Ling H: Formal Approaches to Morphosyntactic Change
Nerea Madariaga (University of the Basque Country)
In this seminar, we will explore various approaches to historical linguistic change, with a focus on recent advances arising from the application of formal linguistics to diachronic syntax. Special attention will be given to morphosyntactic reanalysis and related phenomena, such as relabeling and grammaticalization. The seminar will begin with a review of traditional and functional approaches, examining their scope and limitations. We will then delve into generative perspectives on historical syntax, discussing key concepts and evaluating different models, such as the “contingent,” “universalist,” and “bias-based” views on historical syntax.