Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik · Longman Language Activator. Hrsg. von Delia Summers...

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Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik Herausgeber / Editors: Helmbrecht Breinig, Thomas Herbst, Eva Maria Manske, Albrecht Neubert, Gerhard Stilz, Günter Walch Beirat / Advisory Board : ^ Susan Bassnett (Warwick), Eckhard Breitinger (Bayreuth), Ernst Burgschmidt (Wurzburg), Christopher Candlin (Sydney), Charles Fillmore (Berkeley), Hans Walter Gabler (München), Sherrill Grace (Vancouver), Klaus Hansen (Berlin), Franz M. Kuna (Klagenfurt), Geoffrey Leech (Lancaster), Meenakshi Mukherjee (New Delhi), John Sinclair (Birmingham), Christian Karl Stead (Auckland), Jan Svartvik (Lund), Peter Trudgill (Norwich), Gerald Vizenor (Berkeley) Langenscheidt Berlin · München · Leipzig · Wien · Zürich · New York

Transcript of Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik · Longman Language Activator. Hrsg. von Delia Summers...

Page 1: Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik · Longman Language Activator. Hrsg. von Delia Summers (Michael4 38 Klotz) 1 MacDonagh, Oliver. Jane Austen: Real and Imagined Worlds

Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik

Herausgeber / Editors:

He lmbrecht Bre in ig , Thomas Herbst, Eva Mar ia Manske, A lbrecht Neubert,

Gerhard Sti lz , Günter Walch

Beirat / Advisory Board : ^

Susan Bassnett (Warwick), Eckhard Breit inger (Bayreuth), Ernst Burgschmidt (Wurzburg), Christopher Cand l in (Sydney), Charles F i l lmore (Berkeley), Hans Walter Gabler (München),

Sherr i l l Grace (Vancouver), K laus Hansen (Berlin), Franz M . K u n a (Klagenfurt), Geoffrey Leech (Lancaster), Meenakshi Mukherjee (New Delhi), John Sinc la i r (Birmingham), Chr ist ian Kar l Stead

(Auckland), Jan Svartvik (Lund), Peter Trudg i l l (Norwich), Gerald Vizenor (Berkeley)

Langenscheidt Berlin · München · Leipzig · Wien · Zürich · New York

Page 2: Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik · Longman Language Activator. Hrsg. von Delia Summers (Michael4 38 Klotz) 1 MacDonagh, Oliver. Jane Austen: Real and Imagined Worlds

415 104 296 900 16

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t e l j i i h r l i e h .

erlas: I . angensc l . c i d t K G G r e l l e s t r a f i e 2 8 - 3 0 I 0 8 2 7 B e r l i n

T e l e f o n (UM)) 7 8 0 0 0 2 - 0

C I 9 9 I I n l . a n g e n s c h e i d t K G . B e r l i n u n d M u r i e l l e ,

Z e i l s e h r i f l Die d iese l

e i i l l i i I l t en B c i l r ä ; i d i r h e b c r r e c h l l i c h geschü tz t , l b e r s c l z u n g . N a c h d r u c k - a u c h v o n A b b i l d u n g e n - . \ er \ ί«·ΙΠΐI i ίμι ι ι i -^er a u f p h o t o m e c h a n i s c h e m o d e r ä h n l i c h e n ) W e g e o d e r i m M a g n e t t o n v e r f a h r e n . V o r t r a g , K i m k - u n d F e r n s e h s e n d u n g s o w i e S p c i c h c r u n g in D a t e n v e r a r b e i t u n g s a n l a g e n - a u c h auszugswe ise - h l e i h e n v o r h e h a l l e n l o t o k o p i e n f ü r d e n p e r s ö n l i c h e n u n d s o n s t i g e n e i g e n e n G e b r a u c h d ü r l en n u r v o n e i n z e l n e n B e i t r ä g e n o d e r T e i l e n d a r a u s als h i n z c l k o p i c i he rges te l l t w e r d e n .

Z u s c h r i f t e n a l l e r A r t u n d K i n s e n d u n g e n e r h i t t e n w i r n u r an d e n V e r l a g . I n v e r l a n g t e n M a n u s k r i p t e n , f ü r d i e k e i n e H a f t u n g ü b e r n o i n -i i i e n w i r d , w o l l e n Sie h i t t e R ü c k p o r t o h e i f ü g e n .

V e r a n t w o r t l i c h f ü r d e n r e d a k t i o n e l l e n I n h a l t : P ro f . D r . H e l m b r e c h t B r e i n i g ( K r l a n g e n - P s ü r n b c r g ) . P ro f . Dr . T h o m a s H e r b s t ( K r l a n g e n - N ü r n b e r g ) . P ro f . D r . Kva M a r i a M a n s k e ( I r e i b u r g ) , P ro f . D r . A l b r e c h t N e u b e r l ( L e i p z i g ) , P ro f . D r . G e r h a r d S t i l z ( T ü b i n ­g e n ) , P r o f . Dr . G ü n t e r W a l c h ( B e r l i n ) .

M i t N a m e n g e z e i c h n e t e B e i t r ä g e g e b e n d i e M e i n u n g des Ver fassers w i e ­d e r .

B e s t e l l u n g e n e r b e t e n an I h r e B u c h h a n d l u n g o d e r an d e n \ e r l a g . A b b e s t e l l u n g e n m ü s s e n 6 W o c h e n v o r A b l a u f des K a l e n d e r j a h r e e r f o l g e n .

B e z u g s p r e i s : J ä h r l i c h (4 He f t e ) D M 7 2 , - . IV ·

sen u n d M e h r w e r t s t e u e r .

V e r a n t w o r t l i c h e r R e d a k t e u r : D r . H e l m u t l i n d e i s e n . M o c k a u e r S t r aße l 18, I S / 9 . ( Μ Γ > 7 L e i p z i g

A n z e i g e n p r e i s e : Z u r Ze i t ge l t en Pre ise u n d B e d i n g u n g e n d e r A n z e i -

g e n p r e i s l i s t e I v o m I. (). 1 9 9 1 . V e r a n t w o r t l i c h f ü r d e n A n z e i g e n t e i l :

B r i g i t t e Pasch M ü n c h e n .

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Zeitschrift fur Anglistik und Amerikanistik 4 2 . J A H R G A N G 1 9 9 4

Jahresinhaltsverzeichnis

He f t Seite

B E R G I E N , A N G E L I K A . O n the His tor i ca l Backg r ound o f Eng l i sh Punctuat ion 3 2 4 3 B E Y E R , M A N F R E D . J o h n Osborne : Traditionssti fter einer Dramaturg ie des

Z o r n s 3 1 9 8

B R E I T I N G E R , E C K H A R D . Mongre l i z a t i on versus the Abso lu t i sm o f the Pure -D i e International isierung der kul ture l l en Szenerie u n d die nationall i tera­rische Fachkonzept ion 4 2 9 5

D I S K U S S I O N S F O R U M : Z u m Selbstverständnis der Ang l i s t ik/Amer ikan is t ik i m wiedervere inigten Deutsch land 1 5 4

E S S E R , J Ü R G E N . Z u r Te rmino l og i e u n d Analyse v o n nomina len m^-Sätzen ( "Ge rund i en " ) 1 2 1

E V A N S , P A T R I C K D . T h e Future o f the Past: M a k i n g H is tory out o f N e w Zea land Literature 2 1 2 2

F I T Z M A U R I C E , J A M E S . T h e Narra tor in A p h r a Bchn ' s The Fair Jilt 2 1 3 1

G R A U S T E I N , G O T T F R I E D . Z u Swifts Schreibvarianten. Anstel le einer Fußnote 4 3 2 7

H A B E R M A I E R , S T E F F I . O n Interpreting Bart leby 4 3 5 2

H E R B S T , T H O M A S . W i e w i r d man ein guter Angl ist? - oder: Über den unab­dingbaren Stel lenwert des Lateinischen 1 5 4

K I R S T E N , H A N S . E i n Plädoyer für das G e r u n d i u m 1 1 6

K L A R E R , M A R I O . " T h i s is N o t a Rea l T h i n g " : Repräsentation, Illustration u n d S imu la t i on bei Hen ry James 4 3 4 0

K O R T E , B A R B A R A . D e r Reiseber icht aus anglistischer Sicht : Stand, Tendenzen u n d Desiderate seiner l iteraturwissenschaftl ichen Er fo rschung 4 3 6 4

K R A U T Z , J O A C H I M . Imagery and Sexual Connota t i ons in W i l l i a m Empson 's

Aubade 3 2 3 5

K U E S T E R , M A R T I N . ( Pos t - )Modern Bricolage: Classical M y t h o l o g y in Sheila Watson 's Short Stories 3 2 2 5

LiPKA, L E O N H A R D / S C H M I D , H A N S - J Ö R G . To begin with: degrees o f id iomat ic i ty , textual functions and pragmatic exploitations o f a f ixed expression 1 6

M E Y N , R O L F / S C H E I D I N G , O L I V E R . Treason, Treachery, Betrayal: Pol i t ics,

Ideology, and the Process o f D i s i l lus i onment in the Literature o f the Spanish C i v i l W a r 1 2 7

N A G E L , R A I N E R . Das Wor tb i l dungsmorphem CYBER 2 1 6 3

N Ü N N I N G , A N S G A R . Gender and Narratology. Kategor ien u n d Perspektiven einer feministischen Narra t i v ik 2 1 0 2

O S T E R W A L D E R , H A N S . T h e Litt le Engländern M y t h - k i t t y : the C y c l i c Concep t o f T i m e in Ph i l ip Larkin 's Poetry 2 1 3 9

P R A U S E , T H O M A S . Z u m Prob lem W o r t b i l d u n g u n d Übersetzung. Dargcstl l t an den M o d e l l e n breakout u n d toxic-waste dump 4 3 1 7

S C H E I D I N G , O L I V E R / M E Y N , R O L F . Treason, Teachcry , Betrayal: Pol i t ics,

Ideology, and the Process o f D i s i l l us i onment in the Literature o f the Spanish C i v i l W a r 1 2 7

S C H M I D , H A N S - J Ö R G / L I P K A , L E O N H A R D . To begin with: degrees o f id iomat ic i ty ,

textual functions and pragmatic exploitations o f a f ixed expression 1 6

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S C H O P P , J O S E P H C . Charles Scalsficld: der aufgeklärte europäische Re isende als amerikanischer M y t h e n b i l d n c r 3 216

S C H U L Z E R A I N E R . H O W to Express " D i s l i k e " i n W o r d s : A n Investigation into the Metapragmatics o f Eng l i sh 4 306

U N G E R E R , F R I E D R I C H . Basic level concepts and parasitic categorisation: a cogni t ive alternative to convent ional semantic hierarchies 2 148

W A G N E R , B E N N O . " W e K n o w A l l about the Past ..." F r o m M y t h o l o g y to M y t h o g r a p h y in Abor i g ina l Austral ia 4 332

W A G N E R , H A N S - P E T E R . Learn ing to R e a d the Female Body . O n the F u n c t i o n o f Manet ' s Olympia in J o h n Braine 's Room at the Top 1 38

Aus Universitäten und Hochschu len B i e n n i a l Conference o f E A S A (European Assoc iat ion o f Studies on Australia)

at Sitgcs in Oc t obe r 1993 (Adi Wimmer) 2 171

Buchbesprechungen A m e r i c a n D ia lec t Research. E d . by D e n n i s R . Preston (Josef Schmied) 4 387 Anglizismen-Wörterbuch. B d . 1: A - E (Thomas Herbst) 4 384 B a r n i c k c l , K laus -D ie t e r . Falsche Freunde. E i n vergleichendes Wörterbuch

D e u t s c h - E n g l i s c h (Josef Schmied) 1 69 Benne t t , B ruce . A n Austra l ian Compass. Essays o n Place and D i r e c t i o n

i n Austra l ian Literature (Norbert Pilz) 4 406 B u r k e , J o h n . T h e Legend o f Baby D o e (Thomas Hitke) 1 90 B r a d b u r y , M a l c o l m / R u l a n d , R i c h a r d . F r o m Pur i tan ism to Pos tmodern ism.

A H i s t o r y o f A m e r i c a n Literature (Hans-Joachim Lang) 1 78 Ca l l s , C u r t a i n . B r i t i sh and A m e r i c a n W o m e n and the Theater

(James Fitzmaitrice) 4 399 Che lsea H o t e l . A Magaz ine for the Ar ts . V o l . I—IV. Hrsg . von K laus Isele u n d

D i r k Görtier (Thomas Inner) 3 284 C h i t h a m , E d w a r d . E m i l y Brontë. E i n e Lebensbeschreibung (Annegret Maack) 1 73 C o w i c , A . P . / M a c k i n , R . O x f o r d D i c t i onary o f Phrasal Verbs (Thomas Herbst/

Michael Klotz) 4 379 D u b b e r , U l r i k e . D e r englische Universitätsroman der Nachkr iegsze i t

(Rüdiger Imhof) 3 270 D U D E N O x f o r d K le ines Wörterbuch Eng l i sch (Thomas Herbst) 4 383 European Shakespeares. Translat ing Shakespeare in the R o m a n t i c Age .

