Abstract Using the example of the German language, this contribution discusses different models of a drift between synthetic and analytical construction. As an alternative to existing models, a design that combines different perspectives is presented. Linguistic developments are not viewed as monodirectional or even monocausal, but as polydirectional and polycausal so that the question of the direction and causality of typological changes is answered with the assumption of a complex structure of dependencies. This model of typological change integrates both extra-linguistic and intra-linguistic factors. On the one hand, developments in the cultural environment are made responsible for changes in the linguistic system, since these developments require a different communicative behavior of the members of the language community. On the other hand, the model also takes into account the principle of self-regulation of a linguistic system based on an optimal relationship between communicative effort and communicative result.
{"title":"Drift – A change of perspective","authors":"Thorsten Roelcke","doi":"10.1515/glot-2020-2005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2020-2005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Using the example of the German language, this contribution discusses different models of a drift between synthetic and analytical construction. As an alternative to existing models, a design that combines different perspectives is presented. Linguistic developments are not viewed as monodirectional or even monocausal, but as polydirectional and polycausal so that the question of the direction and causality of typological changes is answered with the assumption of a complex structure of dependencies. This model of typological change integrates both extra-linguistic and intra-linguistic factors. On the one hand, developments in the cultural environment are made responsible for changes in the linguistic system, since these developments require a different communicative behavior of the members of the language community. On the other hand, the model also takes into account the principle of self-regulation of a linguistic system based on an optimal relationship between communicative effort and communicative result.","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"11 1","pages":"63 - 78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2020-2005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44747216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The present paper discusses language change from an information and systems theoretical point of view, taking on a diachronic perspective. It is argued that human language has to be regarded as a probabilistically organized information system in which synchronizations of linguistic systems of individuals create unstable (dynamic, ever-changing) collective levels (“language systems”). Therefore, probabilistic organization of language processing on an individual level leads – via bottom-up structure – to probabilistic organization of language systems as a whole. If we thus regard linguistic objects like e.g. a Saussurean sign as generally unstable and defined by probability distributions even from a synchronic point of view, we must understand language change (diachronic developments) as probabilistic as well. Therefore, language change in its “classical sense” (a change in linguistic objects) has to be reinterpreted as a change in probability distribution. Nevertheless, the term language change and its meaning then still lack exactness regarding some details; so we have to use this term carefully and be aware of its weaknesses. With a close look at language as an information system with both a synchronic as well as a diachronic dimension, we finally have to admit that language change is a scientific construct serving as a – sometimes quite useful – simplification within the linguistic field.
{"title":"Language change as a scientific construct of a probabilistically organized information system","authors":"Eike Decker","doi":"10.1515/glot-2020-2004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2020-2004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The present paper discusses language change from an information and systems theoretical point of view, taking on a diachronic perspective. It is argued that human language has to be regarded as a probabilistically organized information system in which synchronizations of linguistic systems of individuals create unstable (dynamic, ever-changing) collective levels (“language systems”). Therefore, probabilistic organization of language processing on an individual level leads – via bottom-up structure – to probabilistic organization of language systems as a whole. If we thus regard linguistic objects like e.g. a Saussurean sign as generally unstable and defined by probability distributions even from a synchronic point of view, we must understand language change (diachronic developments) as probabilistic as well. Therefore, language change in its “classical sense” (a change in linguistic objects) has to be reinterpreted as a change in probability distribution. Nevertheless, the term language change and its meaning then still lack exactness regarding some details; so we have to use this term carefully and be aware of its weaknesses. With a close look at language as an information system with both a synchronic as well as a diachronic dimension, we finally have to admit that language change is a scientific construct serving as a – sometimes quite useful – simplification within the linguistic field.","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"11 1","pages":"41 - 62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2020-2004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49147158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The relationship between “language change” and “language evolution” has recently become subject to some debate regarding the scope of both concepts. It has been claimed that while the latter used to refer to the language origins in the first place, both terms can now, to a certain extent, be used synonymously. In this paper, I argue that this can partly be explained by parallel developments both in historical linguistics and in the field of language evolution research that have led to a considerable amount of convergence between both fields. Both have adopted usage-based approaches and data-driven methods, which entails similar research questions and similar perspectives on the phenomena under investigation. This has ramifications for current models and theories of language change (or evolution). Two approaches in particular, the concept of complex adaptive systems and construction grammar, have been combined in integrated approaches that seek to explain both language emergence and language change over historical time. I discuss the potential and limitations of this integrated approach, and I argue that there is still some unexplored potential for cross-fertilization.
