This article presents a glossodynamic model for language learning. It takes a humanistic approach involving the desire and ability to communicate and analyzing a speaker's personality and attitudes. Factors and functions of communication are discussed. (CHK)

Drawing on the growing literature on language revitalization initiatives and examples of one Andean initiative in particular, the essay attempts to synthesize some common language corpus and language status transformations that threatened languages undergo during the process of revitalization. Specifically, it looks at the often unexpected changes…

Both written and spoken language use need to be understood within a broader theory of language. Some of the core assumptions that would inform such a theory are as follows. First, language is inherently social. Every structural component of language has a history of social discourse that defines it. Second, language is for communication; meaning…

This thesis, covering the years 1918-2000, is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 reviews the interwar history of non-Estonian education with particular emphasis on the diversity of the non-Estonian population, the legislation protecting the right of minority groups to mother tongue instruction, and the inclusion of Estonian language and civics…

As part of a federally-funded project to develop standards for English language learning in Texas public schools, the framework is designed to provide an intermediate step between state standards for essential knowledge and skills for native speakers of languages other than English (LOTE) and local curriculum development efforts. It is intended as…

To help immigrant children succeed academically, the teacher must seek to ease the pain of the uprooting experience and find ways to awaken the power within the children to help themselves. This paper describes teaching experiences that led one teacher to understand immigrant children's psychology and the interventions necessary for giving self…

Papers from a colloquium on the relationship between Canada's official languages and its economy include: "Economic Dimensions of Minority and Foreign Language Use: An International Overview" (Karim H. Karim); "European Research on the economics of Language: Recent Results and Relevance to Canada" (Francois Grin);…

The opportunity for American Indians to learn in their own way, a way of deep cultural roots and implications, must be provided in schools rather than using the educational psychology which dominates today's classrooms. The importance of adopting an Indian philosophy is stressed in this policy statement by the National Indian Brotherhood. (See…

Four groups of kindergarten children were involved in a pretest-posttest experiment comparing verbal cued, visual cued, verbal rule sulpplemented instruction on conservation tasks. Both language level and analytic sorting behavior were reliable predictions of number conservation performance in individual children. (Author/WY)

Reports research indicating the inability of teachers and administrators not sharing the social and verbal meanings of blacks to communicate with the latter. An instrument designed to measure knowledge about general subject matter is described. (JM)

Examines, through a matched-guise technique, the conflict in attitudes and behavior toward the use of a mixture of Cantonese and English (MIX) among English-Cantonese bilingual students in Hong Kong. Results indicate hostility toward MIX but produce evidence that it is a useful, culturally neutral choice and that it may have covert status in the…

Discusses the idea that for many Black adolescents the use of creole is an assertion of identity and cultural difference. Examines the use of and attitudes toward creole by both Black and White adolescents in London. (EKN)

Quotations from immigrants to Canada are used to illustrate some of the processes of second language learning within a very different culture: awareness of the environment's newness, first impressions, sense of nationality, broken images, initial confusion and bewilderment, concepts of nearness and remoteness, gradual understanding, and emotional…

Analyzes the problems of multilingual societies, arguing that multilingualism will not hinder economic development and communication, provided that the requirements of the various regional sections and social strata are respected. Denounces foreign language dominance as an instrument of colonialism and advocates enrichment of local languages…