Formulaic language and Discourse Grammar
Gunther Kaltenböck · Human cognitive processing · 2020
Abstract This chapter proposes a dualistic classification of formulaic sequences based on the assumptions of Discourse Grammar, which distinguishes two components of language organisation and processing, viz. Sentence grammar and Thetical grammar. Accordingly, we can distinguish between Sentence grammar formulaic sequences (SG-FS) and Thetical grammar formulaic sequences (TG-FS). This classification is in line with some of the main taxonomies of formulaic language in the literature and corresponds with hemispheric differences identified for brain function. The proposed classification is tested in an empirical study of speech data from speakers with either left-hemisphere disorder (Broca’s aphasia) or right-hemisphere disorder. The results show that the two types of speech disorder differ significantly with regard to the frequencies of each formulaic type, thus providing evidence for the classification proposed.