Current Projects
Current Projects
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European Research Council Post-Doc Fellow at the CNRS - LLACAN, Paris-Villejuif
European Research Council Post-Doc Fellow at the CNRS - LLACAN, Paris-Villejuif
Can phonological theory contribute to Linguistic reconstruction? Case studies from Dogon
Fabian Zuk (CNRS LLACAN)
Dogon is a small yet varied language family of central Mali which was undocumented before the 20th century. In the last two decades however, 20+ languages within the family have been sufficiently described to allow for the reconstruction of Proto-Dogon, the hypothesized ancestor of existing Dogon languages which, in relation to other West-African language, present surprising typological traits in their phonology (treatment of ND clusters, front/back harmony), morphology (lack of noun-classes) and syntax (V final). In this talk I will present a state of the art of Proto-Dogon phonology and discuss how issues of underlying vs surface forms and synchronic vs. diachronic phonology impact linguistic reconstructions. General issues of representation and change in Dogon will also be discussed. By focusing on the reconstruction of three core vocabulary items, ‘person’, ‘tooth’ and ‘iron’, with postulated metathesis of the initial syllable NiCV → iNCV, we demonstrate how autosegmental theory may enhance the toolkit of the historical phonologist.
Link: https://univ-paris8.zoom.us/j/92315927961?pwd=WHlLYlhwa1I2VDErSlJlaEtNaWJXUT09
Bandiagara Mosaic: Peoples, Languages, Traditions
14-16 oct. 2024 Paris (France)
Thème de l'atelier
En explorant la foisonnante diversité culturelle et linguistique de la région malienne de Bandiagara, cet atelier vise à fournir une compréhension globale du patrimoine unique de la région. Nous encourageons un dialogue multidisciplinaire qui intègre les perspectives linguistiques, culturelles, historiques, archéologiques et génétiques afin d'offrir une vision plus holistique des peuples de Bandiagara.
Sujets d'intérêt
Sujets d'intérêt
Nous sollicitons en priorité des travaux de recherche abordant des sujets tels que :
La diversité linguistique et l'évolution des langues à Bandiagara
La recherche génétique et ses implications pour la compréhension de l'histoire des populations de la region
Études ethnographiques, archéologiques et culturelles des dogons et d'autres communautés locales
Analyse historique des schémas migratoires et des interactions culturelles
Influences sociopolitiques sur les paysages culturels et linguistiques
La documentation et la préservation des langues et des traditions en voie de disparition
L'impact de la mondialisation sur les cultures indigènes de la region
Méthodologies interdisciplinaires et collaboratives dans l'étude de la region
The Small Bang !
The Small Bang !
Recently recruited as a historical phonologist on the ERC-funded Mysterious Bang : A Language and Population Isolate Unlocks the Secrets of Interior West Africa’s Lost Ethnolinguistic Diversity.
BANGime is a hitherto language isolate spoken by the Bangade in West Africa. BANG means 'secret' or 'hidden' in surrounding Dogon languages, an apte name for the language which is far from understood by its neighbours, and for the speakers who have lived in troglodyte homes carved into the cliffside at the end of a valley in the Bandiagara Escarpment of central-eastern Mali.
Using big-data and careful philological attention to detail, and working with archaeologists, geneticists and other linguists, the whole team headed by our project leader Dr. Abbie Hantgan-Sonko hopes to clarify not only Bangime's origins, but also the role of migration and language contact in its evolution and preservation.
A Rendez-Vous with History : Scientific Game Jam 2023
I'll be leading a team in the development of a new scientific game, this time on the linguistic prehistory of the Bandiagara Plateau ! Come out to Blois on the 6th-8th of October to see our creation in action !
Château de Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France
Check back soon to keep up with my current projects!
Check back soon to keep up with my current projects!
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