| title: | Areal developments of Finnic languages |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6528 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | University of Tartu |
| head of project: | Tiit-Rein Viitso |
| duration: | 01.01.2005 - 31.12.2008 |
| description: | The main goal of this project is to establish the special features in the field of phonetics, morphophonology, morphology, and morphosyntax and their range of smaller Finnic languages with the purpose of checking up and, when needed, changing several standpoints of the historical grammar of Finnic languages that may be based on the belief of the long-lasting persistence of the grammatical system of the Finnish language (i.e. on the theory of the so-called Finnish refrigerator). This aim includes the following relatively autonomous subgoals which may turn out to be perspective even in a much longer perspective. (1) An instrumental study of the prosody and, possibly, also of vowels of the Livonian language. Next to the three quantity degrees of the Estonian language, the Livonian language with its five quantitative and tonal distinctions is of special interest. (2) Elaboration of a new theory of the rise of Livonian grade alternation. So far Lauri Kettunen (1938 and later) has erroneously denied the existence of grade alternation in Livonian, Lauri Posti's theory of its rise (1942) was erroneously based based on the Finnish model of gradation. The possible success in the field makes it conceivable toattempt to establish (2A) a relative chronology of of Livonian sound changes. Even if such an establishment fails, a correct theory of the rise of grade alternation permits to present (2B) a satisfacory description of the sound history of Livonian and to try to formulate (2C) a new general theory of Livonian, non-Livonian Finnic and Lappic. (3) Filling gaps in investigation of Livonian morphological system and morphosyntax and compiling a description of the phonological morphological system of of Livonian. Describing the Votic and Ingrian verb inflection. (4) Entering into computer the Livonian lexicological collections. Entering into computer the Livonian lexicological collections that contain data on morphological typification and word usage would facilitate the data retrieval (5) Study of Literary Livonian Concentrating all the texts published or written in Literary Livonian would create a basis both for descibing the Literary language and compiling a comlete Livonioan dictionary in the future. (6) Study of the range and development of words denoting a set of nearly twenty concepts and providing both intensive and interesting variation in Finnic dialects together with a critical checkup of their etymologies. Study of range of words expressing concepts that have penetrated into Finnic dialects in different times permits to establish ranges of influence of former centers. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Merike Parve | University of Tartu | Research fellow of Finnic languages | |
| 2. | Tiit-Rein Viitso | University of Tartu | senior researcher | |