Part of
Grammatical Change in English World-WideEdited by Peter Collins
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 67] 2015
► pp. 119–146
Edited by Peter Collins
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 67] 2015
► pp. 119–146
Cross-variety diachronic drifts and ephemeral regional contrasts
An analysis of modality in the extended Brown family of corpora and what it can tell us about the New Englishes
The present study offers the first analysis of modals and semi-modals which is based on all six completed Brown family corpora (B-Brown, B-LOB, Brown, LOB, Frown, F-LOB) and shows that the dynamics of diachronic change have prevented the emergence and preservation of stable regional contrasts between British and American English. The significance of this finding for the study of modality in the New Englishes is explored. Keywords. modality; ongoing change; British English; American English
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