[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Sesquipedalian #27

the SESQUIPEDALIAN 				       Volume V, No. 27
/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\
Bob Marley Day (Jamaica)				   May 11, 1995


			      SAFETY FIRST

[This is a bricklayer's accident report that was printed in the
newsletter of the English equivalent of the Workers' Compensation
Board, courtesy of John Sedgwick.]

Dear Sir;
	I am writing in response to your request for additional
information on Block #3 of the accident reporting form.  I put 'Poor
Planning' as the cause of my accident.  You asked for a fuller
explanation and I trust the following details will be sufficient.
	I am a bricklayer by trade.  On the day of the accident, I was
working alone on the roof of a new six-story building.  When I
completed my work, I found I had some bricks left over which when
weighed later were found to weigh 240 lbs.  Rather than carry the
bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a
pulley which was attached to the side of the building at the sixth
floor.
	Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof,
swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it.  Then I went down
and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of
the 240 lbs of bricks.  You will note on the accident reporting form
that my weight is 135 lbs.
	Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly,
I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.  Needless
to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building.
	In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel which was
now proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed.  This explains
the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collarbone, as
listed in Section 3, accident reporting form.
	Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not
stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep
into the pulley which I mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this
correspondence.  Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence
of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of the
excruciating pain I was now beginning to experience.
	At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks
hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.  Now devoid of
the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs.
	I refer you again to my weight.  As you might imagine, I began
a rapid descent down the side of the building.  In the vicinity of the
third floor, I met the barrel coming up.  This accounts for the two
fractured ankles, broken tooth and severe lacerations of my legs and
lower body.
	Here my luck began to change slightly.  The encounter with the
barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen any injuries when I fell
into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were
cracked.
	I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of
bricks, in pain, unable to move and watching the empty barrel six
stories above me, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and
let go of the rope.

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

-- TREND: The Tri-Lateral Phonology Weekend returns to Santa Cruz May
13.  Featured speakers include Arto Anttila ('Semi-free variation in
Finnish morphology'), Gary Lutes ('The Representation of Scandinavian
Accent'), and Paul Kiparsky ('Livonian Sto/d').

-- LOOK WHO'S DRUMMING: The Stanford Taiko Invitational starts today
and runs through Sunday.  The opening symposium begins at 4:15 today
in Campbell Recital Hall and will feature Linda Uyechi.  The finale
concert begins at 2:30 Sunday in Dinkelspiel, and will also feature
Linda with Stanford Taiko, as well as the US' other two original
collegiate taiko ensembles, UCLA Kyodo Taiko and Jodaiko (UC Irvine).

 	          ^/^/^/ LINGUISTICS COLLOQUIUM \^\^\^

          PARTIAL CLASS BEHAVIOR AND NASAL PLACE ASSIMILATION
                             Jaye Padgett
                      Department of Linguistics
                            UC Santa Cruz

                    Friday, May 12, 4:30 p.m.
                           Cordura 100
                      Happy Hour will follow.

	This talk pursues work on feature classes in Padgett (1995).
That paper argues for an understanding of feature classes like Place
and Laryngeal in non-representational (non-nodal) terms.  A central
argument for this point of view comes from instances of partial class
behavior: though a constraint targets a class, certain members of that
class (but not others) violate the constraint, due to interference
>From higher ranking constraints. That is, constraints mentioning
classes are gradiently violable. The best account of such facts allows
constraints to mention classes like Place, while thereby targetting
the individual members of that class directly (rather than by a proxy
class node); notions like 'place' are seen as standing for properties
that features have.
	After laying out and illustrating the basic idea, I will
examine cases of partial class behavior involving nasal place
assimilation.  This in turn requires some means of accounting for
nasal place assimilation itself, and this issue forms a major
sub-theme of the talk.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Future Talks:
May 19: Jong-Bok Kim
May 26: Hajime Hoji
June 2: Lynn Cherny

A schedule for Linguistics Colloquiums can be found on the World-Wide
Web at URL http://bhasha.stanford.edu/~kessler/colloq/colloq.html

