Meillet’s Grammaticalisation as a Term and Concept: its Historical Foundations and Modern Rediscovery

Abstract

It is generally accepted that Meillet (1912) coined the term grammaticalisation. However, the changes to which this term refers had been the subject of scholarly discussions long before Meillet’s involvement. While previous studies on the history of grammaticalisation have primarily focused on the German tradition, which undoubtedly influenced Meillet, the contributions of French linguists, including Meillet’s own work, have been largely neglected. Within the framework of the history of concepts, this article aims to examine Meillet’s works in relation to the rediscovery of grammaticalisation in the late 20th century, as well as in comparison with the state of the question in his time and context of production. Through a thorough examination of examples, terminology, and definitions, we gain a better understanding of Meillet’s concept of grammaticalisation.