Speaker: Marta Massaia (Utrecht University)
Title: Mapping the Left Periphery of Similarity construction in Germanic: Dutch dialects as case study
Time: Tuesday, May 14th, 1pm - 2pm
Location: 32-D461
Abstract: Similarity constructions in Germanic can be introduced by different elements that can be subsumed under four main types: like-, as-, so-, and how-elements. Especially in non-standard varieties, these elements can co-occur in what seems to be a strict order that holds cross-Germanically. I argue that this order can be explained if we take similative clauses to be prepositional relative clauses and these elements to be part of the head complex raising to the edge of the similative (in line with a raising analysis à la Kayne 1994). To support this idea, I will first provide data from a micro-comparative perspective (Dutch dialects), and then provide the meso-comparative perspective (English, Dutch, German, Swedish and Norwegian).
Issue of Monday, May 13th, 2024
Syntax Square 5/14 - Marta Massaia (Utrecht University)
Phonology Circle 5/13 - Juan Cancel (MIT)
Speaker: Juan Cancel (MIT)
Title: A Lenition Approach to Consonant Gradation in Nganasan
Time: Monday, May 13th, 5pm - 6:30pm
Location: 32-D831
Abstract: Nganasan (Szeverényi, Várnai, and B. B. Wagner-Nagy 2002; Endrédy et al. 2010; B. Wagner-Nagy 2018) is a Samoyedic language which exhibits a set of alternations commonly described as “Consonant Gradation”. What distinguishes these alternations from alternations seen in other languages is the environments which control them: whether the consonant in question is the onset of an open or closed syllable, or whether the consonant in question is in foot-initial position or not. In this presentation, I will argue that by using an effort-based lenition approach (Kirchner 1998) and by taking into account some diachronic changes (Castrén 1855; Mikola and B. Wagner-Nagy 2004), we can 1) analyze the alternations as a case of lenition similar to similar cases seen in other languages, and 2) provide principled reasons as to why the alternations are the ones that we see. In the end, what really distinguishes Nganasan from other languages which exhibit lenition is the blocking of lenition in one particular environment.
Speaker: Juan Cancel (MIT)
Title: A Lenition Approach to Consonant Gradation in Nganasan
Time: Monday, May 13th, 5pm - 6:30pm
Location: 32-D831
Abstract: Nganasan (Szeverényi, Várnai, and B. B. Wagner-Nagy 2002; Endrédy et al. 2010; B. Wagner-Nagy 2018) is a Samoyedic language which exhibits a set of alternations commonly described as “Consonant Gradation”. What distinguishes these alternations from alternations seen in other languages is the environments which control them: whether the consonant in question is the onset of an open or closed syllable, or whether the consonant in question is in foot-initial position or not. In this presentation, I will argue that by using an effort-based lenition approach (Kirchner 1998) and by taking into account some diachronic changes (Castrén 1855; Mikola and B. Wagner-Nagy 2004), we can 1) analyze the alternations as a case of lenition similar to similar cases seen in other languages, and 2) provide principled reasons as to why the alternations are the ones that we see. In the end, what really distinguishes Nganasan from other languages which exhibit lenition is the blocking of lenition in one particular environment.
LingLunch 5/16 - Ruoan Wang (MIT)
Speaker: Ruoan Wang (MIT)
Title: Tiered honorification in Eastern Indo-Aryan
Time: Thursday, May 16th, 12:30pm - 2pm
Location: 32-D461
Abstract: Longstanding tradition in the literature uses [HON] to analyze tiered honorification systems of Indo-Aryan. This work explores an analysis outside that tradition, using Wang’s (2023) presuppositional account which does not make use of [HON]. I make a crucial modification to Wang (2023) and show how it can explain the diachronic and synchronic patterns of Indo-Aryan honorification.
Speaker: Ruoan Wang (MIT)
Title: Tiered honorification in Eastern Indo-Aryan
Time: Thursday, May 16th, 12:30pm - 2pm
Location: 32-D461
Abstract: Longstanding tradition in the literature uses [HON] to analyze tiered honorification systems of Indo-Aryan. This work explores an analysis outside that tradition, using Wang’s (2023) presuppositional account which does not make use of [HON]. I make a crucial modification to Wang (2023) and show how it can explain the diachronic and synchronic patterns of Indo-Aryan honorification.