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Sesquipedalian #18, February 17, 1994
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Subject: Sesquipedalian #18, February 17, 1994
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The SESQUIPEDALIAN WEEKLY HERALD Volume IV, Number 18
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February 17, 1994
-\-\-\ LOOK WHO'S TALKING /-/-/-
-- At the BLS Annual Meeting this weekend, Jennifer Arnold is
presenting 'Inverse Voice Marking in Mapudungum;' Arnold Zwicky is
presenting 'Dealing out Meaning: Fundamentals of Syntactic
Constructions,' and Eve Clark is also presenting (title unknown).
Papers are also being presented by former Stanfordites Tracy King
('Agentivity and the Georgian Ergative') in the general session and
John McWhorter ('From focus marker to copula in Swahili') in the
special section (Historical Issues in African Linguistics).
-\-\-\ LINGUISTICS COLLOQUIUM /-/-/-
Henriette de Swart
University of Groningen
Friday, February 18th, 3:30pm
CSLI, Cordura 100
Happy hour will follow.
Events, quantification and genericity
Henriette de Swart
In this talk, I develop an interpretation of adverbs of quantification
as generalized quantifiers over the temporal domain. In the
literature, we find objections to the interpretation of these adverbs
as event quantifiers, which are based on `bishop-sentences' and
so-called `atemporal' readings, which arise in non-episodic sentences.
I will show that these cases get a straightforward interpretation in
the present framework. Moreover, it turns out that an event-based
approach to generic sentences combined with an interpretation of
definite and indefinite NPs as quantifiers rather than variables
offers new insights into the expression of genericity across
languages.
-\-\-\ PHONOLOGY WORKSHOP /-/-/-
Arto Anttila will be speaking next Thursday, Feb. 24,
7:30 p.m. We will meet in the second floor lounge
of Cordura.
CONSONANT GRADATION IS EPENTHESIS
Arto Anttila
Stanford University
In this talk, I argue that the phonological processes called Consonant
Gradation (CG) and t-Deletion (TD) in Finnish are not weakening
phenomena to be formalized as deletion/delinking (the standard
analysis), but rather instances of constraint-driven epenthesis. My
analysis provides evidence in support of Optimality Theory (Prince and
Smolensky 1993, McCarthy and Prince 1993).
Under the deletion hypothesis, an underlying double stop is
degeminated before a branching rhyme (CG: CVX.XVC --> CV.XVC, X =
/p,t,k/), and an onset /t/ is deleted after a light unstressed
syllable (TD: CV.tV --> CV.V). Examples:
so.net.ti/so.ne.ti+n sonnet/sonnet+GEN (CG)
man.sik.ka/man.si.ka+n strawberry/strawberry+GEN (CG)
va.ras/va.ras.+ta thief/thief+PTV (no TD)
ta.lo/ta.lo.+a house/house+PTV (TD)
This hypothesis is problematic:
(i) CG presupposes an underlying geminate, but length turns out to be
noncontrastive: roots like */soneti/ (as opposed to /sonetti/) are
systematically absent.
(ii) C-final loanwords are nativized by adding /i/ to achieve
CV-finality (/idealismi/ `idealism'), but if C = /p,t,k/, we have
gemination (/galluppi/ `gallup') and the nativized form feeds CG
(/gallupi+n/). The standard analysis provides no motivation for the
gemination.
(iii) TD repairs the ill-formed string *CV.tV by deleting /t/. It
turns out that *CV.tV is banned inside roots as well, which is
unexpected since TD is known to be a cyclic rule.
(iv) Suffixal consonants are exclusively coronal (/puu+ta/ `tree+PTV',
/juos+ten/ `run+INSTR'). Suffixes like /-pa/ or /-ka/ are
systematically absent. Under the deletion analysis, this has to be
stipulated in the lexicon, which is unsatisfactory.
I propose an analysis where the "weak" forms (/soneti/, /mansika/) are
underlying, but suboptimal due to a high-ranking constraint which bans
a single stop between two open syllables: *CV.XV, X = /p,t,k/. Such
structures must be syllabified CVX.V and the missing onset is supplied
by epenthesis. I also argue that suffixes are simply vocalic and that
coronal consonants are inserted by epenthesis. This analysis is
superior to the deletion analysis in a number of ways:
(i) CG and TD disappear as rules; geminates and suffixal coronals are
FILL(ONSET) violations induced by higher constraints.
(ii) We can explain why suffixal consonants are all coronal
(/va.ras.+ta/). Epenthetic consonants get their place specification
in one of two ways: either by spreading from the stem-final consonant,
which are independently known to be exclusively coronals, or by
default, coronal being the universal default.
