Sign-In
Cart
English Adjectives of Comparison
Hardcover
Series: Topics in English Linguistics, Book 63
Foreign Language GeneralGrammar & StyleLinguistics
ISBN13: 9783110205800
Publisher: de Gruyter Mouton
Published: Jul 16 2010
Pages: 407
Weight: 1.60
Height: 1.08 Width: 6.29 Depth: 9.29
Language: English
The book is concerned with a hitherto underresearched grammaticalization process: the development from quality-attributing adjective to determiner in the English noun phrase. It takes a bottom-up approach, based on extensive synchronic and diachronic corpus studies of six English adjectives of comparison: other, different, same, identical, similar and comparable. Their functional diversity in current English is proposed to constitute a case of layering, representing the original descriptive use, which expresses how like/unlike each other entities are, and a range of grammaticalized referential uses, which contribute to the identification and/or quantification of the entities denoted by the NP. Diachronic and comparative data material is invoked to verify and further develop the grammaticalization hypothesis.
The development of adjectives of comparison involves several key concepts identified in the literature. Crucially, it is described as a case of textual intersubjectification driven by the optimalization of recipient-design. The actual grammaticalization paths are diverse and are characterized by lexical as well as structural persistence, i.e. the same lexical meaning develops into different grammatical functions in different syntagmatic configurations.
In order to define the NP as a locus of diachronic change, this study offers a new angle on the description of adjectives and the modelling of NP structure. It advocates the abandonment of the traditional class-based model in favour of a radically functional one, in which functions are defined in terms of prototypicality so as to allow for gradience between and within them. The described grammaticalization processes involve developments from prototypical lexical to grammatical reference-related use within the adjectival category, which can be the starting point of further gradual change to determiners. The traditional relation between classes and positions is envisaged as a correspondence between functional and syntactic zones. The change in form concomitant with grammaticalization in the NP is argued to consist of the reconfiguration of structural combinatorics and progressive leftward movement.
The book is of interest to linguistic researchers and graduate students in linguistics who focus their attention on grammaticalization and subjectification, the functional description of adjectives, questions of deixis and theoretical issues relating to nominal reference.
Also in
Linguistics
The Well-Spoken Thesaurus: The Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases
Heehler, Tom
Paperback
How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
Galer, Sophia Smith
Hardcover
My First Book of Patterns Pencil Control: Patterns Practice Book for Kids (Pattern Writing)
Wonder House Books
Paperback
Korean Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Korean and English (Free Online Audio)
Damron, Julie
You, Eunsun
Paperback
The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules and Quizzes to Master Today's English
McLendon, Lisa
Paperback
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Winchester, Simon
Paperback
Learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana: A Workbook for Self-Study
Takagaki, Tetsuo
Henshall, Kenneth G.
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
O'Dell, Felicity
McCarthy, Michael
Paperback
Print and Cursive Handwriting Workbook: 35 Lessons to Improve Your Penmanship
Sanders, Sally
Paperback
Remembering the Kanji 1: A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters
Heisig, James W.
Paperback
Japanese Folktales for Language Learners: Bilingual Legends and Fables in Japanese and English (Free Online Audio Recording)
Sato, Anna
Sato, Eriko
Paperback
Korean Folktales for Language Learners: Traditional Stories in English and Korean (Free Online Audio)
Kim, Yeon-Jeong
Cho, Sukyeon
Killick, Andrew
Paperback
Japanese Stories for Language Learners: Bilingual Stories in Japanese and English (Online Audio Included)
Sato, Eriko
McNulty, Anne
Paperback
English Idioms in Use Advanced Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
O'Dell, Felicity
McCarthy, Michael
Paperback
Reading & Writing Thai: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Thai Alphabet and Pronunciation (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Ca
Rattanakhemakorn, Jintana
Paperback
Vietnamese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Vietnamese (Free Online Audio)
Tran, Tri C.
Paperback
Quack This Way: David Foster Wallace & Bryan A. Garner Talk Language and Writing
Wallace, David Foster
Garner, Bryan
Paperback
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
Singh, Simon
Paperback
Arabic Writing Workbook: Alphabet, Words, Sentences⎜Learn to write Arabic with this large and colorful handwriting workbook. For adults and kids
de Kerdoret, Soulayman
Paperback
Historically Black Phrases: From I Ain't One of Your Lil' Friends to Who All Gon' Be There?
Hill, Jarrett
Anderson, Tre'vell
Hardcover
Reading and Writing Korean: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Hangeul Writing System (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Driggs, Derek
Kiaer, Jieun
Paperback
Words to Love a Planet: An Illustrated Lexicon of Landscape, People, and Possibility
Sanders, Ella Frances
Hardcover
Arabic Folktales for Language Learners: Traditional Stories in Arabic and English (Free Bilingual Online Audio)
Risha, Sarah
Paperback
Beginning Mandarin Chinese for Modern Learners: A Complete Self-Study Language Guide for the Digital Age
Reiter, Yingying
Paperback
Conversational Japanese: A Practical Communication Guide for Visitors to Japan
Kaneko, Anne
Paperback
365 Days to Improve Your English: A Daily Vocabulary Builder to Become More Well-Spoken - Unlock 1,000+ Words to Boost Your Vocabulary and Communicati
Lee, Dae
Mode, Airplane
Paperback
Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English (Online Audio Recordings Included)
Wang, Peng
Ling, Vivian
Paperback
Word Smart, 6th Edition: 1400+ Words That Belong in Every Savvy Student's Vocabulary
The Princeton Review
Paperback
Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Sanders, Ella Frances
Hardcover
Chinese Folktales for Language Learners: Famous Folk Stories in Chinese and English (Free Online Audio Recordings)
Wang, Peng
Ling, Vivian
Paperback
How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding and Using Bible Versions
Strauss, Mark L.
