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Sesquipedalian #6
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To: gopher-quip
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Subject: Sesquipedalian #6
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From: Kyle Wohlmut <kyle@Csli.Stanford.EDU>
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Date: Thu, 10 Nov 94 16:14:58 PST
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Flags: 000000000000
the SESQUIPEDALIAN Volume V, No. 6
/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\
'More than you ever wanted to know' November 10, 1994
CHAOS IN THE COURT PART II
More excerpts from actual courtroom shorthand collected by Mary Louise
Gilman in her book 'Humor in the Court':
Q: What is your relationship with the plaintiff?
A: She is my daughter.
Q: Was she your daughter on February 13, 1979?
Q: Now, you have investigated other murders, have you not, where
there was a victim?
Q: ...and what did he do then?
A: He came home, and next morning he was dead.
Q: So when he woke up the next morning he was dead?
Q: Did you tell your lawyer that your husband had offered you
indignities?
A: He didn't offer me nothing; he just said I could have the
furniture.
Q: So, after the anesthesia, when you came out of it, what did
you observe with respect to your scalp?
A: I didn't see my scalp the whole time I was in the hospital.
Q: It was covered?
A: Yes, bandaged.
Q: Then, later on.. what did you see?
A: I had a skin graft. My whole buttocks and leg were removed and
put on top of my head.
Q: Could you see him from where you were standing?
A: I could see his head.
Q: And where was his head?
A: Just above his shoulders.
Q: What can you tell us about the truthfulness and veracity of
this defendant?
A: Oh, she will tell the truth. She said she'd kill that
guy- and she did!
Q: Do you drink when you're on duty?
A: I don't drink when I'm on duty, unless I come on duty drunk.
Q: ...any suggestions as to what prevented this from being a
murder trial instead of an attempted murder trial?
A: The victim lived.
Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there.
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
A: Yes, I have been since early childhood.
Q: The truth of the matter is that you were not an unbiased,
objective witness, isn't it. You too were shot in the fracas?
A: No, sir. I was shot midway between the fracas and the navel.
Q: Was that the same nose you broke as a child?
Q: (Showing man picture.) That's you?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: And you were present when the picture was taken, right?
^/^/^/ LINGUISTICS COLLOQUIUM \^\^\^
UNDERSPECIFICATION BY OPTIMIZATION
Sharon Inkelas
Department of Linguistics
UC Berkeley
Friday, November 11, 3:30 p.m.
Cordura 100 (CSLI)
Happy hour will follow.
Past theories of underspecification (e.g. Ringen 1975,
Kiparsky 1982, Archangeli 1984, Steriade 1987) have based
underspecification on such principles as markedness, redundancy in
inventories, or predictability. Critics of underspecification (e.g.
Mohanan 1991, McCarthy and Taub 1992, Steriade 1994) have, however,
pointed out specific problem cases for each such principle, concluding
that underspecification is not a viable tool in the analysis of
various phenomena previously claimed to require it.
I argue in this paper that while it is true that past
principles are inadequate to fully characterize the distribution of
underspecification, it is not true that underspecification is
dispensable or uncontrollable. I propose a new theory, called
Archiphonemic Underspecification, in which underspecification is
regulated by simple, deterministic principles of optimization. Lexicon
Optimization, adapted from work in Optimality Theory by Prince and
Smolensky 1993, selects underlying form so as to optimize the
phonological mapping from input to output. Grammar Optimization,
adopted from Kiparsky 1993, ensures that the input-output mapping is
maximally structure-preserving (in the sense of not deleting
structure). Together, these principles predict underspecification in
exactly the case of predictable alternations, and nowhere else.
Specifically, predictable but nonalternating structure is fully
specified underlyingly.
From the perspective of this new account, the failure of past
principles of underspecification is understandable: they all attempt
to regulate underspecification without regard for the alternations in
any given language. Archiphonemic Underspecification underspecifies
only in case of alternations, enabling the description of ternary
contrasts and numerous other phenomena which past proposals could not
account for.
^\^\^\ SPECIAL SESSION /^/^/^
Special linguistics talk! Nov. 15, Tuesday, 19:00, Margaret Jacks
Hall (bldg 460), room 146.
Core and Periphery in Loanword Adaptation:
English Borrowings in Quebec French.