(iii) The systematic absence of roots like */soneti/ is no more
problematic; both cyclic t-Deletion and the gap in the root inventory
follow from the same constraint.
(iv) The nativization process can be stated simply as V-epenthesis
(/idealism/ --> /idealismi/), since gemination (/gallup/ -->
/galluppi/) now follows by the independently needed onset epenthesis.
Upcoming Talk:
March 10 Cheryl Zoll UC, Berkeley
-\-\-\ CALL FOR PAPERS /-/-/-
-- LP94: The Institute of Linguistic and Finnougric Studies and The
Institute of Phonetic Studies Charles University, Prague (Czech
Republic) announce a conference: LP'94 - Item Order in (Natural)
Languages (August 16-18, 1994). TOPICS: The term "item" is used in the
sense of any lingustic unit: phoneme, morpheme word, sentence etc.,
i.e. it is any unit which may be repeated and which is concatenated in
a string. The concept of item is thus not limited only to
word-ordering but it also includes other item-orderings which are
recognizable in natural (or formal) languages in both written and
spoken forms. Preliminary application should be sent not later than
March 1, 1994. For further details and information write directly to
LP'94
Institute of Linguistic and Finnougric Studies
Charles University, Faculty of Philosophy
2, Jan Palach Sq. 116 38, Prague 1, Czech Republic
email: palek@ruk.cuni.cz, or
palek@ff.cuni.cz
-\-\-\ FELLOWSHIPS/ASSISTANTSHIPS /-/-/-
-- MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT: The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
is offering a predoctoral scholarship in the field of spoken-language
comprehension. The PhD research project should fall within the area
of phonological structure in comprehension or spoken word recognition.
Research with a cross-linguistic dimension would be encouraged.
Candidates with a background in experimental psycholinguistics may
receive preference. Contact
Dr. Anne Cutler
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Psycholinguistik
Postbus 310
NL-6500 AH Nijmegen
fax: 31-80-521-213
e-mail: anne@MPI.NL
Deadline for receipt of applications: 21 March 1994
-- SPATIAL COGNITION (NSF Graduate Research Training Program in
Cognitive Science University of California, Berkeley). The Institute
of Cognitive Studies at the University of California, Berkeley,
announces a graduate research training program in Cognitive Science
for students who wish to focus their studies on an inter-disciplinary
approach to understanding Spatial Cognition: how organisms perceive,
describe, learn, and reason about spatial aspects of their
environment. Between 1994 and 1999, the program will offer support
for graduate training in spatial cognition, including both coursework
and research. The coursework covers background knowledge on spatial
cognition drawn from computational, linguistic, and psychological
perspectives. The research training provides practical knowledge in a
variety of techniques from computer science, linguistics and
psychology. Trainees will receive a stipend of $14,000 per year plus
tuition and fees. They will be supported for two years, typically
their second and third years (but occasionally their third and fourth
years), provided they make satisfactory progress within the program.
During the initial year (1994-95) a small number of more advanced
students will be supported for a single year. Formal application to
the NSF Graduate Training Program in Cognitive Science occurs during
the first or second year of study at UC Berkeley. Interested students
must submit a formal application to the Director (Stephen Palmer) by
March 15. Because Berkeley does not currently have a graduate degree
program in Cognitive Science, students will be accepted into the
Cognitive Science training program from related departments, such as
Computer Science, Education, Linguistics, and Psychology. Each
applicant must obtain three letters of recommendation, submit a
two-year plan showing how they plan to complete the required
coursework, and write a brief research proposal of no more than two
double-spaced pages. Application packets are available from
Linda Daetwyler
Institute of Cognitive Studies
Building T-4
University of California
Berkeley CA 94720
All applicants will be notified of their status by May 1. Incoming
students who are interested in the training program should apply for
admission to the appropriate department. Then, during their first or
second year of graduate study they may apply for a Traineeship, as
described above.
-- UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (Twin Citics Campus): Applications are
invited for one postdoctoral traineeship in developmental psychology.
This two-year traineeship is funded by the National Institute of
Mental Health through a training grant, "Research in Child
Psychology," awarded to the Institute of Child Development. Starting
date is September 16, 1994. Position is available for an individual
with 0-1 years postdoctoral experience and carries a 12-month stipend
ranging from $18,600-$19,700. Specialized training is available in
personality and social development, learning, cognitive processes,
perception, developmental psychopathology, language development,
ethology, and psychobiology. The core of the postdoctoral program will
be the research experience. The trainee will have a principal mentor
with whom research projects will be planned and executed. Academic
experiences available include general and topical seminars and
opportunities to audit other courses. Applicants are sought whose
predoctoral training and subsequent experience includes a strong
concentration in the behavioral sciences, especially psychology. They
should be well trained in research methods and show promise as
research scholars in such areas as language and communication,
perceptual processes, cognitive psychology, educational applications,
disabled or atypical children, psychophysiology, and behavior
genetics. In making the award, priority will be given to individuals
whose predoctoral training is not in developmental psychology.
