evans green 2006 s summary of croft s theory questions on mcwhorter

8/8/2019 Evans Green 2006 s Summary of Croft s Theory Questions on McWhorter

1/16

This extract from Evans and Green (2006) may

help!


2/16


3/16


4/16


5/16


6/16


7/16


8/16

Keywords:

innovation (synchronic)propagation (dyachronic)

Theoretical background:

David Hulls Generalized Theory/Analysis of Selection

Rudi Kellers (1994) work on linguistic interaction


9/16

Biology Language

Replicator An entity possessing structure thatcan be passed on

Gene Lingueme (i.e. a linguistic structurein an utterance (utterance = a usage

event))

Replication The process of copying a replicator Language use

Normal replication The process of replication resultingin an exact copy

Conforming to linguistic conventions

Altered replication The process of replication whereby

the resulting replicator is different

from the replicator it copies

Not conforming to linguistic

conventions (innovation)

Interactor An entity that interacts with its

environment so that replication canoccur

organism Speaker(s grammar)

Selection (

differential

replication)

The process whereby replicators are

differentially perpetuated (i.e. some

replicators are more successful than

others)

Propagation

Lineage An entity that persists over timedue to replication

Species Language (a population ofutterances) as a historical entity


10/16

Linguistic behaviour as social action:

Hypermaxim of linguistic interaction: Talk in

such a way that you are most likely to reach

the goals that you set yourself in your

communicative enterprise. (Keller 1994: 106)


11/16

Normal replication

Talk in such a way that you are understood.

(Keller 1994: 94)


12/16


13/16

Altered replication: non-intentional

sound change (cf. GVS, assimilation)

form-function reanalysis (cf. grammaticalization ofgoing to)

[NB the view of the GVS as being an instance of non-intentional altered replication is questionable, as well seelater]


14/16

Selection

AccommodationTalk like the others talk. (Keller 1994: 100)

Act of identity

Talk in such a way that you are recognized as amember of the group. (Keller 1994: 100)

Prestige

Adoption of changes as a result of aspiring to a socialgroup.


15/16

Here are a few questions about McWhorters papers for you.

Questions on McWhorter (2009):

What is the origin of auxiliary do in McWhorters view?

Summarise (in a couple of sentences per point) McWhorters arguments againstthe view:

that Celtic do was due to contact with English

that auxiliary do is a Germanic family trait

that auxiliary do was due to internal change (cf. habituality, perfectivity,reinforcement for SVO order)

that auxiliary do appeared too late to have been modelled on Celtic

that there are too few Celtic loanwords in English.

What is the difference between Celtic and Norse influences in McWhorters view?


16/16

Questions on McWhorter (2002):

Why should we refute the Middle English creole hypothesis?

What are overspecification and complexification?

What explanations for the simplifications McWhorter illustrates does he

reject and why?

What is his hypothesis?

What evidence does he claim supports his analysis?

What mechanisms foster underspecification and simplification in his view?

evans green 2006 s summary of croft s theory questions on mcwhorter

Documents