Traces the development of punctuation and the understanding of its role over the centuries. Throughout its existence, punctuation has played the dual role of recording prosodic contours and syntactic structure. Past research and discussion has not provided a coherent picture. A model of punctuation based on systematic observation is needed. (175…

Discusses the grammatical and syntactical indicators of Free Indirect Speech (FIS) at an intrasentential level. Particular focus is on cases where the difference between straight narrative or diegitic report and the representation of speech in FIS is rendered problematic because their formal indicators are indistinguishable. (11 references) (JL)

Responds to a previous article suggesting that the grammatical mode of communication arose via natural selection. The response focuses on the emergence of why the subjacency condition of Universal Grammar emerged. (JL)

Responds positively to an earlier article that attempts to resolve the formalist-functionalist conflict in current linguistic theory. Concern is expressed, however, over the use of two terms, including genetic encoding and communication. (JL)

Suggests that not all linguists see the task of theory as relating meanings and sounds because placing meaning outside of language is to presuppose in one's description and explanation the very condition that languaging creates. If there is no meaning outside languaging, then languaging is not expressing, representing, or encoding anything, and…

Responds to a previous article on the conflict between formal and functionalist theories of language. Particular focus is on the endorsement that language is rooted in prior representational rather than communicative systems. (JL)

Responds to a previous article suggesting that the grammatical mode of communication arose via natural selection, concluding that such a theory of language is at best what a theory of language might be like if language had no linguistic consciousness. (JL)

In response to a previous article attempting to bridge the gap between formalist and functionalist theories of language, it is argued that the theory proposed compromises functional linguistics, which greatly lessons the value of such proposals. (JL)

Responding to the comments made by other linguists about a theory proposed on the origin of language, this paper refocuses on the issues presented in the first paper, namely the origins and evolution of language. (JL)

This discussion focuses on the formalist and functionalist views of language, which put forth conflicting theories as to the origins of language. It is concluded that this conflict can be resolved because central to language there exists an autonomous grammar shaped in part by natural selection. (JL)

Discusses the basic taxonomy of linguists, that is the differences between formalist and functionalist approaches, as suggested in a previous article, focusing on the implications of such a taxonomy. (JL)

In response to a previous article attempting to bridge the gap between formalist and functionalist theories of language, it is argued that the theory's views of evolutionary theory, natural selection, and functionalism are naive. It is suggested that coming to these issues from a generative standpoint naturally subsumes the functionalist claims of…

Using framework of prototype semantics, TE-constructions (type of verbal construct in Japanese), are categorized according to underlying metaphors and related to central TE-construction in which K- 1K- indicate both motion and direction in physical space. Through descriptions, discussions, and examples, it is demonstrated that no adequate…

Describes a category of riddles based on lexical ambiguity and uses category theory to illustrate the function of the accessibility hierarchy in riddling. A discussion of riddles and parallelism (the tendency to stay on the same syntactic, semantic, pragmatic track while processing language) shows how parallelism partially accounts for how the…

Responds to a previous article suggesting that the grammatical mode of communication arose via natural selection, focusing on the following: the impoverished view of language; the use of misleading metaphors; reliance on problematic metalanguage; the absence of developmental evidence; and the absence of qualitative judgments. (JL)