LINGUIST List 3.402

Tue 12 May 1992

Qs: Language-Speakers, Syntax, Texts

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. Michael Sikillian/Annotext, Who SPEAKS languages?
2. Michael Newman, Syntax query
3. BROADWELL GEORGE AARON, syntax textbooks

>>From: Vicki Fromkin <IYO1VAFMVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>
>>A much better response than being asked "How many languages do you speak?"
>> While that may still be the layperson's view of our
>>field, it is no longer the view among scientists and academicians across
>>the board. Vicki Fromkin

This raises an interesting issue: if linguists do not focus on learning
many different languages, then are there any academics who do? Or are they
mostly translators? Is it correct to assume that linguiists
concerned with formalized grammars and symbol systems, rather than actually
using language? (The analogy couls be made between a statistician and raw
data)

Michael Sikillian

A member of the TESL-L list asked why it was possible to say

I can't remember the first time (that) I played golf

but not

I can't remember the first time when I played golf

Clearly the explanation revolves around the adverbial nature of the WHEN-
clause. My response centered around that fact. Yet, I am not certain what
exactly the role of THE FIRST TIME is in all this. Obviously it is some
kind of modifier. Notionally, it seems to have an adverbial type role. Is it
a specifier of some kind though? And why is following perfectly fine?

Have you forgotten the first time when we played golf and these antigolf fana-
tics invaded the country club, stole all the ball and filled the sand traps
with quicksand?

Michael Newman

I need to order a textbook for a 2nd semester undergraduate syntax class.

We used Radford for the first semester, and I considering either Cowper
or Haegeman for the second semester. Has anyone out there used either
of these books? Were you happy with them?

Post to me, and I'll summarize if there is interest.

Thanks,
******************************************************************************
Aaron Broadwell, Dept. of Linguistics, University at Albany -- SUNY,
Albany, NY 12222 gb661thor.albany.edu