Politeness-induced semantic change: The case of quand même

Beeching, Kate

Abstract

This article contributes to a growing body of theory that posits language-external, social factors as a primary motor in diachronic change. Politeness theory and the use of variationist approaches enable us to posit, and test, the hypothesis of a type of pragmaticalization, which I call Politeness-Induced Semantic Change (PISC). Historical data on quand même are presented that give tentative credence to such a model. Moeschler and de Spengler's (1981) and Waltereit's (2001) speech-act theoretic analyses of quand même are reinterpreted within the framework of politeness theory and sociopragmatics. The ensuing corpus investigation of the grammaticalization and pragmatico-semantic evolution of quand même from 1500-2000 highlights the fact that not only the innovation but also the propagation of a new form-function configuration depend on social factors; politeness theory may have explanatory power in capturing the ever-changing social patterning of linguistic features and the conditions that favor the spread of innovation. © 2005 Cambridge University Press.

Citation

Beeching, K. (2005). Politeness-induced semantic change: The case of quand même. Language Variation and Change, 17(2), 155-180. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954394505050076

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2005
• Journal: Language Variation and Change
• Print ISSN: 0954-3945
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 155-180
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954394505050076
• Keywords: politeness, semantic change, quand même
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1049751
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954394505050076
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This paper contributes to a growing body of theory which posits language-external, social, factors as a primary motor in diachronic change. Politeness theory and the use of variationist approaches enable us to posit, and test, the hypothesis of a type of pragmaticalisation which the author calls Politeness-induced Semantic Change (PISC): historical data on quand même are presented which give tentative credence to such a model. Moeschler and de Spengler's (1981) and Waltereit's (2001) speech-act theoretic analyses of quand même are reinterpreted within the framework of politeness theory and sociopragmatics. The ensuing corpus investigation of the grammaticalisation and pragmatico-semantic evolution of quand même from 1500-2000 highlights the fact that not only the innovation but also the propagation of a new form-function configuration depend on social factors. The article breaks new ground in adopting a corpus and variationist approach to both historical and contemporary data and in tracing the evolution of the senses of a term, using empirical and quantitative methods.