Arjen P. Versloot
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Personal notes
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Research activities
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Publications
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Personal NotesArjen Pieter Versloot, born in Schiedam, the Netherlands, in 1965.
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Research Actvities
Activities:
Dissertation:
Mechanisms of Language Change: vowel reduction in 15th century West Frisian
Promotors: Prof. dr. G.J. de Haan (Groningen), Prof. dr. J.F. Hoekstra (Kiel)
Co-promotor: dr. W. Visser (Leeuwarden/Groningen)
How does language change take place and couOther Activitiesld developments be predictable? In this study, Arjen Versloot evaluates these questions, supported by analysis of the decline in the use of unstressed vowels in the Frisian language between 1300 and 1550. This decline is found, for example, in the words: Old Frisian sitta ‘to sit’ > Modern Frisian sitte and Old Frisian sone ‘son’ > Modern Frisian soan.
The study presents two models of language change. Model one considers the duration and intensity of vowels in individual words, rather than abstract, underlying phonemes. The order and timing of vowel reduction can thus be predicted with 95% accuracy over a period of 200 years.
In the second model, the language user is regarded as a ‘calculating speaker’, evaluating what he hears from others, estimating the reception by listeners, and a little lazy in his articulation. With an accuracy of over 90%, the model predicts the order and timing of changes in verbal and nominal endings where vowel reduction is involved.
These results of the study support the hypothesis of language as a deterministic, dynamic system, where the ‘grammar’ and its change are the outcome of self-organization in the language system.
The models are fed with detailed data from late-mediaeval Frisian texts, providing a significant amount of new information about Open Syllable Lengthening, Vowel Balance, Vowel Harmony and Apocope/Syncope. One of the remarkable conclusions is that 15th and 16th centuries Frisian was probably a tonal language, just like modern Norwegian.
The data from the mediaeval charters and the codex Unia underlying my thesis, is too big to include into the printed edition. I therefore publish the data on-line:
- Charter data 1
- Charter data 2
- Charter data 3
- Plurals in -an
- Apocope Frisian dialects
- Unia data 1
- Unia data 2
- Statistical Testing data
The promotion took place at November 13, 2008 in the city of Franeker/Frjentsjer
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Frisian Language Database
The Frisian Language Database is a major research tool for study of the Frisian language. I have acted as its project leader for the last 6 years and was responsible for the conceptual design of the new database structure and user interface, that were implemented in winter 2009.
Three major concepts that have been implemented are:
- a hybrid database structure: XML-structured texts, MySQL relational database for attribute and meta data;
- a (nearly) complete morphological tagging of the central lemmalists (both for Old and Modern Frisian), enabling full search on free and bound morphemes through the entire language material. An extinct word such as frihals 'freedom' can be found trough the modern word hals 'neck';
- the introduction of 'super-lemmas', connecting etymologically related but formal distinct lemmas, such as tek '(thatched) roof' < OF thek and dak 'roof (general)' < Dutch dak (following technical innovations). The combination with the morphological tagging helps bridging the gap with older language stages without inventing nonsense lemmas.
We are currently looking for ICT-capacity to complete the migration of the dispersed, old databases into the new unified database.
Quantitative Language Research
I am currently preparing publications in the field of phonetics, child language acquisition (in particular noun gender) and morphology. They are all based on corpus linguistics and quantitative analysis methods. The language system is considered to be a complex dynamic system that is basically deterministic. The language user applies general cognitive abilities to master the language and formulates her/his utterances. Probabilistic strategies are a central issue in this approach.
The adjacent graph shows the choice for either of the two competing suffixes -ens and -heid (such as in sûnens/sûnheid 'health') in Modern West Frisian according to three variables:
- frequency of the compound (two parallel rows);
- the position of the stress in relation to the suffix (1 = stress on the last syllable before the suffix; > 1 = 1 or more unstressed syllables between the stresses syllable and the suffix);
- the formal contrast between the Frisian word and the Dutch cognate (N = very similar, FF = formal similarity of the root, but different meaning or different morphological formation, F = Frisian words with no direct formal Dutch cognate).
