Linguistics Colloquium: Ryan Henke

Linguistics Colloquium: Ryan Henke, UW-Madison

“Informing language science and revitalization: Properties of child-directed speech in Northern East Cree”

Abstract: This presentation investigates the morphosyntactic properties of verbs from child-directed speech (CDS) in Northern East Cree, an Indigenous Algonquian language spoken in Eeyou Istchee territory within Québec. CDS is a register of language spoken to young children, which is crucial to how language is passed to new generations of speakers, and therefore represents a key interest for language science and revitalization. Using video recordings from the Chisasibi Child Language Acquisition Study (mun.ca/cclas), I analyze speech from one adult to one child, from approximately age two to four. Results indicate some general simplifications/modifications in verb structure but also increasing complexification as the child grows older—while context also plays a key role in determining some facets of verbal patterns. For language science, these findings are compatible with existing cross-linguistic research and provide more information about CDS in an under-represented language. These findings also have implications for language revitalization, answering questions directly from practitioners, which can inform their approach in language immersion programs, teacher training, and resource creation for parents.

Friday, April 11, 3pm, Merrill 316