35.473, Calls: Microvariation and Microchange in the Scandinavian Languages

Fri Feb 9 15:05:07 UTC 2024

LINGUIST List: Vol-35-473. Fri Feb 09 2024. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 35.473, Calls: Microvariation and Microchange in the Scandinavian Languages

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Date: 08-Feb-2024
From: Heidi Klockmann [heidi.e.klockmann at uia.no]
Subject: Microvariation and Microchange in the Scandinavian Languages

Full Title: Microvariation and microchange in the Scandinavian
languages
Short Title: MMSL

Date: 14-May-2024 - 16-May-2024
Location: Kristiansand, Norway
Contact Person: Heidi Klockmann
Meeting Email: heidi.e.klockmann at uia.no
Web Site: https://synergylinguistics.wordpress.com/conference-microvar
iation-and-microchange-in-the-scandinavian-languages/

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics; Linguistic Theories
Language Family(ies): North Germanic

Call Deadline: 22-Feb-2024

Meeting Description:

We are pleased to announce a workshop on Microvariation and
microchange in the Scandinavian languages, which will be hosted at the
University of Agder in Kristiansand, Norway on May 14th-16th, 2024.

The Scandinavian languages represent a unique opportunity to study
linguistic variation and change, with their rich diversity in
phonology, morphology, and syntax, and a well-documented history of
shared but diverging evolution. Variation and change are often assumed
to be intimately connected, as both could be explained as (the surface
manifestation of) different parametric settings during acquisition, as
in the Principles and Parameters framework (P&P, Chomsky 1981 et seq)
or the micro-parametric approach (e.g. Kayne 1996 and many others).

The P&P approach has been applied to important comparative work on
Scandinavian in the past (Holmberg 1986, Platzack 1987, Vikner 1995,
Holmberg 2010). However, the P&P approach has been challenged.
Newmeyer (2005) points out that the cluster-effects predicted by
higher level macro-parameters are often not borne out
cross-linguistically, while Boeckx (2014) argues that, with the turn
to Minimalism and a leaner UG, the notion of parameter has outlived
its utility as an explanatory principle, whether for variation or
acquisition. The recent literature has shifted in focus to
micro-parameters, with attempts to revamp parameters as emergent
learner-posited generalizations (Biberauer 2014) or points of
underspecification in otherwise universal features of UG (Holmberg and
Roberts 2014). In light of theoretical developments, we wish to
revisit the topics of variation and change in this 2.5-day workshop on
the Scandinavian languages.

The Scandinavian languages offer an empirical richness that can and
has driven theoretical developments in this domain.  For instance,
large-scale dialect projects like the Scandinavian Dialect Syntax
(ScanDiaSyn) umbrella project (Vangsnes & Johannessen 2019) allow for
comparative research with an unprecedented granularity. In addition,
the rise of new Scandinavian varieties among immigrant communities
provides us with a unique opportunity to study change-in-progress and
its ramifications for theories of language contact and acquisition
(Kotsinas 1988, Ganuza 2008, Nistov & Opsahl 2014, Walkden 2017,
Cournane & Klævik-Pettersen 2023). Furthermore, a heightened interest
in heritage languages , like the Scandinavian heritage languages in
North America, has added new empirical data which both informs our
theories about language change in general and parametric variation in
particular (Alexiadou & Lohndal 2018, Larsson & Kinn 2022, Westergaard
et al. 2023). Likewise, differences in standardization (Pedersen 2005)
allows for investigation into the role of standardization in altering
traditional dialects (see Viðarsson 2019 on Icelandic) and also,
presents potential for investigating intergenerational micro-change in
communities where dialects continue to thrive despite a standard (e.g.
Norway). In sum, the Scandinavian languages offer important
opportunities for expanding our knowledge of language variation and
change and enriching our theoretical explanations.

In this workshop, we revisit the Scandinavian languages in light of
classic and Minimalist parametric theory, in order to bring to the
fore new data and new theories on variation and change. We invite
empirical and theoretical contributions that focus on one or more
Scandinavian languages in the domains of (morpho-)syntax, phonology,
semantics, and pragmatics. Diachronic, comparative or acquisitional
perspectives are also welcome.

Invited speakers:
•       Marit Julien (Lund University )
•       Kari Kinn (University of Bergen)
•       Sverre Stausland Johnsen (University of Oslo)
•       Heimir Freyr Viðarsson (University of Iceland)

Second Call for Papers:

We invite submissions of anonymous abstracts (TNR 12, single-spaced, 2
pages max., references and examples included) for presentations or
posters. Oral presentations will be 30 minutes with an additional 10
minutes for discussion. Please submit your abstract on Oxford
Abstracts (https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/28469/submitter) by
February 22nd, 2024. All abstracts will be submitted to a double-blind
review.

Important dates:
• Submission deadline: February 22nd, 2024
• Notification of acceptance: April 1st, 2024
• Registration opens: April 2nd, 2024
• Registration closes: May 1st, 2024
• Workshop dates: May 14th – 16th, 2024

Meeting announcement: This workshop will also include a meeting to
discuss establishing a network among generative linguists in the
Nordic countries (to be held on the final day, May 16th).

Financial support: There is a limited number of travel stipends
available for graduate students presenting a paper or poster. If you
would like to be considered for this, please send an email to
lenka.garshol at uia.no with a short motivation letter of max. 250 words
after you have submitted your abstract.

Funding: We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Van Riemsdijk
Foundation and the University of Agder’s Faculty of Humanities and
Education.

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