A study is reported of the language behavior of trilingual 9-to-12-year-old native Italian speakers in Montreal, some of whom were studying Italian on Saturdays and some of whom were not. The study focused on their available vocabulary in the three languages (Italian, French, and English) and on their language productivity during their various…

A study was carried out to assess the French language proficiency of kindergarten students enrolled in a French early immersion program and two "classes d'accueil," that is, a special program for non-French speaking immigrant children. The particular focus of the study was to investigate whether the level of proficiency in French is…

THE RESULTS OF A CURRICULUM STUDY, ALONG WITH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS, ARE SUMMARIZED IN THIS REPORT, WHICH COVERS FOUR AREAS OF INVESTIGATION--THE CONSERVATION OF A MOTHER TONGUE OTHER THAN ENGLISH OR FRENCH, THIRD LANGUAGE LEARNING, TEACHER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION, AND THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOLS ATTENDED BY FRENCH SPEAKING PUPILS. A…

Pupils in South African Bantu schools spend one third of their time in Standards (Grades) 1 and 2 learning the official languages, English and Afrikaans. Nearly as much time is given to the learning of their own Bantu mother tongue, the language of instruction from Sub-Standard A (Preprimary) to Standard 6. In the Lower Primary schools, through…

This book discusses some of the functions, ends, or goals that language serves in religion; the various kinds of linguistic resources that are exploited; and some of the social processes that characterize the use of language. In section one, "Performance," three approaches to the description of verbal behavior are contrasted. This…

This collection of six essays discusses the topics of language diversity, ethnic problems, and a worldwide drive for bilingual education. The main thrust in the essays is toward a global view of these phenomena, particularly bilingual instruction, with special attention given to the American southwest. Both similar and dissimilar patterns emerging…

Linguacentrism, or Language-centeredness in the public schools, works to the disadvantage of all non-standard speakers, but especially Indian children. Compensatory education models direct attention away from the school system itself, and place blame on the assumed "deficits" of the non-standard speaker. An examination of Navajo children's…

The modern view suggests language be approached through speech. It is therefore customary that the first stages of language learning are spent on oral drills in order to make the sound system and the basic structures automatic habits. In countries where classes are big and the time spent on foreign language learning is limited, spending too long a…

This report examines the problems involved in researching institutional and socio-cultural bilingualism and contains suggestions for about 60 projects and related case studies. These projects are presented under the following headings: (1) The Service, Methodological and Geographical Aspects, (2) Inventories, (3) Problems of Conceptualization and…

The mission of this 1973 multilingual multicultural conference was to focus on the student who has a primary language other than English as his language of conceptualization. The conference attempted to illustrate the need for bilingual bicultural education in which a student, using his primary language, gains access to an academic world within…

The city of Montreal provides an example of how residential patterns are related to linguistic background and how linguistic pluralism is maintained under conditions of constant contact and extensive bilingualism. Residential segregation between linguistic and ethnic groups is determined by the index of dissimilarity; this index has been applied…

This paper outlines proposals focusing on what individuals may contribute in an attempt to generate positive action in meeting the special and unique educational needs of children who have limited English-speaking ability and who come from minority or ethnic backgrounds. Problems facing teachers and students from bilingual and bicultural…

The subject of language learning of children in bilingual families is considered in this paper. The author discusses practical problems and provides examples from his own family situation in which his children learned French, English, and German. The possibility of language mixture is discussed and the author presents some tentative conclusions…

Presented in Inuttitut, French, and English, this report summarizes research initiated by the Kativik School Board, which oversees education in Nunavik (northern Quebec). Four studies examined the current status of Inuttitut in Nunavik, the intellectual ability of Inuit students, and the effects of bilingual education on Inuit students'…

This book examines the ways in which people belonging to different language and cultural communities live together in the same political community, and how political and structural tensions arise to divide them along language lines. It analyzes the historical background and recent controversy over language in the United States, then compares the…