Alternations emerge and disappear: the network of dispossession constructions in the history of English

Abstract This paper focuses on two main issues regarding syntactic alternations and their development over time. On the one hand, it discusses diachronic implications of as involving multiple (rather than binary) choices. other shows that while studies are typically interested in emergence alternation relationships, there also cases loss such. is illustrated by zooming history a particular set ditransitive verbs, viz. dispossession verbs such steal or rob , connection to well-known English dative alternation. Based quantitative analysis different dispossession-constructions corpora Middle, Early Modern Late English, I demonstrate network constructions has changed considerably time — from complex interaction between three overlapping patterns clear differentiation non-alternating constructions.