lɪŋˈgwɪstɪks

Cerberus

16:00

What phone do you have?

acattle

HTC Sensation

Cerberus

Ah OK.

Alenanno

Guys, we're about to start the Meeting :D

Cerberus

That one does run Android 2.2+, doesn't it?

Oh no, not the dreaded meeting...

acattle

I'm on ICS right now

Cerberus

16:01

Good.

Alenanno

@Cerberus Yes, although there were no topics, so we can talk about whatever we feel about the site.... I have some announcements.

Well, 2.

Start #4 Linguistics Meeting. Please, let's keep the noise and jokes to a minimum. You are free to post and talk.

:D

Ok first announcement... I got the Linguist List to share our site.

You can find it here.

Cerberus

@Alenanno Yay! Then I propose that we talk about how great the site looks when browsing on the Galaxy Nexus.

Alenanno

Ahaha

lol

Wait brb

Ok, I'm back.

Cerberus

@Alenanno I think I have already praised you for this, haven't I?

Alenanno

Now... where are those who registered? Like @nickanderegg, @tchrist, @OtavioMacedo ?

@Cerberus Yeah thanks. :D

Oh the other thing is that

I think it's time to start the Blog.

It might be slow at first, but it might help draw some people..

Cerberus

16:05

Sure.

Alenanno

Our recent visits increased after the LinguistList thing, unless it was a coincidence, but I want to think it wasn't.

4

Q: Do we want a Linguistics Blog?

I was thinking, in order to improve our community commitment and involvement, we could set up our own blog. SE sites do not have a blog by default but we can request one. I ask you to read this blog entry, which is related to this topic. Keeping in mind that we should post there at least once a...

There are 4 people right now... Not a lot, but it's a start. :)

One post per week means each one will write one post per month, which is not too much in terms of "being busy".

Anything you want to discuss?

Cerberus

@Alenanno Cool!

acattle

I'd be interested to see what type of content would go into it

Alenanno

@acattle Both Linguistics related and site related.

It depends on what you want to write about.

@acattle You'd be willing to participate?

Theo Iap

anyone hungup now

acattle

16:13

I'm not sure I feel confident enough to volunteer for that. Realistically I've only been studying it for a year. My knowledge is nether deep nor broad

Alenanno

@acattle It doesn't need to be on a PhD level. It's a blog post, after all.

I'm not an expert linguist either.

acattle

I'll think about it

Alenanno

@acattle Great! :)

@Cerberus ? :D ahah

acattle

This semester I need to start pouring through a bunch of abstracts to find a thesis topic. Maybe if I get a few ideas that don't really fit into my research...

Cerberus

I don't know, perhaps when I think of an interesting topic!

Alenanno

16:17

Good... Well, if you both join, you'll need to post once every 5 weeks.

So, plenty of time. I mean, the more we are, the more time you have.

And it's not going to be long either

acattle

Do you mind if I see what my workload this semester will be before commiting?

Alenanno

Of course not, check!

I mean, something like this:

Blog - Stack Exchange: The Death of Meta Tags

Jeff Atwood on August 06, 2010

There are a few tags on Stack Overflow that have bugged me for a long time. Namely:

subjective best-practices beginner

best-practices beginner

beginner

But I could never quite articulate what, exactly, was wrong with these tags. It’s been bothering me more and more as time goes on. So much so, that about two months ago, I was compelled to ask on meta: Should we permanently remove the [subjective] tag?

There are some weak arguments in favor of keeping [subjective], but that’s about the best its proponents can muster. The arguments against it are much stronger. I felt Shog9 made the best case: …

It's not that long.

If you have something to talk about, it's easier.

acattle

hey! that's my ex roommate's boss!

Alenanno

Jeff?

Cerberus

I believe he has left SE.

acattle

16:21

then maybe not anymore

Alenanno

He still posts, though.

I am probably going to write more about the site.

acattle

when my exroommate joined foxcreek jeff was heading a two person team (my exroommate being the second person). Technically that made him only 3 levels below Joel

Cerberus

@Alenanno Really? Where?

acattle

but back to the real conversation

Cerberus

Yes, my little ponies!

Alenanno

16:24

@Cerberus Eheh

Cerberus

So do you like the unicorn ones?

Alenanno

@acattle You already checked?

acattle

no, I meant I need to wait a few weeks for the semester to get into full swing. I'm taking on a lot of new duties and I don't know what the time commitment will be yet

Alenanno

@acattle Dont' worry

You can join later

acattle

thanks

Alenanno

16:26

I think we can set turns, but if you need some time, we can change the turn...

