Abstract:

My presentation continues with the topics of the paper "Some more impossible words" from the 2000 BLS, and several other papers and talks of the last few years. Are there substantial differences between the kinds of meanings associated with phrasal syntax and with the internal parts of words? I raise the question within larger questions about language diversity and the interplay of universal and parochial grammar.

The point of the title (besides the tribute to Paul Postal) is that the parts of the Haisla word -- which means `remember' -- seem to be redundant as both major parts refer to activities of the mind. That fact is then taken as one of many indications that a syntactic source for complex words is inappropriate. Discussion of the example will lead into a more general discussion of the semantics of word-internal elements, with particular reference to Wakashan and other highly polysynthetic languages.

The BLS paper mentioned above might make background reading on my session.