The ups and downs of relative particles in German diachrony

On loss, grammaticalization, and standardization

Bibliographic Data

ID22024285
AuthorsAnn-Marie Moser (0000-0002-8003-0722, University of Zurich, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume13
Issue3
Pages461-487
Publication date2023-09-25
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Historical Linguistics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2210-2116 • E-ISSN: 2210-2124
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/jhl.22026.mos
OpenAlexW4321453473
LanguageEN
References cited33

The aim and scope of this article is to take a closer look at the functions and semantics of the three relative particles da, so , and wo , and to show that they have developed differently over a period from 1350 to 1800, continuing up to our modern dialects and the standard language. We will focus on wo because it is the only relativizer which is attested both as locative relative and as general relative clause marker, and we will propose that wo has extended its functional domain from a locative relative to a general relative marker. We will furthermore discuss if there has been a grammaticalization path “relative locative > general relative clause marker” in German diachrony or not. Finally, we will suggest that standardization processes are responsible for the different degrees of functional extension of wo attested in the historical/modern varieties and the standard language

Business · German · Grammaticalization · Linguistics · Locative case · Physics · Relative clause · Relative value · Computer Science · History · Linguistic research and analysis · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Philosophy · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

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