Two studies examined Anglo-Australians attitudes toward male and female Australian and immigrant speakers using English. Results support view that foreign or ethnic accent is sufficient cue to elicit ethnic stereotypes, that such stereotypes are salient to Anglo-Australians, and that accent can combine with other vocal cues to social group…

The influences of white Dutch and black Surinamer differences in skin color, accent, speech style, and spoken fluency on police officers' perceptions were examined for 173 Dutch police officers. Results provide empirical support for the existence of nonverbal communication errors in cross-cultural police-citizen interactions. (SLD)

Demonstrates that (1) second-language (L2) textbooks used in the L2 Spanish classroom, at the high school and college level, misrepresent the fundamental concept of dialects, and (2) the textbooks ignore certain important elements of dialects that would be beneficial to the L2 student as listener. (41 references) (GLR)

Language usage patterns of popular singers from different ethnic backgrounds were studied to identify possible linguistic conditioning regarding use of the Mizrahi dialect. The data suggest that there is an unconscious and hyperaccommodative, rather than hypercorrective, pull toward the dominant norm. Contains 74 references. (LB)

An error analysis based on phonetic transcription of French utterances by native speakers of Cantonese yielded a scale of difficulty for word-initial and word-final consonants. The Markedness Differential Hypothesis explained some errors. Evidence also pointed to interaction of language acquisition with markedness reversals. (35 references) (CNP)

This study investigated factors associated with the acquisition of second-language pronunciation and methodological problems associated with the study of foreign accents. Thirty-six native speakers of Russian fluent in English read specifically constructed English sentences and a prose passage, and talked spontaneously about their daily routine.…

Reasons for Indonesian students' reluctance to practice English are discussed, including absence of classroom follow-up activities. Some teaching/learning principles are noted, followed by some conversation teaching techniques (e.g., using humor, rhymes/songs, and interviews). (Contains 10 references.) (LB)

Analysis of French spoken by French girls aged 11-12 years found that, unlike older counterparts, theirs shows variable linguistic behavior on the phonological level that suggests avoidance of vernacular forms, the "sociolinguistic gender pattern." However, one speaker's discourse shows manipulation of conversational tone comparable to adult…

This study sought to establish a hierarchy of error gravity for different types of common errors in American learners' spoken Russian by surveying 75 native and nonnative speakers of Russian, including teachers and nonteachers. Grammatical accuracy was considered one of the most important issues in learners' spoken Russian by all the respondents.…

Refutes the claim that Latin can be spoken as if it were a modern language. This article is an effort to combat the movement to teach Latin by the four skills approach and to call for a return to an honest and reasonable way of teaching the classical language, along lines that help preserve its uniqueness and traditional integrity. (21 references)…

Examines whether Korean students learning English as a Second Language show chain shift of a similar kind to that demonstrated in first language acquisition, and if so, whether there is any difference between first language acquisition and second language acquisition with respect to affected sounds. (Author/VWL)

This longitudinal study looks at the development of phonological skills among Brazilian students of English as a Foreign Language on a 4-year humanities course. Analyzed the influence of the first language on the development of these skills. Looks at one particular pronunciation feature (palatization) that has been found in the data. (Author/VWL)

Examined pronunciation proficiency in both the first language (Korean) and the second language (English) of bilinguals. Participants were adult immigrants whose age of arrival to the United States ranged from 1 to 23 years. English and Korean sentences were rated by native listeners to obtain measures of pronunciation proficiency. (Author/VWL)

Proposes a variety of ways to help novice English-as-a-Second/Foreign-Language teachers be better prepared to teach pronunciation and develop as professionals, including education; self-studying; membership in professional organizations; attending and presenting at conferences; reflecting on classroom pedagogical and theoretical issues; and…

This pilot study investigated the effect speaker language and participant age had on the transcription of medically related utterances. Utterances were produced by native and nonnative English speakers. Sixty adults across three age groups participated. Measures of total number of words correct indicated participants had significantly higher…