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The glamour of grammar

The glamour of grammar. Richard Hudson @ KCS, October 2012. Etymology. A link between glamour and grammar? Well, between the words glamour and grammar . a historical link so part of etymology. The evidence. What's gramarye?. So what?. Language is full of surprises.

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The glamour of grammar

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  1. The glamour of grammar Richard Hudson @ KCS, October 2012

  2. Etymology • A link between glamour and grammar? • Well, between the words glamour and grammar. • a historical link • so part of etymology

  3. The evidence

  4. What's gramarye?

  5. So what? • Language is full of surprises. • Language has its experts and facts. • Language is all about connections. • words connected to each other • words connected to meanings and forms • And that's why I love linguistics.

  6. But hold on … • How did r change to l 'by corruption'? • Everything needs an explanation • 'magic' won't do! • How about: • glance, glare, glass, glaze, gleam, glee, glimmer, glimpse,glint, glisten, glitter,gloss, glow • but also: gloomy, glum • So maybe that's why r changed to l.

  7. So what? • Meanings connect to sounds in different ways. • e.g. cat means 'cat' • but also gl… means 'light', 'vision' • Language is a window on culture and thought. • e.g. writing is magical

  8. Grammar: analysis amn't? aren't?

  9. Why not I amn't? • Everyone agrees that I amn't is wrong in standard English • though some dialects do allow I amn't. • But nobody knows why it's wrong. • Definitely not because schools ban it. • Nor do we learn by not hearing it. • Whatever the answer, it's psychological.

  10. So what? • Even grammar is a window on the human mind. • It's not just 'logical', predictable and boring. • Native speakers know it, • so we need to understand how they learn it. • Research can be • challenging • surprising

  11. Surprising challenges of translation Translate He walked into the room: • into French: • Not: Il a marché dans la chambre. • But: Il est entré dans la chambre (en marchant). • into German: • Er ist in die Kammer hinein/herein gelaufen.

  12. So what? • Languages express different contrasts. • e.g. verbs classify movement differently: • English: by manner (e.g. 'walking') • French: by direction (e.g. 'entering') • German: by vehicle (e.g. 'running/walking') • e.g. adverbs classify directions differently • German: by coming/going (e.g. hin- 'going') • A language is a view of the world • for communicating.

  13. The challenge of analysis • Welcome to UKLO • the UK Linguistics Olympiad • Meet our patron • Christine Ohuruogu, MBE • and BA (Linguistics)

  14. A puzzle for Indiana Jones uklo.org

  15. Where is Cleopatra? uklo.org o l p Ptolemy t t e c l e o p r a a Cleopatra • Spot the pattern!

  16. Football teams in Chinese uklo.org

  17. Manam Island, Papua New Guinea uklo.org The sentences below tell us where Onkau, Kulu, Mombwa, Tola, Sulung, Sala, Pita and Butokang live. Can you work out who lives where? Tola 1. 4. 2. 3. Sulung auta = North ilau = South ata = West awa = East Sala DEAD END! THINK AGAIN! 5.

  18. What's up in Manam?

  19. Where's North in Manam? Is the sun always in the North? • Until recently, there were • no maps • no compasses

  20. What are they like in Manam? They're like us. They enjoy a day at the seaside. And they don't know where North is.

  21. What's where in Manam Island? uklo.org New idea: When relating two places, imagine standing between them facing uphill! The sentences below tell us where Onkau, Kulu, Mombwa, Tola, Sulung, Sala, Pita and Butokang live. Can you work out who lives where? Pita 8. 6. Butokang Sulung 4. Tola 7. 1. 4. 3. Sulung 2. auta = up ilau = down Sala 5. ata = left awa = right

  22. So what? • Different languages, different world views. • Analysing language can be very hard. • e.g. explaining *I amn't • understanding the Manam system • Don't take grammar for granted. • If you read it, someone has discovered it… • … or invented it!

  23. Truth and uncertainty in grammar • As in any science, disagreements exist • but they can be debated • and eventually resolved. • But language is complicated • maybe the most complex pattern in the universe? • so don't expect easy answers.

  24. Some questions • How many words in John's tired? • … and in John's hat? • Why Him and me did it? • Why I've an idea but not I've a bath every day? • How many tenses in English? • Do all languages have tense?

  25. and … • How do we learn grammar? • Can other animals learn grammar? • Is grammar innate? • or is it just like other kinds of knowledge? • Do all languages have basically the same grammar? • or are they basically different?

  26. Thanks • and enjoy the glamour of grammar! • These slides are stored at: www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/dick/talks.htm

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