1887
  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. Language Structure and Environment
  4. Chapter

Chapter 6. Societies of intimates and linguistic complexity

image of Chapter 6. Societies of intimates and linguistic complexity

The uniformitarian principle that knowledge of processes that operated in the past can be inferred by observing ongoing processes in the present is fundamental to historical linguistics. But there is an important respect in which the present is not like the past. Increasing population and mobility have led to increasing language contact and larger language communities. For ninety-seven percent of their history, human languages were spoken in neolithic and pre-neolithic societies which were societies of intimates, characterized by small size and dense social networks. A sociolinguistic-typological perspective suggests that the languages spoken in these communities may therefore have been typologically rather different from most modern languages, and that the methodology of ‘using the present to explain the past’ might therefore be less useful the further back in time we go.

  • Affiliations: 1: Agder University

References

  1. Aikhenvald, A.Y
    (2003) A grammar Of Tariana, from Northwest Amazonia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781107050952
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107050952 [Google Scholar]
  2. (2004) Evidentiality. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Aikhenvald, A.Y. , & Dixon, R.M.W
    (1998) Evidentials and areal typology: A case study from Amazonia. Language Sciences, 20(3), 241–257. doi: 10.1016/S0388‑0001(98)00002‑3
     https://doi.org/10.1016/S0388-0001(98)00002-3 [Google Scholar]
  4. Bailey, C.J
    (1982) On the Yin and Yang Nature of Language. Ann Arbor: Karoma.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bickerton, D
    (1981) Roots of language. Ann Arbor, MI: Karoma Publishers.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. (1996) Language and human behavior. London: UCL Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Blust, R.A
    (2005) Must sound change be linguistically motivated?Diachronica, 22(2), 219–269. doi: 10.1075/dia.22.2.02blu
     https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.22.2.02blu [Google Scholar]
  8. Carneiro, R.L
    (1973) Scale analysis, evolutionary sequences, and the range of cultures. In R. Naroll & R. Cohen (Eds.), A handbook of method in cultural anthropology (pp. 834–871). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Dahl, Ö
    (2004) The growth and maintenance of linguistic complexity. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/slcs.71
     https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.71 [Google Scholar]
  10. Dench, A
    (1994) The historical development of pronoun paradigms in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Linguistics, 14(2), 155–191. doi: 10.1080/07268609408599508
     https://doi.org/10.1080/07268609408599508 [Google Scholar]
  11. Dixon, R.M.W
    (1988) A grammar of Boumaa Fijian. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. (1997) The rise and fall of languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511612060
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511612060 [Google Scholar]
  13. (2010a) Basic linguistic theory, Volume 1: Methodology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. (2010b) Basic linguistic theory, Volume 2: Grammatical topics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Dryer, M.S
    (1989) Large linguistic areas and language sampling. Studies in Language, 13(2), 257–292. doi: 10.1075/sl.13.2.03dry
     https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.13.2.03dry [Google Scholar]
  16. Epps, P
    (2008) A grammar of Hup. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110199079
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110199079 [Google Scholar]
  17. Evans, V
    (2009) Review of Ronald Langacker, Cognitive grammar: A basic introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, 562 pp.Language and Cognition, 1(2), 277–283. doi: 10.1515/LANGCOG.2009.013
     https://doi.org/10.1515/LANGCOG.2009.013 [Google Scholar]
  18. Geraghty, P.A
    (1983) The history of the Fijian languages. Manoa, HI: University of Hawai’i Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Givón, T
    (1979) On understanding grammar. New York: Academic Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. (1984) Syntax: A functional-typological introduction (2 Volumes). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1017/s0022226700010434
