<Language> Guidelines

[H. Mark Hubey]

<><><><><><><><><><><><>--This is the Language List--<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Guidelines For Posting To <Language>:
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The study of language covers a broad range of questions, and is
likewise relevant to many fields of study. The neuroscientist who
explores the biological basis of language,  the psychologist seeking a
more comprehensive view of the nature and dynamics of language, and the
historical linguist who dreams ultimate goal of classification of and
agreement on all the languages of the world, something akin to the Human
Genome Project, all work with closely related and
overlapping subjects, and all stand to benefit from and contribute to a
common pool of knowledge.

The rapid growth of information technology has made possible rapid
exchange of information regarding languages. Whereas only a short time
ago only the field linguist could have hoped to get information on some
languages, native speakers, and linguists specializing in various
languages can now be virtually brought together with ease. Parallelling
this development in information technology has been the interest in
making historical or comparative linguistics more rigorous and dependent
upon and based on mathematics similar to the study of syntax and grammar
of language.

However, this forum can often lead to heated dialog on the nature of the
language. In the interest of fostering constructive dialog on a
very complex subject, the following guidelines should be observed
when posting:

1. The basic aim of the lists is to encourage discussion and exchange
information on research on quantitative aspects of language and other
relevant disciplines in the sciences and humanities; with the aim of
understanding the use, misuse and abuse of quantitative methods in
linguistics and identification of such bogus quantitative results that
exist in the literature.

2. As the overall goal of this discussion is communication toward the
advancement of knowledge, it is expected that the disagreements do not
lead to useless flaming, and heckling.

3. Please keep in mind that the study of language crosses many
disciplinary boundaries. Anything related to language may be discussed
on this list however the preferences are for quantitative methods and
models since there are many other lists available for discussion of
other aspects of linguistics. Formal Language Theory is understood in
this context to be a part of quantitative methods since it is a branch
of mathematics and computer science as well as linguistics.

Feel free to draw from research including posts on other lists or
websites, however  focus on  what it means for quantitative linguistics,
and theory, not the specific details of the language or specific words,
lexemes, morphemes.


4. The list is not moderated. So far it has worked rather well, proving
that social science mailing lists need not be moderated.
In a strange way, this list also shows the solution of the problem of
policing lists in linguistics. By making it quantitative, the useless
riff-raff can be easily self-filtered. Noise-makers and hecklers do not
want to be on quantitative lists. That is why they don't exist in
physics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, or math lists.

5. Please don't exceed about 60 characters per line. Use spaces for
paragraphs liberally, it makes it easier to read on the monitor.
However, please do not put a long signature list. It is understood to be
sign of immaturity on the Internet. Only put your name, email address,
and a website that may be necessary. Avoid quoting previous messages any
more than absolutely necessary --we've already read them once. Please do
not use AOL type quoting. Use the quoting that uses
angular brackets >, as everyone else. Leave only enough on the post to
show what the other(s) may have said.

6. The mailing-list server is majordomo. To subscribe or unsubsribe send
email to the address majordomo at csam.montclair.edu
and in the body of the mesage put whichever is appropriate:

	subscribe language
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If you have problems feel free to contact the list-owner;
	huibeyh at montclair.edu
--
Best Regards,
Mark
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hubeyh at montclair.edu =-=-=-= http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~hubey
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