Language Change and Functional Explanations

321 Pages·1997·44.803 MB·

by  Jadranka Gvozdanovic

Language Change and
Functional Explanations
W
DE
G
Trends in Linguistics
Studies and Monographs 98
Editor
Werner Winter
Mouton de Gruyter
Berlin · New York
Language Change
and Functional Explanations
edited by
Jadranka Gvozdanovic
Mouton de Gruyter
Berlin - New York 1997
Mouton de Gruyter (formerly Mouton, The Hague)
is a Division of Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin.
Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines
of the ANSI to ensure permanence and durability.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication-Data
Language change and functional explanations / edited by Ja-
dranka Gvozdanovic
p. cm. - (Trends in linguistics. Studies and
monographs ; 98).
Selected papers of a conference on Functional Explana-
tions of Language Change, Sept. 2 and 3, 1994, University
of Amsterdam.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 3-11-014913-3
1. Linguistic change-Congresses. 2. Functionalism (Lin-
guistics)-Congresses. I. Gvozdanovic, Jadranka. II. Series.
P142.L255 1996
417-dc21 96-46266
CIP
Die Deutsche Bibliothek — Cataloging-in-Publication-Data
Language change and functional explanations / ed. by Jadranka
Gvozdanovic. - Berlin ; New York : Mouton de Gruyter, 1997
(Trends in linguistics : Studies and monographs ; 98)
ISBN 3-11-014913-3
NE: Gvozdanovic, Jadranka [Hrsg.]; Trends in Linguistics /
Studies and monographs
© Copyright 1997 by Walter de Gruyter & Co., D-10785 Berlin
All rights reserved, including those of translation into foreign languages. No part of this
book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechan-
ical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, with-
out permission in writing from the publisher.
Diskconversion: Fotosatz-Service Köhler OHG, Würzburg.
Printing: Ratzlow-Druck, Berlin.
Binding: Lüderitz & Bauer, Berlin.
Printed in Germany.
In memory of
Simon C. Dik
(1940-1995)
who was still
with us at IFOTT
when this work
came into being.

Preface
The papers in this volume are a selection of those presented at a
conference on Functional Explanations of Language Change, held on
September 2 and 3, 1994, at the Institute for Functional Research of
Language and Language Use (IFOTT) at the University of Amsterdam,
in part sponsored by the Dutch Graduate School in Linguistics (LOT).1
They reflect the comprehensive and interdisciplinary orientation of the
organizing institute, which has at the same time benefitted from the
invited foreign expertise.
As stated by Lachlan Mackenzie, chairman of the IFOTT Board in
his opening words at the conference, we have a better understanding of
what 'function' is now than a few decennia ago, and we have various
theories in which this notion plays a crucial role. Even if we grant that
explanation in the very strongest sense - as prediction in reverse — is
unattainable in a science that is dealing with human beings and the
vicissitudes of their behavior, individually and in groups, we must
feel confident that we now have ways of making language change
intelligible.
The present volume will hopefully provoke future discussions,
further deepening our understanding of the field.
1 Special thanks are due to Casper de Groot, Louis Pols, and Yvonne Sanders
of the IFOTT Directorial for their support in the organization of the workshop,
and to Mouton de Gruyter for the expedient and pleasant collaboration in the
preparation of this book.

Contents
Jadranka Gvozdanovic
Introduction l
Functional and cognitive aspects of change
Rudi Keller
In what sense can explanations of language change
be functional? 9
Erica Garcia
Grasping the invisible hand 21
Stig Eliasson
The cognitive calculus and its function in language 53
Jadranka Gvozdanovic
Tracing the origin of a change 71
Lourens de Vries
The rise of switch-reference in the Awyu languages
of Irian Jaya 89
Linguistic activity and change
Wolfgang U. Dressler
"Scenario" as a concept for the functional explanation
of language change 109
Cor van Bree
Changes in diminutive formation in the eastern Dutch dialect
ofTwente 143