Newsgroups: sci.lang
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From: iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Ivan A Derzhanski)
Subject: Re: non-linguists
Message-ID: <D5JyLo.MGx@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
Organization: Centre for Cognitive Science, Edinburgh, UK
References: <3jd29q$a0l@due.unit.no> <060395085158@rempt.xs4all.nl>
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 1995 21:34:34 GMT
Lines: 39

In article <060395085158@rempt.xs4all.nl> irina@rempt.xs4all.nl writes:
>In article <3jd29q$a0l@due.unit.no> Jardar Eggesboe Abrahamsen (jardar@nvg.unit.no) wrote on non-linguists
>> There are so many non-linguists on this news group. Imagine the
>> reactions if I wrote nonsense on sci.chem, insisting that I knew
>> everything about chemistry because I consist of atoms.
>> 
>> This group is called "sci.lang", not "alt.chat.about.lang" or 
>> "alt.i.pretend.to.be.a.linguist".
>
>Neither is it "sci.only.for.accredited.linguists". I thought
>this was a group for everyone interested in the scientific
>study of language, whether or not it happens to be their job.

That's what it is.  No one said anything about *accredited* linguists,
*professional* linguists or anything like that.  Just *linguists*.
Many sci.lang contributors are, and still more have been, amateur
linguists.  There's a huge gap between them and those who haven't
a clue what linguistics is all about.

You used the word `scientific'.  Was it supposed to mean anything?

>I also thought unmoderated newsgroups like this were
>meant for free discussion of subjects of interest.

So they are.  But free discussion doesn't mean posting irrelevant stuff.

>Shall I just go away quietly, or do you prefer to killfile me and
>everybody else who can't or won't post a resume to prove they're linguists?

Don't be absurd.  Linguisthood is demonstrated by posting articles
with linguistic content (meaning such as are relevant to the scientific
study of language), not by posting a resume' (properly called a CV
-- curriculum vitae, that is -- in European English).

-- 
`"Na, na ... ah mean, *no wey*, wi aw due respect, ma lady," stammers Joe.'
Ivan A Derzhanski (iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk)    (J Stuart, _Auld Testament Tales_)
* Centre for Cognitive Science,  2 Buccleuch Place,   Edinburgh EH8 9LW,  UK
* Cowan House E113, Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Pk Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5BD, UK
