In this short commentary piece, the authors stand back from many of the specific details in the seven papers which constitute the special issue, and offer some observations which attempt to identify and assess points of similarity and difference amongst them, under a number of different general headings. To the extent that the "sociolinguistics of…

This article presents a rejoinder on the commentaries of the authors' article titled, "The Idea of Testing: Psychometric and Sociocultural Perspectives." In different ways, each commentary has made a productive contribution to a multidisciplinary dialogue about educational assessment. The authors acknowledge that dialogue across disciplinary…

This article presents some theoretical reflections on the relationship between social representations-as they are conceptualized in sociopsychology--and discourse. An interdisciplinary point of view is advocated that accounts for both linguistics and sociopsychology. Methodological comments are presented and a way to convey theoretical reflections…

Describes a Utopian vision of a new multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field called "Dialogue," that would unite researchers with a common focus on dialogue. (Author/VWL)

Suggests that there are various methods that can be, and are used to study language and social interaction in its different guises; asserts that this is a good thing. Discusses some of the different meanings that "language" and "social interaction" have in research and concludes that the language-social interaction intersection is not unitary.…

Discusses the problem of "overlap" sometimes experienced by interdisciplinary teams. Analyzes a brief segment of a team conversation in which overlap is discussed. Reveals participants' territoriality in the face of an ideology of interdisciplinary collaboration. (HB)

Proposes that language and social interaction (LSI) scholars can contribute to interdisciplinary efforts aimed at understanding and responding to child physical abuse. Discusses reasons why LSI scholars might shy away from such study and considers links between face-to-face family interaction and child physical abuse, demonstrating the relevance…

Describes discourse analysis as practiced by Michel Foucault and his followers as a research method in library and information science. The method is introduced, some examples of its use are suggested, and several research questions are posed. The method permits analysis of the ways information, its uses, and its users are discursively…

If the various academic disciplines are considered as cultures, with their own language, literature, behavior, and mode of discourse, then more and more the need of educated readers is to read across disciplines or multiculturally, and the goal of college writing teachers should be to encourage students' interdisciplinary reading. Respect for the…

Linguistics can make major contributions to the undergraduate liberal arts curriculum, as exemplified in the relationship between linguistics and the English curriculum. The major points of contact between English and linguistics are the areas of stylistics and poetics. In the study of English, linguistics can enrich descriptions of texture…

Discusses the issue of literacy as a gate keeper and how the interviewee's own experiences as a bilingual Latina and writing teacher aroused her interest in sociocultural understandings of literacy and language learning. She emphasizes the importance of discourse-based analysis and discusses the issue of high urban mobility as well as her other…

Attempts to demonstrate the linkage between opinions, attitudes, and ideologies and to look for ways of explaining variation in opinions as well as in shared social dimensions of evaluative beliefs. The article argues that theories of discourse and ideologies, as well as the cognitive aspects of ideologies, should not be reduced to any partial…

It is claimed that second-language classroom research cannot establish itself as a discipline if it does not relate at least to the fields of second-language acquisition, discourse analysis, syllabus design, and methodology. The argument is drawn from experiences in Tunisian secondary schools. (Contains 27 references.) (Author/LB)

This essay shows how classroom conversation is musical and how this musicality is fundamental for one's sense of discourse coherence. To make its argument the paper looks at approaches to music and relationships between music and educational practice. Discussion covers symbols of affiliation and boundary, moral formation and discourse, and an…