Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like

The choice between the comparative conjunctions as and like depends primarily on sociolinguistic and stylistic factors. In the same syntactic slot, speakers can also use the way, although the literature on comparative conjunctions rarely mentions this third possibility. By examining the incomplete N...

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Main Author: Mathilde Pinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cercle linguistique du Centre et de l'Ouest - CerLICO
Series:Corela
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/corela/845
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author Mathilde Pinson
author_facet Mathilde Pinson
author_sort Mathilde Pinson
collection DOAJ
description The choice between the comparative conjunctions as and like depends primarily on sociolinguistic and stylistic factors. In the same syntactic slot, speakers can also use the way, although the literature on comparative conjunctions rarely mentions this third possibility. By examining the incomplete NP the way in light of grammaticalization criteria, such as decategorialization, loss of paradigmatic variability, erosion, and semantic bleaching, I demonstrate that the way is becoming a conjunctive phrase. As an intermediate option between as, which is sometimes considered too formal, and like, which is not yet accepted in every situation, the way seems to be more neutral from a sociolinguistic perspective and is therefore central to the grammar of comparative conjunctions.
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spelling doaj.art-d0a2504d57734ad2bb5cfee97bae45e22024-02-13T13:52:46ZengCercle linguistique du Centre et de l'Ouest - CerLICOCorela1638-573X8110.4000/corela.845Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / likeMathilde PinsonThe choice between the comparative conjunctions as and like depends primarily on sociolinguistic and stylistic factors. In the same syntactic slot, speakers can also use the way, although the literature on comparative conjunctions rarely mentions this third possibility. By examining the incomplete NP the way in light of grammaticalization criteria, such as decategorialization, loss of paradigmatic variability, erosion, and semantic bleaching, I demonstrate that the way is becoming a conjunctive phrase. As an intermediate option between as, which is sometimes considered too formal, and like, which is not yet accepted in every situation, the way seems to be more neutral from a sociolinguistic perspective and is therefore central to the grammar of comparative conjunctions.https://journals.openedition.org/corela/845grammaticalizationcomparative conjunctionmannersemantic bleachingdecategorizationThe way
spellingShingle Mathilde Pinson
Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like
Corela
grammaticalization
comparative conjunction
manner
semantic bleaching
decategorization
The way
title Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like
title_full Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like
title_fullStr Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like
title_full_unstemmed Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like
title_short Vers une grammaticalisation de the way : une alternative au binôme conjonctif as / like
title_sort vers une grammaticalisation de the way une alternative au binome conjonctif as like
topic grammaticalization
comparative conjunction
manner
semantic bleaching
decategorization
The way
url https://journals.openedition.org/corela/845
work_keys_str_mv AT mathildepinson versunegrammaticalisationdethewayunealternativeaubinomeconjonctifaslike