NEWSLETTER
May 2008
Welcome to the latest Newsletter of the Australian Linguistic Society. As usual, the @ symbol in people's email addresses has been replaced with -at-, and clicking on any link will open that site in a new window.
The ALS website is now being commercially hosted (rather than just on Geocities), so the domain name www.als.asn.au is now the 'true' domain name, rather than just a redirection. Anyone who was using the 'underlying' addresses for any links to parts of the ALS site will now have a problem, since they're not there any more. On the plus side, the website should now be viewable in countries where redirection is not permitted.
Tim Curnow
tjcurnow-at-ozemail.com.au
Earlybird registration for the conferences of LingFest closes on 1 June, 2008. (You can register after that date - it just costs more!)
Check out the portal website http://www.lingfest.arts.usyd.edu.au/ for updates and details on LingFest08.
There are an exciting range of courses available in the Australian Linguistics Institute:
Jane Simpson
The Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad (OzCLO) is a linguistics competition aimed at high school students from years 9 to 12. The state rounds will be held at University of Sydney, and University of Melbourne on the afternoon of June 25th 2008, with the national round to be held (in each location) on August 6th 2008. OzCLO will consist of teams of up to three students.
Target student population: The program is designed for students from years 9 to 12. Any secondary school student who enjoys the sample problems on the web site is a potential contestant. High School students don't typically know what linguistics and computational linguistics are, so they probably won't know if they are interested until they try the problems. However, students who like languages, maths, computers, and the natural sciences are most likely to be interested in this competition.
Information sessions: Information sessions for students and teachers who are interested in the competition will be held at each location. At these sessions we will explain the details of the competition, introduce the fields of linguistics, computational linguistics, and language technology, and give tips for solving sample problems.
Sydney: Wednesday 11th June, 4:00-6:00pm at University of Sydney
Contact Elwin Cross (elwin-at-ozclo.org.au)
Melbourne: Wednesday 4th June, 4:00-6:00pm at University of Melbourne
Contact Saya Ike (saya-at-ozclo.org.au)
Competition Format: The State round on June 25th 2008 will be a two and a half hour session, and the successful competitors will go to the National Round, which will also be held in Sydney and Melbourne on August 6th 2008. Although this is a team competition format, individual students are also encouraged to join. They will not be disadvantaged in any way.
Registration: Registration in the competition is free. The registration form can be downloaded from the website http://www.ozclo.org.au. The participating students will be contacted through a nominated teacher to protect their privacy.
The competition is being sponsored by HCSNet, the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, Macquarie University, the Australasian Language Technology Association, and the Australian Linguistic Society.
Jane Simpson
Congratulations to ALS member John Hobson for receiving one of this year's grant awards from the Foundation for Endangered Languages. He receives the grant for work on Banjalang (Northern Rivers district, NSW, Australia), in order:
Michael Walsh
Professor Alexandra Aikhenvald has been accorded the rare honour of election to be an Honorary Member of the Linguistic Society of America. The number of LSA Honorary members is limited to 60, and they are spread over 25 nations. Only scholars of particular international distinction are accorded this rare honour. Professor Aikhenvald is one of the youngest linguists ever to be recoginized in this way.
Professor Jackson Sun, of the Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica, a major expert on Tibeto-Burman languages, is currently a Visiting Fellow at RCLT, until 31 May 2008. He is working on a grammar of Caodeng rGyalrong, a morphologically complex Tibeto-Burman language of north-western Sichuan.
Professor Dr. Willem F. H. Adelaar, Professor of Native American Languages and Cultures at the University of Leiden, a leading expert in South American languages, is currently a Visiting Fellow at RCLT until 31 May 2008. He is working on the typological characteristics of the Andean languages and their genetic relationships.
Professor Masayoshi Shibatani, Chair of Department of Linguistics at Rice University (USA), will be a Visiting Fellow at RCLT from September 2008 - February 2009. He will be here as a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study.
Roberto Zariquiey Biondi, a PhD student at RCLT, is undertaking fieldwork on Cashibo-Cacataibo (Panoan) in Peru, October 2007 - June 2008.
Friedel Frowein, a PhD student at RCLT, is undertaking fieldwork on Siar-Lak, an Austronesian language of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, May 2008 - July 2008.
