LINGUIST List 8.1042

Sat Jul 12 1997

Calls: Neural Models, Australian Lx Society

Editor for this issue: Ann Dizdar <annlinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Gabriele Scheler, NIPS Workshop: Neural Models of Concept Learning
2. Peter White, CFP: Australian Linguistics Society Conference

 -------------------------------
		Call For Contributions
		NIPS'97 Workshop 
		Neural Models of Concept Learning 
		---------------------------------


Neuronal models of lexical acquisition and semantic processing have
been addressed in the context of connectionist models of
categorization, including self-organizing maps, constraint
satisfaction networks and multilayer feedforward networks. However,
recently a number of suggestions and proposals have been forthcoming,
which put research on lexical meaning in context with concept
learning, language development and statistical induction. These
approaches relate to the disciplines of

	cognitive psychology of concept learning
	statistical lexical acquisition 
	emergentist approaches to language development 

It seems that a theory of conceptual semantics is forthcoming which
pushes beyond the limits of connectionist models by incorporating
strands from dynamic system theory (attractor networks, catastrophe
theory) and statistical induction (Kolmogorov complexity, MDL
learning).

The aim of the workshop is to provide a forum for an interchange of
methodologies, research directions and theoretical discussion. The
format will consist of introductory statements from panelists, group
discussion and individual position paper presentations.

Abstracts (500 - 1000 words) are solicited from all prospective
participants as a brief description of their ongoing work in the
context of this workshop. Please send your abstract by e-mail to
schelericsi.berkeley.edu or georgai.univie.ac.at by the end of July.

Prospective Participants: 
D. Clouse, UCSD
G. Dorffner, University of Vienna and OEFAI
M. Gasser, Indiana University 
C. Harris, Boston University
J. Kruschke, Indiana University
S. Quartz, Salk Institute
M. Raijmakers, University of Amsterdam
T. Regier, University of Chicago
G. Scheler, Munich University of Technology
P. Schyns, University of Glasgow
J. Tenenbaum, MIT

Workshop Home Page:
http://www.ai.univie.ac.at/~georg/nips-ws.html

Workshop Organization: 
Gabriele Scheler, Munich University of Technology and ICSI, Berkeley
Georg Dorffner, University of Vienna and Austrian Research Insitite
for Artificial Intelligence

Conference Site:
The workshop will be held in conjunction with NIPS'97 in Breckenridge,
Colorado on December 5 or 6, 1997. 
Format:
We envisage about 20-30 participants with about 10 individual paper
presentations of 15-20 minutes and a number of panelists to lead group
discussion. Publication/Dissemination: Electronic publication of
submitted abstracts will be realized on the workshop website
(www.ai.univie.ac.at/~georg/nips-ws/abstracts). A book publication by
Springer or another major publisher in 1998 based on full papers from
workshop participants and additional contributions by other
researchers is anticipated.

_________________________________________________________________

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

_________________________________________________________________


				ALS-98

 		 Australian Linguistics Society Conference
		 The University of Queensland
	 Brisbane, Australia, July 3-5, 1998


To be held in conjunction with the Australian Linguistics
Institute(ALI-98) July 6-16, 1998 Brisbane, Australia.

The Conference Organizers invite submissions on any area
of contemporary Linguistic research. Proposals for oral
presentations (30 minutes, including 5 minutes for questions)
and poster sessions are welcomed. Abstracts should be 300-500
words (single page) and will be competitively reviewed.


ALS-98 will directly precede ALI-98, a symposium of research
and course work by leading scholars, including:
*Cynthia Allen,
*Adriana Belletti,
*Mary Beckman,
*Anthony Blackhouse,
*Joan Bresnan,
*Wallace Chafe,
*Anna Uhl Chamot,
*Jenny Cheshire,
*Stephen Crain,
*Terry Crowley,
*Domimique Estival,
*Robert Dale,
*Tony Diller,
*Michael Harrington,
*Janet Holmes,
*Maya Honda,
*Rodney Huddleston,
*Richard Hudson,
*Harold Koch,
*Wilaiwan Khanittanan,
*Diane Larson-Freeman,
*Claire Lefebvre,
*Beth Levin,
*K.P. Mohanan,
*Tara Mohanan,
*Wayne O'Niel,
*Anne Pauwels,
*Luigi Rizzi,
*Eva Sweetser,
*Arie Verhagen,
*Michael Walsh.

Email submission of abstracts is preferred to:

	als98cltr.uq.edu.au

Otherwise, mail abstracts to:

	The Organizers, ALS-98
	Department of English
	University of Queensland
	Brisbane, 4072, AUSTRALIA
	FAX: +61 7 3365 2799

For further information and updates, the ALS 98 Web site will be available
shortly at: http://www.cltr.uq.edu.au:8000/als98

Important dates:

	Deadline for receipt of abstracts: December 30, 1997

	Notification of acceptance and preliminary program: March, 1998.



Dr John Ingram
Department of English
University of Queensland