LINGUIST List 6.107

Wed 25 Jan 1995

Qs: Constant rate, Bulgarian classes, ELSNET

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1. "HOPE J.", Kroch's constant rate hypothesis
2. , Bulgarian summer classes in U.S.A.
3. , ELSNET

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Kroch 1989 argues that syntactic change progresses at the same rate
in all contexts (using Ellegard's 1953 data on auxiliary do) - a
challenge to the notion that changes diffuse. This is obviously an
important claim, and Kroch's methodology - matching theoretical
syntax with (to me) high-level stats - also seems an important
advance for historical linguistics.

*However* - Ogura 1993 is a direct challenge to Kroch, re-using the
Ellegard data and the same statistical method, but claiming that the
data actually shows the opposite of what Kroch claims: i.e. that the
change in auxiliary do use *differs* in rate between contexts.

I'm working on auxiliary do within a more variationist model, and I'm
just not up to judging who is right in this argument: can a more stats
literate person help, or is there a reply by Kroch I'm not aware of?

Anthony Kroch, 1989, `Reflexes of grammar in patterns of language
change', Language variation and change 1, pp. 199-244

Mieko Ogura, 1993, `The development of periphrastic do in English',
Diachronica, X.1, pp 51-85

Jonathan Hope (J.R.HopeLeeds.uk.ac)
School of English
University of Leeds
UK

Content-Length: 1170

A colleague is interested in where intermediate Bulgarian language
classes might be offered this summer. First preference would be at
a location in the United States.

Please reply directly to me: Bret Parker
 bparkeruop.edu
 University of the Pacific
 Stockton, California
 209-946-2029

How to get on ELSNET?
Thanks