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Editor for this issue: Richard John Harvey <richardlinguistlist.org>
linguistlist.org>Greetings Listers! When I was asked to write to you about posting Media issues I was just absolutely delighted! Ok not especially, but keeping the linguistic community aware of language issues in today's global mass media is becoming increasingly important. Now that there are so many of us (17,000+ subscribers) representing so many cultures (106+ countries), a network has emerged that allows for quick and easy dissemination of linguistic issues in the world's various media. In 2002 The Linguist List posted 51 Media issues. So far in 2003 we have posted another 11 issues, indicating that we are on track to surpass our first year's total. Media issues are broad in subject matter. They vary from claims of scientists who have discovered the first of many genes 'that gave humans speech' http://linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-2096.html to untranslated English being banned in Romania http://linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-2734.html to controversial commercials which lead to discussion and debate http://linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-3309.html to articles on Endangered Languages http://linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-686.html http://linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-900.html http://linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-1615.html Though Media topics vary widely, they do have one important thing in common: All Media issues are submitted by individuals who kindly take the time to share this information with us. They are the reason why LINGUIST has adopted Media as an issue topic, and they are the reason why it continues to be successful. We would like to thank the following for their Media contributions: Peter K. Austin, Toby Ayer, Steven Bird, Wayles Browne, E. Curtis, Suzette Haden Elgin, Michael Erard, Paul Fallon, Annie Ferreira, Tessa Goldberg, David Golumbia, Chester Graham, Lee Hartman, Dick Hudson, Michael Johnstone, John Kingston, Mai Kuha, Mike Maxwell, Scott McGinnis, Simon Musgrave, Stirling Newberry, Michael Pearce, Geoffrey K. Pullum, Elizabeth J. Pyatt, Maartje Schreuder, Jess Tauber, Zoe Toft, Dominic Watt, Doug Whalen, and Martin Wynne. LINGUIST would especially like to thank Karen Steffen Chung for her consistent Media postings. She has posted an astounding 24 out of 62 issues... nearly 40% of all Media issues! Media issues are one of the many services offered by LINGUIST that are completely dependent on your interest and support. Please help us to continue to provide an integral part of our discipline's infrastructure by donating in this year's fund drive. Your donations change the lives of linguistic graduate students who work hard to enhance the existing Linguist List website and its tools. They also provide the staffing that is needed to continue to keep up our mailing list, which of course affects us all. Thank you again for your support. Sincerely, Steve Moran ********************************************************** This year we need to raise $50,000 to keep LINGUIST alive. So far we have raised $15,123.33 which is really good - but we still have a long way to go. Please make a donation; every little helps. To donate now using our secure web form, visit: http://linguistlist.org/donate.html For instructions on how to donate, or how to make a pledge now and pay later, see the last massage in this issue or visit: http://linguistlist.org/donation.html Thank you for keeping LINGUIST alive.Mail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue
linguistlist.org>The other day Michael Appleby (he scored a perfect 800 on the problem solving portion of the GRE!) and I were throwing around some numbers about LINGUIST: 17,000+ 'Linguist Listers' (I had to steal that one from you DhW) 12 postings per day on average 5 posting days per week... 204,000 emails sent out on an average day. 204,000 !!!!!!!!! When I mentioned this astonishing number to one of my friends who is not in Linguistics, but has some idea of what the LINGUIST List is due to my ramblings, she simply replied, 'Well good thing you use email instead of regular mail, because that would be a lot of money for all those stamps'. That got me thinking...if we were to ask every one of you to send us enough money to cover the postage of the emails you receive for just **one day** (that would be $4.44), we would raise $92,500 in **one day** ...and FUNd drive would be over. Life is never that simple though, is it? Explaining to you how LINGUIST has changed my life would take up the next hour or so of your life, but I believe I can sum it up rather quickly: if I knew then what I know now I probably would have sent Helen 20 emails a day instead of just that one a day (for weeks on end) that I sent her begging to be part of this enterprise. I know that sounds dumb, but being interested in working with Endangered Languages, and finding out that this University housed the LINGUIST List and that they were developing the E-MELD project (http://emeld.org), well I was determined to find my place here; and I have thanks to your support. Now I spend my time trying to give back what I have gotten, and there are only a couple of things in life that feel better. Since a lot of people want to know what LINGUIST looks like - I assume they mean where it is run, and not what the LINGUIST server actually looks like - I thought I'd put it verbally, and then try again with some hot graphics. There are 5 of us in a 15ft x 10ft (4.5m x 3m) office, with 5 desks, 5 computers, and a printer in each of three offices. But even though working conditions are cramped, (I can reach my four office mates with out even turning my chair) we still make the most of the situation - we always have a great time. Well except in Winter when there is that thought that goes through everyone's mind right after the first of us gets a cold. If one of us gets sick, we are all doomed to get sick! Here is my feeble attempt at some ASCII graphics, enjoy and decipher: - ---------------------------------------------------------------- |-10ft-| or |-3M--| ____________________ ___ _______ _______ ___ | KEY | | |C|* | |#|C|* | | | |--------------------| | | | *|C|#| | *|C| | | * = Student Editor | 15ft |C|* | |#|P| | | 4.5M | C = Computer | | | | | |#| | *|C| | | P = Printer | | |C|* *|C|#|C|* | | | | # = Wall | _|_ |_|__ -|#|- _*|C| _|_ | / = Door | | |#| | |ft = feet | - ---------|/ |#|/ |--------------- | M = Meters | LL Offices A & B <--Hallway--> |____________________| - --------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------- So as I bring this message to an end, let me quickly mention the commitment of your LINGUIST crew by telling you that there are presently three of us here in the office preparing to send out today's FUNd drive message/plea for support. It is presently 12:30 am or 0:30 depending on how you look at it. We're here working for you, won't you help us to continue to work so hard by giving your support? Steve Moran To see and read more about Steven, please go to: http://www.linguistlist.org/people/steve.html ******************************************************************* For detailed information on making a donation, please read the next message in this issue, or visit: http://linguistlist.org/donation.html Once again, thank you from all the LINGUIST List crew.Mail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue
linguistlist.org>This year we hope to raise $50,000 to support the students who work on LINGUIST List and keep the list running. Thank you from all the crew for your support. The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as such can receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered 501(c) Non Profit organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These donations can be offset against your federal and sometimes your state tax return (U.S. tax payers only). For more information visit the IRS Web-Site, or contact your financial advisor. Many companies also offer a gift matching scheme, such that they will match any gift you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your contacting your human resources department and sending us a form that the EMU Foundation fills in and returns to your employer. This is generally a simple administrative procedure that doubles the value of your gift to LINGUIST, without costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment to check if your company operates such a scheme. HOW TO DONATE You can make a contribution by selecting one of three convenient payment methods: secure credit card form, check, or wire transfer. You can also PLEDGE your support to LINGUIST and pay later, i.e. send in a check. Also, if you do not want to use a credit card, but wish to pay in a currency other than US Dollars, you can donate via our European bank account held in Switzerland. See below for details: SECURE CREDIT CARD FORM: http://linguistlist.org/donate.html CHECK: Please make checks payable to 'The LINGUIST List Editorial Support Fund'. The address is: The LINGUIST Editorial Support Fund Department of English Language and Literature 612 Pray Harrold Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti MI, 48197 U.S.A. WIRE TRANSFER: For details on how to transfer funds by wire, please contact LINGUIST at the address donateMail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue