Rethinking Idiomaticity: A Usage-based Approach (Corpus and Discourse) - Softcover

Wulff, Stefanie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1441116443 ISBN 13: 9781441116444

Publisher: Continuum, 2010

Synopsis

Being presented with phrases of the kind, 'take the plunge' and 'write a letter', native speakers of English tend to agree that the former is more idiomatic that the latter. What exactly is it about these two phrases that guide speakers' judgements? Adopting a usage-based perspective, this study addresses the question 'which factors do speakers rely upon when assessing the idiomaticity of a construction? Rethinking Idiomaticity is the first study to bring together a quantitative corpus-linguistic approach and quantitative judgement data to explore the nature of idiomaticity as a complex concept that comprises semantic and formal variation parameters. Wulff's fascinating book is suitable for researchers and postgraduates in the fields of lexicography, phraseology, corpus linguistics and those who are employing quantitative approaches. Cognitive linguists interested in the empirical underpinnings of their theoretical assumptions will also find this required reading.

About this title

About the Author

<div>Stefanie Wulff is Assistant Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Technological Communication, University of North Texas, USA.<br /></div>

Edition details

• Publisher: Continuum
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1441116443
• ISBN 13: 9781441116444
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 252