Australian Linguistic Society Conference (2011)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1885/157194

The 42nd Conference of the Australian Linguistic Society was held at The Australian National University in Canberra between the 1st and the 4th December 2011, hosted jointly by the School of Language Studies and the School of Culture, History and Language. The Conference convenors were Jane Simpson and Nicholas Evans.

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Open Access
The Vietnamese classifiers ‘CON’, ‘CÁI’ and the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) approach: a preliminary study
(Australian Linguistic Society, 2012) Dao, Loan; Australian Linguistic Society; Maia Ponsonnet; Loan Dao; Margit Bowler
This preliminary study is the first-ever attempt to analyse the lexical semantics of the two most commonly used classifiers in the Vietnamese language, ‘con’ and ‘cái’, using the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) approach (Wierzbicka 1996; Goddard & Wierzbicka 2002; Goddard 2009). The study originates from an experience in teaching Vietnamese as a foreign language in Australia, where students’ difficulty in learning/acquiring the usage of the Vietnamese classifiers and the classifier noun phrases was observed. The ultimate aim of this pilot study is to use the semantic analysis of the classifiers achieved through NSM to enhance teaching and learning Vietnamese as a foreign language, and to advance the understanding of one of the world’s most extensive and elaborate classifier systems. If this aim is achieved then the study will further support the claim that NSM is an effective tool in the explanation of lexical semantics and language-specific grammatical categories and constructions (Goddard 2011:336).
Open Access
Simplifying a system: a story of language change in Lelepa, Vanuatu
(Australian Linguistic Society) Lacrampe, Sebastien; Australian Linguistic Society
This paper focuses on the problem posed by the vowel surfacing during two encliticization processes in Lelepa (Oceanic, Vanuatu), with the nominalizer =na ‘NMLZ’ and the pronominal =s ‘OBL’. For instance, the verbs faam ‘eat’, mat ‘dead’ and fan ‘go:IRR’ are derived as nafaamina ‘food’, nmatena ‘funeral’ and nafanona ‘departure’. While the base forms have the same vowel /a/, those vowels surfacing before =na seem unpredictable. This paper discusses several possible explanations for these vowels and shows that both historical and phonological approaches are needed to account for them. Still, there is variation in the nominalisation of certain native verbs such as raik ‘fish with hand spear’, which is derived as either naraikana or naraikina ‘hand spear fishing’. It is shown that while naraikana is accounted for in diachrony, naraikina results from a reanalysis process indicated by intergenerational variation.
Open Access
Musicolinguistic artistry of niraval in Carnatic vocal music
(Australian Linguistic Society) Radhakrishnan, Mahesh; Australian Linguistic Society
Niraval is a form of virtuosic musicolinguistic improvisation in Carnatic music whereby a line within a song is repeated in various melodic and rhythmic manifestations within the rāgam (melodic framework) and tāḷam (beat cycle). For a Carnatic singer, niraval makes different aesthetic demands than other forms of non-textual improvisation within the tradition. To convey artful, sincere renditions of the same lyrical text, the singer-musician must imaginatively devise interesting repetitions which attend to both melodic and rhythmic elements and the lyric text. Combining melodic and rhythmic skill and verbal artistry in a range of South Indian languages as well as Sanskrit, Carnatic singers display extraordinary communicative and artistic competence and captivate their audiences. This paper analyses the musical and linguistic elements of a single niraval performance in Sydney’s Carnatic music community. It is hoped that such research will contribute to a greater understanding of the interplay of language and music in sung performance
Open Access
Proceedings of the 42nd Australian Linguistic Society Conference - 2011
(Australian Linguistic Society) Australian Linguistic Society. Conference; Australian Linguistic Society
Open Access
Case marking (accounts) in collapse: evidence from Early Modern Dutch egodocuments (1572-1573)
(Australian Linguistic Society) Hendriks, Jennifer; Australian Linguistic Society
In this study, I examine the intermediate stages of case marking systems essential for testing hypotheses about the loss of case and its syntactic effects in Dutch. Past accounts typically compare earlier Middle Dutch (1200-1350), when a transparent case system was still in use, with Modern Dutch, which has lost morphological case. Scholars have made claims about the order in which the cases disappeared in Middle Dutch and generally view the end of the 15th century as the point by which the case system had broken down. With a several hundred year gap between the Middle and Modern Dutch periods and no detailed studies chronicling the deflexion process, however, these claims remain largely untested. Using a corpus of 42,000 words comprised mainly of unpublished archival manuscripts—eyewitness accounts chronicling the terror and destruction at the start of the Eighty Years War—I consider the questions of when, how quickly and where the case system collapsed, while situating the discussion in the context of the intense dialect contact situations that prevailed over the period of many centuries in Middle and Early Modern Dutch urban centres.
