Linguistic Feeling and Grammaticalization: From Concepts to Case Studies

Abstract

This chapter shows that while the notion of reanalysis is widely used in linguistics today, it is an extension of the lesser-known notions of Sprachgefühl and sentiment linguistique. It demonstrates that Herman Paul and Ferdinand de Saussure, both leading figures in the field (and whose thought is subject here to examination), in the course of building their models, used examples that could clearly be interpreted in terms of reanalysis. It then proposes a departure from Saussure’s model on two points. First, whereas Saussure makes linguistic feeling an unconscious intuitive perception of the system as it functions, for the author of the chapter, linguistic feeling is only activated in cases of a difficulty introduced by usage. Second, according to the author, linguistic feeling can vary, is not homogeneous, and can include different types of reasoning. Hence, the chapter argues for a broad and integrative conception of linguistic feeling that goes beyond the narrow version given by Saussure, and moves away from the normative interpretations that have been given. Finally, it illustrates this conception with examples taken from the morphology and grammar of French.