1887
Volume 48 Number 2
  • ISSN 0378-4169
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9927

Abstract

Abstract

This is a study of English ) ( and ) constructions and their counterparts in Dutch and German. These constructions can express an equative meaning, which is the oldest meaning, as well as ‘extended’ meanings, like coordination, with functioning like the coordinator , or approximation, with The study is based on the corpora for each of the three languages. The findings are evaluated relative to the influential ‘Germanic Sandwich’ hypothesis that Dutch is intermediate between English and German. It is argued that, in most respects, Dutch and German pattern alike, and that, from a diachronic perspective, each language has shown innovation.

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2026-02-19
2026-03-07
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): additive; approximative; equative; similative
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