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1. Vol CXCIV, No 2 (5 visits)

Speculative Grammarian Volume CXCIV, Number 2 Editor-in-Chief: Trey Jones; Executive Editors: Keith Slater, Mikael Thompson; Senior Editors: Jonathan Downie, Deak Kirkham; Contributing Editors: Pete Bleackley, Vincent Fish; Associate Editors: Luca Dinu, Yuval Wigderson, Daniel Swanson; Editorial Associates: Emily Davis, Nina Sloan; Comptroller General: Joey Whitford; We Put the [ˌsuʷpɚˈsɪliʲəs] in [ˌsuʷpɚˈsɪliʲəst]; October 2024, ... more ]



2. Cartoon Theories of LinguisticsPart 九Lexicostatistics vs. GlottochronologyPhineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. (4 visits)

Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, Part 九—Lexicostatistics vs. Glottochronology. Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn. If you are new to Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, please review back issues of this journal. Now let us consider the fundamental difference between Lexicostatistics and Glottochronology: Lexicostatistics Glottochronology Up next: Feeding and Bleeding with guest cartoonist Erin Taylor. References, Arndt, Walter W. (1959). “The performance of glottochronology in Germanic”. Language, 35, 180-192. Bergsland, Knut; & Vogt, Hans. (1962). “On the validity of glottochronology”. Current Anthropology, 3, 115-153. Chretien, Douglas ... more ] Podcast!



3. Cartoon Theories of LinguisticsPart INon-Configurational LanguagesPhineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. (3 visits)

Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, Part I—Non-Configurational Languages. Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn. A. Mathematician Friend1 once told me that, in mathematics, it is sometimes said that if you cannot explain the basic outline of a mathematical idea to a bright and interested 10-year-old, then you don’t really understand it yourself. That got me thinking, and I’ve come to a couple of conclusions: According to my 10-year-old niece, I don’t understand any mathematical ideas. Something similar could be said for linguistic ideas.2 It is generally accepted that math is hard (Davis & Hersh, Friend, Lakoff & ... more ] Book!



4. Phonetic Drop Quote IIUlfheðnar ber Sarkur (3 visits)

Phonetic Drop Quote II. Ulfheðnar ber Sarkur. Select phonemes from the columns to fill the spaces directly below them, revealing the transcription of a thematically appropriate quote. The transcription here is allegedly a broad transcription in General American Englishthough, as always, your dialect and/or transcription system may vary. If you’ve figured it out, you can submit your solution (in English or IPA) to the editors of SpecGram by November 1st, 2024. Solutions and solvers will be announced in the next issue. ... more ]



5. Cartoon Theories of LinguisticsPart жThe Trouble with NLPPhineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. (3 visits)

Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, Part ж—The Trouble with NLP. Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn. Please review previously discussed materials as needed. Now that that is taken care of, let us consider why Natural Language Processing (or, its alter-ego, Computational Linguistics) has not been the resounding success regularly predicted by the NLP faithful: We gave the monkeys the bananas because they were hungry/over-ripe. Time/Fruit flies like a(n) arrow/banana. pretty little girl’s school crying computational linguist Up next: Lexicostatistics vs Glottochronology. References, Baeza-Yates, Ricardo and Berthier Ribeiro-Neto (1999). Modern Information ... more ] Merch! Book!



6. Cartoon Theories of LinguisticsPart ζPhysics vs. Physics EnvyPhineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. (3 visits)

Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, Part ζ—Physics vs. Physics Envy. Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn. Introductions are superfluous for those who have been keeping up. Now, to the heart of the matter, in which we discuss the long-recognized but little-discussed travesty of unconfidence in our field of study: ... Up next: Diachronic vs Synchronic. References, Cohen, Joel E. (1971). “Mathematics as Metaphor: a review of Dynamical System Theory in Biology. Vol. 1, Stability Theory and Its Applications by Robert Rosen.” Science, New Series, Vol. 172, No. 3984. Dymetman, Marc. (1998). “Group Theory and Computational ... more ]



7. Unrelenting Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t KnowMadalena Cruz-Ferreira (3 visits)

Unrelenting Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know, (because they aren’t actually true), gathered at great personal risk of, psycholinguistic harm from actual student papers by Madalena Cruz-Ferreira This 34th collection of students’ pearls of wisdom, laboriously digitised from hand-written papers, demonstrates once again how students new to the study of language speculate about grammar after having imperfectly absorbed what their teachers think they have taught them. Test Question—Metaphor. Find two examples of metaphorical use of language in this (adapted) newspaper headline, and explain why each of them is metaphorical: Airlines turn corner: leaving SARS gloom behind, carriers ... more ]



