Modeling change in contact settings A case study of phonological convergence
Modeling change in contact settings A case study of phonological convergence
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DOI：
10.1163/22105832-00802006
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发表时间：
2019-05-01
影响因子：
0.7
通讯作者：
Gong, Tao
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Chirkova, Katia;Gong, Tao
衔接是接触语言学和历史语言学中经常使用的一个概念。然而，作为对它所代表的变化的解释性解释，这是有问题的。在这项研究中，我们模拟了一个具体的融合案例(多旭，一种濒危的藏缅语，还有9名说话者)，以帮助更系统地理解这一现象背后的机制。本研究的目标是：(1)探讨某些语言和社会因素对语音融合过程的影响；(2)检验以下关于语音融合的经验解释：(A)在经历了语音融合的语言中，语音片段的损失与这些片段在合并的双语曲目中的相对频率和标记性有关，以及(B)广泛的双语是融合的先决条件。基于智能体的模拟结果肯定了语音片段的频率和标记性在收敛过程中的重要性。与此同时，他们认为，与普遍存在的双语现象有关的解释可能是不成立的。我们的研究表明，计算机模拟是一种很有前途的工具，可以用来研究接触环境中语言变化的复杂情况。
Convergence is an oft-used notion in contact linguistics and historical linguistics. Yet it is problematic as an explanatory account for the changes it represents. In this study, we model one specific case of convergence (Duoxu, an endangered Tibeto-Burman language with 9 remaining speakers) to contribute to a more systematic understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. The goals are (1) to address the role of some linguistic and social factors assumed to have an effect on the process of convergence, and (2) to test the following explanations of empirical observations related to phonological convergence: (a) the loss of phonological segments in a language that has undergone convergence is correlated with the relative frequency and markedness of these segments in the combined bilingual repertoire, and (b) widespread bilingualism is a prerequisite for convergence. The results of our agent-based simulation affirm the importance of frequency and markedness of phonological segments in the process of convergence. At the same time, they suggest that the explanation related to widespread bilingualism may not be valid. Our study suggests computer simulations as a promising tool for investigation of complex cases of language change in contact settings.