[Lingtyp] (A)symmetry of linguistic convergence in different domains

[Juergen Bohnemeyer]

Dear Ian — The central finding of Gumperz & Wilson (1971), one of the classics in the literature on areality, is that in their particular case study of the Dravidian-Indic border, there is extensive morphosyntactic convergence, but not so much phonological and lexical convergence. There is in particular massive calquing and very little borrowing. The authors’ explanation for this distribution is that it facilitates rapid intertranslatability while simultaneously allowing the various contact varieties to retain their social indexical functions, which G&W argue are primarily tied to the domains speakers/hearers are most consciously aware of: phonology and lexicon. 

To be sure, this outcome is the specific product of the social dynamics at play in that particular context and don’t generalize to areas where the underlying social dynamics is very different. 

Gumperz, J. J. & Wilson, R. (1971). Convergence and creolization: A case from the Indo-Aryan/Dravidian border in India. In D. Hymes (Ed.), Pidginization and creolization in language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 151-167. 

I’d be happy to email you a copy. 

Best — Juergen

> On Jul 29, 2021, at 8:34 AM, Nicholas Evans <nicholas.evans at anu.edu.au> wrote:
> 
> Hi Ian
> I think it's also good to remember that contact can produce divergence. 
> Also: google Malcolm Ross and 'metatypy' for some interesting discussions on where convergence does and does not occur
> 
> See attached
> Best Nick
> 
> 
> Nicholas (Nick) Evans
> 
> Director, CoEDL (ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language)
> 
> Coombs Building, Fellows Road
> CHL, CAP, Australian National University
> 
> nicholas.evans at anu.edu.au
> 
> I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as custodians of the land on which I work, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. Their custodianship has never been ceded.
> 
> From: Lingtyp <lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> on behalf of JOO, Ian [Student] <ian.joo at connect.polyu.hk>
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2021 9:53 PM
> To: LINGTYP <lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org>
> Subject: [Lingtyp] (A)symmetry of linguistic convergence in different domains
>  
> Dear typologists,
> 
> I would appreciate it if you can suggest literature that can answer my following question:
> When linguistic convergence happens due to contact, does it necessarily happen in every domain? For example, when two languages develop phonological similarity due to contact, do they also develop syntactic similarity, lexical similarity, etc.? Or is it possible for two languages to converge in one domain but not in another domain?
> 
> From Hong Kong,
> Ian
> 
> 
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> <Evans2019LinguisticDivergenceUnderContact.pdf>_______________________________________________
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-- 
Juergen Bohnemeyer (He/Him)
Professor, Department of Linguistics
University at Buffalo 

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