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In:Changing Structures: Studies in constructions and complementation
Edited by Mark Kaunisto, Mikko Höglund and Paul Rickman
[Studies in Language Companion Series 195] 2018
► pp. 171–196

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On the diachrony of prepositional verbs in Singapore English

 | Universität Trier
Published online: 22 May 2018
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https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.195.10hof
This paper employs a diachronic corpus of newspaper data to investigate the use of a range of semantically redundant verb-particle combinations (e.g. to request for) in Singapore English since the 1950s. The findings are interpreted as evidence for possible processes of innovation and structural nativization, as outlined in Schneider’s (2003, 2007) dynamic model of post-colonial Englishes. The paper also touches on the motivations for speakers to employ such structures (e.g. analogy with existing forms, transparency) and shows that the results of parallel developments can be observed in other New – but not in native – Englishes world-wide, thus suggesting that we are dealing with strategies that are specific to ESL (English as a second language) contexts.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Singapore English
    • 2.2Singapore standard English?
    • 2.2Prepositional verbs
  • 3.Data
  • 4.Retrieving prepositional verbs
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1The prepositional verbs to enter into and to await for
    • 5.2The prepositional verb to request for
    • 5.3The prepositional verb to leverage on
  • 6.Prepositional verbs in new Englishes
  • 7.Concluding remarks and outlook
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (52)
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