Expressivity and expressives: An aesthetic perspective

Talk with Jeffrey P. Williams, Texas Tech University.

The "aesthetics of grammar" refers to the idea that grammar, beyond its functional role in language, can also be appreciated for its beauty, elegance, and structural harmony. It explores how grammatical structures and features can evoke aesthetic responses, similar to how we appreciate and respond to art or music. 

In this talk I will discuss the aesthetic perspective on expressivity as manifested through the use of expressives. My data will be primarily drawn from Jarai, an endangered Chamic language of Vietnam and the Montagnard diaspora; and, Scots, an endangered Germanic language of Scotland.