Presents a cultural, discursive psychology for mathematics education that takes language and discursive practices as central in that meanings precede us and we are constituted within language and the associated practices, in the multiple settings within which we grow up and participate. (Author/MM)

Presents the way in which language issues have become a relevant factor in research that aims to study the socio-cultural aspects of mathematics education in classrooms with a high percentage of immigrant students. Illustrates the fact that, even if the mathematical language can be considered universal, the language of doing mathematics within the…

Comments on the papers presented in this special edition of this journal. Discusses the papers insofar as they have illuminated the agenda of a mathematics education researcher or served to move the community beyond the unproductive split between individual and social research perspectives. (Author/MM)

Examines the theoretical framework of psychologist Lev Vygotsky with regard to communication tools, cognition, and socio-cultural effects on these tools. Reports the results of several studies of students' word meanings of division by adapting Luria's instruments for alternative assessments. Discusses the implications of socio-cultural diversity,…

This issue dealing with language discusses language and social structure, social progress and sociolinguistics, oral and literate traditions, Portuguese Creole dialects in West Africa, a framework for describing how languages spread, socio-cultural conflict and bilingual education, linguistic variation in one-language societies, the language…