LINGUIST List 4.637

Thu 26 Aug 1993

Qs: Software, Tag Questions, Sociolinguistic Studies

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. Phil Bralich, Translation technology
2. , tag questions
3. Evan S. Smith, Inscription/Lecture
4. , "Selling Wolf Tickets"
5. "Leslie Z. Morgan", Systeme-D

To linguists:
I wonder if anyone out there can let me know what sort of translation
software is available and what is the current state of development of
software technology. I would like to know about commercially available
software, ftp available software, and any and all discussion concerning
the state of the art of translation technology.

Phil Bralich
bralichuhunix.uhccux.Hawaii.edu

I'd greatly appreciate early examples of tag questions in
English, both of the canonical type: Joan left, didn't she?
and Joan can't leave, can she?; and the invariant type:
So Joan left, eh? and Joan can't leave, right? I assume
there are no canonical examples before about 1600, but the
invariant ones might appear any time from Old English on.
I'll be glad to summarize for the list, if interest seems
sufficient. As always, the prize for the oldest citation
will consist in being recognized as the person who found
the oldest citation.
 Thanks for your help. Neal Norrick tb0nrn1niu.bitnet

Text item: Text_1

 1. Thanks to those who responded re the Creek inscription.

 2. On a new topic, does anyone know of a (socio-)linguistic study of
 the (college-level) lecture and its interpretation by students. I know
 D. Tannen has an article or two about conference talks, but I have not
 seen anything on lectures. I am especially interested in the notion of
 "aiming" one's oral/written style at a particular audience.

 Thanks in advance.

 Evan Smith
 smitheext.missouri.edu

A friend of mine is a public defender who frequently defends some
pretty incorrigible juveniles. Usually these kids are caught
red-handed (stealing the tape deck out of a car, for example), and
they make up some amazing stories as proof of their innocence. On
several occasions, an African American judge has accused one of these
children of "selling wolf tickets."

It's clear to us that "selling wolf tickets" means telling a fantastic
story. Our question is: does anyone know the origin of this phrase?

We'd like permission to post your answers in the lawyers' lounge of
the D.C. Superior Court, if we may.

 Thanks!

Joan C. Cook
Department of Linguistics
Georgetown University

Has anyone on *Linguist* succeeded in using Systeme-D, the
French program, on a network? We've had the program here for
several years, and it has NEVER printed properly on a Laser Jet
II or III. Could anyone who knows about this get in touch
with me? (The help number was not helpful; the young lady
said it must be our hardware, when the hardware is exactly what
is described in the manuals.)
Many thanks.
Leslie Morgan
MORGANLOYVAX.BITNET or MORGANLOYOLA.EDU