Dr Cynthia Schneider, an RCLT Postdoctoral Research Fellow, is undertaking fieldwork on Kairak, a Baining language from East New Brittain, Papua New Guinea, February 2008 - September 2008.
Dr Frantisek Kratochvil, an LTU Postdoctoral Research Fellow, is undertaking fieldwork on Sawila, a Papual language of East Indonesia, March 2008 - July 2008.
Dr Mark Post, an RCLT Postdoctoral Research Fellow, will undertake fieldwork on the Eastern Tani Languages of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, North East India, June 2008 - December 2008.
Siew-Peng Condon
At the time, the staff of the Linguistics Department at Monash were: Professor G. Hammarström (Chairman), Associate Professor J. Platt (Deputy Chairman), Mr B. Blake (Senior Lecturer), Mr B Jernudd (Senior Lecturer), Mr P. Paul (Lecturer), Mr N. Chadwick (Senior Teaching Fellow), Mrs E. Thuan (Teaching Fellow), Mrs E. Dines. There were also staff in many of the languages with at least some interests in linguistics, including in French (Dr N. Marcovescu, Dr T. Quinn), in German (Associate Professor M. Clyne, Dr H. Platt, Mr J. Newman, Mr P. Hiscock), in Indonesian (Mr L.F. Brakel), in Japanese (Professor J. Neustupný), in Russian (Professor J. Marvan) and in Spanish (Professor R. Keightley, Mr B.D. Steele).
"First yearSecond year: 4 units are available of which Pass students must take at least 2.
- Unit 1: General introduction into the structure of language, language change and sociolinguistics.
- Unit 2: Generative-transformational approaches to the structure of English.
Third year: 6 units are avaialble of which Pass students must choose at least 3. (There are some prerequisites).
- Unit 1: Syntax
- Unit 2: Introduction to phological theories and a survey of sociolinguistic topics (examples from Australian speech communities).
- Units 3 and 4: give linguistic foundations for teachers or future teachers of TEFL/TESL and Foreign Languages respectively.
- Honours Seminar: Structural and Traditional Linguistics are compared to GT-grammar.
Fourth year: Apart from the minor thesis, there are 3 compulsory units dealing with Sociolinguistics, Generative Semantics and Speech Acts, and Phonology respectively."
- Unit 1: Critical survey of major theories of syntax.
- Unit 2: I. Phonetics (using informants of an unfamiliar language) / II. Generative Phonology
- Unit 3: Sociolinguistics (description and understanding of language variations)
- Unit 4: I. Survey of Aboriginal languages of Australia / II. Study course of Pitjantjatjara.
- Unit 5: History of Linguistics (especially 19th and 20th centuries)
- Unit 6: Language Change and Language Typology.
- Honours Seminar: Problems of Semantics.
From Tim's pile of old newsletters
The Centre for Language Sciences is one of the seven new COREs (Concentrations of Research Excellence) that were announced 13th May 2008 by Jim Piper, the DVC Research, Macquarie University. Led by Professor Stephen Crain, the Centre for Language Sciences focuses on experimental and computational research in linguistics, psycholinguistics, lexicography, audiology and speech science, as well as related research interests from MACCS, ELS and Humanities. It aims to foster interdisciplinary linguistic research with both theoretical and empirical goals, targeting both human and computer acquisition of language, and the languages of Europe as well as Asia.
We have made a new appointment in the Applied Linguistics area, filling the vacancy created with the retirement of Associate Professor Geoff Brindley at the end of last year. Associate Professor Mehdi Riazi has now accepted the position and will be joining us as soon as his visa is organised. Two of his primary areas of expertise are language assessment and quantitative research methodology.
Verna Rieschild
The University of New England provides scholarships, called 'UNERA's, for PhDs which have the same value as the APA scholarship. The University has more of these scholarships than it has top-level candidates to give them to. If you have a first class Honours degree, we can 'virtually' guarantee you a 3 year PhD scholarship. UNE staff have expertise in the following areas of research: language description, semantics, multilingualism, language acquisition (especially second language learning), language contact, pidgins and creoles, phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, and formal models of grammar. However, we are happy to consider applications in any field of general, applied or socio-linguistics.
Dennis Alexander graduated on April 4th with a PhD entitled 'Literal, figurative, metaphorical: A semantic inquiry into the semantic field of game and play in English.'
