Describes a study designed to examine native speakers' reactions to errors contained in compositions written by advanced Spanish students, as a measure of error seriousness and a guide for selective correction. Suggests that errors interfering with comprehension should be eliminated first, followed by those that elicit negative reactions from…

A study of the language usage of 80 middle school students revealed no significant difference between the sexes on any measure of syntactic maturity; however, boys deviated from standard usage somewhat more frequently than did girls, and boys produced more words in oral language while girls produced more words in written language. (ET)

Discusses the speech act approach and its usefulness in conveying the meaning of the imperative both for the native speaker and for the purpose of language acquisition. Analyses the infinitival construction of German-language advertising slogans and describes its potential for conveying a variety of messages. (Author/MES)

Discusses hybrid verbs as a linguistic product of the anglophone cultural influence on the Spanish spoken by Cubans in southeastern Florida. (NCR)

Argues for an awareness on the part of employers and teachers of the important role language skills can play in industry. (AM)

Traces the history of the advances and setbacks experienced by proponents of sign language in France and in the United States from the 18th century to the present. (AM)

Examines an aspect of colloquial American English in which linguistics and area studies are involved. Analyzes typical errors which lead to misunderstandings and discusses in detail the use of the expressions "excuse me" and "I'm sorry." (IFS/WGA)

Phenomena are examined to support the conception that cognitive structures continue to reflect the numerous ways of apprehending the world that blend to some degree into each other. (AMH)

Reports the results of a national survey conducted in the US to determine: (1) languages used in the home, (2) second languages learned, (3) current use of second language, (4) attitudes toward the worth of second language study, and (5) opinions about the opportunity and requirement to study languages at various educational levels. (AM)

Describes the use of advertisements in language instruction, with particular attention to the language of advertisements, including the conative and emotive functions, linguistic shock, translation, humor, and cultural information. (AM)

Presents a collection of frequent errors, stock phrases teachers misuse that originate from a lack of acquaintance with the foreign land and culture, or from incorrect information. The correct versions are also given. The need is stressed for more attention to classroom English. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Focuses on personal pronouns in business discourse, using data from four business meetings: formal and informal, in Dutch and in Italian. The article focuses on the pronouns "I" and "we," commenting on the frequency of Dutch inclusive "we," absent from the Italian data. The article also discusses indexical and…

A discourse technique, re-framing a dispute in terms favorable to the speaker, is discussed as it has implications for lawyering and legal education. Literature on this approach to argument is reviewed, addressing such issues as constructive and destructive forms and avoidance of confrontation; and several discourse models are outlined. The…

Offers brief annotations of 30 children's books from every genre, published in 1995, and selected as outstanding for their enhancement of language awareness among students in grade K-8. (SR)

Reports on one phase of a 3-year investigation of case-based learning and teaching that was carried out in a Hong Kong university. Findings provided direction for an English for specific purposes business communications course and highlighted the need for culture and context-specific preparation for case leaders and students. (Author/VWL)