Reviews the theories of the founder of "general semantics," Alfred Korzybski, who believed that social conflict would be reduced by the study of how the structure of language affects our perceptions of the world and by the development of new language habits to overcome the limitations of verbal symbols. (Editor/SJL)

This article explores issues to be addressed in testing the validity of proposed correlations between the rise of a certain class of words and the development of literacy. Possible correlations point not to writing but to the language of law courts, feudal practices, and rhetorical debate in the Middle Ages. (Author/MT)

"Correct English," published continuously between 1899 and 1950, was dedicated to the preservation of "proper" English usage. Josephine Turck Baker, editor and founder, understood that conventions of grammar arose from usage. It was her opinion that correctness was determined by clarity, not by the rules of Latin syntax. Thus,…

Views "communication" as a product of a particular historical epoch and set of social conditions. Illustrates the birth of communication and the accompanying modern conditions and commitments by examining John Locke's linguistic and political theories. Traces Locke's commitment to the individual as master of meaning. (SR)

A discussion of the role of Swahili in Tanzania looks at its elaboration as an indigenous language, involving both internal modification of the written language and the extension of its institutionalized domains of use. Because of its role as the lingua franca of the independence movement, Swahili became a vehicle for national political…

A history of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) on the occasion of its 20th anniversary focuses on its early evolution and the research themes evident in the annual conference papers. This paper begins with a brief discussion of the longstanding relationship between the scholarly study of language and practical concern with…

The book offers a general survey of the history of Native American languages. Chapters address these topics: Native American pidgins and trade languages; the history of American Indian linguistics and classification of languages; the origin of Native American languages; languages of North America; languages of Central America; languages of South…