LINGUIST List 2.2

Wednesday, 9 Jan 1991

FYI: Metaphor, LN list, LSP and Text-Linguistics

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Directory

1. Jari Perkiomaki FKR, A New Publication on LSP and Text-Linguistics
2. Jari Perkiomaki FKR, A New Publication on LSP and Text-Linguistics
3. Jari Perkiomaki FKR, A New Publication on LSP and Text-Linguistics

Date: Sun, 30 Dec 90 20:44:20 -0800
From: lakoffcogsci.berkeley.edu (George Lakoff)
Subject: Paper on metaphor

December 30, 1990

To Friends and Colleagues on the Net:

January 15 is getting very close. As things now stand, President Bush 
seems to have convinced most of the country that war in the gulf is morally 
justified, and that it makes sense to think of ``winning'' such a war.

I have just completed a study of the way the war has been justified. I 
have found that the justification is based very largely on a metaphorical 
system of thought in general use for understanding foreign policy.
I have analyzed the system, checked it to see what the metaphors hide, 
and have checked to the best of my ability to see whether the metaphors 
fit the situation in the gulf, even if one accepts them. So far as I can see,
the justification for war, point by point, is anything but clear.

The paper I have written is relatively short -- 7,000 words. Yet it is 
far too long for the op-ed pages, and January 15 is too close for journal 
or magazine publication. The only alternative I have for getting these ideas 
out is via the various computer networks. 

While there is still time, it is vital that debate over the justification for 
war be seriously revived. I am therefore asking your help. Please look over 
the enclosed paper. If you find it of value, please send it on to members 
of your newsgroup, to friends, and to other newsgroups. 
Feel free to distribute it to anyone interested.

More importantly, if you feel strongly about this issue,
start talking and writing about it yourself. 

Computer networks have never before played an important
role in a matter of vital public importance. The time has come.
The media have failed to question what should be questioned.
It is up to us to do so. There are a lot of us connected by
these networks, and together we have enormous influence.
Just imagine the media value of a major computerized debate over
the impending war! 

We have a chance to participate in the greatest experiment
ever conducted in vital, widespread, instantaneous democratic communication.
Tens of thousands of lives are at stake. During the next two weeks
there is nothing more important that we can send over these
networks than a fully open and informed exchange of views
about the war.

Here is the first contribution. Pass it on!

[Moderators' Note: This paper is too long to post to all members
of LINGUIST. If you wish to see a copy of it, please
send a message to listservuniwa.uwa.oz.au containing as its
first and only line the following message:

 help lakoff

The file will then be sent to you. ]

Date: Thu, 3 Jan 91 06:49 EDT
From: "NANCY M. IDE (914) 437 5988" <IDEvaxsar.vassar.edu>
Subject: LN electronic list

Bulletin Electronique LN LN Electronic List

Le bulletin electronique LN a pour LN is an international electronic
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From: Jari Perkiomaki FKR <fk00133ruwasa.fi>
Subject: A New Publication on LSP and Text-Linguistics
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 91 18:33:13 EET

A new research paper in the field of applied linguistics has been published
here at the University of Vaasa, dealing with special languages from a
textlinguistic point of view, and also including a comprehensive
bibliographical index. The following is the abstract for it:

ABSTRACT

Schroder, Hartmut (1990). Research on languages for special purposes and
text theory. A thematic and bibliographical guide. Proceedings of the
University of Vaasa. Research Papers No 147, 75 pp.

This article represents a brief survey of current trends and results in LSP
research which have been achieved in analysing special communication from a
text-oriented point of view. Firstly, the author looks at the present state
of LSP research and gives some comments on textlinguistic research and the
text-centred approach of analysing special texts. Secondly, the author
outlines the main concepts and paradigms concerning the analysis of LSP
texts. Finally, he reports on the main research topics, trying to classify
the present results of text-centred LSP research and to point out some
trends and gaps in this branch of applied linguistics.
 In the author's view, it is impossible to draw a uniform picture on the
state of the art in text-centred LSP research. The process of increasing
specialisation and differentiation in this relatively new area goes hand in
hand with a tendency toward multidisciplinary research and integration. 
 In further research we have to take into more serious consideration the
level of the content and the whole communication situation of special
texts. This requires that text-centred LSP research deals with
subject-specific states of affairs and with the methodologies of individual
sciences as well.
 The philosophy of science and the sociology of science should become
important adjacent disciplines of text-centred LSP research. Further, we
have to analyse the whole complexity of (LSP) text processing, that means
the production and the reception of special texts within one culture and 
between various cultures.

Hartmut Schroder, The Department of Modern Languages, University of Vaasa,
P.O.Box 297, SF-65101 VAASA, Finland
e-mail: hisuwasa.fi

-- 
Jari K Perkiomaki, OH6BG, U of Vaasa, fk00133ruwasa.fi, perkiomajyu.fi