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

-- 5th INTERNATIONAL PRAGMATICS CONFERENCE (Mexico City, Mexico): July
4-9, 1996.  Special topic: Conversation.  This conference is open to
all pragmatics-related topics as well (where pragmatics is conceived
broadly as a cognitive, social, and cultural perspective on language
and communication).  Papers on any topic studied from a pragmatic
perspective (including, but not restricted to the special topic) are
invited.  For more information on the division of labor between
different types of events (plenary lectures, lecture sessions, poster
sessions and panels) please contact the IPrA Secretariat or the
Conference Secretariat.  Ten copies of a one-page abstract (or of the
set of abstracts in case you are proposing a panel) should be sent
before November 1st, 1995 to the following address:
	IPrA Secretariat
	P.O. Box 33 (Antwerp 11)
	B-2018 Antwerp
	BELGIUM
All abstracts should contain in this order: Full name, full address,
title of your presentation, and a summary of your topic, approach, and
major conclusions.  Only hard copies are acceptable.

		   ^/^/^/ 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.)

-- CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY: Research Assistant/Associate in Large
Vocabulary Speech Recognition.  Applications are invited for the post
of Research Assistant or Research Associate to work on an
EPSRC-sponsored project. The project is aimed at enhancing the
HTK-based large vocabulary speaker independent continuous speech
recognition system developed by the Cambridge University Engineering
Department Speech Group. The appointment will be for 18 month, in the
first instance, starting as soon as possible.  The HTK-based large
vocabulary continuous speech recognition system has a vocabulary of up
to 65,000 words, uses cross-word context dependent HMM models and
N-gram language models. The current project is working on increasing
the robustness of the system.  Aspects of this work include speaker
adaptation, noise and channel compensation and adaptive language
modelling.  Candidates should have a good first degree in a relevant
discipline and preferably have a higher degree. The post requires
experience of HMM based speech recognition, especially the aspects
mentioned above, C programming, and use of a UNIX environment.
Familiarity with HTK is a distinct advantage.  Further details and an
application form can be obtained from 
	Mavis Barber, Engineering Dept
	Trumpington Street
	Cambridge, UK. 
	phone: +44-1223-332752
	fax: +44-1223-332662 
	email: mavis@eng.cam.ac.uk
The closing date forapplications is 31st May 1995.
Prospective candidates are also encouraged to contact me directly if they
wish to discuss the project further.
Phil Woodland                                 Email: pcw@eng.cam.ac.uk
Cambridge University Engineering Dept              Tel: +44-1223-332654
Trumpington Street                                 Fax: +44-1223-332662
Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, England

-- DEC: Position offered: Researcher in the Workplace Integration
Technologies Group, Digital Equipment Corporation, Littleton, MA.  We
are seeking a researcher in the area of application development with a
specialization in emerging human-computer interaction technologies
(for example, speech, pen, and touch-screen). The ideal candidate will
have published work in one of these areas, will be keeping abreast of
the state of the art in others, and will have practical experience in
the development and support of useful applications. The candidate will
be expected to work closely with other group members in exploring ways
to develop application programs that are both more helpful to their
users and are easier for programmers to create.  The Workplace
Integration Technologies group is a small interdisciplinary group of
researchers focused on the development of methods and technologies for
supporting complex workplaces.
Please respond to: mcdermott@xedon.enet.dec.com

-- GSI-Erli: LEXICOGRAPHER WANTED.  GSI-Erli, part of a large group of
software companies, is one of the leading language engineering
companies in Europe. To manage and develop our lexical knowledge bases
for English, we are seeking a native English speaker with a strong
lexicographic background and familiarity with state-of-the-art
computational linguistics.  Fluency in French is a prerequisite and
competence in a third European language would be a definite advantage.
This position will become available during the first quarter of 1995.
To apply, please forward (by post or fax only) your CV and contact
telephone number, quoting reference EN/L/9501, to
	Edwige Heinry
	GSI-Erli
	1, Place des Marseillais
	F-94227 Charenton-le-pont CEDEX
	FRANCE
	Fax: +33 1 43 75 79 79
GSI-Erli is located in the south-eastern suburbs very close to Paris,
easily accessible by public transport. The working environment is
modern, comfortable and friendly and is enlivened by GSI-Erli's
involvement in numerous international projects. R&D is carried out on
a range of state-of-the-art platforms, by staff who reflect a mixture
of computer scientists, computational linguists and linguists working
in an interdisciplinary environment.  An equal opportunity employer.

