Our department BBQ will be held today, June 11, starting at 4 p.m. in the quad in front of the Social Science building. We’ll have burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and all the usual summer favorites. All you need to bring is your kids and significant others, your frisbee and maybe your croquet set. We especially encourage all graduating BAs to show up along with their families to celebrate the grand occasion. Come celebrate the end of another long and successful academic year!

After almost two years of work, the Undergraduate Programs Advisory Committee of the Linguistic Society of America is excited to announce the launch of the Linguistic Academic Depository, a new feature on the LSA website that allows linguistics faculty and instructional staff to exchange handouts, syllabi, and other course materials.

UPAC member and UChicago grad student Nassira Nicola encourages members of the department to both browse the materials currently offered and contribute their own fabulous ideas, at https://lsadc.org/e-learning/.  (Note: Access requires LSA membership.)

The year 2008 has been proclaimed International Year of Languages by the United Nations General Assembly. UNESCO, which has been entrusted with the task of coordinating activities for the Year, is determined to fulfill its role as lead agency.

The full text of a message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the celebration of 2008, International Year of Languages can be found here.

BLING is finally back after a short winter hiatus. Not doubt many of you will have interesting new developments you would like to share. So please don’t forget to send us news you’d like to see appearing on the pages of BLING.

Just a reminder, BLING is updated weekly, so keep those news and other interesting bits of linguistics you’d like to share coming!