An Exemplar Dynamic Approach to Language Shift

Abstract

This squib presents an exploration of how Exemplar Dynamics (Hintzman 1986; Goldinger 1996; Pierrehumbert 2001) can be used to model the increased phonetic variability observed in language shift situations. It is based on a study of laryngealized resonants, as pronounced by three fluent speakers of St’át’imcets, a Northern Interior Salish language of British Columbia.

The influence of language shift on Sanapaná vowels: An exemplar-based perspective

“…In sum, the exemplar theoretic interpretation of current models of language shift proposed here seems to account for the effects of language attrition on Sanapaná vowels. It confirms Bird's (2008) findings that speakers with reduced L1 exposure show increased intracategory variation, presumably through the decay of exemplars associated with L1 categories. It goes beyond Bird's (2008) predictions in explaining how decreased L1 exposure may cause further convergence with the L2 than mere fluency in this contact language.…”

“…It confirms Bird's (2008) findings that speakers with reduced L1 exposure show increased intracategory variation, presumably through the decay of exemplars associated with L1 categories. It goes beyond Bird's (2008) predictions in explaining how decreased L1 exposure may cause further convergence with the L2 than mere fluency in this contact language. In fact, this study does not conclusively support convergence to L2 categories as a necessary outcome of L2 fluency when not accompanied by long-term removal from a majority-L1 environment.…”

“…Studying multilingualism and degree of L1 exposure separately has allowed me to propose an extension to Bird's (2008) exemplar-theoretic account of language shift. I argue that both phonetic convergence by multilingual speakers and increased variability paired with even stronger convergence by speakers with reduced L1 exposure are predicted by an exemplar model that assumes that L2 tokens are perceived and categorized in the same way as L1 tokens.…”

“…This model offers specific predictions for the Sanapaná case. Consider the vowel system of a monolingual Sanapaná speaker upon first exposure to Spanish/Guaraní vowel tokens (Figure 4; cf., Bird, 2008:395). The L1 vowels each have a distinct exemplar cloud, both in perception and production.…”

“…The concept of "language attrition"-a decrease in L1 exposure following successful acquisition-has been proposed as an alternative explanation. Bird (2008), for one, argued that increased variability in the realization of laryngealization in St'át'imcets resonants is due to reduced exposure to St'át'imcets on the part of its speakers.…”