Argues that in literary translation, like the case of the two African novels in translation under examination, cross-cultural communication and miscommunication problems may occur. (14 references) (Author/VWL)

Recounts examples of incorrect language usage involving redundancies, such as "revert back," and "in the modern world of today." (RS)

Explores the paradoxes and vagaries of the English language. Looks at a number of English words and phrases that turn out to mean the opposite of or something very different from what people think they mean. (MG)

Examples from a variety of sources (history texts, newspaper reporting, courts) are used to show that truth telling is commonly subordinated to other goals, especially the self-justification or the profits, power, and prestige of those promoting the lies. (24 references) (Author/LB)

Discusses the use of "there is" and "there are," and recommends notional agreement (agreement of a verb with its subject or of a pronoun with its antecedent in accordance with the notion of number rather than with the presence of an overt grammatical marker for that notion) as a useful approach to deciding which to use. (SR)

Discusses the use of "and" and "or" in technical writing. Suggests that the strict meanings of "and" and "or" are called for in technical writing much more than in ordinary prose. (SR)

Discusses Chomsky's linguistic theories and suggests that these theories have clear implications for politics, philosophy, and psychology. (five references) (JL)

Discusses "language display," a language use strategy whereby members of one group lay claims to attributes associated with another, conveying messages of social, professional, ethnic identity. Examples from academia, politics, business, and advertising reveal language display functions as artifact of crossing linguistic boundaries…

If it is immediate, definite anaphoric reference of an indefinite syntagm "'un'+noun" in French (e.g., "un chien...l'animal") seems appropriate for an "unfaithful anaphor" (e.g., "un chien...l'animal") but not a "faithful" anaphor (e.g., "un chien...le chien"). This rule helps to identify…

Outlines the processes behind four master tropes (metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony) and demonstrates instances where these tropes occur in the expression of scientific concepts. Shows that rhetorical and literary tropes are necessary components to a linguistic understanding of complex scientific concepts; that such tropes are, in fact,…

Shows that children (mean age 4 years and 4 months) not only know the meaning and use of complex reciprocal anaphors like "each other," but that they also have knowledge of subtle differences in the possible interpretations of such anaphors depending on the type of predicates involved. (Author/VWL)

Develops a taxonomy of the connotative meanings of the term "public relations" using 100 articles chosen from the popular press that yielded 254 uses of the term. Lists eight categories; finds that less than 5% were judged to use the term correctly; 37% were negative; and only 17% were positive. (PA)

A professor of conservation biology, and champion of the spoken and written word, discusses who is corrupting the English language and why, describing the culprits and suggesting how to remedy the situation (e.g., restore the habit of talking directly to one another; use proper language; hold those who are corrupting the language accountable; and…

Argues that exploring the written work of William Stillman of Rhode Island could help balance the appraisal of 19th-century American technical communication. Reviews the writing and graphics in his "Miscellaneous Compositions" (1851) and patents from 1836 and 1839. Concludes that Stillman had an unusual ability to mimic the biological…

Argues that Kenneth Burke's rhetorical theory is exemplified in the statements of Justice Louis Brandeis, whose concept of "the living law" explores the contemporary scene as ground for judicial review. Contends that Robert Bork's search for "neutral principles" in Constitutional words ignores the symbolic and dialectical…