LINGUIST List 3.418

Wed 20 May 1992

FYI: New Journals, Merry Month

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. Carl Hostetter, Tolkienian linguistics
2. David Stampe, The merry month
3. , new journal: Languages of the World

I know that the subject of Tolkienian linguistics is not exactly
at the forefront of modern linguisitic research, but I also know
that many modern linguists were inspired, in whole or in part,
by the life and linguistic creations of J.R.R. Tolkien, whose
Centenary is being celebrated this year.

So, in that spirit, I would like to let everyone here know about
"Vinyar Tengwar" (ISSN 1054-7606), a bimonthly journal devoted to
formal study of Tolkien's linguistic work, with primary focus on his
invented languages, especially Quenya and Sindarin (Noldorin).

"Vinyar Tengwar" is refereed, and is now indexed by the MLA. It is
published in bulletin format, with a typical issue containing
32 pages. "VT" will enter its fifth year of continuous publication
in September.

Current areas of discussion include the Indo-European
connections of the Eldarin tongues, analyses of the corpus,
formal aspects of the various languages, foreign translations, etc.
Past issues have featured the Book Quenya Noun Declension chart, and
analyses of several otherwise unpublished Quenya samples.

Subscriptions to "VT" are for one year (6 issues); the rates are
$12 in the United States, $15 Canada and overseas surface mail, and
$18 overseas airmail. All payments must be in US dollars: foreign
subscribers are encouraged to use an International Postal Money
Order. Send all subscriptions, and make all checks payable, to:

 Carl F. Hostetter
 Editor, "Vinyar Tengwar"
 2509 Ambling Circle
 Crofton, MD 21114

Thanks to Rick Wojcik for remembering to remember these...

 Jim McCawley
 DATES IN THE MONTH OF MAY THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO LINGUISTS

May 2, 1919. Baudouin de Courtenay concedes defeat in his bid for the
 presidency of Poland.

May 3, 1955. Mouton & Co. discover how American libraries order books
 and scheme to cash in by starting several series of books
 on limericks. The person given charge of this project
 mishears and starts several series of books on
 linguistics. No one ever notices the mistake.

May 5, 1403. The Great English Vowel Shift begins. Giles of Tottenham
 calls for ale at his favorite pub and is perplexed when
 the barmaid tells him that the fishmonger is next door.

May 6, 1939. The University of Chicago trades Leonard Bloomfield to
 Yale University for two janitors and an undisclosed
 number of concrete gargoyles.

May 7, 1966. r-less pronunciation is observed in eight kindergarten
 pupils in Secaucus, N.J. The governor of New Jersey
 stations national guardsmen along the banks of the Hudson.

May 9, 1917. N. Ja. Marr discovers ROSH, the missing link for Japhetic unity.

May 11, 1032. Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II orders isoglosses erected
 across northern Germany as defense against Viking intruders.

May 12, 1965. Sydney Lamb announces discovery of the hypersememic
 stratum, setting off a wave of selling on the NYSE.

May 13. Vowel Day. (Public holiday in Kabardian Autonomous Region).
 The ceremonial vowel is pronounced by all Kabardians as a
 symbol of brotherhood with all speakers of human languages.

May 14, 519 B.C. Birth of Panini.

May 15, 1964. J. Katz and J. Fodor are separated in 5-hour surgery
 from which neither recovers.

May 17, 1966. J. R. Ross tells a clean joke.

May 18, 1941. Quang Phuc Dong is captured by the Japanese and interned
 for the duration of hostilities.

May 19. Diphthong Day. (Public holiday in Australia)

May 20, 473 B.C. Publisher returns to Panini a manuscript entitled
 _Saptadhyayi_ with a note requesting the addition of a
 chapter on phonology. Panini begins struggling to meet
 the publisher's deadline.

May 21, 1962. First mention of the _Sound_Pattern_of_English as
 `in press'.

May 23, 38,471 B.C. God creates language.

May 26, 1945. Zellig Harris applies his newly formulated discovery
 procedures and discovers [t].

May 27, 1969. George Lakoff discovers the global rule. Supermarkets
 in Cambridge, Mass. are struck by frenzied buying of
 canned goods.

May 29, 1962. Angular brackets are discovered. Classes at M.I.T. are
 dismissed and much Latvian plum brandy is consumed.

May 30, 1939. Charles F. Hockett finishes composing the music for the
 Linguistic Society of America's anthem, `Can You Hear
 the Difference?'

May 31, 1951. Chomsky discovers Affix-hopping and is reprimanded by
 his father for discovering rules on shabas.

New journal:

LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD issue No. 3 has just appeared

Scientific Advisory Board: L.O. Adewole (Ile-Ife)
 S. Brauner (Leipzig)
 U. Claudi (Cologne)
 M. Job (Marburg)
 A. Kaye (Fullerton)
 J. J. Song (Singapore)
 T. Stolz (Bochum)
 Editor: U. Lueders (Munich)
Contents of the third issue:
 A.K. Maltsukov (St. Petersburg): Distributive constructions and verbal valence
 in Even (Manchu-Tungusic)
 U. Lueders (Munich): Ergativity and actant marking in Pazar Laz (Kartvelian)
 L. O. Adewole (Ile-Ife): Reference in Yoruba pronouns
And: the LINGUISTIC NEWS LINES with about 200 pieces of information on the
linguistic scene around the world.

LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD is published by LINCOM EUROPA. LINCOM EUROPA was
founded to offer linguists additional possibilities for publishing their
work. Especially the P&E system (pay & earn) enables linguists to publish
their work in a fast, uncomplicated and independent manner.

To order LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD, please write to
 LINCOM EUROPA
 Sportplatzstrasse 6
 D-W-8044 Unterschleissheim/Muenchen
(10 issues US $140, for individuals $100, for students $68)