LINGUIST List 3.200

Wed 04 Mar 2002

All: Tributes to Dwight Bolinger

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1. Cynthia McLemore, Re: 3.185 Dwight Bolinger
2. Vicki Fromkin, Re: 3.185 Dwight Bolinger

Message 1: Re: 3.185 Dwight Bolinger

I'd like to add my sentiments to those expressed by colleagues for
Dwight Bolinger. He was an especially important scholar to me because
my work is on intonation. I feel so very lucky to have been able to
meet and talk to him -- in spring of 1990, when I was in Palo Alto
for a brief visit, he invited me to his home for a meeting, because he
was too weak to attend my talk. We had a wonderful conversation, full
of performed examples of contours, delighted glimpses of recognition
as we exchanged observations ... and when we politely noted our dis-
agreement on certain issues, he shook my hand with both of his. It
was a memorable experience; I left his house feeling like he embodied
a standard in scholarship.

We have lost a remarkable man.

Cynthia McLemore

Message 2: Re: 3.185 Dwight Bolinger

Yes -- linguistics has lost a great scholar and the human race a
magnificent human being. To misquote an old union song, Dwight would
no doubt now be saying "Don't mourn for me, work and teach and save
the environment." Vicki Fromkin