On Identifying an Evasive Gram

Abstract

On the basis of data from both genetically and geographically remote languages the present paper builds a case for the existence of ACTION NARROWLY AVERTED (ANA) as a cross-linguistically identifiable gram involving the meaning was on the verge of V-ing but did not V. The paper proposes the methodology of recent grammaticalization theory as a theoretical tool which enables us to describe the specificities of linguistic behavior (nuances of meaning, contextual distribution, etc.) of ANA and related grams in terms of the particular grammaticalization path along which they may develop. The present treatment challenges structuralist-oriented approaches which tacitly assume that in juxtaposing grammatical structures from different languages we face only two situations: either full identity or idiosyncrasy.