by Assif Am-David, Frankfurt a.M.
For the last 150 years the ultimate representation of language change has been the family tree model. I shall start by explaining what the family tree model is. I shall pursue in presenting some major schools raising contention against this model. Finally, I shall discuss these critical voices in light of the progress in historical linguistics. Continue reading Models of Language Change
Assif Am-David published a monograph based on his dissertation “A semantic typology of definiteness”. This book explores the crosslinguistic distributional patterns of definiteness markers. A distinction is drawn between semantic definiteness and morpho-syntactic definiteness marking. The semantic components of definiteness are arranged, similar to semantic maps, and language-specifically assigned to definiteness markers. This model is based on the results of an empirical study of Q’ekchi’, Otomi, Maori and Basque. The choice of a suitable sample for a typological study is also discussed.
Bibliographic information:
Am-David, Assif (2014): A Semantic Typology of Definiteness. Lampert Academic Publishing.
The book can be purchased at:
www.lap-publishing.com/catalog/details//store/gb/book/978-3-659-56612-7/a-semantic-typology-of-definiteness
Assif Am-David and Manfred Sailer will offer a one-day intensive workshop on “Safety helmets must be worn” – Mehrdeutigkeit als sprachwissenschaftlicher Untersuchungsgegenstand (Ambiguity as a linguistic research topic) on Tuesday, July 8, during the Schülercampus, Frankfurt (July 6-12, 2014).
Application closed!
Für das Wintersemester 2014/15 wird in der Abteilung Linguistik des IEAS ein/e Tutor/in für die Introduction to Linguistics gesucht. Continue reading Tutor/in Englische Sprachwissenschaft gesucht!
We cordially invite to the following guest lecture:
Holden Härtl (Kassel)
Monday June 23, 16ct, room IG 3.201.
“On the relation between word-formation and naming: A pragmatic perspective”
Continue reading Holden Härtl: “On the Relation Between Word-formation and Naming”, 23.6.2014
As announced earlier, Goethe-University Frankfurt will host a symposium for Emmon Bach. The event is organized by Gert Webelhuth, Jim Blevins, and Joyce McDonough and will be held in Frankfurt on June 20-21 in IG-Farben Haus, Eisenhower Room.
Assif Am-David will present a talk on A semantic typology of definiteness markers next weekend at the 8th Days of Swiss Linguistics. This year’s conference title is Dynamics of Variation. The conference shall take place at the Zurich University, 19-21.6.2014.
Assif’s abstract.
Manfred Sailer’s abstract on Inverse Linking and Telescoping as Polyadic Quantification has been accepted for presentation at Sinn und Bedeutung 19, September 15-17, 2014, in Göttingen.
Janina Radó will give an invited talk at the workshop on “Quantifier Scope: Syntactic, Semantic, and Experimental Approaches” that is taking place June 12 & 13, 2014 in Bayonne, France. The title of Janina’s talk is: “What do German quantifiers tell us about semantic theories?´´
by Assif Am-David, Frankfurt a.M.
One of the most intriguing and widely studied topics in linguistics is the nature of language change. It is a well-known fact that natural languages of all types keep changing constantly. Language change can be studied from several angles: One can reconstruct extinct languages, classify languages to language families, recognise trends in lexical and grammatical changes and draw historical conclusions from language change. However, perhaps the most prominent question regarding language change is why it happens in the first place. Continue reading Language Change