Norm and Variation in Contemporary English. Variationist Study of a few Subordoners : Complementation of the Verb « help » and Conjunction « like »
type: Dataset
contact point: Organization
  fn: CCSD
keyword: variation-linguistique
keyword: anglais-standard
keyword: adverbial-subordoners
keyword: syntax
keyword: dialects
keyword: shslanguehumanities-and-social-scienceslinguistics
keyword: complementeurs
keyword: syntaxe
keyword: linguistic-variation
keyword: standard-english
keyword: subordonnants-adverbiaux
keyword: dialectes
keyword: theses
keyword: infoeu-reposemanticsdoctoralthesis
keyword: complementizers
landing page: https://theses.hal.science/tel-00909397
description: This study aims at analysing the general dynamics of the norm of contemporary English, together with its relationship with linguistic variation. In order to do so, a few subordoners have been selected to illustrate how the centre of gravity of the norm moves along the spatial and social axes. The study of the opposition between zero and to after the verb help is used to document the syntactic americanization of British English and it is shown that the constraints limiting the use of zero have gradually slackened, which led to a complete disappearance of the semantic distinction between the two forms. The said disappearance results from an evergrowing use of the bare infinitive for strategic reasons, particularly in advertizing. The third part deals with conjunction like and analyzes its expansion in English. It is argued that the appearance of this subordoner can be attributed to isomorphic and semantic factors, and to a potential reanalysis of the adjective like meaning likely.. This section also traces how this subordoner has spread through registers and text-types, and through syntactic structures, before becoming a central part of the English syntax. It appears that the success of this innovation reflects the current trends in modes of communication, which tend to favour interpersonal proximity for strategic purposes. From a mere acceptance of informality within the norm, we are now heading towards a new norm of informality.
identifier: NNT: 2009PA030153
issued: 2026-05-08T02:25:23.757463
language: fr
modified: 2026-05-08T02:25:23.757468

test_moissonnage_selune
type: Agent

Norm and Variation in Contemporary English. Variationist Study of a few Subordoners : Complementation of the Verb « help » and Conjunction « like »
type: Distribution
access URL: https://theses.hal.science/tel-00909397
format: HTML
issued: 2026-05-08T02:25:23.760372
modified: 2026-05-08T02:25:23.734813