Carole Paradis
Laval University
As shown in Paradis, Lebel and LaCharite 1993 and Paradis,
LaCharite and Lebel 1994, within the framework of TCRS (Theory of
Constraints and Repair Strategies), phonological malformations in
loanwords are repaired systematically. Adaptations are minimal in
order to preserve segmental information maximally. Segment deletion
(loss of information) occurs only when the distance between the input
and the output is too large, i.e. when too many steps are required to
rescue an illformed segment (a generalization, incidentally, that
cannot be captured by a surface-only constraint framework).
However, although segmental adaptation and deletion in
loanwords are systematic and thus predictable from the point of view
of TCRS, there are facts which are puzzling for TCRS, as for any
constraint-based theory. Some segments which are clearly non-native
are nevertheless tolerated by speakers of the borrowing language in
numerous words. This is the case of the English liquids, diphthongs
and affricates in Quebec French (QF). These "tolerated" segments
contrast with the English interdentals and the laryngeal /h/, which
are totally prohibited and thus systematically adapted in QF.
Given this, one might be tempted to conclude that the
so-called "tolerated" segments are in fact now part of the QF
inventory. However, if these segments were really allowed, one would
thus expect them i. not to undergo modification in any borrowing
(unless numerous exceptions or an optional arbitrary rule is posited),
ii. to be found in native words, and iii. to be used productively,
i.e. to form new words. This is not the case. The so-called
"tolerated" segments are clearly marked in QF. A question arises
therefore: If they do not result from positive parameter-settings, how
come they are so often present in borrowed words, in contrast with the
English interdentals and the laryngeal, which are zero-tolerated?
I suggest that the so-called "tolerated" segments are in fact
part of the QF Periphery, as opposed to the interdentals and the
laryngeal which are not allowed by the periphery or by the core.
Following Chomsky 1986, I view the periphery as the domain where some
constraints of the core (though obviously not all of them) are
eliminated or weakened. I will show that not only is the notion of
"periphery" able to contrast between "prohibited" and "tolerated"
segments but, if we maintain that the periphery is not homogeneous, as
claimed by Ito & Mester 1993, it also allows us to contrast AMONG
"tolerated" segments, and make important implicational predictions of
adaptation. This analysis is based on a corpus of 1183 English
borrowings in QF, containing a total of 3667 malformations.
^\^\^\ FELLOWSHIPS/ASSISTANTSHIPS /^/^/^
-- Dissertation Research Travel Grants in International Studies
1995-96 Purpose is to enable Stanford graduate students with an
approved Ph.D. dissertation proposal related to international studies
to undertake field work required by the proposal in another country.
These students should have ocmpleted course work and necessary foreign
language training before the period covered by the grant and should be
prepared to undertake full-time research on the dissertation topic.
These grants are intended to supplement other sources of financial
support and generally do not exceed $7500.
-- Dissertation Completion Grants in International Studies 1995-96
Purpose is to help meet minimal cost-of-living expenses to enable
Stanford graduate students to write-up and complete their Ph.D.
dissertation on subjects related to international studies.
Eligibility is restricted to those students who have completed all
requirements for the Ph.D.except the dissertation. These grants are
intended to supplement other sources of financial support and
generally do not exceed $7500.
DEADLINES FOR THESE FELLOWSHIPS IS MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1995
Please contact Hena Borneo (5-2564, room 200, Encina Hall) at the
Institute for International Studies for applications.
^/^/^/ CALL FOR PAPERS \^\^\^
-- FSLM-VI: The Sixth Annual Meeting of the Formal Linguistics Society
of Mid-America will be hosted by the Indiana Univeristy Linguistics
Club at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on May 19-21, 1995.
Abstracts are invited for 20-minute talks in all areas of formal
linguistics (syntax, phonology, morphology, semantics,
psycholinguistics, etc). Selected papers presented will be published
in the FLSM VI proceedings, published by the IULC. Please submit 10
copies of a one-page anonymous abstract suitable for reproduction (an
additional page with examples and references may be included). Use
fonts no smaller than 12 pts. Authors should identify themselves on a
separate 3" x 5" index card. The card should contain the following
information: title of paper, name of author, address/affiliation,
electronic mail address, phone number. Send abstracts to
FLSM 6 Committee
Indiana University Linguistics Club
Department of Linguistics
322 Memorial Hall
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Address inquiries electronically to flsm1995@indiana.edu or Elizabeth
Purnell (elpurnel@silver.ucs.indiana.edu). ABSTRACTS MUST BE RECEIVED
BY JANUARY 31, 1994.
