Podcast
Questions and Answers
______ studies the structural similarities and differences between languages.
______ studies the structural similarities and differences between languages.
Linguistic Typology
In the realm of linguistics, ______ explores how meaning is conveyed and understood through language use and context.
In the realm of linguistics, ______ explores how meaning is conveyed and understood through language use and context.
Pragmatics
______ delves into the study of word formation, encompassing processes like inflection, derivation, and compounding, to understand how words are structured and related within a language.
______ delves into the study of word formation, encompassing processes like inflection, derivation, and compounding, to understand how words are structured and related within a language.
Morphology
The field of ______ investigates speech sounds, their production, acoustic properties, and how they are perceived, forming the foundation for understanding spoken language.
The field of ______ investigates speech sounds, their production, acoustic properties, and how they are perceived, forming the foundation for understanding spoken language.
______ is the branch of linguistics that systematically studies the structure and formation of sentences and phrases in a language.
______ is the branch of linguistics that systematically studies the structure and formation of sentences and phrases in a language.
In data collection, ______ speaker elicitation can be either direct or indirect, depending on the approach used to gather linguistic data.
In data collection, ______ speaker elicitation can be either direct or indirect, depending on the approach used to gather linguistic data.
When analyzing language, linguists often consult ______ descriptions or grammars to understand the structure and rules of a language.
When analyzing language, linguists often consult ______ descriptions or grammars to understand the structure and rules of a language.
Linguistic data is often found in ______, which provide real-world examples of language use and can be analyzed for various linguistic phenomena.
Linguistic data is often found in ______, which provide real-world examples of language use and can be analyzed for various linguistic phenomena.
______ asymmetry in linguistics refers to the disproportionate representation or behavior of certain linguistic features across languages.
______ asymmetry in linguistics refers to the disproportionate representation or behavior of certain linguistic features across languages.
The concept of ______ in linguistics suggests that simpler or more direct forms of expression are often favored over more complex ones.
The concept of ______ in linguistics suggests that simpler or more direct forms of expression are often favored over more complex ones.
Flashcards
Linguistic Typology
Linguistic Typology
The study of cross-linguistic variation, aiming to discover general principles or patterns underlying the diversity of languages.
Diachronic Syntax
Diachronic Syntax
A subfield that examines language change over time.
Pragmatics
Pragmatics
A framework that examines how meaning is constructed in context, going beyond literal interpretations.
The Lexicon
The Lexicon
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Functional Discourse Grammar
Functional Discourse Grammar
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Grammatical Descriptions/Grammars
Grammatical Descriptions/Grammars
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Texts (in linguistics)
Texts (in linguistics)
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Online Typological Databases
Online Typological Databases
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Native Speaker Elicitation
Native Speaker Elicitation
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Typological Asymmetry
Typological Asymmetry
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Study Notes
- Linguistic Typology is being updated to reflect theoretical and methodological developments, with new data from both previously and newly documented languages.
Neogrammarians and Historical Comparison
- Neogrammarians aimed to discover sound laws to explain language development from ancestors and genealogical relationships.
- Unrelated languages were excluded because sound laws could not account for them.
- Linguistic diversity was not a research priority.
- It was mistakenly assumed that typologically related languages were genealogically related.
- Morphological typology was almost synonymous with linguistic typology.
- Questioning the connection between genealogical and typological relatedness was considered "heretical".
- Linguistic typology was seen as unscientific as it couldn't be reduced to Neogrammarian sound laws and was largely ignored in the late 19th century.
Structuralism
- Structuralism (Saussure 1916) shifted the focus from diachrony (linguistic changes over time) to synchrony (language state at a specific time).
Diversity and Unity
- Jakobson and Greenberg connected diversity and unity in linguistic typology.
- Linguistic typology infers the science of language (unity) from the science of languages (diversity).
- Law-like generalizations (unity) can be discovered through typological classifications (diversity).
- Early modern linguistic typology focused on discovering language universals to bound what's possible in human language.
- The "subjugation" of diversity to unity has been rethought, with diversity gaining more attention.
- Absolute language universals are rare, making it unrealistic to find them.
- Linguistic typology should strive to discover what is probable rather than possible in human language.
- Language universals should be attenuated to account for languages with variations.
- Structural variation in languages is highlighted which emphasizes diversity.
Focus on Diversity
- Focus shifted further in favor of diversity.
- It's important to find out not only why most languages have X (universal preferences) but also why some have Y or Z in opposition, i.e. "what's where why?".
- Linguistic typologists explore historical, social, and cultural factors to explain languages that deviate from the majority.
- Languages with Verb–Object order tend to place a Relative clause after the head Noun (NRel order).
Challenging Universals
- The assumption that VO languages always have NRel order was challenged by the discovery of RelN order in some VO languages in mainland China and Taiwan.
- What was believed to be an absolute language universal (VO & NRel) is now seen as less absolute.
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Description
An overview of the Neogrammarians' sound laws, genealogical relationships, and the shift to Structuralism. It also explains why linguistic diversity was not a priority, and how typology relatedness was considered heretical. The text highlights how linguistic typology was viewed as unscientific.
