Meaning Change in Grammaticalization An Enquiry into Semantic Reanalysis (Paperback)

Focusing on the mechanisms of grammaticalization, the book delves into how language change entails structural reorganizations across phonology, morphology, and syntax. Regine Eckardt posits that speakers maintain a mental record of meaning evolution, introducing the concept of semantic reanalysis as a key factor in meaning change. Through various case studies, the author provides fresh perspectives on the interplay between language and conceptual thinking within the human language faculty.