Hidden variability and its limits in expressing meaning. A view from West African languages (C02)

• Subject Area: Applied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 317633480

C02 investigates limits of Hidden Variability (HV) in the structure and interpretation of surface-identical expressions in West African languages. The goal is to identify limits of variability in the expression of meaning, which are imposed (i.) semantically, by the meaning to be expressed; (ii.) structurally, by grammatical constraints; and (iii.) by general constraints on the syntax-semantics interface, such as competition and blocking. The project will look at HV in the N-domain (Bare NPs and DPs), in the V-domain (serial verb constructions, exceed-comparatives), and in the C-domain (counterfactuals, anteriority, weak necessity).

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1287: Limits of Variability in Language: Cognitive, Computational, and Grammatical Aspects
• Applicant Institution: Universität Potsdam
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Malte Zimmermann