Mechanisms of linguistic change: a phraseological approach

Abstract

This article analyses the processes of linguistic change within the context of Asturian phraseology. It focuses on key phenomena such as lexicalization and grammaticalization, while also considering the subjectivization that often accompanies the latter. Through a theoretical framework tailored to the specific characteristics of Asturian, the article examines the features of these mechanisms and their effects on the structure and meaning of phraseological units.

Lexicalization is defined as the process by which multi-word syntactic units, whether grammatical or not, are transformed into lexical elements that may even achieve single-word elements, often their losing semantic compositionality and acquiring idiomatic meaning. Conversely, grammaticalization refers to the transition from lexical to grammatical elements, involving greater semantic abstraction and an increased functional value of the element in question. This process leads to subjectivization, understood as the projection of the speaker’s mental state onto discourse, which in turn facilitates the pragmatization of certain constructions. Although opposite in nature, both processes exhibit similar dynamics regarding semantic and formal fixation and are driven by figurative mechanisms, including metaphor, metonymy, and metaphtonymy.

Using a corpus primarily composed of phraseological units drawn from the main Asturian dictionaries, this study demonstrates how these phenomena contribute to the evolution of the Asturian lexicon, creating a cyclical dynamic between multi-word and single-word elements, as well as between lexicalization and grammaticalization.

This study not only advances the understanding of Asturian phraseology but also offers reflections on the boundaries of phraseology in the context of Asturian linguistics, emphasising the importance of these processes in shaping the linguistic system. Thus, the interplay between lexicalization and grammaticalization emerges as a fundamental concept for conducting an in-depth study of the phraseological lexicon of any language.