{"title":"Language change and language evolution: Cousins, siblings, twins?","authors":"S. Hartmann","doi":"10.1515/glot-2020-2003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2020-2003","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The relationship between “language change” and “language evolution” has recently become subject to some debate regarding the scope of both concepts. It has been claimed that while the latter used to refer to the language origins in the first place, both terms can now, to a certain extent, be used synonymously. In this paper, I argue that this can partly be explained by parallel developments both in historical linguistics and in the field of language evolution research that have led to a considerable amount of convergence between both fields. Both have adopted usage-based approaches and data-driven methods, which entails similar research questions and similar perspectives on the phenomena under investigation. This has ramifications for current models and theories of language change (or evolution). Two approaches in particular, the concept of complex adaptive systems and construction grammar, have been combined in integrated approaches that seek to explain both language emergence and language change over historical time. I discuss the potential and limitations of this integrated approach, and I argue that there is still some unexplored potential for cross-fertilization.","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"11 1","pages":"15 - 39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2020-2003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46390898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract This article investigates the possibility to form determiner complexes in English nominal groups and the potential of leftward transfer of functional elements in nominal groups. The research finds that it is not possible to form hypotactic determiner complexes; rather there are hypotactic numeral complexes, hypotactic Epithet adjective complexes, hypotactic Classifier noun complexes and hypotactic Thing noun complexes, and the words for all the slots have the potential to form paratactic complexes. The corpus-based research confirms the potential of leftward transfer in nominal groups. Thereby, four types of shifts were identified: the shift from the Thing noun to the Classifier noun or adjective is a process of metaphorization from the group rank to the word rank; (2) the shift from the Classifier adjective to the Epithet2 adjective is a process of subjectification from the distinctive to the nondistinctive features of the Thing noun within the domain of ideational metafunction; (3) the shift from the Epithet2 adjective to the Epithet1 adjective is a process of subjectification from the domain of ideational metafunction to that of interpersonal metafunction; (4) the shift from the Epithet1 adjective to the post-Deictic adjective is a process of grammaticalization from the open-set attitude adjectives to the closed-set attitude adjectives.
{"title":"A Corpus-based Study of Transfers in English Nominal Groups","authors":"Qingshun He","doi":"10.1515/glot-2019-0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2019-0003","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This article investigates the possibility to form determiner complexes in English nominal groups and the potential of leftward transfer of functional elements in nominal groups. The research finds that it is not possible to form hypotactic determiner complexes; rather there are hypotactic numeral complexes, hypotactic Epithet adjective complexes, hypotactic Classifier noun complexes and hypotactic Thing noun complexes, and the words for all the slots have the potential to form paratactic complexes. The corpus-based research confirms the potential of leftward transfer in nominal groups. Thereby, four types of shifts were identified: the shift from the Thing noun to the Classifier noun or adjective is a process of metaphorization from the group rank to the word rank; (2) the shift from the Classifier adjective to the Epithet2 adjective is a process of subjectification from the distinctive to the nondistinctive features of the Thing noun within the domain of ideational metafunction; (3) the shift from the Epithet2 adjective to the Epithet1 adjective is a process of subjectification from the domain of ideational metafunction to that of interpersonal metafunction; (4) the shift from the Epithet1 adjective to the post-Deictic adjective is a process of grammaticalization from the open-set attitude adjectives to the closed-set attitude adjectives.","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"10 1","pages":"57 - 84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2019-0003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44685450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Dative alternation is that sort of construction which requires a choice from two available choices; the double object (DOC) (i. e. Please give Mary the book) and the preposition construction (TOC) (i. e. Please give the book to Mary). Empirical evidence detailing the characteristics and motivations of dative choices in different varieties have been put forward in the literature. Albeit, nothing is known about the nature and motivations of this phenomenon in Nigerian variety of English, an important source of empirical evidence in the English-world-wide paradigm. With 739 sentences extracted from International Corpus of English, we examined the effects of 16 predictors on this construction in the Nigerian variety; showing how the behavior of these predictors compares with findings reported in other varieties. Among other findings, we found that overall Nigerian variety is closer to American variety than Indian variety, and pronominality as the strongest predictor, outweighing register as a reputable predictor.