Book publications: Brett Baker's book Word structure in Ngalakgan has just been published by CSLI (distributed by UChicago Press). Cliff Goddard's edited volume Cross-linguistic semantics has been published by John Benjamins. Jeff Siegel's The emergence of pidgin and creole languages, published by Oxford, has recently appeared. And the two volume set Mental states, edited by Andrea Schalley and Drew Khlentzos, and published by John Benjamins, appeared in December.
Staff movements: Sadly, two of our staff are moving on. Karen Woodman, who played a valuable role building up our online MA in Applied Linguistics, has taken a position at QUT in the Faculty of Education. And Andrea Schalley, ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, who played a pivotal role in research efforts at UNE, will soon take up a continuing position as Lecturer in Linguistics and International English at Griffith University. We wish them both the best in their new positions.
Brett Baker
Nick Evans joined the RSPAS Department as its new professor and head last month, taking over from John Bowden.
Following hot on the heels of this appointment, we are advertising a continuing Level B position to work on Papuan languages, with applications closing late June - see Jobs section below.
The Department has also recently welcomed Ruth Spriggs, a speaker of the Bougainville language Teop, as a visiting fellow, along with Malcolm Ross who joins Darrell Tryon and Andy Pawley on our distinguished team of emeriti, and five new PhD students (shared in varying ways with the Anthropology Department):
We reported in this Newsletter last year that Francisca Handoko received her PhD for a study of intergenerational code-switching in Totok, Surabaya. This time round we can add a second round of congratulations: she has received the inaugural Stephen and Helen Wurm doctoral award. The recently established Wurm fund, set up from the estate of the late Professor Stephen Wurm and his wife Dr Helen Groger-Wurm, funds an annual award for the best PhD in the department on a topic related to the languages of the Pacific region. The same fund enabled us to offer a Wurm doctoral fellowship to Stef Spronck (see above).
A number of research projects are new or continuing in the Department this year:
Nick Evans
The following is a list of publications relating to the study of language, received by the Reviews Editor of the Australian Journal of Linguistics. Note that it is not possible to return books to the publisher, and that acceptance of a book implies no promise that it will be reviewed in the Australian Journal of Linguistics. Reviews are printed as circumstances permit, and copies are sent to the publishers of the works reviewed. If you wish to review a book, please contact the Reviews Editor, Alan Libert (Alan.Libert-at-newcastle.edu.au). Note that many books from previous lists of publications received are still available, so you may want to look at them also. If there is a book you are interested in reviewing but it is not on the list, please contact Alan as it is possible that ALS could then obtain a review copy from the publisher.
Alan Libert
Two more volumes of proceedings of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society are now available freely online as Pacific Linguistic electronic volumes (go to http://www.pacling.com/).
There are now six SEALS volumes online. From 2008 the series will be reborn as JSEALS (Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society), an annual peer-reviewed journal of Southeast Asian Languages and Linguistics, not restricted to papers read at the SEALS meetings. For more information go to http://www.jseals.org.
SEALS XVI: Papers from the 16th meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society 2006
Edited by Paul Sidwell and Uri Tadmor
2008 ISBN 9780858835863 (pdf), PL E-6
The sixteenth annual meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society was held on 20-21 September 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Institute of Language and Culture Studies at Atma Jaya University, and the Jakarta Field Station of the Department of Linguistics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig, Germany). The program included 36 papers, of which a dozen appear in this volume. Languages discussed are: Allang, Amis, Fataluku, Javanese, K'cho, Kavalan, West Coast Bajau, Malay, Paiwan, Thai, and Vietnamese; and sub-fields including grammaticalization, pragmatics, phonetics, sociolinguistics, and syntax.
SEALS XIV: Vol 1: Papers from the 14th meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society (2004)
Edited by Wilaiwan Khanittanan and Paul Sidwell
2008 ISBN 9780858835856 (pdf), PL E-5
The Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society was held in Bangkok, Thailand, May 19-21, 2004. The meeting was hosted by the Department of Linguistics (Faculty of Liberal Arts) of Thammasat University, with assistance from the Commission on Higher Education. The schedule included 105 presentations and seven plenary sessions, characterized under 21 sub-fields of linguistics.
