Linguistic Complexity and Information: Quantitative Approaches
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Event Representations Constrain the Structure of Language: Sign
Correction PSYCHOLOGICAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES Correction for “Event representations constrain the structure of language: Sign language as a window into universally accessible linguistic biases,” by Brent Strickland, Carlo Geraci, Emmanuel Chemla, Philippe Schlenker, Meltem Kelepir, and Roland Pfau, which appeared in issue 19, May 12, 2015, of Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (112:5968–5973; first published April 27, 2015; 10.1073/ pnas.1423080112). The authors note that the following statement should be added to the Acknowledgments: “This research received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC Grant Agreement 324115–FRONTSEM (principal investi- gator, Philippe Schlenker).” www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1600619113 E1326 | PNAS | March 1, 2016 | vol. 113 | no. 9 www.pnas.org Downloaded by guest on September 26, 2021 Event representations constrain the structure of language: Sign language as a window into universally accessible linguistic biases Brent Stricklanda,b,1, Carlo Geracia, Emmanuel Chemlac, Philippe Schlenkera, Meltem Kelepird, and Roland Pfaue aInstitut Jean Nicod, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France; bLaboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, CNRS, 75006 Paris, France; cLaboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France; dDepartment of Linguistics, Bogaziçi University, Istanbul 34342, Turkey; and eDepartment of Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, 1012VT Amsterdam, Netherlands Edited by Lila R. Gleitman, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, and approved March 3, 2015 (received for review December 3, 2014) According to a theoretical tradition dating back to Aristotle, verbs dynamic events can be classified into two broad grammatical can be classified into two broad categories. Telic verbs (e.g., “decide,” categories: telic and atelic (16–20). -
A Quantitative and Typological Approach to Correlating Linguistic
A Quantitative and Typological Approach to Correlating Linguistic Complexity Yoon Mi Oh François Pellegrino Egidio Marsico Christophe Coupé Laboratoire Dynamique du Langage, Université de Lyon and CNRS, France {yoon-mi.oh, francois.pellegrino}@univ-lyon2.fr, {egidio.marsico, christophe.coupe}@cnrs.fr Hypothesis and objectives The equal complexity hypothesis states that "all human languages are equally complex" (Bane, 2008). Menzerath's law is well-known for explaining the phenomenon of self- regulation in phonology: "the more sounds in a syllable the smaller their relative length" (Altmann, 1980). Altmann, who made the mathematical formula of this law (Forns and Ferrer-i-Cancho, 2009), assumed that it can be applied to morphology as well - "the longer the word the shorter its morphemes" (Altmann, 1980) - and proved that the clause length depends on sentence length (Teupenhayn and Altmann, 1984). Some previous works on morphological complexity (Bane, 2008; Juola, 1998) assert- ed that morphology is a good starting point for complexity computation for its clearness, compared to other more ambiguous domains such as semantics. The best-known method of calculating morphological complexity is to take the numbers of linguistic constituents into account (Bane, 2008; Moscoso del Prado, 2011), with different mathematical formu- la to be applied to these figures. The following two paradigms are commonly employed: i) information theory (Fenk et al., 2006; Moscoso del Prado et al., 2004; Pellegrino et al., 2011) ii) Kolmogorov complexity (Bane, 2008; Juola, 1998). The main goal of our work is to explore interactions between phonological and mor- phological modules by means of crossing parameters of these two linguistic levels. -
Quantitative Linguistics*
PERSPECTIVE PAPER: QUANTITATIVE LINGUISTICS* Wolf Moskovich The Hebrew Uni\ersity of Jerusalem Introduction Qualitative analysis of language is based on the study of the opposition presence-absence of a certain linguistic phenomenon in the structure of language without taking into consideration the frequency of the phenomenon. Quantitative analysis, on the other hand, is a way of describing a linguistic system based on an estimate of the relative frequencies of the phenomena under investigation. Quantitative linguistics (statistical linguistics, linguistical statistics) is a part of modern linguistics "using statistical methods for investigation of acts of speech and the system of language" (Akhmanova, 1966, p. 219). While analyzing the application of quantitative linguistics to information science, one has to take into consideration all the three apices of the triangle: mathematical statistics, linguistics, and information science. Representatives of all three disciplines are involved in research in the field, and their attitudes towards, and judgments of quantitative linguistics are often influenced by their professional background. In the following discussion, we shall come across conflicting approaches to quantitative linguistics and its application to information science, and our judgment will always be on the side of quantitative linguistics as a sovereign linguistic field of study. Though it is commonly accepted that quantitative linguistics is a part of mathematical linguistics (or computational linguistics), every now and then there are attempts to exclude it from these disciplines. This opposition usually comes from certain mathematicians who consider mathematical linguistics to be a mathematical and not a linguistic discipline. They reduce it to a study of deductive linguistic calculi or linguistic algorithms (e.g., Gladkij and Mel'cuk, 1970). -
