This volume contains a selection of papers presented at the XII Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages (LSRL), held in April 1982 at Penn State University. These papers reflect the general state of the art in Romance Linguistics. Some of the studies are theoretical papers that seek to establish general principles based on the analysis of a Romance language, others apply the principles of a particular theory to the solution of a problem in some Romance language, or provide data-oriented descriptions of linguistic phenomena in Romance languages.

The songs, dances, jokes, parodies, spoofs, and skits of blackface groups such as the Virginia Minstrels and Buckley's Serenaders became wildly popular in antebellum America. Behind the Burnt Cork Mask not only explores the racist practices of these entertainers but considers their performances as troubled representations of ethnicity, class, gender, and culture in the nineteenth century. William J. Mahar's unprecedented archival study of playbills, newspapers, sketches, monologues, and music engages new sources previously not considered in twentieth-century scholarship. More than any other study of its kind, Behind the Burnt Cork Mask investigates the relationships between blackface comedy and other Western genres and traditions; between the music of minstrel shows and its European sources; and between "popular" and "elite" constructions of culture. By locating minstrel performances within their complex sites of production, Mahar offers a significant reassessment of the historiography of the field. Behind the Burnt Cork Mask promises to redefine the study of blackface minstrelsy, charting new directions for future inquiries by scholars in American studies, popular culture, and musicology.

This book gives an account of the linguistic principles that should govern the production of better bilingual dictionaries and is intended for linguists, lexicographers, librarians, and foreign language teachers. -- from Preface ([p. 9] from cover).

Regarde a! As-tu dj vu a? Tu me crois-tu? Speak Qubec! is a fun and practical handbook designed to help both native English and French speakers understand and speak Qubcois, the common tongue in Qubec. Comprising over three thousand commonly used words and expressions, Speak Qubec! provides a dynamic and accurate reference for daily Qubec conversation, including clear examples of common sayings heard around the Province. It also includes a complete history of the language, and a guide to differences in pronunciation and grammar from International French. Designed for quick reference and practical usage, Speak Qubec! is a terrific way to understand and appreciate one of the oldest, richest, and most inspired cultures in North America.