This study was designed to assess the intercorrelations of selected variables of reading readiness to determine which measures were related. It was hypothesized that there are no underlying language factors which can be identified within a selected group of assessments, and that neither the original variables nor any factors, if found, predict the…

A study examined the type of Wh question (those introduced by who, what, when, where, why, or how) and the phrase structure rules required for the verb phrase to determine how they relate to the acquisition and development of the Wh question transformation. Children ranging in age from 2 to 6 years were given three tasks, each containing 36…

The purpose of this study was to synthesize theories and known facts of language acquisitions provided by transformation-generative grammarians and the cognitive theories of Piaget and Vygotsky into a unified theory and to suggest a partial model of the reading process. Review and analysis of transformational-generative theory strongly indicate…

The purposes of this study were to develop an informal language inventory for classroom teachers to use in screening a child's speech, to have classroom teachers use the inventory with students to determine if they could use it, and to determine if teachers would use the assessment form after they had had some experience with it. The development…

Small groups provide an ideal environment for developing linguistic security (seeing one's language as acceptable to those with whom one is most concerned about communicating). In a case study of seven students representing a cross section of two composition classes, small groups did foster linguistic security and written fluency. From remarks…

The purposes of this study were (1) to investigate changes in knowledge acquired by children between the ages of 8 and 17, with respect to certain complex word-derivation processes and (2) to investigate the relation of the changes in children's knowledge of word derivation to various aspects of their reading achievement. The study used ten words…

The purpose of this study was to compare low readers and high readers in adult basic education (ABE) programs in New Jersey in terms of demographic characteristics, motives for enrolling in ABE, and desire to learn certain functional competencies. Fifty-two low readers and 52 high readers responded to items on the Interview Schedule of the Adult…

The test performance of 120 Anglo, black, and Chicano third- and fifth-grade children is used to demonstrate the similarities between the processes of diachronic and ontogenetic language change. The instrument used measured the range of knowledge of several grammatical structures. Analysis and interpretation of results suggested the gradual…

A case study approach is used to investigate written linguistic performance among black college freshmen from lower socio-economic and black nonstandard English (BNE) speaking backgrounds who are assigned to remedial-type English skills courses and generally assumed by their teachers and others to lack either or both competence or performance…