Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Atypical demonstratives have not received adequate attention in the literature so far, or have even been completely neglected. By providing fresh insights and discussing new facets, this volume contributes to the better understanding of this group of words, starting from specific empirical phenomena, and advances our knowledge of the various properties of demonstratives, their syntactic multi-functionality, semantic feature specifications and pragmatic functions. In addition, some of the papers discuss different grammaticalization processes involving demonstratives, in particular how and from which lexical and morphosyntactic categories they originate cross-linguistically, and which semantic or pragmatic mechanisms play which role in their emergence. As such, the different contributions guide the readers on an adventurous journey into the realm of different exotic species of demonstratives, whose peculiar properties offer new exiting insights into the complex nature of demonstrative expressions themselves.

Grammar, Comparative and general --- Demonstratives. --- Demonstratives (Grammar) --- Indexicals (Semantics) --- Demonstratives --- Deixis --- Determiners --- Lexicology. Semantics --- Grammar --- Pragmatics --- E-books --- Linguistics --- Philology --- Deixis. --- Determiners.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Demonstratives play a crucial role in the acquisition and use of language. Bringing together a team of leading scholars this detailed study, a first of its kind, explores meaning and use across fifteen typologically and geographically unrelated languages to find out what cross-linguistic comparisons and generalizations can be made, and how this might challenge current theory in linguistics, psychology, anthropology and philosophy. Using a shared experimental task, rounded out with studies of natural language use, specialists in each of the languages undertook extensive fieldwork for this comparative study of semantics and usage. An introduction summarizes the shared patterns and divergences in meaning and use that emerge.

Lexicology. Semantics --- Grammar --- Comparative linguistics --- Grammar, Comparative and general --- Language and languages --- Language and languages. --- Semantics (Philosophy). --- Deixis. --- Demonstratives. --- Cross-cultural studies. --- Philosophy. --- Semantics (Philosophy) --- Intension (Philosophy) --- Logical semantics --- Semantics (Logic) --- Semeiotics --- Significs --- Syntactics --- Unified science --- Logic, Symbolic and mathematical --- Logical positivism --- Meaning (Psychology) --- Philosophy, Modern --- Semiotics --- Signs and symbols --- Symbolism --- Analysis (Philosophy) --- Definition (Philosophy) --- Foreign languages --- Languages --- Anthropology --- Communication --- Ethnology --- Information theory --- Philology --- Linguistics