LINGUIST List 6.336

Sun 05 Mar 1995

Qs: Lg of touch, Amazonian lgs, Lg recovery, Genitives in GB

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. george elgin, suzette elgin, Language of touch
2. Eric C. Anderson, Amazonian Indigenous Languages
3. Fran Karttunen, Query about language recovery programs
4. SAVINI, Query: Genitives in GB framework

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I have under contract now a book on "the language of touch"; I'd like to be
certain that I give credit everywhere that credit is due, as I write it.
I'd be grateful for any nonmedical references you could suggest on (a)
perception of touch, (b) communication by touch (other than sign
languages), and language of touch (verbal and nonverbal>. (I'm not
excluding sign languages; I have ample resources for this subject area.)
I think my bibliography is adequate up to the early 1980s, but I'm not
entirely confident after that date. Preliminary searches keep turning up
almost nothing, and I find that hard to believe. I don't want to find
myself reading email postings to the lists from people outraged because I
left them out of the book, failed to give their theories/methodologies/etc.
adequate space, focused only on someone or other alleged not to have had a
new idea for years, talked to them and then failed to quote them .... that
sort of thing. It may happen, but I will make every effort to prevent it.
Can you help me? I'll post a summary of replies if that seems useful.
"Language of touch" in this context means only terminology, as in "grasp an
idea" and "put your finger on the source of a problem" and the usual
tactile vocabulary. Thank you.

Suzette Haden Elgin

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Any linguists out there with an interest in Amazonian indigenous languages?
I am writing on behalf of (translating from the Portuguese for) one of the
scientists here at INPA who is interested in making such connections with
the rest of the world. Her name is Giselma Alfaia, and she is especially
interested in Tupi-related languages. She spends a great deal of time in the
field with the tribes and is doing some research into their language. You
can reach her via this email address. Thanks!

Eric C. Anderson/RNP/CPD
INPA - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia
( National Institute for Research in Amazonia)
Alameda Cosme Ferreira, 1756 - Aleixo
Manaus, Amazonas, 69083, Brazil

andersoncr-am.rnp.br
011-55-92-643-3032/3 fone
011-55-92-643-3095 fax
200.17.53.1 (IP address)

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In January there was a report on a northwest Pacific community that
was down to a couple of speakers before they realized that their language
was not a general "Indian" language spoken by Indian people elsewhere
but a specific language soon to be lost forever. A tribal official said
they were going to ask for linguists to come help. Does anyone know
what the name of this community and its language is? Also, I would
very much like to receive information about community attitudes toward
language maintenance/reclamation programs and linguist involvement.
(Not everyone likes linguists or thinks they are helpful.)

Frances Karttunen

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I am posting this on behalf of a colleague who does not have access
to the Linguist list:

"I am working on a Masters dissertation on the genitive construction
in Zulu within the framework of Government and Binding theory. Any
recent articles within this framework on the genitive construction in
general or on the genitive construction in other Bantu languages
would be welcomed."

Please send details of relevant works to me at the following address:

Savinimtb.und.ac.za