-PDF Download- Language Change Variation And Universals EBOOK

Language Change, Variation, and Universals

Author: Peter W. Culicover

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2021

Total Pages: 335

ISBN-13: 0198865392

This volume explores how human languages become what they are, why they differ from one another in certain ways but not in others, and why they change in the ways that they do. Given that language is a universal creation of the human mind, the puzzle is why there are different languages at all: why do we not all speak the same language? Moreover, while there is considerable variation, in some ways grammars do show consistent patterns: why are languages similar in those respects, and why are those particular patterns preferred? Peter Culicover proposes that the solution to these puzzles is a constructional one. Grammars consist of constructions that carry out the function of expressing universal conceptual structure. While there are in principle many different ways of accomplishing this task, languages are under press to reduce constructional complexity. The result is that there is constructional change in the direction of less complexity, and grammatical patterns emerge that more efficiently reflect conceptual universals. The volume is divided into three parts: the first establishes the theoretical foundations; the second explores variation in argument structure, grammatical functions, and A-bar constructions, drawing on data from a variety of languages including English and Plains Cree; and the third examines constructional change, focusing primarily on Germanic. The study ends with observations and speculations on parameter theory, analogy, the origins of typological patterns, and Greenbergian 'universals'.

Linguistic Universals and Language Variation

Author: Peter Siemund

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter

Published: 2011-06-30

Total Pages: 481

ISBN-13: 3110238063

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The volume explores the relationship between linguistic universals and language variation. Its contributions identify the recurrent patterns and principles behind the complex spectrum of observable variation. The volume bridges the gap between cross-linguistic variation, regional variation, diachronic variation, contact-induced variation as well as socially conditioned variation. Moreover, it addresses fundamental methodological and theoretical issues of variation research. The volume brings together internationally renowned specialists of their fields while, at the same time, offering a platform for gifted and highly talented young researchers. The authors come from different theoretical backgrounds and through their work illustrate a rich array of scientific methods. All authors share a strong belief in empirically founded theoretical work. The contributions span a high number of languages and dialects from many parts of the world. They are extremely broad in their empirical coverage addressing an impressive selection of grammatical domains.

Linguistic Universals and Language Change

Author: Jeff Good

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2008-01-24

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 0199298491

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

In this book leading scholars examine and assess rival explanations for linguistic universals and the effectiveness of different models of language change. They illustrate their arguments with a very wide range of reference to the world's languages.

Language Change and Variation

Author: Ralph W. Fasold

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 1989-01-01

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 9027286078

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The study of language variation in social context continues to hold the attention of a large number of linguists. This research is promoted by the annual colloquia on New Ways of Analyzing Variation in English' (NWAVE). This volume is a selection of revised papers from the NWAVE XI, held at Georgetown University. It deals with a number of items, some of which have often been discussed, others that have been less emphasized. The first group of articles in the volume center on a frequent theme: speech communities as the essential setting for understanding variation in language. Earlier work in linguistic variation dealt for the most part with phonological variation and change. Syntactic and morphological change and variation in syntax are also discussed. A selection on the role of variation in understanding first language acquisition comprises three papers. Articles in the last section of the volume concern theoretical controversy and methodological advances.

The Handbook of Language Variation and Change

Author: J. K. Chambers

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2008-04-15

Total Pages: 832

ISBN-13: 0470756500

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The Handbook of Language Variation and Change, written by a distinguished international roster of contributors, reflects the vitality and growth of the discipline in its multifaceted pursuits. It is a convenient, hand-held repository of the essential knowledge about the study of language variation and change. Written by internationally recognized experts in the field. Reflects the vitality and growth of the discipline. Discusses the ideas that drive the field and is illustrated with empirical studies. Includes explanatory introductions which set out the boundaries of the field and place each of the chapters into perspective.

Typology and Universals

Author: William Croft

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 372

ISBN-13: 9780521004992

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

A thorough rewriting to reflect advances in typology and universals in the past decade.

Cross-Linguistic Variation and Efficiency

Author: John A. Hawkins

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2014-02-28

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 019164286X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

In this book John A. Hawkins argues that major patterns of variation across languages are structured by general principles of efficiency in language use and communication. Evidence for these comes from languages permitting structural options from which selections are made in performance, e.g. between competing word orders and between relative clauses with a resumptive pronoun versus a gap. The preferences and patterns of performance within languages are reflected, he shows, in the fixed conventions and variation patterns across grammars, leading to a 'Performance-Grammar Correspondence Hypothesis'. Hawkins extends and updates the general theory that he laid out in Efficiency and Complexity in Grammars (OUP 2004): new areas of grammar and performance are discussed, new research findings are incorporated that test his earlier predictions, and new advances in the contributing fields of language processing, linguistic theory, historical linguistics, and typology are addressed. This efficiency approach to variation has far-reaching theoretical consequences relevant to many current issues in the language sciences. These include the notion of ease of processing and how to measure it, the role of processing in language change, the nature of language universals and their explanation, the theory of complexity, the relative strength of competing and cooperating principles, and the proper definition of fundamental grammatical notions such as 'dependency'. The book also offers a new typology of VO and OV languages and their correlating properties seen from this perspective, and a new typology of the noun phrase and of argument structure.

Language Universals and Variation

Author: Mengistu Amberber

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2002-06-30

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 0313012482

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Issues addressed in this contributed volume include lexical semantics, morphosyntax, and phonology based on the broad theme of formal approaches to language universals and variation. Aspects of natural language variation are investigated from a formal theoretical perspective, including the Principles and Parameters/Minimalist Program, Lexical Functional Grammar and Optimality Theory. A wide range of languages and language families are considered, including Amharic, Arabic, Bantu, Berber, Chamorro, English, French, Japanese, Malyalam, Polish, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, and Warlpiri. This is an important addition to the growing body of literature on language universals and variation from formal theoretical perspectives. It will be a useful reference to linguistics specialists and other cognitive scientists. The topics covered are also diverse, ranging from pronominal clitic variation in dialects of Spanish to passives in Bantu and Polish and the typology of Wh-in-situ questions and vowel place constraints.

Language Change and Typological Variation: Grammatical universals and typology

Author: Edgar C. Polomé

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 641

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Linguistic Variation and Change

Author: Scott F Kiesling

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2011-04-29

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 0748688315

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

A comprehensive study of variation and change, including current debates in the area.