I mean

nothing is rigidly fixed

acattle

maybe I can use the time to stock pile some ideas

Alenanno

Sure! Whatever fits your needs.

By the way, make sure you spa... I mean, you share the site. :D

ahah

I know there is not a final solution, but I can't figure out a way to increase our visits, if not quick, at least in a steady way.

acattle

it's tough because people have a lot of misconceptions of what linguistics is. For example, all the language learning questions we get.

I tell my labmates about the site but I've never seen them post

Alenanno

@acattle Thanks. I guess not all are interested. But it seems weird we can't find 1500 people across the world that would visit the site each day.

I have included a link to the site in almost each site I'm in. Signatures, profiles...

You would think that Language-related sites get more visits, but on the Chinese one they are low too. Same for Russian.

acattle

is anyone else using linguistics in an academic environment? Maybe if we start posting about our research interests and try to get more discussion? The problem is that that goes against academic culture of keeping that to yourself so no one steals it

Alenanno

16:37

@acattle I am not on a research level. I'm more into languages, actually...

Or what do you mean by academic environment?

acattle

like you write papers and whatnot

I was just thinking about things that would encourage disussion. I know that isn't the problem you're trying to solve right now. I was just thinking

Alenanno

Well, I have been thinking about something...

Someone once said that they would like to use this meeting not for discussing the site

but for Linguistics-related discussions.

I think that would be great.

For example, on a certain meeting you talk about a certain topic for that hour (and later if you want).

What do you think?

acattle

it sounds like a good idea. I'd worry about turn out but you don't know until you try

Alenanno

turn out?

acattle

people coming

sorry. need to slow myself down. think before I hit enter. That's why all my posts have like 20 edits.

Alenanno

16:41

Oh... Well, maybe at first it'll be 2 or 3 people, but if it keeps going, it might get regulars.

acattle

ya

that's what I meant

Alenanno

Don't worry about editing, it won't bother anyone. :D

acattle

I worry that it keeps bumping it to the top of the recent activity

well, I don't worry A LOT, but I try to keep it in mind

Alenanno

No it won't. But if you pinged someone, then that user will hear the "ping" sound every time you edit.

Only then, though.

For example @acattle then if I add more words, you'll hear the sound each time.

Cerberus

I have to go, guys.

Good luck on the blog!

Alenanno

16:44

@Cerberus Bye! :)

Cerberus

poof

Alenanno

Thanks. :D

acattle

I actually meant my posts on the site. I did not know you could edit here. Good to know. heh

Alenanno

@acattle Here, just click the above arrow. (Multiple times for older posts.)

Oh yes on the main site, it will bump it. But as long as you don't edit 100 questions at once, no problem.

acattle

well it was nice talking but it's almost 2am. I'm going to go get ready for bed. Good luck.

Alenanno

16:47

@acattle thanks for joining us! Goodnight

Ok since participants are gone, I'm closing the Meeting earlier.

End #4 Linguistics Meeting.

Stack Exchange

Alenanno has added an event to this room's schedule.

Alenanno has removed an event from this room's schedule.

Alenanno

Later, everyone!

Stack Exchange

20:43

9

Q: Diachronic devoicing of initial lenis plosives in English

I get the impression that in the "classical Received Pronunciation" of English during phonetician Jones's era, the lenis plosives /b/, /d/, /g/ (and probably the affricate /dʒ/ as well) in initial position were more voiced than the English of today's Britain. Additionally, were the fortis plosive...

phonetics historical-linguistics english

Alenanno

21:10

@Cerberus Are you there?

Cerberus

@Alenanno I am!

Alenanno

@Cerberus I found a Galaxy Nexus at 179 €

with microSD and radio

lol

Cerberus

Uh...

Are you friends with God, perhaps?

Alenanno

Ahahah

Cerberus

Isn't it a Nexus, rather?

Be careful with those names.

Alenanno

21:13

It says "Samsung Galaxy Nexus"

Cerberus

Is it new?

Can you give me a link?

Alenanno

uhm

It doesn't say it

Get it yourself!

:D lol

What do you think?

Cerberus

It's not a Galaxy Nexus, that's for sure.

Much lower specs.

Alenanno

You think it's a trap?

I was not going to buy it now anyway, but well...

Cerberus

It doesn't say it is a Galaxy Nexus. It is called a "STAR", but they use the same model number, somehow. That is not correct.

So it's weird.

Someone probably made a mistake.

