7.1269, Qs: Counting syllables, 'dinkum', English and prescriptivism

[The Linguist List]

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LINGUIST List:  Vol-7-1269. Thu Sep 12 1996. ISSN: 1068-4875. Lines:  117
 
Subject: 7.1269, Qs: Counting syllables, 'dinkum', English and prescriptivism
 
Moderators: Anthony Rodrigues Aristar: Texas A&M U. <aristar at tam2000.tamu.edu>
            Helen Dry: Eastern Michigan U. <hdry at emunix.emich.edu> (On Leave)
            T. Daniel Seely: Eastern Michigan U. <dseely at emunix.emich.edu>
 
Associate Editor:  Ljuba Veselinova <lveselin at emunix.emich.edu>
Assistant Editors: Ron Reck <rreck at emunix.emich.edu>
                   Ann Dizdar <dizdar at tam2000.tamu.edu>
                   Annemarie Valdez <avaldez at emunix.emich.edu>
 
Software development: John H. Remmers <remmers at emunix.emich.edu>
 
Editor for this issue: dizdar at tam2000.tamu.edu (Ann Dizdar)
 
We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then  strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list.   This policy was
instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we
would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.
 
---------------------------------Directory-----------------------------------
1)
Date:  Sun, 08 Sep 1996 08:34:28 EDT
From:  rodr at 155.212.1.1 (Rod Rodrigues)
Subject:  counting syllables
 
2)
Date:  Thu, 12 Sep 1996 15:19:17 +1000
From:  peter.holmes at u030.aone.net.au (dima)
Subject:  'dinkum'
 
3)
Date:  Thu, 12 Sep 1996 11:19:08 +0700
From:  <springer_pe at jet.let.vu.nl> (P.E. Springer)
Subject:  Q: Standard English and Prescriptivism
 
---------------------------------Messages------------------------------------
1)
Date:  Sun, 08 Sep 1996 08:34:28 EDT
From:  rodr at 155.212.1.1 (Rod Rodrigues)
Subject:  counting syllables
 
Does anyone know of an algorithm for counting syllables?
 
I am writing an application to determine readability level of textual
material, and one of the common methods, the Frye, uses syllable
count.  Unfortunately, I am not aware of any algorithm for
accomplishing this.  Can anyone help?
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2)
Date:  Thu, 12 Sep 1996 15:19:17 +1000
From:  peter.holmes at u030.aone.net.au (dima)
Subject:  'dinkum'
 
Can anybody tell me the etymology of the word "dinkum"?
 
Gintis Kaminskas
Canberra
Australia
 
PS	I'm skeptical about the Macquarie Dictionary's claim the it	
	 means "work" in a certain (not specified) English dialect.
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3)
Date:  Thu, 12 Sep 1996 11:19:08 +0700
From:  <springer_pe at jet.let.vu.nl> (P.E. Springer)
Subject:  Q: Standard English and Prescriptivism
 
 
 
Dear Linguists,
 
I am a fourth year student of English Language and Literature at the
Free University of Amsterdam.
 
I am currently working on my dissertation on
STANDARD ENGLISH AND PRESCRIPTIVISM.
 
My questions are the following:
 
1) 	Are there any RECENT books/articles on standard English;
	prescriptivism; prescriptive attitudes, that you can
	recommend?
 
2) 	Is there a single volume book in which complaints written to
	English newspapers about the English language have been
	collected.
 
3)	We all know the "greatest hits" of complaints about English
	e.g. split infinitives, double negatives, etc. These have been
	around since Lowth. Are there any NEW ones (on the horizon)?
 
4)	What can any of the native EngEng speakers tell me something
	about (their) attitudes to WELL as an intensifier, as in:
	a) "You were WELL pissed last night!"	
	b) "That would be WELL embarrassing"
	
	In both sentences WELL is stressed.
	I heard this kind of construction many times (among students)
	when I was studying in Reading. I also heard it on TV a couple
	of times and saw it written in the one of the tabloids.
 
I would be well grateful ; ) if any of you could give me some
suggestions on any of the questions above.
 
If necessary (I hope it will be), I will post a summary.
 
Philip Springer
Student Engels
Vrije Universiteit
springer_pe at jet.let.vu.nl
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LINGUIST List: Vol-7-1269.