With a careful use of dictionary materials and modern linguistic approaches, this book investigates why some Middle English verbs of emotion are attested in impersonal constructions while others are not, even though they look almost synonymous. A range of factors are identified that affected their behaviour.

The future of English linguistics as envisaged by the editors of Topics in English Linguistics lies in empirical studies which integrate work in English linguistics into general and theoretical linguistics on the one hand, and comparative linguistics on the other. The TiEL series features volumes that present interesting new data and analyses, and above all fresh approaches that contribute to the overall aim of the series, which is to further outstanding research in English linguistics.

The Early English Impersonal Construction aims to demonstrate that an understanding of the functional and semantic aspects of impersonal verbs in Old and Middle English can shed light on questions that remain about these verbs today. The impersonal construction has been a topic of extensive research for over a hundred years. But three quandaries-their seemingly unsystematic development, the gradual loss of impersonal uses, and the difficulty of aligning this with structural changes in early English-have made explanations for their development unsatisfactory. Möhlig-Falke offers a detailed analysis of impersonal verbs within the framework of cognitive and constructional grammar. She focuses on the loss of the impersonal construction as a consequence of a redefinition of the grammatical categories of subject and object, and describes the diachronic development of impersonal verbs as a result of the complex interaction of verbal and constructional meaning. Her research comprises all verbs which are recorded in impersonal use in Old and Middle English, and takes account of their full range of syntactic uses. It is thus the most comprehensive investigation of the impersonal construction in early English available to date.

The investigation of the medieval uses of verbs of motion remains important for a view of the syntactic development of the English language; this present study covers most of the functional features found in medieval English contexts. Verbs of motion are ordinary words, for which cognates can be found among Germanic languages, but the choice of words as renderings of the Latin verbs can be different. These linguistic developments are clarified in chapters on: The Rivalry among Synonyms, The Reflexive Construction, "Impersonal" Uses of Verbs of Motion, Verbs with Preposed or Postposed Elements, Verbs of Motion as Auxiliaries, Present and Past Participles of Verbs of Motion, and Loan Verbs of Motion. MICHIKO OGURA is Professor of English at Chiba University, Japan.

This product is most effective when used in conjunction with the corresponding double CD. - You can purchase the book and double CD as a pack (ISBN: 9781444104196)@font-face { }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: ""Times New Roman""; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } - The double CD is also sold separately (ISBN: 9781444104202) Learn Old English (Anglo-Saxon) with this best-selling course from Teach Yourself - the No. 1 brand in language learning. Equally suited to general reader, historian and student of literature, this new edition teaches vocabulary and grammar through original texts, with audio support, traces the roots of modern English words, and explores the Anglo-Saxon cultural context through poems, prose and historical documents. Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features: NOT GOT MUCH TIME? One-, five- and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. AUTHOR INSIGHTS Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience. GRAMMAR TIPS Easy-to-follow building blocks to give you a clear understanding. USEFUL VOCABULARY Easy to find and learn, to build a solid foundation for understanding. TEST YOURSELF Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress. EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the culture and history of Anglo-Saxon England.

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS publishes monographs and outstanding dissertations as well as edited volumes, which provide the opportunity to address controversial topics from different empirical and theoretical viewpoints. High quality standards are ensured through anonymous reviewing.