Desemantization of Functional Grammatical Causatives in the Aspect of Grammaticalization
Svetlana V. Shustova – Elena A. Osheva – Konstantin A. Klochko
DOI: 10.18355/XL.2017.10.01.04
Abstract
This article dwells upon the issues, connected with the prototype theory and grammaticalization theory in the sphere of causativeness category which is considered as interpersonal interaction. Functional grammatical causatives appear to be a means of causativeness actualization. In the process of functioning, they display prototypical characteristics which form the core of causativeness category and are traced to analytical tools of a language. One of leading grammaticalization indicators is desemantization, as a verb loses its lexical meaning in a certain environment and acquires grammatical functions. Functional grammatical causatives are considered to be analytical causative, for their meaning is formed in the sphere of functioning of such English verbs as to cause, to make, to force, to get, to bring, to let, to permit, to set, to keep, to allow; German verbs: lassen (to let, to cause), heiβen (to tell, to bid), machen (to make), bringen (to make, to get, to drive). Functional grammatical causatives possess generalized meaning and desemantization, display high usage frequency and have a wide range of generated constructions.
Key words: desemantization, grammaticalization, functional grammatical causative, causativeness, prototypical causation, transcategorization, analytical tool, German, English, prototypical means