Optimal categorisation: a psycholinguistic perspective on the development of gender systems

Optimal categorisation: a psycholinguistic perspective on the development of gender systems

The possessive classifier systems of Oceanic languages can provide a unique insight into the origin and nature of gender. Typically, a noun can occur with different classifiers, depending on how the possessed item is used by the possessor (Lichtenberk, 1983). For example, wi ‘water’ in Lewo (Vanuatu) occurs with either the drinkable or the general classifier (Early, 1994:216).

In marked contrast, North Ambrym’s (Vanuatu) cognate for water – we – occurs only with the drinkable classifier (2a), not the general classifier (2b) (Franjieh, 2016:95):

We argue that North Ambrym’s innovative system resembles a gender system: a noun must occur with a particular classifier regardless of contextual interactions. We seek to establish empirically whether gender systems can indeed emerge from possessive classifiers in this way. We must also uncover how and why languages would relinquish a useful, meaningful classificatory system, and adopt a rigid, apparently unmotivated gender system.

We have designed and will run seven novel experiments to compare possessive classifier systems in six Oceanic languages of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Each of these six languages has a different inventory size of classifiers — from a simple two way distinction to a more complex inventory of twenty-three. Effective categorisation needs to be simple, to minimise cognitive load, and informative, to maximise communicative efficiency (Hawkins, 2004). These different classifier systems also represent varying degrees of informativeness, with some systems having transparent semantic motivations, whereas others have opaque assignment. Optimal categorisation is therefore a trade-off between these two principles of simplicity and informativeness.

The experiments are constructed to investigate both the origin and nature of the new systems: (i) free listing, (ii) card sorting, (iii) video vignettes, (iv) possessive labelling, (v) eye tracking, (vi) storyboards, (vii) category training, and will provide objective data that can be compared across languages and experimental contexts. The free listing experiment will establish central members of a classifier’s semantic domains, which will vary from language to language. The card sorting experiment will reveal how speakers categorise relevant nouns and whether conceptual groupings map onto classifiers. Finally the video vignettes depict typical and atypical interactions with different items, and will be used to ascertain whether there is a rigid assignment of nouns to classifiers, or whether speakers are free to use different classifiers.

We will present initial data from the first three experiments, suggesting that the classifier systems tested represent different stages of grammaticalisation from classifier to gender marker, and reveal intriguing inter-speaker variation in classifier choice which will uncover the relative optimality of each system.

This combination of typology with psycholinguistics promises to shed new light on the development and functioning of systems of nominal classification. We are keen to have feedback after the first and before the second round of psycholinguistic experiments in the field.

References
Franjieh, Michael. 2016. Indirect Possessive Hosts in North Ambrym: Evidence for Gender. Oceanic Linguistics55:87-115.

Early, Robert. 1994. A Grammar of Lewo, Vanuatu. Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, Canberra.

Hawkins, John. A. 2004. Efficiency and Complexity in Grammars. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lichtenberk, Frantisek. 1983. Relational Classifiers. Lingua 60(2-3):147–176.