LINGUIST List 2.825

Mon 25 Nov 1991

Qs: Belize, Macs, Amiga, Communicative Strategies

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. , bembe
2. , Mac software query
3. David W. Talmage, IPA character set for Amiga
4. , linguistic and communicative strategies

A colleague is looking for information on the origins and precise
meaning of the word "BEMBE", used in Belize to designate something
like "a gossip", "a market woman" - usually of the organizing or
haranguing sort.
Replies please to <jblackkean.ucs.mun.ca> - all replies gratefully
acknowledged.

I need some advice on software for my research. I've collected
a large amount of data on some constructions involving dis-
continuous constituents (e.g. various extrapositions) and am
looking at the relevance of various factors such as grammatical
relation (GR) of the head, its position, +/-def, +/-pl, and other
things, which I am entering with each example. I would like to
use my Mac to figure out the statistics on these factors,
but don't know what (type of) software would be the best
for my needs. I've been told a spreadsheet or database
should do the trick, but don't know which one. Suggestions
have included Excel, Filemaker Pro, Double Helix/Data Desk,
Fourth Dimension, and Foxbase.
I'd like to be able to ask questions such as the following
about examples with extraposition (E):
	o what's the total number of examples & how many have E?
	o how frequent is extraposition from various positions?
	o how frequent is extraposition if the head is either the Subj or PObj?
	o if the head's position = 1, how often is its GR Subj, Obj etc.?
	o if the head's position = medial, how often is it +def?
	o what's the average number of elements following the head?
	o what's the maximum number of elements following the head?
My requirements are the following. The application must:
	o run on Mac SE with 4MB RAM;
	o be easy to use (I don't program!!), especially in querying;
	o allow queries on multiple factors (with &, or, etc.);
	o allow me to enter multiple lines of text in a field;
	o be able to import (& export) data from MS Word;
	o be able to print out examples with all related information;
	o accommodate 1,000-3,000 examples with 10-20 categories;
	o it'd be nice if the data could also be transferred to an IBM.
I would appreciate any suggestions which colleagues may have.
Respondents should reply to me directly (tshannongarnet.berkeley.edu),
so as not to clutter up this discussion group. I'd be happy to summarize
the recommendations I receive, if there's interest. Thanks.
tom shannon
tshannongarnet.berkeley.edu
PS: I'm posting this on both Linguist & Humanist. Apologies for
	repeats!

The recent announcement of IPA characters for IBM + WP + HPLJ reminds me
that I've been looking for the set of IPA characters for my Amiga. Can
someone kindly help me?

Am writing manuscript on conflicts between ethnic/cultural
groups in classroom in the U.S. Have found research of
Frederick Erickson, Susan Philips and Hymes and Gumperz
very helpful in opening the door for teachers wrestling
with conflicts in linguistic and communicative strategies.
But I'm running out of such research. Would especially
appreciate references to Hispanic-American, African-
American and other groups who have arrived in country
recently. I teach teachers to deal with communication
conflicts and am frustrated at the lack of success
in finding fresh literature.