Examines the strategies young children rely on prior to learning how to assign the terms top, bottom, front, and back, and the stages they go through as they master these terms. (Author/MP)

The author reviews some of the recent research on learning to read, and discusses two theories prevalent during the 1970s of the process of perception during mature reading--the Hypothesis Position and the Direct Perception Position. (KC)

Five institutionalized retarded children (7 to 11 years old), with little or no spontaneous vocal manding, were trained to request food items under appropriate natural conditions when snacks were presented. Findings suggested that the appropriate form of a mand depends on specific stimulus and setting characteristics which must be considered in…

An analysis of the research literature suggests that a variety of sign systems have been used with retarded individuals of varying ages. The application or success or failure of that therapy does not seem to be determined by a particular treatment model and/or set of guidelines. (Author)

The findings indicated that applied behavioral analysis focusing on antecedent events of comprehension training can teach Ss to comprehend reversible passive and clause constructions. (Author/CL)

In a study involving 40 institutionalized severely and profoundly retarded children and adolescents, more competent sensorimotor performance was associated with higher frequency of more sophisticated gestural communication, and Ss generally used more complex gestures to communicate in the imperative than in the declarative tasks. (Author/CL)

A thinking skill-oral language-reading continuum for hearing impaired students is described. (CL)

The authors address several issues pertinent to designing environmentally based total communication assessment and training programs for language delayed hearing children for whom oral language training alone is inadequate. (Author/CL)

The authors review research on attempts to promote speech acquisition in severely handicapped students. Studies on verbal imitation, syntactic forms, and semantics are summarized. Implications for instruction are noted, including careful selection of responses likely to occur in the child's normal environment and which have intrinsic reinforcing…

Presents a method of teaching spelling by studying root meanings, prefixes and suffixes, and the interrelation of different words. Suggests that using language history and etymology may be more effective in teaching spelling than teaching each word in isolation. (HTH)

A new model of research concerned with the development of religious thinking is proposed. The child's ability to use language in ways that characterize religious discourse is studied. Illustrations are taken from existing research which has studied the child's ability to use similar language idioms (metaphors, riddles, and proverbs) in a secular…

The effect of communication among children, mothers, primary caretakers, and other family members on what children learn about language and communication is discussed. (JD)

The article presents the transcript of an Australian radio program in which the interviewer and a psychologist discuss the implications of the extraordinary drawing ability of an autistic girl, and how that drawing ability faded as she was taught rudimentary speech skills. (DLS)

Examines whether language play could affect primary school children's awareness of their syntax. (MP)

In an experiment investigating aspects of children's comprehension of sentences containing the connective "if," young children judged correct and reversed "Y if X" and "If X, Y" sentences as "sensible" or "silly." The comprehension of the role of "if" in sentences appears to be a…