Open Access
The morphosyntax of a created language of the Philippines: folk linguistic effects and the limits of relexification
(Australian Linguistic Society) Kelly, Piers; Australian Linguistic Society
The Eskaya people of Bohol in the southern Philippines use the Eskayan language and script in specific domains: schooling, church, speechmaking and literary transcription. Both language and script are attributed to an ancestral creator known as Pinay. At first glance, Eskayan appears to be a simple relexification of the regional Visayan language of which Eskaya people are mother-tongue speakers, as translations of the traditional literature into Visayan have the appearance of word-for-word calques. However, the ostensibly straightforward relationship between the two lects becomes more problematic at the level of morphology. The 24 Visayan verbal affixes and their allomorphs are handled by just five Eskayan counterparts and traditional texts are replete with ambiguities that cannot always be resolved by Eskayan speakers. Accordingly, interpretations are fixed by convention or judged by context. The review of Eskayan morphosyntax, and its relationships to Visayan structures, brings into focus the analytical categories that the putative creator Pinay brought to the task of constructing the language. More broadly, it draws attention to the scope for grammatical innovation in engineered languages, as well as the inherent constraints.
Open Access
Non-finite complementation in French L2: a learner corpus approach
(Australian Linguistic Society) Peters, Hugues; Australian Linguistic Society
The Complementizer Phrase (CP) is mainly unexplored territory in L2 French acquisition studies (Herschensohn 2007:128). This study aims at partially filling this gap by exploring the structure of non-finite complementation using data from a longitudinal oral learner corpus of 10 Jamaican learners of French (Peters 2005, 2006). It specifically explores the realization of the Complementizer (COMP) functional category, and analyses the structure of the nonfinite embedded clauses with control and raising structures and embedded interrogative. The influence of the native languages and of the French input on non-target uses will be evaluated. The present study, therefore, answers White’s (2003:36) call “to probe quite intricate properties of the interlanguage representation, in order to understand the nature of the grammar that the learner creates to account for the L2.” Furthermore, this presentation explores a methodological interface (Rankin 2009) between the framework of the Principle and Parameter framework, and the Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1995, 1999) as applied to SLA research (Lardière 1998, 2000, 2009a, b) and the methods of learner corpus linguistics (Granger et al. 2000). The corpus approach, although unlikely to answer all relevant question of structure when crucial data is missing in naturally occurring data, will prove useful in clarifying the issues and delineate further areas of investigation.
Open Access
The linguistic anatomy of individual differences in Japanese monologues: focusing on particles and interjections
(Australian Linguistic Society) Ishihara, Shunichi; Australian Linguistic Society
This is a linguistic study on idiosyncrasy manifested through language use in Japanese monologues. For this purpose, we use speaker classification techniques as analytical tools. Focusing on Japanese particles, the subcategories of these particles, and interjections, we aim to find out to what extent Japanese speakers are idiosyncratic in selecting certain words above others in monologues. We are interested in how differently or similarly the individualising information of speakers is manifested between the subcategories of these particles, and also between particles and interjections. The genres of the monologues in this study vary from conference presentations on various topics covering humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering to mock public speeches on a variety of general topics, such as “most pleasant memory,” “about your community,” etc. We demonstrate in this study that Japanese particles and interjections carry different degrees of individualising information. We also discuss what contributes to the identified differences between them.
