Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T08:24:42.271Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Fillers: how much do they generalize?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2001

SUSANA LÓPEZ-ORNAT
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Abstract

Fillers appear during the early grammaticalization process, roughly between the one- or two-word phase and the earliest grammar, in a variety of languages. Peters accurately points out there have been theoretical and methodological difficulties when trying to integrate the filler phenomenon in language acquisition theory, probably because fillers do not fit neatly into linguistic categories, nor a structure of ‘modules’. Her note is a major contribution to the solution of those problems. She gives us a rich review that can guide any reader – specialised or naive – to deep, critical insights and to the relevant research literature. In addition to this valuable contribution, she points the way to future work. The very richness makes it difficult to add any interesting comments. So these remarks will be limited to complementary concepts and data.

Type
Commentary
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

The author is grateful to Pamela Smith, from Hertfordshire University, for reading and understanding a first draft and for turning it into proper English.