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Sesquipedalian #3

the SESQUIPEDALIAN 				       Volume V,  No. 3
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'More than you ever wanted to know'		       October 20, 1994


		    JOURNAL INTERPRETATION (PART VIII)

WHEN THEY SAY:				IT REALLY MEANS:
One can hardly imagine the		Don't be alarmed if I introduce
development of an explanatory		some pretty weird little
science without the discovery of	invisible doohickeys to get my
entities that are unknown in		explanatory payoff.  It's ok,
prescientific experience...		real scientists do it.

It is necessary for the growth of	I may seem to be disagreeing
a theory to work out several 		with Chomsky here, but don't
alternatives...				worry, I really am a good guy.

Interesting theories do not avoid	I'm saying some things that look
conflicts with data, but rather		as if they're completely wrong,
create clashes on purpose...		but what you've got to understand
Idealization involves counterfactual	is that real scientists do this
representation, by definition.  In	all the time, and it's completely
general, improvements in the 		kosher.  My account is so much
structure of theories may lead to	nicer, it's just mean to try and
a (temporary) loss of descriptive	show that it's wrong about the
adequacy...				mere facts.

It is entirely pointless to list	Don't waste my time bringing me
arbitrary data from arbitrary		your weird data from languages 
languages in order to refute		no one ever heard of when I'm 
principles...				trying to do some theory, ok?

Mathematical order is not directly 	If you look for my beautiful 
reflected in the common sense 		constraints to leap out at you
classification of any domain of		from your grubby field notes, 
reality...				you're in for a disappointment.

Classical mechanics makes		In physics they say things that
assertions which not only are		nobody can possibly check up on.
never confirmed by everyday 		I just don't see why you're 
experience, but whose direct		prepared to trust those nerds in
experimental verification is		their white coats more than 
impossible.				you're prepared to trust me.

(Text by Jan Koster, 1978
Interpretation by Geoff Pullum)

		     ^\^\^\ LOOK WHO'S TALKING /^/^/^

-- At NWAV-XXIII at Stanford this week, Norma Mendoza-Denton and Tom
Veatch will be giving a workshop on Mainframe Varbrul.  Norma will
also be presenting her paper 'Multiple membership and stance-taking in
Latina adolescents' conversation.'  Also at NWAV, Elizabeth Traugott
and Scott Schwenter will be presenting a workshop on
grammaticalization, Arto Anttila will be presenting 'Variation as
constraint competition: Evidence from Finnish morphology,' Paul
Kiparsky will deliver 'An optimality-theoretic perspective on variable
rules,' and Peter Sells, John Rickford, and Tom Wasow will be
presenting 'An optimality theoretic approach to variation in negative
inversion in AAVE.'  Furthermore, Renee Blake will present her paper,
'Resolving the don't count cases in the quantitative analysis of the
Copula in African American,' and Whitney Tabor is presenting 'A new
way of analyzing function/grammar interaction.'  As if that wasn't
enough, Rudi Gaudio will present 'Not straight talk: "indirect"
speech and transgender identity in Hausa, and in the Speech Acts and
Events session, Bonnie McElhinny presents 'When a homeless woman wants
to make a burglary report.'  But wait!  There's more!  John Baugh
presents 'Linguistic shame and the lame: refining the definition,' and
Kenji Hakuta will be participating in the panel discussion 'What can
sociolinguistics offer the schools?'
		
 	           ^/^/^/ LINGUISTICS COLLOQUIUM \^\^\^

There will be NO COLLOQUIUM this week due to NWAV-XXIII this weekend!
Great!

		         ^\^\^\ NWAV-XXIII /^/^/^

	   NWAV 23:  Registration and Hotel Information
			STANFORD UNIVERSITY
			OCTOBER 20-23, 1994
	23rd Annual Conference on New Ways of Analyzing Variation.
   The Major Annual Conference on Sociolinguistic Variation and Change.

