This paper analyzes a selected bibliography on the Chinese dialect literature. It discussed the role dialects have played in development of Chinese language reform; the form in which major dialects are written; subject matter written about, and statistical correlation between dialects, subject matter and forms of writing. (CHK)

Linguists have classified analysis of the "ba" construction into three approaches: structural, semantic and communicative. This paper outlines treatment of "ba" in several major Chinese textbooks and suggests an approach to teaching the construction. Students must be taught linguistic information in logical steps for best command of the language.…

Language cultivation includes any activity aimed consciously at influencing a language so that it improves or does not deteriorate. Three dilemmas face Swedish language cultivators: (1) the complexity of societal ideology; (2) the complexity of language itself as a social institution; (3) the balance between social integration and individual…

What is the probability that Spanish, as a vernacular language, will survive in the U.S. with an increasing usage and prestige? Or will its usage, its speakers and its importance diminish rapidly in number and geographical extension? Can it be retained or will there be a shift into English? This article, written in Spanish, addresses these…

Analyzes classification of "legal language," clarifying terms such as "variety,""genre,""register," and "discourse," and related issues in languages for special purposes, particularly as they apply to professions. Argues that "genre," not "register," is the most appropriate term…

Presents a selection of words and figurative language from the sea. Suggests a number of practical classroom activities for teaching such language. Opines that the activities could be included in a variety of curriculum areas, such as social studies and language arts. (PA)

Investigates the differences in form and meaning between the Dutch and English passives, attributing the differences to the passive auxiliaries that signal a process and a state for Dutch and English. The article is aided by the framework of Langacker's (1991) cognitive grammar. (30 references) (Author/CK)

States the differences between the classes of structures that admit a progressive interpretation in English and Japanese and discusses progressive aspect in these two languages on the basis of proposed universally valid definitions. It is concluded that the contrastive behavior of the English "be-ing" construction and the Japanese…

Contains an excerpt from the author's landmark work about the way lay people think about technology and the language they use to express their thoughts. Discusses some of the fundamental differences between common conceptualizations of the way computers work and the way other machines and mechanisms work. (TB)

Presents questions that those planning TESOL curriculum change might ask before deciding on the objectives of such change in their own contexts. Suggests that answers to such questions can help provide information about how key players (classroom teachers) are likely to experience the implementation of the objectives. (Author/VWL)

Reports on two studies examining the effects of object size, container size, sex, and language group on the use of counts in prescriptive and descriptive grammar. Results indicate that people's selection of noun forms in a measure partitive noun phrase is influenced by nonlinguistic factors, such as their gender and the food size relative to…

This article compares cognitive processing between natural and artificial language (AL) use and utilizes psycholinguistics for building a cognitive model of the AL user. Discussion covers observations concerning common ground, optimal design, collaborative processes, generalization, and incremental parallel production. Inquiries like this may lead…

Reports on findings from an on-going study of the use of computer-mediated communication to support post-graduate, second language teacher education. Findings are reported according to organizing categories of social interaction, language use, and how different tasks influenced communicative exchanges. (Author/VWL)

Examined Venezuelan children's developing abilities to use evaluative language in fictional and personal narratives. Looks at whether the use of evaluative language varies in fictional and personal narratives, there is a relationship between the use of evaluative language in these two narrative genres, and and the role children's age and…

Presents an example illustrating how teachers can create reading and writing activities that emphasize how words work through grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and usage. Describes a workshop that highlights a single punctuation mark: the semicolon. Notes that the semicolon defies rigid rules for use and is therefore ideally suited for instruction…