Language Change LING-001 November 25, 2002 Uri Horesh Uri Horesh

LING-001 Fall 2001 (Liberman)

The major chain shifts of North American English (Labov 2002)

Family tree model of historical relationships between languages and dialects over time (Sankoff 2002) AB C [ Language 2 ] [ Language 3] time Language 1 X Y

Mambump Wins Bugwev Reges Vagau Buweyew Muniau Mapos Papekone Mangga HEADWATERS BUANG MAPOS BUANG (11 villages) MANGGA BUANG (8 villages) C B A Snake River Valley, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

Two proposals for the classification of Semitic languages: Traditional view (e.g., Blau) Hetzron’s proposal

Montreal [r]  [R] in real and apparent time: a trend and panel comparison Gillian Sankoff, University of Pennsylvania Hélène Blondeau, University of Ottawa

Apparent Time Relies on the finding that the linguistic traits of an age cohort will remain the same over time

Major variants of (r) in Montreal French: I. Apical -[r], either flapped or trilled II. Posterior- [R] either a uvular trill or a velar fricative III. Vocalized -typical of codas with final diphthong/lengthened vowel + (r),e.g.. boire, père, pour, sûr IV. Deleted - typical of final clusters, e.g. autre [ot] V. Retroflex – (American /r/) rare variant occurring sporadically in English-origin or English- associated words, e.g. Steinberg, Montréal

[R]/([R]+[r]) by age for 113 speakers in 1971 (Clermont & Cedergren 1979)

S-curve as a model for the progress over time of a linguistic innovation

32 Panel Speakers, % [R]

Mean percentage [R] use over time, Panel and Trend samples Panel Speakers over time Two separate Trend samples %80.4% %56.0% Mean increase11.9%24.4% Increase over 1971 level 23%44%

% [R] for 32 Trend Speakers,1971 and for 32 matched Trend Speakers, 1984

Patterns of change in the individual and the community [adapted from Labov 1994:83]. Synchronic Pattern InterpretationIndividualCommunity Flat1. Stabilitystable Monotonic slope with age 2a. Age-gradingunstablestable Monotonic slope with age 2b. Lifespan change unstable Monotonic slope with age 3. Generational change stableunstable Flat4. Communal change unstable

Conclusions I. The [r]  [R] change: I. The [r]  [R] change: Change in the community is a result of individual speakers, especially younger speakers, being added to the pool of majority-users or categorical users of [R]. Change in the community is a result of individual speakers, especially younger speakers, being added to the pool of majority-users or categorical users of [R].

Conclusions II. Apparent time: II. Apparent time: The apparent time interpretation was correct in indicating a rapid change in progress in /r/-pronunciation in Montreal on the basis of the 1971 data. The apparent time interpretation was correct in indicating a rapid change in progress in /r/-pronunciation in Montreal on the basis of the 1971 data. However, it underestimated the rate of progress of the change. Insofar as 1/3 of the older speakers in our sample progressed significantly in the direction of the change, their starting points as young speakers would have been much less far along in the course of change than the point they have reached as adults. Thus, the distance they have travelled is greater than an assumption of stability after initial acquisition would lead us to believe. However, it underestimated the rate of progress of the change. Insofar as 1/3 of the older speakers in our sample progressed significantly in the direction of the change, their starting points as young speakers would have been much less far along in the course of change than the point they have reached as adults. Thus, the distance they have travelled is greater than an assumption of stability after initial acquisition would lead us to believe.

Conclusions III. Trend and Panel Studies: III. Trend and Panel Studies: Our results confirm the view that Trend studies yield the most accurate view of change in progress. The Panel study, however, gave unique insight into the relationship between language change at the level of the community, and language change as experienced by individual speakers across their lifespans. Our results confirm the view that Trend studies yield the most accurate view of change in progress. The Panel study, however, gave unique insight into the relationship between language change at the level of the community, and language change as experienced by individual speakers across their lifespans.

Conclusions IV. Critical Age IV. Critical Age A majority of speakers showed stability in adult life, but a sizeable minority progressed significantly in the direction of the change. A majority of speakers showed stability in adult life, but a sizeable minority progressed significantly in the direction of the change. We believe that this variability in later life is characteristic of later language learning in general, and that our results are consonant with those of second-language and second-dialect acquisition. We believe that this variability in later life is characteristic of later language learning in general, and that our results are consonant with those of second-language and second-dialect acquisition. We believe that different levels of linguistic organization are differentially susceptible to alteration in later life, and that this differential linguistic lability relates to the modularity of language. Clearly an important topic for future research! We believe that different levels of linguistic organization are differentially susceptible to alteration in later life, and that this differential linguistic lability relates to the modularity of language. Clearly an important topic for future research!

Dylan 1963 The line it is drawn The curse it is cast The slow one now Will later be fast As the present now Will later be past The order is Rapidly fadin’. And the first one now Will later be last For the times they are a-changin’.