Re: Are Linguistic Changes Accelerated by...


Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> Darkstar wrote:
> >
> > Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> > > Darkstar wrote:
> > >
> > > > > One of Labov's claims is that English is changing faster now than
> > > > > ever before.
> > > >
> > > > BTW, what exactly does he claim?
> > >
> > > That English is changing faster now than ever before.
> > > --
> > > Peter T. Daniels grammatim@xxxxxxx
> >
> > Basically, we need a general lineal equation that analyses factors and
> > their respective partial coeffients that influnce the rate of
> > linguistic changes. I think Nathan has already raised this question
> > before... I dropped the topic, though, because it's so hard to talk to
> > you, guys :-)
>
> Mathematical linguistics was one of the fields pioneered by Soviet
> linguists. Go read about it!
>
> There also used to be a very weird mathematician who used to post here
> on this very topic. I won't say the name for fear of raising his shade
> -- but he teaches at a university maybe ten miles west of me.
> --
> Peter T. Daniels grammatim@xxxxxxx

You're so supersticious, Peter :-) In fact, it's not about math, it's
all about picking a set of most influential factors and determining
their weights, that is their influence on the rate of change.
Like,
factor 1 has 70% of influence
factor 2 has 30%
....
factor n has 1%
Very little math, and a lot of linguistics.

Has it ever been done anywhere? Can someone enlighten me, if so?...

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "par coeur" origin
    ... Peter T. Daniels wrote: ... that "parenthetical asides" are very, ... linguistics; but you reject the fundamental assumption of linguistics -- ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: "par coeur" origin
    ... Peter T. Daniels wrote: ... linguistics; but you reject the fundamental assumption of linguistics -- ... it was an opinion on what would or would not be regarded as ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: What was Noam Chomskys contribution to *LINGUISTICS*?
    ... > Peter T. Daniels wrote: ... I agree it's not easy to find philosophers of language who base ... > qualify that his influence in the philosophy of language was ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Are Linguistic Changes Accelerated by...
    ... >> Darkstar wrote: ... >> Mathematical linguistics was one of the fields pioneered by Soviet ... > You're so supersticious, Peter :-) In fact, it's not about math, it's ... that is their influence on the rate of change. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: effects of prescriptivism
    ... Peter T. Daniels wrote: ... > was like 50-100 years ago, when linguistics was a-borning. ...
    (sci.lang)