Teachers of culturally different students must be aware of the stereotypes they hold, how these stereotypes have evolved, and the effect of these stereotypes on classroom interactions. They must learn to deal with students as unique individuals with diverse interests and needs. To develop such insight, teachers need in-depth knowledge of…

Discusses the "Plain English" movement in relation to legal and bureaucratic documents and, especially, courtroom proceedings. Points out ways that language can be manipulated in order to enhance the powerlessness of participants in court litigation. (GC)

Criticizes some recently published views on the difficulty of raising children bilingually (e.g., tolerance of children's deviations from adult speech, the influence of friends, and finding an adequate vocabulary for a foreign environment). Also discusses the use of children as subjects in language research. (EKN)

Examines children's progression in the use of humor in language from taking folktales seriously, to using humor for shock, to using humor to alter social environments. (HTH)

Proposes that in the quest for truth, teachers and students concern themselves with the prevalence of information overload, euphemisms, and doublespeak. (JL)

Children from single-sex and coeducational schools were asked to name male and female occupants of traditionally sex-linked roles. Children's use of linguistic markers (e.g. lady doctor) was associated with labeling of female occupants of traditionally male roles and male occupants of traditionally female roles, indicating that language reflects…

Gives a historical outline of people's attitudes toward foreign languages and linguistic borrowing, with particular attention to the role that cultural prestige and sociopolitical factors play in their evolution and in the evolution of translation styles. Concerning the latter, shows how changes correlate with the acceptance or rejection of…

Discusses the meaning and origins of the word "argot," its cryptic character, and its function in a closed social group, focusing on a comparative description of the French and Anglo-American vocabulary of the underworld and the police. Comments on shared traits and provides an insight into the differences. (MES)

Reports a preliminary investigation into the pitch correlates of politeness formulae produced by English and Japanese informants of both sexes. Because of differences in sociosemiotic function of pitch, Japanese females' pitch is more differentiated from the Japanese male pitch than is that of the English female from the English male. (Author/PJM)

Argues for the existence of two types of communities other than the diglossic deaf communities--isolated and developing deaf communities. The history, sign language and finger spelling of the Grand Cayman deaf community are discussed. As the deaf community develops, it is thinning out and breaking up. (PJM)

As diglossia is the societal counterpart of individual bilingualism, diethnia is the stable, societal counterpart to individual biculturalism. Diethnia requires societal compartmentalization as well as institutionally protected functional specificity. Maintenance of this division is difficult, given modern, interactive, mobile, and individualistic…

Chinese individuals bilingual in Chinese and English were administered questionnaires concerning their identification with Chinese or Western practices. Responses to the English version of the questionnaire indicated more identification with Chinese practices. The ethnicity of the experimenter also seemed to influence the cultural identity…

Describes five types of schools presently functioning in Catalonia, a Spanish state with its own language existing alongside Spanish. The typology accords with the role of Catalan and Spanish in instruction and in student activities. The expected evolution of this situation is discussed along with a description of the Catalan-education project.…

Failures are better documented than successes in bilingual education programs. A theory is needed powerful enough to predict success while accounting for reported failures. Most important is the effect of bilingualism on cognitive development. Use of the first language should complement the second, particularly in problem solving and question…

An intricate analysis of the historical, military, and economic interdependence of language, religion, and state is presented, and the role of the vernacular tongue within the context of social structure is examined. (LH)