Discusses the meaning and origins of the word "argot," its cryptic character, and its function in a closed social group, focusing on a comparative description of the French and Anglo-American vocabulary of the underworld and the police. Comments on shared traits and provides an insight into the differences. (MES)

Reports a preliminary investigation into the pitch correlates of politeness formulae produced by English and Japanese informants of both sexes. Because of differences in sociosemiotic function of pitch, Japanese females' pitch is more differentiated from the Japanese male pitch than is that of the English female from the English male. (Author/PJM)

Argues for the existence of two types of communities other than the diglossic deaf communities--isolated and developing deaf communities. The history, sign language and finger spelling of the Grand Cayman deaf community are discussed. As the deaf community develops, it is thinning out and breaking up. (PJM)

As diglossia is the societal counterpart of individual bilingualism, diethnia is the stable, societal counterpart to individual biculturalism. Diethnia requires societal compartmentalization as well as institutionally protected functional specificity. Maintenance of this division is difficult, given modern, interactive, mobile, and individualistic…

Chinese individuals bilingual in Chinese and English were administered questionnaires concerning their identification with Chinese or Western practices. Responses to the English version of the questionnaire indicated more identification with Chinese practices. The ethnicity of the experimenter also seemed to influence the cultural identity…

Describes five types of schools presently functioning in Catalonia, a Spanish state with its own language existing alongside Spanish. The typology accords with the role of Catalan and Spanish in instruction and in student activities. The expected evolution of this situation is discussed along with a description of the Catalan-education project.…

Failures are better documented than successes in bilingual education programs. A theory is needed powerful enough to predict success while accounting for reported failures. Most important is the effect of bilingualism on cognitive development. Use of the first language should complement the second, particularly in problem solving and question…

An intricate analysis of the historical, military, and economic interdependence of language, religion, and state is presented, and the role of the vernacular tongue within the context of social structure is examined. (LH)

Presents results of a study using changes in language in the "Annual Review of Information Science and Technology" over a period of eleven years to determine the effect of such change on index vocabularies. (CWM)

Describes two sequential nine-week elective courses on the misuse of public language. (DD)

Despite official moves to reduce the importance of English in India, it remains the pre-eminent language in government, education, publishing, and journalism. The article suggests a two-tier policy of co-existence between English and regional languages, since each is used for different purposes. (CHK)

Examines the indirect strategies applied in the relationship between power and language, with particular reference to Eastern (Asian) verbal context. Argues that indirectness is both a form of politeness where a speaker avoids expressing himself explicitly and a style of formulating speech acts, which has an inherent pragmatic role. (32…

Suggests that it is important for writing teachers to focus on specific students within specific contexts and to try to reclaim the term "student centered." Proposes a new formulation of critical pedagogy that calls for an examination and location of the teachers' positions. Reflects on teaching the course "Writing and Reading about…

The Basic Variety (BV) is understood as instantiation of essential properties of human language capacity and is claimed to be a natural language in the sense that it is constrained by principles of Universal Grammar. This article raises a few points casting doubt on claim that the BV is an I-language, highlighting problem of determining the role…

Discusses the unexplored territory of the stories teenagers have to tell. Contends that teenagers tell personal experience narratives as much as anybody else, using a repertoire of tales at a high level of competence as a means of social currency within their everyday conversational exchanges. Illustrates with quotes from fieldwork in secondary…