English Adjective Comparison
A historical perspective
University of Liverpool
The present work contributes to a better understanding of the English system of degree by means of a study of a number of aspects in the evolution of adjective comparison that have so far either been considered controversial or not been accounted for at all. As will be shown, the diachronic aspects analysed will also have synchronic implications. Furthermore, unlike previous synchronic as well as diachronic accounts of adjective comparison, this monograph does not concentrate only on the ‘standard’ comparative strategies (i.e. inflectional and periphrastic forms), but also deals with double periphrastic comparatives, thus providing an analysis of the whole range of comparative structures in English.
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory, 299]
2008.
xix, 252 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Hardbound – Available
ISBN
9789027248152
|
EUR
110.00
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USD
165.00
e-Book – Sold by e-book platforms
ISBN
9789027290953
|
EUR
110.00
|
USD
165.00
Table of Contents
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Acknowledgements
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xiii–xiv
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Abbreviations
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xv–xix
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Chapter 1. Introduction
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1–13
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Chapter 2. The origin of periphrastic comparatives
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15–50
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Chapter 3. French influence and the spread of periphrastic comparatives in English
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51–73
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Chapter 4. Inflectional v. periphrastic comparison in EModE and LModE
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75–107
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Chapter 5. Inflectional v. periphrastic comparison in Present-day English
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109–134
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Chapter 6. Double periphrastic comparatives in English: Linguistic development
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135–158
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Chapter 7. Double periphrastic comparatives: A socio-stylistic analysis
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159–213
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Chapter 8. Comparatives and beyond
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215–225
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References
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227–247
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Index
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249–252
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Quotes
“[...] an important contribution to the study of historical linguistics, adjective comparison and semantic-pragmatic aspects presently discussed in language contact issues and variation research. It provides new insights into the emergence and historical development of English comparatives and uncovers a range of hitherto unknown aspects concerning the origin of analytic comparative forms.”
Britta Mondorf,
Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, in Folia Linguistica 43/2 (2009)
Subjects
Benjamins Subject classification
BIC Subject
CFK: Grammar, syntax
BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics
U.S. Library of Congress Control Number: 2008023398