{"title":"Dative Alternation in Nigerian English: A Corpus-based Approach","authors":"Mayowa Akinlotan, Akande Akinmade","doi":"10.1515/glot-2019-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2019-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Dative alternation is that sort of construction which requires a choice from two available choices; the double object (DOC) (i. e. Please give Mary the book) and the preposition construction (TOC) (i. e. Please give the book to Mary). Empirical evidence detailing the characteristics and motivations of dative choices in different varieties have been put forward in the literature. Albeit, nothing is known about the nature and motivations of this phenomenon in Nigerian variety of English, an important source of empirical evidence in the English-world-wide paradigm. With 739 sentences extracted from International Corpus of English, we examined the effects of 16 predictors on this construction in the Nigerian variety; showing how the behavior of these predictors compares with findings reported in other varieties. Among other findings, we found that overall Nigerian variety is closer to American variety than Indian variety, and pronominality as the strongest predictor, outweighing register as a reputable predictor.","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"10 1","pages":"103 - 125"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2019-0005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42608601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Erratum to: Are Languages like Atoms? On Modelling Language Spread as a Physicist","authors":"Katharina Prochazka, G. Vogl","doi":"10.1515/glot-2019-1000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2019-1000","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"10 1","pages":"165 - 165"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2019-1000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46551231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract This paper investigates the use of the German am-superlative in colloquial utterances such as am besten, du gehst jetzt. In a first approximation, this construction can be described as elliptically used am-superlative occurring on the left sentence periphery within an Operator-Skopus-Struktur (Barden/Elstermann/Fiehler 2001). As will be shown in the empirical core part of the study, a qualitative-quantitative analysis, the pattern appears to be characterized by different overlapping and interplaying tendencies in language use (e.g. the selection and frequency of pronouns and sentence mood). The data used for the qualitative-quantitative analysis is taken mainly from a large-scale web corpus (deTenTen13).
摘要本文研究了德语am-最高级在am best, du gehst jetzt等口语话语中的用法。在第一个近似中，这种结构可以被描述为在Operator-Skopus-Struktur的左句外围椭圆地使用am- super最高级(Barden/Elstermann/Fiehler 2001)。在本研究的实证核心部分，即定性与定量分析中，我们可以看到这种模式在语言使用上呈现出不同的重叠和相互作用趋势(如代词和句子语气的选择和频率)。用于定性-定量分析的数据主要来自大型网络语料库(deTenTen13)。
{"title":"“Am besten, du gehst.” Zur nähesprachlichen Verwendung des am-Superlativs im Vor-Vorfeld","authors":"D. Höhmann","doi":"10.1515/glot-2019-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2019-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper investigates the use of the German am-superlative in colloquial utterances such as am besten, du gehst jetzt. In a first approximation, this construction can be described as elliptically used am-superlative occurring on the left sentence periphery within an Operator-Skopus-Struktur (Barden/Elstermann/Fiehler 2001). As will be shown in the empirical core part of the study, a qualitative-quantitative analysis, the pattern appears to be characterized by different overlapping and interplaying tendencies in language use (e.g. the selection and frequency of pronouns and sentence mood). The data used for the qualitative-quantitative analysis is taken mainly from a large-scale web corpus (deTenTen13).","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"10 1","pages":"1 - 29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2019-0001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43238825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zusammenfassung In dem Heidelberger Forschungsprojekt zur deutschen Sprachreflexion des Barock und der Aufklärung wurden einige Bemerkungen zu den Sprachen der Neuen Welt gefunden; diese werden hier gezeigt und kurz erläutert.
{"title":"Die Sprachen der Neuen Welt in Belegen deutscher Sprachdenker des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts","authors":"T. Roelcke","doi":"10.1515/glot-2019-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/glot-2019-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Zusammenfassung In dem Heidelberger Forschungsprojekt zur deutschen Sprachreflexion des Barock und der Aufklärung wurden einige Bemerkungen zu den Sprachen der Neuen Welt gefunden; diese werden hier gezeigt und kurz erläutert.","PeriodicalId":37792,"journal":{"name":"Glottotheory","volume":"10 1","pages":"147 - 153"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/glot-2019-0007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43994021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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