Thursday, October 20:  Workshops 12:00-5:50 
Evening Panel Discussion:
Analyzing Variation Above the Level of Phonology
William Labov, Beatriz Lavandera, Gillian Sankoff, Donald Winford

Friday Evening, October 21 Featured Speaker:
Marcyliena Morgan

Saturday Evening, October 22 Panel Discussion:
What Can Sociolinguistics Offer the Schools?
Arnetha Ball, Kenji Hakuta, Geneva Smitherman,
Guadalupe Valdes, Walt Wolfram

ALSO - Special Sessions Friday and Saturday:

Issues in Collecting Visual Data:
Links Between Signed and Spoken Languages
Catherine Ball, Ceil Lucas, Lisa Martinez, Melanie Metzger, Peter Patrick,
Elizabeth Winston

Optimality Theory and Connectionist Approaches to Variation:
Arto Anttila, Paul Kiparsky, Whitney Tabor

AND - Musical and Dance Performances by African American, Chicano, and
Japanese American Groups

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
MAINFRAME VARBRUL (12:00-1:20): This workshop will review the mechanics of
using the variable rule program on a mainframe computer.  The advantages,
relative to varbrul on a personal computer, include faster processing time,
and increased editing, searching and data-handling capabilities. By the end
of the workshop, participants should be able to use VARBRUL on the
mainframe and interpret its results. They will also receive a partial
annotated bibliography. 

CODE-SWITCHING  (1:30-2:50):  This workshop will survey current approaches
to both the socio-pragmatic functions of code switching (CS) and the nature
of structural constraints on intrasentential code switching. These
approaches will include Myers-Scotton's own "markedness model" (applying to
social motivations for CS) and her "matrix language frame model" (providing
a production model for intrasentential CS). Participants will examine CS
data from several corpora to see how they are analyzed/explained under
various approaches.  

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS WITH MYSTAT (3:00-4:20) This workshop will demonstrate
how to perform basic statistical tests, (including chi square and t-tests)
on published data which should have had such tests done but didn't.  There
will also be some discussion of the rationale for significance testing. 
Mystat is a simplified version of Systat. 

GRAMMATICALIZATION (4:30-5:50): This workshop will survey some of the main
issues in the field of grammaticalization. We will relate
grammaticalization to some of the current issues in
sociolinguistics/variation theory, with special reference to gradience,
variation, and social networks. Possibilities for integrating the two
fields will be explored. Workshop participants will analyze both diachronic
and synchronic data that will illustrate the semantic -pragmatic and formal
changes that occur during the grammaticalization process, with particular
reference to evidence for unidirectionality and subjectification.

	 	      ^/^/^/ CALL FOR PAPERS \^\^\^

-- CMC/95: International Conference on Cooperative Multimodal
Communication, Theory and Applications (Sponsored by the Universities
of Brabant Joint Research Organization (SOBU)).  Eindhoven, The
Netherlands, 24-26 May 1995.  The Eindhoven University of Technology,
in collaboration with the Institute for Perception Research in
Eindhoven and the Institute for Language Technology and Artificial
Intelligence in Tilburg, will host an international conference on the
theory and applications of COOPERATIVE MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATION to
take place in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 24-26 May 1995.  The aim of
the conference is to bring together scientists involved in research
concerning the design, implementation, and application of forms of
cooperative human-computer communication where natural language (typed
or spoken) is used in combination with other modalities, such as
visual feedback and direct manipulation.  The conference will focus on
formal, computational, and user aspects of building cooperative
multimodal dialogue systems. Papers are sought in areas which include,
but are not limited to, the following topics: cooperativity in
multimodal dialogue, natural language semantics in a multimodal
context, formal and computational models of dialogue context,
incremental knowledge representation and dialogue, interacting with
visual domain representations, collaborative problem solving,
constraint-based approaches to animation and visual modelling,
effective use of different interactive modalities, modelling temporal
aspects of multimodal communication, type theory and natural language
interpretation, knowledge sharing technologies.  All submitted papers
will be refereed by an international programme committee.  Authors are
asked to submit an extended abstract of their paper of minimally 4 and
maximally 7 pages, including references and keywords, by December 15,
1994. Only electronical submission will be possible.  Submitted
extended abstracts should be emailed to denk@kub.nl; they should
preferably be in standard LaTeX format.  If, for whatever reason,
electronic submission is not possible, please contact the organization
committee secretariat (phone +31-13.66.23.80, fax +13 - 13.66.29.48).
Submission of extended abstracts: 15 December, 1994.  Notification of
acceptance: 1  February, 1995.  Final papers due: 15 March, 1995. 

