Suggests that a sociopragmatic approach to the study of forms of address may shed new light on address behavior in general and on the use of forms of address in French and Dutch in particular. "Form of address" is used to encompass not only second-person singular pronouns, but also other devices that can be employed to make reference to…

Discusses the role of Anglo-Norman in the history of French and English. Points out that evidence exists to indicate that the French used in England between the Norman Conquest and the end of the fourteenth century is a more complex subject than current writing on the subject suggests, especially in regard to the history of the English language.…

Describes a career awareness unit for middle school language arts students which focuses on the special uses of language found in different professions. (SR)

Discusses metaphorical languages of acting commonly to be found passing as "psychological" perspectives. Contends there is a need for greater scientific rigor in the use of such languages. Explains the issue of operationalisation of acting for research purposes. (PM)

Reports on three empirical studies carried out within the theoretical framework of folk linguistics, using questionnaire data. Examines the layperson's reactions to the use of difficult and incomprehensible language. Subjects from Germany, Norway, Poland, and the United States were asked which professional language groups exhibit the use of…

Reports on three studies conducted in the Netherlands about the reading reliability of lay and expert readers in rating content and language usage of students' writing performances in three kinds of writing assignments. Findings reveal that expert readers are more reliable in rating usage, whereas both lay and expert readers are reliable raters of…

In this interview, Julian Edge talks to the interviewer about choices of language use available in professional development groups and in master's programs. (Author/VWL)

Examines a case of dialectal variation in a subpart of the tense-modality aspect system of Indian English. Focuses on functions associated with an existing form: the use of the pluperfect "had" + V-"ed" construction. Contrasts this usage with that of British and American English. (Author/VWL)

Gives a short overview of the historical development of various aspects of the linguistic situation in Belgium. Particular focus is on knowledge and use of the varieties of French and Dutch in Brussels and on the educational system. Attention is also given to attitudes toward the language and language varieties and to aspects of language contact.…

Explores children's views and perspectives on their use of first and second languages at home and at school. Suggests that language use is dependent on purpose. Notes that bilingual children's use of their first and second language depends on which language best serves a particular function. (SG)

A brief analysis of job advertisements in Swedish newspapers notes the increasing trend toward the use of English rather than Swedish words for certain terms, attributing such use to the wish to show an international labor perspective. (five references) (CB)

Investigates how numbers function rhetorically by influencing persuasive appeals, the structure of messages, and the use of language. Argues that "three" is the dominant numerical motif in the English language. Asserts that, as long as numbers influence the speech, behaviors, and perceptions of people, their rhetorical significance must…

What errors in English subject-to-verb agreement reveal about the syntactic nature of sentence subjects was investigated. Participants in 3 experiments included 104 undergraduates and 64 members of a university community. Results suggest the abstract syntactic relation of subject controls/mediates verb agreement, not notional properties and…

Discusses how the aesthetic concerns of African Americans are reflected in the writing of Black women and introduces the characteristics of African culture as they relate to African-American culture. Emphasizes the intuitive musical quality of Black language as expressed in poetry and fiction. (FMW)

Presents an edited transcript of a discussion held in April 1989 between Jacques Derrida and a group of students and professors concerning Derrida's "Afterword: Toward an Ethic of Discussion." Discusses Derrida's views on "deconstruction" as a term and a movement, the idea of arguments and persuasion, and specific power…