Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Postposition 'Bok' In The Arara Language, Shirley De Souza

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

In languages, the category of adpositions typically comprises a small class of morphemes that serve to locate one entity, the 'trajector', with reference to another entity, the 'landmark' within three-dimensional space. Adpositions tend to be highly polysemous. In this paper I consider the postposition bok in the Arara language. This postposition has a variety of disparate usages. My goal is to show how the meanings illustrated by these usages are related within a network.

The Abd Of Orthography Testing: Practical Guidelines, Elke Karan

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Developing an orthography for a previously unwritten language may prove to be more of a challenge than anticipated. Orthography testing can help field workers and the speech community identify issues which warrant special attention. Subsequent testing will reveal whether or not various factors have been taken into consideration and challenges overcome. Findings might indicate that the orthography functions well or that it requires additional thought, revision, and /or additional testing.

Few how-to helps on orthography testing exist. Drawing from various resources, the author provides practical guidelines and resources for field workers who are planning to engage in orthography testing activities.

Also, Too And Moreover In A Novel By Dorothy L. Sayers, Stephen H. Levinsohn

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

When Dorothy Sayers uses also in her novel The Documents in the Case, this indicates that the material that is added is at least as important as that to which it is added. She uses moreover, as Blakemore (1987) has observed, to indicate that the material that is added provides further evidence for a recently stated conclusion. Too is the 'elsewhere' additive. Sayers uses it when the information that is added confirms or contradicts a previous utterance or assumption. She also uses it when the material concerned is of lesser or greater importance than that to which it …

Central Vs. Back Vowels, Steve Parker

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

At least fourteen languages contrast a central and a back vowel which are otherwise identical (in height, rounding, tenseness, etc.). Three previous feature systems are argued to be inadequate for capturing these contrasts. A new model is proposed, redefining the feature [± back] (as a dependent of the Dorsal Node) so that it can distinguish between central and back vowels.

What Is Literature? A Definition Based On Prototypes, Jim Meyer

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Most definitions of literature have been criterial definitions, definitions based on a list of criteria which all literary works must meet. However, more current theories of meaning take the view that definitions are based on prototypes: there is broad agreement about good examples that meet all of the prototypical characteristics, and other examples are related to the prototypes by family resemblance. For literary works, prototypical characteristics include careful use of language, being written in a literary genre (poetry, prose fiction, or drama), being read aesthetically, and containing many weak implicatures.