Abstract
In Labov’s tradition of using language variation to address socially and linguistically intriguing issues, scientific interest has been sparked in the domain of quotation, which has become a well-researched phenomenon (e.g. Buchstaller and D’Arcy, 2009; Güldemann, 2008). The present volume, a companion piece to Buchstaller and Van Alphen (2012), not only probes innovative forms of speech and thought introduction, but also dwells upon their sociolinguistic and typological implications.
The book is composed of six chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction where, along with an exhaustive presentation of major research questions of the study, the recorded history of two globally available quotative introducers – be like and go – is traced with a consolidated diachronic perspective, and the stage is thus set to investigate to what extent the recent emergence of innovative quotative forms in the English language is an isolated phenomenon or whether the development witnessed in English is part of a larger, cross-linguistic tendency.
Chapter 2 provides a thorough definition of quotation as a phenomenon, drawing on structural, typological, cognitive and sociolinguistic explanations from linguistic subdisciplines as diverse as sociolinguistics, anthropology and ethnology, discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, functional grammar, language variation and change, language typology, as well as phonetics, syntax and semantics, in a range of typologically related and unrelated languages including English, German, Spanish, French and Scandinavian languages.
In Chapter 3, the attestation of three typical quotative variants, be all, be like and go, is undertaken across the English-speaking world, and the theories proposed for the extensive diffusion of these quotative newcomers are demonstrated. Moreover, the linguistic and social factors – particularly the mass media – in the propagation of linguistic innovations which regulate the occurrence of these quotatives in an array of locales, are investigated with an eye on the niches and functionalities of the variants. The findings are reported to be fully in line with research on the global complexity of innovations.
Chapter 4 is an expansion of the analysis in Buchstaller (2011). In view of the dearth of comprehensive knowledge of the continuing interaction between these fast-spreading new quotatives and older variants, this chapter further examines the longitudinal adaptive processes used by consecutive generations of speakers and reveals the variation in frequency distribution across competitor variants over time. On the whole, Chapters 3 and 4 are complementary in that the concept of comparing conditioning effects across national varieties is transferred to comparing constraints diachronically in one local variety.
In Chapter 5, the vast and rapid changes in the quotative system are kept at the epicenter, and the research theme shifts from the investigation of social and linguistic constraints that condition the variable both across the English-speaking world and across a longitudinal time frame in the preceding chapters, to the current discussion of attitudinal and ideological elements of these innovative quotatives largely heard used amongst the adolescent population, focusing on the origin of the attached stereotypes and the development of these associations over time.
The sixth and final chapter revisits the major discoveries of this study, concerning the innovativeness in the quotative system, the level of linguistic structure where quotative constructions are situated, and the contributions of these innovations to the standardization and theorizing regarding language change and linguistic globalization. In consideration of new probabilistic and functional balances constantly negotiated amongst both newcomers and traditional forms in the pool of quotative introductory devices, it is advocated that, for a true account of the changes brought about by the incursion of newcomer forms, close attention should be paid to the development of the entire system into which the variant is being adopted and adapted.
On the basis of an in-depth analysis of present-day quotation and a particular focus on the diffusion of innovative variants and the systemic development resulting from the incursion of novel forms of quotative introducers, this volume has at least four other striking features. First and foremost, the insightful integration of the research from quantitative sociolinguistics, semantics, syntax, discourse analysis, language ideology, and the study of language variation and change ensures a riveting and first-ever overview of changes in the sphere of quotative strategies. Second, the cross-linguistic and cross-varietal nature and the wealth of data (around 200 figures and tables in total), both synchronic and diachronic, make the findings broadly available and relevant not only to readers in the respective languages and language families who could benefit from the distinctive perspective on data they may already be familiar with, but also to those researchers who are attentive to issues of cross-linguistic diversity and language change. Third, with careful and alternative definitions and innovative methodology incorporating discourse analytic, typological and sociolinguistic approaches, the phenomenon of quotation is placed in a broader typological and sociolinguistic viewpoint. Last but not least, empirical findings are derived from distribution and perception data, which makes it possible for a comparison and contrast between perception and reality.
These distinctive perspectives provide the readership with fresh food for thought on the exciting and important topic of quoting and quotatives, and with a more nuanced knowledge base as regards the linguistic properties, social uses and pragmatic functions. In brief, this volume is a treasure trove and highly recommended for those who are keen on communication studies, discourse analysis and sociology.