Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 13:11:52 -0500 From: Dennis Baron Subject: ADS at MLA I'm pleased to report that the ADS-sponsored session at MLA, :) When You Say That, attracted about 45 participants and produced some lively discussion on linguistic effects of technology. It also produced one potential member (I'll write to Aallan separately later about this.) The Language and Society session, which I also chaired, drew over 50 people. I spent much of MLAbeing misunderstood by reporters interested in knowing whether Ebonics was a separate language, and what I thought of Oakland. Like Sali, I know what it is to be sound-bitten. I have decided that Ebonics is definitely word of the year. Respectfully submitted, Dennis "Ebonics is my middle name" Baron Dennis Baron debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uiuc.edu Department of English office: 217-333-2392 University of Illinois fax: 217-333-4321 608 S. Wright Street home: 217-384-1683 Urbana, IL 61801