-- ACAL- 26: 26th Annual Conference on African Linguistics at the
University of California, Los Angeles (March 24-26, 1995). SPECIAL
THEME: African Language Classification. In Honor of the 80th Birthday
of Joseph H. Greenberg and the 40th Anniversary of the Publication of
'Studies in African Linguistic Classification.' All those interested
in participating are invited to submit abstracts relating to the
special theme of the conference, or on any other aspect of African
Linguistics. They should be of not more than 250 words in length and
should arrive by January 10, 1995. They may be submitted in the
standard submission form or by e-mail. To submit or to receive
further announcements contact
Tom Hinnebusch (or Ian Maddieson)
ACAL-26
Department of Linguistics
UCLA 405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90024-1543 USA
e-mail: ACAL26@humnet.ucla.edu
ACAL-26 will be preceded by a meeting of the African Language Teachers
Association, March 23 and followed by the 6th Nilo-Saharan Linguistics
Conference (if funding approved) March 27-28. For more information on the
Nilo-Saharan Conference, contact M. Lionel Bender, Dept of Anthropology,
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL 62901 USA.
-- KANSAS WORKING PAPERS IN LINGUISTICS: Number 1: General
Linguistics. Number 2: Studies in Native American Languages.
Deadline: January 20, 1995. Ihe editors of Kansas Worbng Papcrs in
Linguistics will produce two numbers of volume 20, 1995. We welcome
submissions of papers on all topics in the field of linguistics and
closely related disciplines for Number 1. Papers dealing wlth native
languages of the Americas will be selected for Number 2. Since we are
a working paper, publication in KWPL does not preclude later
publication elsewhere of revised versions of papers. Student papers
are encouraged. Please send papers or inquiries to
Editors, KWPL
Linguistics Department
427 Blake Hill
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66046
e-mail: LGSA@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
^/^/^/ TRUE LINGUISTICS \^\^\^
ANAGRAMS (1995 Job Market Edition): These academic anagrams courtesy
of Philip 'The Deacon of Deconstruction' Frankenfield:
JOBLESS DOCTORATES HIRING FREEZES
O Socrates' Bold Jest E-Z sigh refiner
Boast? Toss Cold Jeer Fringe sez 'Hire!'
Eh, fire zingers
LOST GENERATIONS
Rage: I net no slots DOCTORAL GLUT
O, in a gross nettle Lag? Rot? Cut old!
As regents toil on Gad! Toll! Court!
Logs on 'n' iterates Cod cut; rot, all
GENERAL DOWNSIZING STREAMLINING
Learn Dow's zinging Ain't gremlins
Let in margins
TENURED DEADWOOD Inert, maligns
Do unto? We dreaded Grim ant lines
A wet dodo endured
Don't erode awe, dud! LOWERED EXPECTATIONS
O adorn, tweed dude! Apex? O low rent deceits!
O last expedient cower
DEMOGRAPHICS Snide? We're at octoplex
O grim case, Ph.D! Pre-laws note code, exit
Mo' Ph.Ds? Cagier! Dole econ? Praxis: tweet!
R.I.P. ad hoc gems! Nee ex-post-cold-war tie
Come, aphids, gr... I.e., context deals power
Gamier Ph.D. docs O leaders, wipe context
I'd scam gopher Cower? S.A.T. ol' expedient
Co-mirage, Ph.Ds Toon? Pre-law exceeds it
Ergo, I scam Ph.D.
Ace so grim, Ph.D! CONSULTANTS
Slant on cuts
Cuts 'n' talons
Stunts 'n' cola
No-cal stunts
^\^\^\ 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.)
