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The Rise of Auxiliary DO ‐Verb Raising or Category‐Strengthening?
Author(s) -
Hudson Richard
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
transactions of the philological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1467-968X
pISSN - 0079-1636
DOI - 10.1111/1467-968x.00012
Subject(s) - raising (metalworking) , verb , linguistics , mathematics , history , computer science , philosophy , geometry
This paper contrasts two explanations for Ellegård’s statistical data on the rise of auxiliary DO during the 15th and 16th centuries. One is Kroch’s explanation in terms of a change on the parameter of verb‐raising, which is shown to have a number of serious weaknesses. The other is Warner’s explanation in terms of the gradual development of the distinction between auxiliary and full verbs. Though Kroch quotes Ellegård’s figures in support of the Principles‐and‐Parameters analysis, they actually support Warner’s view much better. The paper also considers developments in the auxiliary system since the 16th century and offers a mixture of cognitive and functional explanations for the changes since the 13th century.