Explores the interrelationships between metaphor, play, and drama, and the roles they play in the development of sociolinguistic competence. Focuses on the role of symbolic play in the development of metaphor and on the importance of metaphor in discourse. Also examines the nature of autism, a condition marked by an absence of both symbolic play…

Illustrates the interdependence between theory and method by showing how the methods underling even a relatively simple analysis of discourse are imbued with theoretical import. Focuses on two methodological decisions that are a standard part of the set of discourse analytic tools: what is context and what is the unit of analysis? (39 references)…

Examines incidental cultural knowledge displays by two nonnative-English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) in their intensive English program classrooms. Focuses on the nature of the discourse produced in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes taught by NNESTs. Analysis of videotaped classroom data indicates that a wide and unpredictable range of…

Reports the findings of a study that examined discourse patterns and the ways in which such patterns affected student learning in a 6th grade mathematics classroom. (KHR)

Interviews with Alberta government, business, and labor representatives examined three school-to-work initiatives using "new vocationalism" discourse: career and technology studies, registered apprenticeships, and tech prep. Results suggest that vocational education remains focused on employer expectations and workplace socialization…

Examines writing in Lithuanian, a language that has received little scholarly attention in the West and particularly the variety of Lithuanian used by the Lithuanian immigrant community in the United States. Examines articles from both Lithuanian and American Lithuanian newspapers to see how the written American variety differs from native norms…

Examines the persuasive message behaviors of truthful and deceptive communicators. Finds significant differences in the types of persuasive messages generated: truthful persuaders compose messages involving positive and negative sanctions; deceptive persuaders compose messages based on rationale or explanation. (KEH)

Drawing on the recent intersection of political, literary, and feminist work provides commentary and analysis of state forms of discourse about education. Argues that the discourses of the state, as they position language, knowledge, education, identity, and gender within texts, wreak havok on people's lives. (DMM)

Examines unconventional interpretations given to a poem by a student in a remedial college writing class. Argues that facilitating an underprepared student's entry into the academic community is compromised by efforts to channel student discourse into more common patterns. Calls for an instructional model that places student knowledge making at…

Examines the rhetorical function of the modern American jeremiad as a means to restore social harmony in a time of crisis. Analyzes Robert F. Kennedy's response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Reveals the strengths and limitations of the jeremiad as a response to social crisis. (SR)

Argues that an understanding of professional and popular science writers' goals provides a basis for both explaining and evaluating their language use. Suggests that charges normally made against both types of writing deflect attention from the obstacles writers face and the ways in which they use language to overcome these obstacles. (KEH)

Longitudinal study of a deaf child's (with deaf signing and speaking parents) speech functions revealed that the child, before age three, rarely attempted speech imitation. By age five, the child had acquired new words through speechreading and had adjusted language modes to listener needs for flexible communication, and speech behavior assumed…

A study of the effects of child age and intelligence on mothers' use of verbal directives with delayed and non-delayed children aged 2.5-3 years and 4.5-5 years found mothers gave delayed children significantly more directives. Mean directive use was similar for both age groups, but mean length of utterance was longer for older children.…

Examines a specific type of code switching that occurs when bilingual peers make relevant their dual and simultaneous membership in the two groups symbolized by the two linguistic varieties involved in the switching pattern. Structural constraints and switching are discussed across code-switching types. (31 references) (Author/OD)

A method and activities for approaching textual analysis with language students and making it something other than an academic exercise is discussed and illustrated. The technique uses reading by a variety of methods, oral and quiet, for producing insight into the text. (MSE)