John Goldsmith gave an invited presentation at a workshop entitled “Discovering and representing phonological patterns” at the University of Konstanz (10-12 April). The title of his talk was: “Optimization is the answer. Now, what is the question?”

Alan Yu is giving a series of lectures on phonological typology and sound change at the ACTL (Advanced Core Training in Linguistics) in London during the week of April 21-25.

Salikoko Mufwene has been busy this past winter! He gave keynote addresses at the following recent conferences:

• 2008a. “From genetic creolistics to genetic linguistics: Lessons we should not miss!” 34th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistic Society, February 7-10.
• 2008b. “Emergence or creation? Rethinking the formation of Afro-American vernaculars and musics.” Conference on Black Music Research, Columbia College, Chicago, February 14-17.
• 2008c. “The English(-speaking) Diaspora: Globalization and diversity.” at Purdue University’s 9th Annual Graduate Interdisciplinary Symposium on “Globalization: Questioning nations, borders, identities & communities,” March 28-29.

He also gave the following public lectures:

• 2008d. “The actuation question and the invisible hand in language evolution.” York University, Glendon College, Toronto, CA, 28 February.
• 2008e. “Colonization, globalization, and the linguistic consequences of the (Indo-)European expansion,” Kalamazoo College, March 10.

Want to be enlightened? Jason Merchant will be at UMass, Amherst for the next three weeks, serving as the visiting “syntax guru”.