De wervelkolom van taalverandering | Amsterdam University Press Journals Online
2004
Volume 25, Issue 2-3
  • ISSN: 1384-5845
  • E-ISSN: 2352-1171

Abstract

Abstract

In his contribution to the 2005 anniversary issue of the journal , Fred Weerman remarked on the famous S-curve underlying language change, and claimed that a good explanation for this pattern is still lacking. We pick up the thread and assess what 15 years of research have clarified about the nature of the curve. We look at two aspects: the onset of the curve (also known as the ‘actuation problem’), and the sigmoid trajectory (known as ‘propagation’). For the actuation problem, we highlight the role of external variables, notably the role of cities in what kind of changes are more likely to occur. Higher urbanization leads to morphological simplification. For the propagation, we investigate the underlying mathematics of the curve, and its conceptual motivation. We argue that the lesser-known probit function is conceptually more insightful than the commonly used logit function, and marginally outperforms the latter as well, when tested on real data. The difference is so small, however, that in actual practice, the logit function, which is mathematically simpler, may continue to be preferred

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5117/NEDTAA2020.2-3.020.VAND
2020-10-01
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/13845845/25/2-3/20_NEDTAA2020.2-3_VAND.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.5117/NEDTAA2020.2-3.020.VAND&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Aitchinson, Jean(1991). Language change: progress or decay? 2nd edn. Cambridge: CUP.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Andersen, Henning(1973). Abductive and deductive change. Language49, 765-793.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Baxter, Gareth & WilliamCroft(2016). Modeling language change across the lifespan: individual trajectories in community change. Language Variation and Change28(2), 129-173.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Bentz, Christian & BodoWinter(2013). Languages with more second language learners tend to lose nominal case. Language Dynamics and Change3, 1-27.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Beöthy, Erzsébet & GabrielAltmann(1982). Das Piotrowski-Gesetz und der Lehnwortschatz. Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft1, 171-178.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Beuls, Katrien & LucSteels(2013). Agent-based models of strategies for the emergence and evolution of grammatical agreement. PLoS ONE8:e58960.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Bloem, Jelke, ArjenVersloot & FredWeerman(2019). Modeling a historical variety of a low-resource language: language contact effects in the verbal cluster of Early-Modern Frisian. Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Computational Approaches to Historical Language Change, 265-271.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Blythe, Richard & WilliamCroft(2012). S-curves and the mechanisms of propagation in language change. Language88, 269-304.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Breitbarth, Anne(2014). Dialect contact and the speed of Jespersen’s cycle in Middle Low German. Taal en Tongval66, 1-20.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Buchstaller, Isabelle(2015). Exploring linguistic malleability across the life-span: age-specific patterns in quotative use. Language in Society44(4), 457-496.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Carroll, Ryan, RagnarSvare & JosephSalmons(2012). Quantifying the evolutionary dynamics of German verbs. Journal of Historical Linguistics2(2), 153-172.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Coussé, Evie(2013). The grammaticalization of the have perfect in Dutch. A corpus study of contextual extension and semantic generalization. Language Sciences, 103-112.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Croft, William(2000). Explaining language change. An evolutionary approach. Harlow: Longman.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Denison, David(2003). Log(ist)ic and simplistic S-curves. In: HickeyRaymond (red.), Motives for language change. Cambridge: CUP, 54-70.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. De Vaan, Michiel(2017). The dawn of Dutch. Language contact in the Western Low Countries before 1200. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Drinka, Bridget(2010). Language contact. In: LuraghiSilvia & BubenikVit (red.), The Continuum companion to historical linguistics. London: Continuum, 325-345.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Sapir, Edward(1921). Language. An introduction to the study of speech. New York: Harcourt.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Goossens, Jan (2008). Dialectgeografische grondslagen van een Nederlandse taalgeschiedenis. Tongeren: Michiels.