Linguistics ETDs
Publication Date
7-1-2013
Abstract
I examine the evolution of constructions involved in the emergence of be about to, used to indicate an immediate future event. Using three corpora from different time periods going as far back as the Old English period, I take synchronic snapshots of the gradual change in constructions leading up to the present day usage of be about to. The selected corpora parallel Disney's (2009) account of the grammaticalization of be going to for the purpose of comparison. It is found that the emergence of be about to is a complex story involving the development of multiple constructions through time. These findings demonstrate the value of examining language change in a construction grammar framework. While it is helpful to understand that constructions, not just words, undergo grammaticalization, one should also recognize that the emergence of a new construction always involves an interaction between several different constructions. Consequently, determining where the grammaticalization process begins is a complicated endeavor that requires thorough examination the complexities of the older constructions from which a new construction emerges.
Language
English
Keywords
Construction grammar, Grammaticalization, Idiomatization, Schematization
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Linguistics
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Department of Linguistics
First Committee Member (Chair)
Bybee, Joan
Second Committee Member
Shin, Naomi
Recommended Citation
Mee, Joshua. "The evolution of constructions: The case of be about to." (2013). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ling_etds/25
Comments
Submitted by Joshua Mee (jomee@unm.edu) on 2013-05-08T04:33:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mee MA thesis.pdf: 2000352 bytes, checksum: 163ee89c5afa737fc67c573610763444 (MD5), Approved for entry into archive by Doug Weintraub (dwein@unm.edu) on 2013-09-03T21:41:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Mee MA thesis.pdf: 2000352 bytes, checksum: 163ee89c5afa737fc67c573610763444 (MD5), Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-03T21:41:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mee MA thesis.pdf: 2000352 bytes, checksum: 163ee89c5afa737fc67c573610763444 (MD5)