In China, from the second half of the nineteenth century to the first years of the twentieth century, extensive translation of Western works on science, economics and law was undertaken. The goal was to spread "Western learning", thought of as the key tool for the industrial and military modernization of the country, among the Chinese…

Examines current theories of language change, and proposes the theory that language change can be observed and captured while in progress, and that language change can be considered a manifestation of human change in general. (AM)

Discusses a stratificational view of the lexicon by (1) defining the transformational-generative lexicon; (2) considering some undesirable consequences of the lexicon; and (3) showing the stratificational model to be simpler and more complete than the transformational-generative version. (CHK)

Characterizes English imperatives in terms of hypotheticality, nonpast, second-person nature, and, in particular, "speaker commitment," which refers to the degree of directive force applied by the speaker toward the addressee carrying out the action. Imperatives, which can be commands or conditions, are ambiguous with respect to speaker…

A description of the sign language used in a Mexican village shows its parallels with other sign languages, its similarity to the folk gestural system of Mexico and its distinguishing aspects. Examples illustrate its syntax, grammar and lexicon. (PMJ)