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decategorialization

Noun CEFR C2

Definitions

The loss of morphosyntactic properties that may have been characteristic of a word's initial grammatical class (category), but are not relevant to its current grammatical function; the loss of membership in a certain grammatical class.

uncountable

Examples

“Within grammaticalization theory it is generally accepted that the process⟳ is unidirectional; Ns (nouns) can develop⟳ into Pops (postpositions), but not vice versa. The concept of decategorialization applies to the extent to which e.g. the Ns cease to survive⟳ as Ns, and survive⟳ only as Pops during and after the grammaticalization process⟳.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See all C2 English words →

See also

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