Periphrastic verb forms

Abstract

The origin of periphrastic verb forms in German is seen in the context of an articulated grammaticalization theory, where grammaticalization is understood as a series of a semantic change (‘bleaching’, read as: stripping of semantic features) followed by a syntactic reanalysis with subsequent extension. The development of several German periphrastic forms is illustrated under this view, focusing on the passive, the periphrastic perfect, and the future tense. Two waves of grammaticalization are distinguished, one in OHG (passive, perfect), one in MHG (future tense). Differences in the ordering frequencies of the non-finite and finite part of the verb form between some forms suggest structural differences, which might mirror different stages in the grammaticalization process.