Re: The plight of a linguist...

From: dne44 <dne_at_dslextreme.com_at_hypermail.org>
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 06:30:46 -0000

I bow before your linguistic greatness.

And these days I share your nostalgia for studenthood.

- David

--- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, "tschibasch"
<tschibasch_at_y...> wrote:
>
> As many of you know, after leaving SyVox I started tutoring at SMC
and
> for some tutoring agencies. Then after starting a regular job, I
have
> tried to scale back the tutoring. It has been difficult, as a lot of
> the students get attached! I also got attached.
>
> I promised myself not to take on any more tutoring assignments.
>
> Last week, I got a call from one of the tutoring agencies. A UCLA
> Linguistics student needed help. The conversation went something
like
> this:
>
> "Hello, John. We know you are incredibly busy, but we need a
linguist,
> and have nobody else." they told me.
>
> "Yes, sorry, I am already overloaded, and -"
>
> "Do you know anything about language of Bambara?" they interjected.
>
> "Hm, yes, it's spoken in Mali. A dialect of the Mande' family. I
think
> there are also speakers in Burkina Faso..."
>
> (FYI: I have seen this language, but certainly do not speak it.)
>
> "The student needs help with this. Please, could you do help her
out!"
> they pleaded, somewhat.
>
> "Sure, what the heck!"
>
> I went in on Monday night and spent a few hours looking at Bambara
> syntax. Next week we might be looking at some Aztec languages. I
have
> to admit, I am looking forward to it. Oh, to be a Linguistics
student
> again! :-)
>
>
> John
Received on 2003-04-16 23:30:49