Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift
This paper examines the question of linguistic complexity in two shift ecologies in northeastern Russia. It is frequently claimed that language shift results in linguistic simplification across a range of domains in the grammars of shifting speakers (Campbell and Muntzel 1989; Dorian 1989; O’Shannes...
Published in: | Frontiers in Communication |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 https://doaj.org/article/c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b 2023-05-15T15:54:33+02:00 Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift Jessica Kantarovich Lenore A. Grenoble Antonina Vinokurova Elena Nesterova 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 https://doaj.org/article/c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118/full https://doaj.org/toc/2297-900X 2297-900X doi:10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 https://doaj.org/article/c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b Frontiers in Communication, Vol 6 (2021) language shift word order case marking agreement noun incorporation Chukchi Communication. Mass media P87-96 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 2022-12-31T06:38:40Z This paper examines the question of linguistic complexity in two shift ecologies in northeastern Russia. It is frequently claimed that language shift results in linguistic simplification across a range of domains in the grammars of shifting speakers (Campbell and Muntzel 1989; Dorian 1989; O’Shannessy 2011). We challenge the breadth of this claim, showing that while there are undoubtedly patterns that can be described as a simplification of some grammatical domain, the overall grammars of these speakers cannot be said to be “simple,” as simplification in one part of the grammar often corresponds to complexification in other parts (“complexity trade-offs”). Furthermore, patterns that are deemed loss or simplification are often presented in such a way because they are being compared to earlier varieties of the shifting languages; however, such patterns are entirely typologically expected, are consistent with other languages of the world, and can be seen as more or less complex depending on one’s locus of measurement. In this paper, we present incipient changes taking place in Chukchi (Chukotko-Kamchatkan, ISO ckt) and Even (Tungusic, ISO eve) stemming from the modern language shift context. We evaluate these changes against different notions of complexity to demonstrate that a more nuanced approach to morphosyntactic change in language obsolescence is warranted. While morphological simplification is expected in these scenarios, other changes in these speakers’ systems (occurring as potential adaptations in light of simplification) provide a more enlightening avenue for research on shifting varieties. Article in Journal/Newspaper Chukchi Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Dorian ENVELOPE(-63.497,-63.497,-64.815,-64.815) Frontiers in Communication 6 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
language shift word order case marking agreement noun incorporation Chukchi Communication. Mass media P87-96 |
spellingShingle |
language shift word order case marking agreement noun incorporation Chukchi Communication. Mass media P87-96 Jessica Kantarovich Lenore A. Grenoble Antonina Vinokurova Elena Nesterova Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift |
topic_facet |
language shift word order case marking agreement noun incorporation Chukchi Communication. Mass media P87-96 |
description |
This paper examines the question of linguistic complexity in two shift ecologies in northeastern Russia. It is frequently claimed that language shift results in linguistic simplification across a range of domains in the grammars of shifting speakers (Campbell and Muntzel 1989; Dorian 1989; O’Shannessy 2011). We challenge the breadth of this claim, showing that while there are undoubtedly patterns that can be described as a simplification of some grammatical domain, the overall grammars of these speakers cannot be said to be “simple,” as simplification in one part of the grammar often corresponds to complexification in other parts (“complexity trade-offs”). Furthermore, patterns that are deemed loss or simplification are often presented in such a way because they are being compared to earlier varieties of the shifting languages; however, such patterns are entirely typologically expected, are consistent with other languages of the world, and can be seen as more or less complex depending on one’s locus of measurement. In this paper, we present incipient changes taking place in Chukchi (Chukotko-Kamchatkan, ISO ckt) and Even (Tungusic, ISO eve) stemming from the modern language shift context. We evaluate these changes against different notions of complexity to demonstrate that a more nuanced approach to morphosyntactic change in language obsolescence is warranted. While morphological simplification is expected in these scenarios, other changes in these speakers’ systems (occurring as potential adaptations in light of simplification) provide a more enlightening avenue for research on shifting varieties. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jessica Kantarovich Lenore A. Grenoble Antonina Vinokurova Elena Nesterova |
author_facet |
Jessica Kantarovich Lenore A. Grenoble Antonina Vinokurova Elena Nesterova |
author_sort |
Jessica Kantarovich |
title |
Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift |
title_short |
Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift |
title_full |
Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift |
title_fullStr |
Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift |
title_full_unstemmed |
Complexity and Simplification in Language Shift |
title_sort |
complexity and simplification in language shift |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 https://doaj.org/article/c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-63.497,-63.497,-64.815,-64.815) |
geographic |
Dorian |
geographic_facet |
Dorian |
genre |
Chukchi |
genre_facet |
Chukchi |
op_source |
Frontiers in Communication, Vol 6 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118/full https://doaj.org/toc/2297-900X 2297-900X doi:10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 https://doaj.org/article/c4a4007009fa4dc18a4451254f371e0b |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.638118 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Communication |
container_volume |
6 |
_version_ |
1766389785570574336 |