add-hook problem, file mode specification error?

["David Schneider" <goedelsch@gmail.com>]

Some time ago I asked how to modify the compile command in emacs, and
several people were kind enough to help me out with the code:

  (add-hook 'perl-mode-hook
          (lambda ()
            (set (make-local-variable 'compile-command)
                 (concat "perl -w " (buffer-file-name)))))

which I greatly appreciated.  Recently the command has stopped
working, and I haven't been able to figure out why - perhaps I
accidentally modified my .emacs file or some other configuration
issue.    The message  file mode specification error comes up when
loading my .emacs file - I have not tried to isolate that yet.  I can
create a compile command for c, but not perl, is there a way to view
the 'hooks' that are in place for a mode, will add-hook return
anything to indicate failure?