3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change

Peter Dekker; Sonja Gipper; Bart De Boer

doi:10.17617/2.3587960

3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change

Peter Dekker, Sonja Gipper, Bart De Boer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › Research

11 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the rate of change of different person-number subject markers. We perform a cross-linguistic study on the dissimilarity between proto and modern forms, showing that 3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages. We discuss the mechanisms that could explain this diachronic pattern, such as frequency of use, markedness, and attractor lengths. Our exploratory analysis highlights how existing linguistic datasets can be used to study new research questions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference (Evolang XV)
Publisher	The Evolution of Language Conferences
Pages	109-117
Number of pages <span style="color:red"p> <font size="1.5"> ✽ </span> </font>	9
ISBN (Electronic)	2666-917X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.17617/2.3587960
Publication status	Published - 20 May 2024
Event	International Conference on the Evolution of Language XV 2024 - Madison, United States Duration: 18 May 2024 → 21 May 2024 Conference number: XV https://evolang2024.github.io/

Conference

Conference	International Conference on the Evolution of Language XV 2024
Abbreviated title	Evolang
Country/Territory	United States
City	Madison
Period	18/05/24 → 21/05/24
Internet address	https://evolang2024.github.io/

Keywords

subject marking
person marking
language change
rate of change
frequency
markedness
attractors

Access to Document

10.17617/2.3587960Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

evolang15_paper_98 proceedingsFinal published version, 115 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

https://evolang2024.github.io/proceedings/papers/evolang15_paper_98.pdfLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

@inproceedings{40fa0686a3944a5288c64d2606b60cf1,

title = "3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change",

abstract = "In this paper, we investigate the rate of change of different person-number subject markers. We perform a cross-linguistic study on the dissimilarity between proto and modern forms, showing that 3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages. We discuss the mechanisms that could explain this diachronic pattern, such as frequency of use, markedness, and attractor lengths. Our exploratory analysis highlights how existing linguistic datasets can be used to study new research questions.",

keywords = "subject marking, person marking, language change, rate of change, frequency, markedness, attractors",

author = "Peter Dekker and Sonja Gipper and {De Boer}, Bart",

year = "2024",

month = may,

day = "20",

doi = "10.17617/2.3587960",

language = "English",

pages = "109--117",

booktitle = "The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference (Evolang XV)",

publisher = "The Evolution of Language Conferences",

note = "International Conference on the Evolution of Language XV 2024, Evolang ; Conference date: 18-05-2024 Through 21-05-2024",

url = "https://evolang2024.github.io/",

}

Dekker, P, Gipper, S & De Boer, B 2024, 3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change. in The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference (Evolang XV). The Evolution of Language Conferences, pp. 109-117, International Conference on the Evolution of Language XV 2024, Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 18/05/24. https://doi.org/10.17617/2.3587960

3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change. / Dekker, Peter; Gipper, Sonja; De Boer, Bart.

The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference (Evolang XV). The Evolution of Language Conferences, 2024. p. 109-117.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › Research

TY - GEN

T1 - 3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change

AU - Dekker, Peter

AU - Gipper, Sonja

AU - De Boer, Bart

N1 - Conference code: XV

PY - 2024/5/20

Y1 - 2024/5/20

N2 - In this paper, we investigate the rate of change of different person-number subject markers. We perform a cross-linguistic study on the dissimilarity between proto and modern forms, showing that 3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages. We discuss the mechanisms that could explain this diachronic pattern, such as frequency of use, markedness, and attractor lengths. Our exploratory analysis highlights how existing linguistic datasets can be used to study new research questions.

AB - In this paper, we investigate the rate of change of different person-number subject markers. We perform a cross-linguistic study on the dissimilarity between proto and modern forms, showing that 3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages. We discuss the mechanisms that could explain this diachronic pattern, such as frequency of use, markedness, and attractor lengths. Our exploratory analysis highlights how existing linguistic datasets can be used to study new research questions.

KW - subject marking

KW - person marking

KW - language change

KW - rate of change

KW - frequency

KW - markedness

KW - attractors

UR - https://evolang2024.github.io/proceedings/papers/evolang15_supplementary_material_98.pdf

U2 - 10.17617/2.3587960

DO - 10.17617/2.3587960

M3 - Conference paper

SP - 109

EP - 117

BT - The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference (Evolang XV)

PB - The Evolution of Language Conferences

T2 - International Conference on the Evolution of Language XV 2024

Y2 - 18 May 2024 through 21 May 2024

ER -

3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

FWOTM1012: Identifying drivers of language change using neural agent-based models.

FWO predoctoral fellowship fundamental research: Identifying drivers of language change using neural agent-based models

Cite this

3SG is the most conservative subject marker across languages: An exploratory study of rate of change

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

FWOTM1012: Identifying drivers of language change using neural agent-based models.

Prizes

FWO predoctoral fellowship fundamental research: Identifying drivers of language change using neural agent-based models

Cite this