LINGUIST List 6.892

Tue Jun 27 1995

FYI: Linguistic Society of America

Editor for this issue: Anthony M. Aristar <aristartam2000.tamu.edu>

Directory

1. Tony Woodbury, Call: Field reports/Endangered Lgs. at LSA '96
2. Rebecca Burns-Hoffman, LSA Committee, Linguistics in the Schools

BEGIN MESSAGE FOR POSTING

The following message is transmitted on behalf of the LSA Committee on
Endangered Languages and their Preservation:


 Call for Abstracts
 FIELD REPORTS/ENDANGERED LANGUAGES
 LSA Annual Meeting, San Diego, January 4-7, 1996

At last year's LSA Meeting in New Orleans, the Committee on Endangered
Languages and their Preservation presented a two-part organized session
titled 'Field Reports/Endangered Languages.'

Beginning this year, 'Field Reports/Endangered Languages' is listed on the
LSA 'Abstract Submittal Form' as one of the 'primary area[s] of
linguistics' addressed by regular submissions to the LSA Annual Meeting in
San Diego. If enough abstracts designating this category are accepted,
then 'Field Reports/Endangered Languages' may be the title of one or more
regular sessions at the meeting.

Papers in this category are expected to report on the results of recent
field work, especially (but not necessarily) on languages that are
endangered, and to focus on any of the major themes in the work of field
linguists. These include: (a) The scientific importance of specific field
results, including new phenomena or facts; (b) The nature of language
endangerment and shift, such as the sociolinguistics of endangered
languages communities, the distribution and speaker strength of languages
or dialects in a given area, or attitudes toward language death; (c) The
ways communities and linguists have responded to these conditions,
including language preservation or revitalization efforts; (d)
Methodological issues, such as dictionary making, natural text
representation, survey methods; and (e) Ethical issues.

Abstracts designating this category should indicate briefly the communities
and languages involved, the vitality of the language, the nature, goals,
and location of the field work, and major prior linguistic documentation
(if any).

Because the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the
Americas (SSILA) will meet jointly with the LSA in 1996, it is hoped that
Field Reports/Endangered languages session(s) this year will have a
complementary focus on languages of Africa, Eurasia, and Oceania, as well
as languages of predominantly non-Native communities in the Americas (e.g.,
sign languages, pidgins/creoles, and varieties of overseas languages).
Accordingly, those with reports on Native American languages are encouraged
to submit them to SSILA if at all possible.

The deadline for receipt of abstracts is *Sept. 1, 1995*. Please note that
this date is a week and a half earlier than in previous years. Like all
submissions, these abstracts will be reviewed by the LSA Program Committee
in consultation with outside referees. Submission is open to any LSA
member. For further details see the _LSA Bulletin_, No. 146, December,
1994, pp. 61-66.

The Committee on Endangered Languages and their Preservation considers it
vitally important that this new category be supported by a strong
complement of abstract submissions from interested LSA members. This is
the only way for "Field Reports/Endangered Languages" to become an
established part of LSA programs in years to come. Please direct any
questions to Tony Woodbury (email: acwmail.utexas.edu; phone: (512)
471-1701 or (512) 472-5305.)

[This message has been sent to the LINGUIST LIST, the
Endangered-Languages-L list, the linganth list, and the SSILA Bulletin.
Suggestions of other electronic venues would be greatly
appreciated--contact Tony Woodbury (acwmail.utexas.edu).]

END MESSSAGE FOR POSTING

 *****

The LSA Committee on Linguistics in the Schools is developing a working
bibliography of projects and resources as well as a registry of interested
linguists. The usefulness of these documents will largely depend on the
help we receive from you in identifying as many publications, projects, and
resources as possible which are relevant to linguistics in the schools.
The mandate of this committee is as follows:

"...to explore and pursue ways in which the linguistics community can have
an effect on school instruction in language-related topics, including
linguistics."

The Report of the Committee Meeting January 1995 (LSA Annual Meeting,
 New Orleans) lists the following concerns:

* There is a widescale absence of linguistic study in K-14.
* There is a strong theoretical and applied basis for studying linguistics in
 K-14.
* There exists a strong need to broaden the job market for linguists to include
 visible roles in K-14 education.
* These concerns are directed toward the LSA itself for the promotion of
 linguistics in the schools, the allied and educationally-oriented
 professional organizations, and schools and the public sector in general.


 *****

Guidelines for submitting contributions to A Working Bibliography of
Programs and Resources for Linguistics in the Schools (K-14):

Please submit a brief description of up to 200 words identifying any
materials, projects, programs or publications you are aware of which relate
to linguistics in the schools (K-14) at any level (local, state, national,
international). Please identify the general goals of the resource material
and the grade levels for which curriculum materials are designed.

Please reply to [rburnsumiami.ir.miami.edu] or
[wolframsocial.chass.ncsu.edu] or as hard copy to Rebecca Burns-Hoffman,
University of Miami, PO Box 248065, Coral Gables, FL 33124.

*****

Guidelines for being listed in A Registry of Linguists Interested in the
Schools:

Name
Affiliation
Address

Statement of interest: (100 words or less)



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