This paper explores one of the pecularities of the English language: The use of the apostrophe as a genitive case marker. In tracing the historical development of genitive marking by means of the apostrophe, the contributing role of different variants and changes are discussed, namely the his-genitive and the development of phrasal genitive marking.
Additionally the evolution of various functions of the apostrophe is taken into account, thus attempting to answer the question of why the English language would come to adopt a diacritical sign as a method of genitive case marking. The main historical focus lies on Early Modern English as a pivotal time in this development. As the evolution of the apostrophe as a genitive marker was not concluded in this period, the paper assesses its development up to contemporary language use.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Development of English Orthography and Punctuation: Origins of the Apostrophe
3. Determining the Status of the Apostrophe and its Transition Period
4. Factors Influencing the Evolution of the Apostrophe in the Genitive
4.1. The Role of Proper nouns ending in -a or -o
4.2. The Role of the his-genitive
4.3. The Development into a Phrase Marker
5. The Apostrophe as a Genitive Marker in the Plural
6. Conclusion: The future of the genitive apostrophe?
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the historical development of the apostrophe in English, focusing on its transition from a diacritic sign of omission to its present-day function as a genitive case marker, particularly during the Early Modern English period.
- The influence of Early Modern English orthography on the apostrophe's standardization.
- The impact of the "his-genitive" construction on genitive marking patterns.
- The role of foreign proper nouns and phrasal genitives in the apostrophe's evolution.
- The delayed and complex adoption of the apostrophe as a genitive marker in plural forms.
- The ongoing debate regarding the necessity and future of the genitive apostrophe.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Determining the Status of the Apostrophe and its Transition Period
As mentioned above, the apostrophe originally entered the English language as a sign of a letter suppressed in writing. But by at the end of the 17th century, it can, in many cases, be regarded as a genitive marker (Altenberg 1982: 53). It is quite difficult to put a date on this transition because it was a gradual process, and the use of the apostrophe varied greatly, even at the end of the 17th century and well into the 18th century, depending on the individual preference of the author or printer. Sklar (1976: 176) fittingly describes its usage as “anarchic” even in the 18th century.
Further complicating the matter is the fact that “it is very difficult to say when it is consciously applied as a case marker and when it is merely an indication of vowel elision” (Altenberg 1982: 53).
Contemporary grammars offer some insight to this problem, but they can’t be relied on because the information in grammars generally tends to lag behind actual language use (Salomon 1999: 48; Sklar 1976: 176). However, they help roughly date the development, as we can assume the apostrophe can be regarded as a genitive marker sometime before grammarians generally agreed to this.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research gap regarding the apostrophe's development and establishes the focus on the Early Modern English period as the key era for its standardization.
2. The Development of English Orthography and Punctuation: Origins of the Apostrophe: Discusses the emergence of the printing press and the shift toward logographic spelling as the context for the apostrophe’s introduction into English via Italian and French.
3. Determining the Status of the Apostrophe and its Transition Period: Explores the gradual, often "anarchic" shift of the apostrophe from an indicator of elision to a genitive case marker, noting the difficulty of dating this transition.
4. Factors Influencing the Evolution of the Apostrophe in the Genitive: Analyzes specific linguistic drivers, including vowel-final foreign names, the "his-genitive" construction, and the syntactic shift toward phrasal genitives.
5. The Apostrophe as a Genitive Marker in the Plural: Examines the delayed and controversial adoption of the apostrophe in plural forms, noting its initial avoidance and ultimate stabilization due to the pressure for consistency.
6. Conclusion: The future of the genitive apostrophe?: Summarizes the evolution of the apostrophe and reflects on the current state of misuse, suggesting that the language may be entering a new period of transition.
Keywords
Apostrophe, English orthography, Genitive marker, Early Modern English, his-genitive, elision, case marking, phrasal genitive, linguistic evolution, punctuation, grammar, spelling variation, language standardization, diacritic, plural marking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the historical evolution of the English apostrophe, specifically how it evolved from a sign of omission into a grammatical case marker for the genitive.
What period of English is considered most critical in this study?
The Early Modern English period is central to the analysis because it was a time of significant orthographical development and the beginning of standardized punctuation.
What is the "his-genitive" and why is it significant?
The "his-genitive" is an older construction (e.g., "John his book") that scholars believe may have influenced the development of the genitive apostrophe due to its phonetic similarity to the possessive suffix.
Does the apostrophe function the same way in the plural as it does in the singular?
No, the apostrophe was established in the singular first and was only extended to the plural much later, remaining a subject of controversy among grammarians for a long time.
What research methodology does the author employ?
The author performs a diachronic study, analyzing historical linguistic data and existing scholarly literature to track the usage patterns of the apostrophe over several centuries.
How is the transition of the apostrophe described in the 18th century?
The usage is described as "anarchic," characterized by inconsistent application among authors and printers before eventually reaching a consensus.
How did foreign proper nouns ending in -a or -o contribute to the apostrophe's use?
These nouns served as early environments for the apostrophe because they did not logically allow for an 'e' to be elided, forcing writers to adopt the apostrophe as a marker rather than a sign of elision.
What does the author conclude about the future of the apostrophe?
The author suggests that language is not static and observes that we may currently be in a new transition period, as misuse of the apostrophe is again on the rise in modern writing.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sarah König (Autor:in), 2014, The Role of Variation and Change in the Evolution of the Apostrophe as a Genitive Case Marker, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/314132