Errors in Indian English: Interlanguage and Focus Constructions
International Journal of English Learning and Teaching Skills; Vol. 1, No. 2; ISSN : 2639-7412 (Print) ISSN : 2638-5546 (Online) ERRORS IN INDIAN ENGLISH: INTERLANGUAGE AND FOCUS CONSTRUCTIONS Anindita Sahoo, Pratiti Palit Indian Institute of Technology Madras Abstract : Language is dynamic; it is unique, creative, complex and modifiable. It grows through permutation and combination of political, social, economic, and environmental factors. Hence, we see a lot of differences in the form of dialects and idiolects. At the same time, if we cast a glance over the international scenario we can find variations from standard British English and American English. It’ll be a herculean task to identify and suggest one standard variety among all the varieties of English being used in the world today; as such there can be nothing that we call ‘Standard English’. Hence by keeping in view the scientific study of Indian English Language, we want to focus our study on errors in a variety of Indian English spoken by the native speakers of Bangla. The contention is that infrequent occurrence of certain linguistic constructions (in this case relative clauses) in one’s native language (NL) leads to errors in the target language (TL). Key Words: Indian English, Interlanguage, Focus constructions, errors, language learning, acquisition Introduction: The object of teaching is to produce learning. This learning leads interest to acquire the skill and knowledge about various aspects of language. Language teaching is basically helping the learner to get a reasonably good command over the four important skills. i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing. English Language Teaching (henceforth ELT) is a vast and dynamic field of study. -
Fisheries – Survey Results
Annex 10C Fisheries – Survey Results 10C.1 SURVEY RESULTS 10C.1.1 INTRODUCTION This Annex presents the results of the adult fish production survey, ichthyoplankton and fish post-larvae survey, and vessel survey conducted to characterize the existing conditions of fisheries resources at selected locations within the Assessment Area. The methodology for the surveys is described in detail in Annex 10B. 10C.1.2 SURVEY SCHEDULE In accordance with the agreed methodology, fisheries surveys were carried out from October 2016 to July 2017 and the survey schedule is summarized in Table 10C.1.1. All surveys were conducted during daytime at each of the selected locations. During the course of the survey, sea conditions were mild to moderate and weather conditions were fine in general. Table 10C.1.1 Marine Fisheries Baseline Surveys Survey Frequency Date Wet Season Dry Season Adult fish production Monthly over a 20, 24 & 28 Oct 2016 16, 17 & 21 Nov 2016 survey duration of 9 months, 3, 5 & 6 Apr 2017 12, 13 & 14 Dec 2016 from October 2016 to 17, 18 & 19 May 2017 4, 5 & 6 Jan 2017 June 2017 (inclusive) 15, 19 & 20 Jun 2017 8, 10 & 13 Feb 2017 8, 9 & 10 Mar 2017 Ichthyoplankton and Monthly over a 19, 20 & 21 Apr 2017 18, 22 & 23 Nov 2016 Fish Post-larvae duration of 9 months, 24, 25 & 26 May 2017 19, 21 & 23 Dec 2016 Survey from November 2016 21, 22 & 23 Jun 2017 16, 17 & 18 Jan 2017 to July 2017 18, 19, & 20 Jul 2017 20, 21 & 22 Feb 2017 (inclusive) 20, 21 & 22 Mar 2017 Vessel Survey Monthly over a 20, 24 & 28 Oct 2016 16, 17 & 21 Nov 2016 duration of -
Pidginization Theory and Second Language Learning/Acquisition 73
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector Journal of King Saud University – Languages and Translation (2012) 24,71–74 King Saud University Journal of King Saud University – Languages and Translation www.ksu.edu.sa www.sciencedirect.com FULL LENGTH ARTICLE Pidginization theory and second language learning/ acquisition Jasser A. Al-Jasser College of Languages & Transation, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia Received 17 May 2011; accepted 15 February 2012 Available online 27 May 2012 KEYWORDS Abstract The study discusses and evaluates the pidginization theory and shows, through various Pidginization theory; standard and extensive references, how it relates to Second/Foreign language learning. In the intro- Language acquisition; ductory statements, the definition and sources of pidgin(ization) are illustrated. This is followed by Language learning background studies with special reference to the authors who have explored this sociolinguistic phe- nomena. In the discussion section, the linguistic characteristics of the pidginization theory are minutely examined in the context of Second and/or Foreign language learning. In this section, association between some variables such as linguistic universal and simplification, which dominate the structure of pidgin languages and their pedagogic significance, are examined. Finally, in the concluding remarks it is reasonably inferred that there is an analogy between pid- ginization theory and the early stages of Foreign/Second language acquisition, and Creolization (i.e. end result of pidginization) and the later stages of Foreign/Second language acquisition. ª 2012 King Saud University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. -
