Calques 4.9

October 21, 2016

Awesomeness|Bigliness|Child learners|Destinations|Enterprising linguists|Festivities|Garrulousness

Please send information and news of departmental interest toAndrew Garrett(link sends e-mail).

Awesomeness

We're excited to announce a celebration of the career and work of our very ownGeorge Lakoff(link is external)on the occasion of his recent retirement:

Mark your calendars.

Bigliness

Susan Lin(link is external)'s timelyphonetic analysis(link is external)ofDonald Trump(link is external)'s pronunciation of "big league" has been covered by media outlets like theSeattle Times(link is external)andWashington Post(link is external), and now comprises thesingle most popular post ever(link is external)in theFriends of Berkeley Linguistics(link is external)Facebook group. Great work, Susan; let us know when the electropalatography part of the project is complete!

Child learners

Amy Avishay, Frederica Priyanto, and Ruth Rouvier recently returned from a workshop in Washington, DC on "Documentation and Child Learners(link is external)". Ruth organized the workshop with a grant from the National Science Foundation ("Documentation and Child Learners: A Workshop to Examine the Broader Impacts of Endangered Language Documentation"(link is external), BCS-1500720); Amy and Frederica have worked on the planning since January through theLinguistics Research Apprentice Practicum. An account of the workshop is here:Revitalizing Language: Exploring the Effects on Children's Learning and Well-Being(link is external). Congratulations to Amy, Frederica, and Ruth!

Destinations

This weekend, at least three Berkeley linguists are giving presentations at California conferences:

Enterprising linguists: Careers outside the classroom

Soon you will have that degree in linguistics, but what next? Learn about the possibilities from our panel of linguists as they discuss how they turned their degrees into careers outside the classroom. From influential start-ups to some of the most well-known companies in the world, our speakers are using linguistics in unique and interesting ways. After the panel presentation, we will have a Q-and-A session and plenty of time for informal socializing:

  • Saturday, October 22, from 10 am to 2 pm, in 2040 VLSB

This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Linguistic Society of America, the UC Berkeley Department of Linguistics, and Linguistics Beyond Academia, an LSA Special Interest Group. If you cannot come to the event, a recording of the panel presentation will be available at theLSA's YouTube channel(link is external)after the event.

Festivities

The second Inkling of 2016-17 will take place on Monday,October 31, from 3:30 to 5 pm in 1229 Dwinelle. All are welcome to our monthly social hour (and a half) with tea, coffee, and potluck treats – you'll find talk about work, life, ideas, and the pursuit of happiness, as well as an exciting Contest and an Awesome Prize.

  • Potluck:If your last name begins with the letters H-N (e.g. Haas), you are encouraged to bring something tasty. The department will provide beverages (coffee, tea, juice).
  • Contest & Prize:On the occasion of the 499th anniversary of Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses (Disputatio pro declaratione virtutis indulgentiarum(link is external)), an excellent prize will be given for the best costume or other impersonation of a thesis. The only way to win is to enter!

Garrulousness, or, so many Andrews