Fee, Gordon D.
Paperback
Mastering Logical Fallacies: The Definitive Guide to Flawless Rhetoric and Bulletproof Logic
Withey, Michael
Paperback
The Navajo Language: The Elements Of Navajo Grammar With A Dictionary In Two Parts Containing Basic Vocabularies Of Navajo And English
Morgan, William
Young, Robert W.
Hardcover
Language and Life on Ocracoke: The Living History of the Brogue
Gaskill, Candy
Reaser, Jeffrey
Wolfram, Walt
Paperback
A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Salo, David
Paperback
Writing Japanese Hiragana: An Introductory Japanese Language Workbook: Learn and Practice the Japanese Alphabet
Gleeson, Jim
Paperback
English Short Stories for Beginners: Learn English With Stories From an American Life
Guru, Language
Paperback
Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences
Florey, Kitty Burns
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages
Deutscher, Guy
Paperback
Japanese Kanji for Beginners: (Jlpt Levels N5 & N4) First Steps to Learn the Basic Japanese Characters [Includes Online Audio & Printable Flash Cards]
Hakone, Kaori
Stout, Timothy G.
Paperback
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners: Learn English and Build Your Vocabulary the Fun and Easy Way
Guru, Language
Paperback
I Is an Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How It Shapes the Way We See the World
Geary, James
Paperback
Arabic Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Middle Eastern Tales in Arabic and English (Online Included) [With CD (Audio)]
Mansur, Lutfi
Brosh, Hezi
Paperback
Basics of Akkadian: A Grammar, Workbook, and Glossary
Erickson, Nancy L.
Hugenberger, Gordon P.
Paperback
The 1560 Defined Geneva Bible: With Modern Spelling, New Testament
Brown, David L.
Krueger, James
Hardcover
A Navajo Alphabet Book For Kids: Diné Bizaad: Language Learning Educational Present For Toddlers, Babies & Children Age 1 - 3:
Press, Bilingual Kiddos
Paperback
The Indo-Europeans Rediscovered: How a Scientific Revolution Is Rewriting Their Story
Mallory, J. P.
Hardcover
Reading & Writing Farsi (Persian): A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Farsi Script and Language (Free Online Audio & Printable Flash
Ahooie, Amir Hossein
Vil, Pegah
Paperback
Learn Japanese with Manga Volume Two: A Self-Study Language Guide (Free Online Audio)
Bernabe, Marc
Paperback
'O Faia Fa'atumua O Samoa Mai Tala O Le Vavau
Simanu, 'Aumua Mata'itusi
Papalii, Aumua Mataitusi Sima
Paperback
The First 100 Chinese Characters: Simplified Character Edition: (Hsk Level 1) the Quick and Easy Way to Learn the Basic Chinese Characters
Matthews, Alison
Matthews, Laurence
Paperback
An Apple a Day: Learn 25 Idioms and Sayings in English, Spanish, French, and Italian
Tartaglia, Michela
Hardcover
Japanese Kanji Made Easy: An Easy Step-By-Step Workbook to Learn the Basic Japanese Kanji (JLPT N5)
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
Ancient Greek Thematic Dictionary. Volume I: General Concepts, Dimensions, and Senses
Rico, Christophe
Hardcover
The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves to Sand Worms, the Words Behind World-Building
Peterson, David J.
Paperback
Chinese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Chinese (Fully Romanized and Free Online Audio)
Liang, Xiyuan
Ren, Yi
Paperback
Trace Letters and Numbers Workbook: Learn How to Write Alphabet Upper and Lower Case and Numbers
Noosita, Nina
Paperback
Aprender inglés para adultos principiantes: 3 libros en 1: ¡Habla inglés en 30 días!
Towin, Explore
Paperback
Kingdom of Characters (Pulitzer Prize Finalist): The Language Revolution That Made China Modern
Tsu, Jing
Paperback
Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks
Houston, Keith
Paperback
Elementary Korean Workbook: A Complete Language Activity Book for Beginners (Free Online Audi)
Lee, Insun
Paperback
The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
Deutscher, Guy
Paperback
The Slangman Guide to STREET SPEAK 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & Idioms
Burke, David
Paperback
Basic Tagalog: Learn to Speak Modern Filipino/ Tagalog - The National Language of the Philippines: Revised Third Edition (with Online Audio)
Hernandez, Yolanda Canseco
Aspillera, Paraluman S.
Paperback
Japan Now! a Japanese Language Reader: Bilingual Stories and Essays about Contemporary Japan (with Free Online Audio Recordings)
Sato, Anna
Sato, Eriko
Paperback
Enhancing Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Coaching Practices to Empower Students
Polk, Paula
Paperback
Learn Korean - The Language Workbook for Beginners: An Easy, Step-by-Step Study Book and Writing Practice Guide for Learning How to Read, Write, and T
Lee, Jennie
Polyscholar
Paperback
Easy Thai: A Complete Language Course and Pocket Dictionary in One! (Free Companion Online Audio)
Rattanakhemakorn, Jintana
Paperback
Arabic for Beginners: A Guide to Modern Standard Arabic (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Risha, Sarah
Paperback
Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World
Bergstrom, Carl T.
West, Jevin D.
Paperback
Japanese Kanji and Kana Workbook: A Self-Study Workbook for Learning Japanese Characters
Spahn, Mark
Hadamitzky, Wolfgang
Paperback
Vietnamese Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Vietnamese and English (Free Online Audio)
Le, Tram
Tran, Tri C.
Paperback