LLcD 2024 round table

The round table of the conference will take place on September 11, 2024.

Theme of the round table: Linguistic and biological evolution.

Linguistic evolution is often linked to biological evolution: just as the distribution of biological traits within a population results from natural selection, the distribution of grammatical properties in languages is the outcome of historical processes that favor certain properties over others. However, the similarities and differences between linguistic and biological evolution remain a topic of debate and controversy. The discussion is complicated by the fact that theories in both disciplines evolve themselves (consider, for example, the “modern synthesis” and “grammaticalization theory” in 20th century biology and linguistics, respectively). For instance, genetic mutations are supposed to occur randomly, whereas linguistic innovations, according to various theoretical approaches, result from more or less predictable developments (reflecting, for example, functional motivations or cycles and directionality of change). On the other hand, it is unclear whether the spread of linguistic innovations is linked to the fact that they confer an advantage to users, as is the case in biological evolution. This round table aims to provide a systematic comparison between linguistic and biological evolution to better specify the extent to which conceptual notions and methodologies can be transferred from one domain to the other, particularly in regard to the study of language change and the explanation of language universals (including both Greenbergian universals and universals in the generative sense).

Plenary

Arie Verhagen, Leiden University: Evolution across disciplines: Terms, concepts, analogies, models

Talks

Sonia Cristofaro, Sorbonne Université: On two substantial differences between biological evolution and grammatical evolution

John Hawkins, UC Davis/University of Cambridge: Two Fundamental Similarities in Biological and Language Evolution and their Fundamental Differences

Martin Haspelmath, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology: Beyond naïve functionalism and audacious formalism: Convergent evolution in language structures

Freek Van de Velde, KU University Leuven: Language and sexual selection