Relativism and Universalism in Linguistics - Fachbereich 10 ...

106 Sections
Language-specific profiling and conceptual representations
Carroll, M. / Lambert, M. / Starren, M. / Schmiedtová, B. / v.Stutterheim, C.
University of Heidelberg, Germany / University of Paris X, France / Radboud University, The
Netherlands / University of Heidelberg, Germany
m_starren@hotmail.com
Cross-linguistic studies of Semitic (Modern Standard Arabic), Germanic (English, German,
Dutch, Norwegian), Romance (French, Italian, Spanish), and Slavic languages (Russian,
Czech) reveal language-specific patterns when selecting and encoding information. The
underlying principles are both perspective driven and linked to grammaticisation. The
empirical findings relate to systematic cross-linguistic comparisons carried out on a
typological basis. They focus on the grammatical categories tense, aspect, syntactic subject,
word order, and their implications in connecting syntax, semantics, and information structure.
The analyses include
• cross-linguistic differences in event construal
• cross-linguistic differences in expressing the contrast specific versus generic
• language-related differences in speech onset times
• eye movement when processing the visual input for verbalisation
For event representation and time-event relations the findings reveal language-specific
patterns of event construal which are grammatically determined. Contrasts manifested in
linguistic form can be linked to differences in the processing of information for verbalisation.
The cross-linguistic comparisons show that speakers of languages from different cultures, but
with similar grammaticised means, follow similar preferences in event representation.
The findings demonstrate that the opposition relative versus universal oversimplifies the picture.
There is surely a level at which human cognition can be characterised in universal terms (the
distinction between ‘static’ and ‘dynamic’, for example), but concepts coded in language as
developed over time, however, are not adequately captured by these primitives and require
another degree of differentiation. They form well-defined clusters in which basic concepts are
organised in a specific manner. The differences are reflected in their applicability across various
domains in that they lead to language-specific constraints in use – even though they may include
similar conceptual components (e.g. the aspectual distinctions ‘ongoing’ or ‘completion’).
Differences at the level of clustering as well as differences in domains of application lead to
language-specific profiles in conceptualisation and language use. Further evidence comes from
studies of ultimate attainment in very advanced adult second language acquisition. They show that
a given profile, taken in its entirety, is not fully accessed by the learner.
Iconic motivation in grammatical categories:
Questions for Cognitive Grammar
Glynn, Dylan
University of Leuven
dsglynn@paris7.jussieu.fr
Using found-data in English, Dutch and German, this study examines the proposal of iconic
motivation for grammatical categories. Taking lexical concepts from the domain of weather
terms, concepts that would be most likely to interact with iconic structures in a predictable
manner, we examine the productivity of grammatical category - lexeme combination and test
the hypothesis of iconic motivation in grammar.