5th Variation and Language Processing Conference

Where do we keep indexical meaning?

Linguistic features at all levels of structure can be used to match, highlight, and shape aspects of the speech context, a semiotic system we call indexicality or indexical meaning (Silverstein 1977, 2003). While somewhat understood at the interactional and cultural levels, indexical meaning is poorly understood at the cognitive level. The most widespread cognitive model of sociolinguistic processing is the sociolinguistic monitor (Labov 1993), which I argue in Campbell-Kibler (2016) is insufficient to capture the patterns of sociolinguistic behaviour we witness across different aspects of language and social processing.

In this talk I argue that a model of sociolinguistic behaviour and, more specifically, of indexical meaning, must be grounded in realistic models of both language and social cognition. I argue that while sociolinguistic systems of meaning-making are powerful and self-reinforcing at the larger levels (see for example Irvine & Gal's (2000) semiotic processes of language ideology), the evidence suggests that at the cognitive level they are distributed across multiple types of processing, each of which develops and accesses its own indexical links between linguistic and social constructs. I suggest that closer attention to research on memory systems will yield more effective models of sociolinguistic processing and, in turn, improve our understanding of concepts like social meaning, salience, and language attitudes.

Variations on a Theme in the Neural Infrastructure for Language

Undeniably members of the species homo sapiens produce and understand speech, and many of them are able to read and write. They do this in very different varieties.  The sound repertoires of the more than 7000 languages that are still around today vary widely, as do their grammatical structures, and the meanings that their lexical items code for. For instance, some languages have a sound repertoire of only a dozen phonemes, whereas others have more than a hundred; some languages have a very elaborate system of morphological markers, whereas others are very limited in their morphological inventory; some languages make semantic distinctions in one domain, others in another domain. Further, sign languages are expressed by movements of hands and face, whereas spoken languages are expressed by movements of the vocal tract. In addition to the variability in the world's languages, there is individual variation in language skills within the population of any given language community. Some people command only a limited vocabulary and simple sentence structures, whereas others are polyglots speaking multiple languages fluently, or can do simultaneous translation between languages.

Undeniably the human brain provides the neurobiological infrastructure for our human language skills. This infrastructure requires the contribution of multiple neural networks, some more specialized for language than others. In addition, there is substantial neural plasticity that enables the accommodation of language variation and individual variation in language skills. I will provide examples from a tone language and language cortex in the congenitally blind. This variation is, however, not unbounded. Certain basic neural motifs can be identified. These motifs are determined by the connectomic organization of the brain. I will discuss some recent insights into the variations on a theme in the neural infrastructure for language.

The registration deadline is 20 August 10 2021.

Please register by filling in the registration form.

The fee for participation on site will be 750 Danish kroner (approximately 100 Euro/125 US $/85 £) and includes coffee and lunch throughout the conference. Participation online will be 75 Danish kroner (approximately 10 Euro/12.50 US $/8.50 £). The conference dinner will be 475 Danish kroner (approximately 64 Euro/75 US $/55 £) for a three-course dinner with two beverages at the waterfront restaurant Kayak Bar.

In case we need to move all of VALP5 online because of covid-19, we will refund registration fees for those who have prepaid for attendance on site.

The conference takes place on South Campus of the University of Copenhagen, which is located on Amager (island). The campus is quite new and modern situated with easy access to public transport . 

The nearest metro stop to the conference venue is Islands Brygge on the M1 line (green line). You need to take the metro towards Vestamager from the City. There are several busses that stop next to or close by the conference venue. Look for bus lines 33 and 5C if you are travelling from Copenhagen city center. More information on conference Google Map

To/from the airport

The metro is a quick way to reach the city (~15min). 
Depending on the location of your hotel, you may choose to go by train or Metro to/from the airport. For more information on transport to and from the airport, we suggest you visit the Metro website.
More about tickets and fares for public transport below.

Taxi from the Copenhagen airport to the city centre is about 300kr, roughly 40EUR. 

Traveling from the central train station in Copenhagen

The central station is situated in the city center. From here you can take the metro line M3 to Kongens Nytorv and change to line M1 (direction Vest Amager) to Islands Brygge near the conference venue. You can also take bus line 5C (C busses are yellow articulated busses marked with a blue corner) from the stop at Amager Blvd./ Amager Fælledvej it is a short walk to the conference venue.

Around the city

Getting around Copenhagen and getting to the conference venue is easy using public transportation. With the opening of the new circle line addition to the Metro it is even easier to move fast from one location to another. General information from Visit Copenhagen about public transportation in the greater Copenhagen area is available on www.visitcopenhagen.com.

Taxis

There are of course also taxis available, but this is a rather expensive means of transportation in Copenhagen.
Calculate your expected fare and find link to smartphone app on taxa.dk.

By bike?

If you want to feel like a Dane, you may want to rent a bicycle; most hotels would have that option. It takes about 15-30 minutes to cycle anywhere in the central area.

You can also take the bicycle on the metro (only outside rush hour!), but you have to buy a bicycle ticket. It is free to take a bicycle on the S-train.