Atlas of European Languages / Atlas Linguarum Europae
The Atlas of European Languages is a long term project. I have been a member of the editorial board since 2003. The last couple of years, the board is exploring the option of digital map publication on line:
ALE-website, maintained by the ALE-secretary in Bucarest
ALE-map site, with commentary pages, maintained by the Fryske Akademy.
Other Activities
Asked as anonymous reviewer for:
- the Cambridge Journal of Germanic Linguistics
- Neerlandistiek.nl
Member of the editorial council of Taal en Tongval.
Project leader of the Fryske Taalhelp 1.0 (2004) and 2.0 (2007), word processing tools for Frisian writing, and the BerneTaalHelp (2005); all three completed
Project leader for work package 'Spacelab' in the Alfalab project.
Participating in the 'NWO-groot' application for the Taalportaal (a grammatical description of Dutch and Frisian) and intended main track supervisor for Frisian.
Publications
(publications in English or German in bold type face)
monographs marked with a vertical bar
Versloot, A.P. (1991)
"Kût, skynbonke en "Fessel": in strukturalistyske wurdstúdzje", in: Us Wurk 40/1-2 (1991), blz.1-20.
Versloot, A.P. (1991)
"Aldwesterlauwersk Frysk /e:/ yn it Nijwesterlauwerske Frysk", in: It Beaken 53/2 (1991), blz.71-96.
Versloot, A.P. (1994)
'Fuß' und 'Bein' in den modernen friesischen Mundarten, eine strukturell-semantische Untersuchung. Fach friesische Philologie Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, 1994.
Versloot, A.P. (1996)
"De foarming fan famyljenammen yn it dialekt fan Wangereach", in: Ebeling (e.a.) (uitg.): Friezen, in bondel stúdzjes oer persoansnammen. Fryske Nammen 10, Fryske Akademy, Ljouwert, 1996, blz. 37-44.
Versloot, A.P. (1996)
'Wittenskip en taalplenning. Oer de nije hânwurdboeken fan it Fering-Öömrang, it Mooringer Frasch en it Wiringhiirder Freesk' (= besprek fan: 'O. Wilts, Wurdenbuk för Feer an Oomram. Wörterbuch der friesischen Gegenwartssprache von Föhr und Amrum, Amrum, 1986', 'B. Sjölin, A.G.H. Walker & O. Wilts, Frasch Uurdebök. Wörterbuch der Mooringer Mundart, Neumünster, 1988' en A. Petersen, B. Sjölin, A.G.H. Walker & O. Wilts, Freesk Urdebuk. Wörterbuch der Wiedingharder Mundart auf der Grundlage eines Manuskripts von peter Jensen (1861-1939), Neumunster, 1994', in: Us Wurk, 45, pp. 36-54.
Versloot, A.P. (1996)
'Konsonantgeminaten in der Sprache der Wangerooger: eine Einmaligkeit unter den westgermanischen Sprachen', in: A. Petersen & H.F. Nielsen, red. (yn oparbeidzjen mei R.H. Bremmer Jr., E.W. Hansen & F.T. Stubkjær), A Frisian and Germanic Miscellany. Published in Honour of Nils Århammar on his Sixty-Fifth Birthday, 7 August 1996 (= NOWELE, vol. 28/29), Odense/Bredstedt, pp. 241-250.
Versloot, A.P. (ed.) (1996)
H.G. Ehrentraut, "Mittheilungen aus der Sprache der Wangeroger", besoarge fan A.P. Versloot. De neilittenskip fan H.G. Ehrentraut oangeande it Eastfryske dialekt fan it eilân Wangereach út it argyf fan it Mariengymnasium yn Jever. Oanfolling en útwreiding fan de Mittheilungen fan H.G. Ehrentraut yn Friesisches Archiv út de jierren 1847/49 en 1854. Ljouwert, xcvi + 649 pp.
Versloot, A.P. (1997)
'De Wangereager wurdlist fan U.J. Seetzen fan 1799', in: Tydskrift foar Fryske Taalkunde, 10, pp. 69-105.
