The Syntax of Early English - Cryptm.org

286 The syntax of early EnglishThe case studies we discuss in this chapter are both typical cases of grammaticalizationas an empirical phenomenon. In the case of the development of thehave to periphrasis, we see a reanalysis of constructions with have as a mainverb followed by an object and a to-infinitive to its use as a periphrastic auxiliaryexpressing obligation. In the case of the development of negation, we seethe rise and fall of multiple sentential negation. Both are gradual long-termchanges and both are said in the literature to be semantically driven. We willshow in our case studies, however, that at crucial stages in the development, thechanges are shaped by the structure of the synchronic grammar that is beingacquired by the speaker/learner. In other words, our case-studies do not showone conglomerate diachronic process, but rather a sequence of steps that canbe characterized structurally, in terms of the synchronic grammar, with a gooddeal of precision. Our conclusion will be that the theoretical approach adoptedin this book illuminates important aspects of grammaticalization phenomena.Given that our approach is different from the one usually adopted bygrammaticalization theorists, we will first outline in section 9.2 what the cornerstones of grammaticalization theory are, as it is understood in the literature.We will show how grammaticalization is generally understood, by means ofsome examples and a discussion of the most relevant literature from the perspectiveof grammaticalization theory (9.2.1). We will briefly discuss the stages(or parameters) that are distinguished in the process of grammaticalization(section 9.2.2). In section 9.2.3, we will have a closer look at the notions of unidirectionality,gradualness and the idea that grammaticalization is semanticallydriven, which are basic tenets of the theory, but which may createproblems for the essentially synchronic view adopted here. In section 9.2.4, wegive an explicit outline of our own approach. In section 9.3, we present twocase-studies of grammaticalization in the history of English in which grammarchange stands central: in 9.3.1, we will discuss the development of the verb havefollowed by a to-infinitive from a fully lexical verb (with the sense of ‘possession’as in I have this job to do) into a semi-modal verb expressing obligation,as in I have to do this job, and in section 9.3.2, we look at Otto Jespersen’s ‘negativecycle’ and consider how synchronic structural steps are manifested in thehistory of negation in English. In section 9.3.3, we will sum up our findings.9.2 Grammaticalization theory9.2.1 What is grammaticalization?Grammaticalization is generally seen as a process whereby a lexicalitem, with full referential meaning, develops into a grammatical marker. This