Hyperanalysis
Revision as of 15:39, 29 October 2007 by Corinna Handschuh (talk | contribs) (New page: Through '''hyperanalysis''', a linguistic unit loses a part or all of its meaning or function. This process takes place in a situation where the hearers interpret some inherent semanti...)
Through hyperanalysis, a linguistic unit loses a part or all of its meaning or function. This process takes place in a situation where the hearers interpret some inherent semantic or functional property of a linguistic unit as given by the context the item occurs in.
Hyperanalysis is one of the four mechanisms of form-function reanalysis established by Croft (2000). He also refers to this mechanism as "overanalysis". The opposite process is at work in the mechanism of hypoanalysis.
References
- Croft, William. 2000. Explaining Language Change. An Evolutionary Perspective, ch. 5. Form-function reanalysis. Harlow: Longman, 117-144.
