“Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There”
This paper explores the syntactic and semantic configurations of expletives “it” and “there.” It attempts to show that expletives are not just syntactic fillers; they are semantic markers and are pragmatically bound NPs that can be co-indexed with covert referents. The study follows a theoretical a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Department of English, University of Chitral
2023-12-01
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| Series: | University of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature |
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| Online Access: | https://jll.uoch.edu.pk/index.php/jll/article/view/113 |
| _version_ | 1797211673212223488 |
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| author | Dr. Amjad Ali |
| author_facet | Dr. Amjad Ali |
| author_sort | Dr. Amjad Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This paper explores the syntactic and semantic configurations of expletives “it” and “there.” It attempts to show that expletives are not just syntactic fillers; they are semantic markers and are pragmatically bound NPs that can be co-indexed with covert referents. The study follows a theoretical approach and applies Bolinger’s (1977) Meaning and Form model to the syntactic configurations of expletives. The syntactic structures of expletives are based on the syntactic theories of generativist linguists, namely Chomsky (1986). Chomskyan syntactic theories describe the various formal characteristics of expletives without analyzing their semantic and pragmatic implications. This study premises that Bolinger’s theoretical modal can fill these missing gaps and can provide a conclusive yet not final description of these gaps. The study recognizes expletives as discourse bound markers and authenticates their contextual and sociological significance.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:16:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69789418e92848cf90a3c6fe9396e939 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2617-3611 2663-1512 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:30:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Department of English, University of Chitral |
| record_format | Article |
| series | University of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature |
| spelling | doaj.art-69789418e92848cf90a3c6fe9396e9392024-04-12T16:47:12ZengDepartment of English, University of ChitralUniversity of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature2617-36112663-15122023-12-015I10.33195/bd64k983“Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There”Dr. Amjad Ali0Assistant Professor, Department of English, Islamia College Peshawar This paper explores the syntactic and semantic configurations of expletives “it” and “there.” It attempts to show that expletives are not just syntactic fillers; they are semantic markers and are pragmatically bound NPs that can be co-indexed with covert referents. The study follows a theoretical approach and applies Bolinger’s (1977) Meaning and Form model to the syntactic configurations of expletives. The syntactic structures of expletives are based on the syntactic theories of generativist linguists, namely Chomsky (1986). Chomskyan syntactic theories describe the various formal characteristics of expletives without analyzing their semantic and pragmatic implications. This study premises that Bolinger’s theoretical modal can fill these missing gaps and can provide a conclusive yet not final description of these gaps. The study recognizes expletives as discourse bound markers and authenticates their contextual and sociological significance. https://jll.uoch.edu.pk/index.php/jll/article/view/113Expletives, Chomskyan Syntactic Structures, Bolinger’s Meaning and Form |
| spellingShingle | Dr. Amjad Ali “Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There” University of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature Expletives, Chomskyan Syntactic Structures, Bolinger’s Meaning and Form |
| title | “Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There” |
| title_full | “Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There” |
| title_fullStr | “Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There” |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There” |
| title_short | “Expletives” as Discourse Markers: Semantic and Pragmatic Considerations in “It” and “There” |
| title_sort | expletives as discourse markers semantic and pragmatic considerations in it and there |
| topic | Expletives, Chomskyan Syntactic Structures, Bolinger’s Meaning and Form |
| url | https://jll.uoch.edu.pk/index.php/jll/article/view/113 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dramjadali expletivesasdiscoursemarkerssemanticandpragmaticconsiderationsinitandthere |