Reports on two studies of the similarities and differences in communicative style between Japanese- and English-speaking parents. Findings reveal that Japanese mothers pay considerable attention to their children's narratives and facilitate frequent turn exchanges, whereas English-speaking mothers allow their children to take long monologic turns…

Argues the need for an updated and explicit description of language teaching areas generated with reference to a detailed model of communicative competence. Describes two existing models of communicative competence and proposes a pedagogically motivated construct, which includes discourse, linguistic, actional, sociocultural and strategic…

Analyzes childrens' (ages 10-12) narratives to show how the stories contribute to children's ongoing construction of knowledge and identity. Argues that children's use of reported speech drives the referential and evaluative functions of their stories and that their reproduction and framing of others' and their own voices enables them to reflect…

Examines the patterns found in repair-work behavior (e.g., apologies, excuses) in Austrian German as they relate to situational variables and cultural themes, using data collected from university students during closed role-play situations. Findings reveal a complex interplay of situational variables informing the repair-work behavior. (46…

A study analyzed the verbatim transcription of a videotaped literacy lesson in a heterogeneous middle-school urban classroom. Ways students participated in the literary discourse and teacher practices that supported students' participation are described. Findings indicate students with disabilities could acquire the discourse practices needed for…

Describes how improving mathematical arguments improves classroom discourse through a classroom activity. (YDS)

Describes an attempt to make room for the subject corpus linguistics in an already packed English language major undergraduate program. Describes the rationale for bringing together two existing subjects--information technology and discourse analysis--to more systematically and meaningfully introduce students to corpus-based language study in…

Examines the puzzlement processes of Exploratory practice (EP) to shed light on the interactive workings of an EP group, and in particular the threats to sustainability that emerged. Reports a discourse analytic inquiry into the nature of the decisions taken and the decision-making process employed at the EP group meetings at a professional…

Presents a discourse analysis of contributions to an online interactive discussion forum of a graduate-level education course on discourse in classrooms. Examines content of postings over the course to describe participants' emerging perspectives on the role of classroom and school discourse in shaping student identity, the role of discourse in…

Examples from upper primary classrooms in Scotland and Jamaica demonstrate the subtle ways in which teachers support or restrict the classroom use of community languages (Scots and Patwa) through their broad or narrow implementation of language policy. The metaphor of fractals, derived from complexity theory, can form a sensitive and appropriate…

Examines a number of language-related discourses about students'"problems" engaging higher education at a historically black South African university. These dominant discourses are then linked to Street's "autonomous" model of literacy and Rampton's "autonomous" model of applied linguistics in order to interrogate…

Suggests two shifts in perspective that will help turn writing across the curriculum courses toward aim and away from mode as a central organizing principle. Suggests a theoretical shift from "mode" to "topic" and a practical shift from single to plural textuality, combining several textual paradigms as demonstrated in the…

Argues that accounts (explanations of conduct) provided in selection interviews are not powerless speech forms. Examines relative frequencies of accounts, and describes a subset of selection interviews as "hazardous" communication events. Suggests that accounts, if not excessive, assist applications by explaining away questionable…

Reanalyzes Gierut's study that presents a case in which a phonological intervention program is used to effect a phonemic split in a child with a highly restricted phonological system. Three alternatives to Gierut's analysis are presented and discussed. (21 references) (Author/OD)

Describes a method for helping students evaluate ethical issues in a systematic way, based on Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Recommends the case-study approach for creating social constructs in which students face ethical dilemmas, and outlines a case-study ethics unit using Kohlberg's model. (MM)