Dr. Katie Sardinha will give an in-person research seminar 3:30-4:30pm, March 1st, 2024. The title and abstract for the talk can be found below.
Title: Using an inductive learning approach to train speaker-linguists in Kwak’wala grammar
Abstract: In this talk, I’ll discuss how we are using an inductive learning paradigm to teach Kwak’wala sentence structure. We approach language as a pairing of form and meaning, in which verbal predicates (form) refer to events (meaning). The key to understanding Kwak’wala sentence structure lies in concepts of event structure. We begin by demonstrating one-to-one correspondences in active clauses between grammatical roles (subject, instrumental object, accusative object, la-phrase, ḵa-phrase) and event roles (Initiator, Co-initiator, Non-initiator, Location, Reason). By altering these correspondences in systematic ways, we can derive internal-argument alternations and voice alternations. Causative alternations depend on whether a causal situation is construed as one or two events, and whether one or both events are expressed as a predicate. This core content is supplemented with a corpus of 12 causal-sequence storyboards and an annotated verb dictionary.
Similar to many first-year linguistics courses, the course we are developing is organized as a sequence of structured datasets together with answer keys. We call this the “DOGS” method: students are presented with data (D) and are prompted to make observations (O) of the data, form generalizations (G) about their observations, and reflect on the significance (S) of discovered patterns. Grammatical knowledge is accumulated gradually, together with a technical vocabulary for describing it. Compared with traditional deductive learning, inductive learning tends to require greater investment of time and attention on the part of students. However, it also tends to result in deeper learning and better retention of grammatical knowledge, while simultaneously teaching students how to do linguistic analysis. In this way, we aim to train speaker-linguists who will possess the tools necessary to accelerate Kwak’wala revitalization efforts.