scholarly journals Reductio ad discrimen: Where features come from

Nordlyd ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cowper ◽  
Daniel Currie Hall
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Universal Grammar ◽  
Expressive Power ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Central Function ◽  
Linguistic Structure ◽  
Linguistic Representations ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Formal Features

<p>This paper addresses two fundamental questions about the nature of formal features in phonology and morphosyntax: what is their expressive power, and where do they come from? To answer these questions, we begin with the most restrictive possible hypothesis (all features are privative, and are wholly dictated by Universal Grammar, with no room for cross-linguistic variation), and examine the extent to which empirical evidence from a variety of languages compels a retreat from this position. We argue that there is little to be gained by positing a universal set of specific features, and propose instead that the crucial contribution of UG is the language learner's ability to construct features by identifying correlations between contrasts at different levels of linguistic structure. This view resonates with current research on how the interaction between UG and external 'third factors' shapes the structure of language, while at the same time harking back to the Saussurean notion that contrast is the central function of linguistic representations.</p>

Beyond c-structure and f-structure: Linguistic representations and relations

2019 ◽  
pp. 263-275
Author(s):  
Mary Dalrymple ◽  
John J. Lowe ◽  
Louise Mycock
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Linguistic Structure ◽  
Syntactic Structures ◽  
Linguistic Representations ◽  
Linguistic Level ◽  
Different Levels

In the first part of the book, there was an examination of the two levels of syntactic structure: f-structure and c-structure. Besides these two syntactic structures, LFG research has explored other linguistic levels and their representations. In considering the overall architecture of our theory of grammar, the following questions must be addressed: How do we determine when it is necessary to postulate the existence of a new linguistic level, distinct from those already assumed within the theory? How do we determine the best representation for a proposed level of structure? And how can constraints within a level, or constraints that hold across levels, be defined within this architecture? Our theory must respect modularity and the independence of different levels of linguistic structure, while stating the relations among levels in a clear, easily understandable way. This chapter addresses these issues, and introduces the projection architecture as a piece-wise correspondence between levels of grammatical representation.

Affect and iconicity in phonological variation

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Annette D'Onofrio ◽  
Penelope Eckert
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Sound Symbolism ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Phonological Variation ◽  
Sociolinguistic Variation ◽  
Production Studies ◽  
Basic Level

Abstract The study of iconic properties of language has been marginalized in linguistics, with the assumption that iconicity, linked with expressivity, is external to the grammar. Yet iconicity plays an essential role in sociolinguistic variation. At a basic level, repetition and phonetic intensification can intensify the indexicality of variables. Iconicity plays a further role in variation in the form of sound symbolism, linking properties of sounds with attributes or objects. Production studies have shown some phonological variables exhibiting sound symbolism, particularly in the expression of affect. In some cases, the observation of sound symbolism has been largely interpretive. But in others, stylistic variability as a function of speaker affect has provided empirical evidence of iconicity. This article examines the role of iconicity and performativity in transcending the limits of reference, reviews iconicity in production studies, and provides experimental evidence that sound symbolism influences how listeners attribute affect to linguistic variation. (Variation, iconicity, affect)

scholarly journals Modularity and derivation in Functional Discourse Grammar

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Daniel GARCÍA VELASCO
Keyword(s):  
Central Issue ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
External Constraints ◽  
Language Structure ◽  
Maximal Depth ◽  
Linguistic Representations ◽  
Discourse Grammar ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
Different Levels

ABSTRACT Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG) is a typologically-based theory of language structure which is organized in levels, layers and components. In this paper, I will claim that FDG is modular in Sadock’s sense, as it presents four independent levels of representation with their own linguistic primitives each. For modular grammars, the relation between the different levels (more technically, the nature of the interfaces) is a central issue. It will be shown that FDG is a top-down grammar which follows two basic principles in its dynamic implementation: Depth-first and Maximal depth. Together with external constraints, these principles conspire to create linguistic representations which are psychologically adequate and which allow levels to be circumvented if necessary, thus simplifying representations and creating mismatches among them.

scholarly journals Acquiring markedness constraints

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 188-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen van de Weijer ◽  
Marjoleine Sloos
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Universal Grammar ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Ambient Data ◽  
Made In

This paper questions the assumption made in classic Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993 [2004]) that markedness constraints are an innate part of Universal Grammar. Instead, we argue that constraints are acquired on the basis of the language data to which L1 learning children are exposed. This is argued both on general grounds (innateness is an assumption that should not be invoked lightly) and on the basis of empirical evidence. We investigate this issue for six general markedness constraints in French, and show that all constraints could be acquired on the basis of the ambient data. Second, we show that the order of acquisition of the marked structures matches the frequency of violations of the relevant constraints in the input quite well. This argues in favour of a phonological model in which constraints are acquired, not innate, i.e. a model in which grammatical notions such as constraints are derived from language use.