-- ATR: ATR in Kyoto, Japan is looking for two talented, experienced,
and highly motivated individuals who are interested in coming to Japan
and joining an exciting research project in statistical natural
language processing. The ultimate goal of the project is
speech-to-speech Japanese to English and English to Japanese
translation. The immediate goal for the next few years is to produce
a natural language parsing system based on statistical machine
learning algorithms. The first position is for a computer scientist
who has at least a Bachelor's degree (preferably a Masters) in
computer science, with extensive programming experience in C and
significant experience in C++. Experience with statistical modelling
and machine learning techniques is a big plus. Motif experience will
be helpful, although it is not required. The candidate should also be
well-versed in UNIX and must be willing to participate in some shared
administrative responsibilities. This first position is a combination
of programming and research, so the candidate should demonstrate a
willingness and ability to program efficiently and accurately, but he
or she should also be interested in and capable of pursuing research
ideas as they come up in the course of the project. For the second
position, a qualified candidate must have the Ph.D. degree,
preferably math, physics, computer science; with extensive programming
experience and expertise in C and significant experience and expertise
in C++. Ability to innovate approaches to applied mathematical
problems in the area of probability required. Experience with
statistical modelling within general pattern recognition field also
important. Familiarity with natural language field a plus but not
absolutely necessary. Candidate should know UNIX well and in general
be a highly expert programmer. This is not a job for those who are
theoreticians only, but rather is for someone who is equally at home
with issues of statistical modelling theory, experimental method, and
detailed coding matters. Motif experience would be nice, though again
not required. Mentoring of less experienced (though able) researchers
is involved as well. Salary and conditions highly competitive.
Please send cover letter, cv, and at least 3 contactable references
(covering programming abilities, for the first position; and
mathematical, experimental and programming abilities, for the second
position) to: Ezra Black (black@itl.atr.co.jp).
-- UNIVERSITY OF MADISON, WISCONSIN: Tenure-track faculty position,
Department of Communicative Disorders at the Assistant Professor
level. Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Communicative Disorders (or related
field) required. Prefer 2-3 years clinical experience with emphasis
in child language disorders and auditory (re)habilitation across the
age span; research and university level teaching desired. Certificate
of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-SLP or -AUD) from the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association preferred. Teach
undergraduate and graduate courses in auditory (re)habilitation as
well as in preschool and school age language development and
disorders. Conduct research in areas of interest, advise students,
and serve on departmental committees. Application deadline: March 1,
1995. Send applications to
Robin S. Chapman, Ph.D.
Chair, Search Committee
Department of Communicative Disorders
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1975 Willow Drive
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-3951
-- UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA: The Department of Linguistics of the
University of Ottawa invites applications for an eighteen month
replacement position at the rank of assistant professor, effective
July 1, 1995. Requirements: Ph.D. in Linguistics, proof of excellence
in research, ability to teach courses in both official languages
(English and French). Preferred area of specialization is
phonetics/phonology with an experimental orientation and a
demonstrated interest in theoretical phonology. Our department boasts
an extremely well-equipped research laboratory and a dedicated
electronics technologist. Preference will be given to candidates who
are willing to exploit and develop this resource. Salary is
commensurate with qualifications and experience and in keeping with
the Collective Agreement. Candidates are invited to address their
applications with CV, three letters of recommendation, and
representative copies of publications and/or unpublished research to
Eta Schneiderman, Chair
Department of Linguistics
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
fax: (613) 564-9067
Applications received before January 15, 1995 are guaranteed
consideration, but the department may continue to consider
applications until a final decision is made. The University of Ottawa
has an employment equity policy and strongly encourages applications
>From women. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements,
this advertisement is directed to Canadian citizens and permanent
residents of Canada.
-- SUNY BUFFALO. The Department of Psychology announces the following
positions for appointment in Fall, 1995. (1) Clinical Psychology. Two
positions, one at open rank and one at Assistant Professor.
Specialization in treatment outcome research, child or adult
psychopathology, health psychology, or social psychological
perspectives on clinical issues is desirable. (2) Health Psychology.
Associate or Full Professor. Research focus on either basic or applied
health psychology issues. (3) Cognitive Psychology. Assistant
Professor. Specialization in memory, categorization, or attention is
particularly desirable. For all positions, the quality of applicants
is more important than research areas. For senior positions, evidence
of ability to attract external funding is important. Applications will
be evaluated upon receipt with the closing date November 1, 1994. Send
curriculum vitae and at least three letters of recommendation to
Search Committee
Department of Psychology
Park Hall, SUNY at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY, 14260
(EOE/AA)
