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Article published In: Variation and Grammaticalization of Verbal Constructions
Edited by Dániel Czicza and Gabriele Diewald
[Constructions and Frames 14:1] 2022
► pp. 181–223

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Clause linkage and degrees of grammaticalization

The case of verdienen with correlated and non‑correlated dass- and infinitival complements

 | Leibniz Universität Hannover
 | Leibniz Universität Hannover
 | Leibniz Universität Hannover
Published online: 9 August 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/cf.00061.czi
Abstract
This paper deals with different types of verbal complementation of the German verb verdienen. It focuses on constructions that have been undergoing a grammaticalization process and thus express deontic modality, as in Sie verdient geliebt zu werden (ʽShe deserves to be lovedʼ) and Sie verdient zu leben (ʽShe deserves to liveʼ) (Diewald, G., Dekalo, V. & Czicza, D. (2021). Grammaticalization of verdienen into an auxiliary marker of deontic modality: An item-driven usage-based approach. In M. Hilpert, B. Cappelle & I. Depraetere (Eds.), Modality and Diachronic Construction Grammar (pp. 81–122). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). These constructions are connected to parallel complementation types with passive and active infinitives containing a correlate es, as in Sie verdient es, geliebt zu werden and Sie verdient es, zu leben, as well as finite clauses with the subordinator dass with and without correlative es, as in Sie verdient, dass sie geliebt wird and Sie verdient es, dass sie geliebt wird. This paper attempts to show a close comparative investigation of these six types of constructions based on their relevant semantic and syntactic properties in terms of clause linkage (Lehmann, Ch. (1988). Towards a typology of clause linkage. In J. Haiman & S. A. Thompson (Eds.), Clause combining in grammar and discourse (pp. 181–225). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). We analyze the relevant data retrieved from the DWDS corpus of the 20th century and present an expanded grammaticalization path for verdienen-constructions. The finite complementation with dass is regarded as an example of a separate structural option called “elaboration”. Concerning the use of correlative es, it is shown that it does not have any substantial effect on the grammaticalization of modal verdienen-constructions.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical assumptions
    • 2.1Clause linkage
    • 2.2Coherent vs. incoherent construction
    • 2.3Correlative es, clause integration and grammaticalization
    • 2.4Animacy of the subject in grammaticalization
  • 3.Data and methods
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Observed counts
      • Ad (i)
      • Ad (ii)
      • Ad (iii)
    • 4.2Statistical models
      • I.correlate ~ animacy + (1|text)
      • II.construction ~ animacy + (1|text)
      • III.construction ~ coherence + (1|text)
  • 5.Discussion
    • i.The role of finite complementation in grammaticalization
    • ii.The role of correlative es
    • iii.The internal distinction of passive and active infinitives
  • 6.Conclusion: A potential grammaticalization path of verdienen as a deontic modal marker
  • Notes
  • References
References (28)
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