E d . by D i r k Delabastita and L ieven D ' H u l s t (Raimund Borgmeier) 4 391 Fa i rha l l , James. James Joyce and the Ques t i on o f H is tory (Wolfgang Wicht) 4 411 Fede rman , R a y m o n d . N o w T h e n / N u n denn. Au to . . .B i o . . .Graph i c Poems /

Ged i ch t e - E ine Vers i on meines Lebens. D i e frühen Jahre (Thomas Inner) 1 82 Fremdsprachenunterr i cht i m internationalen Verg le ich: Perspektive 2000.

H r s g . von C laus G n u t z m a n n u.a. (Ursida Karbe) 2 179 G r a m l e y , Stephen/Pätzold, K u r t M i c h a e l . A Survey o f M o d e r n Eng l i sh

(Josef Schmied) 1 59 G i e g e r i ch , H e i n z J . Eng l i sh Phono logy . A n in t roduct ion (Klaus Hansen) 1 65 G i n d i n , James. B r i t i s h F i c t i on in the 1930s. T h e D i sp i r i t i ng Decade

(Stephan Lieske) 2 187 H i s t o r y o f Engl ishes. N e w Me thods and Interpretations o f H is tor i ca l

L inguist ics . E d . by M a t t i R i ssancn , Oss i lhala inen, Ter t tu Neva la inen , I rma Taavitsainen (Josef Schmied) 3 251

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H o c y , M i chae l . Patterns o f Lexis in T ex t (Christina Schaffner) 3 254 H o m e , Ph i l ip . H e n r y James and R e v i s i o n (Hans-Joachim Lang) 4 403 K l e i n , Eberhard. Konditionalität in didakt ischen u n d pädagogischen

Grammat i k en des Engl ischen (Wolfgang Thiele) 3 257 K o c h , Stephan. D i c h t u n g als Archäologie. D i e Ly r ik Scamus Heaneys

(Robert F. Garratt) 1 76 Kran t z , Gösta. Learn ing Vocabulary in a Fore ign Language (David Heath) 1 70 Kucster , M a r t i n . F r am ing Truths . Parodie Structures in Contempora ry

Eng l i sh -Canad ian Histor ica l Nove l s (Jutta Zimmermann) 4 405 Lanser, Susan Sniader. Fict ions o f Au tho r i t y . W o m e n Wr i te rs and Narrat ive

V o i c e (Ansgar Nünning) 4 393 Longman Language Act ivator. Hrsg . von De l i a Summers (Michael Klotz) 4 381 M a c D o n a g h , O l i v e r . Jane Austen : R e a l and Imagined W o r l d s

(James Fanning) 1 71 M a c k i n , R . / C o w i e , A . P. O x f o r d D i c t i onary o f Phrasal Verbs

(Thomas Herbst/Michael Klotz) 4 379 M c W i l l i a m s , J o h n P . J r . T h e A m e r i c a n Ep i c , T r a n s f o r m i n g a Genre ,

1770 -1860 (Hans-Joachim Lang) 3 280 M e d i a t i n g Cu l tures . Probleme des Kulturtransfers. Hrsg . von No rbe r t Platz

(Franz Kuna) 3 276 M e n n e c k e , A r n i m . Kolonia les Bewußtsein in den R o m a n e n J . M . Coetzees

(Erhard Reckwitz) 1 86 Metscher , Thomas . Pariser Med i ta t i onen : Z u einer Ästhetik der Be f re iung

(Wolfgang Wicht) 2 180 M i n d t , Dieter . Ze i tbe zug i m Eng l i schen. E ine didaktische Grammat i k des

englischen Futurs (Hans Kirsten) 2 176 M o n o d , Paul K leber . Jacobi t ism and the Eng l i sh People, 1688-1788

(Vera Nünning) 3 260 M o r g a n , R i c h a r d . Cance l l ed Words . Red iscover ing Thomas Hardy

(Dieter Zeh) 4 397 M o r r i s o n , T o n y . P lay ing in the Dark . Whiteness and Literary Imagination

(Thomas Hi ike) 1 81 N e w Departures in Contrast ive Linguist ics. E d . by Chr is t ian M a i r and

Manf red M a r k u s (Klaus Hansen) 1 61 N o r t h , M i chae l . T h e Pol i t ical Aesthetic o f Yeats, E l i o t , and P o u n d

(Wolfgang Wicht) 1 74 O ldenburg , H e r m a n n . Angewandte Fachtext l inguist ik. " C o n c l u s i o n s " u n d

Zusammenfassungen (Wolfgang Thiele) 1 67 Pätzold, Kur t Michae l/Gramley , Stephen. A Survey o f M o d e r n Eng l i sh

Josef Schmied) 1 59 Pago, Annegret . " B e h o l d , H e C o m e s w i t h C l o u d e s " . Unte rsuchungen zur

eschatologischen D i c h t u n g in der englischen Literaturgeschichte des 17. und 1 8. Jahrhunderts (Stephan Lieske) 2 183

Panny, Jud i th D e l l . I have what I gave. T h e F i c t i on o f Janet Frame (Manon Spies) 3 278

Radikalität u n d Mäßigung. D e r englische R o m a n seit 1960. Hrsg . von Annegret M a a c k und Rüdiger Imho f (Göran Nieragden) 3 272

Ra i t t , Suzanne. V i t a and V i rg in ia . T h e W o r k and Fr iendship o f V . Sackv i l l e -West and V i r g in i a W o o l f (Vera Nünning) 1 88

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Reg iona l i tat, Nationalität und Intcmationalität in der zeitgenössischen Lyr ik . Hrsg . von Lothar Fietz, Faul Ho f fmann und H a n s - W e r n e r L u d w i g (Barbara Ko ite) 3 265

R o e , N icho las . Wo rdswo r th and Co ler idge . T h e Rad ica l Years (Christoph Bode) 3 261

R u l a n d , R ichard/Bradbury , M a l c o l m . F r o m Puri tanism to Pos tmodern ism. A H is tory o f Amer i can Literature (Hans-Joachim Lang) 1 78

Schaller, Hans-Wo l f gang . D e r frühe historische R o m a n in A m e r i k a (Hans-Joachim Lang) 1 80

Slavery in the Amer icas. E d . by Wol fgang B inde r (Wolfgang Karrer) 3 282 Stiles, W i l l i a m B . Desc r ib ing Ta lk . A T a x o n o m y o f Verba l Response

M o d e s (Wolfgang Thiele) 2 178 Studies in Contrast ive Linguist ics and Er ro r Analysis. III. Practical Appl icat ions .

E d . by D i e t r i ch Neh l s (David Heath) 1 64 Studies in Scott ish F i c t i on : Twen t i e th Century . E d . by Joach im S c h w e n d

and Hors t W . Drescher (Peter Zenzinger) 2 188 Tens ions Between N o r t h and South . Studies in M o d e r n C o m m o n w e a l t h

Literature and Cu l tu r e . E d . by Ed i th Me t tke (Erhard Reckwitz) 1 84 T h e Amer i can Stage. Social and economic issues from the co lonia l per iod to

the present. E d . by R o n Engle and T i c e L. M i l l e r (Hans-Joachim Lang) 4 401 T h e Authent i c Cadence . Centenn ia l Essays on Gerard M a n l c y H o p k i n s .

E d . by A n t h o n y M o r t i m e r (Hans-Werner Ludwig) 2 184 T h e Br i t i sh and Irish N o v e l Since I960 . E d . by James Acheson

(Ansgar Nünning) 3 273 T h e M a k i n g o f a Pluralist Austral ia 1950-1990 . E d . by W e r n e r Scnn and

G iovanna Capone (Horst Prießnitz) 4 400 T h e O x f o r d C o m p a n i o n to the Eng l i sh Language. E d . by T o m M c A r t h u r

(Klaus Hansen) 2 174 T h e South Engl ish Legendary. E d . by Klaus P. Jankofsky (Fritz Kcmmlcr) 4 390 Th i r t y Years o f L inguist ic Evo lu t i on . E d . by M a r t i n Pütz Josef Schmied) 4 373 Towards a Standard Eng l i sh 1600—1800. E d . by D ie te r Stein u n d Ingrid

T i c k e n - B o o n van Ostade (Klaus Hansen) 4 376 Turne r , Mar tha A . M e c h a n i s m and the Nove l . Science in the Narrat ive

Process (Ansgar Nünning) 4 395

Wel te , Werner . Engl ische Semantik. E i n Lehr- und Übungsbuch mit u m ­fassender B ib l iographie (Klaus Hansen) 3 253

Wo l f , Werner . Ästhetische Il lusion und I l lus ionsdurchbrechung in der Erzählung (Annegret Maack) 3 267

Zbierska-Sawal la , A n n a . Early M i d d l e Eng l ish W o r d Format ion (Klaus Hatisen) 2 176

Bucheingänge 1 92

Bucheingänge 2 191

Bucheingänge 3 286

Bucheingänge 4 413

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Inhalt

E d i t o r i a l 4

D i e He rausgebe r an d i o Lese r der Ζ.ΛΛ 5

L e o n h a r d L i p k a - II a n s - J ö r g S e h in i d

To begin with: degrees of i d i omat i c i t y , tex tua l func t i ons a n d p ragmat i c exp l o i t a t i ons o l a

f ixed express ion 6

H a h s K i r s t e n

K i n Plädoyer für das G e r u n d i u m 16

J ü r g e n E s s e r

Z u r T e r m i n o l o g i e u n d Ana lvse von n o m i n a l e n mg-Sätzen ( ' "Gerund ien" ) 21

R o l l M e y n - O l i v e r S c h e i d i n g

Treason, T r e a c h e r y , Be t raya l : Po l i t i c s , Ideology, a n d the Process of D i s i l l u s i o n m e n t in the

L i t e ra tu r e o f the S p a n i s h C i v i l W a r 2 7

H a n s - P e t e r W a g η e r

L e a r n i n g to R e a d the Kema lc Body . O n the F u n c t i o n o f Mane t ' s Olympia in J o h n Braine\s Room at the Top 3 8

I) i s k u ss i ο η s l o r u m : Z u m Selbstvcrständnis der A n g l i s t i k / A m e r i k a n i s t i k i m w i ede r v e r e in i g t en

D e u t s c h l a n d

T h o m a s H e r b s t

W i e w i rd m a n e i n guter Ang l i s t? - oder : I b e r d e n u n a b d i n g b a r e n S t e l l enwer t des L a t e i n i s c h e n 5 4

B u c h b e s p r e c h u n g e n

S t e p h a n G r a m l e y - K u r t M i c h a e l Pätzold: A Survey o f M o d e r n E n g l i s h (Josef Schmied) 5 9

New Depar tu res in Con t ras t i v e L ingu i s t i c s . K d . by C h r i s t i a n M a i r a n d M a n f r e d M a r k u s

(Klaus Hansen) 61

S tud i es i n Con t ras t i v e L ingu i s t i c s and E r r o r Ana l y s i s . III. P r a c t i c a l A p p l i c a t i o n s . E d . by D i e t r i c h

Neh l s (David Heath)'. 6 4

H e i n z J . G i e g o r i c h : E n g l i s h Phono l o gy . A n i n t r o d u c t i o n (Klaus Hansen) 65

H e r m a r i n O l d e n b u r g : Angewand t e Fach t ex t l i n gu i s t i k . " C o n c l u s i o n s " u n d Zusammenlässungen

(Kol/gang Thiele) 6 7

K l a u s - D i e t e r B a r n i c k e l : Fa l s che F r e u n d e . E i n v e r g l e i chendes Wörterbuch D e u t s c h - E n g l i s c h

(Josef Schmied) 6 9

C o s t a K r a n t z : L e a r n i n g V o c a b u l a r y in a F o r e i g n L a n g u a g e (David Heath) 7 0

O l i v e r M a c D o n a g h : J a n e A u s t e n : Rea l and Imag ined W o r l d s (James Fanning) 71

l u i w a r d C h i t h a m : E m i l y B ron t e . E i n e L e b e n s b e s c h r e i b u n g (Annegret Maack) 73

M i c h a e l N o r t h : 'The P o l i t i c a l Aes the t i c o f Yeats , E l i o t , a n d P o u n d (Wolfgang Wicht) 7 4

S t e p h a n K o c h : D i c h t u n g als Archäologie. D i e L y r i k S e a m u s H e a n e y s (Robert l. Garralt) 76

R i c h a r d R u l a n d - M a l c o l m B r a d b u r y : F r o m P u r i t a n i s m to P o s t m o d e r n i s m . A H i s t o r y o f

A m e r i c a n L i t e r a t u r e (Hans-Joachim hang) 78

H a n s - W o l f g a n g S c h a l l e r : D e r frühe h i s to r i sche R o m a n in A m e r i k a (Hans-Joachim hang) 8 0

Tony M o r r i s o n : P l a y i n g in the D a r k . Wh i t eness a n d L i t e r a r y Imag ina t i on (ihomas I lake) 81

R a y m o n d T e d e r m a n n : Now Then / N u n d e n n . A u t o . . . B i o . . . G r a p h i c P o e m s / G e d i c h t e -

F i n e Ve r s i on me ines Lebens . D i e frühen J a h r e (Thomas Inner) 82

Tens ions Between N o r t h and S o u t h . S tud ies i n M o d e r n C o m m o n w e a l t h L i t e r a tu r e a n d C u l t u r e .

