This is a study of cultural-linguistic self-maintenance efforts, rationales, and accomplishments of non-English speaking immigrants in America. Trend analyses, contrast of separate cultural and linguistic groups, internal comparisons, and the examination of language maintenance and language shift phenomena contribute in the major effort to reveal…

Thirty essays on language and communication in their contemporary social contexts are brought together in this volume which differs significantly from other language readers in that it (1) treats only those aspects of the subjects that have demonstrated their appeal to a wide range of students, (2) emphasizes their social and cultural…

The norms of behavior and the expectations of a child's primary groupings were examined to determine if they were consistent with those of the larger, more impersonal society. If the norms and expectations were consistent, then primary socialization was likely to be important in shaping the child's sense of nationality. Thus, the school could be…

This paper is a study in language acculturation with special reference to the Indianization of the English language. It briefly traces the history of the diffusion of bilingualism in English on the culturally and linguistically pluralistic Indian subcontinent. The functional roles of English are discussed and the formal influences of Indian…

Changes currently affecting language teachers concern the social and educational functions of foreign languages, student expectations, and teaching methods. Distinctions are made between states of professional development from instructor to teacher to educator. A model of the language learning/teaching process and requirements for optimum success…

The sophistication of research, the acceptance of diversity, and the potential applications of research in the field of linguistics are on the rise. (MSE)

The United States' colleges and universities can promote the use of languages to develop understanding of other cultures by using languages in interdisciplinary modes, by studying the role of bilingual education in meeting language needs, and by helping with accurate assessment of national language needs--the basis for language policies. (JHZ)

A study examined the relationship of young Alsatians' language attitudes to both their language behavior at school and their linguistic norm and attitudes toward maintenance of their dialect. Results suggest that maintenance of minority languages can be helped by teaching linguistic minority youth to value their language and combat stereotypes.…

To determine the cause of the reading achievement gap between language minority students (Hispanic) and nonlanguage minority students, language background, socioeconomic status (SES), and ethnicity in the High School and Beyond data set were analyzed. Language background and SES/ethnicity were found to be equally accountable for the gap. (MM)

The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on family support services for families with young children with disabilities. Within the last two decades, the focus of early intervention has begun shifting from child-centered to family-centered practice with an emphasis on providing comprehensive family support in the delivery of…

This issue, written in English and French, focuses on the increasing role of English in Switzerland, as it affects both the general public and the education system. The articles include the following: "The Function of English in Swiss Advertisement" [written in French] (Marc Bonhomme); "Unpacking before Take-Off: English for Swiss…

A preliminary study examined what kind of writing goes on at a the university: what faculty assign; how they see the function of writing; and what they see as "good" writing. Survey respondents were 1300 regular faculty and teaching assistants in the liberal arts and sciences, with follow-up interviews of 17 selected faculty. The 103…

This collection of articles on intercultural communication and pragmatics includes: "Peut-on traduire la publicite? L'exemple des annonces romandes et alemaniques" ("Does Advertising Translate? The Example of Romansch and German Ads") (Marc Bonhomme, Michael Rinn); "La construction de l'image de l'autre dans l'interaction.…

Two approaches to teaching English as an International Language (EIL) are outlined, noting their roles in a newly-formed undergraduate major in EIL at International Pacific College (New Zealand). EIL is defined as a form of English used by non-native speakers to communicate with other non-native speakers. "Implicit" EIL refers to a…

A discussion of the Sindhi language diaspora, the biradari, across India and Pakistan looks at the implications of this geographic dispersal for the cohesion of the Sindhi-speaking community and culture. Three sociocultural characteristics of the scattered population are identified: urbanization; near-universal literacy; and bilingualism. Patterns…