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Goossens, Jan(1981). Middelnederlandse vocaalsystemen. Hasselt: VLDN.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Guy, Gregory R.(2011). Variation and change. In: MaguireWarren & McMahornApril (red.), Analyzing variation in English. Cambridge: CUP, 178-198.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Harris, Alice & LyleCampbell(1995). Historical syntax in cross-linguistic perspective. Cambridge: CUP.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Hawkins, John(2004). Efficiency and complexity in grammars. Oxford: OUP.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Himmelmann, Nikolaus(2004). Lexicalization and grammaticization: opposite or orthogonal?. In: BisangWalter, HimmelmannNikolaus & WiemerBjörn (red.), What makes grammaticalization? A look from its fringes and its components. Berlin: De Gruyter. 21-42.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Hopper, Paul(1987). Emergent Grammar. Berkeley Linguistic Society13, 139-157.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Howell, Robert(2006). Immigration and koineisation: the formation of early Modern Dutch urban vernaculars. Transactions of the Philological Society104, 207-227.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Kroch, Anthony(1989). Reflexes of grammar in patterns of language change. Language Variation and Change1, 199-244.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Krogull, Andreas(2018). Policy versus practice. Language variation and change in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Dutch. PhD dissertation, Leiden University.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Kusters, Wouter(2003). Linguistic complexity: the influence of social change on verbal inflection. Utrecht: LOT Dissertation Series.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Labov, William(2001). Principles of linguistic change. Volume II: Social factors. Oxford: Blackwell.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Labov, William & WendellHarris(1986). De facto segregation of black and white vernaculars. In: SankoffDavid (red.), Diversity and diachrony. Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 1-24.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Ladd, Robert D., RobertsSeán G. & DanDediu(2015). Correlation studies in typological and historical linguistics. Annual Review of Linguistics1, 221-241.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Lass, Roger(1997). Historical linguistics and language change. Cambridge: CUP.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Le Goff, Jacques(1987). De cultuur van middeleeuws Europa. 2e dr. Amsterdam: Wereldbibliotheek.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Lupyan, Gary & RickDale(2016). Why are there different languages? The role of adaptations in linguistic diversity. Trends in Cognitive Science20(9), 649-660.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Lupyan, Gary & RickDale(2010). Language structure is partly determined by social structure. PLoS ONE5(1), e8559.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Mesoudi, Alex(2011). Cultural evolution. How Darwinian theory can explain human culture and synthesize the social sciences. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Milroy, James & LesleyMilroy(1985). Linguistic change, social network and speaker innovation. Journal of Linguistics21(2), 339-384.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Nevalainen, Terttu(2015). Descriptive adequacy of the S-curve model in diachronic studies of language change. In: Sanchez-StockhammerChristina (red.), Can we predict linguistic change? Special issue of Varieng: Studies in Variation, Contacts and Change in English. Vol. 16.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Petré, Peter & FreekVan de Velde(2018). The real-time dynamics of the individual and the community in grammaticalization. Language94(4), 867-901.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Piersoul, Jozefien, RobbertDe Troij & FreekVan de Velde.150 Years of written Dutch: the construction of the Dutch Corpus of Contemporary and Late Modern Periodicals. Manuscript.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Pintzuk, Susan(2003). Variationist approaches to syntactic change. In: JosephBrian & JandaRichard (red.), The handbook of historical linguistics. Oxford: Blackwell, 509-528.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Postma, Gertjan(2010). The impact of failed changes. In: BreitbarthAnne, LucasChristopher, WattsSheila & WillisDavid (red.), Continuity and change in grammar. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 269-302.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Raumolin-Brunberg, Helena(2009). Lifespan changes in the language of three early modern gentlemen. In: NurmiArja, NevalaMinna & Palander-CollinMinna (red.), The language of daily life in England (1400-1800). