LINGUIST List 5.1313

Sat 19 Nov 1994

Qs: Hittite, Content analysis, Arabic phonology, Text trans.

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. Vincent DeCaen, Hittite verbal system
2. , Content Analysis
3. Karl Krahnke, Arabic phonology
4. Linguistic Group, Research in literary text translation

the sources on Hittite tense-aspect are sketchy at best (at least what
I have been able to get a hold of). the facts appear to be these.
the system has a binary inflectional system, either +/-past or
+/-perfective (ie. "tenseless"). the derivational +/-aorist
distinction familiar from Greek and Sanskrit is absent. on the other
hand, a "be" (esmi) + part and a "have" (har(k)) + part are attested,
the latter clearly a perfect (English have -en).

Q1. is this sketch accurate, at least as an initial sketch?
Q2. if Hittite is not operating on a +/-aorist system, what is the
aspectual principle that it is working on?
Q3. is the "be" + part construction also a progressive? or is it simply
adjectival??
Q4. what is the nature of the modal system? is the
nonpast/imperfective used??

any clarification or indication of sources would be much appreciated.

Can someone please recommend software for doing content analysis, and if
possible, where to access it? I am looking to do conceptual and possibly
relational content analysis. Aside from some decent literature on the
theory of content analysis, I have not yet come across good references and
tools for putting it into practice.
All comments and suggestions will of course be appreciated.
 Sincerely,
 Hillel R. Alpert MPM
 halpertfas.harvard.edu

Can anyone suggest a good overview of Arabic phonology, especially Saudi
or Gulf area Arabic?

Thanks.

Karl Krahnke
krahnkelamar.colostate.edu

I am keen to pursue a Masters degree in the general area of literary text
translation. I'm looking for abstracts of theses done previously or
reference to a source that lists work in such areas. In my thesis I want to
include a component on how and where computer applications can be
incorporated in translation processes of literary texts. My basic degree
is in Literature, majoring in comparative literature and presently I work
in the area of computer assisted translation (linguistics section).

Could anyone help me formulate or focus on a topic for Masters that would
be quite relevant to this background?

I'm also looking for the email address of the Association for Computers &
the Humanities.

All suggestions as well as information on sources of reference would be very
welcome.

Lalita Sinha
Computer Aided Translation Unit
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Penang, Malaysia