E d . by E d i t h M e t t k e (Erhard Reckwitz) 8 4

A r n i m M e n n e c k e : K o l o n i a l e s Bewußtsein in den R o m a n e n J . M . Coetzees (Erhard Reckwitz) 8 6

S u z a n n e Rai t t : V i t a and V i r g i n i a . The W o r k and F r i e n d s h i p o f V . Sackv i l l e -Wes t a n d V i r g i n i a

W o o l f (I era Nünning) 8 8

J o h n B u r k e : The L e g e n d of Baby Doe (Thomas Hake) 9 0

Bucheingänge 92

A u t o r e n dieses Heftes 9 5

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Inhalt

E d i t o r i a l 100

D i e H e r a u s g e b e r an d ie Lese r der Z A A 101

Λ η s μ;a r Ν i i η π i η g

(/ender a n d Na r r a t o l o g v . Ka t e go r i en u n d P e r s p e k t i v e n e i n e i T e m i n i s t i s e h e n N a r r a t i v i k 102

P a t r i c k I ) . E v a n s '

T h e l ' u t u r e o f the Past : M a k i n g H i s t o r y out o f N e w Z e a l a n d L i t e r a t u r e 122

J a m e s I i t ζ in a u r i c e

The N a r r a t o r i n A p h r a Hehn* * Ehe hair Jill 131

H a n s (.) s t e r w a I d e r

The L i t t l e Engländern M v l h - k i l l y : the C y c l i c C o n c e p t o l ' T i m e in P h i l i p P a r k i n ' s Poe t ry 139

F r i e d r i c h I η g e r e r

Bas ic l eve l c oncep t s a n d paras i t i c ca t ego r i sa t i on : a cogn i t i v e a l t e rna t i v e to c o n v e n t i o n a l

s e m a n t i c h i e r a r c h i e s 118

Κ a i η e r N a g e l

Das W o r t b i l d u n g s m o r p h e n i CYBER 163

Aus Universitäten und Hochschu len

B i e n n i a l C o n f e r e n c e of E A S A ( E u r o p e a n A s s o c i a t i o n o l S tud i e s on Aus t ra l i a ) at S i lges i n

O c t o b e r 1003 (idi U immer) 171

Bue lib e s ρ ree h u η ge η

The O x f o r d C o m p a n i o n to the E n g l i s h Language . E d . by Tom M c A r t h u r (Klaus Hansen) 171

A n n a Z b i e r s k a - S a w a l l a : E a r l v M i d d l e E n g l i s h W o r d f o r m a t i o n (Klaus Hansen) 176

D i c i e r V l i n d t : Z e i t b e z u g i m E n g l i s c h e n . E i n e d i d a k t i s c h e G r a m m a t i k des e n g l i s c h e n F u t u r s

(Hans Kirsten) 176

W i l l i a m B. S t i l e s : D e s c r i b i n g T a l k . A T a x o n o m y of V e r b a l Response M o d e s

(Wolfgang Thiele) . ' 178

F r e m d s p r a c h e n u n t e r r i c h t i m i n t e r n a t i o n a l e n V e r g l e i c h : P e r s p e k t i v e 2 0 0 0 . H r s g . von C l a u s C n u t z -

m a i i n u . a . (I rsula Karhe) 170

T h o m a s M e t s c h e r : Pa r i s e r M e d i t a t i o n e n : Z u e ine r Ästhetik de r B e f r e i u n g (// oljgang Ii icht) . . . 180

Anneg r e t Pago : " B e h o l d , H e C o m e s w i t h C l o i i d e s " . U n t e r s u c h u n g e n z u r e s cha t o l o g i s chen D i c h t u n g

in d e r e n g l i s c h e n L i t e r a t i n g e s c h i c h t e des 17. u n d 18. J a h r h u n d e r t s

(Stephan Eieshe) 183

T h e A u t h e n t i c C a d e n c e . C e n t e n n i a l Essays on G e r a r d M a n l e y H o p k i n s . E d . by A n t h o n y

M o r t i m e r (Hans-ll einer Ludwig) 181

James C i n d i n : B r i t i s h f i c t i o n in the 1930s. T h e D i s p i r i t i n g D e c a d e (Stephan Lieske) 187

S tud ies i n Sco t t i sh f i c t i o n : T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y . E d . bv J o a c h i m S c h w e n d a n d Hors t

W . D r e s c h e r (Beter/enzinger) 188

B u r h e i n g a n g e 191

A u t o r e n dieses Heftes 192

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Kd i t o r i a l 1 %

Die H e r a u s g e b e r an d io Lese r der ΖΛΛ 1 ()7

M a η I r e d Β e y e r

J o h n O s b o r n e : T rad i t i onss t i f t e r e ine r D r a m a t u r g i e des Z o r n s 11)8

J o s e p h C . S c h o p p

C h a r l e s Sea l s f i e ld : de r aufgeklärte europäische Re i s ende als a m e r i k a n i s c h e r M y t h e n b i l d n e r . . . . 2 1 6

M a r t i η Κ u e s t e r

( L o s t - ) M o d e m B r i c o l a g e : C lass i ca l M y t h o l o g y i n S h e i l a Watson ' s Sho r t S tor i es 2 2 5

J ο a e h i m K r a u t /.

Imagery and S e x u a l C o n n o t a t i o n s in W i l l i a m L m p s o n ' s Aubade 2 3 5

A n g e l i k a B e l g i e n

O n the H i s t o r i c a l B a c k g r o u n d of L n g l i s h P u n c t u a t i o n 2 4 3

Buchbesprechungen

His to ry of L n g l i s h e s . N e w M e t h o d s a n d In t e rp re ta t i ons of H i s t o r i c a l L i n g u i s t i c s . L d . bv

Mat t i R i s s a n c n , Oss i l h a l a i n e n . T e r t t u N e v a l a i n e n . I r m a Tuaxhsnmcn (Josef Schmied) . . . . 251

W e r n e r We l t e : L n g l i s c h e S e m a n t i k . L i n L e h r - u n d Übungsbuch mit umfassende r

B i b l i o g r a p h i e (Klaus Hausen) 2 5 3

M i c h a e l l l o e v : Pa t te rns o f L ex i s in Tex t (Christina Schaffner) 2 5 1

L b e r h a r d K l e i n : Konditionalität in d i d a k t i s c h e n u n d pädagogischen G r a m m a t i k e n

des L n g l i s c h e n (Wolfgang Thiele) 2 5 7

P a u l K l e b e r M o n o d : J a c o b i t i s m and the L n g l i s h P eop l e , 1 6 8 8 - 1 7 8 8 (Vera Nünning) 2 6 0

N i cho l a s B o e : W o r d s w o r t h and C o l e r i d g e . The R a d i c a l Y ea r s (Christoph Bode) 261

Rcgionalität, Nationalität u n d Internationalität i n d e r zeitgenössischen L y r i k . H r s g . v on

L o t h a r L i e t z , P a i d H o f f m a n n u n d H a n s - W e r n e r L u d w i g (Barbara Körte) 2 6 5

W e r n e r Wo l f : Ästhetische I l lus i on u n d I l l u s i o n s d u r c h b r e c h u n g in de r Lrzählung

(Annegret Munck) 2 6 7

U l r i k e D u b b e r : D e r eng l i s che Lniversitätsroman de r N a c h k r i e g s z e i t (Rüdiger Imhof) 2 7 0

Radikalität u n d Mäßigung. D e r eng l i s che R o m a n seit l % 0 . H r s g . v on Anneg r e t M a a c k

u n d Rüdiger I m h o f (Cärun Nieragden) 2 7 2

The Br i t i sh a n d Ir ish Nove l S i n c e I 960 . L d . by J a m e s A c h e s o n (Ansgar Nünning) 2 7 3

M e d i a t i n g C u l t u r e s . P r o b l e m e des K u l t u r t r a n s f e r s . H r s g . von No rbe r t P la t z (Frunz Kuna) 2 7 6

J u d i t h De l l P a n n v : I have what I gave. T h e F i c t i o n o f Janet F r a i n e (Marion Spies) 2 7 8

J o h n P. M( W i l l i a m s , J r . : The A m e r i c a n L p i c T r a n s f o r m i n g a G e n r e , 1 7 7 0 - 1860

(IInns-Joachim Lang) 2 8 0

S lavery in the A m e r i c a s . L d . by Wo l f g ang B i n d e r (Wolfgang Karrer) 2 8 2

Che l s ea H o t e l . A Maga z in e for the Ar ts . V o l . I - IV. H r s g . von K l a u s Isele u n d D i r k Görtier

(Thomas Inner) 2 8 1

Bucheingänge 2 8 6

A u t o r e n dieses Heftes 2 8 8

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Inhalt

E d i t o r i a l 2 0 3

Κ e k Ii a r d Β r e i t i ri g e r

MongreÜ/ation ve rsus the A b s o l u t i s m o l the P u r e -

D i e l u t e r n a t i o n a l i s i e r u n g der k u l t u r e l l e n S z e n e r i e u n d d ie n a l i o n a l l i l e r a r i s o h e

K a c h k o n z e p t i o n 2 9 5

R a i η e r S c h u I ζ e

H o w to Exp r e s s " D i s l i k e " i n W o r d s : A n Invest igat ion in to the M e t a p r a g m a t i c s o f E n g l i s h 3 0 6

T h o m a s K r a u s e

/ u m E m b l e m W o r t b i l d u n g u n d l be rse t zung . Dargeste l l t an d e n M o d e l l e n breakout

u n d to.xic-uaste dump 3 1 7

t » <> 11 I r i e (1 G r a u s t e i η

/ u Swif ts S c h r e i b v a r i a n t e n . Ans te l l e e i n e r K u h n o t e 3 2 7

Β e i i η ο W a g η e r

" W e K n o w A l l abou t the Past ... T r on i M y t h o l o g y to M v t h o g r a p h y in A b o r i g i n a l A u s t r a l i a . . . . 3 3 2

M a r i o K l a r e r

" T h i s is Not a R e a l T i l i n g " : Repräsentation, I l l u s t r a t i on u n d S i m u l a t i o n be i H e n r y J a m e s 3 4 0

S t e f f i 11 a b e r m e i e r

( )n I n t e r p r e t i n g B a r t l e b y 3 5 2

Β a r b a r a Κ ο r t e

D e r Re i s ebe r i ch t aus ang l i s t i s che r S i c h t : S t a n d , T e n d e n z e n u n d Des ide ra t e s e ine r l i t e r a t u r -

w i s s e n s c h a l t l i c l i e n E r f o r s c h u n g 3 6 4

M u c h hes ρ ree h ungen

T h i r t y ^ ears o f L i n g u i s t i c E v o l u t i o n . K d . bv M a r t i n Pütz (Josef Schmied) 3 7 3

Towards a S t a n d a r d E n g l i s h 1 6 0 0 - 1 8 0 0 . E d . by D i e t e r S t e i n u n d

Ing r id T i e k e n - B o o n van Os l ade (Klaus Hansen) 3 7 6

A. P. Cow io a n d R. M a e k i n : O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y of P h r a s a l V e r b s (Thomas Herbst/Michael Klotz) . . 3 7 9

L o n g m a n L a n g u a g e A c t i v a t o r . H r sg . von D e l i a S u m m e r s (Michael Klotz) 381

D l D E N O x f o r d K l e i n e s W o r t e r b u c h E n g l i s c h (Thomas Herbst) 3 8 3

\ug l i z i s i n en -W örterbueh. B d . 1: λ - Κ (Thomas Herbst) 3 8 1

\ m e r i e a n D ia l e c t R e s e a r c h . E d . by D e n n i s R. P res ton (Josef Schmied) 3 8 7

The S o u t h E n g l i s h L e g e n d a r y . E d . bv K l a u s P. J a n k o f s k v (liitz Kemmler) 3 9 0

E u r o p e a n S h a k e s p e a r e s . T r a n s l a t i n g S h a k e s p e a r e in the R o m a n t i c Age. E d . by D i r k De labas t i t a

a n d L i e v e n 1) Hülst (Haimund Horgmeier) 3 9 1

S u s a n S n i a d e r L a n s e r : K i c t i ons o f A u t h o r i t y . W o m e n W r i t e r s a n d Na r ra t i v e V o i c e

( insgar Nünning) 3 9 3

M a r t h a A. T u r n e r : M e c h a n i s m and the N o v e l . S c i e n c e in the Na r ra t i v e Process (Ansgar Nünning) 3 0 5

R i c h a r d M o r g a n : C a n c e l l e d Words . R e d i s c o v e r i n g Thomas H a r d y (Dieter Zeh) 3 0 7

C u r t a i n ( 'a l ls . B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n W o m e n and the "Theater (James hitzmaurice) 3 9 0

The A m e r i c a n Stage. S o c i a l and e c o n o m i c issues f rom the c o l o n i a l p e r i o d to the present .

