Argues that a fair amount of confusion in media studies has resulted from the lack of explicit treatment of the most basic question: What are media? Suggests three underlying metaphors: media as conduits, media as languages, and media as environments. (SR)

Suggests that the reason important parts of the communication field have failed to engage developments within communications is because of a rapid march up the blind alley of cultural studies. Relates the authors' experience working with the Broadcasting Research Unit in London to suggest some of the ways in which policy and policy debates can,…

Explores the introduction to communication theory course for undergraduates. Discusses several key notions for making the course valuable to the undergraduate: the attitude of the instructor; the attitude of the students; course content and requirements; and evaluation techniques. (SR)

A study of six adult learners of English as a Second Language provides some evidence to suggest that pushing learners to produce more accurate output contributes to acquisition. The data also demonstrate how this might be achieved through focused communication tasks. (Contains 11 references.) (Author)

Describes an experiment conducted at the University of Goteborg (Sweden) that investigated social and cognitive differences in communication and recall in face-to-face communication versus computer-mediated communication. Prior experience in computer-mediated communication is examined, and spoken and written communication are contrasted. (18…

Discusses state-mandated assessment at the university level, as experienced in one department of communication. Offers five recommendations to ensure integrity in a politically motivated process. (SR)

Uses Kenneth Burke's writings on the negative in language to account for the rhetorical appeal of the Reagans'"just say no" rhetoric. Argues that this strategy advocates private solutions to public problems, reasserts the authority of the government to define both problems and solutions, and undermines the vitality of the public sphere.…

Argues that the confused thinking of the planners of Great Britain's National Curriculum for English is reflected in the relationship between speech and writing. Criticizes the curriculum's view that there is little difference between spoken and written English. Asserts that teachers can encourage in students a creative, flexible, and personal…

Reports on a study that explored the use of puppets and classroom-based interview protocols as a practical way for teachers and researchers to get feedback on young students' learning in second-language classrooms. (21 references) (GLR)

Explores the kinds of persuasion used by preschool children in two role-playing tasks. Finds that children role played effectively and persistently, with Bargains and Guarantees the most frequently used strategies. Finds that the choice of strategies changed with age (more Positive Sanction, less Assertion) and with sex (boys used more Norm…

Speech-associated attitudes of 70 stuttering and 271 nonstuttering Belgian elementary and middle school children were assessed. Stuttering students evidenced significantly more negative attitudes toward speech than did their nonstuttering peers. These attitudes became more negative with age among stuttering children, whereas attitudes of…

Recent research into the use of articulatory movements by the deaf has revealed the significance of this visual input, but research into the speech perception of the blind has demonstrated the significance of its loss. The implications of these findings for teaching and testing foreign language listening skills are considered. (Author/JL)

Argues that fragmentation of American culture has resulted in communication role reversal, making interpretation the primary task of speakers and writers and text construction the primary task of audiences. Suggests audiences must be provided with dense, truncated fragments which cue them to produce a finished discourse in their minds. (KEH)

Seventeen children with profound hearing impairments were assessed at baseline and three years later using a speech token imitation task. Significant differences were seen at year 3 between children (ages 3-6 at baseline) using tactile vocoders in addition to auditory amplification and children using amplification only, especially in consonant…

Examines Korean president Roh Tae-woo's 1988 Inaugural Address. Focuses on audience expectations on this occasion, which include the influence of Confucianism and of Western political ideas, recent Korean political history, and the speech as an inaugural delivered at the end of an unusual and challenging campaign. (SR)