However, developmental psychologists seeking training in specialized
areas will be considered. The Ph.D. or other doctoral degree must be
completed by the time of appointment. The trainee must be a citizen or
permanent resident of the United States. Applicants should submit a
statement of interests, graduate transcripts, letters of reference
with emphasis on the individual's research promise, and samples of
published and unpublished theoretical and empirical work. Deadline for
receipt of materials is April 1, 1994. Decisions will be made
immediately thereafter. All documents should be sent to
Dr. Willard W. Hartup
Postdoctoral Training Program
Institute of Child Development
51 East River Road
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0345
-\-\-\ TRUE LINGUISTS /-/-/-
Professor Michael Scriven of Inverness, breezing along the information
superhighway in lane 1 (the Internet), picked up this scientific
nugget: 'The juvenile Sea Squirt wanders through the sea searching for
a suitable rock or hunk of coral to cling to and make its home for
life. For this task it has a rudimentary nervous system. When it
finds its spot and takes root, it doesn't need its brain any more, so
it eats it. It's rather like getting tenure.' Michael, tenured at
Cal for 12 years, gravely nodded his brain-free head.
(Herb Caen)
-\-\-\ 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.)
-- NIU: The Linguistics Program of Northeastern Illinois University in
Chicago has been authorized to search for a tenure-track assistant
professor for Fall 1994. An earned doctorate in linguistics or
applied linguistics is required. We are interested in an individual
with a strong background in both general Linguistics and
psycholinguistics to teach undergraduate and graduate courses. Please
submit a CV, three letters of recommendation (at least one addressing
teaching effectiveness), and a brief letter describing your interests
and teaching experience to
Dr. Audrey Reynolds
Chair of Linguistics
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Review of Applications Begins: March 14, 1994. Northeastern is an
equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and invites applications
>From women and minorities as well as other qualified individuals.
-- INSTITUTE OF READING DEVELOPMENT: California's largest private
reading school, the Institute of Reading Development (IRD), is now
interviewing for reading instructors for its 1994 summer session.
These classes, offered to children of all ages throughout Santa Clara,
San Mateo, and Alameda counties (and elsewhere throughout California:
if you will be in the Los Angeles or San Diego areas this summer,
please call), develop students' reading comprehension and study
skills, but, more significantly, emphasize the love of reading and
reading for pleasure. These are enrichment, not remedial, reading
programs. The classes are offered under the sponsorship of various
California universities and municipal agencies (such as recreation
departments and school districts). Students from any graduate
department are eligible to apply; we are seeking people who project
both intellectual authority and warmth. Previous teaching experience
(with adults or children) is valuable, though not required. We also
provide a comprehensive teacher-training program to equip you for
reading instruction. And our part-time training will fit the schedule
of most graduate students. To apply, please call our Berkeley office
at (510) 849-4902 between 9am and 2pm; ask for Rosanna Cohen. We will
receive many inquiries, so please be patient if you encounter a busy
signal.
-- YNU: The Department of English, Faculty of Education, Yokohama
National University has a position to be filled by a full-time foreign
teacher as of April 1, 1994. Selections are to be made on an open
competition basis, and anyone interested is invited to submit the
application papers to the Chairperson of the Department no later than
March 15, 1994. The official notification to the successful candidate
is to be mailed out toward the end of March 1994, while the
unsuccessful applicants will be notified as soon as the Committee for
Documentary Screening has come up with a result. Courses to be taught
may include English conversation and/or composition, plus
American/English Literature or Linguistics, six class hours per week,
one class hour being 90 minutes in length. The applicant is required
to submit the following to the Chairperson of the Department of
English. All application documents must be self-made, since there is
no official application form available at the University. (1) Resume
with a photograph attached. (2) An essay entitled "My Autobiography"
with emphasis on the applicant's language teaching philosophy; or a
report on the applicant's academic interests; and/or a report on the
applicant's academic accomplishments. The above essay/report must be
typewritten and each should not exceed 1,000 words. (3) Recording on a
cassette tape of the applicant's self introduction, voiced by
himself/herself. The length of the recording should be between five
and ten minutes. (4) The title of the applicant's thesis for his/her
final degree. The abstract of the final thesis (200 words maximum)
must be attached in case the applicant does not have any academic
publications. (5) A list of publications, if any. (6) Names of two
people for reference, with their addresses and present official
positions. All application documents must be mailed to the following,
postmarked no later than March 10, 1994.