K d . bv R o n E n g l e and T i e e L. M i l l e r (Hans-Joachim Lang) 401

P h i l i p H o m e : l l e n r v J a m e s and Rev i s i on (Hans-Joachim hang) 4 0 3

M a r t i n K u e s t e r : K r a i l l i n g Truths. Pa r od i e S t r u c t u r e s in C o n t e m p o r a r y E n g l i s h - C a n a d i a n

H i s t o r i c a l Nove l s (Jutta Zimmermann) 4 0 5

B r u c e Benne t t : A n A u s t r a l i a n C o m p a s s . Essa ν s on P l a ce a n d D i r e c t i o n in A u s t r a l i a n L i t e r a t u r e

(Norbert Pilz) '. 4 0 6

The M a k i n g of a P lu ra l i s t A u s t r a l i a 1 0 5 0 - 1 0 0 0 . K d . bv W e r n e r S e n n a n d G i o v a n n a C a p o n e

(Horst l'rießnitz) ' 4 0 9

J a m e s K a i r h a l l : J a m e s Joyce and the Q u e s t i o n o f H i s t o r y (Wolfgang Wicht) 411

Bucheingänge 4 1 3

A u t o r e n dieses Heftes 4 1 4

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L E O N H A R D L I P K A - H A N S - J Ö R G S C H M I D

To begin with: degrees of idiomatieity, textual functions and pragmatic exploitations of a fixed expression

Abstract: In a context l ike " I lie story onlv seems to begin with ... , the word sequence to begin nitli c lear ly

has a meaning wh i ch differs from its typical sentence- ini t ia l use as in " T o begin wi th , let me sav that T h e

lirst example w i l l probably be understood " l i t e ra l l y ' whi le the second wi l l be interpreted as a fixed express ion

or id i om. It is argued that instead of a d ichotomy between the l i teral and id iomati/ed reading of to begin with there is a gradient o l id iomat ic i tv . Var ious degrees ol idiomatie i ty are i l lustrated with examples taken Irom the

Lancas le r -Os lo -Bergen corpus and descr ibed in terms of addi t iona l semantic components , textual funct ions

and pragmatic exploitat ions. It is shown that to begin icith is an important text -structur ing device, and that

speakers seem to use to begin with as a k i n d ol " l ingu is t i c threatening gesture". F ina l l y , the semantic and func­

t ional aspects o l to begin with are compared to the related expressions to stori with and for a stört, wi th refe­

rence to an earl ier analysis of the semantic difference between begin and start (Schmid 1993).

1. I n t r o d u c t i o n

S i n c e t h e a d v e n t o f t h e p r o t o t y p e t h e o r y o f c a t e g o r i z a t i o n i n t h e s e v e n t i e s t h e r e has b e e n a

s t r o n g t e n d e n c y to a p p l y t h e c o n c e p t s o f p r o t o t y p e c a t e g o r i e s a n d f a m i l y r e s e m b l a n c e s t o l i n ­

g u i s t i c t e r m i n o l o g y . T h e r e s u l t o l t h i s w i d e s p r e a d e n t h u s i a s m l o r f u z z y c a t e g o r y b o u n d a r i e s h a s

b e e n a r e v i s i o n o l a l l k i n d s o f t r a d i t i o n a l l y c l e a r - c u t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o r d i c h o t o m i e s (e. g. p h o ­

n e m e s , m o r p h e m e s , g r a m m a t i c a l c a t e g o r i e s , i n t o n a t i o n p a t t e r n s : cf. e . g . T a y l o r 1 9 8 9 .

T s o h a t z i d i s 1990 ) i n t e r m s o f s c a l e s a n d g r a d i e n t s . W h i l e t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t s h o u l d c e r t a i n l y b e

w e l c o m e d , b e c a u s e p r o t o t y p e t h e o r y d o e s i n d e e d s e e m to c a p t u r e t h e e s s e n c e o l c a t e g o r i e s

m o r e a d e q u a t e l y t h a n c l a s s i c a l d e f i n i t i o n s , t h e n e w a p p r o a c h a l s o h o l d s t h e d a n g e r o l e n c o u r ­

a g i n g w h a t W i e r z b i c k a h a s d e n o u n c e d as ' I n t e l l e c t u a l l a z i n e s s a n d s l o p p i n e s s ' ' ( 1 9 9 0 : 3 6 5 ) .

In t h i s p a p e r we w i l l a d d r e s s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n s i m p l e l e x e m e s a n d f i x e d

e x p r e s s i o n s o r i d i o m s . W e w i l l u s e t h e e x a m p l e o f t h e f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n to begin nith to s h o w

tha t i n s t e a d o f a d i c h o t o m y b e t w e e n l i t e r a l m e a n i n g a n d i d i o m a t i c u s e t h e r e a r c v a r i o u s d e ­

g r e e s o f i d i o m a t i c i t v . ' F a k i n g h e e d o f W i e r z b i c k a ' s c r i t i c i s m o f t h e a b u s e s o f p r o t o t y p e t h e o r y ,

w e w i l l u s e a n a r r a y o f s e m a n t i c , s y n t a c t i c , t e x t u a l a n d p r a g m a t i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n o r d e r to

s p e c i f y t h e s c a l e o f i d i o m a t i c i t v r a t h e r t h a n m e r e l y s tate t h a t it e x i s t s .

2. C o m p l e x e x p r e s s i o n s w i th start a n d begin: a scale o f i d iomat i e i ty

T h e m a t e r i a l f o r t h i s s t u d y is t a k e n f r o m t h e L a n c a s t e r - O s l o - B e r g e n c o r p u s o f L n g l i s h

( L O B ) . I n a n u m b e r o f o t h e r e m p i r i c a l s t u d i e s w h i c h u s e d t h e L O B fo r a d a t a b a s e (cf. L e i t z k e

1 9 8 9 , G r i m m 1 9 9 1 ) i t h a s b e e n r e g r e t t e d t h a t t h e c o l l e c t e d m a t e r i a l is no t e x t e n s i v e e n o u g h f o r

m a n y p u r p o s e s . T h e s a m e q u a n t i t a t i v e l i m i t a t i o n o f t h e L O B m a n i f e s t e d i t s e l f i n t h e p r e s e n t

r e s e a r c h : w h i l e to begin with w a s at least r e c o r d e d I I t i m e s i n t h e L O B , for a start was l o u n d

o n l y 3 t i m e s a n d to start with d i d n o t o c c u r at a l l i n t h i s c o l l e c t i o n o f a b o u t 1 m i l l i o n w o r d s .

T h e r e f o r e , a d d i t i o n a l e x a m p l e s w e r e c o l l e c t e d f r o m g r a m m a r t e x t b o o k s , d i c t i o n a r i e s , a n d f r o m

a n i n t r o d u c t o r y t e x t b o o k o n C o g n i t i v e P s y c h o l o g y (San fo ro ! 1 9 8 5 ) . In w h a t f o l l o w s , w e w i l l

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To begin niIIi

f o cus o u r a t t e n t i o n o n t ht" e x p r e s s i o n to begin ivith, a n d r e l a t e to start with a n d for a start to

t h e s e f i n d i n g s i n s e c t i o n I.

T o s o m e r e a d e r s , t h e c l a i m t h a t to begin with e x h i b i t s s e m a n t i c i d i o s y n c r a s i e s w h i c h a r e c a u s e d

bv t h e fact t h a t it h a s u n d e r g o n e a p r o c e s s o n e m i g h t c a l l I e x i c a l i z a t i o n m a y s e e m r a t h e r p r e ­

m a t u r e . A n d i n d e e d , e x a m p l e s o f t h e w o r d s e q u e n c e to begin with i n t h e L O B c a n be p r o v i d e d

w h i c h r e v e a l t i n s c l a i m to he l a r g e l y u n w a r r a n t e d . E x a m p l e (I ) is a case i n p o i n t :

(1) [ T h i s I is o l t e n i g n o r e d so t h a t t h e s tory o n l y s e e m s to b e g i n w i t h t h e o t h e r w i s e i n e x p l i c ­

a b l e l o r r y - f o r a y s a ga ins t r e d c e n t r e s ... ( L O B J 5 6 5)

I n t h i s e x a m p l e , a n y a s s e r t i o n t h a t begin o r to begin ivith a c q u i r e s a d d i t i o n a l s e m a n t i c e l e m e n t s

o v e r a n d a b o v e t h e p r o t o t y p i c a l a t t r i b u t e ' i n c h o a t i v e ' w o u l d r u n i n t o s e r i o u s d i f f i c u l t i e s , b e ­

c a u s e n e i t h e r s y n t a c t i c n o r s e m a n t i c c l u e s c a n h e o b t a i n e d . It s e e m s , t h e n , t h a t i n e x a m p l e (1)

begin is u s e d i n a c o n s t r u c t i o n w h i c h , b y m e r e c o i n c i d e n c e , is f o r m a l l y i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e f i x e d

e x p r e s s i o n to begin ivith.

N o w , b y w a v o f c o m p a r i s o n , c o n s i d e r e x a m p l e (2) .

(2) I w o u l d l i k e to b e g i n w i t h t h e less d e v e l o p e d m e m b e r s o f t h e c o m m o n w e a l t h a n d t h o s e

t e r r i t o r i e s w h i c h a r e s t i l l d e p e n d e n t . ( L O B H 2 1 20 )

A t f irst s i g h t , it a g a i n s e e m s h a r d l y c o n v i n c i n g to c a l l t h e s e q u e n c e to begin ivith a l e x i e a l i z e d

f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n . A n d yet , o n e m a y l e e l t h a t a n a d d i t i o n a l s e m a n t i c e l e m e n t is p r e s e n t i n (2)

w h i c h is m i s s i n g i n ( I ) . H e a r i n g a s p e a k e r s tar t h i s s p e e c h o r l e c t u r e w i t h t h e w o r d s / would

like to begin ivith .... we a r e c o a x e d i n t o a s s u m i n g t h a t t h i s is o n l y t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a w h o l e l i s t

o f i s sues to h e d e a l t w i t h . F r o m a t r a n s p h r a s t i c p o i n t o l v i e w , t h e s e n t e n c e f u n c t i o n s as a n i n t r o ­

d u c t i o n to o r a n a n n o u n c e m e n t o l w h a t is to c o m e l a t e r , a n d to begin ivith c o n t r i b u t e s a m a j o r

pa r t to p e r f o r m i n g t h i s f u n c t i o n . M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e ' a n n o u n c i n g f u n c t i o n * o f (2) c a n be l o c a t ­

ed i n t h e m e a n i n g o f begin ( s o m e t h i n g tha t b e g i n s u s u a l l y a l s o goes o n i n s o m e way ) a n d i n t h e

fact t h a t s o m e sor t o f l o e u t i v e ob j e c t l i k e / would like to begin my speech ivith ... h a s b e e n

o m i t t e d . It t h u s s e e m s t h a t t h e s e q u e n c e to begin ivith i n (2) c o m e s a l i t t l e c l o s e r to a n i d i o m a t i z e d

use t h a n it d o e s i n ( I ) , b e c a u s e it c o n v e y s o n e a d d i t i o n a l s e m a n t i c e l e m e n t , w h i c h c a n r o u g h l y

b e g l o s s e d ' a n n o u n c i n g tha t t h e r e is m o r e to c o m e ' . A l s o , t h e o m i s s i o n o f t h e l o e u t i v e o b j e c t is

par t o l t h e i d i o m a t i z a t i o n p r o c e s s .