-- SCiL-7: The Student Conference in Linguistics (University of
Connecticut, April 8-9, 1995).  Students are invited to submit
abstracts for 30-minute talks in all areas of theoretical linguistics,
including language acquisition and psycholinguistic studies.  Students
may submit one individual and one joint abstract.  Please send the
following by January 3, 1995: six copies of an anonymous abstract no
more than 2 pages in length, with 1" margins and 12 pt. font.  The
second page need not be limited to data and references. (E-mail
submissions allowed.) Also a 3x5 card with the title of the paper,
name and affiliation of author(s), mailing addresses, phone numbers,
and e-mail addresses, to
	SCiL-7
	The University of Connecticut
	Department of Linguistics
	341 Mansfield Road U-145
	Storrs CT 06269-1145
	phone: 203/486-4229
	email: linqadm5@uconnvm.ucon.edu

 	         ^\^\^\ FELLOWSHIPS/ASSISTANTSHIPS /^/^/^

-- INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN AND GENDER: 1994-95 Graduate
Dissertation Fellowship Program.  Receive $1000 for research expenses;
join an interdisciplinary scholarly community.  The IRWG is pleased to
announce fellowships for Stanford doctoral students.  These
fellowships, which are being initiated in the 1994-95 academic year,
will be awarded to 6 students who are writing dissertations that focus
on the issues of women and/or gender.  The Institute will provide a
$1000 stipend to be used for research-related expenses such as books
or travel.  Fellows will take part in a weekly seminar to share their
work with other fellows and members of the IRWG community.  In this
pilot year, the fellowships extend from mid-December through June.
Additional information and application forms are available at the
Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Serra House (next door to
the Haas Center).  For additional information, contact Chris Golde,
via electronic mail (preferred) at golde@leland or by phone at
960-1464.  Application deadline: Tuesday, November 15, 1994.

-- BECKMAN INSTITUTE: Applications are invited for appointments as
Beckman Institute Fellows at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.  These fellowships provide an excellent opportunity
for young scholars to initiate a post-Ph.D. career of independent
research in a stimulating and supportive interdisciplinary academic
environment.  The fields of research include the behavioral and
biological sciences, chemistry, engineering and physics.  A Beckman
Institute Fellow will be appointed for a term of up to three years.
Completion of all requirements for the Ph.D. is required before the
fellowship can begin.  Fellowships can begin as early as June 1995 but
no later than December 31, 1995, without special permission from the
director of the Beckman Institute.  Persons wishing to apply for a
Beckman Institute Fellowship should contact the Beckman Institute for
an application packet:
	Office for External Relations
	Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
	University of Illinois
	405 North Mathews Avenue
	Urbana IL 61801
	phone: 217/244-5582
	fax: 217/244-8371
	email: jjones@director.beckman.uiuc.edu
For full consideration, application materials must be postmarked no
later than December 10, 1994.  The names of those selected as fellows
will be announced on or about March 1, 1995.

		      ^\^\^\ TRUE LINGUISTICS /^/^/^

CROSSCULTURAL INCONVENIENCE DEPARTMENT: A semanticist who is a native
speaker of German tried to compare the following:
	(1) John had eggs for breakfast.
	(2) John had x for breakfast.
Unable to differentiate between the two examples, she was forced to
give up and use y instead.

