Provides new examples of doublespeak (use of language with the intent to obscure or deceive) from the Canadian Sampler and suggests that language arts teachers and teachers of writing can help reduce instances of doublespeak by teaching students to see through doublespeak and to write clearly. (JC)

A taxonomy of the forms of literacy found in the Northwest Territories is proposed. The forms include Biblical, pragmatic vernacular, high vernacular, schooled vernacular, pragmatic English language, and essayist literacy. General and specific literacy functions, addressor-addressee relationships, and typical message form and script are noted for…

Reports on attempts to determine whether Cuban Abakua is a pidginized Afro-Spanish, creole, or dead language and concludes that some of this language, spoken by a secret society, has its roots in Efik, a language of the Benue-Congo, and seems to be a simple, ritualistic, structureless argot. (CB)

Comparison of the cue usage of English/Dutch and Dutch/English bilinguals with varying amounts of second language exposure to that of native speaker control groups reveals that, with increasing exposure, cue usage in the second language gradually shifts from that appropriate to the first language to that appropriate for the second. (Author/CB)

Discusses how Type-Token Ratios (TTRs) have been used in a variety of research efforts in speech communication, including studies of the interactions between source credibility, motivation, cognitive states, and context with language use. Describes the two versions of a TTR computation program that are available in BASIC. Presents sources…

Examines the process of question development in a second language. Shows that with greater English proficiency (1) there was less reliance on syntactically simple construction, (2) questions about personal information and actions and intentions questions increased, (3) requests for factual information and classification questions decreased. (SRT)

If language research is to arrive at valid analyses of speech behavior, both observation and elicitation methods of data collection will have to be used as necessary complements to one another. The advantages and disadvantages of different research methods are discussed. (CB)

Investigates nature and functions of teachers' verbal communication by presenting empirical evidence that relates teacher talk and routines to classroom management and learning. Demonstrates how routines of a teacher of four mentally retarded students vary as a function of (1) the social configuration of the classroom, (2) the structure of the…

Describes a method for involving disabled readers with Shakespeare texts by means of reading aloud, writing, and workshops. (HTH)

Analysis of the use of the connective "but" by 3- to 9-year-olds indicated that all most commonly used the word to signal semantic relationships and for pragmatic functions. Younger children most frequently used "but" when causal or precausal relationships existed, and older children used "but" more to encode complex contrast. (Author/CB)

Describes a journalism writing assignment in which students compile a specialized style manual with computer and business terms. (HTH)

Discusses and evaluates currently accepted theories of ethnic or linguistic identity and maintenance. Lists factors which have a bearing on the long-term fate of a minority. Analyzes the data for the European linguistic minorities using the data matrix reported by Erik Allardt in his monograph on ethnic revival in Western European societies. (SED)

Examines the cognitive processes associated with speech and writing. (HOD)

Readers and authors respond and reply to former articles on the teaching of grammar in the composition classroom and computer assisted instruction and the writing process. (HOD)

Relates personal experiences in reading and writing poetry with a group of elders in an attempt to learn something about their use of language, their life stories, and themselves. (HOD)