Full metadata
Title
Grammaticalization of complementizers in Old English glosses
Description
I investigate how complementizers, which connect subordinate clauses to the main sentence, develop from other parts of speech, namely prepositions and adverbs. This occurs by the process of grammaticalization, in which a word loses lexicality and gains grammatical function instead. I use computer-based corpus analysis to determine how often certain words are used as each part of speech in my selected texts, and whether they are accompanied by other grammatical words. I use two Old English glosses of the Latin gospels, the Rushworth and Lindisfarne glosses, in order to analyze possible diachronic and geographical differences between the texts. I demonstrate that prepositions develop into adverbs and thence into complementizers with the assistance of certain grammatical accessory words which are later lost. This occurs by the process of reanalysis, in which the language user interprets a word or phrase differently than before.
Date Created
2010
Contributors
- Mackowski, Catherine (Author)
- Gelderen, Elly van (Thesis advisor)
- Adams, Karen (Committee member)
- Bjork, Robert (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
ix, 78 p. : ill
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.8804
Statement of Responsibility
by Catherine Mackowski
Description Source
Retrieved on Sept. 28, 2012
Level of coding
full
Note
Partial requirement for: M.A., Arizona State University, 2010
Note type
thesis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-60)
Note type
bibliography
Field of study: English
System Created
- 2011-08-12 03:23:17
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:55:53
- 2 years 7 months ago
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