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Reflections on Constructions across Grammars
Edited by Martin Hilpert and Jan-Ola Östman
[Constructions and Frames 6:2] 2014
► pp. 305–337

Constructions do not cross Languages

On cross-linguistic generalizations of constructions

| Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin & Freie Universität Berlin

In research on bilingualism it is often assumed that linguistic structures can be shared across languages. The emphasis on generalization and categorization in construction grammar also seems to imply that speakers can develop cross-linguistic representations. This contribution argues that generalizations can occur only on the semantic level. Data from typologically distinct languages shows that generalizations over form are not likely to play a role in language processing. It is further argued that neither syntactical nor grammatical form is needed in order to explain syntactic transfer.

Keywords: bilingualism, transfer, construction grammar, Slavic, Finno-Ugric, code-switching, imitation
Published online: 30 March 2015
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https://doi.org/10.1075/cf.6.2.07was
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