In this fist volume of papers from the meeting there are 20 papers covering such diverse topics as syntax, phonology, language planning, text analysis, language teaching and historical linguistics. Languages discussed include Chamoru, Cham, Hlai, Iu-Mienh, Mandarin, Central Philippine, Malay, Thai, and Tai of Assam.
Nick Evans
See above for information on the upcoming conferences as part of LingFest 2008.
If you're interested in coming, please contact James McElvenny on james.mcelvenny-at-arts.usyd.edu.au.
Jane Simpson
ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Division of Society and Environment, Department of Linguistics
Research Fellow in Papuan Linguistics
Academic Level B
Salary Range: $68,767 - $81,135 pa plus 17% super
Reference: PA4795
The Department of Linguistics seeks to appoint a scholar to carry out research on Papuan languages and their broader scientific implications. Applicants with relevant field experience from any part of the world are welcome to apply, provided they put forward a detailed and compelling proposal for a research program whose major focus is on one or more Papuan languages.
The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of publication in relevant field(s), relative to their early career status. Candidates should provide a detailed statement of the research project(s) they plan in the short, medium and long terms, putting together an exciting, innovative and plausible program based on fieldwork and analysis, and including likely plans for future project funding.
The research outlined should be compatible but complementary with the Department's range of research interests, as outlined in the further particulars. The successful candidate will also be expected to serve on the editorial board of the publication series, Pacific Linguistics, to engage in the supervision of postgraduate students and occasional advanced teaching as needed, and to serve as an attraction point for the development of major research initiatives in the area.
Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
Selection Criteria: http://info.anu.edu.au/hr/jobs/ or from Human Resources (Academic), CAP; T: 02 6125 4444, E: jobsacademic.cap-at-anu.edu.au.
Enquiries: Nicholas Evans, T: 02 6125 0028, E: Nicholas.Evans-at-anu.edu.au or John Bowden, T: 02 6125 3281, E: John.Bowden-at-anu.edu.au.
College of Asia and the Pacific Information for Applicants and Job Cover Sheet:
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/jobs/CAP_info_applicants.pdf
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/jobs/CAP_job_coversheet.xls
Please submit your application directly to jobsacademic.cap-at-anu.edu.au by no later than the advertised closing date.
Closing Date: Friday 25 July 2008
Nick Evans
Macquarie University is currently offering 43 new positions in Concentrations of Research Excellence (CORE). The AMEP RC invites applications for a specialist in Workplace Language and Communication to join the Social Inclusion CORE. We seek to appoint a scholar who will contribute to existing research projects and design new research projects in the areas of language learning and multilingual communication in the workplace; intercultural communication in the workplace; the relationship between language training, including language assessment, and employment and career outcomes. To apply go to Macquarie University's Employment website, http://macquarieuniversity.nga.net.au/bin/fnt_info_page.cfm?JobID=1133. For further information contact Ingrid Piller, ingrid.piller-at-mq.edu.au.
Workplace and career communication in the context of migration and globalization: It is the purpose of the position to strengthen the research nexus between second language learning and teaching and workplace and professional communication. Migrants' and overseas students' access to rewarding employment and careers has become a key challenge for the Australian economy and society. We seek to appoint a scholar who will contribute to existing research projects and design new research projects in the areas of language learning and multilingual communication in the workplace; intercultural communication in the workplace; the relationship between language training, including language assessment, and employment and career outcomes.
Ingrid Piller
The Australian Linguistic Society is the national organization for linguists and linguistics in Australia. Its primary goal is to further interest in and support for linguistics research and teaching in Australia. Further information about the Society is available by clicking here.
The ALS Newsletter is issued four times per year, in the middle of February, May, August and November. Copy for the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor, Tim Curnow (tjcurnow-at-ozemail.com.au) by the end of the first week of February, May, August and November. There is a list of people who are automatically advised that it's time to contribute material; if you wish to be added to that list, send Tim an email.
Unless you paid for several years at a time, or have given the Treasurer your credit card details and permission to use it, subscriptions for ALS are due at the beginning of each calendar year; the year you are paid up to is shown on the address label on the envelope your copy of the Australian Journal of Linguistics comes in. A subscription form is available by clicking here.
The only membership list is maintained by the Treasurer, Doug Absalom (Doug.Absalom-at-gmail.com). If you wish to check your membership status, change your address or make some other enquiry, please contact Doug.