Alex @ July 23, 2007 | | Education, Language | Comments (0)
Correct me if I’m wrong but is there any academic institution offering computational linguistics here in the Philippines?
According to one of my professors, our department’s language studies group is one of the most advanced (if not the most advanced) in the field. However, no one can claim to be an expert on specifically computational linguistics (though we have a few who are really into descriptive linguistics). I haven’t heard of anyone who teaches is locally. So I was pretty much resolved in looking to scholarship opportunities to be able to study it. Haha. Fat chance I’d end up in MIT.
I’ve been wanting to explore the field ever since I found out about it. Hey, it’s a way to merge my interest in computer science and my training in language studies. Our program is pretty much linguistics focusing on the English language and its varieties.
More…
Tags: Computational-Linguistics-in-the-Philippines, Education, Language, UP
Alex @ June 9, 2007 | | Education, Language | Comments (2)
I never wanted to be a Grammar Nazi but I am now compelled to give up my long allegiance to the flag of grammar democracy (save perhaps for my animosity to text language) and take up grammar fascism.
If you’ve been reading this blog for some time now, you know that I’ve been lousy at copy editing my own works. I know, I know. Most would argue that good writing calls for it and blogging as a publishing platform demands it for the sake of a general audience. But for a busy bug like me, who blogs for therapy and has a lot in his mind the past few months, time to edit or even do a once-over wasn’t even a luxury. It was the that elusive fountain of youth. But I guess there’d be no excuse for it now.
Now that I’ll be teaching kids the rudiments of academic writing and good grammar, it’s a must that I be extra careful with what I type, write or say. While nobody can be perfect, at least I must adhere to the standard. Trabaho lang walang personalan.
But I’m just too lazy right now. I’m just too tired from the past week. If I let a smudge of “Grammar Jew”-ness (Tell me, what do you call the victims of Grammar Nazis?) in this one, pardon me. Or better yet, send me to your Grammar Auschwitz.
Tags: Education, Language, Rant
Alex @ May 28, 2007 | | Education, Language | Comments (2)
I survived my course through library-borrowed books and Manang Xerox. Buying books wasn’t an option for us. Not with the cost and availability of books in our field. No way we’ll be shelling out thousands for Amazon.com.
One of the linguists that we had to learn about was Noam Chomsky - proponent of Transformational-Generative Grammar. Main reason why me and my language major peers still despise Math. His first major on the topic was Syntactic Structures. We just all wished we could have a copy of this great book but we just can’t. And we always had to contend with this selfish classmate of ours who always had the only library copy out with him. I think I only got hold of the copy twice.
Thanks to StumbleUpon, I found this download link. Now I’m sure downloading copyrighted content has its legal issues so download at your own risk. Anyway, here’s a Syntactic Structures 2nd Edition PDF. I haven’t downloaded it so I don’t know what it looks like.
Tags: Education, Language, Linguistics, Noam-Chomsky
Alex @ May 24, 2007 | | Language | Comments (6)
Geh poh. Un lng…
Aaargh. I just can’t stand it. Oh well, for a daily dose of text language humor, visit Greenpinoy.
Image from TinyPic.com
Tags: Language, Rant
Alex @ May 22, 2007 | | Education, Language | Comments (4)
Before school starts in June, a few thoughts came to mind. As I embark on a totally new (and reckless) undertaking, I’m thinking whether I can bring something new into the field. I’m always for the use of technology to aid the learning process. I’m really for the use of Web 2.0 and all the new technologies and find creative ways of using them in learning.
Recently, I’ve been dedicating more of my research efforts in the use of web technologies, particularly the cheap and easy ones like blogging. Yet I fear that with the meager access and lack of ICT education may make this thought only good for long-term plans. But before I start working on the grand plan, I must have a good look into the situation. So here are some observations.
More…
Tags: Education, Language