Professor Masayuki Sano
Chairperson
The Department of English
Yokohama National University
156 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku
Yokohama, Kanagawa 240
Japan
For any further inquiries, please contact:
Professor Ryuichi Suzuki
Chief, General Affairs
The Department of English
Yokohama National University
[phone] 045-335-1451 Ext. 2144
--MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT: The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
is offering a position in the field of spoken language comprehension.
The maximum term of appointment for this position is 5 years. The
successful candidate will be expected to participate in a project on
phonological structure in comprehension, in which the emphasis is on
cross-linguistic studies of word and sentence processing. Thus a
background in experimental psycholinguistics and an established
interest in cross-linguistic comparisons would be ideal. Necessary
qualifications are a completed Ph.D. in psychology (preferably), or a
related discipline, and a demonstrated ability to publish research
findings. Send c.v. and two letters of recommendation to
Dr. Anne Cutler
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Psycholinguistik
Postbus 310
NL-6500 AH Nijmegen
The Netherlands
fax: 31-80-521-213
e-mail: anne@MPI.NL
Deadline for receipt of applications: 21 March 1994
-- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA: The following faculty positions are
available within the Institute for Human Development/Arizona
University Affiliated Program (IHD/AUAP) at Northern Arizona
University:
1) Assistant Professor (tenure track). Candidate will hold joint
appointments with the Institute for Human Development and the Center for
Excellence in Education. Primary responsibilities include teaching,
research and service related to the field of early intervention (EI).
Minimum requirements include a doctorate in early childhood special
education or related field; three years experience teaching university
graduate and undergraduate courses with two years directly related to EI.
Preferred qualifications include emphasis on children aged birth to three,
experience with UAP's, established program of research, two years providing
service to young children with disabilities, and success in securing
external funding. Position is open until filled; application review will
begin March 15, 1994. Submit letter of application, biographical sketch,
curriculm vitae, three current letters of recommendation, and official
transcripts to Dr. M. J. Demetras, IHD/AUAP, Northern Arizona University,
PO Box 5630, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5630.
2) Assistant/Associate Professor (non-tenure track) - Medical Program
Development Director - University of Arizona site. Primary
responsibilities include: work with AUAP administrators, AUAP staff, and
University of Arizona (UA) Health Sciences Center Faculty to develop UAP
activities at the UA; coordinate all UA AUAP projects/programs; manage
externally-funded projects created as a result of program development
efforts associated with this position; directly supervise UA AUAP staff
including research assistants and clerical support; identify and secure
external funding to continue existing projects; identify and secure
external funding for new areas of program development; work with
community-based programs to provide technical assistance and training to
consumers, service personnel, and families as requested; serve as the AUAP
Research Core Function Coordinator and work with AUAP staff to develop and
manage these activities statewide; represent the AUAP on state and national
committees in coordination with other AUAP efforts; and, review federal
grants and professional journal submissions as requested, maintain a
program of research, and contribute to UA teaching as time permits.
Minimum requirements for this position are a doctorate in field related to
child development and/or developmental disabilities; teaching experience at
the university level; experience in development of educational programs
focusing on issues related to children with developmental disabilities;
previous success in securing external funding; independent ability to
develop and submit grant proposals; ability to work with individuals from
diverse cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Preferred is
experience with or training from a University Affiliated Program. Expected
start date is July 1, 1994. Submit letter of application, biographical
sketch, curriculm vitae, three current letters of recommendation, and
official transcripts to Dr. M. J. Demetras, IHD/AUAP, Northern Arizona
University, PO Box 5630, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5630.
For more information on either position, contact Dr. M. J. Demetras at
(602) 523-7032. NAU is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Institution. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans
are encouraged to apply.
(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 /-/-/-
A number of eager readers requested that we run the answer to last
week's insta-prize question, which was, 'How can you make the
following equation correct without adding or removing any lines?
XI + I = X.' Lots of readers leapt for the easy answer of moving the I
in 'XI' to the opposite side of the X, thus making the equation read
IX + I = X. Now now, you should all know that it is semantically
arguable whether that constitutes adding and removing a line, so no
prize was awarded for that answer. We held out for the 'more correct'
answer, for which we could have accepted several things: turning your
monitor upside-down, standing on your head, showing the equation in a
mirror, reading right-to-left...
For this week's question, less ambiguous (we hope): remove six letters
>From the group of letters below to reveal the name of a famous poet:
J S O H X N L M E I T L T T E O R N S
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-\-\-\ 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 both at Stanford (in directory /user/linguistics/Sesquip), 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
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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.
Offer expires August 31, 1994
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