LINGUIST List 4.685

Sat 11 Sep 1993

Qs: Imperfect/irrealis, Deafness, Dictated lang., MLA

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. "Suzanne Fleischman", imperfect & irrealis
2. "L. Pattison-Gordon", deafness and spatial reasoning
3. Gerald McMenamin, Dictated Language
4. Alan Huffman, Query: MLA Bibliography--Electronic?

Does anyone have data and/or references (for languages other than
Romance
and English) on links between IMPERFECTIVE aspect and IRREALIS,
specifically
instances of IMPERFECTIVE forms being put to use, synchronically
or
diachronically, to express IRREALIS notions ?

Responses to: Suzanne Fleischman
 French Dept.
 University of California
 Berkeley, CA 94720

 e-mail: suzannegarnet.berkeley.edu

hello,

 I am interested in deaf students who learn Sign (not signed English)
and their experience with geometry - or more broadly their spatial
reasoning.

Assuming the postulate that Sign language (not Signed English) is a
language in space and of spatial patterns and that language is
intertwined with thought, it would seem to follow that this would
influence one's development of spatial reasoning and inturn geometric
reasoning.

Any thoughts, leads, experience, research you can direct me to would be
greatly appreciated.

The above question is different from but relates to questions raised
about language in mathematics and the need for a language within which
to express or even think ones thoughts. Obviously it also relates to
different cultures or subcultures development of spatial reasoning based
upon their experience with and need to express spatial relationships in
daily life.

- laurie pattison-gordon lpgbbn.com

I am looking for information on the characteristics of DICTATED
WRITTEN LANGUAGE. For example, if someone is taking dictation, are
there any specific indicators that what ends up on the paper was
dictated to the writer rather than composed by the writer.

If anyone has experience with this or knows of any bibliographic
sources, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Gerald McMenamin
Linguistics Dept.
Calif State Univ., Fresno
Fresno, CA 93740-0092
geraldmzimmer.CSUFresno.edu

Does anyone know if it is possible to access the MLA Bibliography electronic-
ally? I have Internet, Gopher, etc., but have so far failed in my attempts.