Constructions and Frames - Volume 15, Issue 2, 2023

Abstract

This study investigates diachronic changes in constructional networks illustrated with examples from the Manchuric branch of Tungusic, an endangered language family spoken in Northeast Asia. Earlier studies have noted pronounced differences between this branch and the rest of the family, such as a reduction in morphological complexity and partial restructuring of the morphosyntactic system. Based on the framework of Diachronic Construction Grammar, this study investigates aspects of nominal morphology, including flagging and indexing. These are especially promising for a better understanding of the evolution of Manchuric and have not often been discussed in terms of Construction Grammar.

Abstract

The paper explores the origin and development of the [entre-V] construction in the history of French. By means of quantitative corpus data, it is shown that the [entre-V] construction, particularly in its reciprocal function, is productive in earlier stages of French and progressively disappears over time. We argue that this decrease in productivity is connected to the change in availability of the more abstract [pref-V] construction. While Old French still shows residual stages of Latin prefixation, this system dissolves in the history of French. As speakers have less access to the [pref-V] construction, this also engenders numerous changes in the constructional network of the [entre-V] construction.

Abstract

In Norwegian, the noun vis ‘manner’ is commonly used to head compounds. It is the historical source of several suffixes: derivational suffixes in adverbs and adjectives and an inflectional suffix on measure nouns. Thus, compounding has given rise to both derivation and inflection. These developments are analysed and compared with respect to how they affect the network of constructions, with a focus on differences between derivation and inflection. The main difference is that links of similarity and contrast have been centrally involved in the development of inflection, but not of derivation.

Abstract

Today, a number of etymologically related native and non-native English and German suffixes derive nouns and adjectives from entire phrases, suggesting that these suffixes have evolved clitic-like properties. By providing a diachronic analysis of dictionary entries that is underpinned by corpus searches, this paper traces how this property of the schemas of German ‑ig, ‑er and ‑ismus and of English ‑y, ‑er and ‑ism has evolved in the respective languages. The present analysis reveals that some developments appear to have taken place in parallel, while others are language-specific, which offers novel insights to our understanding of diachronic change affecting morphological schemas.

Abstract

This paper describes the way in which represented speech is introduced in ten eastern Bantu languages, and explains the different constructions used as stages of a linguistic cycle. In this cycle, verbs of speech develop into quotative markers, and eventually cease to be used to introduce direct speech. This cycle can be understood as a systematic and unidirectional series of constructional changes.

This article reviews L’expansion pluridisciplinaire des grammaires de constructions

This article reviews Nodes and Networks in Diachronic Construction Grammar