The Making and Breaking of Classification Models in Linguistics

Jane Klavan

ISBN 10: 3110665042 / ISBN 13: 9783110665048

Published by De Gruyter, DE, 2024

About this Item

The book provides a methodological blueprint for the study of constructional alternations - using corpus-linguistic methods in combination with different types of experimental data. The book looks at a case study from Estonian. This morphologically rich language is typologically different from Indo-European languages such as English. Corpus-based studies allow us to detect patterns in the data and determine what is typical in the language. Experiments are needed to determine the upper and lower limits of human classification behaviour. They give us an idea of what is possible in a language and show how human classification behaviour is susceptible to more variation than corpus-based models lead us to believe. Corpora and forced choice data tell us that when we produce language, we prefer one construction. Acceptability judgement data tell us that when we comprehend language, we judge both constructions as acceptable. The book makes a theoretical contribution to the what, why, and how of constructional alternations.

Seller Inventory # LU-9783110665048

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Making and Breaking of Classification Models in Linguistics
• Publisher: De Gruyter, DE
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3110665042
• ISBN 13: 9783110665048
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 477 grams

About this title

Synopsis

The book provides a methodological blueprint for the study of constructional alternations – using corpus-linguistic methods in combination with different types of experimental data. The book looks at a case study from Estonian. This morphologically rich language is typologically different from Indo-European languages such as English. Corpus-based studies allow us to detect patterns in the data and determine what is typical in the language. Experiments are needed to determine the upper and lower limits of human classification behaviour. They give us an idea of what is possible in a language and show how human classification behaviour is susceptible to more variation than corpus-based models lead us to believe. Corpora and forced choice data tell us that when we produce language, we prefer one construction. Acceptability judgement data tell us that when we comprehend language, we judge both constructions as acceptable. The book makes a theoretical contribution to the what, why, and how of constructional alternations.

About the Authors

Jane Klavan, University of Tartu, Estonia.

Jane Klavan, University of Tartu, Estonia.