Explains that Kenneth Burke's concept of "terministic screen" reveals three rhetorical strategies that those on both sides of the political correctness debate share: unique labeling phraseologies, pugilistic mystification, and a dependence on different pentadic ratios. Concludes with an appraisal of possible future trends. (TB)

Presents a description and explanation for the use of "lie" and "lay" in a sentence. Gives several examples in addition to a 10-sentence quiz. (SG)

Considers the concept of "Language Lapses" and presents 10 examples of common mistakes found in language. (SG)

Offers journalism advisers and students guidelines on the proper use of everyday/every day, anyway/any way, anyone/any one, and sometime/some time. (RS)

Quotes a variety of leaders in higher education who decry the use of highly specialized terminology (jargon) in the higher education field. Includes a list of 30 "catch phrases" and examples of their use. Recognizes that jargon may streamline communication within the discipline but urges educators to be wary of using jargon with non-educators,…

Presents three arguments highlighting discontinuity in Dewey's philosophical views, critiquing one current account of the development of Dewey's thinking based on the assumption of continuity; arguing that Dewey changed his views about the role of action, language, and quality in knowledge construction; and presenting examples showing how closely…

Responds to an article that pointed to discontinuity in Dewey's philosophical views and critiqued a comprehensive current account of the development of Dewey's thinking based on the assumption of continuity. This article argues that the discontinuity thesis is unsustainable. (SM)

In "The Postmodern Explained," a pedagogical sequel to "The Postmodern Condition," Jean Francois Lyotard reports on the domination of thought by the principle of realism. Lyotard speaks of a demand that threatens to totalize experience, to reduce language to Newspeak, to rob thinking of its childhood and pedagogy of its philosophical moment. It is…

This paper explores the changing conditions of the Swedish minority in bilingual Finland. It describes the framework for Finland's bilingualism and the present situation of the Swedish minority in Finland. It concludes with a discussion of the recent debate in Finland about whether the increased use of languages other than L1 is to be seen as a…

Nancy Martin and James Britton are two retired teachers whose collaborative research on the use of language in learning is profiled. Their language education project promotes personal and democratic uses of literacy.

In the book "Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning", Peter H. Johnson illuminates the power of classroom discourse and encourages us to become more conscious of and reflective about what we say and how we say it. Johnson presents five categories of classroom discourse with a chapter on each.

Previous studies on the influence of mixed groupings within preschool classrooms have indicated positive effects on childrens development. This study extended earlier findings to determine the effects of socioeconomic diversity within the classroom on the language, cognitive and social-emotional development of preschool children of low-income…

The aim of this article is to raise awareness in L2 education about the relationship between second-language learners' linguistic choices in the L2 and their identities. The author reviews empirical research and language-learning narratives that show that L2 learners may purposely use nonstandard L2 forms. Using a poststructuralist framework to…

In this paper we present our study of the use of Mayan and Spanish in nine groups of pupils in bilingual elementary schools in the Mayan area of the Yucatan State, Mexico. Michael Cole's, as well as Guillermo Bonfil's, perspectives were used for the data analysis, in the sense of considering language as a cultural artifact, and an element of…

Just as exposing children to books helps develop their interest in reading; talking to children helps develop their language abilities. Research shows that from a very young age, children are influenced by the manner in which their mothers verbally interact with them. An FPG study published in the May/June 2008 issue of "The Journal of…