Situational diversity and linguistic complexity

Abstract: In this paper, I introduce a situational approach to the study of linguistic complexity. As opposed to most research on linguistic complexity, which has focused on the grammatical complexity of languages, I consider this topic from a situational perspective. I make two proposals. First, I claim that languages can vary in their situational diversity. Languages that have been adapted for a wider range of communicative contexts are more situationally complex than languages that have been adapted for a narrower range of communicative contexts. To support this claim, I consider examples of situational diversity from across a range of different languages and varieties of languages, drawing on empirical research from linguistics and anthropology. Second, I claim that situational diversity can help explain variation in grammatical complexity. I propose that increasing situational diversity in a language over time should lead to decreasing grammatical complexity. Furthermore, I argue that this trade-off between situational and grammatical complexity could explain how overall linguistic complexity could be maintained across languages and over time.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Situational diversity and linguistic complexity ; volume:9 ; number:s1 ; year:2022 ; pages:73-81 ; extent:09 ; Linguistics vanguard ; 9, Heft s1 (2022), 73-81 (gesamt 09)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Grieve, Jack

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/lingvan-2021-0070
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023060114141769781487
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:48 AM CEST