Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft Leibniz-Gemeinschaft

The disappearance of feminine grammatical gender: A case-study of Norwegian dialects

Speaker Terje Lohndal
Affiliaton(s) Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) / The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)
Date 27.02.2025, 14:00 - 15:30 Uhr
Time 14:00 o'clock
Venue ZAS, Pariser Str. 1, 10719 Berlin; Room: Ilse-Zimmermann-Saal (Ground floor)

Abstract

In recent years it has been shown that feminine grammatical gender forms are disappearing from several Norwegian dialects. In a large cross-dialectal investigation we are probing this change further, trying to understand which forms are changing, at which rate it is happening, and why we see these changes. The emerging empirical picture is clear: Whereas Norwegian dialects traditionally had the Germanic three-gender system (masculine, feminine, neuter), many dialects are now becoming two-gender systems consisting of common gender and neuter. In this talk, I present the rationale behind the cross-dialectal investigation, the methodology we have employed (an extensive battery of experimental tests), and I discuss a selection of results involving indefinite articles, definite suffixes, pre- and postnominal possessive forms. From a theoretical point of view, I discuss the relationship between gender and declension class, and I argue that we can understand the morphosyntactic change in question through the model proposed by Svenonius (2017), who argues that feminine grammatical gender can be reanalyzed as a declension class. In particular, this analysis allows us to model the behavior of definite suffixes and postnominal possessive forms.

Code of conduct for ZAS events: The ZAS is committed to fair, respectful, and professional interaction at its events. Therefore, please observe the Code of Conduct for this event.