S u p e r f i c i a l l y , it is o n l y a s m a l l s t ep I r o m e x a m p l e (2) t o i n t u i t i v e l y m o r e i d i o m a t i z e d uses o f

to begin ivith s u c h as (3) o r (1).

(3) I n t e n t i o n , I w o u l d sugges t to b e g i n w i t h , is a t e r m w h i c h is a p p l i c a b l e w h e n a c e r t a i n

r o u g h l y s p e c i f i a b l e c o m p l e x o l c o n d i t i o n s h o l d . ( L O B G 6 3 139)

(1) T o b e g i n w i t h , t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n is h e l d to be t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f t h e m y s t e r y o f r e d e m p ­

t i o n , t h e o p e n d e m o n s t r a t i o n o l C o d ' s s a v i n g a c t i v i t y to w h i c h a l l p r e v i o u s s a c r e d

h i s t o r y h a s b e e n l e a d i n g . ( L O B I) 0 8 150 )

H o w e v e r , a c l o s e r l o o k at t h e e x a m p l e s r e v e a l s a n u m b e r o l i n t e r e s t i n g o b s e r v a t i o n s . A s i n

e x a m p l e (2) a b o v e , s e n t e n c e s (3) a n d (1) a r e p r e p a r i n g us fo r a list o f s e v e r a l i t e m s . It c o u l d

t h e r e f o r e h e c o n j e c t u r e d tha t t h e a n n o u n c i n g f u n c t i o n is a c o n s t a n t s e m a n t i c ( d e m e n t o f t h e

p h r a s e to begin with. I n d e e d , m a n y d i c t i o n a r i e s i n s o m e way o r o t h e r c a p t u r e t h i s i d e a o f t h e

""f irst o l a n u m b e r o l p o i n t s \ C o m p a r e l o r e x a m p l e (5) a n d (6) :

(5) To begin ivith: " the first r e a s o n is"

To begin ivith, it's too cold and besides, we have no money. ( E D G E )

(6) Y o u use t h e e x p r e s s i o n to begin ivith [...] to i n t r o d u c e t h e f i rst o f a n u m b e r o f t h i n g s

t h a t y o u w a n t to sav . ( G O B I ILL ) )

T h e s e p a r a p h r a s i n g d i c t i o n a r y e n t r i e s a r e no t i m m u n e to c r i t i c i s m . In p a r t i c u l a r , t h e use o f t h e

w o r d ' " r e a s o n " i n t h e e n t r y i n t h e L D C E is d i s p u t a b l e . W h i l e a c a u s a t i v e m e a n i n g e l e m e n t

m i g h t p e r h a p s be p o s t u l a t e d fo r (4) a n d t h e e x a m p l e g i v e n i n t h e L D C E , f o r (3) a n d many-

o t h e r e x a m p l e s it a p p e a r s to be o u t o l p l a c e . In a d d i t i o n , o n e m i g h t he i n c l i n e d to a r g u e o v e r

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8 lApha - Schmid

t h e use o f t h e w o r d ^ f i r s t " i n t h e s e d i c t i o n a r y e n t r i e s . A l t h o u g h l o r a l l p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s , t h e

i n t e n t i o n o f t h e r e s p e c t i v e l e x i c o g r a p h e r s s e e m s to he t r a n s p a r e n t e n o u g h , t h e o r e t i c a l l y t h e

r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n a beginning and a first entity is far f r o m c l e a r . A l t e r a l l , it is no t i n c o n c e v a b l e

that s o m e t h i n g c o u l d be s t a r t e d w i t h , say , t h e t h i r d p o i n t i n a l i s t . 1 O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e l e x i ­

c o g r a p h e r s c o u l d r e p l y t h a t by v i r t u e o f t h e very fact tha t a c e r t a i n p o i n t o u t o f m a n y is p u t at

t h e start o f e. g. a l e c t u r e , it i n fact b e c o m e s t h e f i rs t p o i n t . T h i s s e e m s to be a r a t h e r e l e g a n t

w a y o f s e t t l i n g t h e u n c l e a r s t a tus o f t h e w o r d first. A l l t h e s a m e , w e m u s t no t I ο i g e t tha t e x a m ­

p l e (2), a n d f o r t h a t m a t t e r a l s o e x a m p l e (3), h a v e t a u g h t us tha t as o f t e n as no t t h e s e n t e n c e

c o n t a i n i n g t h e e x p r e s s i o n to begin nith d o e s no t c o n t a i n t h e f irst p o i n t o f a l i s t , b u t i n t r o d u c e s

o r a n n o u n c e s t h e l i s t . W e m a y t h e r e f o r e c o n c l u d e tha t i n c o n t r a s t to l i t e r a l uses as r e p r e s e n t e d

by e x a m p l e (1), to begin nith, as a f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n , h a s a c q u i r e d o n e o f t h e t w o s e m a n t i c (de­

m e n t s " a n n o u n c i n g a l is t o f i t e m s " o r ' f i r s t p o i n t o f a l is t o f i t e m s . It t h u s f u n c t i o n s as a d i s ­

c o u r s e s i g n a l .

A s e c o n d p o i n t w h i c h d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h e i d i o m a t i z e d uses o f to begin icith f r o m o t h e r e x a m ­

p l e s is t h e i r f o r m a l i n v a r i a b i l i t y . W h e r e a s a b o v e , it p r o v e d p e r f e c t l y p o s s i b l e to e x p a n d e x a m p l e

(2) f r o m / would like to begin with ... to / would like to begin my speech icith .... s i m i l a r i n s e r ­

t i o n s i n t o t h e e x p r e s s i o n to begin with a r e n o t f e a s i b l e i n (3) a n d (4). I n fac t , t h e f o r m a l i n v a r i a ­

b i l i t y o f a f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n is o n e c r i t e r i o n l o r i d i o m a t i c i t v w h i c h h a s b e e n p u t l o r w a r d by

R u s s i a n l i n g u i s t s l i k e I. A . M e l Y u k a n d N . \ . A m o s a v a (cf. L i p k a ( 1 9 7 4 ) ) a n d w h i c h s h o u l d

a l w a y s h e k e p t i n m i n d .

T h i r d l y , it m u s t be n o t e d t h a t i n i d i o m a t i c uses o f to begin with, begin d o e s no t o f c o u r s e f u n c ­

t i o n as t h e m a i n v e r b o f t h e c l a u s e i n w h i c h it o c c u r s , as is t h e cast» i n l i t e r a l uses s u c h as (1) o r

(2). I n s t e a d , t h e w h o l e f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n to begin icith is u s u a l l y e x t r a c t e d f r o m t h e c l a u s e p a t ­

t e r n a n d f u n c t i o n s as s e n t e n c e a d v e r b i a l (cf. (4)) o r is p u t i n s o m e k i n d o f c o m m e n t i n g p a r e n ­

t h e s i s (cf. (3) a n d s e c t i o n 3 .1 ) .

F i n a l l y , as a f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n to begin icith e x h i b i t s p h o n o l o g i c a l p r o p e r t i e s w h i c h d o not

o c c u r i n n o n - i d i o m a t i z e d a n d h a l f - i d i o m a t i z c d uses s u c h as (1) a n d (2) r e s p e c t i v e l y . In (1) a n d

(2), t h e p r e p o s i t i o n icith is u n d o u b t e d l y of v e r y l o w i n t o n a t o r y p r o m i n e n c e : i n a d d i t i o n , its f i n a l

f r i c a t i v e w i l l , i n a s s i m i l a t i o n w i t h t h e e n s u i n g h o m o r g a n i c / ò /, o b t a i n a v o i c e d q u a l i t y . In c o n ­

t ras t , t h e c o m m a i n e x a m p l e (4) i n d i c a t e s a p a u s e b e t w e e n t h e t w o s o u n d s , s e p a r a t i n g t h e

e x p r e s s i o n to begin icith f r o m t h e rest o f t h e sentence* . L i s t e n i n g to n a t i v e p e o p l e r e a d i n g out

s e n t e n c e s c o n t a i n i n g to begin icitlh o n e a l s o r e a l i z e s tha t t h e y t e n d to e m p h a s i z e t h e w h o l e

p h r a s e by e n d i n g it w i t h a s l i g h t r i s i 1 i n p i t c h o n t h e w o r d nith. C o n c o m i t a n t l y , t h e s e c o n d s y l ­

l a b l e o f t h e w o r d begin a c q u i r e s a m u c h h i g h e r d e g r e e o f t o n i c p r o m i n e n c e t h a n i n (1) a n d (2),

b e c a u s e t h e p h r a s e to begin with f u n c t i o n s as a t o n e u n i t i n its o w n r i g h t . S i m i l a r p h o n o l o g i c a l

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a p p l y f o r t h e w o r d s e q u e n c e i n s e r t e d b e t w e e n c o m m a s (7 would suggest to begin

with) i n e x a m p l e (3).

W e h a v e so far s i n g l e d o u t s o m e s e m a n t i c , f o r m a l , s y n t a c t i c a n d p h o n o l o g i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o l

t h e s e q u e n c e to begin with, w h i c h j u s t i f y o u r c l a i m tha t it is a n i d i o m a t i z e d o r f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n .

In a d d i t i o n , t h e fact t h a t t h e r e a n * uses o f to begin with w h i c h h a v e o n l y a c q u i r e d o n e a d d i t i o n ­

a l s e m a n t i c e l e m e n t (cf. (2)) h a s s h o w n tha t i n s t e a d o f a t w o - f o l d d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n " l i t e r a l "

a n d " i d i o m a t i c " , t h e r e is a g r a d i e n t o f i d i o m a t i c i t v r u n n i n g f r o m c l e a r l y l i t e r a l to m o r e o r less

i d i o m a t i c uses . "

T h e e x a m p l e s w e h a v e p r o v i d e d so fa r g i v e e v i d e n c e t h a t i n i d i o m a t i c uses , to begin with

a c q u i r e s a d d i t i o n a l f u n c t i o n s w h i c h necess i ta te 1 a s t ep b e y o n d s i m p l e s e m a n t i c a n d s y n t a c t i c

c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . In p a r t i c u l a r , w e h a v e s e e n tha t to begin with h a s a n i m p o r t a n t t e x t u a l f u n c t i o n

a n d is u s e d as a d i s c o u r s e s i g n a l . In t h e f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n w e w i l l d i s c u s s t h i s t e x t u a l f u n c t i o n

a n d t r y to s h o w h o w it is e x p l o i t e d by s p e a k e r s f o r p r a g m a t i c p u r p o s e s ( in a l i t e r a l a n d a l i n g u i s ­

t i c s ense ) .

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lo begin \i ith

3. ho begin with as a d i s cou r se s i gna l

3.1. T e x t u a l ( unc t i ons

It has a l r e a d y b e e n m e n t i o n e d t h a t to begin with is f r e q u e n t l y u s e d i n a n a n n o u n c i n g f u n c ­

t i o n . W h a t t h e d i s c o u r s e s i g n a l to begin ivith e v e n t u a l l y a n n o u n c e s o r i n t r o d u c e s , a n d h o w it

a c h i e v e s t h i s f u n c t i o n , v a r i e s to a c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e n t . I n e x a m p l e (3) t h e p a r e n t h e s i s c o n t a i n ­

i n g to begin with s e r v e s as a k i n d o f h e a d i n g u n d e r w h i c h a n u m b e r o l a r g u m e n t s ( w h i c h w e

h a v e not p r o v i d e d ) a n * o r d e r e d . A s w e h a v e s a i d , i n t h e s e cases to begin ivith d o e s no t c o n s t i t u t e

t h e first e l e m e n t o f a l i s t , bu t i n t r o d u c e s t h e l i s t w h i c h f o l l o w s . T h i s h a s n o t b e e n r e c o g n i z e d b y

l e x i c o g r a p h e r s .

In o t h e r e x a m p l e s i n o u r c o r p u s , to begin with d o e s a c c o m p a n y t h e f i rs t p o i n t i n a l is t of

i t e m s , e. g. i n (7 ) :

(7) T h e n e w b o o k |...| is a case i n p o i n t . T h e b o o k is , to b e g i n w i t h , c u r i o u s l y n o n - c r i t i c a l .

[...] T h e r e i s , f u r t h e r a n i r r e d u c a b l e s e n t i m e n t a l i s m a b o u t t h e b o o k . ( L O B 0 3 6 144)

H e r e , t h e f irst s e n t e n c e o f t h e p a r a g r a p h p r o v i d e s t h e h e a d i n g w h i l e t h e s e n t e n c e c o n t a i n i n g to

begin ivith a l r e a d y m e n t i o n s t h e l i r s t a r g u m e n t .

