Corpus-Based Studies on Non-Finite Complements in Recent English

Corpus-Based Studies on Non-Finite Complements in Recent English PDF Author: Paul Rickman
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319729896
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
This book showcases fresh research into the underexplored territory of complementation through a detailed analysis of gerunds and ‘to’ infinitives involving control in English. Drawing on large electronic corpora of recent English, it examines subject control in adjectival predicate constructions with ‘scared’, ‘terrified’ and ‘afraid’, moving on to a study of object control with the verbal predicate ‘warn’. In each chapter a case study is presented of a matrix adjective that selects both infinitival and gerundial complements, and a central theme is the application of the Choice Principle as a novel factor bearing on complement selection. The authors argue that it is helpful to view the patterns in question as constructions, as combinations of form and meaning, within the system of English predicate complementation, and convincingly demonstrate how a new gerundial pattern has emerged and spread in the course of the last two centuries. This book will appeal to scholars of semantics, corpus linguistics, and historical linguistics as well as those with an interest in variation and change in recent English more generally.

Changes in Complementation in British and American English

Changes in Complementation in British and American English PDF Author: J. Rudanko
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 0230305199
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
The book shows how the system of English predicate complementation has been undergoing an amazing amount of variation and change in recent centuries, and identifies explanatory principles to account for this change and variation, with evidence from large electronic corpora of both British and American English.

Variation in Non-finite Constructions in English

Variation in Non-finite Constructions in English PDF Author: Mark Kaunisto
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030190447
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
This book sheds new light on the nature of gerunds in English, utilizing data from very large electronic corpora in order to compare pairs of patterns viewed as constructions. It serves as a contribution to the study of complementation, an under-researched area of investigation which bridges observations at the intersection of lexico-grammar, syntax and semantics. As a result, the reader develops their understanding of the meaning and use of each pattern within the system of English predicate complementation as it has evolved in recent times. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of English linguistics, especially English grammar.

Non-finite Complementation

Non-finite Complementation PDF Author: Thomas Egan
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 940120554X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 444

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Book Description
This book presents a comprehensive guide to the way speakers of British English use infinitive and –ing clauses as verbal complements. It contains details of the non-finite complementation patterns of over 300 matrix verbs, with a particular emphasis on verbs that occur with more than one type of non-finite complement. Drawing upon data from the British National Corpus, the author shows that some of the views which are to be found in the existing literature on these sorts of clauses are in conflict with the evidence of actual usage. He also shows that there is actually much more regularity in this area than has often been taken to be the case. Moreover, this regularity is shown to be motivated by cognitive-functional factors. An appendix contains details of the relative frequency of all of the constructions dealt with in the study, together with an example of each of them. The book is of interest to language teachers as well as linguists, both theoretical and applied.

Infinitives and Gerunds in Recent English

Infinitives and Gerunds in Recent English PDF Author: Juhani Rudanko
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319463136
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 88

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Book Description
This book explores the grammar of to infinitives and gerundial -ing clauses, which is a central area at the interface of syntax and semantics, against the background of what has been called the Great Complement Shift. Over the course of six chapters, the author explores the semantic properties of constructions where the general spread of gerundial -ing clauses occurs at the expense of to infinitives. The author draws on large electronic corpora, ensuring that new perspectives are opened on the basis of authentic corpus evidence. He identifies trends of variation and change in the use of the two constructions and proposes The Choice Principle, an innovative perspective on the semantics of to infinitives and gerundial -ing complements. This book will be of interest to researchers and students working on English grammar or the recent history of English grammar.

Perspectives on Complementation

Perspectives on Complementation PDF Author: M. Höglund
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1137450061
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
This book presents the latest work in the field of complementation studies. Leading scholars and upcoming researchers in the area approach complementation from various perspectives and different frameworks, such as Cognitive Grammar and construction grammars, to offer a broad survey of the field and provide thought-provoking reading.

Changing Structures

Changing Structures PDF Author: Mark Kaunisto
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
ISBN: 9027264228
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
This book is a collection of eleven research articles which altogether serve as a contribution to the study of verb complementation and other constructions, an area of investigation which bridges observations on the spectrum of lexico-grammar, syntax, and semantics. In terms of methodological approaches and the types of linguistic patterns examined, the chapters cast light on the subject from a variety of perspectives, and the volume is structured in a way that groups the various perspectives under three main themes according to their main focus and/or methodological approaches, namely: the semantic and functional descriptions of constructions; the investigation into the distribution of complementation patterns; and the study of innovative patterns in ESL contexts and languages other than English. All chapters in this volume employ data from large electronic corpora where possible – the BNC, COCA, COHA, GloWbE, NOW, and newly compiled corpora representing regional varieties of English.

Infinitival vs Gerundial Complementation with Afraid, Accustomed, and Prone

Infinitival vs Gerundial Complementation with Afraid, Accustomed, and Prone PDF Author: Juho Ruohonen
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030567583
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 167

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Book Description
This book explores the concept of complementation in the adjectival domain of English grammar. Alternation between non-finite complements, especially to infinitives and gerundial complements, has been investigated intensively on the basis of large corpora in the last few years. With very few exceptions, however, such work has hitherto been based on univariate analysis methods. Using multivariate analysis, the authors present methodologically innovative case studies examining a large array of explanatory factors potentially impacting complement choice in cases of alternation. This approach yields more precise information on the impact of each factor on complement choice as well as on interactions between different explanatory factors. The book thus presents a methodologically new perspective on the study of the system of non-finite complementation in recent English and variation within that system, and will be relevant to academics and students with an interest in English grammar, predicate complementation, and statistical approaches to language.

Complements and Constructions

Complements and Constructions PDF Author: Martti Juhani Rudanko
Publisher: University Press of America
ISBN: 9780761822745
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 140

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Book Description
This brief study applies the notion of a "construction" to preposition complementation patterns in English, and argues that Goldberg's formulation offers a helpful conceptual tool for analyzing prepositional patterns. Particular attention is given to alternative object control structures and the changes transitive verbs and intransitive verbs have undergone over time. Rudanko's credentials are not noted. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Nodes and Networks in Diachronic Construction Grammar

Nodes and Networks in Diachronic Construction Grammar PDF Author: Lotte Sommerer
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
ISBN: 9027261296
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 363

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Book Description
This volume brings together ten contributions by leading experts who present their current usage-based research in Diachronic Construction Grammar. All papers contribute to the discussion of how to conceptualize constructional networks best and how to model changes in the constructicon, as for example node creation or loss, node-external reconfiguration of the network or in/decrease in productivity and schematicity. The authors discuss the theoretical status of allostructions, homostructions, constructional families and constructional paradigms. The terminological distinction between constructionalization and constructional change is revisited. It is shown how constructional competition but also general cognitive abilities like analogical thinking and schematization relate to the structure and reorganization of the constructional network. Most contributions focus on the nature of vertical and horizontal links. Finally, contributions to the volume also discuss how existing network models should be enriched or reconceptualized in order to integrate theoretical, psychological and neurological aspects missing so far.