Chapter 2
Revisiting global and intra-categorial frequency shifts in the English
modals
A usage-based, constructionist view on the heterogeneity of modal
development
English modal verbs are claimed to be declining in their
use in English (Leech 2011, 2013; inter alia), an assertion that is
essentially based on aggregate frequencies of modals across register and time (Biber 2004). Since modals may be viewed as a
prime example of paradigmatic organization (e.g. Diewald 2009; Diewald
& Smirnova 2012), it seems only plausible to seek a generalization
regarding their overall development. This approach, however, comes with a drawback,
namely that it neglects the modal system’s underlying heterogeneity. By utilizing
both historical and contemporary language data from COHA (Davies 2010) and COCA (Davies 2008), I will argue that the obvious variability in the
English modal system represents an important caveat against making generalizations
across an entire category in terms of frequency shifts.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The diachrony of modals: Where we are at so far
- 3.Modals and CxG: What are modal constructions?
- 4.A response to Leech’s (2011)
response to Millar (2009)
- 5.What to split and what to lump?
- 6.Conclusion
-
Acknowledgements
-
Notes
-
References
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