The role of language variation in mental grammars: an optimality-theoretic perspective

• Sonia Colina ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Arizona

     University of Arizona

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone linguistics, ISSN-e 2199-3386, ISSN 1939-0238, Vol. 1, Nº. 2, 2008, págs. 435-446
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This paper argues that language variation plays a critical role in the shaping and understanding of mental grammars and that Optimality Theory is a crucial player in demonstrating the relevance of variation data for advancing our knowledge of mental grammars. It takes the position that experimental, quantitative and variationist studies need to formalize the results of their research (cf. Díaz-Campos & Colina 2006) and propose grammars that generate the variable patterns described, as well as their interaction with non-variable patterns. Similarly, existing formal models of variation need to be tested against quantitative and variable corpora and data, and analyses and predictions need to be compared to evaluate formal accounts of variation (Auger 2001 and Cardoso 2001). The optimality-theoretic studies reviewed show that this is already an emerging and important line of research that opens the doors to unprecedented progress both in variationist and formal phonology.