scholarly journals Efecto de la Escolarización en la Producción de Relaciones Causales y Contracausales: Evidencia Psicolingüística para el Ámbito Educativo

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 258
Author(s):  
Gabriela Mariel Zunino
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Semantic Relations ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Discourse Comprehension ◽  
Educational Processes ◽  
Different Characteristics ◽  
Different Levels

In order to promote the practical application of psycholinguistic data in educational fields and expecting that this transfer would enhance the development of both the pedagogical field and the investigation in experimental psycholinguistics, we present two experiments to analyse the production of semantic relations in discourse, especially the causality/countercausality dimension. We found that the pattern of causal advantage is cross-wise and consistent in subjects with different levels of formal education, so it could be a suitable scaffold to develop other aspects of discourse comprehension and production. We compare our results with previous findings about discourse comprehension and interpret the data in the framework of educational processes. To use of empirical evidence about language processing on educational fields allows not only to review specific issues such as the characteristics of teaching materials, but also to improve educational process in a comprehensive way, making possible to adapt different approaches to populations with different characteristics.

Integrating Theories of Working Memory

2020 ◽  
pp. 389-430
Author(s):  
Robert H. Logie ◽  
Clément Belletier ◽  
Jason M. Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Levels Of Explanation ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Multiple Component ◽  
Different Levels

Multiple theories of working memory are described in the chapters of this book and often these theories are viewed as being mutually incompatible, yet each is associated with a supporting body of empirical evidence. This chapter argues that many of these differences reflect different research questions, different levels of explanation, and differences in how participants perform their assigned tasks in different laboratories, rather than fundamental theoretical adversity. It describes a version of a multiple component working memory in which a range of specialized cognitive functions (or mental tools) act in concert, giving the impression, at a different level of explanation, of a unified cognitive system. The chapter argues that more rapid and more substantial scientific progress on the understanding of the concept of working memory would be achieved through identifying the levels of explanation explored within each theoretical framework, and attempting to integrate theoretical frameworks rather than perpetuating debate with no clear resolution in sight.

Grammar and brain

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 689-690
Author(s):  
Helmut Schnelle
Keyword(s):  
Brain Structure ◽  
Linguistic Structure ◽  
Formal Features

Jackendoff's account of relating linguistic structure and brain structure is too restricted in concentrating on formal features of computational requirements, neglecting the achievements of various types of neuroscientific modelling. My own approaches to neuronal models of syntactic organization show how these requirements could be met. The book's lack of discussion of a sound philosophy of the relation is briefly mentioned.

Machine Learning of Inflection

2015 ◽  
pp. 296-322
Author(s):  
Katya Pertsova
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Change ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Expressive Power ◽  
Inflectional Morphology ◽  
General Overview ◽  
Formal Study ◽  
Theoretical Linguistics ◽  
Different Levels

This chapter aims to introduce readers not familiar with computational modelling to some approaches and issues in the formal study of learnability, and the relevance of this field to theoretical linguistics and inflectional morphology in particular. After a general overview, the chapter highlights some of the obstacles in learning inflection. Inflection, considered separately from other components of language, is relatively restricted in its expressive power, which should make it easier to learn than syntax. However, inflectional systems are full of irregularities and mismatches between different levels of structure, and such irregularities make learning difficult. Overall, it is concluded that linguistically interesting proposals for machine learning of inflection should provide explanations for the nature and extent of irregularities and for the specific patterns of language acquisition and language change.

scholarly journals INTERGENERATIONAL MOBILITY IN EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-326
Author(s):  
Jaime Alonso-Carrera ◽  
Jordi Caballé ◽  
Xavier Raurich
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Intergenerational Mobility ◽  
Minimum Cost ◽  
Borrowing Constraints ◽  
Education Attainment ◽  
Education Investment ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Inherited Wealth ◽  
Different Levels

We build a model that, according to the empirical evidence, gives rise to oscillations in wealth within a dynasty while keeping intergenerational persistence in education attainment. We propose a mechanism based on the interaction between wealth and effort as suggested by the Carnegie conjecture, according to which wealthier individuals devote less effort in their job occupations than poorer. Oscillations in wealth arise from changes in the occupation chosen by different generations of the same dynasty as a response to both inherited wealth and college premium. Our mechanism generates a rich social stratification with several classes in the long run due to the combination of different levels of education and occupation types. Furthermore, we generate a large mobility in wealth among classes even in the long run. Our model highlights the role played by the minimum cost on education investment, the borrowing constraints, and the complementarity between education and occupational effort.

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