Soxy

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 03:15 PM) Yeah, my wife has a PhD in the same field you do. She went to the dark side and works in the business sector with it now. Really? I've been thinking more and more about that. But you can't say that in this department or you will be shunned. But I've definitely thought about trying to get into human factors or publishing.

Shut-up. You love my nerdy babble. Anyway, that kid asked! What was I supposed to let him do? Swim in a sea of ignorance when there was a cunning linguist right here to answer his questions? No, sir, that would not do.

QUOTE(shipps @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 02:55 PM) Soxy you mentioned earlier that languages are dynamic and meant to change.Do we just naturally "dumb down" words and expressions?Looking back to Shakespearian times the english language was obviously much more difficult to understand. Shakespearean English is more difficult for you to understand--just like Middle English was more difficult for the lay people in the 1600s to understand, only because it is unfamiliar. Structurally it is not more complex than modern English. And I would argue that there are no "simple" or "primitive" languages (although other would disagree). Some linguists, would of course, agree with you that the language is dumbed down and was most "pure" 400 years ago. However, I take the approach that language is an active part of a culture and reflects changes within that culture. There's an interesting book (a good read even for people not in the field) that brushes on some of these topics. Other times, ease of articulation will influence speech. In the previous example "going to" the "ng" sound is produced in the back of the mouth on the palate. The following sound /t/ is produced right behind the teeth, it is difficult to correctly produce each phone in those words--so the further back sound /ng/ is assimilated and produced with the place of articulation of the /t/ (right behind the teeth). This isn't (at least in my opinion) a dumbing down of language--perhaps it is a lazy form of speech, but it is a perfectly reasonable (and predictable part of speech).

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 02:13 PM) For wite?! Because I need a job and PhD's aren't exactly in high demand these days.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 05:53 PM) What is the point of "finna" though? Heck, "gonna" has the exact same number of letters and they are damn near the same word. It's stuff like that I find really weird. Is it just an attempt to stand out? It doesn't even roll off the tongue in an easy way. It's a clumsy word. Or is this all code? You know, spy talk for the 'hood. "Finna pink elephant, mocko doola unda the hefty wha's i' bootay". From a production standpoint---they are MUCH easier to produce. It is a result of co-articulation. The spelling, I imagine, came AFTER the change in production.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 12:49 PM) Google Soxy images and you find this: If I wasn't so damn lazy--that would be my new avatar.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 01:56 PM) can I take your class? Is USD hiring? Because I would take a job there.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 03:23 PM) It's a win for your students. My male students. Although, I admit I did have one undergrad girl who seemed to feel that "nice tits" would be an appropriate remark to make to me.

QUOTE(shipps @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 03:15 PM) Says who!Says whoooooo! Okay, no win for me. I had one student last semester. Always came to office hours. I literally kept a zip up hoodie by my desk for when he visited. Kid was one of the worst gawkers I've had.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 11:28 AM) Here's a little prediction. If Obama wins this thing, and if Edwards isn't his AG (maybe he's HHS or something)... I'd bet that Lisa Madigan becomes the US AG under Obama. I'd like that. I really like Lisa Madigan.

Poor methods. How many 300 pound women have A cups? How many have C or greater? Probably a greater proportion than healthy weight women with (natural) C or greater cups. Confound. Although, a good example for a research methods class. But, would probably result in them staring at my boobs. Hm, no win.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 02:17 PM) I think people are more willing to face and deal with racism than they are sexism. I see a lot of treatment of women as lesser beings than men, I think, without even realizing they are doing it. And I see women doing it to themselves too. I see less of that with racial minorities versus whites. I would agree with you. None of my male colleagues get called "dear" or complimented on how they look when they give a talk. It's frustrating--but we also don't have any minority men in my program to compare my treatment to. Anyway, here is an amazing op-ed from a while ago from the NYT. The other women in my program (and some who've finished) all found it really resonated--as did some non-academic chums.

