A variable time delay naming latency paradigm was used to investigate the processing of noun-verb lexical ambiguities (e.g., "watch") in syntactic contexts that biased either the noun or the verb reading. Results support a two-stage model in which all reading of ambiguous words are initially accessed, followed by suppression of…

A series of three experiments investigated repetition effects on recall with homographic responses. It was concluded that the repetition increment was mediated solely by commonality of surface features and that semantic features played no role. (Author/AM)

Discusses an analysis of grammar that systematizes knowledge about language according to new parameters but continues to view traditional grammar as the backbone of language structure. (NCR)

The nature of the target designation process--which involves forming interassociated mental structures to allow retrieval of individual items of information--was studied. It was shown that visual imagery instructions improved target identification as well as word recognition but did not appear to affect the representational format. (Author/MH)

Results indicated that retarded Ss, relative to normal Ss of all ages, responded particularly slowly to static property statements when objects were animate, and to intrinsic-action properties when objects were inanimate. (Author/DLS)

Presents acronyms and initial-words current in British and American English, explaining their meanings and their underlying unabbreviated versions. (IFS/WGA)

Suggests that argument be seen as a private cognitive phenomenon, in contrast to the more traditional view of argument as a public message-based document. Differences between the views are noted and the respects in which argument creates and depends on cognitive order are discussed. (JMF)

The semantic memory search process was examined in second graders (N=30) under an induced imagery and a control condition. (MP)

Thirty children with a mean length of utterance ranging from 1.00 to 4 and an age range of 1.7 to 5.5 were tested for comprehension of two-noun possessive phrases. Three types of possessive relationships were used to uncover children's knowledge of the semantics and syntax of English possession. (Author/AM)

Discusses information theory and the notions of uncertainty and semantic choice in child language. (AM)

This article discusses a study designed to ascertain the comprehension of the role of "because" in a sentence in children between the ages of 5;8 and 10;11. (CFM)

Discusses the history of the metaphor, its various forms, and the problems involved in an analysis of the metaphor. Analyzes the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the metaphor. (AM)

Discusses the problems involved in teaching Italian students the English equivalents of the verb "dovere." (CFM)

The study explored the early two-word utterances from four Down's syndrome children (ages 3 to 7 years) to determine if they encode the same relational meanings as children developing language normally. (Author/PHR)

Reports on a study of three children's single-word responses to parents' questions, focusing on the interrelations between children's ability to answer questions, the types of semantic content used in appropriate and inappropriate answers, and questions asked by the parents. (Author/AM)