Versloot, A. (1999)
'Westerlauwerskfryske dialektology', in: A. Dykstra en R.H. Bremmer Jr, red., In Skiednis fan 'e Fryske Taalkunde, Ljouwert, pp. 228-241.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Ta de etymology fan de plaknamme De Tike en Nederlânsk veek', in: Us Wurk, 50, pp. 1-13.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Twa etymologyske stúdzjes: Westerlauwerskfrysk nuet en Egmondsk glaai/Sölring glaat', in: It Beaken, 63, pp. 118-124.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Das Wangeroogische', in: H.H. Munske (red.) (in Zusammenarbeit mit N.R. Århammar, V.F. Faltings, J.F. Hoekstra, O. Vries, A.G.H. Walker en O. Wilts), Handbuch des Friesischen/Handbook of Frisian Studies, Tübingen, pp. 423-429.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Grundzüge ostfriesischer Sprachgeschichte', in: H.H. Munske (red.) (in Zusammenarbeit mit N.R. Århammar, V.F. Faltings, J.F. Hoekstra, O. Vries, A.G.H. Walker en O. Wilts), Handbuch des Friesischen/Handbook of Frisian Studies, Tübingen, pp. 734-740.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Ältere ostfriesische Sprache und Literatur', in: H.H. Munske (red.) (in Zusammenarbeit mit N.R. Århammar, V.F. Faltings, J.F. Hoekstra, O. Vries, A.G.H. Walker en O. Wilts), Handbuch des Friesischen/Handbook of Frisian Studies, Tübingen, pp. 741-744.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Vergleichende Aspekte friesischer Lautgeschichte', in: H.H. Munske (red.) (in Zusammenarbeit mit N.R. Århammar, V.F. Faltings, J.F. Hoekstra, O. Vries, A.G.H. Walker en O. Wilts), Handbuch des Friesischen/Handbook of Frisian Studies, Tübingen, pp. 767-775.
Versloot, A. (2001)
'Op syk nei it Fryske genoom', in: De Vrije Fries, diel 81, pp. 119-122.
Versloot, A. (2002)
'Spoaren fan 'fokaallykwicht' yn it Fêstewâlnoardfrysk', in: Us Wurk, 51, pp. 55-69.
Versloot, A. (2002)
'Brekking yn it Skylger Frysk en Súdwesthoeksk', in: It Beaken, 64, pp. 247-271.
Versloot, A.P. (2006)
'It auteurskip en de datearring fan 'Ansck in Houck': in reaksje', in: Us Wurk, 55, pp. 131-139.
Versloot, A.P. (2008)
Mechanisms of Language Change: vowel reduction in 15th century West Frisian (dissertation). Utrecht: LOT.
Van Bree, C., A.P. Versloot (2008)
Oorsprongen van het Stadsfries, with an extensive summary. Fryske Akademy - Afûk, Ljouwert.
Scientific publications in a refereed journal
Versloot, A. (2002)
'Die wangeroogischen Diminutivendungen -uuk und -iik', in: Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik, Band 56, pp. 223-231.
Versloot, A.P. (2003)
'Fries in Holland in de 17e eeuw', in: Taal en Tongval, 55, pp. 1-40.
Versloot, A.P. (2005)
'Why Old Frisian is still quite old', in: Folia Linguistica Historica, XXV/1-2, pp. 253-298.
Slofstra B., E. Hoekstra, A.P. Versloot (2009)
'Een voorbeeld van gecamoufleerde taalbeïnvloeding: samenstellingsvormen van sjwa-substantieven in het Fries': in: Taal en Tongval, 61, pp. 21-44.
Other publications in Linguistics
Versloot, A.P. (1994)
"Dea fan in Eastfryske taal, de ûndergong fan it Wangereagersk", in: Mear 12 (1994), 18-19.
Versloot, A.P. (2004)
'Fryske wetternammen. In bestjoerlik proses en nammekundige tûkelteammen', in: De Pompeblêden, 75, pp. 2-3.
Versloot, A.P. (2004)
'Stedsk: in nuver grienmank?', in: De Pompeblêden, 75, pp. 42-44.
