Title: A synchronic and diachronic study of light verbs in English : with special reference to grammaticalization
Abstract: The term “grammaticalization” has received much attention in the literature on language change since it was introduced by Meillet (1912) to describe the development of new grammatical items from lexical words. This thesis observes unique properties of constructions including some light verbs such as come, go, have, see, and take in Present-day English, discusses processes of grammaticalization from lexical verbs to light verbs based on data from historical corpora and literatures and dictionaries, and proposes structural change of relevant ix constructions within the frame work of the minimalist program proposed by Chomsky (1995, 2001, 2006). Chapter 1 shows main aims and the organization of this thesis. Chapter 2 reviews Hopper and Traugott (2003), which introduces outline of grammaticalization: mechanisms, i.e. reanalysis and analogy, pragmatic factors including pragmatic inference through metaphorical and metonymic processes, and semantic enrichment and bleaching, and the hypothesis of unidirectionality which involves processes such as generalization and decategorialization. Chapter 3 examines the historical development of “Double Verb Constructions” and grammaticalization of come and go. In Present-day English, some motion verbs including come and go can be followed by another verb, forming so called “Double Verb Constructions”, in which both verbs are not allowed to appear in inflected forms. This inflectional restriction is argued to be attributed to their development from V and V constructions in infinitive and imperative uses through some stage of grammaticalization in Middle and Modern English. As a result of grammaticalization, theses motion verbs are merged in v as a light verb, and take an infinitival VP complement in Present-day English. It is also argued that some unique properties of Double Verb Constructions, including the inflectional restriction, are explained in terms of the proposed structure and historical development. Chapter 4 presents the historical change of complement structures and grammaticalization of see. In Present-day English, x inanimate subjects can be selected by a class of perception verbs, especially see, which denote the existence or causation of the events expressed by their complements. It is suggested that the semantic difference between existence and causation is associated not only with the types of inanimate subjects, i.e. time/location vs. others, but also with the two possible complement structures of see, i.e. Asp(ect)P vs. VP. Moreover, it is proposed that see was grammaticalized into a light verb denoting existence/causation during the Late Modern English period via generalization, shift of meaning, and semantic bleaching. Chapter 5 discusses the historical development of have a N constructions. In Present-day English, have selects bare nominal complements following the indefinite article a/an which are identical to the base form of the verb, forming so-called have a N constructions, where the subject of the main verb have must also be the subject of its complement NP. However, the subject of the deverbal nominal complements with the overt affix, which is preceded by the definite article and genitive pronouns, is not necessarily identical to that of have. It is suggested that have a N constructions are derived through the loss of D licensing the subject of bare nominal complements in Modern English Period. It is also suggested that the reason why bare nominal complements in take a N constructions are restricted to a subset of the complements that occur in have a N constructions is due to presence or absence of lexical meaning of the main verbs. Chapter 6 is the conclusion of the thesis and summarizes the proposals made in each chapter.
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-03-26
Language: en
Type: dissertation
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