Evidence exists that, in the past, phonetic variants functioned as sociolinguistic variables, just as they do today, at least in societies with comparable stratificational patterns. This paper presents the significant details of the sociolinguistic environment within which the beginnings of the Great English Vowel Shift were embedded. An attempt…

This document consists of papers and group reports on multicultural education in Canada. Recurrent themes in the conference papers presented include: the concept of personal dignity as related to all aspects of multicultural education; the importance of language in maintaining cultural and ethnic identity; the problem of information overload in…

This report describes bilingual education programs in England that promote the Welsh and Gaelic languages. The section on Welsh includes discussions of: the history of the Welsh language, the Welsh books scheme to promote the availability of published materials in Welsh, the activities of the national language unit of Wales, external examinations,…

A second series of discussions of American civic issues in the light of European experience is summarized. The overall topics were: the third age of life as a resource in a community, health care, western Eurpoean communism, labor-management co-determination, language education, and the question of whether youth hostels should be subsidized in…

This profile in outline form of the English language teaching situation in the United Republic of Cameroon discusses the role of English within the society and within the educational system. Cameroon is an officially bilingual state consisting of five francophone provinces and two anglophone provinces. In the anglophone provinces, English is the…

The difference between "foreign language learning" and "second language learning" is not clear because writers do not agree on the criteria to be used in making the distinction. Moreover, there is a lack of empirical evidence to justify the use of the two terms. The purpose of this study is: (1) to review the various criteria…

This profile in outline form examines the English language teaching situation in Japan and the role of English in the Japanese educational system and society. The following are examined: (1) the growing role of English in business and science, and in Japan's image abroad; (2) the role of English in all levels of the Japanese educational system,…

A case for the study of foreign languages by pupils in the United States is presented in this book. The polyglot nature of America and the history of its language education is described, and language programs in foreign countries and in the United States are compared. Also discussed are the need for adequate language education for international…

The government of Quebec looks to the province's French-language universities for several contributions in strengthening the position of the French Canadian language and culture in Quebec. The enrollments in these universities have increased in the past fifteen years, and French-language universities are expected to educate and train increasing…

This paper contains ideas intended to help the teacher preparing to teach Navaho children and offers suggestions for an independent reading and study program to enable the teacher to understand the culture in which he will be working. A brief history of the Navaho people is presented, followed by a discussion of some cultural differences between…

The extent to which the language planning that has been pursued in many localities and in many periods has been guided by nationalism, that is, by "...the social movements, attitudes, and ideologies which characterize the behavior of nationalities engaged in the struggle to achieve, maintain or enhance their position in the world" (Wirth 1936) is…

This is a summary in outline form of the English literature teaching situation in Sri Lanka. Pupils may begin literature in English in grade 10 when they are about 15. All undergraduates study some English to gain English reading ability. Most of them value the ability to speak and write English, though present facilities make it difficult to…

Adapted from a speech to Japanese high school students in an English track program, this essay responds to the common question, "What is the best way to learn English?" First, it is noted that English can not be learned directly from dictionaries and grammar books, by empty repetition of words and phrases with passive attitude, with fear of making…

This paper addresses the issue of the relationship between critical pedagogy and English as a foreign language (EFL) in Venezuela. Teacher-researchers have come to see the issues confronting nonnative educators in ELT as a more important issue than in previous years. They are particularly concerned about the current situation in Venezuela,…

This collection of diverse research papers in linguistics includes: "La notion de tour de parole dans une perspective syntaxique" ("The Notion of Turn Taking from a Syntactic Perspective") (Jean-Marc Luscher, Sandrine Piaget, Christian Rubattel); "'Si tu me fais honneur d'un p'tit telephone demain matin ben je suis…