Tracing the development of the perfect alternation in Early Modern English
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20344989 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marianne Hundt (0000-0001-6045-2314, University of Zurich), Yoko Iyeiri (0000-0002-3879-7209, Kyoto University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 47-81 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Diachronica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0176-4225 • E-ISSN: 1569-9714 |
| Publisher | John Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1075/dia.23040.hun |
| OpenAlex | W4406989664 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 23 |
On the basis of just under 5,050 examples of perfect constructions, this paper traces the development of the be:have perfect alternation in English between the 1620s and 1750s. For a core group of 18 verbs, the study investigates the role that language-internal and language-external predictor variables played in the choice of auxiliary. Multifactorial modelling reveals that language-internal factors such as modality, negation, clause-type and tense are among the most important predictors favouring the choice of have as auxiliary; there is also some indication of diachronic, lexical and idiosyncratic variation within Early Modern English. A close investigation of perfects that combine both auxiliaries strengthens the view that ambiguity-avoidance did not play a major role in the loss of the be -perfect. The results of the multifactorial model suggest greater independence of negation and counterfactuality as factors than previously claimed. The study thus contributes a novel perspective on the demise of the be -perfect, with paradigmatic variability taking centre stage
Linguistics · Programming language · Tracing · Computer Science · Historical Linguistics and Language Studies · History · Lexicography and Language Studies · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Philosophy
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |