Comparative Siouan Grammar project

[Prof. Dr. Johannes Helmbrecht]

Dear Siouanists,

I regret very much that I won't be able to attend this year's SCLC in Joplin,MO in particular because 
the program seems to be so interesting. Since I won't be personally there, I would like to make 
some suggestions from the other end of the world for the future conferences, which may be 
discussed during the conference in Joplin.

One of the exciting projects we started in Billings 2006 was the Comparative Siouan Grammar. 
Papers dealing with various aspects of Siouan grammar in a typological and historical comparative 
perspective were presented there. We also compiled a list with additional topics filling all in all at 
least two volumes. Unfortunately, this project came to a halt afterwards and I would like to give it a 
new push. So, my suggestion would be to plan on a follow up workshop on Siouan Comparative 
Grammar for the next year's conference, if this goal is still considered worthy among the participants 
to invest time and research. Could you discuss this question during the coming days? 

For me personally, this implies that I will revise and expand my paper on applicatives in Siouan. In 
addition, I volunteered for the causative constructions (if I recall that correctly), so I will start to work 
on a draft version on this topic that will be presented at the conference next year.

Another important point for me is: I will be able to come next only, if I can get funding for an 
overseas trip. This is not too difficult to obtain in particular for such a fascinating project, but I need 
the conference details some months in advance in order to be able to apply for money. Therefore, I 
would like to ask you to fix a date and location for the next and if possible for the conference in two 
years so that people from abroad have a chance to get the necessary funding. John Boyle 
mentioned to me that he is going to organize a conference in Chicago in 2010?

Anyway, I think the meeting in Joplin could provide a good opportunity to talk about the state of the 
art with regard to the comparative Siouan Grammar project and to plan on the next steps. 
Personally, I would like to participate in the planning, the organization, and the research as much as 
I can so that this project will come to a succesful end.

So, I wish all of you a wonderful and interesting meeting in Joplin,

Best,
Johannes


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Prof. Dr. Johannes Helmbrecht
Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft
Universität Regensburg
Philosophische Fakultät IV 
Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
Universitätsstr. 31
93053 Regensburg
Deutschland

Tel: ++49(0)941 943-3388
        ++49(0)941 943-3387 (Sekretariat)
Fax: ++49(0)941 943-2429
E-Mail:    johannes.helmbrecht at sprachlit.uni-regenburg.de
Webseite: http://www-avs.uni-regensburg.de/index.htm