Remotivierung bei Eigennamen

Kontingenz – Typologie – Theorie

Abstract

Remotivation, conceived as a combination of semantic re-interpretation and formal re-segmentation, does not only affect appellative signs, but also proper names. First, remotivation processes are contrasted with demotivation processes (de-semantization and de-segmentation) and it is argued against the claim of uni-directionality. Then, four types of remotivation of proper names are elaborated: the sign-based semantic strategies of (1) reanalysis (of words [folk etymology], of clitics, and of affixes) and (2) pleonastic/tautologic doubling (of morphemes); furthermore the usage-based pragmatic strategies of (3) re-contextualization (of context-independent signs) and (4) re-locution (of illocutively meant signs). These processes turn out to be high-grade contingent in the way which linguistic material the speakers/hearers grasp to do their remotivation.