This paper introduces the concept of ‘recontextualization’ and its benefit for the study of language change. ‘Recontextualization’ refers to the use of familiar material, such as tools or gestures, which extend the body in variable contexts of behaviour. The concept is related to notions already established in other fields, such as primatology and anthropology. We claim that these parallels are meaningful as they represent an overarching principle which underlies the emergence of linguistic structures but which also connects linguistic usage with other types of behaviour and interaction. We thereby argue against notions of context-independent form-meaning pairings in language, which require assumptions like innovation or reanalysis as mechanisms of usage and, ultimately, change. In this sense, we concur with usage-based approaches that define the linguistic expression as inherently vague, underspecified and variable. But we further argue that the emergence and, as a consequence, the empirically observable properties of any linguistic structure are to be accounted for by speakers using the same material in novel contexts or situations. Any such ‘recontextualization’ then creates, in turn, new options for the re-use of a linguistic construction. The underlying categorizations, which typically form part of the linguistic descriptions, pertain to the reality of the observer (the linguist) and not primarily to that of the speaker.

中文翻译：

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重新语境化和语言改变

本文介绍了“重新语境化”的概念及其对语言变化研究的好处。“重新语境化”是指使用熟悉的材料，例如工具或手势，这些材料在行为的可变上下文中扩展身体。该概念与其他领域（例如灵长类动物学和人类学）中已经确立的概念有关。我们认为这些相似之处是有意义的，因为它们代表了总体原则，该原则是语言结构出现的基础，但同时也将语言用法与其他类型的行为和互动联系在一起。因此，我们反对语言中上下文无关的形式-意义配对的概念，这种形式需要诸如创新或重新分析之类的假设，作为使用和最终变化的机制。在这个意义上，我们同意基于用法的方法，这些方法将语言表达定义为本质上是模糊的，未指定的和可变的。但是，我们进一步认为，任何语言结构的出现，以及由此而来的根据语言可观察到的特性，都应由讲者在新颖的情境或情况下使用相同的材​​料来解释。然后，任何这种“重新语境化”都会为重新使用语言结构创造新的选择。基本分类通常构成语言描述的一部分，与观察者（语言学家）的现实有关，而与说话者的现实无关。任何语言结构的凭经验观察到的特性都应由讲者在新颖的情境或情况下使用相同的材​​料来解释。然后，任何这种“重新语境化”都会为重新使用语言结构创造新的选择。基本分类通常构成语言描述的一部分，与观察者（语言学家）的现实有关，而与说话者的现实无关。任何语言结构的凭经验观察到的特性都应由讲者在新颖的情境或情况下使用相同的材​​料来解释。然后，任何这种“重新语境化”都会为重新使用语言结构创造新的选择。基本分类通常构成语言描述的一部分，与观察者（语言学家）的现实有关，而与说话者的现实无关。