Adolescents need to develop a positive sense of belonging, of competence and of self-worth. Clothing is a silent but powerful language. Adolescents use clothing to help them cope with changes. Clothing functions in a positive way in the transition period from childhood to adulthood. (Author/BEF)

Presents accounts of theories locating the sources of the signifying capacities of words in their imbrication with nondiscursive structures and practices. Points out that a tradition of philosophical, linguistic, and semiotic theorizing has attempted to clarify what it is for words to have the meanings they do in terms of the relation of…

This longitudinal training study explored impact of social scaffolding on emergence of graphic symbol functioning and links among graphic, language, and play domains in symbolic development. Findings support view that graphic symbolic development can be influenced by cultural scaffolding, that more extensive training is needed early rather than…

The investigation examined the transparency and recall of symbols representing three parts of speech (nouns, verbs, and descriptors) from three different graphic symbol systems (Blissymbols, Picture Communication System, and Picsyms) among adults with intellectual handicaps. Results suggested that Blissymbols were the least transparent and hardest…

Provides a categorization of the processes and products of science and discusses the need for science educators to provide quantitative and symbolic understandings of science using the mathematical ideas of symbols, proportions and scaling, and axiomatic methods of inductive and deductive proof. (MKR)

Effects of varying the complexity of written Chinese characters in a lexical decision task were studied for 40 adult Chinese students. Results suggest that complexity affects reaction time when subjects identify characters they often read. Theoretical implications are discussed in terms of the interaction of basic perceptual processes and…

An examination of key symbols and structures of the recent film, "Fried Green Tomatoes," reveals the nature of the process of coding representations of the real world and its effects. The movie depicts two parallel stories of female friendship. Changes and development of the characters are primarily portrayed through changes in their…

The nature, essence, and power of thought and speech in Navajo ideology are discussed. Emphasis is given to speech and thought in the context of ritual. (SCC)

This article describes several types of native American nonspeech communications systems, including the Plains sign language, distance signaling of various kinds, picture writing and whistle speech. See FL 508 188 for availability. (CLK)

According to S. K. Langer, people create meaning through presentational and discursive symbolism. Presentational symbolism, Langer suggests, is an abstracted sense of experienced life, while discursive symbolism is a series of subordinating or coordinating positions that set in motion the relation of ideas and permits the discussion of causation.…

A UNIT ON EFFECTIVE THINKING, WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL FOCUS ON INFLUENTIAL THINKING, WAS PREPARED AND TESTED. A TEXT, "EFFECTIVE THINKING," WAS PREPARED. AN INEXPERIENCED TEACHER USED THE TEXT IN A NINE WEEK COURSE WITH SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS. ONLY A POST-TEST CONTROL GROUP DESIGN WAS USED. THE TWO FACTORS STUDIED WERE TREATMENT AND SEX.…

DEPENDENCE UPON SYMBOLS HAS LONG BEEN THE MARK OF CIVILIZED MAN. ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF US HAVE LITTLE TROUBLE IDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING THE REFERENTS OF PHYSICAL SYMBOLS, WE ARE LESS SURE WHEN DEALING WITH THE MORE SUBTLE TYPE OF SYMBOLS CALLED WORDS. WE KNOW THAT A WORD'S MEANING MAY VARY ACCORDING TO SPEAKER, WRITER, LISTENER, READER, OR…

Symbolic interaction is the foundation for a theory of rhetoric developed in this paper. As manipulators of symbols, humans, unlike all other animals, use abstractions both to indicate (describe things present) and to represent (describe intangible things). Only human beings are capable of the elaborate systems of linguistic reference called…

The author considers the current position of the Supreme Court on the First Amendment and the right of free speech. There are questions of distinction between what constitutes lawful or unlawful expressions of opinion, including the use of symbolic conduct, with respect to the communicator's intent, his effectiveness, and the clear and present…

The author reports on an investigation of the variations in total verbal output and in verbal variety noted from interview responses of eighteen persons, each involved with a specific issue or topic at one of three levels. He defines the levels as: (1) observer, or someone who is aware of the issue but passive about it; (2) participant, or one who…