3rd person

[pash]

"Hassall & Ganesh (1996) outlines an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users."

Am I right in thinking that the third person "outlines" is correct there? It is referring to a paper or book written by those authors, right?

[Duncan J Macdonald]

"Hassall & Ganesh (1996) outlines an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users."

Am I right in thinking that the third person "outlines" is correct there? It is referring to a paper or book written by those authors, right?Yes. The number of the word 'outlines' depends on the reference itself. If the reference is a written work, 'outlines' is correct. If an audio/visual reference, then 'outline' is correct.

I'm curious, however, as to what a 'relDEV.EIL' is.

[alleycat]

Yes. The number of the word 'outlines' depends on the reference itself. If the reference is a written work, 'outlines' is correct. If an audio/visual reference, then 'outline' is correct.

I'm curious, however, as to what a 'relDEV.EIL' is.
I had to Google for it:

international relative deviance (dealing with the international use of English)

[pash]

This is the subject Hassall & Ganesh (1996), isn't it?

[K1P1]

If an audio/visual reference, then 'outline' is correct.

Can you give me an example of an "audio/visual reference"?

[Duncan J Macdonald]

Can you give me an example of an "audio/visual reference"?Sure.

"Hassall & Ganesh (telephone conference, 31 June 2007) outline an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users."

Since we're quoting what they actually said, in person, the proper pronoun would be 'they' instead of a book's 'it'. Therefore, they outline, it outlines.

In my line of work, we abbreviate telephone conference to 'telcon'.

[pash]

<"Hassall & Ganesh (telephone conference, 31 June 2007) outline an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users.">

Would that be similar to his?

"Hassall & Ganesh, in a telephone conference dated 31 June 2007, outline an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users."

[Duncan J Macdonald]

<"Hassall & Ganesh (telephone conference, 31 June 2007) outline an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users.">

Would that be similar to his?

"Hassall & Ganesh, in a telephone conference dated 31 June 2007, outline an empirical study of relDEV.EIL that involves a comparative study of the language produced by different groups of English users."Yes.

Rather than the scatter-gun questioning that you are doing, could we know the grand sweep of your position? You've asked about semantics, POV, English ownership, and Eurocentrism -- it there a common theme?

[K1P1]

Thanks, Duncan, for the explanation.

[pash]

<Rather than the scatter-gun questioning that you are doing, could we know the grand sweep of your position? >

In this thread, I asked a grammar question. Now, it's answered, I'm happy. Thanks to all.