The English Reaction Object Construction: A Case of Syntactic constructional Contamination

This paper discusses a case of constructional contamination (Pijpops and Van de Velde 2016; Pijpops et al. 2018), phenomenon which describes the relation between two or more constructions such that usage frequencies one construction influence patterns variation in another (Hilpert Flach 2022). Specifically, I investigate structures type she gave nod intelligence nodded with satisfaction on object slot so-called English Reaction Object Construction (ROC; Levin 1993), as satisfaction. Using British Sentimental Novel Corpus (Ruano San Segundo Bouso 2019) method distinctive collexeme analysis (Gries Stefanowitsch 2004; Hilpert 2006, 2014), it is argued early frequent superficially similar to ROC, like those just mentioned, partly explain lexical diversity found nineteenth-century ROC (Bouso 2020b). The results thus corroborate findings pervasiveness syntax, confirm claim put forward (2021) can be treated an example multiple source construction, provide evidence large-scale transitivisation process experienced by language since Old times.