8. Academic Presentation GuidesThe Speculative Grammarian Editorial Board (3 visits)

Academic Presentation Guides. The Speculative Grammarian Editorial Board. At Speculative Grammarian, we are nothing if not practical. Having sent out several teams of disposable intrepid interns to a range of online and in-person academic conferences, we are pleased to present a list of academic audiences and things you should and should not do if they are in the audience. Phoneticians, DO: Use IPA symbols for all data. DON’T: Ask whether [ fəˈnetɪks ɪz ˈɹiːliː lɪŋˈwɪstks ]. Morphologists, DO: Mention that their ability to dissect words is practically surgical. DON’T: Ask if they ... more ]



9. Welsh Playwright Writes a Play That Plays It RightHomer Ffoni and Chaim O’Vunny (3 visits)

Welsh Playwright Writes a Play That Plays It Right. SpecGram Brythonic Language, Culture, Media and Sport Co-Vice-Editors, Homer Ffoni and Chaim O’Vunny. Welsh global superstar and worldwide literary sensation (in that order) Dewi ap Dafydd Davison has once again rocked the world of north west Wales amateur dramatics with his latest submission to the Llanfair-y-Pen-y-Ffordd-y-Groes literary festival I’r Siopau! (‘To the Shops!’). The piece, which takes an existential perspective on the issues pertaining to female shopping practices in north west Wales, has been performed by at least as many north west Wales amateur dramatics societies as his last effort ... more ]



10. Cartoon Theories of LinguisticsPart זSynchronic vs. DiachronicPhineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. (3 visits)

Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, Part ז—Synchronic vs. Diachronic. Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D. Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn. If you have fallen behind, try to catch up. For those who are caught up, a simple explanation of the difference between synchronic contrast and diachronic contrast, illustrated with examples from a couple of the beautiful Romance languagesSpanish and its ancestor, Latin: Synchronic ... Diachronic ... Up next: The Trouble with NLP. References, Barðdal, Jóhanna H. (2001). Case in Icelandic: A Synchronic, Diachronic and Comparative Approach. Blevins, Juliette. (2004). Evolutionary Phonology: The Emergence of Sound ... more ]



11. SpecGram’s Endorsement for PresidentThe Editorial Board of Speculative Grammarian (3 visits)

SpecGram’s Endorsement for President. The Editorial Board of Speculative Grammarian. One of the most consequential presidential elections of our lives will be upon us soon and we, the Editorial Board of Speculative Grammarian, have decided to break with our tradition of non-partisanship and endorse a candidate for President of the American Dialect Society. With no further pomp or circumstance, we hereby endorse Participle Party candidate, Vito Powers, whose bold and innovative platformre-iterated belowis what is needed to shepherd the Society through our trying modern times. Participle Party Platform. Partner with the American Chiasmus Society to ... more ]



12. Overheard in the Linguistics Student LoungeChesterton Wilburfors Gilchrist, IV (3 visits)

Overheard* in the Linguistics Student Lounge. Chesterton “Chico” Wilburfors Gilchrist, IV, Grad Student Union Steward, United Linguistics Workers**, Fourth-Year Grad Student, Dept. of Lexicology and Glottometrics, Devonshire-upon-Glencullen University, Southampton All names have been changed to protect the guilty innocent. Jargonisation: The Verb said, “Would you like to conjugate?” The Noun replied, “I decline.” Preterite: Sensible. He could have ended up with a nasty inflection. Jargonisation: I was hoping it would set the mood. Linguistically: That is an important aspect of these sorts of interactions. ... more ]



13. Cartoon Theories of LinguisticsPart EPhonetics vs. PhonologyHilário Parenchyma, C.Phil. (3 visits)

Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, Part E—Phonetics vs. Phonology. Hilário Parenchyma, C.Phil. Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn. We will skip the introduction, as we have been there, done that. Once more into the breach! For this installment in our series on Cartoon Theories of Linguistics, we will turn our attention to Phonetics and Phonology and the difference between the two: Phonetics:, ... Phonology:, ... Thanks to Professor Phlogiston, of the Unintentional University of Lghtnbrgstn, for the opportunity of a lifetime, as a student, to, on this occasion, share with so many of my fellow linguisticians my views, as illustrated above, concerning matters, which are of such immeasurable import ... more ] Merch! Book!



14. Vinegar Valentines (3 visits)

Vinegar Valentines. As Valentine’s Day rolls around once again, we at SpecGram recognize that not everyone has a special someone to spend the day with. Some people have no one; pity unto them. But the real losers on Valentine’s Day are those who have someone, just not someone who is particularly special. Whether it’s a creeper, a stalker, a jilted ex, or just a poor misguided soul who is a little too thick to take a hint, these Vinegar Valentinesa genre which rose to popularity in the late 19th centurywill help you let them down, albeit none too gently. Click an image for higher resolution. ... more ]



15. Lingua Pranca (3 visits)

I U Linguistics Club. Lingua Pranca. T. Ernst & E. Smith, Editors. Indiana University. June 1978. ... i u linguistics club, edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging edging, ... Lingua, ... Pranca, ... fleur ... T. Ernst & E. Smith, eds. ... indiana university, ... more ]



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Last updated Nov. 7, 2024.