Examines the ambivalent attitude toward the major speech varieties used in Tunisia (French, Classical Arabic, and Tunisian Arabic) and seeks to show the effects of that ambivalence on language policy, especially with regard to Arabization and bilingualism. (EKN)

Argues that the application of a linguistic framework to the study of literature provides a vocabulary with which certain features may be discussed, may communicate certain aspects of literary language to students, and offers a new venture to the study of literature. (HOD)

Suggestions are made for structuring taped listening exercises to promote careful attention to various elements of spontaneous speech (speaker, speaker characteristics, tone, etc.), and to sensitize students to the usage of "hein" or other specific expressions. (MSE)

Finds that the most common type of figurative language in fourth- and sixth-grade basal readers is personification. Overall, the most commonly used figures of speech are: personification; animal, sense, and inanimate metaphors; and hyperbole. (FL)

Earlier research found much sex stereotyping in college students' ratings of mental health among children and adults. A later study suggests, however, that the terms "adult" and "child" are gender-loaded toward males. Thus, caution is needed when interpreting results of experiments that assume the gender neutrality of these terms. (Author/MJL)

Describes a lesson designed to lead students to explore the language structure of the language rather than merely memorize grammatical rules. (FL)

Examines Kamsa ritual language and describes a model (based on accessibility, formalization, and efficacy) for specifying its semiotic constitution. (EKN)

Calls for a functional, semantically-based grammar for teachers, but not for pupils, to replace the traditional formal grammar they currently rely on. (JL)

Singles out sports as the area where the influence of Anglo-American culture on the French language has been most pronounced, illustrating the means by which these exchanges have taken place over the years. In particular, discusses the changes in meaning, form, and function that loan words have undergone in the process. (Author/MES)

Investigated the effects of preferred play partnership on the conversational competence of preschool children. In general, preferred partners appeared to use language more effectively while playing. (Author/RH)

Presents method for familiarizing intermediate foreign language student with grammatical concepts through library research. Students are assigned to seek examples of language presented in class using recent periodical literature. Particularly beneficial for students intending to become foreign language teachers. (Author/BK)

Describes project whose purpose is specification of second-language communication needs for a large category of employees of the Public Service of Canada. Results were used to design and develop tests for evaluation of communicative proficiency in a second language. (Author/BK)

Examines young children's awareness that an actor's intention to transfer possession or control is a necessary precondition for correct use of the verb "give". Ninety-six four- through six-year-olds were presented with anecdotes in which the actor's behavior was held constant but his subjective goal was varied. (Author/RH)

A source of regularity in sentence construction is the recurrent use of certain fixed syntactic formats in explaining, describing, etc. Subjects exploit these regularities in sentence perception. An experiment on the perception of "perverse" sentences shows that listeners assimilate some of the features of sentences to "formulation frames."…

Discusses reasons why lawyers persist in their use of legalese. (PD)