Asserts that literacy can be seen as a dramatic set. Shows how this conceptualization makes sense of the central concerns of language programs and provides an explicit means for developing literacy. Notes that drama activities provide experiences across many linguistic registers. (RL)

In light of U.S. District Court Judge Charles W. Joiner's recent order regarding the treatment of Black English in the Ann Arbor, Michigan schools, the author reviews the development of Black English as a dialect, some of its features, and the debate over its treatment in the classroom. (SJL)

Argues that television advertising is now the most powerful language in existence. Provides a "TV advertising test" to prove the point and outlines a unit designed to make students aware of the language of television commercials while improving their writing and thinking skills. (FL)

Discusses the linguist's role in an adult education program and the need to define adult functional literacy. Describes communication problems with the many dialects and language variations in a multilingual country like India and explains that the linguist must help the literacy worker to integrate language and literacy with adult education. (MF)

How can students best come to "know" the non-Western world? An exchange of letters between a parent and the headmaster of the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware, consider the issue. (Editor/RK)

Argues that while much research on spoken Arabic uses Classical Arabic as the standard for measuring variation, the assumption leads to fundamental and persistent misunderstanding of the true situation. More careful examination of empirical data reveals that variation and change in spoken Arabic involves interplay between local varieties and…

Purposeful sampling was used to select six English-Korean bilingual students to investigate language difficulties and cognitive processes in solving mathematics word problems. These six case studies revealed distinct patterns of difficulties in solving problems written in English and Korean, especially for students in transition stage. (Author/KMC)

Investigated the effect of violating politically correct label protocol in a counselor-profession relationship. Results taken from surveys which used either politically correct or politically incorrect labels showed that the group responding to the latter survey exhibited a more positive attitude than did those responding to the politically…

Examines the means by which trade mark law establishes determinacy of form. The article probes how this points to assumptions about the nature of language that radically differ with those of orthodox 20th century linguistics, particularly in connection with the distinction between language and the use of language. (nine references) (CK)

Discusses the problems arising from the use and role of English on the Indian sub-continent. Notes the inferior position of Hindi there and argues that English's dominant role is a hangover from colonialism and a means of suppressing Indian thought and preserving an alien culture. (three references) (Author/CK)

Analyzes through Indian eyes the current role and status of English in India and examines what can be done to turn the use of this language to Indian advantage. Notes the author is largely in agreement with Mark Tully's article in this issue regarding the colonial legacy of English in India. Explains how he differs with Tully's answers to the…

Ponders whether adolescents can be guided by teachers to some understanding about the relationship between war and language. Describes a three-week unit consisting of two parts: students first read a variety of materials about war, then each student assumes a character--soldier, doctor, or soldier's spouse--and writes about that character's…

Languages reflect and reinforce cultural values, giving insights into their speakers' world view and relationships to the natural environment. Indigenous languages help us to respect local knowledge and extend our sense of community to the larger world. However, despite bilingual education in schools, all Native American languages are endangered;…

Reviews three themes examined in this special-issue of the journal on the emerging subfield of language-in-development: basic definitional issues; the locus and scope of language in development; and the role of English and other languages in language and development. Proposes a working definition of language in development as the resolution of…

Argues that modern literacy problems do not arise from a lack of exposure to language, rather to overexposure to a sterile and meaningless stream of I-It language addressed to no real person. Suggests "quiet writing," personal journal expressions, and listening activities to sensitize students to language. (KEH)