CreteLing-2024-Super Linguistics
Introduction to Super Linguistics
CreteLing 2024
(Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, University of Oslo)
(LINGUAE, Institut Jean-Nicod, CNRS; New York University)
July 15-26, 2024 - Rethymno, Crete
Site under construction!
Topic
We will offer an introduction to Super Linguistics (using the term 'super' in its original Latinate meaning 'beyond'), which we define as the application of formal methods inspired by linguistics to non-standard objects (beyond standard linguistic objects of study). In this course, we zoom in on iconicity in sign language, iconic and interactive gestures, animal signals (ape gestures, monkey and bird alarm calls), and dance syntax and semantics in the primate family. This class is introductory in that it does not presuppose familiarity with super linguistic topics, however, introductory level knowledge in syntax, semantics and pragmatics will be presupposed.
General readings for this course:
Patel-Grosz, Pritty, Salvador Mascarenhas, Emmanuel Chemla, Philippe Schlenker (to appear in Linguistics & Philosophy). Super Linguistics: an Introduction. [LingBuzz]
Schlenker, Philippe (2019). What is Super Semantics? Philosophical Perspectives [LingBuzz] [Published version]
Material for the class (readings, slides) will either (i) be linked to the sessions below, or (ii) be made available in this Dropbox folder (note: this folder hasn't been updated yet; it currently reflects last year's course).
Instructor emails
Patel-Grosz: pritty.patel-grosz@iln.uio.no
Schlenker: philippe.schlenker@gmail.com
Sessions (this hasn't been updated yet and reflects last year's course)
Week 1: Meaning in the visual modality
Class 1: Monday 17th July, 2023
Combining Logical and Pictorial Semantics I: LFs with viewpoint variables (Schlenker)
Readings: one of the following three:
Introductory-level: Schlenker, Chapter 2 of What it All Means (preprint in the Dropbox folder)
Schlenker, Visible Meaning (long)
Shorter alternative: Schlenker, Logical Visibility and Iconicity in Sign Language Semantics: Theoretical Perspectives
Note: This class will focus on the interaction between iconic and logical representations. For a detailed discussion of cases of Logical Visibility (= cases in which sign languages make some key aspects of LFs overt), see the readings.
Class 2: Tuesday 18th July, 2023
Class 2: Tuesday 18th July, 2023
Combining Logical and Pictorial Semantics II: Iconic Syntax (Schlenker)
Entirely optional: Schlenker et al. Iconic Syntax (to appear, Linguistics & Philosophy)
Class 3: Thursday 20th July, 2023
Class 3: Thursday 20th July, 2023
Interactive gestures: case studies THROW and FLING (Patel-Grosz)
Readings:
Francis et al (2023), THROW
Class 4: Friday 21st July, 2023
Super Linguistics of emojis: five case studies in emoji linguistics (Patel-Grosz)
Readings:
Fugate et al., Implications for emotion
Grosz et al., A semantics of face emoji in discourse
Grosz et al., Discourse anaphoricity vs. perspective sensitivity
Maier (to appear), Emojis as pictures
Week 2: Meaning in animal communication (and beyond)
Note (July 24, 2023): The sessions below have been re-ordered. The content of the sessions is unaffected.
Class 5: Monday 24th July, 2023
Monkey semantics: Are there monkey implicatures? (Schlenker)
Readings: one of the following three:
Introductory-level: Schlenker, chapters 14 of What it All Means (preprint in the Dropbox folder)
Short: Schlenker et al. What do monkey calls mean?
Long: Schlenker et al. Formal Monkey Linguistics
Class 6: Tuesday 25th July, 2023
Bird semantics: Is there compositionality in bird calls? (Schlenker)
Readings: Schlenker et al., The ABC-D of Animal Linguistics: Are Syntax and Compositionality for Real?
Class 7: Thursday 27th July, 2023
Ape gestures: experiments and determining core meanings (Patel-Grosz)
Readings:
Patel-Grosz, The search for Universal primate gestural meanings
Henderson, Grosz, Graham, Hobaiter, Patel-Grosz, Shared semantics: exploring the interface between human and chimpanzee gestural communication
Patel-Grosz et al., Primate origins of discourse managing gestures: the case of hand fling.
Class 8: Friday 28th July, 2023
Towards a formal linguistic analysis of dance in the primate family (Patel-Grosz)
Readings:
Douglas et al., Pointing and Pantomine in wild apes? Female bonobos use referential and iconic gestures to request genito-genital rubbing
Fan et al., Rhythmic displays of female gibbons offer insight into the origin of dance
Hattori et al., Rhythmic swaying induced by sound in chimpanzees
Solberg et al., Pleasurable and Intersubjectively Embodied Experiences of Electronic Dance Music
Solberg et al., Waiting for the bass to drop
Solberg et al., Group behaviour and interpersonal synchronization to electronic dance music
Turrell et al., When tension is exciting
Turrell et al., Wait for it