     https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022226700010434 [Google Scholar]
  21. Givón, T. , & Young, P
    (2002) Cooperation and interpersonal manipulation in the society of intimates. In M. Shibatani (Ed.), The grammar of causation and interpersonal manipulation (pp. 23–56). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/tsl.48.05giv
     https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.48.05giv [Google Scholar]
  22. Grimes, B.F
    (2000) Ethnologue: Languages of the world, Fourteenth Edition. Dallas, TX: SIL International. Retrieved fromwww.ethnologue.com/14
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Güldemann, T
    (2001) Die Entlehnung pronominaler Elemente des Khoekhoe aus dem !Ui-Taa. Manuscript, Leipzig University.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Haugen, E
    (1976) The Scandinavian languages: An introduction to their history. London: Faber.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Hutchisson, D
    (1986) Sursurunga pronouns and the special uses of quadral number. In U. Wiesemann (Ed.), Pronominal systems (pp. 1–20). Tübingen: Gunter Narr.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Jespersen, O
    (1894) Progress in language, with special reference to English. London: Swan Sonnenschein.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. (1922) Language. Its nature, development and origin. London: George Allan & Unwin.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Kay, P
    (1976) Discussion of papers by Kiparsky and Wescott. In S.R. Harnard , H.D. Steklis , & J. Lancaster (Eds.), Origin and evolution of language and speech (pp. 17–19). New York, NY: New York Academy of Sciences.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Keenan, E.L
    (1976) Discussion. In S.R. Harnard , H.D. Steklis , & J. Lancaster (Eds.), Origin and evolution of language and speech (pp. 92–96). New York, NY: New York Academy of Sciences.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Labov, W
    (1994) Principles of linguistic change, Volume 1: Internal factors. Oxford: Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Langer, W.L
    (1987) An encyclopedia of world history. London: Harrap.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Laycock, D.C
    (1982) Melanesian linguistic diversity: A Melanesian choice?In R.J. May & H. Nelson (Eds.), Melanesia: Beyond diversity (pp. 33–38). Canberra: Australian National University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Mithun, M
    (1999) The languages of native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Nichols, J
    (2007) Review: The growth and maintenance of linguistic complexity by Östen Dahl. Diachronica, 24(1), 171–178. doi: 10.1075/dia.24.1.10nic
     https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.24.1.10nic [Google Scholar]
  35. Perkins, R.D
    (1980) The covariation of culture and grammar (PhD). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. (1992) Deixis, grammar, and culture. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/tsl.24
     https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.24 [Google Scholar]
  37. Siewierska, A
    (2004) Person. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511812729
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511812729 [Google Scholar]
  38. Song, J.J
    (2001) Linguistic typology: Morphology and syntax. London: Longman.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Trudgill, P
    (1983) On dialect: Social and geographical perspectives. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. (2011) Sociolinguistic typology: Social determinants of linguistic complexity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Wohlgemuth, J
    (2010) Language endangerment, community size and typological rarity. In J. Wohlgemuth & M. Cysouw (Eds.), Rethinking universals: How rarities affect linguistic theory (pp. 255–277). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110220933
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110220933 [Google Scholar]
  42. Wray, A. , & Grace, G.W
    (2007) The consequences of talking to strangers: Evolutionary corollaries of socio-cultural influences on linguistic form. Lingua, 117(3), 543–578. doi: 10.1016/j.lingua.2005.05.005
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2005.05.005 [Google Scholar]

