The recent rapid growth of Saudi higher education and the need for faculty are examined, with reference to government publications and international statistics. The possibility of having an adequate Saudi faculty and of using Arabic as the standard language of instruction are discussed. (MSE)

A distinctive feature analysis of consonant phoneme production in Arabic, Farsi, Japanese, and Spanish is reported. The analysis is based on a model incorporating psychometrics and on one producing a three-point system for the features of place, manner, and voicing. Implications for teaching pronounciation are discussed. (PMJ)

This article discusses the importance of the teaching of phonetics to students of English as a Second Language (ESL) and describes the place of phonetics in a course for Iraqi students of English at the University of Mosul, Iraq. (CFM)

Introduces a special section on self-instructional language programs, and provides a brief list of materials, and their sources, for independent study of some uncommonly taught languages. (AM)

Argues that while much research on spoken Arabic uses Classical Arabic as the standard for measuring variation, the assumption leads to fundamental and persistent misunderstanding of the true situation. More careful examination of empirical data reveals that variation and change in spoken Arabic involves interplay between local varieties and…

Discusses how foreign language departments can lead in the development of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary curricula because of their vast experience with multidisciplinary work. Particular focus is on the less commonly taught languages, which offer rich and neglected academic resources that can help demystify foreign cultures and diversify…

Focuses on English word-stress, a feature essential for effective communication. Discusses the difficulty in assigning this phonological aspect and the effect of its misplacement on comprehension. Shows how English word-stress differs from that of Arabic and emphasizes the need to teach word-stress during pronunciation instruction. (36 references)…

Outlines writing theories proposed by researchers that have contributed to current second language teaching and learning classroom methodologies. Drawing on the insights gained from these theories, one English-as-a-Foreign-Language freshman composition classroom learning experience in doing practical research with first language Arabic nonnative…

Investigation of how 19 adult males listened to and recognized unknown foreign languages (Farsi, Punjabi, Spanish, Indonesian, Arabic, Urdu) indicated that the untrained listeners made complex judgments in describing, transcribing, and identifying phonetic, segmental, suprasegmental, and other impressionistic language details. (Author/CB)

Translations of three Arabic texts into English illustrate the differences between the aural and visual modes of text development. An analysis of the function of these modes in their social contexts explains the problems of the negative transfer of habits from one language to another. (Author/CB)

Explores the possible applications of text linguistics in the field of translation teaching, focusing on the analysis of discourse texture within Functional Sentence Perspective and Theme-Rheme Theory. It is concluded that texture provides the means for the realization of discourse intentions (context). (OD)

Presents the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' guidelines for determining proficiency in writing, speaking, listening, and reading Arabic. Definitions for both generic and Arabic proficiency skills are provided for low-, mid-, or high-novice, -intermediate, and -advanced levels. (CB)

The question of the sequencing of skills is an important issue in language policy and curriculum design in general, and even more so in the case of a diglossic language such as Arabic. This paper tries to investigate the implications of diglossia on the order of linguistic skills acquisition in Arabic among Hebrew speakers in Israel. (JL)

Examines the role of songs in Arabic as a foreign language university courses. It is argued that songs can be effectively used to impart knowledge of, as well as about, the target language in its standard and nonstandard forms and can help to place the target language in its cultural context. (10 references) (GLR)

A Modern Language Association survey of enrollment trends in U.S. colleges found that Spanish, French, and German remain the three most popular language courses. Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic have shown greatest increases between 1960-95. The Less Commonly Taught Languages project provides information, including instructional materials and web…