Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language
This paper focuses on some of the theoretical assumptions presented in Enfield, 2003 (Review of ‘Enfield, N.J., 2003. Linguistic Epidemiology: Semantics and grammar of language contact in mainland Southeast Asia. Routledge Curzon, London and New York, pp. xv + 397’) and their consequences for contem...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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ELSEVIER SCI LTD
2004
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86389 |
| _version_ | 1848764819808714752 |
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| author | Ansaldo, Umberto |
| author_facet | Ansaldo, Umberto |
| author_sort | Ansaldo, Umberto |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper focuses on some of the theoretical assumptions presented in Enfield, 2003 (Review of ‘Enfield, N.J., 2003. Linguistic Epidemiology: Semantics and grammar of language contact in mainland Southeast Asia. Routledge Curzon, London and New York, pp. xv + 397’) and their consequences for contemporary linguistic theory. In particular, I revisit three fundamental dimensions underlying language contact: multilingual practices of speech communities, modes of transmission and typological diversity. These three dimensions, I argue, are not only the reasons for contact to occur but the fundamental driving forces behind language change (and variation) at large. In this view, the dichotomy typically presented as ‘contact-induced’ or ‘external’ vs. ‘normal’ or ‘internal’ change needs to be significantly revised, if not dissolved, since a non-idealized view of language change as the one advocated by Enfield presents us with a reality in which the role of contact can hardly ever be overlooked. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:25:25Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-86389 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:25:25Z |
| publishDate | 2004 |
| publisher | ELSEVIER SCI LTD |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-863892021-11-11T03:59:34Z Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language Ansaldo, Umberto Social Sciences Linguistics Language & Linguistics language contact and change Southeast Asia typology multilingualism acquisition This paper focuses on some of the theoretical assumptions presented in Enfield, 2003 (Review of ‘Enfield, N.J., 2003. Linguistic Epidemiology: Semantics and grammar of language contact in mainland Southeast Asia. Routledge Curzon, London and New York, pp. xv + 397’) and their consequences for contemporary linguistic theory. In particular, I revisit three fundamental dimensions underlying language contact: multilingual practices of speech communities, modes of transmission and typological diversity. These three dimensions, I argue, are not only the reasons for contact to occur but the fundamental driving forces behind language change (and variation) at large. In this view, the dichotomy typically presented as ‘contact-induced’ or ‘external’ vs. ‘normal’ or ‘internal’ change needs to be significantly revised, if not dissolved, since a non-idealized view of language change as the one advocated by Enfield presents us with a reality in which the role of contact can hardly ever be overlooked. 2004 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86389 10.1016/j.langsci.2003.11.004 en ELSEVIER SCI LTD restricted |
| spellingShingle | Social Sciences Linguistics Language & Linguistics language contact and change Southeast Asia typology multilingualism acquisition Ansaldo, Umberto Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| title | Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| title_full | Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| title_fullStr | Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| title_short | Contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| title_sort | contact, typology and the speaker: the essentials of language |
| topic | Social Sciences Linguistics Language & Linguistics language contact and change Southeast Asia typology multilingualism acquisition |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86389 |