This paper hypothesizes that as an expression becomes more frequent in one grammatical context, its mental retrievability improves, which in turn makes it more easily available in different yet closely related (analogous) grammatical contexts. Such a mechanism can account for the progression of gradual change. The hypothesis generates two testable predictions. First, innovative constructions should be more likely to emerge if their analogical models are better entrenched. Second, an expression's retrievability can also be improved by priming, which in the short term should have a similar effect to entrenchment. These predictions are tested against the development of the noun key into an adjective (as in a very key argument). The change is gradual, starting with increased productivity of compounds with key as specifying element, leading later to debonded and clearly adjectival uses. The development of key is analyzed using data from the British Houses of Parliament. The effect of entrenchment is tested against individual variation. Next, situations are investigated where key has been primed, either by an earlier instance of key or by a collocate of key. The evidence supports the hypothesis. Innovative uses of key are favored under conditions that improve the retrievability of its more conventionalized uses.

中文翻译：

---

渐进式变革如何进行：传统与创新的互动

本文假设，随着一个表达式在一个语法上下文中变得更加频繁，它的心理可检索性会提高，这反过来又使它更容易在不同但密切相关（类似）的语法上下文中使用。这种机制可以解释逐渐变化的进程。该假设产生了两个可检验的预测。首先，如果类比模型更加根深蒂固，那么创新结构应该更有可能出现。其次，一个表达式的可检索性也可以通过启动来提高，这在短期内应该具有类似的效果。这些预测是针对名词键到形容词的发展进行测试的（如一个非常关键的论点）。这种变化是渐进的，首先是提高化合物的生产率钥匙作为指定元素，后来导致脱粘和明确的形容词使用。的发展钥匙使用来自英国议会大厦的数据进行分析。加固的效果是针对个体差异进行测试的。接下来，调查情况钥匙已经启动，或者是由一个较早的实例钥匙或通过搭配钥匙. 证据支持假设。创新用途钥匙在提高其更常规用途的可回收性的条件下受到青睐。