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Directory

        1.    Alison How, Child Lang Acquisition
        2.    Bittor Hidalgo, 'Topic', 'Comment'

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Message 1: Child Lang Acquisition

Date: 25-Nov-2004
From: Alison How <a.l.howherts.ac.uk>
Subject: Child Lang Acquisition


I am a 3rd year linguistics student at the University of Hertfordshire
 embarking on my final year dissertation concerning past and plural
 (English) morphology. I am specifically interested in investing U-shaped
 learning in children and need to find papers involved in this area (the
 original theorist would be very useful for a detailed discription). If
 anyone could help even with some article or journal titles I would be most
 greatful.
 
                    Thank You, Alison. 
 
 Linguistic Field(s): Language Acquisition; Morphology 
 Subject Language(s): English (Language Code: ENG)

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Message 2: 'Topic', 'Comment'

Date: 25-Nov-2004
From: Bittor Hidalgo <bittorhidalgoeuskalnet.net>
Subject: 'Topic', 'Comment'


Does anyone know who is the first linguist using the terms ''topic'' and
''comment'' referring to the information structure of the sentence? My
first reference is: 

Ch. F. Hockett (1958) A Course in Modern Linguistics. New York, Macmillan, 201. 

He uses the terms again in: 

(1963) «The Problem of Universals in Language», in J.H. Greenberg (ed.),
Universals of Language, 18 (2nd. ed. 1966, 23). 

But somewhere I read that it was Bloomfield who first used the terms in 1935. I
think Bloomfield doesn't use them at least in his 1933's ''Language''. But I
also think Hockett was Bloomfield's follower in some way. Could anyone give me
more information around it? I will submit a summary of the answers in case. 

Thanks. Bittor 

Linguistic Field(s): Syntax 
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