LINGUIST List 6.1592

Fri Nov 10 1995

Confs: Discourse Functions & Representation, Lang & Cognition

Editor for this issue: Ljuba Veselinova <lveselinemunix.emich.edu>

Directory

1. "Dr. John Bateman", First announcement: workshop on Discourse Functions and Representati
2. , Announcement: One-day workshop: Language & Cognition

on


First announcement of the workshop:


 LOCAL AND GLOBAL PHENOMENA IN DISCOURSE:
 THE `DANDELION' APPROACH
 ----------------------------------------
 15th-16th December 1995


 IPSI - Integrated Publication and Information Systems Institute
 GMD - German National Research Center for Information Technology

 Dolivostr. 15, DARMSTADT, GERMANY
 ---------------------------------------

The ESPRIT Basic Research Action DANDELION (Discourse Functions and
Discourse Representations: An Empirically and Linguistically Motivated
Interdisciplinarily-Oriented Approach to Natural Language Texts) will
be holding its final project workshop and review to mark the end of
the project.

DANDELION has developed theories of a number of phenomena in discourse
including coherence relations, information structuring, thematic
development, causal and contrastive connectives, aspect and text
structure, and discourse functions of NP types. In parallel, it has
produced and enhanced computational resources for the investigation
and development of discourse theories.

Presentations at the workshop will reflect the project's diversity and
its attempts to find syntheses of current theoretical positions.
Computational resources will be demonstrated.

For further information and for registering interest in attending the
workshop, please contact: either Ute Kischel (e-mail:
kischeldarmstadt.gmd.de, tel.: +49/6151-869-811; fax.:
+49/6151-869-818) or Klaas Jan Rondhuis (rondhuisdarmstadt.gmd.de).
Accomodation will be in local hotels near to the institute in
Darmstadt and should be organized by participants directly. A list of
available hotels, their locations, and prices will be faxed on
request.

The detailed program for the workshop will be circulated in the next
couple of weeks.

 ANNOUNCEMENT

 European Studies Research Institute,
 University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK

 One-day Workshop: Language & Cognition
 Friday 12 January 1996, 10.00am - 4.00pm

Speakers: Philip Carr (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
 Ronnie Cann (Edinburgh)
 Jacques Durand (Salford)
 Bernadette Plunkett (York)
 Bonnie Schwartz (Durham)
 Richard Towell (Salford)

Organisers: Jacques Durand and Paul Rowlett

Venue: Monnet Suite, Research & Graduate College, University of
Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester.

Much familiar work in generative grammar assumes that the aim of
linguistics is to `ascertain the nature of the biological endowment
that constitutes the "language faculty", the innate component of the
mind/brain that yields knowledge of language when presented with
linguistic experience, that converts experience to a system of
knowledge' (Chomsky, Knowledge of Language, 1986: xxvi). However, in
the day-to-day work of the linguist, it is easy to lose sight of this
goal and to get involved in technical complexities. The aim of this
workshop is to allow for a wide-ranging discussion of the "cognitive"
implications of current work in generative grammar. Among the areas
to be considered are:

What is the status of the standard assumptions and distinctions of
Chomskyan generative grammar (e.g., competence vs. performance,
I-language vs. E-language, innateness, poverty of the stimulus,
universalism, modularity of the mind)? Are they all part and parcel
of the generative enterprise? Could some of these assumptions be
dropped? Do they need clarification?

What light is thrown by work on the acquisition of L1 or L2 on
linguistic theory as a whole and on the problem of psychological
reality?

How does current work in the various components of linguistic
description (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics)
throw light on issues such as the modularity of the mind or the status
of mental representations? For instance, what are the implications of
Optimality Theory for our conception of the psychological organisation
of language?

How can one validate the claim of "psychological reality" made in much
linguistic theorising or is the claim merely a kind of "petitio
principi"?

How does work within the generative paradigm relate to other work
going on under the banner of the cognitive sciences (e.g.,
connectionism)?

It is intended that the workshop will give speakers and participants
an opportunity to discuss these and related issues in an informal
atmosphere.

Pre-registration is not required, but we would be grateful if
participants would let us know that they plan to attend.

For further details, contact Paul Rowlett:
P.A.Rowlettmod-lang.salford.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 745 5990
Fax: 0161 745 5335