Temporal and Spatial Characterization of Acoustic Activity Patterns of Indo-Pacific Humpback
Temporal and spatial characterization of acoustic activity patterns of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis chinensis) in Hong Kong waters By Erin K. Schormans A Thesis Submitted to Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Applied Science. Halifax, Nova Scotia © Erin K. Schormans, 2021 Approved: Dr. Timothy Frasier Supervisor Approved: Dr. Colleen Barber Committee member Approved: Dr. Hal Whitehead Committee member Approved: Dr. Sofie Van Parijs External examiner Date: January 28, 2021 1 Temporal and spatial characterization of acoustic activity patterns of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis chinensis) in Hong Kong waters by Erin K. Schormans Abstract Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins face a number of serious anthropogenic pressures in Hong Kong waters. Since the late 1990’s, data has shown both a decline in their abundance and shift in their distribution, therefore obtaining a better understanding of their habitat use through passive acoustic monitoring is important. Twelve C-PODs deployed throughout their habitat from June 2018-July 2019 were able to provide data on diel, seasonal and geographical patterns in their acoustic activity; and location had the largest effect on the probability of detections. When acoustic and visual data were compared to characterize the ability of the C-PODs to detect dolphins and assess the relative efficacy of each detection method, little overlap was found between methods. Despite these limitations, the C-PODs are able to survey continuously and simultaneously over many areas and represent a valuable tool for long-term monitoring. January 28, 2021 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank my supervisor Tim Frasier. -
The Growth of Language: Universal Grammar, Experience, and Principles of Computation
G Model NBR-2698; No. of Pages 18 ARTICLE IN PRESS Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews xxx (2017) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/neubiorev Review article The growth of language: Universal Grammar, experience, and principles of computation a,∗ b c d e,f Charles Yang , Stephen Crain , Robert C. Berwick , Noam Chomsky , Johan J. Bolhuis a Department of Linguistics and Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, 619 Williams Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19081, USA b Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, Australia c Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA d Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, MIT, Cambridge MA, USA e Cognitive Neurobiology and Helmholtz Institute, Departments of Psychology and Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands f Department of Zoology and St. Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, UK a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: Human infants develop language remarkably rapidly and without overt instruction. We argue that the Received 13 September 2016 distinctive ontogenesis of child language arises from the interplay of three factors: domain-specific prin- Received in revised form ciples of language (Universal Grammar), external experience, and properties of non-linguistic domains 10 November 2016 of cognition including general learning mechanisms and principles of efficient computation. We review Accepted 16 December 2016 developmental evidence that children make use of hierarchically composed structures (‘Merge’) from the Available online xxx earliest stages and at all levels of linguistic organization. -
The Problem of Universal Grammar with Multiple Languages: Arabic, English, Russian As Case Study
(IJACSA) International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, Vol. 7, No. 4, 2016 The Problem of Universal Grammar with Multiple Languages: Arabic, English, Russian as Case Study Nabeel Imhammed Zanoon Department of Applied Science, Al- Balqa' Applied University (BAU) Aqaba-Jordan Abstract—Every language has its characteristics and rules, to understand and acquire their mother tongue because they though all languages share the same components like words, stipulate that the universal rules are rules for all languages [6]. sentences, subject, verb, object and so on. Nevertheless, Chomsky The language acquisition device is called Universal Grammar suggested the theory of language acquisition in children which provides children with the principles of a universal instinctively through a universal grammar that represents a language and grammatical structures with an instinctive universal grammar for all human languages. Since it has its hypothesis; it suggests that our ability to learn language rules is declaration, this theory has encountered criticism from linguists. already found in the brain. This theory states that language In this paper, the criticism will be presented, and the conclusion ability appears by itself without being taught and that there are that the general rule is not compatible with all human languages characteristics common to all human languages [7]. The will be suggested by studying some human languages as a case problem of the universal grammar with other languages will namely Arabic, English, and Russian. be discussed by studying the syntactic structure in several Keywords—Chomsky; linguistic; Universal Grammar; Arabic; languages and comparing them to each other, and by designing English; Russian a finished cases device that represents the structure and arrangement of words in the languages in order to prove that I. -
