Project description
The influence of hyphenation on the phonological grammar
The perception and production of syllables by native speakers often disobey the principles of phonological grammar due to the influence of prescriptive norms of written speech, like hyphenation. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the SIGMA project will examine this phenomenon in Standard Modern Greek. Through innovative experiments and models of phonological analysis, it explores how speakers' preferences may vary with respect to the identification of syllable boundaries, offering a nuanced understanding of syllabification. Beyond theoretical linguistics, its insights hold promise for education and language policy, benefiting diverse learners and potentially transforming language curricula worldwide.
Objective
When speakers syllabify a word, they are expected to rely on their implicit knowledge of how their phonological grammar treats certain sound sequences; yet, they often produce or accept as well-formed alternatives that may come into conflict with grammar rules. Interestingly, such divergent variants seem to be influenced by prescriptive hyphenation rules.
SIGMA examines the influence of hyphenation on the perception and production of syllable boundaries taking Standard Modern Greek as a case study. The speakers varying preferences will be revealed via large-scale experimental tasks addressing participants of diverse literacy backgrounds and employing novel methodologies (language games, judgments using a Likert scale) for the first time in research on Greek syllabification. Intra- and cross-speaker variation will be modeled within Gradient Harmonic Grammar, which assumes that abstract representations here, innovatively, structural components of the syllable have a gradient activity level that affects their probability of realization. Thus, instead of selecting the correct form and discarding all others, this model generates variants with different chances to emerge. The findings will be incorporated into a concise guide offering an up-to-date description of syllabification rules, introducing variation as a possibility.
SIGMAs experimental methodology and theoretical assumptions can be extended to the study of a wide range of linguistic phenomena and populations, including individuals with speech pathologies or speakers of L2/heritage Greek. Beyond its significant scientific impact, its applications, especially to education, will have major societal and economic impact, as the project paves the way for revising educational resources, including tailored materials for atypical/non-native populations. These enhanced materials will be exploitable by official educational bodies in Greece and abroad, in curricula for Greeks of diaspora or language learning apps.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9019 Tromso
Norway
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