A s far as t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e " l i s t * " is c o n c e r n e d , t h e v a r i a t i o n is s t i l l g r e a t e r . W h i l e it is t r u e

tha t s o m e t i m e s a s e r i e s o f r e a s o n s is g i v e n (cf. (3)) , t h i s is no t n e c e s s a r i l y t h e ca s e . In fac t , to

begin ivith c a n a l s o i n t r o d u c i 1 l i s t s o f o t h e r i t e m s s u c h as p o i n t s to be d i s c u s s e d o r a r g u m e n t s

pu t f o r w a r d i n f a v o u r o f a n a s s e r t i o n . T h i s c a n he i l l u s t r a t e d bv p r o v i d i n g m o r e c o n t e x t f o r

e x a m p l e (1) q u o t e d a b o v e :

(8) These s tages o f d e v e l o p m e n t r e f l e c t t h e C h u r c h ' s c h a n g i n g o u t l o o k . T o b e g i n w i th ,

t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n is h e l d to be t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f the* m y s t e r y of r e d e m p t i o n , t h e o p e n

d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f G o d ' s s a v i n g a c t i v i t y to w h i c h a l l p r e v i o u s s a c r e d h i s t o r y h a s b e e n

l e a d i n g . S e c o n d l y , t h e t e a c h i n g o f J e s u s is h e l d to be a n e s s e n t i a l p a r t o l t h e r e v e l a t i ­

o n , t h o u g h its t r u e s i g n i f i c a n c e w a s o n l y k n o w n to t h e " e l e c t * . |...|. T h e t h i r d a n d

f inal stage is t h e c l a i m tha t |...|. ( L O B I) 0 8 ISO)

E x a m p l e (8) g i v e s a g o o d i d e a o f h o w s p e a k e r s , o r m o r e o f t e n w r i t e r s , e m p l o y to b e g i n w i th i n

o r d e r to s t r u c t u r e t h e i r t e x t u a l o u t p u t . A l t e r t h e t o p i c h a s b e e n i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e f irst s e n t e n c e

o f t h e p a r a g r a p h , to begin with s e r v e s as a m a r k e r f o r t h e f irst of t h e s tages m e n t i o n e d i n t h e

i n t r o d u c t i o n , w h i c h is l a t e r t a k e n u p b y t h e w o r d s secondly a n d the third and final stage. I n

cases l i k e t h i s . K e l l e r ( 1 0 8 1 : 071) s p e a k s o f t h e " s e m a n t i c f r a m i n g " o f t h e " " top ic "* by m e a n s o f

v e r b a l s i g n a l s w h i c h h e c a l l s " gamb i t s " ' " . H o w e v e r , it is no t r e a l l y t h e t o p i c tha t is s t r u c t u r e d by

t h e s e s i g n a l s , bu t t h e m e s s a g e i tse l f , a n d i n o u r o p i n i o n , t h e t e r n i " " s e m a n t i c f r a m i n g " s e e m s a

l i t t l e p o m p o u s for t h e s i m p l e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o l a list of i t e m s . W e w i l l t h e r e f o r e s t e e r c l e a r o l

K e l l e r ' s t e r m i n o l o g y a l t o g e t h e r a n d use t h e m o r e g e n e r a l t e r m " d i s c o u r s e m a r k e r * ' i n t r o d u c e d

b y S c h i f i m i ( 1087 ) . '

T o s u m u p t h e d i s c u s s i o n so far , w e h a v e s e e n that f r o m a t e x t u a l p o i n t of v i e w to begin ivith

c a n m a r k e i t h e r t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t o r t h e a c t u a l be<>mnin " o f a l i s t o l v a r i o u s k i n d s of i t e m s . In

c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r t e x t u a l s i g n a l s it t h e r e f o r e e n h a n c e s t h e i n t e r n a l s t r u c t u r e o l t ex t s a n d

c r e a t e s text c o h e s i o n . In t h e bv n o w c l a s s i c a c c o u n t o f c o h e s i o n p r e s e n t e d b y l l a l l i d a v & H a s a n

( 1 9 7 0 ) . to begin ivith a n d t h e l i k e a r e t r e a t e d as s u r f a c e s i g n a l s fo r a n u n d e r l y i n g s e m a n t i c r e l a ­

t i o n l a b e l l e d " ' c o n j u n c t i o n " . A c c o r d i n g to H a l l i d a y & H a s a n , c o n j u n c t i o n a p p e a r s i n a n " i n t e r ­

n a r * a n d a n " e x t e r n a l " v a r i e t y . In e s s e n c e , t h e d i s t i n c t i o n c a p t u r e s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n tha t s o m e ­

t i m e s c o n j u n c t i v e i t e m s o n l y c o n c e r n t h e way s p e a k e r s p r e s e n t t h e i r d i s c o u r s e (cf. (9)). f a n d

s o m e t i m e s t h e y r e l a t e r e a l e v e n t s to e a c h o t h e r (cf. (10) ) .

(0) N e x t , h e w a s i n c a p a b l e o f i n s e r t i n g t h e k e y i n t o t h e l o c k .

(10) N e x t , h e i n s e r t e d t h e k e y i n t o t h e l o c k . ( H a l l i d a y & H a s a n 1 9 7 6 : 2 3 9 )

In a l l t h e e x a m p l e s we h a v e q u o t e d so far , to begin with b e l o n g s to t h e i n t e r n a l t y p e of c o n j u n c -

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10 Lip ko - Schmid

l i o n a n d i n d e e d i n t h e l is ts p r o v i d e d by H a l l i d a y a n d H a s a n ( 1 9 7 6 : 2 6 7 ) it o c c u r s u n d e r " t e m ­

p o r a l r e l a t i o n s ( i n t e r n a l ) " o n l y . Y e t t h e d a t a i n o u r c o r p u s c l e a r l y s h o w tha t to begin icith is

u s e d i n e x t e r n a l f u n c t i o n as w e l l , as i n (1 1):

(11 ) B y d e g r e e s . C e n t i g r a d e v. F a h r e n h e i t .

T h e l i g h t is o n . To begin icith, b o t h t e m p e r a t u r e s w i l l b e p u t i n t h e r i n g t o g e t h e r .

T h e p r e s s a n d t h e b r o a d c a s t i n g a u t h o r i t i e s a r e a s k e d to h e l p . ( F O B Β 0 3 160)

In t h i s e x a m p l e , to begin icith is no t j u s t a n e l e m e n t o f t h e " s p e a k e r ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n o f h i s d i s ­

c o u r s e " ( H a l l i d a y cx H a s a n 1 9 7 6 : 2 3 9 ) , bu t it a l s o d e s c r i b e s t h e o r d e r o f t h e e v e n t s as t h e y

o c c u r i n r e a l i t y . S o m e w h a t m o r e c o n f u s i n g is e x a m p l e (12 ) , w h i c h e p i t o m i z e s t h e use o f to

begin icith f a v o u r e d by S a n l o r d i n h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y t e x t b o o k . 1

(12 ) To begin icith, w e s h a l l c o n s i d e r s o m e i m p o r t a n t d a t a o n l e a r n i n g w h i c h c a n b e i n t e r ­

p r e t e d i n t e r m s o l t h e w o r k i n g m e m o r y h y p o t h e s i s . T h e n we w i l l m o v e o n to more*

s p e c i f i c i d e a s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e w o r k i n g m e m o r y c o n c e p t .

C o m p a r i n g t h i s e x a m p l e to (8), w e r e a l i z e tha t h e r e to begin icith is no t u s e d to p u t a s t r u c t u r a l

g r i d o n t h e o n g o i n g pa r t o f t h e t e x t , b u t r a t h e r o n t h e passages that a r e to f o l l o w . T h i s is r e f l e c ­

t e d i n t h e u s e o f t h e m a i n v e r b o f t h e c l a u s e {ice shall consider ...). S o , a l t h o u g h to begin icith i n

(12 ) a l s o r e f e r s to t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f l a n g u a g e , it d i f f e r s f r o m (8) i n tha t a f u t u r e l i n g u i s t i c act

is p r e d i c t e d . I n (8) it is p a r t o f t h e s t r u c t u r i n g o f t h e i m m e d i a t e t ex t passage i tse l f , w h i l e i n (12)

to begin icith r e f e r s to t h e s t r u c t u r i n g o f t h e l a t e r t ex t .

T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e i n t e r n a l a n d the* e x t e r n a l u s e o f to begin icith as a c o n j u n c t i v e

s i g n a l is p a r a l l e l e d b o t h i n t h e d o m i n a n t language* f u n c t i o n a n d i n t h e type* o f s p e e c h act t h a t is

p e r f o r m e d . T h e i n t e r n a l use* e x e m p l i f i e d by (8) is c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to t h e i n t e r p e r s o n a l f u n c t i o n

of l a n g u a g e , s i n c e it r e f l e c t s "the* s p e a k e r ' s o w n ' s t a m p 1 o n the* s i t u a t i o n " ( H a l l i d a y & H a s a n

1 9 7 6 : 2 4 0 ) . In e f fect , to begin icith h e r e s e r v e s as a m e t a l i n g u i s t i c s t r u c t u r a l d e v i c e . I n c o n t r a s t ,

t h e to begin icith i n (12) is a l i n g u i s t i c e l e m e n t t h a t r e f l e c t s the* e x p e r i e n t i a l f u n c t i o n o f l a n ­

guage*. L i k e w i s e we c o u l e l argue* t h a t , a p p l y i n g S e a r l e ' s ( 1 9 7 6 ) t a x o n o m y o f speee 'h ac t s , the*

u t t e r a n c e i n (8) m u s t be a s s i g n e d te> t h e g r o u p o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , b e c a u s e it is a s t a t e m e n t . T h e

f i rst u t t e r a n c e i n (12 ) . o n the* o t h e r h a n d , m a k e s p r e d i c t i o n s o n a f u t u r e act o f t h e s p e a k e r a n d

m u s t t h e r e l o r e b e c l a s s i f i e d as a c o m m i s s i v e . S o o n a d e e p e r l e v e l , t h e t w o s e e m i n g l y so s i m i l a r

o c c u r r e n c e s o l to begin nith i n (8) a n d (12) r e v e a l a n u m b e r o f i n t e r e s t i n g d i f f e r e n c e s .

H o w d o e s the* p o s i t i o n o l to begin icith i n the* s e n t e n c e i n w h i c h it o c c u r s t i e i n w i t h its t e x ­

t u a l f u n c t i o n ? G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , to begin icith c a n be* p u t i n t o a n i n i t i a l , a m e d i a l o r a f i n a l

p o s i t i o n . T h e d a t a i n o u r c o r p u s i n d i c a t e tha t w h i l e n o c o r r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n p o s i t i o n a n d the*

t y p e of t e x t u a l f u n c t i o n c a n be* e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e n * is a c l e a r p r e f e r e n c e te) use* to begin icith s e n ­

t e n c e - i n i t i a l l y o r , i n p a r e n t h e s e s , r i g h t a f t e r the* sub j e c t as i n (3) above*. A n d t h i s is ed c ourse '

h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g , l o r a n u m b e r o f r e a s o n s . S i n c e ' the* m o s t f r e q u e n t s y n t a c t i c f u n c t i o n f u l f i l l e d

b y to begin icith is tha t o f a s e n t e n c e c o n j u n c t ( in t h e s e n s e o f Q u i r k et a l . 1 9 8 5 ) , it t e n d s to be

f o u n d i n t h e c a n o n i c a l c o n j u n c t p o s i t i o n , i . e. at t h e b e g i n n i n g o f the* s e n t e n c e . F r o m a t e x t u a l

p o i n t o f v i e w it is a g a i n o n l y sens ib le* to p u t s t r u c t u r a l s i g n a l s s e n t e n c e - i n i t i a l l y , b e c a u s e t h i s is

o b v i o u s l y a p e r c e p t u a l l y s a l i e n t p o s i t i o n . II a s p e a k e r e n v i s a g e s a s t r o n g s t r u c t u r a l g r i d o f the*

t y p e To begin icith ... Secondly ... Thirdly ... e tc . , it is r e c o m m e n d a b l e to e m p l o y these* d i s c o u r s e

m a r k e r s at the* b e g i n n i n g o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s e n t e n c e s .

3.2 P r a g m a t i c e xp l o i t a t i ons

In approximate* !ν 5 0 p e r c e n t o f the* e x a m p l e s o f to begin icith tha t we* h a v e c o l l e c t e d , the*

a n n o u n c i n g f u n c t i o n m i s f i r e s , o r i n o t h e r w o r d s , to begin with, is n o t f o l l owe 'd by a l i s t . T h i s

r a i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r i n t h e s e eases s p e a k e r s p u r s u e o t h e r a i m s bv u s i n g to begin with

a n d i l s o . w h a t t h e y a r e . W e w i l l p u t f o r w a r d t w o poss ib le* w a y s i n w h i c h s p e a k e r s take* a d v a n ­

tage of t h e t e x t u a l f u n c t i o n o f to begin with f o r o t h e r p u r p o s e s .