Open Access
The expression of potential event modality in the Papuan language of Koromu
(Australian Linguistic Society) Priestley, Carol; Australian Linguistic Society
This paper aims to give an overview of the morphosyntax and semantics of potential event modality in Koromu (Kesawai), a Madang language in the Papuan group. Potential event modality refers to Palmer’s “events that are not actualized…but are merely potential” (2001:70). Some characteristics of event modality are compared with English and other Papuan/regional languages. The study is based on Koromu data in recorded texts, collected over a number of years and on earlier grammatical analysis (Priestley 2002a, 2009, and forthcoming a). Meanings are represented in semantic explications in the natural semantic metalanguage, a metalanguage that can be used in many different languages (Goddard & Wierzbicka 2002). The findings include a range of constructions and meanings for “imperative” and “desiderative” type expressions, a distinction between external, internal and negative desires, and strategies for testing meaning and grammar analysis with Koromu speakers
Open Access
The semantics of the Cantonese utterance particle 'laa1'
(Australian Linguistic Society) Leung, Helen Hue Lam; Australian Linguistic Society
This paper will carry out an in-depth semantic analysis of one of the most salient and frequently used Cantonese utterance particles, 'laa1' (high level tone). Cantonese utterance particles occur in continuous talk every 1.5 seconds on average, and play a very important role in Cantonese speakers’ self-expression. There are approximately one hundred utterance particles in Cantonese, outnumbering those in Mandarin. However, it has been suggested that the particles have no meaning, and there has not been much comprehensive semantic analysis of individual particles. Where utterance particles have previously been described, the descriptions do not fully and accurately convey their meanings. In this study, a range of naturally occurring examples of 'laa1' from the Hong Kong Cantonese Corpus will be examined, and an invariant meaning of 'laa1' proposed using the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM). This approach offers advantages over previous descriptions of 'laa1', and will allow a simple, precise and translatable definition to be constructed. It is found that 'laa1' indicates some shared knowledge between a speaker and an addressee. This study addresses the current gap in Cantonese linguistics, and contributes to the understanding of Cantonese utterance particles.
Open Access
Non-referential actor indexing in Nehan
(Australian Linguistic Society) Olstad, John; Australian Linguistic Society
Non-referential actor indexing is found in many languages in the form of 3PL impersonal constructions. In the sentence, “They don’t drink root beer in Australia.”, the actor 'they' does not refer to any specific entity. In addition to 3PL impersonals, the Nehan language of northern Bougainville uses non-referential actor indexing for middle voice-like constructions, undergoer promotion, and — perhaps uniquely — expands impersonal constructions using 3SG agreement to indicate that the actor of the verb either lacks sentience or has accidentally carried out an action. This paper describes the semantics of non-referential actor indexing constructions and their role in argument structure.
Open Access
I can haz language play: The construction of language and identity in LOLspeak
(Australian Linguistic Society) Gawne, Lauren; Vaughan, Jill; Australian Linguistic Society
LOLspeak is a complex and systematic reimagining of the English language. It is most often associated with the popular, productive and long-lasting Internet meme ‘LOLcats’. This style of English is characterised by the simultaneous playful manipulation of multiple levels of language. Using community-generated web content as a corpus, we analyse some of the common language play strategies (Sherzer 2002) used in LOLspeak, which include morphological reanalysis, atypical sentence structure and lexical playfulness. The linguistic variety that emerges from these manipulations displays collaboratively constructed norms and tendencies providing a standard which may be meaningfully adhered to or subverted by users. We conclude with a discussion of why people may choose to participate in such language play, and suggest that the language play strategies used by participants allow for the construction of complex identity.
