Analysis of parent language with toddlers with three different types of toys found few differences as a function of parent or child gender. The three contexts elicited their own language patterns and suggested that children who play frequently with dolls receive more opportunities to learn and practice language. (Author/CB)

Native French speakers (N=56) were critical of French slang expressions spoken by French youths. A previous study found that the native speakers considered Americans' use of the same slang even less acceptable, suggesting the need for careful consideration of teaching such terms in French-language classrooms. (Author/CB)

Discusses different characteristics of conversational English, including: pronunciation, ellipsis, use of "you" as a general pronoun, hesitation markers, subject-verb agreement, pronoun agreement, verbs, modifiers, comparisons, euphemisms, idioms, slang, and phatic/ritualistic expressions. (Author/CB)

Suggests an alternative approach to the variable rule method of accounting for linguistic variability. This alternative approach, which is sensitive to social context and the relevance of meaning, is used to support an analysis of "-ing/in'" variability in some North American industrial workers' speech. (SED)

Reviews conditions under which the French familiar forms and terminology are used, linguistic values associated with its use (liaison, hesitation, morphosyntax, mode of address, inappropriate use of terms, truncation, and borrowed foreign terms), and the relationship of familiarity to communicative competence. (MSE)

Discusses the differences in conversational structures and verbal strategies between languages and cultures and the teaching of such differences. The use of literary texts is advocated. (AM)

Through examination of the discourse markers "ano" and "sono" in Japanese, this paper explores how these linguistic devices function differently in conversation. The focus of this analysis is the mental and social functions through which a speaker attempts to achieve an interpersonal rapport with a listener. In particular, the…

A limited attempt to teach and assess the ability of native English-speaking adolescents is described. The concern is not to teach more language but to encourage use of existing language in a formal interview with maximum flexibility and effectiveness. Possible ties into second language instruction are considered. (Author/MSE)

Topics include: (1) the content, style, and level of physics' textbooks; (2) suggestions for in-class use; and (3) recommendations for upgrading current texts. (SK)

Based on an interview study of 138 kindergarten children, the data for the most part did not support Bernstein's ideas. Speech style indicators did not cluster into elaborated and restricted variants. Neither social control strategies nor school achievement scores were differentially related to elaborated and restricted variants. (PD)

Australian born male and female students listened to tapes of accented English speech and were asked to relate their impressions and judgments of the speakers' personalities. Results indicated that the nationality and sex of the speakers were factors which influenced the judgments made about them by the Australian students. (Author/APM)

This paper emphasizes the need to look for causes of school phobia and maladjustment not only in the pupil, but also in his peer interactions and in aspects of the school, particularly teachers' attitudes toward communication and the use of language in learning. (Author/SJL)

Reports on research into the pedagogical uses of Andrew Wilkinson's writing evaluation instrument. Shows how Wilkinson's scale of cognitive development can be used both to classify writing students and to suggest strategies for helping students mature as writers. (RL)

Examines the ability of Australian high school students to recognize definitions of 16 concept words associated with the theme, the nature of matter, and investigates the effect of selected variables on test scores for definitions associated with the theme in question. (HM)

Reports on two studies exploring the contrast effects in judgments of messages exhibiting high or low lexical and syntactic diversity. Suggests that listeners are sensitive to variations in lexical diversity but not syntactic diversity. (RL)