs, and discourse markers, as well as some examples from other Indo-European languages. The first review of the various approaches to lexicalization, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars of historical linguistics and language change.


From Etymology to Pragmatics

From Etymology to Pragmatics

Author: Eve Sweetser

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1991-07-26

Total Pages: 188

ISBN-13: 1316582337

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This book offers a distinct approach to the analysis of the multiple meanings of English modals, conjunctions, conditionals and perception verbs. Although such ambiguities cannot easily be accounted for by feature-analyses of word meaning, Eve Sweetser's argument shows that they can be analysed both readily and systematically. Meaning relationships in general cannot be understood independently of human cognitive structure, including the metaphorical and cultural aspects of that structure. Sweetser shows that both lexical polysemy and pragmatic ambiguity are shaped by our metaphorical folk understanding of epistemic processes and of speech interaction. Similar regularities can be shown to structure the contrast between root, epistemic and 'speech-act' uses of modal verbs, multiple uses of conjunctions and conditionals, and certain processes of historical change observed in Indo-European languages. Since polysemy is typically the intermediate step in semantic change, the same regularities observable in polysemy can be extended to an analysis of semantic change. This book will attract students and researchers in linguistics, philosophy, the cognitive sciences, and all those interested in metaphor.


Book Synopsis From Etymology to Pragmatics by : Eve Sweetser

Download or read book From Etymology to Pragmatics written by Eve Sweetser and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1991-07-26 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a distinct approach to the analysis of the multiple meanings of English modals, conjunctions, conditionals and perception verbs. Although such ambiguities cannot easily be accounted for by feature-analyses of word meaning, Eve Sweetser's argument shows that they can be analysed both readily and systematically. Meaning relationships in general cannot be understood independently of human cognitive structure, including the metaphorical and cultural aspects of that structure. Sweetser shows that both lexical polysemy and pragmatic ambiguity are shaped by our metaphorical folk understanding of epistemic processes and of speech interaction. Similar regularities can be shown to structure the contrast between root, epistemic and 'speech-act' uses of modal verbs, multiple uses of conjunctions and conditionals, and certain processes of historical change observed in Indo-European languages. Since polysemy is typically the intermediate step in semantic change, the same regularities observable in polysemy can be extended to an analysis of semantic change. This book will attract students and researchers in linguistics, philosophy, the cognitive sciences, and all those interested in metaphor.