Alenanno

21:17

It does say it... Where it says "model"

but there is something that makes me suspicious

There are bad italian mistakes in the page.

So I'm like "Uhm..."

Like "dei esperti"... It's supposed to be "degli esperti"

Cerberus

Hehe.

Are you looking at this page too?:

grossoshop.it/dettaglio-prodotto.asp?idProdotto=197

Alenanno

Ok on Amazong.co.uk it's at 297 €, sim free

new.

Cerberus

A Galaxy Nexus?

Alenanno

Oh that's the same you said... Then that page was a trap.

Cerberus

A mistake, I rather think.

Alenanno

21:21

"Samsung Galaxy Nexus 16GB Sim Free Smartphone"

That's what it says

got it?

Cerberus

That's pounds, not euros.

Alenanno

Oh f...

stupid me.

Cerberus

Haha.

Alenanno

375 € argh

Cerberus

That sounds more appropriate.

I don't think you will find it anywhere under € 350.

Alenanno

21:23

I don't consider myself defeated yet. The challenge has just begun.

Cerberus

Haha.

I have searched extensively.

But don't forget that insured shipping from abroad is expensive.

So your best chances are with Italian web shops.

Alenanno

Don't count on it...

Here everything seems to cost more.

Cerberus

Well, € 375 is about the same price as here.

Alenanno

Don't you think it's a lot for a phone, even if it's a good phone? It's quite a lot. It's a great phone, but...

Cerberus

I guess.

But it is rather a mini-computer.

You can even use your own desktop through Team Viewer.

You could wait a couple of months.

By the end of the year, it may be much less expensive.

Alenanno

21:28

For Christmas?

Cerberus

Perhaps.

It depends on when the next Nexus comes out.

And on how strongly the market will react.

Alenanno

I could pretend to be a woman in some chat room and seduce an old man and have him buy it for me.

ahahah

lol!

Cerberus

Hehe.

You wouldn't be the first!

Alenanno

I guess so ahah

Cerberus

Many "dating" sites where men can chat with "girls" are in fact manned by men.

Alenanno

21:32

lol

sad

Cerberus

Every time a man is chatting with "Charlotte", he will be chatting with a different employee, usually a man.

The employee sees some notes scribbled down by other employees during earlier sessions.

So he knows what to say.

Alenanno

Omg! XD

Cerberus

A Dutch television show once investigated such a website.

Alenanno

So it isn't legal?

Cerberus

Some guys had already spend € 1000 on messages over several months.

Alenanno

21:34

lol

Cerberus

@Alenanno Most probably not.

But I don't know whether they have ever been sued or persecuted.

But the guys from the television show found out where the owner of the site lived and went to his house, asking for "Charlotte".

Alenanno

@Cerberus oh... heavy.

Cerberus

"Where is she? She didn't turn up on the appointment we made. And now she won't reply to my text messages any more."

@Alenanno Yes, but just.

These people should realize they are exploiting weak people and causing them major psychological harm.

Alenanno

@Cerberus That's true.

Cerberus

Perhaps they will be persecuted.

Alenanno

21:37

This reminds me... Have you seen Pulp Fiction? I remembered that Vincent Vega came to your place lol

Cerberus

The show was broadcast a few months ago.

@Alenanno Haven't seen it...

Alenanno

@Cerberus Really? Weird...

Cerberus

I know.

Alenanno

You don't like the genre or the director's style?

Cerberus

I don't know, I just rarely watch films.

Alenanno

21:41

Yeah?

I found a list of 1088 must-see movies

If I watch one each day, it'll take me 3 years.

Cerberus

Haha.

Better watch ten a day, then.

Alenanno

21:54

That's a lot lol

Cerberus

playing with Galaxy Nexus

You know you want it.

Alenanno

lol

I hate you!

Cerberus

Hehe.

Cerberus

22:15

Ladeeda.

So you're not going out either tonight?

Alenanno

out where?

Cerberus

I don't know, to town?

Alenanno

I live in a small place lol

Cerberus

Heh.

Surely there are some bars...

Alenanno

night!

anyway, gotta go now... I'll see you tomorrow :)

Yeah

Cerberus

22:22

OK bye!

Alenanno

lol

bye!

:)

Cerberus

Have fun!

Stack Exchange

22:49

0

Q: What language are the most similar to English?

I speak English and Bengali with similar proficiency, at least in the 'lower' registers of the languages. Since I was a small child in a bilingual home I've been struck by how, despite having different vocabularies, the two languages seemed very similar - faithful word-by-word translations could ...

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