Provides further evidence of the psychological importance of semantic roles for verbal learning and broadens the realm of earlier work with semantic roles by using connected prose rather than individual sentences. (HOD)

Reports on a study which explored the intonational differences between constant plus variable utterances and variable plus variable utterances, and which sought to use intonation to resolve the lexical additive vs syntactic representation of beginning productions. (AM)

Investigates the role of imitation by children in the acquisition of lexical items and factors influencing word acquisition by imitation. Imitation did not appear to facilitate subsequent spontaneous use of lexical items. Results are discussed in terms of conditions which influence imitative behavior in children. (JMB)

Reviews research studies, available through the ERIC system, on the interaction of cognitive, social, and language development, drawing implications for language arts instruction. (DD)

An analysis was made of the correspondence between intonation and the larger and smaller movements accompanying two-syllable and longer utterances. Synchrony between peaks of intonation and movement pattern was found and is used to argue for a performative basis for early two-word productions. (Author/EJS)

Discusses five studies of early reading which suggest that oral language does not necessarily have to precede reading and that if both are learned at the same time they enrich the child's total language base. (DD)

The study investigated the relationship among the grammatical distinctions produced by three language-delayed or language-disordered children on the expressive part of the Northwestern Syntax Screening Test, the Carrow Elicited Language Inventory, and the Menyuk Sentences and those generated in a spontaneous language sample. (PHR)

Reports on an experiment, performed on seven children, designed to show that children understand "here" and "there" with the self as reference point before they understand words such as these with reference to other speakers as reference points. (Author/AM)

Two golden rules for teachers of young children are (1) work, speak, and act with complete naturalness, and (2) never try to teach language per se; rather, teach life (joy, sorrow, work, play, differentiation, self-awareness, etc.) by involving the children in situations and activities that are highly significant to them. (NQ)

This study examined language ability in children of the same mental age who differed in their level of cognitive development. Subjects were 68 first-graders, 33 male, 35 female, from a predominantly middle-class elementary school. (Author/SB)

Investigated the role of peer language imitation in preschool children's vocabulary acquisition. Study I involved natural observations of children in day care situations. In Study II, children were introduced by naive peers was observed. (Author/SB)

The role of comprehension training in the selective imitation of indirect-direct object sentences was assessed for six 4-year-old children. A modeling condition resulted in normal usage of indirect-direct object sentences for five of six subjects, but reversed usage was not obtained when modeling was reversed. (MS)

Investigates the ability of adults and children to understand aspects of semantic ambiguity. (DD)

This paper reports an investigation into the acquisition of indirect object constructions by English children aged 5-10. Sentences having a prepositional "to" phrase containing the indirect object, and following the direct object, were acquired before sentences where the indirect object preceded the direct object. (CHK)

Mildred Milliea has researched and developed the only Micmac language program in the Maritimes. The Micmac alphabet with equivalent sounds, the numerical system, and examples of new Micmac words are given. (NQ)