LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY IS SUBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE

Scholars from universities all over the world will convene at UC Santa Barbara this summer for a six-week long institute to study linguistic diversity -- how and why languages differ -- with a special emphasis on the similarities and differences among Pacific Rim languages.

Between June 25 and August 3, nearly 600 linguists will participate in various seminar and course offerings, including language use, language and culture, language origin, language evolution and change, and typology.

And, in keeping with the focus on linguistic diversity, some courses will delve into the special complexities of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Ainu, Oceanic Languages, Tibeto-Burman languages, Torres Strait languages, and North American languages.

Along with the scholarly course work, five lectures will be offered free to the public on consecutive Wednesday evenings in UCSBÕs Campbell Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.

The talks scheduled are:

·"Cognitive Linguistics" by Ronald Langacker, professor of linguistics at UC San Diego -- June 27;

·"Conversation Analysis" by Emanuel Schegloff, professor of sociology at UCLA and co-director of the Center for Language, Interaction and Culture --July 11;

·"How Do Scalar Meanings Arise?" by Elizabeth Traugott, professor of linguistics and English at Stanford University -- July 18;

·"Brain and Language in Children and Adults" by Elizabeth Bates, professor of psychology and professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego, where she also directs the Center for Research in Language and the Project in Cognitive and Neural Development -- July 25;

·"Thoughts and Sounds" by Wallace Chafe, professor emeritus of linguistics at UC Santa Barbara, who has studied several American Indian languages, and differences between speaking and writing, among other research interests -- August 1.

The 2001 Linguistic Institute, directed by Charles Li, a linguist and dean of the Graduate Division at UCSB, is being conducted under the auspices of the Linguistic Society of America, Australian Linguistic Society, Linguistic Society of Japan, Linguistic Society of New Zealand, Linguistic Society of Korea, and the Academia Sinica of Taiwan.