Calendar

• Ludger Paschen (Universität Regensburg)

dans le cadre DILIS

Online link: https://visio.numerique.gouv.fr/yzf-cnnf-fag

Language can be understood as a complex adaptive system that balances communicative efficiency with the need to keep distinct meanings separable. Within this framework, the present study examines whether there is a cross-linguistic trend to phonetically differentiate homophonous morphs to avoid ambiguity. Prior work in English has reported acoustic duration differences for homophones, but it remains unclear how widespread this pattern is and what factors modulate it. The present study analyzes data from 37 typologically diverse languages, testing the contribution of morphology to homophone duration. Morphological affiliation showed only a small effect compared to other well-established factors such as speech rate and final lengthening. However, the effect grows larger when there are many competing homophones. The conclusion offered here is that phonetic fine-tuning is generally costly (and thus far from universal) but may become efficient under specific circumstances.

• Brigitte Pakendorf (DDL)
• Natalia Aralova (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)

dans le cadre DILIS

Typological studies still make heavy use of descriptive grammars, even though information on the variation of different constructions—especially their frequency and context of use—can only be obtained from corpora (Levshina 2022). This fine-grained perspective on variation enabled by corpus studies is particularly useful in micro-typological investigations, such as studies of dialectal variation in geographically widespread languages.

One example is Even (even1260), a highly fragmented Northern Tungusic language spoken in Eastern Siberia. This comprises a dialectal chain of about 15 different dialects (Burykin 2004: 85), the peripheral variants of which are mutually unintelligible. Despite the fact that in recent years several new grammars have appeared (Kuz’mina 2010; Sharina & Kuz’mina 2018; Burykin & Sharina 2021), the full range of dialectal variation has still not been captured.

In our talk, we discuss the extent of dialectal variation in three verbal categories in the domain of modality and aspect using corpus data collected in the field (Pakendorf et al. 2007-2012, Pupynina & Aralova unpublished) as well as published materials (Kasten 2014, Sharina & Kuz’mina 2018). These come from three western dialects and one of the easternmost dialects and cover the geographical spread of the language.

Lien visio conférence : https://rendez-vous.renater.fr/Seminaire_DiLiS_13Avril_9bec4d-60e665-83fda2

• Anne-Laure Dotte (Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie)

Séminaire de terrain

The Kanak languages of New Caledonia constitute a highly diverse ensemble that reflects the linguistic richness of contemporary Oceania. They comprise around thirty languages and dialectal varieties, supplemented by a creole and a Polynesian outlier, and exhibit a wide range of phonological and morphosyntactic features. This typological diversity is accompanied by contrasting sociolinguistic situations, with a high level of endangerment, notably shaped by a long-standing diglossic relationship with French and by a pervasive sense of linguistic insecurity frequently expressed by individuals who inherit these languages, whether or not they identify as speakers. In such a context, the work of linguists extends beyond the sole task of linguistic description and increasingly takes the form of applied—and at times involved—engagement at the intersection of community, institutional, and academic expectations. Explicit or implicit demands for support in linguistic revitalization, whether from communities, public institutions, or even students, question the professional postures conventionally associated with fieldwork. They also raise broader issues regarding the forms of knowledge production and dissemination, particularly when linguists live and teach in the territory that constitute their research sites. This seminar offers an opportunity to reflect on the position of the linguist working in the specific context of New Caledonia, as well as more generally in contexts involving minoritized languages. Following an overview of the key sociolinguistic and language-policy dynamics of New Caledonia, the presentation will draw on reflexive insights and a series of examples from my own experience.

[Note: réunion interne. Seuls sont concernés les 15 membres élus, nommés ou de droit du Conseil de Laboratoire de DDL. Note: internal meeting. Only the 15 elected, appointed or ex-officio members of the Conseil de Laboratoire are concerned.]