"Bargaining Chip": Antedating & Mystery

[Dennis R. Preston]

Don't astronomers have to deal with astrologists?

dInIs



>Dennis R. Preston said:
>>What nonsense. This contribution (sic) apparently means that people
>>who are trained in historical and etymological linguistics, since
>>they participate in a "public" list, are required to take specious
>>crap and treat it with academic seriousness.
>>
>>Perhaps we need to revisit the concept of this list; friend that I am
>>of folk linguistics, I need to spend a little time away from the
>>folk, discussing my work and commenting on the work of others who
>>have professional training in the field.
>>
>>Why is it that we (so often) have this discussion in linguistics and
>>never in chemistry, physics, acoustics, etc... ? My (unhappy)
>>conclusion is still that, in the public mind, linguistics lacks
>>scientific status and "my comments about language" are just a valid
>>as anybody's.
>
>My cousin the senior big shot astronomer gets as much of this stuff
>(lack of respect for the academic training) as we do. We've spent
>time commiserating at family gatherings.
>
>Alice
>--
>==============================================================================
>Alice Faber                                             faber at haskins.yale.edu
>Haskins Laboratories                                  tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
>New Haven, CT 06511 USA                                     fax (203) 865-8963

--
Dennis R. Preston
Professor of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics and Languages
740 Wells Hall A
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027 USA
Office - (517) 353-0740
Fax - (517) 432-2736