		     ^/^/^/ JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS \^\^\^

(REDUNDANCY NOTICE: For fuller listings of these and other jobs, don't
forget to check the Jobs binder in the Greenberg Room, and the file
'jobslist.txt' on the CSLI directory /user/linguistics.)

-- CENTRAL COLLEGE (Pella, Iowa): Assistant professor of
English/linguistics beginning September 1, 1995.  Qualifications:
Ph.D. in linguistics or other appropriate field, with at least one
other English subfield, teaching experience preferred.  ABD
considered.  Responsibilities include teaching courses in the
linguistics major which include courses such as Methods of TESL,
Advanced English Grammar, Principles of Linguistics, History of the
Language, Phonetics and Phonemics, Sociolinguistics, and other
offerings designed to assist students for whom English is a second
language.  Advising majors and non-majors and support for the
department and the mission of the college are expected.  Applicants
should send a letter of application and resume.  Candidates must also
arrrange for at least three confidential letters of reference, and
official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.
Application materials should be directed to
	Dr. Virginia M. Coombs, Dean
	Central College
	Pella, Iowa 50219
Review of applications will begin November 15, 1994, and continue
until the position is filled.  EOE/AA

-- UC BERKELEY: Four tenure-track assistant professorships,
unrstricted by field. We especially welcome applications in African
American Literature, the Later seventeenth and Eighteenth Centures,
Contemporary LIterature and/or Cultural Studies, AND THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE. For the African American field, elevation to a tenure-level
appointment will be considered in the case of a candidate who is
alrady an assistant professor with a strong record of achievement.
Send CV, dossier, and written sample of no more than 25 pages to
Professor Catherine Gallagher, Personnel Chair. Applications
postmarked after the deadline of November 1, 1994 will not be
considered.  The University of California is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

-- UC BOULDER: The Institute of Cognitive Science of the University of
Colorado invites applications for a tenure-track position in the
Department of Linguistics. Candidates should have demonstrated
interests in Cognitive Science, with a specialization in Linguistics,
that can contribute to interdisciplinary research and training at the
doctoral level. Candidates must also be able to teach a range of
undergraduate and graduate courses in Linguistics and Cognitive
Science. A research focus on syntax and semantics in diseourse is very
strongly preferred, using computational approaehes or strongly
interdisciplinary approaches within Cognidve Science. Research
interest in more than one language, including English, is desirable.
Preference will be given to candidates at the assistant professor
level but candidates at all levels will be considered.  The University
of Colorado strongly supports the principle of diversity. We are
particularly interested in receiving applications from women, ethnic
minorities, disabled persons, veterans, and veterans of the Vietnam
era.  Applicants should send a resume and three letters of reference
to 
	Dr. Martha Polson, Associate Director
	Institute of Cognitive Science
	Campus Box 344
	University of Colorado
	Boulder, CO 80309
Applications should be received by January 15, 1995, to ensure
consideration. Early applications are encouraged.

(REDUNDANCY NOTICE: For fuller listings of these and other jobs, don't
forget to check the Jobs binder in the Greenberg Room, and the file
'jobslist.txt' on the CSLI directory /user/linguistics.)

		        ^\^\^\ INSTA-PRIZE /^/^/^

SECRET RULE: Guess the secret rule for the composition of this poem
and win this week's insta-prize:

	Winter Reigns

Shimmering, gleaming, glistening glow--
Winter reigns, splendiferous snow!
Won't this sight, this stainless scene,
Endlessly yield days supreme?

Eying ground, deep piled, delights
Skiers scaling garish heights.
Still like eagles soaring, glide
Eager racers; show-offs slide.

Ecstatic children, noses scarved--
Dancing gnomes, seem magic carved--
Doing graceful leaps.  Snowballs,
Swishing globules, sail low walls.

Surely year-end's special lure
Eases sorrow we endure,
Every year renews shared dream,
Memories sweet, that timeless stream.

(Mary Youngquist)


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                    ^\^\^\ CONSERVE DISK SPACE /^/^/^

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Do not use in station stops

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