Argues for a more active role for the college English instructor in helping students write and speak standard English more effectively. (SW)

A first grade teacher relates various techniques, based on her knowledge of linguistics, which she uses to teach reading and language awareness; illustrated. (RD)

Examines the language switching event as a revelation of the language attitudes of the communicators. Findings show that language choice decisions are often highly emotional, and attitudes toward language switching seem to cluster around national and linguistic stereotypes. (EKN)

A study of 51 speakers in rural Illinois showed fronting and raising of (aw) to be considerably more advanced among countryside dwellers than among town residents. Discusses some of the social and economic changes contributing to this phonological shift. (EKN)

Undergraduates read three different versions of a paragraph on ethical standards of psychologists (reflecting three levels of sexist pronoun usage). Sexist language appeared to influence the students' rating of the attractiveness of careers in psychology for males and females and their willingness to refer male or female friends to psychologists.…

Verbal interactions of 18 hyperactive boys (8 to 11 years old) with their mothers during 15-minute free play and task periods were studied and compared to interactions of 18 normal boys with their mothers. Both hyperactive boys and their mothers were found to use significantly more utterances in free play than normal mother-child dyads.…

The relationship between linguistic processes, cognitive activities, and social structures is explored by examining the decision-making of committees of educators deciding whether or not to place students in special education programs. Differential treatment of committee members is explained by the authority their reports gain by their language…

After tracing the history of English grammar, the author defends the teaching of traditional grammar. A suitable English grammar must: (1) recognize the influence of Latin upon English; (2) describe the language while acknowledging its ambiguities; and (3) serve as a reliable guide to usage. (PP)

Many negative assumptions about Blacks are reflected in current language and the language in literary works, dictionaries, the media, textbooks, and tests. Teachers must try to eliminate racist language and behavior by discouraging the use of negative language and by helping students to appreciate language flexibility and cultural diversity.…

Discusses an approach to teaching second language composition which emphasizes (1) careful analysis of model texts from a limited, but well-defined perspective and (2) the application of text manipulation techniques developed by the word processing industry to student compositions. (EKN)

Transcripts analyzed by computer programs reveal that when individuals shift from truthfulness to deception, there are corresponding shifts in lexical diversity, such as fewer words, decrease in the number of unique words used, fewer past tense verbs, and a decrease in the perceptual-cognitive activity. (PD)