Noise and New Grammar: Stages of Semantic Change (B01)

• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages ; Individual Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 551281144

The project studies the development of quantifying words, and specifically compares the development of determiners and focus particles. Both types of words can emerge from the same category, adjectives, and we will investigate which factors determine the eventual target category. Of particular interest are transitory ‘‘noisy‘‘ phases where speakers probe the innovative potential of a construction. By compiling a comprehensive diachronic data record for both English and German quantifying words, we will be able to evaluate conflicting hypotheses on the driving forces in grammaticalization.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1760: SiNoSi: Silence, Noise and Signal in Language
• Applicant Institution: Universität Konstanz
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Regine Eckardt