英語における方向副詞の史的変遷について

概要

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This paper aims to describe the historical development of two directional adverbial expressions, namely (one's) way and forth, from the standpoint of cognitive grammar. It is observed that these adverbial expressions, which originally share directional meanings, came into use only as idiomatic expressions as the time went by. A more detailed investigation, however, reveals that they receive a different cognitive process on their way to idiomatization. After around the end of Middle English, `spatial motion verb + one's ways' constructions became almost obsolete because of semantic bleaching of one's way. For the bleaching of its directional meaning, one's way in spatial motion expressions are replaced by prepositional phrases to express path of motion. On the other hand, forth developed into intensifier on its way to idiomatization. This process enables us to explain why forth occurs with non-spatial motion verbs to form idiomatic expressions, as illustrated in set forth and put forth.
名古屋産業大学の論文
2005-03-18