There is no language on earth that did not undergo several major or minor changes in the course of time. The English language of course, is no exception and has changed both in grammatical and lexical fields. In modern days, it is taken for granted that people use certain words or phrases to end a conversation, which as a matter of fact, is not a new phenomenon to be observed. It would as much have been considered impolite back then as it is today, not to follow this path. One word that even young learners of English have integrated in their language use of today is the word goodbye. Even though many prefer to use the shortened form bye, the longer goodbye is still very common. But what many English speakers do not know is the fact that, in earlier times goodbye was associated with a religious blessing, which is a shortened form of a former farewell, called God be with you and was used in many texts in the time of the Early Modern English period.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Language Change and Lexicalization
3. Methodology
4. The Development of Goodbye
5. Goodbye and Construction Grammar
6. Conclusion
7. References
Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the lexical and pragmatic development of the word "goodbye" from its origins as a religious blessing in the 15th century to its current status as a secular greeting, employing data from the Early English Books Online (EEBO) corpus to trace this linguistic evolution.
- Diachronic analysis of "goodbye" and its predecessor "God be with you"
- The role of lexicalization and fusion in language change
- Methodological corpus linguistics using EEBO and BYU Corpora
- The impact of secularization and cultural change on pragmatic expressions
- Application of Construction Grammar to lexical evolution
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
There is no language on earth that did not undergo several major or minor changes in the course of time. The English language of course, is no exception and has changed both in grammatical and lexical fields. In modern days, it is taken for granted that people use certain words or phrases to end a conversation, which as a matter of fact, is not a new phenomenon to be observed. It would as much have been considered impolite back then as it is today, not to follow this path. One word that even young learners of English have integrated in their language use of today is the word goodbye. Even though many prefer to use the shortened form bye, the longer goodbye is still very common. But what many English speakers do not know is the fact that, in earlier times goodbye was associated with a religious blessing, which is a shortened form of a former farewell, called God be with you and was used in many texts in the time of the Early Modern English period (OED 2014).
The aim of this paper is to investigate the lexical development of goodbye as we know it today and to exemplify the different stages of the word’s change, beginning from the 15th until the 17th century. For that reason, I have analysed the occurrence of earlier forms of goodbye by means of the EEBO (Early English Books Online) in the BYU Corpora. Furthermore, to examine the word’s etymology, I have consulted its entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. Other works that I used are Arnovick’s “Diachronic Pragmatics”, Brinton’s and Traugott’s “Lexicalization and Language Change” and Brinton’s and Arnovick’s “The English Language A Linguistic History”. Before we come to the actual investigation, it will be necessary to have a look at language change, especially the one caused by Lexicalization. This short introduction will be done in the first part of the main body. Henceforth, there will be an explanation of the word’s etymology, followed by an investigation of what might have caused the word goodbye to undergo this development. Finally, I will refer the subject of this paper to the topic we have dealt with in class, namely “Construction Grammar”.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of linguistic change in English and outlines the research objective to trace the development of "goodbye" from its origins.
2. Language Change and Lexicalization: This section provides a theoretical framework for language change, focusing on the definition and process of lexicalization and fusion.
3. Methodology: This chapter explains the use of the EEBO corpus and the specific analytical steps taken to examine historical linguistic data.
4. The Development of Goodbye: This chapter presents the empirical findings regarding the usage frequency of "God be with you" and its transformation into various shortened forms over time.
5. Goodbye and Construction Grammar: This chapter applies the principles of Construction Grammar to explain how the shift from a four-item phrase to a single word represents a significant grammatical and lexical development.
6. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, noting the role of both linguistic and cultural (secularization) factors in the evolution of the greeting.
7. References: A bibliography of all academic works and databases consulted for the research.
Keywords
Goodbye, Lexicalization, Fusion, Construction Grammar, Language Change, Early Modern English, EEBO, Pragmaticalization, Secularization, Corpus Linguistics, Etymology, Linguistic Evolution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the historical and linguistic development of the word "goodbye," tracing it from its origin as a religious blessing ("God be with you") to a secular farewell.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers lexicalization processes, language change, diachronic pragmatics, and the application of Construction Grammar to historical linguistic data.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to exemplify the stages of the word's change from the 15th to the 17th century and explain the mechanisms, such as fusion, that drove this evolution.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses corpus linguistics, specifically by searching the Early English Books Online (EEBO) database via the BYU Corpora to track the frequency and usage of the term over several centuries.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers theoretical definitions of lexicalization, a methodological overview, empirical frequency data of various phrase forms, and a theoretical synthesis using Construction Grammar.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Lexicalization, Fusion, Construction Grammar, Language Change, and Early Modern English.
How does the author define the process of 'fusion'?
The author, drawing on Brinton and Traugott, describes fusion as a process where a complex sequence or phrase develops into a more simplified, unified form, leading to potential changes in meaning.
What influence did the greeting 'good day' have on 'goodbye'?
The author suggests that the increasing popularity of "good day" in the 17th century likely influenced the substitution of "God" with "Good" in the evolving farewell phrases.
What role did secularization play in this linguistic shift?
The transition from a religious-based blessing to a secular greeting is linked to the broader cultural movement of the Enlightenment, which de-emphasized the religious roots of common expressions.
- Quote paper
- John Kirsch (Author), 2019, The Linguistic Development of Goodbye. A Lexicalisation Process, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1060148