References

  1. Aikhenvald, A.Y
    (2003) A grammar Of Tariana, from Northwest Amazonia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781107050952
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107050952 [Google Scholar]
  2. (2004) Evidentiality. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Aikhenvald, A.Y. , & Dixon, R.M.W
    (1998) Evidentials and areal typology: A case study from Amazonia. Language Sciences, 20(3), 241–257. doi: 10.1016/S0388‑0001(98)00002‑3
     https://doi.org/10.1016/S0388-0001(98)00002-3 [Google Scholar]
  4. Bailey, C.J
    (1982) On the Yin and Yang Nature of Language. Ann Arbor: Karoma.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bickerton, D
    (1981) Roots of language. Ann Arbor, MI: Karoma Publishers.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. (1996) Language and human behavior. London: UCL Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Blust, R.A
    (2005) Must sound change be linguistically motivated?Diachronica, 22(2), 219–269. doi: 10.1075/dia.22.2.02blu
     https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.22.2.02blu [Google Scholar]
  8. Carneiro, R.L
    (1973) Scale analysis, evolutionary sequences, and the range of cultures. In R. Naroll & R. Cohen (Eds.), A handbook of method in cultural anthropology (pp. 834–871). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Dahl, Ö
    (2004) The growth and maintenance of linguistic complexity. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/slcs.71
     https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.71 [Google Scholar]
  10. Dench, A
    (1994) The historical development of pronoun paradigms in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Linguistics, 14(2), 155–191. doi: 10.1080/07268609408599508
     https://doi.org/10.1080/07268609408599508 [Google Scholar]
  11. Dixon, R.M.W
    (1988) A grammar of Boumaa Fijian. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. (1997) The rise and fall of languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511612060
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511612060 [Google Scholar]
  13. (2010a) Basic linguistic theory, Volume 1: Methodology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. (2010b) Basic linguistic theory, Volume 2: Grammatical topics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Dryer, M.S
    (1989) Large linguistic areas and language sampling. Studies in Language, 13(2), 257–292. doi: 10.1075/sl.13.2.03dry
     https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.13.2.03dry [Google Scholar]
  16. Epps, P
    (2008) A grammar of Hup. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110199079
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110199079 [Google Scholar]
  17. Evans, V
    (2009) Review of Ronald Langacker, Cognitive grammar: A basic introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, 562 pp.Language and Cognition, 1(2), 277–283. doi: 10.1515/LANGCOG.2009.013
     https://doi.org/10.1515/LANGCOG.2009.013 [Google Scholar]
  18. Geraghty, P.A
    (1983) The history of the Fijian languages. Manoa, HI: University of Hawai’i Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Givón, T
    (1979) On understanding grammar. New York: Academic Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. (1984) Syntax: A functional-typological introduction (2 Volumes). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1017/s0022226700010434
     https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022226700010434 [Google Scholar]
  21. Givón, T. , & Young, P
    (2002) Cooperation and interpersonal manipulation in the society of intimates. In M. Shibatani (Ed.), The grammar of causation and interpersonal manipulation (pp. 23–56). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/tsl.48.05giv
     https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.48.05giv [Google Scholar]
  22. Grimes, B.F
    (2000) Ethnologue: Languages of the world, Fourteenth Edition. Dallas, TX: SIL International. Retrieved fromwww.ethnologue.com/14
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Güldemann, T
    (2001) Die Entlehnung pronominaler Elemente des Khoekhoe aus dem !Ui-Taa. Manuscript, Leipzig University.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Haugen, E
    (1976) The Scandinavian languages: An introduction to their history. London: Faber.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Hutchisson, D
    (1986) Sursurunga pronouns and the special uses of quadral number. In U. Wiesemann (Ed.), Pronominal systems (pp. 1–20). Tübingen: Gunter Narr.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Jespersen, O
    (1894) Progress in language, with special reference to English. London: Swan Sonnenschein.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. (1922) Language. Its nature, development and origin. London: George Allan & Unwin.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Kay, P
    (1976) Discussion of papers by Kiparsky and Wescott. In S.R. Harnard , H.D. Steklis , & J. Lancaster (Eds.), Origin and evolution of language and speech (pp. 17–19). New York, NY: New York Academy of Sciences.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Keenan, E.L
    (1976) Discussion. In S.R. Harnard , H.D. Steklis , & J. Lancaster (Eds.), Origin and evolution of language and speech (pp. 92–96). New York, NY: New York Academy of Sciences.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Labov, W
    (1994) Principles of linguistic change, Volume 1: Internal factors. Oxford: Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Langer, W.L
    (1987) An encyclopedia of world history. London: Harrap.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Laycock, D.C
    (1982) Melanesian linguistic diversity: A Melanesian choice?In R.J. May & H. Nelson (Eds.), Melanesia: Beyond diversity (pp. 33–38). Canberra: Australian National University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Mithun, M
    (1999) The languages of native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Nichols, J
    (2007) Review: The growth and maintenance of linguistic complexity by Östen Dahl. Diachronica, 24(1), 171–178. doi: 10.1075/dia.24.1.10nic
     https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.24.1.10nic [Google Scholar]
  35. Perkins, R.D
    (1980) The covariation of culture and grammar (PhD). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. (1992) Deixis, grammar, and culture. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/tsl.24
     https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.24 [Google Scholar]
  37. Siewierska, A
    (2004) Person. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511812729
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511812729 [Google Scholar]
  38. Song, J.J
    (2001) Linguistic typology: Morphology and syntax. London: Longman.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Trudgill, P
    (1983) On dialect: Social and geographical perspectives. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. (2011) Sociolinguistic typology: Social determinants of linguistic complexity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Wohlgemuth, J
    (2010) Language endangerment, community size and typological rarity. In J. Wohlgemuth & M. Cysouw (Eds.), Rethinking universals: How rarities affect linguistic theory (pp. 255–277). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110220933
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110220933 [Google Scholar]
  42. Wray, A. , & Grace, G.W
    (2007) The consequences of talking to strangers: Evolutionary corollaries of socio-cultural influences on linguistic form. Lingua, 117(3), 543–578. doi: 10.1016/j.lingua.2005.05.005
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2005.05.005 [Google Scholar]

  • From This Site

    /content/books/9789027268730-clscc.6.06tru
    dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal
    10
    5
/content/books/9789027268730-clscc.6.06tru
dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
-contentType:Journal
10
5
Chapter
content/books/9789027268730
Book
false
Loading
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error