A social science approach to language planning is contrasted with a language management approach to language planning. It is suggested that students of language planning need to go beyond discourse management and the social sciences if the task is to explain that language is the fundamental institution of society because to plan language is to…

Asserts that behind the issues of reliability and validity and ethnographic storytelling lurk the definitions of ethnography. Discusses ethnography's position in writing research and the author's problems with reconciling ethnographic research with positivistic methods. (PRA)

Reports on an analysis of the forms, strategies, and functions of complimenting in one genre of written discourse. It is argued that writers use complimenting discourse strategies to establish and maintain rapport and to mitigate both global and genre-specific face-threatening acts and that these social purposes help account for both their…

Uses the methodology of conversational analysis to examine a case of "troubles talk" between a group of female survivors of rape. The conversational process of "affiliation" between interactants as it occurs within the structure of the conversation is examined as are the successfully utilized linguistic and paralinguistic…

Replicates and examines the methodology of Pamela Fisherman's study of Brazilian Portuguese speakers, "Interactions: The Work Women Do." The present study further develops the treatment of question forms and finds that not all have a function in developing and maintaining discourse. Few similarities were found in the results of the two…

Uses the 1986 Supreme Court decision "Bowers v. Hardwick" to examine the uses of "conceptual segregation" in legal discourse. Identifies the exclusionary rhetoric in the majority opinion, and evaluates the persuasive force of the dissenting opinion. Concludes that opposing conceptual segregation requires that arguments be…

Analyzes 12 Utah Supreme Court cases. Finds that syllogistic objectivity was prevalent but that dialectical objectivity could be facilitated by legal requirements or judicial involvement. Finds that judicial involvement could be facilitated by publicity, the importance of the legal issue, and/or an appointment system of judge selection. (SR)

Investigates the use of "bridging devices" in Lucretia Coffin Mott's "Discourse on Woman" (1849). Shows how Mott uses the Quaker concept of the "inner light" to balance the tension between her conservative cultural milieu and her radical goals. Argues that Mott's rhetoric is instructive for modern feminists who try to…

Examines the different meanings of the term discourse, comparing the common use of discourse analysis in applied linguistics with its use both in critical discourse analysis and in a Foucauldian use of the term. An attempt is made to show how these different approaches imply profoundly different understandings of the relationship between language,…

Examines argumentative flexibility as a variable influencing responses to three argumentative situations. Compares trait argumentativeness to argumentative flexibility as a predictor of argumentative behavior. Concludes by discussing the validity of the argumentative flexibility construct. (SR)

Responds to Birdsong's analysis of the authors' positions and data on asymmetries in SLA. The writers address the conceptual disagreements, theoretical positions, "indeterminacy" problem, and disagreements over evidence. The conclusion addresses the role of subjects' ability to detect ungrammatical sentences within the broader context of SLA…

Suggests that Garrison Keillor's radio monologues create a preferred spectator position that relies on traditionally feminine competencies. Shows that the monologues refuse to privilege vision, dismantle the male gaze, create Lake Wobegon as a feminine setting, and use feminine speaking style. Argues that Keillor provides an opportunity for…

Reviews research that points toward the theoretical consideration of conventionalized written language, proposing that written discourse conventions can usefully be studied from a multifunctional perspective considering the interacting social, cognitive, and textual functions of language. A large unannotated bibliography is included. (CB)

Determines whether content knowledge influences conversational participation when native speakers (NS) interact with nonnative speakers (NNS), and investigates whether native speakers tend to participate more actively than nonnative speakers in these interactions. Conversations from 45 NS-NNS pairs are analyzed and discussed. (46 references) (GLR)

Analyzes skills involved in children's (twins and singletons) performance on communicative referential tasks and developmental changes in type and quality of messages. Finds no differences in number and type of information elements, but different interactive styles and strategies between twins and singletons, with twins showing a partner-dependent…