Languages geographically close tend to share common patterns, explained by either horizontal diffusibility (language contact) or vertical heritability (genealogical descent). This study proposes that global feature distribution is explained by feature diffusion (contact) and language expansion (migration of related languages). Using nominal classification systems (gender, noun class, classifier) as a case study, it shows that grammaticalized systems (gender) spread more via expansion, while less grammaticalized systems (classifiers) spread more via diffusion. Quantitative models of feature diffusibility and stability are affected by language expansion.
Publisher
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Published On
Dec 21, 2021
Authors
Marc Allassonnière-Tang, Olof Lundgren, Maja Robbers, Sandra Cronhamn, Filip Larsson, One-Soon Her, Harald Hammarström, Gerd Carling
Tags
language contact
feature diffusion
language expansion
grammaticalization
nominal classification
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