Grammaticalization of the progressive form in English
The purpose of this thesis is to provide an account of the grammaticalization of the progressive form <I>be +-ing</I> in English, namely a study of the way the construction has been integrated into the grammatical system of English, both synchronically and diachronically. The first two chapters are essentially descriptive and set up the terminological background that will be used in the later chapters. Chapter 1 outlines a brief history of grammaticalization, with its various traditions, followed by a presentation of the main characteristics of semantic changes in grammaticalization. Chapter 2 offers a discussion of the perfective and the imperfective aspects, the terminology of which has brought about many misconceptions and mistakes when applied to non-Slavic languages, especially English. The next four chapters propose a synchronic and diachronic study of the progressive form. Chapter 3 presents a semantic and formal analysis of the progressive form in Modern English. Chapter 4 focuses on the origins of the construction and tries to identify the seeds of a semantic interpretation of the latter in Old English, based on the examination of a few texts in Old English narrative prose. Chapter 5 describes and
Hancil, Sylvie M.
Grammaticalization of the progressive form in English. The purpose of this thesis is to provide an account of the grammaticalization of the progressive form <I>be +-ing</I> in English, namely a study of the way the construction has been integrated into the grammatical system of English, both synchronically and diachronically. The first two chapters are essentially descriptive and set up the terminological background that will be used in the later chapters. Chapter 1 outlines a brief history of grammaticalization, with its various traditions, followed by a presentation of the main characteristics of semantic changes in grammaticalization. Chapter 2 offers a discussion of the perfective and the imperfective aspects, the terminology of which has brought about many misconceptions and mistakes when applied to non-Slavic languages, especially English. The next four chapters propose a synchronic and diachronic study of the progressive form. Chapter 3 presents a semantic and formal analysis of the progressive form in Modern English. Chapter 4 focuses on the origins of the construction and tries to identify the seeds of a semantic interpretation of the latter in Old English, based on the examination of a few texts in Old English narrative prose. Chapter 5 describes and
grammaticalization progressive form english purpose_provide account grammaticalization progressive form ing english namely study way construction integrate grammatical system english synchronically diachronically first_two essentially descriptive set terminological background use later chapter outline brief_history grammaticalization various tradition follow presentation main_characteristic semantic_change grammaticalization offer discussion perfective imperfective aspect terminology bring many misconception mistake apply non slavic language especially english propose synchronic diachronic_study progressive form present semantic formal analysis progressive form modern_english focus origins construction try_identify seed semantic_interpretation latter old_english base_examination text old_english narrative prose describes