Surveys some basic issues of modern linguistics and the theory of language teaching. Examines the notion of creativity in human language, a concept regarded here as basic to any linguistic description and as fundamental to all pedagogical applications of linguistics. (Text is in French.) (Author)

In analyzing the errors made in a French grammar test by intermediate level English-speaking learners of the language, it was found that not all mistakes could be accounted for by interference from the native language, but that other psychological factors were involved as well. (FB)

An attempt to demonstrate the erroneousness of the principle that language teaching materials must be based on a detailed analysis of various parameters of texts of the target language, such as frequency, usefulness, basicness, or productiveness of lexical or structural items. (Author/FWB)

Discusses the consensus among language teachers that the teaching of grammar helps second language learners develop linguistic competence as part of communicative competence. The article argues that pedagogical grammar can be made less formal by keeping metalinguistic terms, concepts, and analysis at a minimal level. (45 references) (Author/CK)

A study exploring the differences between first- and second-language word recognition strategies revealed that second-language listeners used more higher level information than native language listeners, when access to higher level information was not hindered by a competence-ceiling effect, indicating that word processing strategy is a function…

A model for assessing communicative ability is presented that is prompted by the fact that most error analysts in the past concentrated on morphemic and syntactic levels. It is suggested that emphasis must shift from acquisition of linguistic competence per se to communicative competence. (23 references) (LB)