-- ETS: The Reasoning Groups at Educational Testing Service are
accepting applications from linguists interested in test development.
Temporary work for the summer is also available, but such positions
would probably be most convenient for those linguists residing in or
near Princeton or Philadelphia.  ETS offers competitive salary and
benefits for regular-staff positions, including flexible hours that
include work-at-home or compressed workweek (4- day or 3-day workweek)
opportunities.  The normal workweek is 37.5 hours.  Work-at-home is
generally unavailable for temporary employees, though special
contracts are often possible later once acceptable performance has
been established. Temporary positions often lead to regular-staff
positions.  Responsibilities of examiner positions include writing and
reviewing reasoning questions for inclusion in tests for entry into
graduate and professional schools.  Minimum qualifications for
regular-staff positions include a master's degree and approximately 4
years' relevant work experience, or an equivalent combination of
education and experience.  Successful candidates for examiner
positions in recent years have completed their doctorates.  Part-time,
temporary positions are available now and regularly for candidates
with less than the minimum requirements for regular staff
appointments.  Desirable qualifications include coursework or teaching
experience in any or all of the following areas: informal and formal
logic, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, generative phonology, and
cognitive psychology.  Linguists and logicians specializing in other
areas who have outstanding writing skills are encouraged to apply, as
are linguists with extensive teaching experience in composition or
rhetoric.  College teaching experience and a broad general background
of knowledge are desirable.  There are currently seven linguists
working in the Reasoning Groups, with backgrounds in syntax,
semantics, phonology, and sociolinguistics. Other professional staff
in the Reasoning Groups have backgrounds in logic, philosophy,
statistics, the classics, and foreign languages. Linguists are also
employed in other groups at ETS.  Linguists with experience or
coursework in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology are encouraged to
apply, as opportunities to use these additional skills are available
on a continuing basis.  Precise and fluent use of the English language
and meticulous attention to detail are required for these positions.
The ability to accept exacting criticism of one's writing and to
revise appropriately is one of the most important prerequisites for
success in the Reasoning Groups.  MA relevant juried work sample will
be required of all candidates invited to Princeton for interviews.
The work sample focuses on a candidate's ability to use informal
reasoning, to identify errors of reasoning, to recognize ambiguous
sentences or misleading parts of arguments, and to revise ambiguous
sentences within arguments so that unintended readings are
unavailable.  Candidates who are members of minority groups are
strongly urged to apply for these or other positions at ETS.  ETS is
an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  The Reasoning
Groups have at least one targeted minority position open at this time.
Linguists who applied to ETS in previous years may indicate their
continued interest by submitting a resume or sending a message. Please
send cover letter and resume to 
	Miles McPeek
	Reasoning and Measurement Group (30-P)
	Educational Testing Service
	Princeton, NJ 08541
	Email: mmcpeek@ets.org, with cc to thabick@ets.org
	Fax:   (609) 734-5075
	Voice: (609) 734-1876 (Timothy Habick)  (not available May 16-June 6)

(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 /^/^/^

PLAYOFF PRINCIPLE: The five players of the ping-pong club decided to
hold a tournament.  First two matches were played, and one player
received a 'bye' (did not play).  Then another match was played and a
different player received a 'bye.'  Finally the championship match was
played, so in all four matches were played in the tournament.
	The next year, the club was so popular that 37 people wanted
to play in the tournament.  The coach designed a tournament with the
smallest possible number of 'byes.'  How many matches were played?


\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/

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

So you may delete your copy after you've read it (or better yet,
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'.

Neither Stanford University nor the Linguistics Department, nor any of
their employees, makes any warranty, whatsoever, implied, or assumes
any legal liability or responsibility regarding any information,
disclosed, in this publication, or represents that its use would not
infringe privately owned rights.  No specific reference constitutes or
implies endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Stanford
University or the Linguistics Department, or their employees.  Any
similarity to actual linguists, living or dead, is purely
coincidental.  The views and opinions expressed herein do not
necessarily reflect those of Stanford University or the Linguistics
Department, or their employees, and shall not be used for advertising
or product endorsement purposes.

'If anyone finds this offensive, I am prepared not only to retract my
words, but also to deny under oath that I ever said them.' -- Tom Lehrer

/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\^/^\