Begging the question: chunking, compositionality and language change*

AbstractThis examination of the diachronic pathway of development of the formulaic expression beg the question illustrates the dynamic nature of ‘fixed’ formulaic expressions. Using discourse analysis of contexts of use, beg the question is shown to have been introduced as a technical term within a narrow semantic niche. Its frequency within that niche aided its evolution into a fixed chunk. Subsequent changes in the common ground of readers led to a constriction of the niche and a concomitant loss in the compositionality of the chunk. Most importantly, the chunk regained compositionality through contextually supported re-analysis and re-emerged as a dynamic new construction within a new communicative niche.