Existential Constructions and Their Properties

Posted by on Mar 9, 2025 in Modern Languages and Literatures | 0 comments

Existential Constructions

Existential constructions (ECs) are derived from simple sentences that contain an indefinite subject (Su) followed by existential Be and an adjunct of place or time (AMP). They are produced by moving the indefinite Su to a post-verb position and by inserting the expletive pronoun ‘there’ in the initial Su position. The resulting construction has two subjects: a grammatical subject and a real (logical) one.

[Some students] are [in the hall] > There are some students in

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Colonialism and Postcolonialism: A Historical Analysis

Posted by on Mar 5, 2025 in Modern Languages and Literatures | 0 comments

From ‘Commonwealth’ to ‘Postcolonial’

In the latter part of the twentieth century, there was a shift from the study of ‘Commonwealth literature’ to ‘postcolonialism’.

Colonialism and Decolonization

Colonialism was first and foremost a lucrative commercial operation, bringing wealth and riches to Western nations through economic profit and reward. Hence, colonialism and capitalism share a mutually supportive relationship.

‘Colonialism’ is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘imperialism’, but in truth,

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