The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts

I just want to say that I am really REALLY excited about my research assistantship. No no, I’m not going to be a TA (that would require better French faculties than I currently have, but hey, I’m working on it) I’m going to be an RA. Which stands for “Research Assistant.” But if you want to pretend that I’m a “Resident Assistant” you can do that, however you might experience blog content confusion in the future.

I’m going to be working on ‘bare nouns’ (I don’t know what they are yet either, perhaps nouns that don’t take articles/determiners) in Ojibwa. Sweet. Thank you 4th year field linguistics, not only were you a fantastic class but you have opened up the door for a form fitted research job which pays an exorbitant (but university standard) amount. I could get used to this grad student thing.

From what I understand I will (after a month or so) be working with language consultants! Isn’t that great? Yes, yes it is great. So, very, very excited. I am an excitable person, but recently it’s been more negative excitement so this clearly positive news is welcome.

P.S. I heart Sufjan Stevens. His music takes me back to when I was a kid and life had a lot fewer variables and complications. Not that such life is exempt from sorrow and diversity, its just comes out in a much more beautiful way.

Inappropriateness Warning

It gets better around minute 2.



I think its funny. Decide for yourself.
I'm still in love with Stephen Colbert.

I rock at Phonology

So I started classes today, and I’m taking an advanced seminar (one with mostly PhD students, that is) but I find the topic really interesting so I think I’ll be ok. Who doesn’t want to study person restrictions? No one I want to associate with…..

But now, I am going to have to say something. Please don’t read into it, but it must be said. U of T is actually good, in fact better than (most) other schools. I’m not saying this to be proud or snotty or to say that I am better because I went there. No, that is not the reason at all. Through my 3 years of undergrad at U of T (for those of you who don’t know I went to first year at a different university) I was a little bitter about the competitiveness of the downtown campus and all the bell curving (up and down) and adjustments. They make a test way too hard then change the marks. They make a test way too easy then you ain’t lookin so hot anymore.

But, I am so freaking well prepared for my masters, I can’t even tell you. I have covered almost all of what I will be doing in Phonology this semester and a lot of other people in the class do not seem ready at all. Its ok if they don’t like Phonology (but I can’t see why not) I just feel like I’ve been given an advantage. The courses I had to take and the level I was expected to perform at has nudged me up to this MA sphere, kinda like doing first year calculus in BC when I had already done OAC calc in grade 12.

It all seems quite amazing to me, but there appears to be a little merit to the craziness that is Canada’s largest university. So, all my U of T friends, if you happen to make it to the other side you’ll either be sailing through the beginnings of your grad studies or really upset that people in general are just idiots. Not that Toronto offers a lot of development for social skills, but whatever.

Anyway, I do rock at Phonology, I always have, but this is even sweeter because now I can feel good about those sleepless nights (and hours of fighting off the space out) for a little while.

Phenomenology

Just for future reference, my post titles don't always pertain to the post content. They're usually something that just popped into my head at some point in the day. This one, for example, is because I was talking to Eendy.

I don't actually have anything to say. But I hope I wasn't too harsh on the thesis thing, just trying to help the general populace understand the situation a little better.

I start classes tomorrow, all my classes are in the same room, so that should be easy. I hope my office is ready soon, I have random comics to put up.

Be here now

I'm realizing more and more that Ottawa is in no way Toronto. They are two completely different, separate things. Toronto is bigger, commerce based and is extrememly liberal in political and social thought/behaviour. Ottawa is smaller, goverment based and more old fashioned and "behind the times" in its thought. There's a less oppressive feeling here in the nation's capital as opposed to the province's. Its not just geographical and industrial differences that I'm noticing, there's definitely another feel or ambience about the whole palce. I don't know quite how to describe it.

I love linguistics, that's the main thing that makes me feel ok about being here right now. I'm just very overwhelmed.

Ok, and as an informative aside, please note the following: I do not need thesis suggestions. For those of you who have contributed, thank you for your consideration but know that I will not use any of your thesis topics nor anything closely related to them. Understand that I am doing a masters of THEORETICAL linguistics, and as a lay person to the field, you know nothing about it. Trust me. You may think you have an inkling, but it is incorrect. If you want to talk sociolinguistics, fine, or even language acquisition. But I am wholly convinced that when it comes to the Minimalist program or Optimality theory there is seriously nothing you can do to help me.

So, unless you have some sort of degree pertaining to the current theoretical field of linguistics I will not be able to make any use of your readily provided thesis ideas. Also, I think all the suggestions I've already heard have published papers on the topics already. Do a google search people. Its surprisingly handy.