Layering (linguistics)
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Layering in linguistics refers to one of the five principles by which grammaticalisation can be detected while it is taking place. The others are divergence, specialisation, persistence, and de-categorialisation.
Layering refers to the phenomenon that a language can have and develop multiple expressions for the same function, that language, in the "lexical" as well as in the "grammatical" domain, tolerates and permanently creates multiple synonymy. "Within a broad functional domain, new layers are continually emerging. As this happens, the older layers are not necessarily discarded, but may remain to coexist with and interact with the newer layers."[1]
During the process of grammaticalisation, new layers are added to older ones whereby the functional domain is broadened: several items may fulfil the same linguistic function.
An example from English: 'I am going to study' / 'I will study' / 'I shall study'.
References
- Lessau, Donald A. A Dictionary of Grammaticalization. Bochum: Brockmeyer, 1994.
- Hopper, Paul J. “On some principles of grammaticization”. In Elizabeth Closs Traugott and Bernd Heine, eds. Approaches to Grammaticalization, Vol. I. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1991. pp. 17–36.