This article explores the textual properties of arguably one of the most influential textual domains in contemporary society; that of mass-media discourse. Within this genre, it examines English-language hard news media reports from the United States, Great Britain and Australia focussing on the concepts of objectivity within this domain. Drawing…

The author Salman Rushdie's post-colonial essay, "Midnight's Children," highlights a different perspective on the problems created by the colonial power where place and displacement are central themes and migration is a painful but emancipating process; both are expressed through the life of the writer, Salman Rushdie. The primary aim of…

Describes a turn-taking system, using examples from British television and radio networks. The turn-taking system of news interviews is compared to ordinary conversation and to two other types of broadcast interviews to reveal the institutionalized footings that interviewers are conventionally required to maintain within the interviews.…

Criticizes a previously published article by Peter Abbs for misunderstanding sociolinguistic and structuralist influences on English curriculum. Includes a response from Abbs.

Report on the Seminar on German Applied Linguistics sponsored by the British Association for Applied Linguistics, March 1972, Nottingham, England. (RS)

Three books are discussed: Andresen's "Linguistics in America 1769-1924: A Critical History," Crowley's "Politics of Discourse: The Standard Language Question in British Cultural Debates," and Crowley's "Standard English and the Politics of Language." (36 references) (LB)

The nonuse of slang terms for cash among British bank and building society cashiers is noted and an explanation sought in the field of social control. The possible relevance of the Whorfian hypothesis is explored, and it is suggested that the in-house terms discussed have social, psychological and representational functions. (Author/CB)

Although "Received Pronunciation" (RP) has been recommended for years as the most suitable form of British English for first and second language instruction, it is not easiest nor most appropriate accent for foreigners to learn. Linguists, phoneticians, and teachers should overcome their fascination with the accent of elite minority and…

Examines the alleged role of the BBC in the selection, codification, propagation, and acceptance process of Educated Southern English in Britain. (EKN)

Eight general principles are postulated by which immigrants adapt dialectologically to their new surroundings, based mainly on results of a developmental study of six Canadian youngsters in two families who moved to southern England, with supporting evidence from several other studies. (52 references) (Author/LB)

Outlines the principle teaching methodologies to come out of Great Britain in the last 15 years and their recommendations for teaching literature. Although six different approaches are described, all place emphasis on the importance of linguistics as a tool in appreciating and gaining an in-depth understanding of literature. (LET)

Clive Whitehead (2005: 315-329) makes an indisputable claim that British colonial education is a controversial topic in the history of education. The macro study of educational systems undertaken within a framework that guarantees a systematic and rigorous approach can offer answers to many disputed issues, but researchers should not underestimate…

Using data from three experimental studies on British English, this study addresses whether, in dialect contact, there is a difference in the degree of convergence at different phonological levels. Data suggest that, in a contact situation, surface differences will be eradicated at the expense of phonologically complex differences. (29 references)…

Presents the results of a contrastive study of French and English advertisements directed at family needs. The study, based on the work of British students attending an advanced French course, analyzes male and female roles, stereotypes, and changes, as they emerge from the language and images of advertising. (MES)