This contribution investigates the frequency patterns of the modal verbs as they occur in the one-million-word corpus of Cameroon written English. An analysis of dominant senses of some of the modals is also attempted. I have used results and statistical figures from British and American English (as reported in studies such as Biber et al. 1999…

This is a Mandinka-French glossary designed for students of Mandinka. In addition to the French translation, sample sentences and their translations are provided, and notes on grammar and usage are given for some entries. (CLK)

The main objective of this basic course is to teach the student to speak Sonray. The main learning devices used in the lessons are short dialogues which are to be memorized and are utilized to introduce new grammatical patterns. The dialogues are followed by several types of drills, designed to make the students familiar with a particular pattern.…

This Luganda textbook for Peace Corps Luganda students follows the first book (1968). The fifteen lessons alternate between conversations on various subjects, to enable students to improve their speaking ability, and notes on grammar, to enable students to gain more confidence in their use of the language. A few lines extracted from the local…

This Lunyoro/Rutoro textbook is designed for Peace Corps volunteers, and contains 32 lessons. Lessons consist of sample phrases that the students are intended to master and dialogues and conversations built around the sample phrases and key vocabulary. Topics covered include learning names, meals and the ordering and buying of food, the weather,…

This Madi textbook is designed for Peace Corps volunteers, and contains 32 lessons. Lessons consist of sample phrases that the students are intended to master and dialogues and conversations built around the sample phrases and key vocabulary. Topics covered include learning names, meals and the ordering and buying of food, the weather, health,…

Lwo is the name given to a group of dialects spoken by Northern Ugandans. This Lwo textbook contains 95 lessons, and was designed for Peace Corps volunteers. Lessons include pattern drills, conversations and some notes on grammar and usage. Eight model conversations are distributed throughout the text at regular intervals. The lessons are followed…

Papers on language research include: "L'expression de l'opposition en Latin" ("The Expression of Opposition in Latin" (Claude Begin); "Le francais de l'Abitibi: characteristiques phonetiques et origine socio-geographique des locuteurs" ("The French of Abitibi: Phonetic Characteristics and Socio-Geographic Origin…

Despite considerable linguistic diversity in Kenya, the country is increasingly trilingual, with individual Kenyans tending toward varying degrees of proficiency in the vernacular, Swahili, and English. The vernacular is acquired at home and in the neighborhood with co-ethnics in both rural and urban contexts. Swahili is typically learned…

This instructional guide for Sesotho (spoken in several areas of Africa by about 6 million people) is designed for the training of Peace Corps volunteers in Africa. The first two chapters outline Sesotho phonology (phonetics, articulation, and speech sounds and patterns not present in English) and tone and length, grammatical structure (class and…

This guide is designed for Luganda (Ganda) language training of Peace Corps workers in Uganda, and reflects daily communication needs in that context. It consists of an introduction on use of the materials and a series of topical instructional units addressing specific language competencies. Each unit includes the targeted competency and a…

This guide is designed for Zarma language training of Peace Corps workers in agriculture in Nigeria, and reflects daily communication needs in that context. An introductory section provides background information on the program's objectives and its role in the Nigerian village context. Some useful phrases are introduced here. Subsequent sections…