Grammaticalisation and Generative Theory: the Case of Epistemic 'Promise'

Authors

  • Maja Lubańska

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2010.2.4

Keywords:

grammaticalisation, generative theory, modality, epistemic modality, semantic factors, cognitive factors, pragmatic factors, minimalist grammar, morphosyntactic change, language acquisition

Abstract

The grammaticalisation theory and the generative theory have been commonly perceived as rather incompatible in their background assumptions (cf. van Kemenade 1999, Fisher and Rosenbach 2000). Accordingly, the process of grammaticalisation has been often seen as inapplicable to the generative account of language. The aim of this paper is to show the reverse. Following the line of reasoning presented in Roberts and Roussou (1999, 2005), I will analyse the development of epistemic promise in English to show that Chomskyan theory can account not only for abrupt, categorial changes, but also for gradual, and ongoing ones.

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Published

2010-11-22

How to Cite

Lubańska, M. (2010). Grammaticalisation and Generative Theory: the Case of Epistemic ’Promise’. Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 2(1), 93–111. https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2010.2.4

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2010): BELLS - volume 2

Section

THEORETICAL AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Maja Lubańska

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