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Perspectives on fixedness: applied and theoretical

Hudson, Jean LU (1998) In Lund Studies in English 91(ISRN: LUHSDF/HSEN--98/1021SE+191).
Abstract
This thesis is about fixedness, or the process whereby orthographic words group together and congeal into fixed expressions that might subsequently reduce and become single words. The discussion focuses on three levels: realization, conceptualization, and discourse.



At the level of realization, substitution tests have traditionally been employed to ascertain degrees of fixedness in expressions. This method is evaluated with respect to expressions in adverb role (<i>complex adverbs</i>) and found to be inappropriate. At the conceptual level, the salience of word meanings, grammatical roles, and cohesive relations signalled in expressions are examined. It appears that there is a relationship between the overall... (More)
This thesis is about fixedness, or the process whereby orthographic words group together and congeal into fixed expressions that might subsequently reduce and become single words. The discussion focuses on three levels: realization, conceptualization, and discourse.



At the level of realization, substitution tests have traditionally been employed to ascertain degrees of fixedness in expressions. This method is evaluated with respect to expressions in adverb role (<i>complex adverbs</i>) and found to be inappropriate. At the conceptual level, the salience of word meanings, grammatical roles, and cohesive relations signalled in expressions are examined. It appears that there is a relationship between the overall level of salience in the expressions and the extent to which they are fixed. Reinterpretation and reanalysis at the level of discourse are motivating processes in the evolution of expressions. A unidirectional, cyclical cline of language change is proposed, and its relationship to the grammaticalization cline is discussed.



The eclectic approach taken in the book serves the dual function of bridging the gap between applied and theoretical approaches to linguistic research (as the title suggests), and of highlighting <i>fixedness</i> as an area worthy of study in its own right. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Rissanen, Matti
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
conceptualization, grammaticalization, pragmatic inferencing, reanalysis, univerbation, English language and literature, structuration, discourse, complex adverb, salience, Engelska (språk och litteratur)
in
Lund Studies in English
volume
91
issue
ISRN: LUHSDF/HSEN--98/1021SE+191
pages
177 pages
publisher
Lund University Press
defense location
Shakespeare Room (Humanisthuset)
defense date
1998-06-04 10:15:00
ISSN
0076-1451
ISBN
91-7966-534-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b81a5eb4-ebef-40a3-a440-0bd06058600c (old id 18854)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:20:17
date last changed
2019-05-24 14:59:52
@phdthesis{b81a5eb4-ebef-40a3-a440-0bd06058600c,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is about fixedness, or the process whereby orthographic words group together and congeal into fixed expressions that might subsequently reduce and become single words. The discussion focuses on three levels: realization, conceptualization, and discourse.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
At the level of realization, substitution tests have traditionally been employed to ascertain degrees of fixedness in expressions. This method is evaluated with respect to expressions in adverb role (&lt;i&gt;complex adverbs&lt;/i&gt;) and found to be inappropriate. At the conceptual level, the salience of word meanings, grammatical roles, and cohesive relations signalled in expressions are examined. It appears that there is a relationship between the overall level of salience in the expressions and the extent to which they are fixed. Reinterpretation and reanalysis at the level of discourse are motivating processes in the evolution of expressions. A unidirectional, cyclical cline of language change is proposed, and its relationship to the grammaticalization cline is discussed.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The eclectic approach taken in the book serves the dual function of bridging the gap between applied and theoretical approaches to linguistic research (as the title suggests), and of highlighting &lt;i&gt;fixedness&lt;/i&gt; as an area worthy of study in its own right.}},
  author       = {{Hudson, Jean}},
  isbn         = {{91-7966-534-9}},
  issn         = {{0076-1451}},
  keywords     = {{conceptualization; grammaticalization; pragmatic inferencing; reanalysis; univerbation; English language and literature; structuration; discourse; complex adverb; salience; Engelska (språk och litteratur)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{ISRN: LUHSDF/HSEN--98/1021SE+191}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University Press}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Studies in English}},
  title        = {{Perspectives on fixedness: applied and theoretical}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4370212/633607.pdf}},
  volume       = {{91}},
  year         = {{1998}},
}