Title: Semantic-Pragmatic Change from Intersubjective to Textual Meanings
Series Title: Pragmatics & Beyond New Series
Publication Year: 2025

Publisher: John Benjamins
http://www.benjamins.com/
Book URL: https://benjamins.com/catalog/pbns.353

Editor(s): Giulio Scivoletto; Ryo Takamura

eBook ISBN: 9789027244727 Pages: 294 Price: Europe EURO 125.00
eBook ISBN: 9789027244727 Pages: 294 Price: U.K. £ 105.00
eBook ISBN: 9789027244727 Pages: 294 Price: U.S. $ 163.00
Hardback ISBN: 9789027223470 Pages: 294 Price: Europe EURO 125.00
Hardback ISBN: 9789027223470 Pages: 294 Price: Europe EURO 132.50
Hardback ISBN: 9789027223470 Pages: 294 Price: U.K. £ 105.00
Hardback ISBN: 9789027223470 Pages: 294 Price: U.S. $ 163.00

Abstract:

This is the first comprehensive volume to explore the tendency from ‘intersubjective’ to ‘textual’ functions in semantic-pragmatic change. It challenges the influential hypothesis based on the pioneering works by Traugott, i.e. the unidirectionality of change from objective to subjective and then to intersubjective meanings. In this framework, textual meanings precede (inter)subjective ones. Questioning this established trajectory, the contributions in this volume offer fresh perspectives on the development of intersubjective and textual functions. The chapters provide new empirical data about different constructions (modals, conditionals, discourse markers, non-lexical items, etc.), across a variety of largely unrelated languages (Ainu, Mandarin Chinese, English, German, Japanese, Italian, Sicilian, Spanish). This book collects a multifaceted reflection for researchers interested in language change, especially at the interface of semantics and pragmatics, providing readers with an opportunity to better understand the crucial processes of textualization and intersubjectification.

Written In: English (eng)