Prototype effects in non‐native English: object‐coding in verbs of saying

ABSTRACT: This paper analyzes non‐native English (NNE) verb of saying constructions such as discuss about and explain about , especially as they are realized in Nepali English (NpE). It shows how Langacker's 1983 theory of cognitive linguistics, along with Hopper and Thompson's 1980 prototype approach to transitivity, illuminate psycholinguistic processes involved in the creation of these structures in NNE. The first part of the analysis shows that NpE, by utilizing the semantics of the verb category, establishes a prototype for that category which is then extended to other members. The motivation for the particular prototype is explained in the light of cognitive grammar processes. The extension of the prototype to other members results in constructions which reflect an adjustment of syntax to more consistently correlate with the semantics of the category. The second part of the analysis shows that the outcome of the semantic/syntactic alignment can be regarded as an example of Hopper and Thompson's transitivity hierarchy, where the syntax of NpE clauses with verbs of saying more accurately indicates their level of transitivity than does that of their native English counterparts. Finally, it is suggested that the analysis of the NpE constructions gives us important insights into both second‐language acquisition and language change.