Emergence at the Cross‐Linguistic Level

Abstract

Recent research on language change in a broad cross-linguistic perspective shows that patterns of change are very similar even in languages that are unrelated both genetically and areally. This chapter analyzes closely two types of paths of change: those evident in sound change, and those resulting in grammaticalization. It draws several parallels with the study of non-linear dynamic systems. Attractor states A cross-linguistic view of phonological inventories of segments shows a non-random distribution of segment types across the languages of the world. Just as attractors may take various forms in physical systems, there are several ways in which attractors may be applicable to language. The chapter discusses the attractor states in language, which may be further visualized by observing certain parallels with evolutionary biology. It also discusses language change in terms of attractor trajectories that is, diachronic paths that recur in language after language.

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