LangSci Lunch Talk Nick Huang (LING) & Allie Johnson (HESP)
Nick Huang (LING)
Title: Learning exceptions to grammatical constraints
Like many other languages, English blocks the forming of questions about a part of a relative clause, as exemplified by the low acceptability of a wh-question like (a) "*Which language did Mary meet a person who speaks?". However, under specific circumstances, questioning a part of a relative clause becomes better, e.g. (b) "Which language does Mary want to meet a person who speaks?" I argue that this distinction is learned, as it is not universal. How it is learned, however, poses an interesting puzzle, since English speakers are not taught about the unacceptability of (a) and rarely observe sentences like (b) in naturally-occurring contexts. I propose an indirect learning account, where learners infer about its existence by observing questions involving another construction, e.g. (c) "What did Mary go to the store to buy?", and discuss the learning biases that make indirect learning possible.
Allie Johnson (HESP)
Title: Quantifying robustness of the /t/-/k/ contrast
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Food and ideas bring people together. Our weekly lunch talk series provides students and faculty with the opportunity to present their in-progress work to a supportive, interdisciplinary audience.
Lunch is served starting at 12:15pm.