Universal Grammar Is Dead 7
BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES (2009) 32, 429–492 doi:10.1017/S0140525X0999094X The myth of language universals: Language diversity and its importance for cognitive science Nicholas Evans Department of Linguistics, Research School of Asian and Pacific Studies, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia [email protected] http://rspas.anu.edu.au/people/personal/evann_ling.php Stephen C. Levinson Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, NL-6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and Radboud University, Department of Linguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands [email protected] http://www.mpi.nl/Members/StephenLevinson Abstract: Talk of linguistic universals has given cognitive scientists the impression that languages are all built to a common pattern. In fact, there are vanishingly few universals of language in the direct sense that all languages exhibit them. Instead, diversity can be found at almost every level of linguistic organization. This fundamentally changes the object of enquiry from a cognitive science perspective. This target article summarizes decades of cross-linguistic work by typologists and descriptive linguists, showing just how few and unprofound the universal characteristics of language are, once we honestly confront the diversity offered to us by the world’s 6,000 to 8,000 languages. After surveying the various uses of “universal,” we illustrate the ways languages vary radically in sound, meaning, and syntactic organization, and then we examine in more detail the core grammatical machinery of recursion, constituency, and grammatical relations. Although there are significant recurrent patterns in organization, these are better explained as stable engineering solutions satisfying multiple design constraints, reflecting both cultural-historical factors and the constraints of human cognition. -
AUTHOR Poplack, Shana
- DOCUMENT _RESUME ED 214 394' FL 012 847 AUTHOR Poplack, Shana . TITLE "Sometimes I'll, Start a Sentence in Spanish Y TERMINO EN ESPANOL": Toward a Typology of Code-Switching. 4 CENTRO Working Papers, No. 4. *_. INSTITUTION City Univ. of New Ybrk, N.Y. Centro de Estudios Puertorriguenos. PUB DATE Mar 79 NOTE 83p.; Prepared by Language policy Taik,,Force., ( EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. ' DESCRIPTORS Adults; *Bilingualism; *Code Switching (Language); English; Ethnic Groups; Language Research; Language 4-, Usage; Linguistic Competence; *Puerto Ricans; * -/ *Sociolinguistics; Spanish; *Spanish Speaking; *Speech Communication; Syntax ., IDENTIFIERS New York (New York) ABSTRACT This paper.attempts'to integrate the results of the ethnographic and attitudinal components of a broader study into a specifically sociolinguistic analysis. While A variety of opinions can be found in the literature'on code-switching, the contention here is that code-switching is'a norm in specific speech situations that exist in stable bilingual communities. Satisfaction of th 'Is norm requires more linguistic competence in two languages than has heretofore been noted. The code- switching behavior of 20 Puerto Ricans from 102nd'Street in New York City, who had varying degrees (4 reported and obseeved bilingual ability, was observed 9.nd described. The quantitative'analyseis are based on recorded speech data in both interview and natural settings. The analysis deals with linguistic . questions concerning the surface configuration pf.the switch, and with the code-switchers themselves. A finding considered to be Crucial is that there are virtually no ungrammatical conbinations of the two Anguages in the 1,835 switches studied, regardless of. -
Linguistics in the College of Arts and Letters
Linguistics In the College of Arts and Letters OFFICE: Education and Business Administration 334 Advising TELEPHONE: 619-594-5268 / FAX: 619-594-4877 All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/linguist/index.html department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after decla- Faculty ration or change of major. Emeritus: Bar-Lev, Donahue, Elgin, Frey, Johns, Seright, Underhill, Webb Chair: Kaplan Major Academic Plans (MAPs) Professors: Choi, Gawron, Higurashi, Kaplan, Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses Robinson needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs Web site was Associate Professors: Csomay, Kitajima, Osman, Poole, Samraj, Wu, created to help students navigate the course requirements for their Zhang majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a Assistant Professors: Keating, Malouf major preparation course requirement. Offered by the Department of Linguistics and Asian/Middle Eastern Languages Linguistics Major Master of Arts degree in linguistics. With the B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in linguistics with the B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences. (Major Code: 15051) Minor in linguistics. All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must Certificate in teaching English as a second or foreign language complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this (TESL/TEFL), basic and advanced. catalog on “Graduation Requirements.” No more than 48 units in lin- guistics courses can apply to the degree. The Major Students majoring in linguistics must complete a minor in another Linguistics is the scientific study of language.