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