LINGUIST List 6.1497

Wed Oct 25 1995

Calls: Lg acquisition, Sign ling

Editor for this issue: Ann Dizdar <dizdartam2000.tamu.edu>

Directory

1. Jan Don, Call for papers WCHTSALT
2. "Brett Baker", sign linguistics conference

WHAT CHILDREN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT LINGUISTIC THEORIES

An Acquisition Symposium on June 28th-30th
at the Research Institute for Language and Speech (OTS),
Utrecht University

CALL FOR PAPERS

Much of the research on language acquisition in the generative grammar
tradition addresses the general question "How is an adult grammar
acquired?" This directly affects methodology: An innateness
hypothesis of one form or another is set as the experimental
hypothesis, while the supposition that language acquisition is driven
by nonlinguistic learning mechanisms is taken as the null
hypothesis. Although this paradigm has proven to be extremely fruitful
over the years, it has also precluded, of necessity, an additional
important potential function for language acquisition research. Since
the beginning of theoretical linguistics, it has been well-known that
theories of UG can be numerous, and that a criterion of "explanatory
adequacy" is needed to distinguish the empirically adequate from the
insightful. In this regard, language acquisition research can play an
important role. A good test of the explanatory adequacy of a given
hypothesis about some aspect of UG is its ability to predict the
linguistic performance of children learning an adult grammar. In this
regard, language acquisition research offers a potentially rich source
of additional information useful for answering the theoretical
linguist's question "What exactly does UG consist in?" This symposium
is focused on this second potential function of language acquisition
research.

Therefore, to be accepted, submitted abstracts must meet the following
basic requirements:

(i) Two (or more) distinct hypotheses in the literature, in any
	theoretical framework, about any linguistic phenomenon
	(e.g. weak cross-over, clitic climbing, stress, weak
	WH-islands, specificity, metalinguistic negation,
	case, whatever), are presented and compared;

(ii) The competing hypotheses are shown to make different predictions
	about children's linguistic performance, under a given set of
	conditions, given some set of general assumptions about
	language processing and first language acquisition;

(iii)Acquisition evidence argues in favor of one, and against the
	other, hypothesis

Abstracts, for a 40-minute presentation on any topic in syntax,
semantics or phonology, may be no longer than 1000 words (excluding
references, diagrams and examples), must be postmarked no later than
February 20, 1996 (no e-mail; no fax; no extensions), and should be
sent to:

WCHTSALT
OTS/Utrecht University
Trans 10
3512-JK Utrecht
The Netherlands.

Final selection will be determined by an international panel of
experts, some of whom will attend the symposium as commentators. For
more information: WCHTSALTlet.ruu.nl . Symposium organizers: Peter
Coopmans, Nina Hyams, William Philip and Frank Wijnen.

Herewith a notice of a conference that will be held
in Melbourne, Australia during 1996.

* International Sign Linguistics Association

This Conference shall precede the Deaf History International 1996
Conference.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

July 4th - Thursday pm Special Meeting
 Evening Opening Ceremony (Buffet)
 5th - Friday am Welcome Address
 Presentation of Papers 1
 Stream 1 & Stream 2
 pm Presentation of Papers 11
 Stream 1 & Stream 2
 6th - Saturday am Presentation of Papers 111
 Stream 1 & Stream 2
 pm Presentation of Papers 1V
 Stream 1 & Stream 2
 General Meeting
 Evening Formal Dinner
 7th - Sunday am Presentation of Papers V11
 Stream 1 & Stream 2
 Evening Closing Ceremony(Wine & Cheese)

POSSIBLE THEMES
Sign Language Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics,
Sociolinguistics; Fingerspelling; Teaching Sign Languages; Asian Sign
Language; Sign Languages As Minority Languages and International Sign.

LANGUAGE
The official language of the Conference is English

Interpreting services will be offered in Auslan (Australian Sign
Language), international sign and up to eight other national sign
languages

Interpreting in spoken language may be provided

CALL FOR PAPERS
Interested participants are invited to present papers on aspects of
sign language. Each paper/video will be allotted 25 minutes.

Deadline for receipt of abstracts or videos: December 31, 1995

Abstracts must be in English and not more than 500 words or 5 minutes
in international sign, if on video (PAL). To be included in the Book
of Abstracts, videos must be accompanied by an English text.

Abstracts must also include details: Presenter's name, Contact
address, phone/fax/e-mail, language of paper presentation.

The Conference Committee will review all abstracts by the end of
February and presenters will be notified of their acceptance.

REGISTRATION
 before from
 March 31, 1996 April 1, 1996

Participant US$180 US$230
Accompanying Person US$140 US$190
Student (id required) US$140 US$190

CONFERENCE ADDRESS
 Bookings Co-ordinator
 ISLA (A/P) `96, Conference Committee
 National Institute for Deaf Studies
 La Trobe University
 Bundoora, Victoria 3083
 Australia

 Tel: (03) 479 92283 (TTY / VOICE)
 Fax: (03) 479 93074
 e-mail r.adamlatrobe.edu.au

Robert Adam
National Institute for Deaf Studies and
Sign Language Research and Teaching
Graduate School of Education
La Trobe University
BUNDOORA Victoria 3083 AUSTRALIA.

TTY/voice: + 61 3 9479 2283
FAX: + 61 3 9479 3074
e-mail: r.adamlatrobe.edu.au