-- CSU SACRAMENTO: Tenure-Track Opening in TESOL. The Department of
English at California State University, Sacramento will hire a new,
tenure track Assistant Professor of English (Ph.D. completed) or
Lecturer in English (A.B.D., with possibility of conversion to
tenure-track upon completion of Ph.D.) to begin in the Fall Semester,
1995. We are looking for someone who has experience teaching ESL/EFL.
Salary range is $35,869 tp $39,360, depending upon qualifications and
experience. Duties will involve teaching 12 units per semester,
normally, including TESOL methods and approaches, applied linguistics
(including courses required in the elementary and secondary teaching
credential programs), and ESL composition. Advising of TESOL students
and committee work are also expected. We will begin reading
applications on December 5, and will arrange to meet with a number of
candidates at the Modern Languages Association Convention in San
Diego, California, December 27-29. Finalists for the position will be
brought to the campus for interviews in January or early February. To
apply, send letter, vita, copy of transcripts, and three letters of
recommendation to
Prof. Charles E. Nelson
Personnel Coordinator
Department of English
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6075
CSU Sacramento is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer, and
employs only persons legally eligible to work in the United States.
-- UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA: Assistant Professor in English
language in English syntax to teach introductory courses in the
structure, history, and dialects of English, and possibly a graduate
course in syntax. A Ph.D in English or Linguistics is required.
Screening begins November 14 but applications will be accepted until
December 15. Duties will include a 2/2 course load. The successful
candidate will be committed to both undergraduate and graduate
teaching and to a curriculum that emphasizes writing at all levels of
instruction. This individual will also assist in developing our
department's existing connections between linguistics and
rhetoric/composition. Evidence of the beginning of an on-going
research program is expected as well. Send applications to
Howard H. Hinkel, Chair
Department of English
107 Tate Hall
Columbia MO 65211
phone: 314/882-6421
fax: 314/882-5785
-- THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: The Ohio State University Department of
Linguistics announces a new position, pending final approval, for a
tenure-track Assistant Professor with a specialization in
Computational Linguistics, beginning with the Autumn quarter of 1995.
The primary duties of this position are: doing research in
computational linguistics, especially as it bears on the department's
programs in syntax, semantics, and formal pragmatics; teaching
introductory courses and seminars in computational linguistics, and
related courses at all levels; playing a central role in further
development in computational linguistics with regard to curriculum and
research facilities; contributing to the department's advising of
students, and directing graduate student research in computational
linguistics and its interaction with other related areas in linguistic
theory; and performing service duties as required by the department,
the College of Humanities, and the University. Preference will be
given to any candidate (1) whose research program complements the
department's existing strengths in syntax, semantics, and formal
pragmatics, (2) who displays a broad expertise in both the theory of
computation and the implementation of linguistic theory, (3) who has
an established research record, as demonstrated by publications,
natural language systems, and the like, that provides strong evidence
of a capacity to advance linguistic theory through hands-on
computational research, and (4) who gives evidence of relevant
teaching ability. Candidates must have a Ph. D. by the time of the
appointment. The cutoff date for receipt of applications is December
12, 1994. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, statement of
research interests, and up to five sample publications or system
documentation, and should arrange for three letters of recommendation
to be sent to
Brian D. Joseph, Computational Linguistics Search
Department of Linguistics
The Ohio State University
222 Oxley Hall
1712 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-1298
(EOE/AA)
(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 \^\^\^
and movie review
Last week's quote was the opening line of Mary Shelley's
'Frankenstein.' This choice was timely because of the just-released
major motion picture production of Shelley's classic. I don't know if
you all ran right out to see it... I wish I hadn't... boy, it was bad.
Bee ay dee bad. A new level of badness. Brings new meaning to the
word bad. Perhaps the defining moment in bad filmmaking.
Well, maybe not that bad. But it certainly wasn't good.
BACK TO THE CLASSICS: John, Paul, and George are three rock musicians.
One plays the guitar, one plays the piano, and one plays the drums,
but not necessarily respectively.
The drummer tried to hire the guitarist for a recording
session, but was told he was out of town doing recording sessions for
the pianist. The drummer admires the work of both of the other
musicians. The pianist earns more money than the drummer. Paul earns
less than John. George has never heard of John. What instrument does
each person play?
\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/
^\^\^\ CONSERVE DISK SPACE /^/^/^
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before you've read it), the Sesquipedalian Weekly Herald is stored
online at Stanford (in directory /user/linguistics/Sesquip/93-94), and
at Berkeley (in the directory /usr/pub.) The most current issue of
the Herald can be found by typing 'help quip'.
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Deliberate misuse by tampering with container, concentrating and
inhaling contents, is prohibited
/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\