A comparative qualitative-functional analysis of grammaticalization phenomena in the English progressive construction

Abstract

In this paper we examine comparatively the qualitative relations between the functional patterns of English progressive constructions in the course of their diachronic development and the grammaticalization processes undergone by these constructions. In order to illustrate these relations, we set out the qualitative-functional analysis of a number of progressive prototypes drawn from the family of corpora York-Toronto-Helsinki-Penn, specifically from the textual genres per period estimated to involve this type of grammatical change. We conduct an analysis on the basis of the host of features that characterise these constructions in present-day English which suggests the presence of three progressive gradients: a structural, a functional and a grammatical change gradient. In addition, the study demonstrates the existence of a relationship between subjectification processes experienced by progressive structures and primary grammaticalization phenomena, as well as between objectification phenomena and secondary grammaticalization processes.