tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post2088536716009276141..comments2024-03-28T04:04:55.806-07:00Comments on Faculty of Language: An important LSA initiative that all ling depts should support but sadly very few doNorberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15701059232144474269noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post-28608365229107942982015-05-04T18:30:26.322-07:002015-05-04T18:30:26.322-07:00I made three suggestions; one concerning Colin'...I made three suggestions; one concerning Colin's recent NSF project on language science, one on a project that Yang and Marcus are doing on machine learning with small data bases using child language acquisition as a prime example of non BIG data learning and one on the Cinque kind of work being done on explaining Greenebrg universals in UG terms. The particular project I suggested they look at is on word formation using Bobaljik's recent work.<br /><br />The reception to these ideas was very cordial. Let's see what develops. Howver, I should say that I was asked for suggestions and they seem to be eager to have people make them. I think that the stuff that you are doing on the subject effects in RCs would be another worthwhile topic to cover and I intend to suggest it next. At any rate, we need to make these suggestions regularly and see how they do. Also, let me reiterate, we need depts to support this. So please consider having your dept make a multi year commitment. Norberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15701059232144474269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post-48300161716833510162015-05-04T18:22:07.709-07:002015-05-04T18:22:07.709-07:00To be clear, the scientific expertise lies with yo...To be clear, the scientific expertise lies with you, the members of the LSA (... we do hope that you are paid members; memberships help to pay for efforts to raise the profile of the field). The LSA Secretariat is a very small outfit, and it does not have extensive linguistic expertise. The Secretariat is working to develop connections with media outlets, and is working to build its ability to pitch good stories to those outlets. It will depend on you, dear linguists, to come up with the cool ideas that can be shaped to be pitched to the public. This is an experiment, but a couple of things are clear:<br />(i) If you don't pitch interesting ideas to convey about your field, then don't expect the media to convey them. <br />(ii) In order for professionals to work to connect your interesting ideas to the masses, it needs revenue to pay for those professionals. Departmental donations help, but individual memberships help too. A lot.Colin Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09724709677503698323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275657281509261156.post-79755850300835926402015-05-04T09:46:56.229-07:002015-05-04T09:46:56.229-07:00I am not personally impressed with the range of st...<i>I am not personally impressed with the range of stories that have been provided to data as IMO they do not yet showcase what linguists are mostly doing. However, I have been assured (and I believe) that the LSA is very open to suggestions as to topics to be covered (I have made several of my own).</i><br /><br />What do you think we can do about this? Can you tell us a bit about what kind of suggestions have you made, and how were they received?Tim Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11810503425508055407noreply@blogger.com