The development of communicative skills in a second language, it is argued, should include grammatical competence as well as form and message. The importance of grammatical instruction and teaching trends and theories are discussed, ending with the conclusion that the climate exists for development of a fully articulated theory of pedagogical…

Attempts to identify latent variables affecting the item responses of the diverse language groups taking the Test of English As a Foreign Language indicated that latent group effects were small. Results support equating with item response theory and suggest the use of a restrictive assumption of proportionality of item response curves. (Author/CB)

Analysis of speech samples from four-year-old monozygotic and dizygotic twins revealed that the monozygotic twins were significantly more likely to misproduce the same sound on an articulation test than were dizygotic twins. The dizygotic twins were no more likely to share errors than were children who were both genetically and environmentally…

Describes the possible improvements in the quality of automatic indexing systems gained by using complex descriptors, and reports on the effectiveness of a simple nonsyntactic phrase indexing procedure. The discussion covers shortcomings of this approach, possible methods for improvement, and areas needing further research. (43 references) (CLB)

Classifies three domains of register: "field" (context); "mode" (function); and "tenor" (role interaction). Examines examples of student writing for evidence of register. Asserts that an identification of registers permits teachers and researchers to understand features of text coherence. Suggests implications for…

Examined role of counselors' manifest self-confidence on clients' perceptions and explored contribution of linguistic and paralinguistic cues to perceptions. College students (N=124) listened to audiotapes of counselor dialogue varied by counselor linguistic and paralinguistic self-confidence. Found that vocal, but not verbal, cues of…

An examination of native and non-native speakers'use of zero anaphora in English production found a similar general discourse function across the groups, although the English was frequently ungrammatical by prescriptive standards. There were important quantitative and structural differences between speaker groups in use of the device. (Author/CB)

Explores the possibility of establishing predictability models for interference as well as ascertaining the degree of competence adult second language learners could achieve before being able to eliminate interference in production of the target language. (CB)

Summarizes the literature on self-evaluation of foreign language skills, focusing on the implications for teachers and researchers. Although the findings are contradictory, they appear to support Krashen's Monitor Model Theory, indicating that foreign language learners' self-estimates may be influenced by varying degrees by the use of the monitor.…

Demonstrates Iser's reader-response theory provides a coherent framework for interpreting and teaching narratives in a foreign language. A sample lesson using the Iserian principle to improve students' reading of foreign language texts. (37 references) (CB)

Research suggests that Aymara, an ancient language still spoken in parts of South America, may be well suited for use as a "bridge" language in translation because of its extremely regular and coherent grammar. A machine translation program using the language has already been developed. (MSE)

Identifies issues specific to syntactic parsing for intelligent computer-assisted language instruction (ICALI), including applications, types of input errors, characteristics of natural language, and output. Presents a general overview and assessment of grammar formalisms and parsing strategies in relation to ICALI. (Author/LS)

Argues that recent work on the relationship between language and ideology conducted within the framework of critical pedagogy, and work on the relationship between language and social identity, should serve as a basis for both increasing teachers' awareness of language and for revamping teacher preparation curricula. (RAE)

A discussion of the use of reading strategies in second language reading comprehension draws on research and theory in reading and in second language learning, and suggests classroom exercises for activating a variety of global strategies. (MSE)

Analyzes the rhetorical functions carried out by the selection of voice--active, passive, or "se"-passive--in biological research articles in Spanish. The author compares these rhetorical functions with those found in French and English scientific papers and on the basis of this comparison, suggests the existence of some universals. (18…