LINGUIST List 10.1200

Fri Aug 13 1999

Qs: Japanese, Syntax, Spanish Morphology, Arabic

Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karenlinguistlist.org>



We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.

Directory

  • Mark_Mandel, Stylistic metrics for Japanese
  • Karen Smith, Request for Books on General Syntax
  • WILLIAM HILL, Re morfologia derivacional
  • zmaalej, How women are conceptualised

    Message 1: Stylistic metrics for Japanese

     Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 17:05:56 -0400
    From: Mark_Mandel <Mark_Mandeldragonsys.com>
    Subject: Stylistic metrics for Japanese


    A colleague asks the following. Can anyone help?:

    I am interested in any information of metrics on Japanese text. Specifically, I am thinking about analogs to the Gunney-Fogg (sp?) index for English (measuring grade level), but related to "politeness" and/or "casualness".

    Mark A. Mandel : Senior Linguist and Manager of Acoustic Data Mark_Mandeldragonsys.com : Dragon Systems, Inc. 320 Nevada St., Newton, MA 02460, USA : http://www.dragonsys.com/

    Message 2: Request for Books on General Syntax

     Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 12:59:43 -1000
    From: Karen Smith <smithkarhtdc.org>
    Subject: Request for Books on General Syntax


    Hello, I am trying to compile a literature review on general syntax and I was hoping that someone might be able to direct me to somenew or recently released books on general syntax or even books which are about to be released on this topic. Any information is appreciated. I will post a list of my findings so that everyone can benefit. Thank you for your time. Karen Smith Linguist Ergo Linguistic Technologies

    Message 3: Re morfologia derivacional

     Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 23:00:30 -0700
    From: WILLIAM HILL <JHALGEN2Uworldnet.att.net>
    Subject: Re morfologia derivacional


    I need help in finding information about la nomalizacion in Spanish morphology I need to understand what it is and I am having problems trying to get materials on this topic. Please help me and if it is not too much, would you please reccommend a great Spanish-morphology book? Thank you Lidia

    Message 4: How women are conceptualised

     Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 12:13:48 +0200
    From: zmaalej <zmaalejgnet.tn>
    Subject: How women are conceptualised


    _____________________ Dear colleagues,

    I am working on a cross-cultural survey of how women are conceptualised. Part of this study, of course, will have to include a section on how women are talked about in the various dialects of Arabic, but the most important part should be concerned with how they are talked about in other cultures. The project came to being as part of an invitation made by Emanatian (1995) in a paper in which she surveyed the Chagga's conceptualisation of sex and lust, including how their women are conceptualised. In Tunisian Arabic, for instance, you may overhear:

    (i) xalaqha rabbi Huriyya : God created her a nymph (meaning: of unbelievable beauty) (ii) Hluwwa : (she) sweet (meaning: she is a beautiful girl/woman) (iii) malla baTTi:xa : what a melon she is (meaning: she is a seducing plump) (iv) kala:ha baynayh : he ate her with his eyes (meaning: she is very seducing), etc.

    Obviously, (i) and (ii) are favourable to women, while (iii) and (iv) are at the limit of pejoration.

    If you can insert a few references to women in your own culture, your contribution will be much appreciated, and many thanks in advance for your collaboration. If you are interested in the result of this study, I promise you a summary.

    Best regards

    Zouhair Maalej, Department of English Chair, Faculty of Letters, Manouba, 2010, University of Tunis I, TUNISIA. Office Phone: (+216) 1 600 700 Ext. 174 Office Fax: (+216) 1 520 910 Home Tel/Fax: (+216) 1 362 871 Email: zmaalejgnet.tn