Synchronic evidence of a diachronic change: Voicing and duration in French and Spanish stop–liquid clusters

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Colantoni ◽  
Jeffrey Steele
Keyword(s):  
Diachronic Change ◽  
Liquid Clusters

Synchronic evidence of a diachronic change: Voicing and duration in French and Spanish stop-liquid clusters

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-177
Author(s):  
Laura Colantoni ◽  
Jeffrey Steele
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
Argentine Spanish ◽  
Quebec French ◽  
Liquid Clusters ◽  
Epenthetic Vowel

AbstractThis article investigates the role that the phonetic parameters of duration and voicing play in shaping asymmetric patterns of Romance stop-liquid cluster realization. Based on acoustic analysis of experimental data from Quebec French and Argentine Spanish, we demonstrate the existence of an asymmetry in the proportional duration of the stop and a following epenthetic vowel or lateral: sonorants are shorter after voiceless stops in stop-liquid clusters. Rhotics do not participate in this process. The Spanish tap does not vary significantly in length, and the French dorsal fricative is longer in voiceless clusters. We propose that compensatory adjustments of the following sonorant are the result of the interaction of coarticulatory constraints, both universal (shorter sonorants after voiceless stops or fricatives) and language-specific (voicing in dorsal fricatives in French). Parallels are drawn between the synchronic variation attested and well-known patterns of diachronic change in Romance.

Conclusion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuhui Hu
Keyword(s):  
Historical Development ◽  
The Other ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Motion Event ◽  
Applicative Constructions ◽  
The One ◽  
Chinese And English

This chapter summarizes the major points developed throughout the book. The theoretical points of the syntax of events proposed in Chapter 2 are listed. The conclusions on the syntax of English and Chinese resultatives, applicative constructions in various languages, and Chinese non-canonical object and motion event constructions are presented, together with the implications for the verb/satellite-framed typology. The explanation of diachronic change and cross-linguistic variation is summarized, including both the historical development of Chinese resultatives, the variation of resultatives between Chinese and English on the one hand, and English and Romance on the other hand. The Synchronic Grammaticalisation Hypothesis is also summarized.

Christograms as Signs of Authority in the Late Roman Empire

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildar Garipzanov
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Fifth Century ◽  
Rhetorical Device ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Courtly Culture ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
Late Roman

The first section tests the main interpretations of Lactantius’ passage on Constantine’s victorious sign in 312 against existing graphic evidence from the 310s and early 320s, and consequently supports the interpretation of Lactantius’ description as a rhetorical device invented or modified by the Christian narrator. The next two sections support the argument that the perception of the chi-rho as Constantine’s triumphant sign became entrenched in courtly culture and public mentalities from the mid-320s onwards, and trace the diachronic change of the chi-rho from its paramount importance as an imperial sign of authority under the Constantinian dynasty to its hierarchic usage alongside the tau-rho and cross in the Theodosian period. The final section presents a contextualized discussion of the encolpion of Empress Maria and mosaics from several early baptisteries, illustrating the paradigmatic importance the chi-rho and tau-rho for early Christian graphicacy around the turn of the fifth century.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuhui Hu
Keyword(s):  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Constructivist Approach ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
Motion Event ◽  
Applicative Constructions ◽  
Chinese And English

This chapter firstly introduces the broad theoretical background within which the research carried out in this book is situated. The theoretical aim of this book is to develop a theory of the syntax of events, which is based on the constructivist approach, in particular Borer’s (2005a,b, 2013) Exo-Skeletal (XS) model—part of the broader framework of generative grammar. The empirical scope of this book includes Chinese and English resultatives, applicative constructions, non-canonical object constructions and motion event constructions in Chinese, and the satellite/verb-framed typology. Both synchronic variation and diachronic change are studied. The organization of this book is also outlined.

Chinese Intellectuals as Represented in ‘New Era’ Fictional Dialogues

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Lai
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Stylistic Analysis ◽  
Dual Model ◽  
New Era ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
The Status ◽  
Diachronic Study ◽  
Chinese Intellectuals ◽  
Definition Of

This book explores the status of Chinese intellectuals from 1980 to 2005 and its diachronic change in this period, as represented by dialogues between intellectuals and their leaders in fiction. June 1989 serves as a historical dividing line on which to base this diachronic study. In order to carry out the study, first, the direct speech of intellectuals and their leaders is extracted and compiled into corpora for a ‘key key-words’ analysis (see section 3.3.2 for a definition of key key-words). Second, a stylistic analysis is undertaken with the aim of conducting a more detailed qualitative investigation of the dialogues. Three dialogues in each of the two periods are selected for the stylistic analysis. The key-words derived from this analysis describe features of the speech of intellectuals, the speech of intellectuals as compared to the speech of leaders and the speech of leaders as compared to that of intellectuals. The study shows that the key key-words indicating topics of the speech and those characterising the style of the speech represent the social identity of intellectuals. A comparison of these key keywords between the two periods uncovers the diachronic change in the status of intellectuals. The corpus approach is complemented by a stylistic analysis, which explores dialogues selected from different years to emphasise the diachronic change. A dual model is formulated to incorporate dialogue analysis into a larger structure of goal development analysis. The study shows how speakers use discursive strategies to manage relationships and have their situational goals achieved in interaction. Negotiation of goals invokes the institutional and social identities of speakers, bringing out their status. The research shows that the corpus approach and the stylistic analysis can be combined to present a more comprehensive description of data. It is hoped that this will shed some light on studies of post-Cultural Revolution Chinese intellectuals and on how quantitative and qualitative approaches merge in the investigation of interaction between superiors and subordinates.

The Maori lexical presence in New Zealand English: Constructing a corpus for diachronic change

Corpora ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Macalister
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Diachronic Change

This paper reports on the construction of a corpus designed to measure changes in the presence of Maori words in New Zealand English over the 150-year period from 1850 to 2000. It begins with a brief introduction to the variety, describes issues identified prior to the commencement of the corpus's construction, and discusses ways in which those issues were addressed.

scholarly journals Towards a diachronic typology of individual person markers

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (s42-s1) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Linda Konnerth ◽  
Andrea Sansò
Keyword(s):  
Individual Person ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Stability

Abstract In this introduction we propose an agenda for working towards a diachronic typology of individual person markers. Rather than tracking the development of entire paradigms, our goal is to arrive at a better understanding of the diachronic pathways of those source constructions that end up as a conventionalized means of marking a particular person or person scenario, i.e. the specific (di)transitive person configuration. We discuss how this diachronic typology will need to consider certain types, or characteristics, of person markers, such as free vs. bound forms; SAP vs. 3rd person forms; or the status of person scenario markers. With respect to the source constructions and pathways, it is useful to distinguish between category-internal (e.g., person shift) and category-external (e.g., impersonal constructions) sources that give rise to person forms. We further offer a brief summary of the types of motivations that have been argued to lie behind the observed changes. Other issues of interest involve the stability vs. susceptibility for change as well as the optionality and synchronic variation of person forms, which may precede diachronic change.

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