Begins a discussion of the social mechanisms of linguistic change by describing the distinctions noted by T. Bynon (1977) between two different approaches to the study of linguistic change. Presents a model designed to explain why linguistic change seems commonly to take place in some social conditions but not in others. (SED)

This article discusses the history of the Galician language. (Text is in Spanish.) (CLK)

This article discusses the nature of so-called Americanisms in present-day Latin American Spanish. (Text is in Spanish.) (CLK)

The speech of 11-year-old children in different socioeconomic groups, was analyzed across a range of communicative tasks. On most "traditional" measures, consistent group differences did not appear. Significant differences were found on measures directly derived from the "planning principles" said by Bernstein to underlie restricted and elaborated…

In the field of English language teaching (ELT), a growing number of teachers are not native speakers of English. Some learned English as children; others learned it as adults. Some learned it prior to coming to the United States; others learned it after their arrival. Some studied English in formal academic settings; others learned it through…

The usefulness of classifications within and comparisons among languages as a means of discovering the commonalities of human language is discussed. Metalinguistics offers not only the potential for analyzing the specifics of each language, but also the tools for teaching across languages. (MSE)

Examines the characteristics of diglossia and applies them to the current sign language situation in the United States. Concludes diglossia does not exist and argues that what is really happening is code switching between languages and style shifting within a language. (EKN)

A speech by the president of Senegal on the need for instruction in Parisian French in his country is used as the point of departure for a discussion of such standardization. The proposal for standardization is found idealistic, and the utility of the language taught is judged more important. (MSE)

Argues for the existence of two types of communities other than the diglossic deaf communities--isolated and developing deaf communities. The history, sign language and finger spelling of the Grand Cayman deaf community are discussed. As the deaf community develops, it is thinning out and breaking up. (PJM)

Reports on one of a series of sociolinguistic studies of the speech of children of foreign workers in Berlin, "Gastarbeiterdeutsch," addressing the question of potential creolization. The paper has three sections: (1) a social and linguistic background of "Gastarbeiterdeutsch"; (2) the study methodology; and (3) results of the…

Reviews public expressions about the state of the English language and attempts to show that this interest in language should be viewed by language professionals as an opportunity to clarify issues. Four strategies are presented dealing with language variability, linguistics, and the "joy" and usefulness of language variation. (Author/AMH)

Three prime time television situation comedies with primarily Black casts were studied for frequency and variations in use of Black English Vernacular (BEV). It is suggested that homogenization of BEV on American television reflects the attitude that BEV is not a legitimate language choice. (GC)

Offers a number of techniques designed to challenge or alter or disrupt how a student perceives reality, thereby facilitating student development in creative thinking. (RL)

Discusses the preferences expressed in guides to language usage regarding the correlation of the adjectives "any,""each," and "every" with plural pronouns and possessives ("To each their own") in order to avoid allegedly sexist constructions ("To each his own"). (GT)