This paper makes observations on verb classification which are considered relevant to the understanding of Swahili syntax. Three different syntactically relevant approaches are discussed: (1) establishing a set of "basic sentence types" and then classifying verbs according to their occurrence or non-occurrence in sentences of these…

This first English edition of Trubetzkoy's classic work, translated by Christiane A.M. Baltaxe, treats some 200 phonological systems attested in the world's languages. Central to the book is the author's "Theory of Distinctiveness" which states that there are certain minimal distinctive phonic properties that appear to be universal…

The measurement of interlingual distance (how far removed one language is from another) is both possible and feasible; and it can be computed in different ways. The difference between the codes of the two languages can be measured by one technique and the differences in samples of discourse by another. The samples may be measured as static…

Discusses the relationship between subject and predicate, using examples from various languages; demonstrates the inadequacy of a universal view of the notion of "subject"; and presents a diachronic hypothesis concerning the subject-theme dialectic. (AM)

A study of the predicate adjective in Esperanto based on the opposition established between the complementary classifications, monemes and words. Because morphological complications do not exist in Esperanto, study of the two classifications could proceed to the benefit of the study of other languages. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Discusses allomorphic relationships which can be fairly easily stated phonologically, but in which clear-cut morphological generalizations are totally obscured unless those relationships are stated as morpholexical rules. Rules belonging to the phonological component sometimes must be regarded as lexical redundancy rules that capture…

Critiques in educational organization theory and the "new" sociology overlook humanity's fundamental dispositions that impinge upon world view and knowledge acquisition. Universal semantic "primitives" involve searching for conceptual universalities; acquired semantic primitives impose phenomenal hierarchical orders.…

Discusses research which suggests that language learning occurs by learning the regularities inherent in the semantic system and not by learning any regularities present in the syntax system. (EKN)

Examines the two-finger extension as a hand shape in sign language by analyzing data on 10 different sign languages. The analysis shows that a theory of marking can be developed for sign languages along the same lines as those used for spoken languages--only the particular physiology is different. (SED)

Final chapter of "The Grammatical Foundations of Rhetoric", to be published by Mouton, The Hague, Netherlands. (DD)

From this investigation it appears that native English speakers do perceive repetition in sounds as being appropriate and meaningful for certain visual representations. (Authors)