9 On the Explanatory Value of Grammaticalization

Abstract

This chapter shows that grammaticalization theory can explain not only the regular patterns, the non-exceptions, but also the exceptions. For both of these, it is not only language-internal grammaticalization but also contact-induced grammaticalization that is important. It discusses two situations relating to the area of definiteness marking in European languages. Employing the theoretical apparatus of a so-called integrative grammaticalization theory — that is, a theory of grammaticalization taking into account both contact-related and non-contact-related situations — an explanation of these seeming ‘exceptions’ is proposed in terms of (i) a diachronic overlap stage in the course of language-internal grammaticalization and (ii) both a diachronic overlap stage and a synchronic Buffer Zone in the case of contact induced grammaticalization. In the latter case, the two explanations reinforce each other, and are fully in accordance with the insight gained from the study of areal grammaticalization: contact-induced grammaticalization simultaneously implies both external and internal language change.