Versloot, A.P. (2005)
'De skriuwer op it spoar: resjersjewurk yn de Fryske literatuer', in: De Pompeblêden, 76, pp. 62-65.
Jonkman, R.J., A.P. Versloot (2008)
Tusken Talen, it ferhaal fan de Fryske taal. Utjouwerij Fryslân, Ljouwert.
Versloot, A.P. (1996-2007)
'Taalgenoat en Taalgeniet', c. 170 language columns in the Friesche Dagblad (newspaper).
Publications in Cartography, Geography, Onomastics, Political Sciences
Versloot, A.P. (1988)
"Locatiebeschrijving van topografische objecten in namenbestanden", in: Kartografisch Tijdschrift 14/4 (1988), pp. 33-38.
Versloot, A.P. (1991)
(contributed to) H.J. van Dorsser en Ph.L. Rieff (1991)
Geomorfologische kaart van het Nationaal Park Veluwezoom, wandelingen door een 'ijstijden-landschap'. Vereniging tot Behoud van Natuurmonumenten, 's-Graveland.
Versloot, A.P. (1992)
""Kunt u mij de weg naar Himmelum vertellen mijnheer?" Over hoe het is en hoe het verder moet met het Fries op de topografische kaarten", in: Kartografisch Tijdschrift 18/3 (1992), pp. 26-34.
Versloot, A.P. (1992)
"De weergave van aardrijkskundige namen in het Europa van vandaag", in: Kartografisch Tijdschrift 18/4 (1992), pp.59-69.
Ormeling, F.J., Versloot, A.P. (1992)
Toponymic Guidelines of the Netherlands for map and other editors. Fifth United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names, Montréal, 1992.
Versloot, A.P. (1996)
Wenjen en wurkjen yn Fryslân, sosjaal-ekonomyske atlas / Wonen en werken in Friesland, sociaal economische atlas. Utjouwerij Bornmeer, Wânswert, 1996.
Versloot, A.P. (1997)
"Atlas van Wonen en werken in Friesland / Atlas fan Wenjen en wurkjen yn Fryslân: de eerste sociaal-economische atlas van de provincie Friesland", in: Kartografisch Tijdschrift 23/2 (1997), pp.29-34. (Bespreking van de atlas door C.P.J.M. van Elzakker op blz.44/45 van hetzelfde nummer.)
Versloot, A.P. (1997)
"Politics", "The social state", in: DIVEDAD, Diversity in Adult Education: the modules on the Netherlands, printout of the projectfile. Fryske Akademy, Ljouwert, 1997.
Versloot, A.P. (1997)
Plaknammen yn / Plaatsnamen in Fryslân, standertlist mei offisjele en offisjeuze toponimen fan alle plakken meo doarps- of stedsstatus. Ried fan de Fryske Beweging / Versloot-kartografy, Ljouwert / Hilaard, 1997.
Huisman, K. (1998)
(mapdesign and some texts) Fryslân op de kaart, historische atlas van Fryslân (CD-rom). Afûk, Leeuwarden, 1998.
Versloot, A.P. (2001)
Wetternammen yn Fryslân, list fan frysktalige nammen foar de topografyske kaarten 1:25.000, "waterkaart van Fryslân" en de "vaarwegenverordening Fryslân", advys oan de provinsje Fryslân. Hilaard, 2001.
Versloot, A.P. (2002)
Caseverslagen centrumgemeenten Arnhem en Dordrecht, onderdeel van het onderzoek van de Afdeling Bestuurs- en Communicatiewetenschappen van de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam naar de uitvoering van de regeling van de specifieke uitkeringen voor maatschappelijke en vrouwenopvang en amabulante verslavingszorg, 2002.
Ormeling, F.J., Versloot, A.P. (2008)
"Friese plaatsnamen als cultureel erfgoed", in: It Beaken. Tydskrift fan de Fryske Akademy, 70(1/2), pp. 3-22.
(contributed to) (2009) De Bosatlas van Fryslân. Noordhoff Atlasproducties, Groningen. (Several maps in section 1, p. 16-29, and several maps and editorial advises in section 11, p. 174-179.