TY - BOOK ID - 103791887 TI - Formulaic language and linguistic change : a data-led approach PY - 2020 SN - 1108477461 1108805108 1108769977 110880098X PB - Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, DB - UniCat KW - German language KW - Oral-formulaic analysis. KW - Linguistic analysis (Linguistics) KW - Linguistic models. KW - Discourse analysis. KW - Written German. UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:103791887 AB - A substantial proportion of our everyday language is 'formulaic', that is, it consists of oft-repeated chunks. From pause fillers such as you know, to phrases such as Many thanks!, Is this seat taken? or strong tea, they form a phenomenon central in language. This important new book investigates formulaic language from the point of view of language change. Employing a novel quantitative and data-led approach, it traces and analyses change in phraseology across 20th Century German as used in Switzerland. Drawing on nearly 20 million words of textual evidence, it shows that social and cultural change in the speech community is the predominant motivator of change, though other factors are also at play. The book demonstrates a close link between language change and the culture of the speech community, arguing that this has repercussions for the study of language in general, as well as the study of society and history. ER -