Sets forth and supports four propositions which argue for the academic viability and necessity of programs in the discipline of speech communication. (JMF)

Examines two commonly held objections to the position that speech communication is a liberal study. Argues that speech communication holds a legitimate claim to inclusion in the liberal curriculum, provided that suggested criteria are met by contemporary speech communication departments. (JMF)

To provide a context for dictionary selection, the vocabulary behavior of students is examined. Distinguishing between written and spoken English, the relation between dictionary use, classroom vocabulary behavior, and students' success in meeting their communicative needs is discussed. The choice of a monolingual English learners' dictionary is…

Interindividual and intragroup code-switching between the local and urban dialects is related to the degree of interplay among sociocultural factors of status, integrity and self-esteem present in the speech situation. In formal meetings, code-switching is governed by these factors with speakers manipulating the parameters of status while…

The validity of using phoneme monitoring techniques to measure syntactic processing in French was validated by two experiments. Significant differences in the reaction times of 80 French-speaking academic professionals to phonemes immediately following reversible subject relative clauses and those following object relative clauses demonstrate the…

Skilled patients spoke, looked, smiled and gestured more than unskilled patients. They also showed more behavior variability in response to situational changes. Unskilled patients were deficient in component behaviors and in monitoring and other process skills. Deficiencies in speech contributed to impressions of social incompetence. (Author/BEF)

Results indicate a positive relationship between talking rate and leadership choice. People show the greatest liking for those with moderate levels of talking. (Author/BEF)

Describes the field of speech communication in East Germany with emphasis on the influence of the ideology of Marxism upon its nature and status in academic settings. Contrasts the East German system with the American. (JMF)

Demonstrates the use of simulations and games in large classes as complements to the lecture method. Students generally respond favorably to the use of these strategies and indicate that they facilitate classroom communication and student interest, concept understanding, and personal growth. (JMF)

Presents validation, from a communication perspective, for semantic differential scales designed to measure attitude toward an object. The favorableness of sources' verbal behavior about an object was related to sources' attitudes toward the object. Receivers accurately estimated sources' attitudes and the favorableness of sources' verbal…

To better understand the mechanisms underlying encoding, manual signs and spoken words were presented in a short term memory task to six severely retarded children (11 to 14 years old). It was found that manual signs were encoded differently from spoken words for short term memory storage. (Author/PHR)

Encoding voice information is a cognitively effortful, age sensitive process. For older adults, enhanced voice encoding under the intentional condition, relative to the incidental condition, was accompanied by a significant decrement in sentence recall. The age difference apparently reflects the diminished processing capacity of older adults.…

Describes how, through the use of questionnaires and surveys conducted by the students, they can be aided to develop listening comprehension and to use their English in a social situation with native speakers who are strangers. The findings can be analyzed and assigned as a written report for homework. (PJM)

Criticizes the variable analytic approach to small group communication currently being used by many social science researchers and suggests some alternative ways of doing research based on a human action perspective. (JMF)

Reviews the central principles of conversational organization and characterizes conversational argument in terms of these general principles. Discusses enthymemes and why they are the substance of persuasion. (JMF)