A study investigated the production of conventional conversational openings by five advanced learners of Kiswahili with experience in the Kiswahili speaking environment. Native speakers of Kiswahili usually engage in lengthy openings including several phatic inquiries (PIs) and phatic responses (PRs). The number and manner in which the PIs and PRs…

In a pilot study, youth of a small town in the Southwest were surveyed regarding their drug and alcohol use. Mexican American students used drugs more heavily than Anglo students, and Mexican American females were especially heavy users. Compared to a national sample, the total small town sample used more drugs. (JHZ)

Differences in Thai and American world views that point to cultural differences where misunderstandings can occur are considered. These differences reflect an alternative view of reality, not just language or verbal differences. Thailand has never been under foreign rule; most of the people are Buddhists; and 80 percent of Thai people are involved…

This "communication lexicon," a new source of information in the field of language and area studies, describes how selected themes such as family, society, work, and entertainment are perceived and understood by members of the Mexican, Colombian, and United States cultures. It identifies broad trends of perceptions and evaluations…

The research reported here seeks to explain communication failure between Whites and Aboriginals in Australia, based on an examination of fundamental concepts underlying the world view of each group. The research arose from the observation that in Aboriginal-White encounters, each group had different expectations of and conclusions about the same…

An analysis of concepts of time in Latin American societies focuses on aspects that can be useful in teaching Spanish as a second language and Hispanic culture in anglophone North America, and includes specific suggestions for classroom activities and teaching techniques. Analysis looks at the following aspects and functions of time: polychronic…

Materials in this multicultural study of creative expression are suitable for use in a variety of secondary school disciplines, including social studies, humanities, language arts, and science. Following an introduction to teachers and curriculum developers on rationale, objectives, and format, the handbook is divided into five parts of student…

Six papers on the relationship of language and culture in the Australian Aboriginal context are presented. "Some Thoughts on Yanyuwa Language and Culture" by Jean Kirton gives an overview of some language-culture relationships and examines seven kinds of possession in one language. "Nyangumarta Kinship: A Woman's Viewpoint" by…

Discourse strategies used by status-unequal interlocutors expressing disagreement are discussed. The paper focuses on the influence of role relationships on semantic formulas. A comparative study of discourse strategies used by native speakers of Turkish and North American English in the same speech event is also reported. Data were gathered from…

A handbook for teachers, administrators, and bilingual education specialists who deal with limited-English-proficient, Japanese-speaking students is designed to assist this language minority to get the best educational opportunities. Chapters discuss the background of Japanese-speaking people in California, historical and sociocultural factors…

Successful conduct of business in Saudi Arabia requires attitudes and skills significantly different from those needed in the United States. Distinct societal differences can turn winning practices in one culture into failures in another. Despite Saudi Arabia's recent emergence as a wealthy marketplace, traditional values and a unique lifestyle…

A study explored the issues of cultural identity and interaction in public health discourse concerning Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Hong Kong's multilingual, multicultural social context. Twenty public service announcements (PSAs) concerning AIDS awareness televised in both English and Cantonese in Hong Kong from 1987 to 1994 were…

This volume on pragmatics and language learning includes the following: "'Cultural Scripts': A Semantic Approach to Cultural Analysis and Cross-Cultural Communication" (Anna Wierzbicka); "Issues in Second Language Learning in a Multilingual Context" (Ayo Bamgbose); "Cross-Cultural Speech Act Research and the…