Open Access
Body-parts in Dalabon and Barunga Kriol: matches and mismatches
(Australian Linguistic Society) Ponsonnet, Maïa; Australian Linguistic Society
This article describes a number of body-part lexemes in Dalabon, a non-Pama-Nyungan language of the Gunwinyguan family (Australia), and their counterparts in Barunga Kriol, the local creole. The aim of this paper is a comparison between some aspects of the Dalabon body-part lexicon and their counterparts in Barunga Kriol. I discuss particularities of the Dalabon bodypart lexicon and of linguistic descriptions of the body in this language. Throughout the study of Dalabon and Barunga Kriol lexemes denoting the hand (or front paw) and its digits, the foot (or back paw) and its digits, the face, the nose and the nostrils, and finally, the head and the crown of the head, it is found that Barunga Kriol replicates some of the lexical structures of the local Aboriginal languages, but not all of them. In particular, a remarkable specificity of Dalabon, the fact that the head and the face are not labelled as such, and are preferably described as an assemblage of features, is only partially replicated in Barunga Kriol. The paper seeks to identify some of the factors explaining the matches and mismatches between Barunga Kriol and Dalabon
Open Access
On conversational valence and the definition of interjections
(Australian Linguistic Society) Libert, Alan Reed; Australian Linguistic Society
Interjections, like some other word classes, have proven difficult to define in a principled way, and therefore there has been disagreement about whether some words belong to this class. Lists of interjections in grammars sometimes include arguably disparate items, e.g. greeting terms, along with words such as oh and ah. There has also been dispute about the possibility or necessity for interjections to be in a syntactic relation to other components, that is, about their valence. In this paper I propose a definition of interjection which involves an extension of valence in the usual syntactic sense, introducing the notion of conversational valence to distinguish between interjections and words such as goodbye. The latter can only be felicitously used when there is an addressee present, as well as the speaker, thus having a conversational valence of 2, while interjections do not require an addressee, i.e. their conversational valence is 1. For example, if I stub my toe I can appropriately say ouch! in the absence of anyone else. Interjections are distinguished by being the only linguistic items with such a low conversational valence.
Open Access
Sad stories: a preliminary study of NAPLAN practice texts analysing students’ second language linguistic resources and the effects
(Australian Linguistic Society) Angelo, Denise; Australian Linguistic Society
This paper analyses practice texts produced by Indigenous students who are first language (L1) speakers of the local variety of Torres Strait Creole, and second language (L2) learners of Standard Australian English (SAE). Writing such texts served as preparation for the writing component of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). These students had been exposed to classroom instruction on the schematic discourse organisation of the preannounced test genre, a narrative, and had been given repeated practice of writing this genre under NAPLAN-like conditions. Analysis of their texts reveals that they attempt to implement this classroom instruction, but their levels of L2 proficiency impact greatly on the texts they generate. Their writing displays a wide range of non-target language features, which suggest that teaching approaches would need to include explicit instruction of SAE. This preliminary study raises issues for further investigation around the narrowed or even hidden curriculum for L2 learners of SAE in a high stakes testing environment.
Open Access
Taking to the airwaves: a strategy for language revival
(Australian Linguistic Society) Amery, Rob
The re-introduction of an Indigenous language into an English-speaking community presents an enormous challenge. School programs, workshops and songwriting projects have typically been the starting point for language reclamation with small numbers of participants involved. Increasingly, reclaimed languages are being used in public to give speeches of “Welcome to Country” or by choirs in the singing of songs. At the same time, reclaimed languages are appearing in signage and works of art. However, the opportunity to hear reclaimed languages spoken is rare. Radio and associated podcasts and downloads offer a means of reaching a wider audience. This paper will discuss a project to develop and broadcast two-hour-long radio programs in and about the Kaurna language, the original language of the Adelaide Plains, which is being reclaimed on the basis of 19th century written records (see Amery, 2000). Strategies have been developed to engage with an English speaking audience in a way that makes the Kaurna language interesting and accessible. This may serve as a model for other languages in similar situations to follow.
Open Access
Grammar rules, OK? What works when teaching a highly endangered Aboriginal language versus a stronger language?
(Australian Linguistic Society) Gale, Mary-Anne; Australian Linguistic Society
This paper examines the pedagogy of teaching an Aboriginal language under revival such as Ngarrindjeri, versus a stronger language, such as Pitjantjatjara—both languages of South Australia. It challenges the current recommended methodologies based on theory inspired by teaching European and Asian languages, which are invariably spoken fluently by language teachers. These communicative and/or functional approaches are often not possible for the revival situation, particularly if there are no fluent speakers or teachers, and the main source of language texts are written. For this reason, the use of the traditional Grammar Translation Method, once used successfully to teach text-based languages such as Latin and Classical Greek, is arguably a very useful approach for the revival situation. The paper explores the different approaches to teaching languages, and challenges teachers’ fears of criticism from advisers driven by theory that sees ‘eclectic’ as a dirty word.

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