Semantic change of robust : Recent development from an adjective to a quasi-intensifier.
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| Title: | Semantic change of robust : Recent development from an adjective to a quasi-intensifier. |
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| Authors: | Ogasawara, Sayaka1 sayaca.423@gmail.com |
| Source: | English Today. Jun2025, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p96-107. 12p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Etymology, Semantics |
| Reviews & Products: | Oxford English Dictionary |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to demonstrate that robust is currently undergoing a semantic shift, transforming itself into a quasi-intensifier of nouns, conveying positive evaluative meanings. The etymology and semantic development of robust is traced using information from the Oxford English Dictionary Online. In addition, examples from the British National Corpus up to the 1990's are used to analyse the semantic development of robust and to examine the origins of the intensifying or evaluative use of robust. It is argued that there are several patterns in the usage examples where robust behaves like a quasi-intensifier: involving noun gradability, repetition of adjectives and modal meaning of nouns. The final means of intensification is evaluative uses, where there is a multi-layered positive nuance that can be read into robust , making robust a versatile term. While the evaluative role of intensifiers has not been discussed in detail in previous studies, the present study shows that the language users often add positive evaluative meanings to their remarks, which can often be tantamount to an intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of English Today is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 189909060 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Semantic change of robust : Recent development from an adjective to a quasi-intensifier. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ogasawara%2C+Sayaka%22">Ogasawara, Sayaka</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> sayaca.423@gmail.com</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22English+Today%22">English Today</searchLink>. Jun2025, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p96-107. 12p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Etymology%22">Etymology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Semantics%22">Semantics</searchLink> – Name: SubjectProduct Label: Reviews & Products Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="PS" term="%22Oxford+English+Dictionary%22">Oxford English Dictionary</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This paper aims to demonstrate that robust is currently undergoing a semantic shift, transforming itself into a quasi-intensifier of nouns, conveying positive evaluative meanings. The etymology and semantic development of robust is traced using information from the Oxford English Dictionary Online. In addition, examples from the British National Corpus up to the 1990's are used to analyse the semantic development of robust and to examine the origins of the intensifying or evaluative use of robust. It is argued that there are several patterns in the usage examples where robust behaves like a quasi-intensifier: involving noun gradability, repetition of adjectives and modal meaning of nouns. The final means of intensification is evaluative uses, where there is a multi-layered positive nuance that can be read into robust , making robust a versatile term. While the evaluative role of intensifiers has not been discussed in detail in previous studies, the present study shows that the language users often add positive evaluative meanings to their remarks, which can often be tantamount to an intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of English Today is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1017/S0266078424000257 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 96 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Etymology Type: general – SubjectFull: Semantics Type: general – SubjectFull: Oxford English Dictionary Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Semantic change of robust : Recent development from an adjective to a quasi-intensifier. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ogasawara, Sayaka IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02660784 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 41 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: English Today Type: main |
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