Describes the diversity of spoken English in high school classrooms in America. Advocates coming to terms with matters of language diversity. Suggests ways that this might be accomplished. (HB)

Examines characteristics of literature used by Arab authors in library and information science based on a citation analysis of articles published in a leading Arab scholarly journal that was the first library journal published in Saudi Arabia. Language, time span, form of publication, and subject and geographical distributions are discussed. (LRW)

This study examined how 16 adult learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) in an intensive ESL program used tense contrast and time adverbials to produce reverse-order reports. The study found that the students marked reverse-order reports as deviations from chronological order by their use of tense contrast and time adverbials. (26…

Examines the interplay between "Deaf" and "Christian" identities in a large complex society. A group of Christians who strongly identified themselves as "Deaf" formed a separate "Deaf" church. Differences in religious beliefs, however, led some parishioners of this new church to found a separate "Deaf" Christian church. (22 references) (JL)

An investigation of the sociolinguistic features that govern contemporary use of the Italian formal ("Lei") and informal ("tu") forms of address suggests that teachers of Italian must help students become aware of the complex factors underlying the choice of form, rather than just drill them in usage. (12 references) (CB)

Asserts that learning to write and teaching writing are acts of socialization. Argues that African-American students must aspire to the dominant culture in academia, as well as remain true to their own home culture. Offers strategies for students to employ in the process of exploring the context(s) of culture(s) which govern their language use.…

Presents basic rules governing the use of German predicates that are interpreted as but not synonymous with "be" or "put" in English, focusing on the verbs' special characteristics and correct usage in authentic German sentences. (12 references) (Author/CB)

Preschoolers' performance on two tasks demonstrated that, given a perceptually available set of dolls, they were able to use number words to determine the quantity of a hidden or nonexistent set of items that was in a known ratio to the available set. (MM)

Discusses the language practices of introductory biology courses, the means by which knowledge is constructed in such courses, and how it may exclude female students. Provides student responses to writing tasks in the biology class, and analyzes those responses. Shows how male and female students differ in their responses. (HB)

Free-standing acknowledgement tokens are contrasted with tokens that begin full turns. Jefferson's theory is tested and supported that "yeah" displays greater speakership incipiency than "mm hm." Two research traditions that guide the present inquiry are reviewed. (17 references) (LB)

Part of a larger project on ethnolinguistic vitality and bilingual development, this study compares anglophones and francophones on their linguistic contacts in French and English, linguistic proficiency, vitality beliefs, ethnolinguistic identities, and social language use. The assimilation process is attributed to low schooling and…

This article offers a linguistic and paralinguistic explication of the oral practice of chismeando (gossiping) as engaged in by a group of women from the Dominican Republic. A culture-specific study of the structuring resources by which the participants construct, maintain, and/or modify their in-group identities in everyday oral practice is…

Analyzes the usage of four metaphors (school, medical and industrial, military, and banking) that commonly appear in the United States' media and in public speeches that dramatize illiteracy. Argues that educators need to be aware of the strategic use of language in this adult literacy context. (SR)

Describes how interactive hand gestures made during conversation help maintain the conversation as a social system. Relates the methods and results of three experiments designed to test this theory. Finds that interactive gestures maintain involvement with the interlocutor without interrupting the flow of conversation. (HB)

Distinguishes three constructions which begin with "it is" (extrapositive, cleft, and inferential). Examines their linguistic characteristics, notes differences in meaning and function between them and their expletiveless counterparts, and explores the uses made of them by writers of fiction and nonfiction. (MG)