Black ninth graders did better on a black-dialect reading test than on the standard English form of the same test. (MM)

Three analyses of /-t,d/ deletion are undertaken to investigate whether convergence with the matrix regional dialect has taken place in Los Angeles Chicano English. Two superficial analyses mistakenly find convergence. A third emic multivariate analysis finds no phonological convergence. (33 references) (Author/CK)

Reprints a classic article originally published in this journal in October 1973, which argues that the problems vernacular-dialect-speaking students suffer in school are not the direct result of so-called dialect interference but rather the result of educators' negative attitudes (based on deficit theory) toward learners who speak vernacular…

Discusses dialectal variation in the lexical tone system of Ma'ya, an Austronesian language featuring three lexically contrastive tonemes. Representative acoustic data were collected from the Missol, Slawati, and Laganyan dialects, and on the basis of these data, an account is given of their tone systems and of how these tone systems compare to…

Overviews current theory and practice and research on second language and second dialect speakers and the language of the law. Suggests most of the studies on the topic have analyzed language in courtrooms, where access to data is much easier than in other legal settings, such as police interviews, mediation sessions, or lawyer-client interviews.…

Presents an account of the authors' shared explorations and efforts to name some important variables or criteria that bear on the question of whether or not to invite students to write in a home dialect or language. Offers conclusions in the form of a list of 10 variables to consider. (SG)

Explores differences between primary caregivers and their young children in dialect use across generations by directly examining dialectal variations apparent during play interactions between African American primary caregivers and their young children. Concludes that there is evidence in these interactions of differences between the child and…

Discusses the regional differences within the German language and the influence these differences might have on the learning of English. The study further investigates phonological and lexical similarities between German dialects and English. (GLR)

Reviews the current use of Portuguese loanwords in Konkani, 28 years after the absence of Portuguese rule over Goa, India, considering grammatical, phonological, and semantic aspects. Although Goans predictably integrated Portuguese lexicon into Konkani, many of the loanwords are no longer used, especially among younger generations. (CB)

Examines "linguistic normalization" (of Catalan in the Catalonia region of Spain) from a game-theory perspective, in which strategic interaction determines language shift. The linguistic assimilation of non-Catalan-speaking immigrants is less of a problem than is currently believed, although the conflict of interest among the…

Examines the distinctive dialect of the British royal family, as well as the "advanced" Received Pronunciation (RP) of the British upper class. Particular focus is on usages, such as the royal "we" and "one," as well as intergenerational differences among RP speakers. (Contains 21 references.) (MDM)

Explains some of the difficulties encountered in teaching African American adults at Martin University. States that many of the students the author taught were poorly prepared for higher education. Discusses language differences between white Americans and African Americans. Argues that IQ tests are poor measures of intelligence. Defines andragogy…

Examined the attitudes of 169 Japanese university students toward varieties of spoken English. Results found that the students with more instrumental motivation were more positive toward nonnative English accents than those with less instrumental motivation, and that the students' familiarity with accents had an influence on their acceptance of…

Summarizes the main points presented in the 1989 book, "The Death of Black English" by R.R. Butlers (1989). Butler's book presents most important research of last 20 years and subjects the results to variation analysis. It is concluded that the history of linguistic assimilation points to the eventual disappearance of Black English in…

Describes origins of Fiji Indians and their unique language, Fiji Hindi, and discusses this language as a marker of identity in modern dialects brought to Fiji by Indian indentured laborers. The mixed dialect, Fiji Hindi, developed from these original forms of speech, is highlighted, and the role of Hindi and English in the development of Fiji…