What an enlightening discussion from a diverse crowd! I'm sorry, I just had to. They both suck. But I think that most of America would rather see a black man with power than a woman; how many women in power aren't regarded as major b****es (that isn't to say they aren't--but compared to the behavior of their male counterparts, they get labeled more)? How many black men? The big problem for both racism and sexism is that no one really wants to talk about either. (And in my field, not politics btw, there are very few women OR people of color)

QUOTE(shipps @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 12:15 PM) My how words evolve. Going to Goin to Gonna Fixing to Fixin to Finna I would offer a linguistic explanation for this--but I have a feeling that isn't the point of this post. Languages are dynamic and meant to change.

QUOTE(bmags @ Jan 28, 2008 -> 12:05 AM) interesting. I was pondering going to see this at our independent theatre, I think I'll give it a shot. I'm in a college town so I don't think the age thing will happen. This week they have the diving bell and the butterfly, if I have the title correct, about the editor of French Elle who suffered a massive stroke paralyzing all movement except for his one eye, which could blink. He then writes his whole autobiography by blinking. It sounds fascinating to me, to be trapped in your body like that. I can't wait. It's worth a view. I want to see how The Diving Bell and the Butterfly--I've heard it's amazing.

QUOTE(Leonard Zelig @ Jan 28, 2008 -> 07:10 PM) Totally agree, mutts can be wonderful dogs and usually come without the genetic illnesses that can plague pure breds. I've got a 70 lb. lab mutt who was abandoned as a puppy and I could not ask for a better dog. Obedient, friendly, loyal, protective--pretty much everything you want your dog to be. I do understand why pure breds are desireable, especially if you have kids, you really want to be careful about bringing unknown breeds into your home. I agree about the mutts. I have two. A (we guess) great dane lab mix and a cairn terrier boston terrier mix. Both are wonderful dogs. We also grew up with mutts and they were all wonderful (rescued) dogs.

Saw The Savages on Friday. A pretty good dark comedy. Laura Linney and PSH were amazing--as could be expected. The script was also really well done. Basically it is a movie about a (rather dysfunctional) set of siblings who must cope with their absentee and abusive father who has slipped into serious dementia and is dying. The ending is surprisingly upbeat for an Indie film. There were some awkward moments, though, in the theater. My friends and I were easily the youngest people there by 35 years. And apparently, this movie is not funny if you are old. So, be warned.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 03:07 PM) CNN says it was an air conditioning malfunction or something. The entire top is almost black. Serves them right for needing air conditioning when it is so cold in the rest of the country. . .

QUOTE(shipps @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 04:08 PM) If you go 1 block out of the inner harbor it gets rough.There are no police in that city. I don't if that's really true. The Italian section of the city is nice. Along with some of the other historical areas (I visited some related to Betsy Ross and Poe, I think). Edit to add: Johns Hopkins is also a really lovely campus. Also the area around the Cafe Hon is really cute and eccentric. And the free book place was friggin sweet.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 25, 2008 -> 03:22 PM) 6. Baltimore/DC area. Great drinking and eating towns. I think Baltimore gets an unfairly bad rap--I really enjoyed it.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 24, 2008 -> 04:17 PM) As long as you fit within the earning perameters, you will be getting that amount. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but. . . Where are they getting this money? Will this actually help?

QUOTE(Leonard Zelig @ Jan 23, 2008 -> 01:51 PM) I've never been there, but I think I would really like Amsterdam. To be honest, I think The Fall ruined Amsterdam to me. It will forever just be equated to Dante's concentric circles of hell. Although I did have a good time there.

Depends on who I'm with. Alone, I would take a mix. Traveling with someone I would probably stick to big cities. I've done both and loved both, so. . .

I support this bill absolutely. It's actually something my dad and I have talked about as being a good idea.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Jan 23, 2008 -> 12:33 PM) Paris. Ugh. It's a great place to visit for a few days, but its very difficult to live in. The only cities on my list I would consider living in are Chicago and Glasgow.