Regularity in Semantic Change (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 97)

This important study of semantic change examines how new meanings arise through language use, especially the various ways in which speakers and writers experiment with uses of words and constructions in the flow of strategic interaction with addressees. There has been growing interest in exploring systemicities in semantic change from a number of perspectives including theories of metaphor, pragmatic inferencing, and grammaticalization. Like earlier studies, these have for the most part been based on data taken out of context. This book is a detailed examination of semantic change from the perspective of historical pragmatics and discourse analysis. Drawing on extensive corpus data from over a thousand years of English and Japanese textual history, Traugott and Dasher show that most changes in meaning originate in and are motivated by the associative flow of speech and conceptual metonymy. This Study Of Semantic Change Examines How New Meanings Arise Through Language Use, Especially The Various Ways In Which Speakers And Writers Experiment With Uses Of Words And Constructions In The Flow Of Strategic Interaction With Addressees. In The Last Few Decades There Has Been Growing Interest In Exploring Systemicities In Semantic Change From A Number Of Perspectives Including Theories Of Metaphor, Pragmatic Inferencing, And Grammaticalization. As In Earlier Studies, These Have For The Most Part Been Based On Data Taken Out Of Context. This Book Is The First Detailed Examination Of Semantic Change From The Perspective Of Historical Pragmatics And Discourse Analysis. Drawing On Extensive Corpus Data From Over A Thousand Years Of English And Japanese Textual History, Traugott And Dasher Show That Most Changes In Meaning Originate In And Are Motivated By Conceptual Metonymy And The Associative Flow Of Speech.--book Jacket. 1. The Framework -- 2. Prior And Current Work On Semantic Change -- 3. The Development Of Modal Verbs -- 4. The Development Of Adverbials With Discourse Marker Function -- 5. The Development Of Performative Verbs And Constructions -- 6. The Development Of Social Deictics -- 7. Conclusion. Elizabeth Closs Traugott, Richard B. Dasher. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 286-327) And Indexes.

This new and important study of semantic change examines the various ways in which new meanings arise through language use, especially the ways in which speakers and writers experiment with uses of words and constructions. Drawing on extensive research from over a thousand years of English and Japanese textual history, Traugott and Dasher show that most changes in meaning originate in and are motivated by the associative flow of speech and conceptual metonymy.

This new and important study of semantic change examines the various ways in which new meanings arise through language use, especially the ways in which speakers and writers experiment with words and constructions in the flow of strategic interaction with addressees In this book we show that there are predictable paths for semantic change across different conceptual structures and domains of language function.