PATTERNS OF GRAMMATICALIZATION IN ENGLISH

Abstract

Grammaticalization has to do with the gradual process of semantic bleaching when the referential meaning of a lexeme weakens and its grammatical function ultimately takes over. It is a complex linguistic phenomenon, which dwells in the area of language change with focus on semantics and morphosyntax. The spiral of grammaticalization absorbs mainly lexemes with vaguer lexical meaning turning them into units of grammar. The paper highlights the fact that grammaticalization underlies a number of units in English, which are to be found at various stages up the spiral.