The dialect of English as spoken by native Puerto Rican Spanish speakers is estensively influenced by interference from the speakers' native language. Since exposure to a language affects one's ability to use it, the speaker's position might affect his access to English and/or his willingness to speak it, and, therefore, his proficiency in it. It…

This is a guide for instructors in community, junior, and four-year colleges who are not trained extensively in the field of linguistics but who are interested in designing an introductory course in language and linguistics. Among the variables that may affect the nature of the course are the students' and the instructor's backgrounds and…