Investigates the effects of achievement incentive (extra credit) on the comprehension of time-compressed speech. Shows strong empirical support for using achievement incentive to enhance the effectiveness of compressed speech instruction. (JMF)

Presents an interpretation of the past and present of graduate education in mass communication and suggests some fresh directions. (JMF)

Identifies and discusses three current and emerging problems in graduate admissions: lack of understanding by applicants about admissions procedures, lack of information available to applicants about graduate programs, and lack of information about applicants available to those persons making decisions about admissions and appointments. (JMF)

An investigation was made of the episodic structure of maternal speech to young children during a free-play session. Findings indicate that maternal speech was organized so as to provide a high degree of redundancy, suggesting that the organization of maternal speech increases predictability in the child's language environment. (Author/AM)

Classroom activities to develop better listening skills as an element of the oral communication process are described, along with some techniques for teaching listening skills. (MF)

Examines illustrator-type gestures that are directly tied to speech in terms of their encoding and decoding functions, and suggests some variables bearing on these functions. (JMF)

Reports on a study testing the assumption that communication apprehension is a stable trait not influenced by situational factors. Results indicate that communication apprehension scores are determined by situation, in this case anticipated speech performance, raising questions concerning the use of state-trait distinction in speech anxiety…

Describes cognitive restructuring, a refined and systematic method for treating anxieties such as communication apprehension. Contrasts cognitive restructuring with systematic desensitization, traces the development and research in support of this method, and details the procedures involved in its implementation. (JMF)

Describes a study exploring the sexual vocabularies of males and females in four communication contexts. Agreement appears to exist on "appropriate" terminology for each gender in sexual communication, but those norms vary according to the context of the communication. (JMF)

Language samples of college- and middle-aged respondents were analyzed to determine if the language use of college students is appropriate for generalizations to other elements of the population. (PD)

Discusses the use of phonetic transcription on French language instruction. (AM)

Reviews theoretical models which can serve to analyze speech, especially on the level of "phonostylistics." (AM)

Examines two models of the compelling nature of the infant cry and its effectiveness in eliciting caregiving behavior. (MP)

Two groups of six 3-month-old infants participated in a study to investigate the effect of social stimulation on infants' vocalizations. (MS)

An analysis of the sentence structure used in radiophonic French. Since the style of language used on the radio bears such a strong influence on the evolution of the French language, it is hoped that such analyses will be used in language teaching. (Text in French.) (TL)