LINGUIST List 3.185

Thu 27 Feb 1992

All: Dwight Bolinger

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Directory

1. "Michael Kac", Re: 3.182 Dwight Bolinger: In Memoriam
2. , Re: 3.182 Dwight Bolinger: In Memoriam
3. Ed Keenan, Re: 3.182 Dwight Bolinger: In Memoriam

Message 1: Re: 3.182 Dwight Bolinger: In Memoriam

I want to second John Haiman's touching tribute to Dwight Bolinger. I
never met him, but had brief contacts with him via correspondence on
a number of memorable occasions and have always admired him not only
for the astuteness of his observations but for the panache with which he
delivered them. No doubt it is this which inspired Jane Hill, in her
1970 review of *Aspects of Language* (Lg. 46.667-670) to describe him
as 'up to his elbows in the muck of language' -- a marvellously apt
characterization.

I think of something someone said after the death of the pianist Glenn Gould,
which applies as well here: he's gone, and the rest of us are just going to
have to get used to it.

Michael Kac

Message 2: Re: 3.182 Dwight Bolinger: In Memoriam

I have a story also about Dwight's kindness to fledglings. I had been out of
graduate school for about a year when I met Dwight. I went up to introduce
myself to him at some kind of gathering and he said, "Oh, yes, I just
quoted you in a paper I'm working on."

susan steele

Message 3: Re: 3.182 Dwight Bolinger: In Memoriam

Dear colleagues,

 Like John Haiman I cannot attend a memorial service for Dwight Bollinger,
but I will gladly and sadly take a moment to recall a man whose delight in the
discussion of language was so evident. I met Dwight only once, and recall him
clearly. I feel now that a little light up the road that we are all travelling
has just gone out. Talmy -- thanks for letting us know.

 Peace, Ed Keenan