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To begin ivi ih

f i r s t l y , t h e r e c a n be n o d o u b t that E n g l i s h s p e a k e r s a r e w e l l a w a r e o l t h e lac t t h a t n o t e v e r y

to begin ivith is f o l l o w e d by m o r e p o i n t s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e y n e v e r t h e l e s s s e e m to a s s u m e

tha t s o m e h o w o r o t h e r to begin ivith is o f t e n o r at l eas t s h o u l d i n fact he f o l l o w e d b y o n e o r

m o r e f u r t h e r i t e m s o r a r g u m e n t s . S o . e v e n t h o u g h as s p e a k e r s t h e y t e n d to n e g l e c t t h e l is t

t h e m s e l v e s , as h e a r e r s o r r e a d e r s t h e y e x p e c t s o m e so r t of c o n t i n u a t i o n a l l t h e s a m e . T h u s , o n e

m i g h t sav t h a t to begin ivith e v o k e s a n e x p e c t a n t s ta te o f m i n d i n t h e h e a r e r , w h o b e l i e v e s t h a t

t h e r e is m o r e to c o m e . It c a n t h e r e f o r e b e e x p l o i t e d as a s o - c a l l e d " i n e o m p l e t i o n m a r k e r " " (cf.

C o u l t h a r d " 1 9 8 5 : 6 4 ) , f u n c t i o n i n g a n a l o g o u s l y to m o r e e l a b o r a t e s i g n a l s l i k e /V/ like to make

two points o r s i m p l e r m a r k e r s s u c h as //, since or firstly. W h e n a s p e a k e r h a s u t t e r e d a d i s c o u r s e

m a r k e r t h a t , at l eas t i n p r i n c i p l e 1 , i m p l i e s a f u r t h e r c o n t i n u a t i o n a n d e l a b o r a t i o n o n t h e s p e a k ­

e r ' s pa r t , h e o r s h e m a n a g e s to r e s e r v e t h e r i g h t to s p e a k f o r a n e x t e n d e d a m o u n t o l t i m e . S i n c e

a f t e r a n a n n o u n c e m e n t l i k e to begin with it w o u l d b e r a t h e r i m p o l i t e to i n t e r r u p t t h e c u r r e n t

s p e a k e r r i g h t at t h e e n d o f h i s o r h e r l i r s t s e n t e n c e , it f u n c t i o n s i n ef fect as a k i n d o l f l o o r -

s e c u r i n g d e v i c e .

S e c o n d l y , a c c o r d i n g to t h e C O B I IU I ) d i c t i o n a r y , to begin ivith is u s e d

e s p e c i a l l y w h e n y o u w a n t to c o r r e c t s o m e t h i n g tha t s o m e o n e e l s e h a s j u s t s a i d E G To

begin with, the invitation for eight really means eight-thirty to nine.

T h i s c o r r e c t i n g f u n c t i o n o f to begin ivith is p r o b a b l y r e s t r i c t e d to s p o n t a n e o u s s p o k e n d i s ­

c o u r s e a n d is t h e r e f o r e no t r e c o r d e d i n o u r c o r p u s , w h i c h is d e r i v e d f r o m w r i t t e n t e x t s .

U l t i m a t e l y , it is a m a t t e r o f c o n j e c t u r e w h e t h e r t h e c o r r e c t i n g f u n c t i o n , w h i c h is u n d o u b t e d l y

s o m e t i m e s i n t e n d e d by s p e a k e r s , is d e r i v e d f r o m t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e i d i o m o r f r o m its t e x t u a l

f u n c t i o n , p e r h a p s t h e f u n c t i o n as a n i n e o m p l e t i o n m a r k e r . B e tha t as it m a y , it s e e m s t o h e t h e

(vise that t h e c o r r e c t i o n f u n c t i o n a n d t h e use as i n e o m p l e t i o n m a r k e r t a k e n t o g e t h e r , h a v e l e d

to uses o f to begin with w h i c h we w o u l d l i k e to i n t e r p r e t as " " l i n g u i s t i c t h r e a t e n i n g g e s t u r e s " . B y

t h i s t e r m w e r e f e r to s i t u a t i o n s — p r o b a b l y f a m i l i a r to t h e r e a d e r — w h e r e we a r e d e s p e r a t e l y

s e e k i n g a r g u m e n t s f o r r e f u t i n g s o m e o n e e l s e ' s s t a t e m e n t . T o g a i n t i m e a n d to i n t i m i d a t e t h e

o t h e r p e r s o n w e b e g i n o u r u t t e r a n c e w i t h to begin with, t h u s c r e a t i n g t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t w e

h a v e a w h o l e l i s t of a r g u m e n t s i n s t o r e w h i c h w e w i l l a d v a n c e to s u p p o r t o u r p o i n t o f v i e w .

S i n c e , h o w e v e r , w e a r e i n fact p a r t i c u l a r l y s h o r t o f a r g u m e n t s , w h a t w e d o is i n e f fect i m p o s e

o n t h e o t h e r p e r s o n . U n d e r s u c h s i t u a t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , to begin ivith is u s e d t o f e i g n

a r g u i n g p o w e r : it c a r i b e s a i d to f u n c t i o n as a l i n g u i s t i c t h r e a t e n i n g g e s t u r e .

1. To begin with, to start with, for a st<irt

It is r a t h e r o b v i o u s tha t to begin with r e s e m b l e s t w o o t h e r f o r m a l l y c o m p l e x d i s c o u r s e m a r k ­

e r s , v i z . to start ivith a n d for a start. H o w a r e t h e t h r e e r e l a t e d to e a c h o t h e r ? E i r s t o f a l l , it m u s t

be m e n t i o n e d tha t d u e to t h e s h o r t a g e o f e x a m p l e s i n t h e U O B a n d S a n f o r d ( 1 9 8 5 ) , o u r o b s e r ­

v a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h i s q u e s t i o n h a v e to r e l y o n t h e e x a m p l e s p r o v i d e d by d i c t i o n a r i e s a n d o n

t h e j u d g m e n t o f n a t i v e s p e a k e r s . In t h e U O B , to start with d o e s not o c c u r at a l l a n d for a start

w a s r e c o r d e d o n l y t h r e e t i m e s . In S a n t o n i ( 1 9 8 5 ) , t h e r e a r e t w o e x a m p l e s o l to start ivith a n d

n o n e o f for a start. H o w c a n t h i s s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e f r e q u e n c y of o c c u r e n c e of to begin

with o n t h e o n e h a n d a n d to start with a n d for a start o n t h e o t h e r be e x p l a i n e d ? In t h i s s e c ­

t i o n , we w i l l c o n s i d e r a) s e m a n t i c , b) s t y l i s t i c a n d c) f u n c t i o n a l a s p e c t s w h i c h s e e m t o b e r e ­

s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e d i f f e r e n t f r e q u e n c y of to begin with, to start with a n d for a start.

a) W h a t , i n s e m a n t i c t e r m s , is t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e v e r b s begin a n d starti In a n e a r l i e r

s tudv ( S c h m i d 1 9 9 3 ) . t h e i n t e r n a l c a t e g o r y s t r u c t u r e o f t h e t w o v e r b s w a s i n v e s t i g a t e d . T h e d a t a

f o r th i s r e s e a r c h c o n s i s t e d o f 3 1 8 e x a m p l e s of start a n d 4 7 2 e x a m p l e s o f begin t a k e n f r o m t h e

U O B . A l l 7 9 0 o c c u r r e n c e s o f t h e t w o v e r b s w e r e s u b j e c t e d to a c o m p u t e r - a i d e d c o n t e x t u a l a n a l -

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12 ì.ipka - Seh ι ìli (I

ys i s w h i c h t o o k i n t o a c c o u n t v a r i o u s s e m a n t i c a n d g r a m m a t i c a l f e a t u r e s d c d u c i h l c f r o m t h e i r

l i n g u i s t i c e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s s l u d v a r e s u m m a r i / e d i n f i g u r e ( I ) , w h e r e t e n t a t i v e

l a b e l s l o r t h e s u b c a t e g o r i e s o l t h e v e r b s a r e r e n d e r e d i n q u o t a t i o n m a r k s , w h i l e t h e i r m e a n i n g

is s c h e m a t i c a l l y s p e c i f i e d by m e a n s o l s e m a n t i c f e a t u r e s o r a t t r i b u t e s .

f i g u r e I s h o w s tha t b o t h start o n t h e left h a n d s i d e a n d begin o n t h e r i g h t h a n d s i d e d i s p l a y

n e t w o r k s of s u b c a t e g o r i e s w h i c h o v e r l a p i n a f a m i l y r e s e m b l a n c e f a s h i o n (cf. R o s e l i & M e r v i s

1 9 7 5 ) . In t e r m s o l I r e q u e n e y of o c c u r r e n c e , b o t h v e r b s m e r g e i n a c o m m o n p r o t o t y p i c a l c o r e

r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e d i a g r a m b y t h e b o l d b o x . T h e m e a n i n g o f t h i s s h a r e d p r o t o t y p i c a l s u b c a t e ­

g o r y c a n b e c h a r a c t e r i s e d by t h e a t t r i b u t e s i n c h o a t i v e ' a n d ' d y n a m i c ' , w i t h start t e n d i n g t o w a r d s

' a g e n t i v e ' c o n t e x t s a n d begin t o w a r d s Ί ι οη -agen t i v e * c o n t e x t s . In o t h e r w o r d s , b o t h start a n d

begin m o s t f r e q u e n t l y d e n o t e b e g i n n i n g s o l a c t i o n s (start: 6 7 . 6 % . begin: 9 3 . 4 % o f t h e r e s p e c t i v e

t o t a l o f o c c u r r e n c e s ) ; h o w e v e r , e v e n w i t h i n t h i s s h a r e d m e a n i n g ( w h o s e f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r ­

r e n c e l e a d s to t h e " n a i v e " ν i e w t h a t start a n d begin a r e s y n o n y m s ) , begin d'ilici^ f r o m start i n

t h a t begin o f t e n t a k e s t h e a g en t o u t o l l o c u s , l o r a n i l l u s t r a t i o n c o m p a r e e x a m p l e s (13) a n d

( 1 1 ) :

( 13) T h e r a c e b e g a n .

( I f ) T h e s p r i n t e r s s t a r t e d to r u n .

C l e a r l v , t h e t w o v e r b s a r e i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e i n t h e t w o s e n t e n c e s , bu t t h e s t a t i s t i c a l e v i d e n c e

s h o w s t h a t K n g l i s h s p e a k e r s p r e f e r begin i n n o n - a g e n t i v e a n d e r g a l i v e c o n t e x t s l i k e (13) a n d

start i n t h e c a n o n i c a l a g e n l i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n l i k e (14 ) .

start a race •ausat iv i *

f i a t a r t i . ' " " I c a u s a t i v e ]

I "set m m o t i o n I c a u s a t i v e

" o f a n a n i m a l : force to leave its l a i r " causât ive

" s e t in m o t i o n o! an eng ine , esp. a ca r : start n i n n i m i

" o l an a n i m a l : leave its l a i r d\ n a m . , l o c omo t i v e

"s tar t a race d v n a i n . . l o c omo t i v e . com|>etil ive

"s tar t n i n n i m i

d v n a i n . . l o c o m o t i v e

" o l the eve>: p r o t r u d e d v n a i i i .

f i i iurat i ve

f "set u p in l u i s i 1 ness " c ans .

" I l eum a career c ou t i n . . f iuura t . . pro fess .

{ c ans . , i ns t i t . ( " i n t r o d u c e l e a n s . , d y n a u i .

"set out ( f i l l . ) " c o n i i n . , a l i e n i . . m e n t a l

sr-urr " s ta r t l i m e unit c a u s a t i v e

" I l e u m as i n d i o , t emp . , m a n n e r , result

c o m m . . d v u a u i . .

Ί I.M-«

j u m p

• l\ n a m .

l e i i i p o r a l / l o c a l i v e / i i i a n n e r

incho !

