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English Constructions

Adele E. Goldberg and Devin Casenhiser

Princeton University

Abstract

Constructions have been defined variously in the literature, but the traditional use of the term corresponds to a conventional pairing of form with (semantic or discourse) function. This article provides examples of uncontroversial instances of constructions, clarifies some of the debates surrounding the term currently, and also briefly explores a broad based range of constructionist theories that have converged on the basic idea that traditional constructions play a central theoretical role in language.

1. A brief history of “constructions”

Constructions: A new theoretical approach to language

Adele E. Goldberg

Summary A new theoretical approach to language has emerged in the past 10-15 years that allows linguistic observations about form-meaning pairings—constructions–to be stated directly. Constructionist approaches aim to account for the full range of facts about language, without assuming that a particular subset of the data is part of a privileged “core”. Researchers argue that unusual constructions shed light on more general issues, and serve to illuminate what is required for a complete account of language.

Keywords: language, linguistics, constructions, grammar, learning, generalizations

Constructions: A new theoretical approach to language

Adele E. Goldberg

Linguistics Department

University of Illinois

Urbana, IL 61801-0168

agoldbrg@uiuc.edu

Summary A new theoretical approach to language has emerged that allows linguistic observations about form-meaning pairings—constructions–to be stated directly. Constructionists aim to account for the full range of facts about language, without assuming that a particular subset of the data is part of a privileged “core”. Researchers argue that unusual constructions shed light on more general issues, and serve to illuminate what is required for a complete account of language.

Short summary A new theoretical approach to language has emerged that allows linguistic observations about form-meaning pairings—constructions–to be stated directly.