John Mansfield

genocide disliker

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

Now out, "A Simple Explanation for Harmonic Word Order"
- we show that a core typological pattern in syntax can be explained as a consequence of word-class frequencies, so it does not need to be posited as an independent principle.
https://t.co/ZakD7vWtb8

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

Tenure track job in Computational Linguistics @ San Diego State University: https://t.co/20p7STULjh

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

I'm really happy to see the Top End Language Statement is now released. Starting in 2022, people from 10+ different communities, speaking a lot of different languages, worked together to develop this impressive piece of coordinated activism. https://t.co/xlSJ7Zr1Ih

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

_Uniform Information Density_
_Working Memory chunking_
... these seem related, both to do with unit size constraints
Any work on this?

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

I'm hiring! 2 x postdocs in Cognitive Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistics, to work on the cultural history of Australia and Papua. More details in link below, and please do repost or share elsewhere!
https://t.co/tC1MJvjR1I

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

details and application form here:
https://t.co/lrr0V65DHu

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

I'm hiring! 2 x PhD positions to work at Uni Zurich with me on "Evolutionary Semantics" for an ERC-funded project. semantically curious MA grads from linguistics, cog psych, anthro encouraged to apply
https://t.co/uROEzuzI88

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

Social functions of language may drive faster change and faster diversification in some features.
Thanks to growing diversity in variationst sociolinguistics, I gathered studies of 63 languages from 28 families. Here I sketch some potential patterns
https://t.co/f7mjkDUvB8

[Elizabeth Day 🇦🇺 @AusAmbCH]

Don’t miss out on the upcoming ASAIN event on climate risk research and modelling on 27 Aug.

Looking forward to joining the panel of excellent speakers to discuss this important topic, particularly coming off the back of a 2nd heatwave this Summer in 🇨🇭

https://t.co/lkjFKtSY6z

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

"Evolutionary dynamics of language: Insights from a diverse sample of sociolinguistic studies" forthcoming article comparing findings from phylogenetic and sociolinguistic studies
https://t.co/PnvpoAH2In

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

@hiramring Yes, we are only modelling a single-level phrase: one or more symbols being output in a linear sequence. Extending the model to allow phrases-within-phrases would be really interesting, but too much to get into here!

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

Now out, "A Simple Explanation for Harmonic Word Order"
- we show that a core typological pattern in syntax can be explained as a consequence of word-class frequencies, so it does not need to be posited as an independent principle.
https://t.co/ZakD7vWtb8

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

Thanks to Lothar Sebastian Krapp for adding a formal mathematical description!
I also got incredibly generous input along the way from Charles Kemp and Jeff Good.
... but not sure if I ever want to spend so long on one article again?? 😬

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

We treat syntax as an evolving, inherently variable phenomenon. We also argue that word classes are better treated as gradient categories, rather than fully discrete. This approach fits natural language data better than rigid rule-based models.

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

I am also open to applicants whose degree is not in linguistics, but still have relevant analytic skills or academic background, and can demonstrate a good understanding of linguistic structures and linguistic diversity.

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

I'm hiring! 2 x PhDs and 1 x PostDoc, to work with me at Uni Zurich on a project investigating how semantic patterns differ by geographic region. Linguistic typology, data science, spatial analysis, phylogenetic methods, potential fieldwork... REPOST 🙏 https://t.co/POehs9Yc0Y

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

For the PhDs, an interest in Papuan or Australian languages would be great, but other regions also possible. For the PosDoc, data science skills esp spatial and/or phylogenetic analysis are crucial.

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

if this make no sense, don't worry, just read the paper :)

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

"A simple explanation for harmonic word order"
😎 new paper with Lothar Sebastian Krapp. Formal modelling of word order as a dynamic system helped us understand some fundamental mathematical patterns!
https://t.co/8KQjZf8ouP

[John Mansfield @johnbasil]

Main finding: Parallel harmonic word order can be explained as a frequency effect. Given a simple word-order that samples previous phrases and approximately replicates their order, the most frequent word class gravitates to the phrase edge by simple probabilistic processes.