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.
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).
Invited speakers:
• Marit Julien (Lund University )
• Kari Kinn (University of Bergen)
• Sverre Stausland Johnsen (University of Oslo)
• Heimir Freyr Viðarsson (University of Iceland)
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
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@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.
More information: https://synergylinguistics.wordpress.com/conference-microvariation-and-microchange-in-the-scandinavian-languages/
Contact:
- lenka.garshol@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 10 78