LINGUIST List 6.133

Tue 31 Jan 1995

Qs: Ryukyu, Attitudes toward data, Capitalization, Invented lang

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1. "Fujisawa, Kensuke", Ryukyu
2. , Query: Attitudes towards data
3. Anthea Fallen-Bailey, Query: history of capitalisation in English?
4. "Donald Zhang Osborn", "Invented languages"

 My name is Ken Fujisawa. I am seeking Information regarding the
langauge Ryukyu. All that I know about the language is that it
belongs to the Turkic branch of the Altaic language family, and it is
spoken in Okinawa, Japan. I would appreciate any information about
how much it is related to Japanese, its syntax, writing system, and
so on.

I just receently received communications from two leading
theoretical phonologists, working in different kinds or offshoots
of generative phonology, saying (a) that "in respectable circles"
(sic!) one does not discuss much less publish counterexamples,
only superior analyses, (b) that surface contrasts do not
matter and should not be discussed, and (c) that one cannot
use as evidence in phonology the judgements of native speakers
(incl. apparently ones who are linguists).

I am wondering how widespread these attitudes are and whether
there is any published work that addresses any of these points.
(Since I am planning to write about this topic, please let me
know in your response whether I may quote you.)

I would be intersted in the views of syntacticians as well
(mutatis mutandis).

Alexis MR

I have been trying to find information on the history of the use of
capitals in the English language, but have been unsuccessful so far.
The books I have looked at so far deal primarily with spelling history,
minus the aspect of what words were capitalised, when, why, etc. Can
anyone help with references, please, or personal knowledge? Reply
directly to anfallenursula.uoregon.edu.

Thank-you in advance.
Anthea F.-B. (University of Oregon)

 I am looking for a list of "invented" languages, preferably with
descriptions. I understand that there are at least a couple of dozen that
have been proposed over the last century or so as international lingua
francas, but I can name only a few: Esperanto, Interlingua (?), Glossa,
Loglan, and Ro (?).
 Can anyone recommend published &/or electronic resources dealing with
this topic (lists, bibliographies, surveys)? Thanks in advance.
 Don Osborn osorndostudent.msu.edu don.osbornssc.msu.edu