Go To and Will in Spoken English

A study of the semantic factors determining the choice of "go to" and "will" in some varieties of spoken English looks at intentionality and premeditation, imminence, observation, presence on the scene of action, certainty, inference and observation, knowledge and certainty, pres...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Aijmer, Karin
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published 1984
Subjects
Communication Skills
Diachronic Linguistics
English
Interaction
Language Usage
Oral Language
Qualitative Research
Semantics
Standard Spoken Usage
Statistical Analysis
Tenses (Grammar)
Verbs
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Summary:A study of the semantic factors determining the choice of "go to" and "will" in some varieties of spoken English looks at intentionality and premeditation, imminence, observation, presence on the scene of action, certainty, inference and observation, knowledge and certainty, present relevance and immediacy of action, children's acquisition of future forms, and the diachronic development of future forms. The choice is determined by the particular perspective chosen by the speaker in the communication situation (the speaker's knowledge and intentions, where he is, what he can observe, and his involvement in the future action) rather than by semantic factors inherent in a particular form. "Go to" is seen as conveying a subjective perspective on the event while "will" conveys that the future is more objective or psychologically detached. The report outlines the distinctions characterizing the choice of "to go" and harmonizing distinctions relevant to that choice. (MSE)
Bibliography:In: Ringbom, Hakan, Ed,; Rissanen, Matti, Ed. Proceedings from the Nordic Conference for English Studies Finland, May 19-21, 1983); see FL 016 498.