The work reported in this monograph was begun in the winter of 1967 in a graduate seminar at Berkeley. Many of the basic data were gathered by members of the seminar and the theoretical framework presented here was initially developed in the context of the seminar discussions. Much has been discovered since 1969, the date of original publication, regarding the psychophysical and neurophysical determinants of universal, cross-linguistic constraints on the shape of basic colour lexicons, and something, albeit less, can now also be said with some confidence regarding the constraining effects of these language-independent processes of colour perception and conceptualization on the direction of evolution of basic colour term lexicons.

If the Night Sky Could Talk begins to share the wonder of night. People have relied on the night sky for centuries to navigate. Authors and poets throughout have counted on the night sky for dreams and inspiration. The same stars that Homer or Shakespeare gazed upon are the ones you can enjoy. Simply looking upon the heavens to enjoy the boundless beauty is something we can all appreciate. What should a child need to know about the qualities of the night sky? What questions does a young observer ask about space? These kids nature books begin the conversation and they encourage the young reader to continue the dialogue. The illustrations in both books (If Trees Could Talk and If the Night Sky Could Talk) were lovingly created by the talented Herve Blondon. His colorful and unique style adds an awe inspiring flavor to each page. Looking at the pictures immerses the reader in an enchanting and inviting world that leaves you feeling good about yourself and your surroundings. Teachers and parents alike will find these books appealing. The stories prompt discussion, they promote an awareness of the world around us, they are beautifully illustrated, and they are easy to read.

In this collection, Paul Kay relates two usually separate traditions of semantic research: the meanings of words and the contextual determination of interpretation. Kay argues that the currently accepted views of semantic compositionality, Gricean effects, and indexicality are necessary, but not sufficient, to bridge the gap between the conventional significations of linguistic objects and the interpretations that sentences receive in contexts. Although not alone in this view, Kay's radical contribution to this general line of thought is his claim that the kind of theory of 'indexicality' required by the facts must be able to avail itself of the recursive (in Chomsky's sense 'creative') aspect of language. Expressions which have context-indexing force cannot be listed; they can be freely generated. Ultimately, Kay is interested in language as a medium of communication: attempting to understand the role of grammar in the activities of both speakers and interlocutors.

In this collection, Paul Kay relates two usually separate traditions of semantic research: the meanings of words and the contextual determination of interpretation. Kay argues that the currently accepted views of semantic compositionality, Gricean effects, and indexicality are necessary, but not sufficient, to bridge the gap between the conventional significations of linguistic objects and the interpretations that sentences receive in contexts. Although not alone in this view, Kay's radical contribution to this general line of thought is his claim that the kind of theory of 'indexicality' required by the facts must be able to avail itself of the recursive (in Chomsky's sense 'creative') aspect of language. Expressions which have context-indexing force cannot be listed; they can be freely generated. Ultimately, Kay is interested in language as a medium of communication: attempting to understand the role of grammar in the activities of both speakers and interlocutors.