This document summarizes a research proposal on word order and information structure in Esperanto declaratives. The proposal aims to study whether Esperanto word order results more from language transfer from speakers' first languages or from nativization of the language. The methodology involves experimental fieldwork with fluent Esperanto speakers from Romance, Germanic, and Slavic language backgrounds to analyze broad, narrow, and contrastive focus. The analysis will use an existing Minimalist Optimality Theory case study approach adapted for Esperanto. The project offers an original contribution as the first scholarly research on this topic and interface of syntax, phonology, and sociolinguistics in Esperanto.

1. Word order and information structure in Esperanto
Federico Gobbo
(Amsterdam/ Milano-Bicocca/ Torino)
with
Francesc Torres-Tamarit (CNRS/ Paris 8) &
Edoardo Cavirani (Meertens)
Scriptiemarkt, University of Amsterdam, 11 Nov 20161 de 8

2. Introduction
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3. What is Esperanto? The linguistic answer
The most vital planned language in history, since 1887;
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4. What is Esperanto? The linguistic answer
The most vital planned language in history, since 1887;
A contact language by invention of a single man (L. L. Zamenhof)
Romance + Germanic + Slavic → regularization.
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5. What is Esperanto? The linguistic answer
The most vital planned language in history, since 1887;
A contact language by invention of a single man (L. L. Zamenhof)
Romance + Germanic + Slavic → regularization.
almost a natural language; it violates ‘only’ the priority of speech
See in particular Gobbo (2012) and Ida Stria’s PhD dissertation.
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6. What is Esperanto? The sociolinguistic answer
Purpose: international communication on an equal footing.
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7. What is Esperanto? The sociolinguistic answer
Purpose: international communication on an equal footing.
A lively community of practice, also with family speakers.
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8. What is Esperanto? The sociolinguistic answer
Purpose: international communication on an equal footing.
A lively community of practice, also with family speakers.
The norm is dictated by fluent speakers
(no authority of the native speaker can be applied here).
Prescriptive grammars and the community keep the norm unified.
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9. The project proposal
Research question: language transfer or nativization?

10. The project proposal
Research question: language transfer or nativization?
Topic: word order, focus and intonation in Esperanto declaratives
(broad, narrow and contrastive focus).

11. The project proposal
Research question: language transfer or nativization?
Topic: word order, focus and intonation in Esperanto declaratives
(broad, narrow and contrastive focus).
Novelty! No scholarly literature on the research question until now.

12. Methodology
descriptive, experimental and theoretical project;
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13. Methodology
descriptive, experimental and theoretical project;
experimental study: fieldwork with fluent Esperantophones
Romance, Germanic and Slavic L1s in contrast;
3 groups, 4 members each.
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14. Methodology
descriptive, experimental and theoretical project;
experimental study: fieldwork with fluent Esperantophones
Romance, Germanic and Slavic L1s in contrast;
3 groups, 4 members each.
Methodology: Gabriel’s (2010) Minimalist OT case study
he studied Argentinean Spanish; theoretical adaptation needed.
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15. Methodology
descriptive, experimental and theoretical project;
experimental study: fieldwork with fluent Esperantophones
Romance, Germanic and Slavic L1s in contrast;
3 groups, 4 members each.
Methodology: Gabriel’s (2010) Minimalist OT case study
he studied Argentinean Spanish; theoretical adaptation needed.
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16. Originality of the project
New research field with further potential extensions:
syntax-phonology interface, syntax, phonology, sociolinguistics,
language contact, etc.
A passionate team about the topic to work with:
me as the Esperanto expert, Francesc (Xico) and Edoardo (Edo) for
the OT case study.
Learning the most vital planned language in the world, Esperanto:
follow my course for the BA, with an extra assignment.
Learning an up-to-date methodology:
you can apply it to other languages afterwards.
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17. Thanks for your attention!
Interested?
Please, drop me a message here:
F.Gobbo@uva.nl
All my publications are here:
http:/federicogobbo.name/pub/
CC BY: $
C
Federico Gobbo & Xico Torres-Tamarit & Edoardo Cavirani 2016
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