Carola Trips Livres

This collection of papers on phrasal compounding is part of a bigger project whose aims are twofold: First, it seeks to broaden the typological perspective by providing data for as many different languages as possible to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon itself. Second, based on these data which clearly show interaction between syntax and morphology it aims to discuss theoretical models which deal with this kind of interaction in different ways. Models like Generative Grammar assume components of grammar and a clear-cut distinction between the lexicon (often including morphology) and grammar. Other models, like construction grammar, do not assume such components and are rather based on a lexicon including constructs. A comparison of these models on the basis of this phenomenon on the morphology-syntax interface makes it possible to assess their descriptive and explanatory power.

This book explores syntax through three dimensions: the history of grammatical theory, synchronic aspects of Present-Day English, and diachronic aspects of English. Key linguistic terms and phenomena are examined in their historical context and revisited in the synchronic and diachronic sections, allowing for diverse perspectives. Each chapter concludes with a summary, further reading suggestions, and exercises in parts II and III. Additionally, a dedicated webpage offers supplementary materials, a glossary, and model answers to the exercises. The book aims to introduce the history of grammatical theory, illustrating the evolution of generative grammar alongside other theories, thereby clarifying the motivations behind its ideas and assumptions. It emphasizes the relevance of discussed terms and phenomena in contemporary contexts and investigates Present-Day English phenomena and their historical development through authentic data, applying theoretical frameworks for explanation. Targeted primarily at undergraduate students of English or linguistics with some prior knowledge of syntax and generative theory, it is also suitable for those specializing in syntax, syntactic theory, and language change, serving as a valuable study aid for final exams.

This book is the most comprehensive study to date of the development of the three suffixes -hood, -dom and -ship in the history of English. Based on data from annotated corpora it provides an in depth investigation from Old English to Modern English and shows that structurally the three suffixes developed from syntactic heads (nouns) via morphological heads in compounds to morphological heads in derivations. Being an instance of morphologisation the rise of suffixes clearly shows that word formation is not part of the syntactic module. This development is triggered by semantic change, more precisely, by the semantics of the elements which keep their salient meanings and develop further meanings through metonymic shifts, finally leading to underspecified meanings. The findings are analysed in a revised version of Lieber's (2004) framework to account for the diachronic facts and have far-reaching consequences for morphological theory since they show that derivational suffixes bear meaning and hence contribute to processes of lexicalisation which is clear evidence for sign-based models and against, for example, Separationist assumptions.