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« MUMM 1 | Main | Phonology Group Yesterday»

Semantics Reading Group: Special Edition [updated with an AMT slideshow]

The SRG is contemplating a special Sunday, May 21, meeting, to celebrate the end of the semester.

From Florian Schwarz:

Dear SRG-people,

once upon a time there was no SRG. There only were poor lonely semanticists sitting in their respective armchairs trying to understand the meaning of things on their own. Occasionally, they would whine about their lonely efforts, and after doing so for quite some time, the whinees were getting sick of all the whining. 'You don't want to face all these lambdas and formulas alone anymore', said one of the whinees, 'so why don't you get together with other poor souls like you and do that stuff together?' But the semanticists were dragging their feet, and wouldn't get anywhere with these plans. So the whinee, not one to turn down any organizational challenges, took things in her own hands, and told the semanticists to come to her house every once in a while to talk about their problems. And, knowing their weaknesses, she wisely provided an additional incentive by offering to serve martinis at these meetings. Thus was the birth of SRG.

Surprising as it may seem, this is not so terribly long ago. Indeed, the woman with the martinis is still amongst us - but just barely; all attempts to lure her into the world of lambdas failed, as she has accepted a phonology job (yes, the woman with the martinis is a phonologist). It therefore has been concluded that a post-ultimate meeting of SRG has to take place to honor the brave efforts of our founder.

I'm slowly coming to the point:

A final meeting for the semester. Maybe Sunday (the 21st)? If you are at all considering joining us for this historical event, could you drop me a line and tell me whether or not you're still around on the 21st?

Florian

PS: The woman with the martinis does like a little semantics to chew on with her martini, so we should come up with suitably light and digestible topics (maybe some of Krifka's puzzles?)

Update from the woman with the martinis

Dear semanticists etc.,

This morning on the way to campus I was informed by Florian that he had spent the previous evening writing what he described "Semantics Reading Group eulogies". It has since come to my attention that what one might term a bonus SRG meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, May 21st, in my very own living room at 3 Hampton ave, apt. #27. I would therefore like to add my two cents to the all-call for this event quickly, before you stop reading any more emails on the subject. (Next slide.)

1. First: reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am not actually scheduled to die thus summer; I am merely moving considerably north. Although I can perhaps see the source of the confusion, I assure all concerned SRGers that central Alberta lies this side of the river Styx, and while sometimes it does freeze over in a hell-like way, it can also become very mild for a few weeks during what the locals call "summer". (Next slide.)

2. For anybody keeping track: Semantics Reading Group wasn't really and truly my own original idea... in the sense that it wasn't my idea even a little bit. From what I've been told, it has been around for many years -- just with varying amounts of vigor, cross-talk, and/or liquor. I therefore feel compelled to point out that while history is a little hazy, I am pretty sure that the original anguished whining which Florian evoked so masterfully was in fact a thinly-disguised attempt to make me throw parties, and in fact that some of those long-ago lambda woes were just a sign of people itching for a good semantics brawl. (Next slide.)

3. So, without getting too squishy or sacchrine about the whole thing -- um, I do hope you'll come have one more SRGe, because I honestly think there's a lot of academic merit in sitting around provoking people and plying them with martinis until they try to explain to you what dogtastic* modality is, and the tiny part of me that's a semanticist is very happy to think you'll all keep meeting in the living room and doing this when I am gone (see 1). (Next slide.)

... Very well. As you were. See you soon, see you on the 21st, and special thanks for Florian for arranging my death so well. Yours as usual,
AMT.

*Before you write in -- okay, okay, I now know this isn't really the term, but shouldn't it be?

May 11, 2006 12:01 AM | 04:15 (2006-05-11) , semantics reading group