Identifies problems associated with exact definitions of the concept 'tribe' and presents a discussion of characteristics of the tribal communities of India as a case study of difficulties associated with knowing what constitutes a tribe. Reviews anthropological, sociological, and historical accounts of tribal life and organization. (DB)

The applicability of transferability principles to language contact in the British Isles, especially Ireland, is shown with a detailed discussion of absolute constructions, structures with interesting relations between syntax and discourse, and with susceptibility to cross-linguistic influence. Evidence for transferability of absolutes in…

A study examined traditional Hindi songs typically sung by women during north Indian weddings, using pragmatic and semantic analysis. Some historical and cultural background for the practice of women's singing at weddings is offered. It is suggested that gender roles are defined and regulated through the language of this speech event, and that…

This study examined the speech act of agreement and disagreement in the ordinary conversation of English-speakers in India. Data were collected in natural speech elicited from educated, bilingual speakers in cross-sex and same-sex conversations in a range of formal and informal settings. Subjects' ages ranged from 19 to about 60. Five agreement…

The notion of language dependency presupposes that there is a hierarchy of languages in a multilingual society, and that each language is assigned a functional role in a multilingual individual's restricted or extended spheres of linguistic interaction. In South Asia, language dependency has resulted in linguistic convergence of two types: (1)…

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This June 18, 2004 issue of "Chronicle for Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "What Would Higher Education Do with $6-Billion a Year?" (Shireman,…