The history of<i>very</i>: the directionality of functional shift and (inter)subjectification

Breban, Tine; Davidse, Kristin

doi:10.1017/s1360674315000428

Cited by 32 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…However, study of the shift from epithet to secondary determiner has been more patchy, e.g. Breban (2008Breban ( , 2010aBreban ( , 2014, Davidse (2003, 2016a), Davidse et al (2008) and the shift from epithet to focus marker and metadesignative has been barely broached (Davidse and Ghesquière 2016, Breban and Davidse 2016a, 2016b).…”

Section: Concluding Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aiming at exhaustive coverage, we add two more functions to the existing set: focus markers and metadesignatives (Breban and Davidse 2016a). The little noticed focus markers realized by adjectives situate, like adverbial focus markers (König 1991), a focus value relative to alternative values.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For a complex case study of semantic change, polysemy and changing positional possibilities manifested by the adjective very, seeBreban and Davidse (2016a).…”

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confidence: 99%

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A cognitive-functional approach to the order of adjectives in the English noun phrase

Davidse

Breban

2019

Linguistics

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In this article we identify and motivate the main word order patterns of adjectives in the English NP. Theoretically, we situate ourselves within the tradition of semiotically-based, cognitive-functional construction grammars as developed by such linguists as Halliday, Langacker and McGregor. In this tradition, the lexicogrammar is assumed to exist to symbolize semantic functions. We argue that the various semantic functions of adjectives in the English NP are coded by different modification relations, which differ in terms of where and how they fit into the structural assembly of the whole NP. We hold that function motivates structure, and that order is an epiphenomenon of structure. Therefore, we first set out our model of the functions that can be fulfilled by adjectives in the English NP. This model is innovative in a number of ways. Theoretically, it extends the distinction between representational and interpersonal modifiers. Descriptively, we elucidate the traditionally recognized representational functions of classifier and epithet as well as the interpersonal functions of noun-intensifier and secondary determiner. To this set, we add the hitherto barely recognized interpersonal functions of focus marker and metadesignative. We also systematically investigate the possibility for coordination and subordination between adjectives fulfilling the same function. In a second step, we then correlate this functional-structural model with the general ordering tendencies of the functions realized by adjectives. We specify the general left-to-right ordering of the six functions, pointing out possible and impossible orders of the functions relative to each other. We interpret the distinction between representational and interpersonal modifiers with regard to their different ordering potential. Finally, we look at the main ordering options available for multiple adjectives realizing the same function.

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Section: Concluding Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A cognitive-functional approach to the order of adjectives in the English noun phrase

Davidse

Breban

2019

Linguistics

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“…Rather, we narrow down discussion to adjective intensification in English and complex intensifying constructs in particular. An enormous literature has been devoted to diverse features of English degree adverbs and Adv-Adj collocations -from early descriptive works such as Stoffel [1901] and Borst [1902] down to the present (Spitzbardt [1965]; Peters [1992]; Stenström [1999]; Lorenz [2002]; Ito & Tagliamonte [2003]; Cacchiani [2009]; Breban & Davidse [2016] inter alios). Though morphology appears to have been less concerned with intensification in complex adjectives, conspicuous exceptions are discussions of English intensifying prefixes in Bauer, Lieber and Plag [2013] and Dixon [2014], Rainer's [2016] chapter on intensification in morphology, and Booij's [2010] work on intensification in Dutch compounding and derivation within the broader debate on the role of analogy and abstract schemas in word formation.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Following their first inception into the language, intensifiers may fall into disuse, disappear, or undergo (relative) semantic bleaching and go all the way towards grammaticalization, thereby turning into functional words and losing their original lexical meaning, e.g. very (Breban & Davidse [2016]). • degree, for grammaticalized intensifiers (very)…”

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confidence: 99%