11.879, Qs: Syntax of also/too/as well,Past Ling Traditions

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LINGUIST List:  Vol-11-879. Sun Apr 16 2000. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 11.879, Qs: Syntax of also/too/as well,Past Ling Traditions

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1)
Date:  Fri, 14 Apr 2000 01:17:52 +0530
From:  "tanyaroy" <tanyaroy at mantraonline.com>
Subject:  The syntax of also/too/as well

2)
Date:  14 Apr 2000 00:13:12 EDT
From:  Lotfi at www.dci.co.ir
Subject:  Linguistic traditions of the past

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  Fri, 14 Apr 2000 01:17:52 +0530
From:  "tanyaroy" <tanyaroy at mantraonline.com>
Subject:  The syntax of also/too/as well

Any hints on what to consult on the position of also/too/as well in
English and the changes in meaning with changes in position.
Thanks.
Tanya Roy
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.


-------------------------------- Message 2 -------------------------------

Date:  14 Apr 2000 00:13:12 EDT
From:  Lotfi at www.dci.co.ir
Subject:  Linguistic traditions of the past

Dear Linguists,
The Quran, the religious book of Moslems, makes frequent cryptic
comments about language, like the following from Arrahman Chapter
(1-4: 55):
"Oh merciful! I taught the Quran to man, then brought him to life,
then I taught him speech."
Perhaps it was this Quranic interest in language that inspired
Moslem scholars to develop a rich tradition of linguistic studies
centuries ago. Just as an example, I make a quick translation of the
first two paragraphs from Toosi's Asas Al-Eghtebas, a long treatise
on logic and language written in Persian about 700 years ago:
>
"Word-makers created words for meanings so that the intelligent could
denote meanings via words, and this kind of denotation is termed
conventional denotation, which is man-specific. For in natural denota-
tion, like the birds' sounds denoting their conditions, man and other
animals are alike."
>
"Some meanings are included in some others, and some necessary for
others. For instance, the meaning of 'wall' is included in that of
'house' as a wall is a part of a house. But the meaning of 'wall' is
necessary for that of 'ceiling' as there is no ceiling without a wall.
Then to conceive some meaning necessitates the conception of some
others that are included in or necessary for the former."
>
Just note the psycholinguistic tone of the last sentence, and then you
might agree that it's a pity that modern linguistics began from scratch
with no concern for such a rich body of linguistic knowledge in non-
European cultures.
Are there similar linguistic traditions out there in European/non-
European academic cultures of the past that failed to come to the
modern linguist's attention? Can you think of any sources on such
traditions? If I receive sufficient replies, I'll post a summary.
- ------------------------------
Ahmad R. Lotfi.
Chair of English Dept.
Azad University at Khorasgan,
Esfahan, IRAN.

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