Issue of Monday, October 7th, 2024

MorPhun 10/10 - Christopher Legerme (MIT)

Speaker: Christopher Legerme (MIT)
Title: Sulemana (2024) on Passives without Morphology
Time: Thursday, October 10th, 5pm - 6pm
Location: 32-D769

Abstract: For this week’s Morphun, I’m looking forward to presenting a cool recent paper by an alum of our department, Dr. Abdul-Razak Sulemana, who investigated passive constructions without morphology in Buli (Gur, Ghana).  Despite lacking passive morphology, Sulemana argues that Buli exhibits true passive constructions with implicit arguments. We will explore the key evidence used in support of this analysis, including:

  1. Semantic interpretation of implicit agents
  2. A-movement of internal arguments
  3. Compatibility with by-phrases
I situate my discussion of Sulemana’s work within the broader typology of noncanonical passives informed by work from Chris Collins and Julie Anne Legate, considering Buli passives alongside other crosslinguistic examples of noncanonical passives for insight into the range of variation possible in passive constructions, with the theoretical implications brought about thereof for our understanding of voice systems in general. I conclude with some (and perhaps too cursory) remarks on my own ongoing work into similar passive constructions without morphology in Creole languages, where the facts do not straightforwardly support a similar analysis as Sulemana’s for Buli.

Phonology Circle 10/7 - Chelsea Tang (MIT)

Speaker: Chelsea Tang (MIT)
Title: Overapplication in Reduplication in Gikuyu: Evidence for Back-Copying?
Time: Monday, October 7th, 5pm - 6:30pm
Location: 32-D831

Abstract: Back-copying is an overapplication phenomenon where the reduplicant creates an environment for a phonological process to apply, after which the base “back-copies” from the reduplicant. Many scholars (McCarthy, Kimper, and Mullin 2012; Kiparsky 2010; Inkelas and Zoll 2005, among others) have argued that this phenomenon does not exist, thus presenting an overgeneration problem for Parallel Optimality Theory (OT) as proposed by McCarthy and Prince (1995). This presentation offers evidence from Gĩkũyũ that back-copying (possibly) exists. If confirmed by native speakers, this data will pose a serious challenge to both serialist and cyclic theories of reduplication. The attested back-copying patterns will also provide strong empirical support for Parallel OT.

LingLunch 10/10 - Alma Frischoff and Ezer Rasin (MIT and Tel Aviv University)

Speaker: Alma Frischoff and Ezer Rasin (MIT and Tel Aviv University)
Title: On the absence of crucially-simultaneous phonological interactions in natural language
Time: Thursday, October 10th, 12:30pm - 2pm
Location: 32-D461

Abstract: Theories of phonology should be able to generate attested types of interactions between phonological processes – including opaque interactions – and at the same time explain why certain conceivable types of interactions are unattested. We draw attention to three universals regarding unattested opaque interactions, which have been identified and defended in previous literature. These universals are expected in a rule-based theory of phonology where rules must apply serially and can never apply simultaneously. We propose to unify the three universals under a general universal called No Simultaneity, which states that there are no crucially-simultaneous phonological interactions in natural language. We then argue that this universal has important implications for theories of phonology, by showing that certain phonological theories that aim to generate opaque interactions in parallel are too permissive and over-generate unattested interactions, contrary to recent proposals that opacity is not as tied to serialism as previously thought.

MIT Linguistics @ Understanding Obviation workshop

The Understanding Obviation workshop was held at McGill University from October 4-6 (co-organized by MIT alum Jessica Coon - PhD ‘10). MIT Linguistics was well represented in the workshop with the following talks:

  • Peter Grishin (PhD ‘23 and current post-doc) and Elise Newma