A study investigated whether activities could be designed to elicit seven specific language functions in kindergartners: self-maintaining, directing, reporting, towards logical reasoning, predicting, projecting, and imagining. Language functions were not equally elicited by all activities, but changing activity was effective in varying language…

A study was undertaken to separate elements of maternal speech heavily influenced by the children's language levels from those representing the mothers' consistent style or strategy for "teaching" language. A striking similarity was found between speech mothers used with their daughters and that used with their daughters' friends. (MSE)

It is suggested that what discourages students in reading literature in a foreign language is difficulty in comprehending literary language, making literature appreciation a scholarly pursuit. Techniques of looking at the novel and its construction that facilitate appreciation are outlined. (MSE)

A model is proposed for analysis of the patterns of language usage among lawyers. The model accommodates any sample of legal language from any type of legal document and can be applied to lexical and syntactic elements as well as whole documents. One example of legal language is illustrated. (MSE)

A survey of literature on legal writing from 1969 through 1980 covers 45 journal articles and ERIC documents on needs for prelaw and law-school curricula and paralegal training. Highly technical materials are included only when they shed light on general issues of legal language. (MSE)

The concept of journalistic norms and recent French experience with this are reviewed. It is concluded that the press might be a reasonable arbiter between conservative institutional norms and recent rapid change in the French language. (MSE)

Reports conversational topics among same-sex adult friends, co-workers, siblings, parents and children. Confirms findings of previous researchers but also reveals insights concerning same-sex conversational interactions, especially the sex differences in talk about sports. Includes the self-report questionnaire and tables of reported frequency of…

Reports findings from research regarding sex differences in language use and indicates ways that teachers can involve students in examining sex-linked language in textbooks and other reading materials. (FL)

Examined the verbal climate of Saturday morning programs by assessing: (1) prevalence of supportive, defensive, or neutral statements; (2) types of interpersonal responses-- aggressive, negative, positive, or neutral; and (3) general program variables as tone, format, character features, etc. The most obvious message offered was the White male's…

Presents a compilation of various language usage programs as they relate to establishing and maintaining discipline in the classroom. (FL)

Describes and analyzes features of teletypewriter (TTY) conversations, including patterned errors, openings and closings, and compensatory devices. Depicts several relationships among the characteristics of TTY users and relates features of their conversations to symbolic interactionist literature. (EKN)

Looks at a linguistic study that investigated children's communicative competence within the classroom setting. (FL)

Data suggest that, given a situation where no rewards are expected and no gain is to be found by exhibiting convergent behavior, there will be no difference in speech accommodation (the attempt to adopt speech patterns of an interlocutor) by male and female Mexican American bilinguals. (Author/CM)

Analyzes the language of advertising and the expressive devices it uses to capture the attention of the consumer and arouse his/her interest. Condemns the artificiality of this language and the social values it reflects, quoting profusely from the works of Herman Glaser and other contemporary authors. (MES)

This critical analysis of the usage of Black English in the classroom suggests that a change in teacher attitudes toward Black English will increase student ability and desire to learn standard English. (DA)