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 165-198.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Roberts, Séan & JamesWinters(2012). Social structure and language structure: the new nomothetic approach. Psychology of Language and Communication16(2), 89-112.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Salmons, Joe(2018). A history of German: what the past reveals about today’s language. 2nd edn. Oxford: OUP.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Sankoff, Gillian(2019). Language change across the lifespan: three trajectory types. Language95(2), 197-229.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Sinnemäki,Kaius & FrancescaDi Garbo(2018). Language structures may adapt to the sociolinguistic environment, but it matters what and how you count: a typological study of verbal and nominal complexity. Frontiers in Psychology1141.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Speelman, Dirk(2014). Logistic regression: a confirmatory technique for comparisons in corpus linguistics. In: GlynnDylan & RobinsonJustyna A. (red.), Corpus methods for semantics: quantitative studies in polysemy and synonymy. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 487-533.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Taeldeman, Johan(1999). Het Gents. Een eiland in het Oost-Vlaamse dialectgebied. In: KruijsenJoep & van der SijsNicoline (red.), Honderd jaar stadstaal. Amsterdam: Contact, 273-287.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Timberlake, Alan(1977). Reanalysis and actualization in syntactic change. In: LiCharles N. (red.), Mechanisms of syntactic change. Austin: University of Texas Press, 141-177.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Trudgill, Peter(2011). Sociolinguistic typology. Oxford: OUP.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Van Bree, Cor(2016). Leerboek voor de historische grammatica van het Nederlands. Deel 1. Gotische grammatica, inleiding, klankleer. Uitgegeven in eigen beheer.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Van der Horst, Joop(2013). Taal op drift. Lange-termijnontwikkelingen in taal en samenleving. Amsterdam: Meulenhoff.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Van der Horst, Joop(2008). Geschiedenis van de Nederlandse syntaxis. Leuven: Universitaire Pers Leuven.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. van der Horst, Joop(2004). Kroniek van de taalkunde 2002/2003. Neerlandica Extra Muros42, 53-59.
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Van de Velde, Freek, KarlienFranco & DirkGeeraerts(2019). Reality check voor de kwantitatieve Nederlandse taalkunde: laveren tussen de Scylla van het conservatisme en de Charybdis van de zelfgenoegzaamheid. Tijdschrift voor Nederlandse Taal- en Letterkunde135(4), 329-343.
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Van de Velde, Freek(2017). Understanding grammar at the community level requires a diachronic perspective. Evidence from four case studies. Nederlandse Taalkunde22(1), 47-74.
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Van de Velde, Freek(2009). De nominale constituent. Structuur en geschiedenis. Leuven: Universitaire Pers Leuven.
    [Google Scholar]
  59. Van Keymeulen, Jacques(2008). Taallandschappen in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden. Praagse perspectieven5, 219-239.
    [Google Scholar]
  60. Van Loon, Jozef(2014). Historische fonologie van het Nederlands. Antwerpen: Universitas.
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Verhulst, Pierre-François(1838). Notice sur la loi que la population poursuit dans son accroissement. Correspondance Mathématique et Physique10, 113-121.
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Walkden, George(2017). The actuation problem. In: LedgewayAdam & RobertsIan (red.), The Cambridge handbook of historical syntax. Cambridge: CUP, 403-424.
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Weerman, Fred(2005). Veranderen can’t. Nederlandse Taalkunde10(3-4), 310-325.
    [Google Scholar]
  64. Weinreich, Uriel, WilliamLabov & MarvinHerzog(1968). Empirical foundations for a theory of language change. In: LehmannWinfred & MalkielYakov (red.), Directions for historical linguistics. Austin: University of Texas Press, 95-188.
    [Google Scholar]
  65. Woods, Nicola J.(2001). Internal and external dimensions of language change: the great divide? Evidence from New Zealand English. Linguistics39, 973-1007.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.5117/NEDTAA2020.2-3.020.VAND
Loading
/content/journals/10.5117/NEDTAA2020.2-3.020.VAND
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): actuation; complexity; logistic regression; logit; probit; propagation; s-curve; sigmoid
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error