Triangulation Approach for Modelling Convergence with a high zoom-in Factor (TriMCo)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Björn Wiemer
• Subject Area: Individual Linguistics, Historical Linguistics ; General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236286281

The TriMCo project aims to uncover the multi-factorial mechanisms leading to the rise of zones of linguistic convergence. The novel idea of TriMCo rests in the systematic integration of several approaches to profile a small region known for its intensive and long-lasting contacts between dialects of two typologically and genealogically similar language groups. For this purpose tools and achievements of typology, areal and contact linguistics, historical-comparative linguistics and dialect geography will be employed, together with statistical methods (multivariate analyses, unrooted trees), mainly on the basis of coherent oral discourse. This integration requires a sufficiently fine-grained level of linguistic analysis and a small enough area with well-attested phenomena of convergence. For this purpose we have chosen the Baltic-Slavic Contact Zone (BSCZ) and will attempt to establish a comprehensive picture of the mechanisms and triggers involved in the rise of 12 representative features belonging to different structural levels. These features will be analyzed both from a type- and a token-oriented perspective. Previous research has demonstrated that at least the following three factors interact: (i) universal principles, (ii) areal neighborhood effects (thus, contact), (iii) genealogical similarity. We will triangulate these three factors, i.e. establish their interplay and relative weight in comparison to one another. Variation within Slavic and Baltic varieties of the BSCZ and of Slavic and Finnic varieties in its immediate neighborhood will be analyzed in detail. In order to recognize the inclusion of particular features (and of the entire profile) into larger clines, we plan to highlight the peculiarities of the BSCZ against the background of larger, surrounding areas and of dialect continua.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants