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Semantic Reanalysis and Language Change
Author(s) -
Eckardt Regine
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
language and linguistics compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.619
H-Index - 44
ISSN - 1749-818X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-818x.2010.00260.x
Subject(s) - semantic change , sentence , linguistics , computer science , pragmatics , syntax , semantics (computer science) , meaning (existential) , natural language processing , process (computing) , semantic role labeling , artificial intelligence , psychology , philosophy , programming language , psychotherapist
Reanalysis is a well‐known process of language change in morpho‐syntax. However, the semantic composition of sentence meanings can also undergo reanalysis and lead to meaning changes for parts of the sentence. The article provides the basic notions of compositional semantics/pragmatics that underlie semantic reanalysis, surveys possible constellations and causes of reanalysis, and contrasts the process to other ways of semantic change. I will, moreover, illustrate semantic reanalysis on basis of a case study which highlights some of its typical features.