Examines the phenomenon of semantic change with regard to color categories in closely related Mayan languages (Tzetal and Tzotzil) associated with radically different social milieux. It is argued that, although a model of individual cognition explains how color categories change at the basic level, a social model accounts for differences between…

This paper offers some partial identifications of the communicative functions of Tarahumara alternations and underscores their implications for a cognitive phonology. (Contains 17 references.) (JL)

Examines the role of the educational and socioeconomic levels of the speakers in advancing linguistic change. The study reviews three grammatical phenomena found at distinct stages of change. Individuals at the lower socioeconomic and educational strata of society embrace innovations in language more readily than their affluent and educated…

Examines the origin, development, and nature of Pakistani English as a distinct language variation with its own cultural and linguistic identity. Lexical borrowing from Urdu is discussed as is the formation of new words through the use of English affixes with Urdu and English bases and though semantical or grammatical shifts. (JL)

Historical/sociocultural circumstances of the French language in Canada are outlined and the role of Quebec French in Canadian language education is discussed, focusing on its place in French teaching outside Quebec and in development of bilingualism. Establishment of a Quebecois language is viewed as essential to French Canadian cultural…

Using data from Derry/Londonderry English, the impact of social factors on language variation is examined. Finds that where language change is occurring, ethnicity has an effect on the adoption of innovations. Changes originating in the (predominantly Protestant) east of Northern Ireland tend to be adopted primarily by Protestants, whereas…

Examines the potentially problematic tension between the goals of authenticity and unification in Quechua-language planning. One case study examines the orthographic debate that arose in Peru, and the second case study concerns two indigenous communities in Saraguro in the Southern Ecuadorian highlands where Spanish predominates but two Quichua…

Presents a comprehensive analysis of lexical-stress variation in British and American English. A comparison of the pronunciations of all 75,000 entries in a dictionary by John Wells (1990) yields 932 stress-divergent words. The list of words is appended. (Author/VWL)

Deals with divergence on the lexical, phonological, and morphological levels in three dialects that were the same until the mid-20th century (Maaseiks in Belgium, Susters in the Netherlands, and Waldfeuchts in Germany) and that have changed under the influence of three different standard languages (Belgian Dutch, Netherlandic Dutch, and Standard…

Investigates a case of linguistic variation observable in the spoken French of students from French-immersion programs in Ontario, namely alternation between negative constructions with and without the negative particle "ne." (Author/VWL)

Studied stereotyped reactions to English accents and cultures among Danish secondary school students in Denmark. In choice of preference of Received Pronunciation (RP), Scottish English, Australian English, Cockney English, and Standard American English, RP was found to be unsurpassed prestige variety in this Danish context. It was rated favorably…

Schwa epenthesis and schwa deletion are two types of phonological variation that occur frequently in Dutch. In this study, a series of picture-naming experiments investigated whether schwa epenthesis and schwa deletion are arbitrary processes or whether they are contextually driven and take place in speech-planning process. Findings are discussed…

With the growth of world English, what learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) need most is not a native-like accent but ability to communicate with other non-native speakers. The role of English pronunciation, its aims within the ESL curriculum, and which norms and models are most appropriate for such instruction should be rethought.…

Focuses on popular perceptions of standard language in Denmark. Presents results from a study of folk linguistic awareness in which subjects listened to five different versions of regional standard Danish (SD) and filled in a questionnaire. Results show that subjects' perception of SD correlates with their own regional background, and that…

Offers reviews of 10 professional books that offer valuable information to language arts teachers who are concerned with the linguistic and cultural diversity in their classrooms. (SR)