« 1 \ 11 ; 1111 i « -

set uci in i i m c o n v e r s a t i o n ine l i o . v e r b a l . c ausa t i v e

in i n ­itient ive

p n . e e »

I s p e a k "

"set out — χ f i l l i "

c o m . , m e n t a l

incli<».. v e rba l

F i g u r e 1: S c h e m a t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e i n t e r n a l c a t e g o r y s t r u c t u r e ol\ start a n d begin ( S c h m i d

1 9 9 3 : 2 6 8 )

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lo begin tritìi 13

\ et t h i s d i f f e r e n c e i n m e a n i n g is m i n u t e c o m p a r e d l o t h e s e m a n t i c c o n t r a s t r e c o g n i z a b l e i n

t h e rest o l t h e c a t e g o r y n e t w o r k . Q u a n t i t a t i v e l y , e v e n a c u r s o r y g l a n c e at t h e d i a g r a m w i l l s h o w

tha t w h e r e a s t h e c a t e g o r y s t r u c t u r e oï start is h i g h l y c o m p l e x , b r a n c h i n g ou t i n v a r i o u s p o l y s e -

m o u s c h a i n s , t h e u s e o f begin is c o n f i n e d to a r a t h e r l i m i t e d a r e a . S e m a n t i c a l l y s p e a k i n g , begin

is u s e d m o r e o f t e n t h a n start for g r a d u a l b e g i n n i n g s , m o s t l y i n t h e c o g n i t i v e o r e m o t i v e

d o m a i n s , a n d l o r c o n t e x t s i n v o l v i n g s p e a k i n g a n d t a l k i n g . T h u s , t h e L O B d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t s t a ­

t i s t i c a l l y p e o p l e p r e f e r ( I S ) . (16 ) , (17) a n d (18) to ( 15 ' ) , ( 16 ' ) , (17 ' ) a n d (18 ' ) .

(15) T h e p a t t e r n b e g a n to e m e r g e ... ( L O B G 4 9 105 )

(16) T h e n I b e g a n to t h i n k . ( L O B G 0 9 161)

(17) H e b e g a n to f ee l l i m p ... ( L O B Κ 2 7 9 5 )

(18) ' L o o k h e r e * , h e b e g a n , ... ( L O B L 1 1 124 )

(IS*) T h e p a t t e r n s t a r t e d to e m e r g e ...

(16") T h e n I s t a r t e d to t h i n k .

(17*) l i e s t a r t e d to fee l l i m p ...

(18 ' ) * c L o o k h e r e ' , h e s t a r t e d , ...

Start, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , is u s e d to d e n o t e d y n a m i c a n d o f t e n s u d d e n b e g i n n i n g s o f a c t i o n s . I n

a d d i t i o n , a n d t h i s is i n fact r e l a t e d to i ts e t y m o l o g i c a l o r i g i n O K styrtan, " j u m p * e t c . , start l e a v e s

t h e i n c h o a t i v e a r e a a n d c o v e r s a w h o l e r a n g e o f p u r e l y d y n a m i c , f i g u r a t i v e a n d c a u s a t i v e m e a n ­

i n g s .

T h i s m a j o r s e m a n t i c d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n begin a n d start, w h i c h m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f i n a h i g h e r

f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e for begin i n m e n t a l c o n t e x t a n d w h e n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f s p e a k i n g is

d e n o t e d , f i ts i n n i c e l y w i t h o u r f i n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g to begin ivith a n d to start ivith. W e h a v e

s e e n tha t e i t h e r o f t h e f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n s c a n h e u s e d to r e f e r to t h e s t r u c t u r i n g o f d i s c o u r s e o r

fo r o t h e r l i n g u i s t i c a n d m e t a l i n g u i s t i c a c t i v i t i e s . It c a n t h e r e f o r e h a r d l y c o m e as a s u r p r i s e t h a t

t h e l i x e d e x p r e s s i o n d e r i v e d f r o m t h e v e r b w h i c h s p e c i a l i z e s i n t h i s t y p e o l c o n t e x t is m o r e f r e ­

q u e n t . In fac t , t h e p a r a l l e l i n t h e c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n begin a n d start o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d to

begin ivith a n d to start ivith o n t h e o t h e r , c a n h e r e g a r d e d as f u r t h e r s u p p o r t f o r o u r c l a i m t h a t

t h e t i es b e t w e e n t h e o r i g i n a l a n d t h e l e x i c a l i z e d m e a n i n g o f a f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n a r e n o t c o m ­

p l e t e l y s e v e r e d .

b) In a d d i t i o n to these 1 s e m a n t i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , t i n * s t y l e o f t h e t e x t s w e h a v e u s e d c o u l d h e a

d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r f o r t h e d i l f e r e n c e i n f r e q u e n c y b e t w e e n t h e t h r e e f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n s .

A c c o r d i n g to t h e j u d g m e n t of n a t i v e s p e a k e r s , begin is c o n s i d e r e d to be s l i g h t l y more f o r m a l

t h a n start, a n d is t h e r e f o r e e v e n t o d a y p r e l e r r e d i n w r i t t e n l a n g u a g e , w h e n t h e t w o a r e s e m a n t i ­

c a l l y i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e . The s a m e p r o b a b l y a p p l i e s to t h e f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e t w o

v e r b s , ' a n d so t h e s h o r t a g e o l to start ivith a n d for a start i n o u r w r i t t e n tex t c o r p o r a m a y n o t h e

a c o i n c i d e n c e .

c) K i n a l l y , it s e e m s r e a s o n a b l e to d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e t w e e n t h e v a r i o u s f u n c t i o n s t h a t a l l t h r e e

d i s c o u r s e m a r k e r s c a n h a v e . T a k e t h e m e s s a g e - s t r u c t u r i n g f u n c t i o n . U n d o u b t e d l y , t h e m e n t a l

c h u n k i n g a n d s t r u c t u r i n g o f a n u t t e r a n c e i n t o v a r i o u s p o i n t s tha t w i l l be m a d e r e q u i r e s at l eas t

a m i n i m a l a m o u n t o f p r e p l a n n i n g a c t i v i t y . W e w o u l d t h e r e f o r e e x p e c t tha t t h e a n n o u n c i n g f u n c ­

t i o n of to begin ivith, to start with a n d for a start is p a r t i c u l a r l y d o m i n a n t i n h i g h l y - e d i t e d w r i t ­

t e n tex ts a n d m a y b e i n t h e s p e e c h o l e x p e r i e n c e d s p e a k e r s s u c h as p o l i t i c i a n s a n d l e c t u r e r s ,

f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f text g e n r e s , h o w e v e r , ( h i s k i n d o f t e x t u a l o u t p u t a g a i n b e l o n g s to

r a t h e r l o r m a l t ex t t y p e s w h e r e begin a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y to begin with w i l l t e n d to o c c u r m o r e

o f t e n t h a n to start with a n d for a start. C o n v e r s e l y , t h e c o r r e c t i n g f u n c t i o n a n d t h e i m p o s i n g

t h r e a t e n i n g g e s t u r e w i l l m o r e o f t en be e x p l o i t e d i n s p o n t a n e o u s s p o k e n s p e e c h , w h e r e start is

m o r e f r e q u e n t l y c h o s e n . S o e v e r y d a y u n p l a n n e d d i s c o u r s e is t h e a r e a w h e r e w e w o u l d a l s o

e x p e c t for a start a n d to start with to c r o p u p m o s t e n o f t e n .

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14 Lif)k(i - Sdì ni id

A l t o g e t h e r , w e h a v e p r o v i d e d a i i u m h e r o l e x p l a n a t i o n s (or t h e h i g h e r f r e q u e n c y o l o c c u r ­

r e n c e o f to begin nith o v e r to start nith a n d for a start, w h i c h , h o w e v e r , c a n h a r d l y he p r o v e d

b y r e f e r e n c e to o u r w o r k i n g c o r p u s .

5. S u m m a r y a n d c o n c l u s i o n

W h a t h a v e w e b e e n a b l e to f i n d o u t a b o u t t h e f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n to begin with? W e h a v e t r i e d

to s h o w t h a t it w o u l d b e m i s l e a d i n g to t h i n k o f to begin -with as a n e x p r e s s i o n w h i c h h a s o n e

s p e c i f i c i d i o m a t i c m e a n i n g . I n s t e a d w e w o u l d l i k e to p r o p o s e a ( d ine o f i d i o m a t i e i t y . r a n g i n g

f r o m l i t e r a l uses o f t h e s e q u e n c e to begin with o v e r uses w h i c h o n l y i n t r o d u c e o r a n n o u n c e a

l i s t , to f u l l y i d i o m a t i z e d uses , w h i c h d o n o t o n l y e x h i b i t s p e c i f i c s e m a n t i c , f o r m a l , s y n t a c t i c a n d

p h o n o l o g i c a l p r o p e r t i e s , bu t a l s o p e r f o r m o n e o r m o r e t e x t u a l a n d p r a g m a t i c f u n c t i o n s , l i v e n

a m o n g t h e c l e a r l y i d i o m a t i c uses , it s e e m s p o s s i b l e to d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n m o r e o r less i d i o m a ­

t i z e d e x a m p l e s , e. g. b e t w e e n t h o s e i n v o l v i n g t h e c o r r e c t i n g f u n c t i o n o r w h a t w e h a v e c a l l e d t h e

l i n g u i s t i c t h r e a t e n i n g g e s t u r e o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d t h o s e w h i c h s i m p l y i n t r o d u c e a n e n u m e r a t ­

i n g g r i d , s t r u c t u r i n g t h e t ex t , o n t h e o t h e r .

T h e i d e a o f a g r a d i e n t o f i d i o m a t i e i t y o f c o u r s e r a i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e d i a c h r o n i c

l e x i c a l i z a t i o n p r o c e s s , w h i c h h a s l e a d to t h e i d i o m a t i c u s e o f to begin with, m i g h t o r e v e n m u s t

h a v e g o n e t h r o u g h t h e s a m e s tages . T h e e a r l i e s t r e c o r d o f to begin with i n t h e O E D da t e s f r o m

t h e y e a r 1 5 3 1 :

A n d , t o b e g i n w i t h a l , t h e y s a i d Confiteor.

A s i n d i c a t e d by t h e q u o t a t i o n a n d a l s o p o i n t e d o u t i n t h e O E D , t h e e a r l i e r v e r s i o n o f t o begin

with was to begin withal. T h i s c a n be s e e n as a (due t h a t h i s t o r i c a l l y , to begin with is no t d e ­

r i v e d f r o m „ n o r m a l 4 4 uses of ίο begin ivith b u t h a s p r o b a b l y f u n c t i o n e d as a n a d v e r b i a l p h r a s e

r i g h t f r o m t h e s ta r t . A s fa r as t h e v a r i o u s s e m a n t i c , g r a m m a t i c a l , t e x t u a l a n d p r a g m a t i c p r o p ­

e r t i e s o f t h e m o d e r n to begin with a r e c o n c e r n e d , t h e O E D p r o v i d e s n o f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e of

t h e i r e v o l u t i o n . W h e t h e r t h e p r o g r e s s i o n t o w a r d s s e m a n t i c a n d p r a g m a t i c c o m p l e x i t y t h a t w e

h a v e o u t l i n e d h a s a d i a c h r o n i c p a r a l l e l m u s t t h e r e f o r e r e m a i n a m a t t e r o f s p e c u l a t i o n .

F i n a l l y , a b s t r a c t i n g f r o m t h e e x a m p l e s t h a t w e h a v e d e a l t w i t h , w e h o p e to h a v e s h o w n tha t

a n i s o l a t e d s e m a n t i c a n d / o r s y n t a c t i c a n a l y s i s o f f i x e d e x p r e s s i o n s c l e a r l y is n o t a d e q u a t e a n y

m o r e i n t h e n i n e t i e s . A s F i l l m o r e et a l . ( 1 9 8 8 ) h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d f o r t h e case o f let alone, it is

n o t o n l y u s e f u l a n d i n s t r u c t i v e , b u t e v e n n e c e s s a r y , to t a k e t e x t u a l a n d p r a g m a t i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n s

i n t o a c c o u n t , w h e n s u c h a p p a r e n t l y s i m p l e i d i o m s a r e i n v e s t i g a t e d .

1 It is not u n c o m m o n , for example, in a discussion fo l lowing a lecture, that the speaker cou ld answer a

scries o l questions by saying: to take up your last point first.

2 F o r various l inguists who have recognized that there arc degrees of idiomatie i ty, as for example in leaser 's

" f rozen ness h i e r a r chy " postulated in 1970, cf. I. ipka (1974).

3 Note that the comma after next indicates a pause, as in (4), and as opposed to (10).

4 It is worth ment ion ing that in fact seven of the ten examples of to begin nith in Sa η ford (1985) follow the

same pattern. Th i s shows the danger of re ly ing too much on a smal l number of authors, because obviously

writers have predi lect ions for certain wordings they habi tual ly use. O n the other hand, this is a strong

argument for using text corpora wh i ch consist of language samples of different origins as e. g. the F O B

corpus.

5 A l l e n (1990) and Q u i r k et a l . (1985) mark for a start as colloq. and informal respectively.

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