LINGUIST List 9.130

Wed Jan 28 1998

Qs: Book, Markedness, Europanto

Editor for this issue: Elaine Halleck <elainelinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. graciela manzur, "Sociolinguistica para Hispanoamericanos"
2. Mike Roberts, Markedness
3. Radu Daniliuc, Europanto

I need to know how I can have access to the book "Sociolinguistica para
Hispanoamericanos" of Lastra de Suarez Yolanda published in 1992. Where can
I find information about the book? I need information about the influence
of English in Latin America, the use of English words in the
Spanish-speaking community ("anglicisms" or lexical loans). I need the
information urgently.
Name: Manzur Graciela
Address: Gral. Acha 330 (sur) 4 piso Dpto 19 C.P 5400 SAN JUAN. Argentina
e-mail: graciela.manzurinterredes.com.ar
Thank you very much. 

I am currently writing a dissertation for a PhD at the University of
Hawaii. In his study on the Markedness Differential Hypothesis, Fred Eckman
illustrated the concept of markedness with a phonological feature which he
used as a characteristic of language typology. He talked about the
voiced/voiceless obstruent contrast in the word initial, word medial and
word final positions.

He characterised English as a language which had the contrast in all three
positions. I give the following examples

e.g. (init) pet/bet (med) latter/ladder (fin) 
back/bag

He gave German as an example of a language which has the contrast initially
and medially, but not finally. I give the following examples

e.g. (init) teich/deich (med) leitter/leider (fin) n/a

He gave Corsican and Sardinian as languages which have the contrast
initially but not medially or finally. Unfortunately he gave no examples.
Is anyone able to put me in touch with someone who understands both
linguistics and one of these languages? 

The final category was languages which don't have the contrast at all,
e.g. Korean.

 I would be very grateful if you could help me.

Thank you


Michael Roberts
Department of East Asian Studies
University of Waikato
Hamilton
New Zealand

e-mail: robertsmwaikato.ac.nz

I heard a couple of days ago a discussion about Europanto language, a
language that seems to be quite interesting and quite practical.
In fact, it is a mixture of elements from the main European languages and
it was first "spoken" on the corridors of EU buildings in Brussels. It
seems that in September 1997 "Le Soir Illustre" from Belgium published the
first story in Europanto. I propose for discussion this matter of this
to-be "universal" European language and I would like other people who knows
more details about it to join me.
For the beginning I have a question about the status of this language. Can
it be considered a language? For this time being, should it be considered a
pidgin language? If we define a pidgin language as "'simplified' varieties
adopted as means of communication between speakers of two mutually
unintelligible languages." (PETYT 1980:187), Europanto can't be labeled a
"pidgin", as it is made out of words that are mutually intelligible (at
least to a certain extent)by its speakers. 
Thank you,
Radu Daniliuc
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
S[hared] R[adu] Dan[iliuc] 
These are shared mailbox 
and snail mail address ! 
 e-mail:srdanassist.cccis.ro 
snail mail:Radu Daniliuc 
 Ana Ipatescu 10,A,A,9
	 Suceava,5800,Romania
Postmaster contact: 
Write to:rdaniliucassist.cccis.ro
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~