Wonder nouns and the emergence of a mirative constructional network

Based on extensive synchronic corpus research (cf. Brems & Van linden 2019), this paper deals with a mirative constructional network centred on the mirative shell noun wonder. The wonder nouns studied qualify the propositions in their scope in terms of mirativity, i.e. as “unexpected” (DeLancey 2001: 369), or “the opposite meaning, ... lack of surprise” (Simon-Vandenbergen & Aijmer 2007: 37), as in (1)-(4). We argue that the network encompasses several allostructions, all relying on an anti-concessive discourse schema. This schema, established by a mirative qualifier (MQ), signals that even though a certain proposition (P) seems unexpected, it is not, given the justification (J) invoked. In (1), for instance, the speaker uses the MQ it is no wonder to express their lack of surprise about us having the most dangerous rail network (P) given that Byers in in charge of it (J). The MQ is thus similar in meaning to an expectation adverb like of course (Simon-Vandenbergen & Aijmer 2007: 172). As shown in (1)-(3), this schema appears in a number of structural variants, e.g. complementation (1), paratactic (2) and adverbial patterns (3).

(1) With Byers in charge it is no wonder we have the most dangerous rail system in Europe. (WB)
(2) Already, clinicians hesitate to speak authoritatively, preferring instead to present the patient with a range of options from which they must choose. This is no wonder, given the constant pressure […] for ‘both parties in the doctor-patient relationship’ to ‘recognise and respect the other’s area of expertise’ (WB)
(3) Then it was announced she had beaten the track record by an amazing three and a half seconds. No wonder! She had run 110 yards less than she should. (WB)

In addition to wonder, other mirative nouns are part of this synchronic network, such as marvel surprise and coincidence. We argue that the anti-concessive discourse schema can be understood as a macro-construction, while the allostructions are meso-constructions that inherit the schema, one of whose schematic slots is filled with the various wonder nouns. Micro-constructions are the individual constructions attested per wonder noun, like the structural variants in (1) to (3) for wonder. We will also discuss partial inheritance of the schema, observed e.g. for ironically used surprise, surprise (4).

(4) Apparently, the insurance industry suddenly has woken up to the fact that the over-50s are – surprise, surprise – less likely to prang their cars, and more likely to look after their possessions and be at home to deter burglars. (WB)

While diachronic research has shown that the network first emerged in Old English revolving around wonder, with Romance nouns being added in the course of history, this paper will focus on Present-day data drawn from WordbanksOnline (WB).

References
Brems, Lieselotte & An Van linden. 2019. Miracles and mirativity: Lexical versus grammatical uses of wonder, marvel, and surprise. Paper presented at Workshop on the English Noun Phrase (ENP 2019), University of Vienna.
DeLancey, Scott. 2001. The mirative and evidentiality. Journal of Pragmatics 33(3): 369-382.
Simon-Vandenbergen & Karin Aijmer. 2007. The Semantic Field of Modal Certainty: A Corpus-based Study of English Adverbs. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.