Current projects
Underexplored southwest China: Ersu and Yi languages (with Andre Batchelder-Schwab)
This project aims to do deepen our understanding of understudies languages in southwest China through the lens of two under-studied Tibeto-Burman languages–Ersu and Nuosu Yi--which are found in roughly the same area. Anticipated outcomes of this project center on producing descriptive volumes on the phonetics and phonologies of each language as well as extensive work on syntax and semantics. (This project is supported by the Association for Asian Studies EIAC Grant (2022), Boston University GSO Research Grant (2023), Boston University Graduate Research Abroad Fellowship (2024).)
This project aims to do deepen our understanding of understudies languages in southwest China through the lens of two under-studied Tibeto-Burman languages–Ersu and Nuosu Yi--which are found in roughly the same area. Anticipated outcomes of this project center on producing descriptive volumes on the phonetics and phonologies of each language as well as extensive work on syntax and semantics. (This project is supported by the Association for Asian Studies EIAC Grant (2022), Boston University GSO Research Grant (2023), Boston University Graduate Research Abroad Fellowship (2024).)
- 2024. Accounting for Ersu adjective forms under DM
Ying Gong | talk at CELEA 3, May 6-8, Ca' Foscari University, Venice, Italy - 2024. Sibilant phoneme boundaries in Yuexi Ersu
Andre Batchelder-Schwab and Ying Gong | talk at CELEA 3, May 6-8, Ca' Foscari University, Venice, Italy - 2024. How formal and semantic markedness align in Ersu
Ying Gong | poster at WCCFL 42, April 12-14, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA - 2024. A markedness-based account of Ersu degree constructions: comparatives, equatives and degree questions
Ying Gong | poster at LSA 2024, Sheraton NY Times Square, January 4-7, New York, NY
Degree abstraction parameter cross-linguistically (with LiSLab)
This project investigates the availability of a configuration involving of abstraction over degree variables in languages, a.k.a. the degree abstraction parameter (proposed by Beck et al. 2004, 2010). It focuses on the reassessment of the proposed diagnostics and the reexamination of languages that are claimed to have a negative setting of DAP, including Ende, Ersu, Mandarin Chinese and Mòoré. It also aims to create new semantics storyboards for eliciting degree constructions expressing complex dimension.
This project investigates the availability of a configuration involving of abstraction over degree variables in languages, a.k.a. the degree abstraction parameter (proposed by Beck et al. 2004, 2010). It focuses on the reassessment of the proposed diagnostics and the reexamination of languages that are claimed to have a negative setting of DAP, including Ende, Ersu, Mandarin Chinese and Mòoré. It also aims to create new semantics storyboards for eliciting degree constructions expressing complex dimension.
- 2024. Is Degree Abstraction a Parameter or a Universal? Evidence from Mandarin Chinese
Ying Gong and Elizabeth Coppock | In Nat Lang Semantics [DOI; accepted manuscript] - 2024. No need for the Degree Abstraction Parameter Mòoré
Ying Gong and Elizabeth Coppock | talk at ACAL 55, May 2-4, McGill University, Montreal, Canada - 2023. On degree abstraction in Mòoré
Ying Gong and Elizabeth Coppock | talk at WALC 33, October 23-26, University of Ghana, Legon - 2021. Mandarin has degree abstraction after all
Ying Gong and Elizabeth Coppock | talk at LSA 2021, January 6-9, virtual
Algonquian relative roots
The relative root construction has been claimed to be unique in Algonquian languages and plays a significant role in Algonquian syntax and semantics. This project tackles the class of morphemes called relative roots in the Algonquian literature using a position-based analysis and aims to provide a unified semantics of each relative root that accounts for their various thematic and athematic uses.
The relative root construction has been claimed to be unique in Algonquian languages and plays a significant role in Algonquian syntax and semantics. This project tackles the class of morphemes called relative roots in the Algonquian literature using a position-based analysis and aims to provide a unified semantics of each relative root that accounts for their various thematic and athematic uses.
- forthcoming. Arguments for multiple positions of relative roots (in Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Meskwaki, and East Cree)
Ying Gong | In proceeding of the 54th Algonquian Conference [accepted manuscript] - 2023. A positional-based analysis of Algonquian relative roots
Ying Gong | talk at LSA 2023, January 5-8, Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO - 2022. Accounting for the variation in use of Algonquian relative roots
Ying Gong | talk at the 54th Algonquian Conference, October 20-23, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
Previous projects and unpublished
I have also worked on a bunch of different topics, mostly on Chinese languages, including:
The semantics of jiu: exclusive, non-exclusive, and minimal sufficiency (Qualifying Paper, Boston University);
A movement-based analysis for the asymmetry in Chinese sluicing constructions (M.A. thesis, Syracuse University);
Tone sandhi in Chengdu dialect;
Chinese resultative compound verbs;
......
and on third-language acquisition:
The acoustic features of plosives in Korean, Chinese and English produced by Korean speakers;
The acquisition of American English (L3) and Chinese (L2) rhotic /r/ by Uyghur speakers.
The semantics of jiu: exclusive, non-exclusive, and minimal sufficiency (Qualifying Paper, Boston University);
A movement-based analysis for the asymmetry in Chinese sluicing constructions (M.A. thesis, Syracuse University);
Tone sandhi in Chengdu dialect;
Chinese resultative compound verbs;
......
and on third-language acquisition:
The acoustic features of plosives in Korean, Chinese and English produced by Korean speakers;
The acquisition of American English (L3) and Chinese (L2) rhotic /r/ by Uyghur speakers.