Explores the general features and some unique usages of West African English, Caribbean English, and Indian English. (EL)

Investigates the role of accent in attributing guilt to persons accused of a crime. A 3x3 repeated-measures design required three groups to rate three accents (Received British Pronunciation, Broad Australian, Asian) on their probability of having committed a particular crime (embezzlement, damage to property, violence against a person). Results…

This paper defines diglossia as "a situation in which two closely related language systems enjoy differing social status, one being the 'high' and the other the 'low' language," and then attempts to show how a study of diglossia in Canada, where such a diglossic situation is seen to exist among varieties of French, might be carried out.…

Examines whether linguistic clues of social status can be detected and are significant across cultures. (EKN)

A survey of written and spoken Tennessee English was recently begun. Work is in progress on the first stage of the project, which involves the compilation of a bibliography. Data from the Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States (LAGS) and the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) will be examined in planning the survey itself. The next stage…

Teachers can help students increase their range of registers by being aware of and encouraging their students' linguistic efforts and encouraging students' control over literate" forms. (Author/JB)

Discusses the meaning and origins of the word "argot," its cryptic character, and its function in a closed social group, focusing on a comparative description of the French and Anglo-American vocabulary of the underworld and the police. Comments on shared traits and provides an insight into the differences. (MES)

A description and analysis of the various functions of black language as an integral part of the collective experience and identity of American blacks. (EH)

The research cited suggests separate language materials are not needed for college level black and white students. (JH)

"Gastarbeiterdeutsch" includes varieties of German spoken by the many foreign workers employed in low-paid, less desirable jobs in Germany. It is characterized by reduction and simplification of syntactic and semantic forms. Study of this dialect reveals patterns of natural language acquisition necessary for communication, useful in classroom…

This paper describes how slang is not necessarily short-lived and novel. Users perceive these words, phrases, and meanings as new and they function as new, however, their novelty is only apparent rather than real. Data examined were gathered by students from fellow students at Michigan State University. Sources for comparison included the…