How complex are isolating languages?
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David Gil
Abstract
How complex are isolating languages? The Compensation Hypothesis suggests that isolating languages make up for simpler morphology with greater complexity in other domains, such as syntax and semantics. This paper provides detailed argumentation against the Compensation Hypothesis. A cross-linguistic experiment measuring the complexity of compositional semantics shows that isolating languages rely more heavily on simple Associational Semantics, in which the interpretation of a combined expression is maximally vague or underdifferentiated, anything having to do with the interpretations of the constituent parts. In addition, it is argued that such vagueness is not necessarily resolved via recourse to context and a more complex pragmatics. Thus, it is concluded that isolating languages may indeed be of greater overall simplicity that their non-isolating counterparts.
Abstract
How complex are isolating languages? The Compensation Hypothesis suggests that isolating languages make up for simpler morphology with greater complexity in other domains, such as syntax and semantics. This paper provides detailed argumentation against the Compensation Hypothesis. A cross-linguistic experiment measuring the complexity of compositional semantics shows that isolating languages rely more heavily on simple Associational Semantics, in which the interpretation of a combined expression is maximally vague or underdifferentiated, anything having to do with the interpretations of the constituent parts. In addition, it is argued that such vagueness is not necessarily resolved via recourse to context and a more complex pragmatics. Thus, it is concluded that isolating languages may indeed be of greater overall simplicity that their non-isolating counterparts.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction: The problem of language complexity vii
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I. Typology and theory
- Complexity in linguistic theory, language learning and language change 3
- Grammatical complexity in cross-linguistic perspective 23
- Complexity trade-offs between the subsystems of language 43
- Complexity trade-offs in core argument marking 67
- Assessing linguistic complexity 89
- How complex are isolating languages? 109
- Complexity in isolating languages: Lexical elaboration versus grammatical economy 133
- Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination 153
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II. Contact and change
- Why does a language undress? Strange cases in Indonesia 167
- Morphological complexity as a parameter of linguistic typology: Hungarian as a contact language 191
- Language complexity and interlinguistic difficulty 217
- Complexity in nominal plural allomorphy: A contrastive survey of ten Germanic languages 243
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III. Creoles and pidgins
- The simplicity of creoles in a cross-linguistic perspective 265
- Complexity in numeral systems with an investigation into pidgins and creoles 287
- Explaining Kabuverdianu nominal plural formation 305
- Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon 321
- Index of languages 341
- Index of authors 345
- Index of subjects 349
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction: The problem of language complexity vii
-
I. Typology and theory
- Complexity in linguistic theory, language learning and language change 3
- Grammatical complexity in cross-linguistic perspective 23
- Complexity trade-offs between the subsystems of language 43
- Complexity trade-offs in core argument marking 67
- Assessing linguistic complexity 89
- How complex are isolating languages? 109
- Complexity in isolating languages: Lexical elaboration versus grammatical economy 133
- Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination 153
-
II. Contact and change
- Why does a language undress? Strange cases in Indonesia 167
- Morphological complexity as a parameter of linguistic typology: Hungarian as a contact language 191
- Language complexity and interlinguistic difficulty 217
- Complexity in nominal plural allomorphy: A contrastive survey of ten Germanic languages 243
-
III. Creoles and pidgins
- The simplicity of creoles in a cross-linguistic perspective 265
- Complexity in numeral systems with an investigation into pidgins and creoles 287
- Explaining Kabuverdianu nominal plural formation 305
- Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon 321
- Index of languages 341
- Index of authors 345
- Index of subjects 349
