Narrative abilities of 24 learning disabled (LD) and 27 nondisabled children (ages 7-12.5 years) were compared. Although LD students were able to reconstruct stories as well as were nondisabled students, narrative analysis of both original and retold stories can provide useful information on language skills beyond the sentence level. (Author/DB)

Grammar is the public aspect of language, the rules that make for "correctness." It comprises the linguistic rules that must be mastered if the general interest is to be served. As such, the rules of grammar have to be clear-cut in their application and definable in objective terms. (MLW)

Argues that the beginnings of language need to be sought not in the universal abstract grammar proposed by Chomsky but in the evolution of the everyday interaction of the human species. Studies indicate that there is no great gulf between spoken language and nonverbal communication. (SED)

Notes that while personal satisfaction and academic self-esteem are reasons for English teachers to improve and grow, they are often thwarted in their efforts by a system that requires a heavy load of paperwork, censors their methods and materials, emphasizes grammar in testing, and offers few rewards for scholarly self-improvement. (SRT)

Suggests the possibility of combining aspects of a transformational generative theory such as deep structure case grammar with concepts from a nontransformational, nongenerative theoretical framework such as form content analysis, for practical application in the area of foreign language teaching. (SL)

This study was conducted to determine whether or not a lack of emphasis on grammar instruction and exercises would impede students' abilities to overcome basic writing deficiencies. Both groups of students (intensive grammar instruction and minimal instruction) showed significant improvement in correcting high frequency errors in grammar and…

A broader view of grammar looks at text rather than the sentence as the framework for communication from thematic, semantic, and pragmatic points of view. (MSE)

Discusses results of study that attempted to determine whether subject-auxiliary inversion occurs in yes-no questions before wh-questions and whether noninversion errors are characteristic feature of acquisition of wh-questions. Findings do not support previous claims that inversion is acquired in yes-no questions before wh-questions. Rather,…

Presents an overview of the role of translation in foreign language teaching and learning. Argues that translation is useful for: (1) practicing grammatical structures, (2) explaining vocabulary items, (3) testing at all levels, and (4) developing communicative competence. Also, translation is to be taught as a skill in its own right. (SED)

Describes creative techniques for enabling the learner to grasp the concept of the future. Usage and grammatical constructions requiring the future are discussed and illustrated with examples of classroom exercises and activities. (MSE)

Discusses four problems common to English as a second language students: (1) the use of "they" as a sex-neutral, third person singular pronoun; (2) the use of "I wish"; (3) how stress affects meaning; and (4)word pairs ending in "ate," in which the noun and verb have different pronunciations. (EKN)

Describes computerized writing aids and how they can complement but never take the place of good writing skills. The drawbacks of utilizing microcomputer programs "Grammatik" and "Punctuation and Style," both style programs, are discussed, and ways in which such programs should be used are suggested. (MBR)

Questions whether the emphasis placed on the teaching of grammar in the American school curriculum will yield more than modest benefits. Suggests that literacy cannot be attained primarily through analyzing sentences and memorizing rules. (RBW)

Defines metadiscourse, writing about writing, and examines specific kinds of metadiscourse researchers identify, such as text connectives, illocution and validity markers, narrators, and commentary. (HTH)

Describes a computer software program developed as part of an intensive elementary German course that emphasizes vocabulary development and provides a comprehensive review of the grammatical concepts stressed in the accompanying textbook. Suggests that computer assisted instruction be used in a supplementary capacity to reinforce what is learned…