language drift
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Language Drift. Gabriel Schubiner Seminar on Endangered Languages, 2010. Types of Change. Lexical: Early Modern English, bewrayeth Grammatical came unto him they (EME) > they came to him thou > you giveth > gives Phonetic: Great Vowel Shift, /u:/ > /au/ Borrowing: “accent” from French - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Language DriftLanguage DriftGabriel Schubiner
Seminar on Endangered Languages, 2010Gabriel Schubiner
Seminar on Endangered Languages, 2010
Types of ChangeTypes of Change
Lexical: Early Modern English, bewrayeth
Grammatical
came unto him they (EME) > they came to him
thou > you
giveth > gives
Phonetic: Great Vowel Shift, /u:/ > /au/
Borrowing: “accent” from French
Orthographic: Latin ‘v’, French ‘ou’ in ‘thou’
Lexical: Early Modern English, bewrayeth
Grammatical
came unto him they (EME) > they came to him
thou > you
giveth > gives
Phonetic: Great Vowel Shift, /u:/ > /au/
Borrowing: “accent” from French
Orthographic: Latin ‘v’, French ‘ou’ in ‘thou’
Phonetic ChangePhonetic ChangeConditioned or unconditioned
Non-phonemic (allophonic) change
does not change # of phonemes in language
Phonemic
Merger (A,B > B or A,B > C)
irreversible
Split (A > B,C)
follows merger (loss of context)
/mu:s/ > /mu:s/ > /mu:s/> /mu:s/>/maus/
/mu:si/> /my:si/> /my:s/ >/mi:s/>/mais/
Conditioned or unconditioned
Non-phonemic (allophonic) change
does not change # of phonemes in language
Phonemic
Merger (A,B > B or A,B > C)
irreversible
Split (A > B,C)
follows merger (loss of context)
/mu:s/ > /mu:s/ > /mu:s/> /mu:s/>/maus/
/mu:si/> /my:si/> /my:s/ >/mi:s/>/mais/
Chain shiftsChain shifts
Latin > SpanishLatin > Spanish
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Latin Spanish Latin Spanish Latin Spanish
pp cuppa p copa p sapere b saber b b
tt gutta t gota t vita d vida d cadere ∅ caer
kk bucca [bukka]
k boca [boka] k amika g amiga g regina ∅ reina
BorrowingBorrowing
To varying extents depending on contact and social situation
Distinguished by:
Phonological evidence
Cognates
Morphemes
Geographic & Ecological
To varying extents depending on contact and social situation
Distinguished by:
Phonological evidence
Cognates
Morphemes
Geographic & Ecological
Analogical ChangeAnalogical Change
Large category
Example: Leveling of strong verbs
strive/strove/striven
strive/strived/strived
Back formation (cherise [fr.] > cherry)
Meta/Re-analysis (a nǣddre [OE] > an adder)
Large category
Example: Leveling of strong verbs
strive/strove/striven
strive/strived/strived
Back formation (cherise [fr.] > cherry)
Meta/Re-analysis (a nǣddre [OE] > an adder)
Semantic ShiftSemantic Shift
Usually through methods such as metaphor, metonymy, taboo avoidance, hyperbole
In contact:
Myan kye:x, deer > horse
deer becomes k’iče’ kye:x (forest horse)
Usually through methods such as metaphor, metonymy, taboo avoidance, hyperbole
In contact:
Myan kye:x, deer > horse
deer becomes k’iče’ kye:x (forest horse)
Comparative LinguisticsComparative Linguistics
Reconstruction of dead languages through comparison of ‘child’ languages
Should be able to write all changes in rule of form: X > Y | Context
Phonetic drift should be consistent across language given context
Reconstruction of dead languages through comparison of ‘child’ languages
Should be able to write all changes in rule of form: X > Y | Context
Phonetic drift should be consistent across language given context
Genetic LineageGenetic Lineage
Wave ModelWave Model
Cultural history or linguistic tendency?
Cultural history or linguistic tendency?
Theorized that nature of language determined the types of change likely to occur
More recently, attention has been turned to cultural issues
Sociocultural issues condition linguistic factors - Thomson & Kaufman
Theorized that nature of language determined the types of change likely to occur
More recently, attention has been turned to cultural issues
Sociocultural issues condition linguistic factors - Thomson & Kaufman
Language ContactLanguage Contact
Borrowing vs. substratum interference
bilingualism
greater than lexical borrowing
syntactic interference usually accompanies phonological interference
Borrowing vs. substratum interference
bilingualism
greater than lexical borrowing
syntactic interference usually accompanies phonological interference
Language Contact: IntensityLanguage Contact: Intensity
Little or no interference if shifting group is small or bilingual
Abrupt creolization is the extreme case
Change from imperfect learning
somewhat dependent on native language
Little or no interference if shifting group is small or bilingual
Abrupt creolization is the extreme case
Change from imperfect learning
somewhat dependent on native language
MarkednessMarkedness
In language shift, markedness likely to decrease in transfer
For a bilingual population, typological differences may be more important
Interchange of morphological and syntactic structures for similar purpose
Native language typology affects outcome of contact
Clearly segmentable features more likely to be borrowed
In language shift, markedness likely to decrease in transfer
For a bilingual population, typological differences may be more important
Interchange of morphological and syntactic structures for similar purpose
Native language typology affects outcome of contact
Clearly segmentable features more likely to be borrowed
DiscussionDiscussion
Holistic view of influences in change
No change occurs alone
What does this mean for language conservation?
What about the role of the researcher?
Holistic view of influences in change
No change occurs alone
What does this mean for language conservation?
What about the role of the researcher?
Modern IrishModern Irish
Every generation has a different language
Linguistic integrity
cultural integrity/maintenance of cultural knowledge
Unnatural versus natural change
Teaching materials
Contrast with Okinawan where phrases have gained cachet
Every generation has a different language
Linguistic integrity
cultural integrity/maintenance of cultural knowledge
Unnatural versus natural change
Teaching materials
Contrast with Okinawan where phrases have gained cachet
MilroyMilroy
Impact considerations:
linguistic
language attitudes and ideologies
cognitive constraints
Impact considerations:
linguistic
language attitudes and ideologies
cognitive constraints
Martha’s VineyardMartha’s Vineyard
English, Portuguese, Native American, other
Centralization of /ai/ and /au/ correlated with degree of resistance to vacationers (identification with island)
English, Portuguese, Native American, other
Centralization of /ai/ and /au/ correlated with degree of resistance to vacationers (identification with island)
Dialect LevelingDialect Leveling
Disappearance of dialects in response to social movement or change
Dialect supported by strong community
What strategies could we invoke to preserving dialogue differences?
Disappearance of dialects in response to social movement or change
Dialect supported by strong community
What strategies could we invoke to preserving dialogue differences?
Death vs. ChangeDeath vs. Change
bilingual vs semi-speaker
total bilingualism leads towards isomorphic languages
semi-speakers due to interruption of transmission
Thought: teaching non-native speakers (even within the community) could accelerate language decay
bilingual vs semi-speaker
total bilingualism leads towards isomorphic languages
semi-speakers due to interruption of transmission
Thought: teaching non-native speakers (even within the community) could accelerate language decay
Example: Asia Minor GreekExample: Asia Minor Greek
Entire syntax remodeled after Turkish
Flexional to agglutinative morphology
Grew to absorb entire declension pattern
Yet, AMG not endangered language
Entire syntax remodeled after Turkish
Flexional to agglutinative morphology
Grew to absorb entire declension pattern
Yet, AMG not endangered language
Actualization of ChangeActualization of Change
DiscussionDiscussion