Reports three studies which explored relationships between prototypicality and sentence structure in recall, preference ratings, and natural dictionary definitions. The results can be explained in terms of the sensitivity of sentence production processes to the lexical or conceptual accessibility of prototypes. (Author/AMH)

Examines the syntactic complexity and grammatical transformations used by students of English as a foreign language. Suggests that they use and expand syntactic structures in a manner similar to native speakers. (EL)

Reviews research studies that raise serious questions about phonological neutralization, that is, the merger of a contrast in certain contexts. Some findings cast doubt on the very existence of neutralization and the correctness of the theoretical principles that make assumptions based on neutralization. Reanalyzes neutralization in light of these…

Describes the results of two studies indicating that people do not ordinarily process the complete literal or compositional interpretations of idiomatic expressions, and that people are automatically biased toward interpreting such language as idioms before deriving their intended literal meanings. (HTH)

Summarizes recent theory on communicative processes in language use, on the creation and exchange of meaning, and on the negotiation of roles in the classroom. Suggests exercises for activating and developing interactive skills between speakers and hearers in the foreign language. (EKN)

Discusses the use of stereotyped speech patterns as teaching material or as the basis of communicative exercises. Gives examples of the use of these gambits in drills and exercises in German. (EKN)

Considers an alternative interpretation of the effect of so-called women's language and its appropriateness in society. (CRH)

This discussion centers on language development in young children particularly as it relates to Piaget's work. The author believes guidelines are lacking for describing structurally the outcome of the language acquisition process at different stages and that there should be more collaboration between linguists and psychologists in this area. (MS)

This study tested the hypothesis that the reported increase in children's use of prepositional phrases when exposed to novel (inverted) prepositional phrases could be eliminated by discrimination training in two prepositional forms. (Author/MS)

Discusses the important role of applied lexicology in the creation of thematisized vocabularies for second language instruction capable of motivating the student. Discusses the concept of "preferred themes." (Text is in French.) (AM)

Reviewed is research relating to language acquisition and language performance of deaf children. (SB)

A study of the acquisition of interrogative forms in children of high socioeconomic status reveals that utterances belong more to the colloquial than to the standard range. It is concluded that disadvantaged children would show similar usage, leading to the suggestion that teachers teach language as they use it. (Text is in French.) (CDSH/CLK)

The Japanese Keigo system is the whole of the grammatical rules related to expressions of respectful or pejorative feelings concerning all persons involved in speech acts. This article proposes a new approach to the problem of teaching this system at the elementary level. (CLK)

This article discusses the construction substantive + the preposition DE+ substantive in Spanish. (Text is in Spanish.) (CLK)