Arabic-L:LING:Linguashpere Request

[Dilworth B. Parkinson]

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Arabic-L: Tue 06 Jul 1999
Moderator: Dilworth Parkinson <dilworth_parkinson at byu.edu>
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1) Subject: Linguashpere Request

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1)
Date: 06 Jul 1999
From: David Dalby <dalby at linguasphere.org>
Subject: Linguashpere Request

The Linguasphere Observatory (a non-profit linguistic research association)
is contacting linguists specialising in the study of Semitic languages for
the purposes of their collaboration in the ÎLinguasphere Register of the
World's Languages and Speech CommunitiesÌ - the first detailed
classification of over 20,000 languages and dialects.

We would be very grateful to receive any comments or criticisms on an
extract from the Register covering Semitic languages.  The extract can be
viewed and downloaded (together with an explanation of the methodology used
entitled Îextract guideÌ) from our website - www.linguasphere.org - by
selecting the ÎDownload ExtractsÌ button on the homepage.  Any scientific
support  will of course be fully acknowledged.

With the generous support of the British Academy, we are now establishing
the methods by which incoming data will be gathered, assessed and
incorporated into the Register.  It is intended to establish these methods
through the more extensive development of the RegisterÌs coverage of the
languages spoken within a small number of selected geographical areas.

One of these selected areas is the Middle East and North Africa and The
procedure will be (1) to gather the latest available data on the
nomenclature, distribution, use and dialectology of the Semitic languages
and speech communities within this area and to integrate these Ò including
full information on the sources - into the Register; 2) to establish links
(including website links) with other existing or proposed sources of data on
the languages and societies concerned, including the preparation of a small
database on the scholars and institutions concerned with the languages of
the selected area.

The results of the research covered in this application will be made
publicly available on completion via the Linguasphere Website.


David Dalby
Director - Linguasphere Observatory
Hebron
Wales SA34 0XT
dalby at linguasphere.org
http://www.linguasphere.org

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End of Arabic-L: 06 Jul 1999