From linguistic creativity to conformity: the case of [zur Nung kommen/bringen]¹

This study explores the diachronic changes in the pattern [ zur N ung kommen / bringen ], arguing for its status as a semi-schematic construction in late 19th-century German, expressing converse/anti-converse diathesis, constituted through the interplay of the two verbs. Through evidence supporting this status, I aim to show that the role of creativity in the emergence of new schematic constructions should, in part, be reconsidered — a perspective that diverges from the recent argument presented by Norde and Trousdale (2024). In particular, I challenge the proposal to categorize diachronic developments leading to schematization as E-creative within the framework proposed by Sampson (2016). While creativity introduces linguistic innovations, I propose shifting the focus to conformity as a driving force in schematization, as norm-oriented language users adopt and entrench these patterns through consistent usage.