Linguistic Creativity in Generative Grammar
by CRC 1646 project A01 | Bielefeld: 21 May 2025
Linguistic Creativity in Generative Grammar
Workshop Abstract
In generative grammar in the Chomskyan tradition, linguistic creativity is mostly taken to be the availability of a limited set of rules (word formation, recursive application of rules) to create an infinite number of expressions. This kind of creativity has frequently been called productivity. While productivity is certainly one crucial aspect of linguistic creativity at play in (morpho)syntax, language users also seem to be able to create new expressions that do not conform with their existing rule system, but are successful in expressing an intended meaning. There is little research in synchronic linguistics of the mechanisms that allow for creating new expressions on the spot. One such process that is frequently mentioned in functional and construction grammar approaches is analogy. Project A01 of the CRC1646 investigates analogy in various dimensions in (morpho)syntax on the basis of a range of long distance dependencies and aims to formalize such creative deviations from the rule system for generative grammar frameworks.
Programme
The workshop takes place in the Long-Table Room at the ZiF
Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung (ZiF)
(Centre for Interdisciplinary Research)
Methoden 1
33615 Bielefeld
Long Table Room
Campus map
Overview map of Bielefeld city – Bielefeld university connections
| Time | Talk |
|---|---|
|
13:30- 14:10 |
András Bárány (University of Edinburgh) & Jutta M. Hartmann (Universität Bielefeld) The Role of Analogy in Generative Grammar |
|
14:10- 14:15 |
Coffee break |
|
14:15- 15:00 |
Fabian Zöfelt (Universität Bielefeld) German wenn-clauses and Linguistic Creativity with a commentary by Anke Himmelreich (Universität Bielefeld) |
|
15:00- 15:30 |
Coffee break |
|
15:30- 16:15 |
Szilvia Daczó (Universität Bielefeld) Long-distance agreement with intransitives in Hungarian with a commentary by Anke Himmelreich (Universität Bielefeld) |
|
16:15- 16:20 |
Coffee break |
|
16:20- 17:00 |
Ralf Vogel (Universität Bielefeld) & Jana Häussler (Universität Bielefeld) Grammar Creation Competence |
|
17:00- 17:05 |
Coffee break |
|
17:05- 18:00 |
|
- B&B HOTEL Bielefeld-City
- Boardinghouse Campus Bielefeld
Alternatively, the university’s Boardinghouse has a very limited number of guest apartments available. This costs 65,00€ per night. This must be organised privately.
Boardinghouse Campus Bielefeld
Morgenbreede 2-4, 33615 Bielefeld
+49 521 106 886 50
e-mail: Boardinghouse@stwbi.de and boardinghouse-campus-bielefeld@stwbi.de- Further options
- Jugendgästehaus Bielefeld (Youth Hostel Bielefeld)
- Brenner Hotel Bielefeld
- Ibis Styles Bielefeld
- Légère Hotel Bielefeld
- Altstadthotel Bielefeld
- Locals Stadthotel Bielefeld (formerly Comfort Garni)
- zzzpace Bielefeld
- smartments and STAYERY Bielefeld
Venue
The workshop takes place at Bielefeld University. All activities take place in the main building of the University (number 10 on the campus map).
For navigation, use this address:
Bielefeld University
Universitätsstraße 25
D-33615 Bielefeld
- by train
by train:
You can reach Bielefeld by long-distance trains and regional trains. They will take you to the mainstation, Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof.
From Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof take tram line 4 in the direction of Lohmannshof to the stop Universität (journey time 7 minutes; every 10 mins).
For the timetable for your time of arrival, check here.- by car
by car:
From the north:
Motorway A2: Exit Bi-Ost, Detmolder Str. direction Zentrum (6 km, approx. 10 min). Way via Kreuzstr., Oberntorwall, Stapenhorststr., Kurt-Schumacher-Str. (is signposted).From the south:
Motorway A2: At the Bielefeld junction, take the A33 towards Bi-Zentrum, exit at Bi-Zentrum, follow the signs to the city centre on Ostwestfalendamm (B61), exit at Universität, follow Stapenhorststr., Kurt-Schumacher-Str. (is signposted).- by plane
Closest airports are Düsseldorf (190 km from Bielefeld), Dortmund (110km from Bielefeld), Hanover (110 km from Bielefeld), Cologne-Bonn (200 km from Bielefeld) and Frankfurt am Main (320 km from Bielefeld). All of them can be reached (with mostly only one change) by train. For more details, click here.