Colloquia and Talks
Fall Semester Discussion Groups
Conferences and Calls for Papers
Graduate Student Funding Opportunities
IULC Events

(Computational Linguistics Discussion Group) GEN with Lazy Evaluation

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we show how the notion of lazy evaluation from functional programming can be used to treat GEN in Optimality Theory (OT). The basic idea behind lazy evaluation is that functions only apply when and as much as required. The basic idea behind GEN is that all possible pronunciations of a form are considered by the ranked constraints of OT. In the present context, we represent GEN as an infinite list which is not immediately evaluated. Specifically, we propose that candidate pronunciations are binned and ordered such that the constraints can select a winner by traversing no more than a finite subset of the infinite set of candidates.

We explore this idea using containment-based syllabification (Prince and Smolensky, 1992) and show how it all works with a working implementation using the functional programming language Haskell.

(Linguistics Colloquium Series) Welsh Mutations and Statistical Phonotactics

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we describe the probabilistic phonotactics of Modern Welsh. Specifically, we investigate the statistical regularities introduced by the consonant mutations of the language. Strikingly, these mutations alter the distribution of segment classes not just by the changes that they introduce, but also by the selection of morphemes for use from the lexicon and also by the very shape of the lexicon. In other words, there is a conspiracy across the grammar, beyond phonology per se, to enforce the regularities that the simple phonology of mutation requires.

We model these effects using Harmonic Grammar with maximum entropy weighting (Legendre, Miyata, Smolensky, 1990; Goldwater and Johnson, 2003; Hayes and Wilson, 2008; Pater, 2009), but there are broader implications here about how statistical phonology plays a role in domains beyond traditional phonology.

(This talk is co-sponsored by the Speech Research Laboratory and the Indiana University Linguistics Club)

(Department of Spanish and Portuguese) Considerations on the History of the Minorcan (Catalan) Dialect and Culture of St. Augustine, Florida

(Speech and Hearing Sciences) Experience and Auditory Brainstem Development: Signals, Cellular Events and Critical Periods

ABSTRACT: Since the classical experiments of Hubel and Wiesel, a large variety of studies have shown that manipulations of sensory experience have profound influences on the development of sensory encoding pathways of the central nervous system. Yet little is known about the cellular mechanisms whereby changes in sensory system function influence the structure or integrity of CNS elements. We have used the brainstem auditory pathways of birds and mammals to investigate the early cellular events underlying deprivation- and deafferentation-induced changes in the structure and integrity of neurons and glial cells. I will discuss a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments which address three issues related to activity-regulated development and maintenance of cochlear nucleus neurons. What is the nature of the intercellular signals regulating structural integrity of postsynaptic neurons? What are some of the intracellular cascades of events underlying deprivation-induced changes in neuronal integrity? What biological mechanisms may underlie developmental differences in responses to peripheral manipulations (critical periods)?

This talk is supported by the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and NIDCD "Training in Speech, Hearing and Sensory Communication"

Syntax Reading Group

NEXT MEETING: The group will finish discussing Chomsky's Derivation by Phase.

Syntax Reading Group meet this semester on fridays from 12-1:30pm in the Linguistics Seminar Room (MM 317a). Some topics loosely decided on are "phases" and "small v." If you would like to participate in the discussion, please mail Dr. Kitagawa to request a copy of the next reading.

Computational Linguistics Discussion Group

NEXT MEETING: Mike Hammond of the University of Arizona will give a talk on GEN with Lazy Evaluation. Note that as this is a special guest presentation the meeting time has been changed to accomodate the speaker's schedule.

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we show how the notion of lazy evaluation from functional programming can be used to treat GEN in Optimality Theory (OT). The basic idea behind lazy evaluation is that functions only apply when and as much as required. The basic idea behind GEN is that all possible pronunciations of a form are considered by the ranked constraints of OT. In the present context, we represent GEN as an infinite list which is not immediately evaluated. Specifically, we propose that candidate pronunciations are binned and ordered such that the constraints can select a winner by traversing no more than a finite subset of the infinite set of candidates.

We are continuing a CL discussion group this semester, a forum for presentations and discussions. Anyone who has work-in-progress (at any stage) can present their work in this informal setting and receive feedback. It's a good opportunity to get outside perspective and input from colleagues on current project, to give such input on other people's project, and also just to keep up-to-date about the different types of interesting CL-related work being done here at IU.

Parsing Reading Group

The two primary discussion topics for this semester are dependency parsing and the parsing of Minimalist grammars. Readings will cover dependency parsing first and last, with an excursion into Minimalist parsing in October.

NEXT MEETING: Since Mike Hammond's talk on GEN and Lazy Evaluation will take place at the normal meeting time and place, Parsing Reading Group will not meet this week. Participants are instead encouraged to attend the talk.

If you are interested in joining the discussion, please contact Sandra Kübler to request online access to the readings.

Information about a wide range of conferences can be found in the Linguistics Calendar Conferences Supplement, which is currently being updated. Please check this link early next week for a list of opportunities for conference attendance and paper submission in areas of interest to IU Linguists.

Department of Energy (Newly Established Science Fellowship)

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) has established the DOE Office of Science Graduate Fellowship ( DOE SCGF) program to support outstanding students to pursue graduate training in basic research in areas of physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, computational sciences, and environmental sciences relevant to the Office of Science and to encourage the development of the next generation scientific and technical talent in the U.S. The Fellowship award provides partial tuition support, an annual stipend for living expenses, and a research stipend for full-time graduate study and thesis/dissertation research at a U.S. academic institution for three years. Fellowships awarded in the first year of the DOE SCGF program will be funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

2009-2010 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (Science Fellowship)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the opening of the 2009-2010 competition for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The NSF GRFP is one of the most prestigious science and engineering fellowship programs in the United States. Awardees are provided three years of graduate school support. Fellows receive a $30,000 annual stipend, a $10,500 annual cost of education allowance, a one-time $1,000 international travel allowance, and access to TeraGrid supercomputing facilities. The program ensuresthe quality, diversity and vitality of the next generation of U.S. scientists and researchers. The GRFP is for students in the early stages of their graduate career who are seeking research-based master's or PhD degrees in NSF-supported disciplines. Applicants should have completed no more than 12 months of graduate study and must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents prior to the application deadline date. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship Awards (Humanities and Science Fellowship)

The National Research Council of the National Academies announces the 2010 Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship awards program for research-based study in the sciences and the humanities. Fellowships are offered at the predoctoral, dissertation and postdoctoral levels. Through its program of Diversity Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

IULC Undergraduate Coffee Hour

The IU Linguistics Club Undergraduate Coffee Hour is a monthly discussion with a Linguistics professor about a topic of particular interest to undergrads. Join us on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3:00 at Rachael's Cafe, 300 E. 3rd St., on the corner of S. Lincoln -- you can walk there! You may come late or leave early.

This month, we will meet with Professor Markus Dickinson to discuss computational linguistics. Most undergrads know very little about the computational area, and this is our chance to find out all about it.

Rachael's Cafe kindly allows our group to meet there, so please consider purchasing a drink or snack at the meeting.

All Linguistics undergrads, grad students, professors, and other interested parties are welcome!