Finds that when paired with older adults simulating dementia, the young adults' instructions were longer, more informative, and more repetitious; however, the young adults did not alter their prosody or grammatical complexity. Suggests that young adults adjust their speech to the perceived communicative needs of older listeners by varying…

Examines and describes the pragmatic uses of the "nuclear winter" metaphor in the original "Science" article and its subsequent use in "Foreign Affairs." Analyzes conditions of the metaphor's birth in the former and its development and use as a conventional metaphor in the latter. Shows that the metaphor became a…

Responds to an article in this issue. Reconceptualizes translation as a bidirectional, dynamically negotiated process that occurs within and between communities of scholars and that transforms the language, the person of the translator, the communities involved, and the cultural expectations. Argues that conception of translation predicts a…

Investigates linguistic and sociolinguistic issues concerning the Greek Cypriot community living in the United Kingdom. Questionnaires were completed by Cypriot students attending Greek classes in London, eliciting information about their family and ethnic background, language abilities, domains of use for each language, reasons for studying…

Presents sign language as a central fact in the life of deaf individuals and groups and therefore as a focus for educational efforts. Looks at the different ways languages are presented to the eye instead of the ear, examines bilingualism and its special life in the life and education of deaf persons, and shows teachers ways to ask and answer…

Examines the effects of language standardization and orthography design on the Chukchi linguistic ecology. Suggests the process of standardization has not taken into consideration the gender-based sociolects of colloquial Chukchi and is based on a grammatical description that does not reflect actual Chukchi use. (Author/VWL)

Suggests ethnic identity has yet to receive the attention it merits in such fields as linguistics and discourse analysis. Advocates using large corpus data to explore the evolving contexts of usage for ethnically relevant terms. The advocacy is illustrated with the results of a survey of all the uses of the term "Indian" in the corpus of…

Discusses language shift reversal (LSR), defined as a change in the progress affecting Spanish language use along the US-Mexico border and some other extended areas of the country during the past few decades. LSR is contrasted with reversing language shift, the result of official language policy and planning. Samples of LSR in San Diego County are…

Reprints an article originally published in 1932. Discusses the development of S. Leonard's book "Current English Usage." Suggests that the monograph stands as a symbol of a spirit and attitude in the teaching of English which will have far-reaching influence in determining the course of study and content of English instruction in the future. (RS)

This article examines rule-governed characteristics of Hawai'i Creole English (HCE) by applying Hyme's Verse Analysis to its discourse processes. Focusing on versification and reiteration, the article concludes that the narrative structure of HCE is poetic and metrical, and that these structures might constitute part of narrative grammar in creole…

Discusses some types of writing tasks, such as advertising, in which a writer might want to create ambiguous wordplays. States that a more conscious understanding of the structure of a language could make the generation of structural ambiguities easier. Examines some structural features of English that could prove useful to advertisers who wish to…

Outlines the long history and the dangers of doublespeak--language that misleads, distorts, and deceives. Offers examples of doublespeak in euphemisms, "gobbledygook," and inflated language. Argues that doublespeak is carefully constructed to appear to communicate when its real purpose is to mislead, and notes its relationship to…

Notes that incidents abound of student journalists using jargon. Suggests that the best "rule" about avoiding jargon is: "Impress your audience by plainly and clearly explaining difficult material." Concludes that jargon harms and clouds the clarity of student journalism and the confidence in the student press. (RS)

Presents annotations of 30 exemplary books selected from every genre. Notes that the titles--diverse in genre, content, and style--are notable for their potential to enhance language awareness for K-8 children. Considers how these books focus on: expressive language; language that informs; playing with language; language and culture; rhythm of…

Presents two brief language stories and critical literacy lessons to offer a space for considering the different literacies, knowledge, and power constructed through different language use. Demonstrates the literacies are made possible by more powerful discourses such as critical literacy. (RS)