At certain points in their historical development, languages are not adequately equipped to serve their societies and do not offer certain communicative functions. Political and cultural domination can influence the language community to adopt a foreign language for higher communication, leaving the vernacular underdeveloped for those…

Controversial claims made about characteristics of "women's speech" are examined in a comparison of certain aspects of the language used by 17 ten-year-olds (9 boys and 8 girls) and 20 adults (10 men and 10 women, mean age 20.0 years), all native speakers of English. The subjects were asked to pretend to speak on the telephone to a person of…

Exploring the question of whether or not each writer has one "authentic voice", this document compared the private voice (as found in a personal journal) and the published voice, as well as these voices with those of other authors. Through the process of searching for the authentic voice, the document arrives at 12 conclusions, including…

In the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in northern India the speech styles of men and women differ markedly in a number of ways. One mode of communication, tuneful weeping, is exclusive to women. This behavior is distinguished from spontaneous crying caused by pain, and is used only in certain prescribed social situations, and not necessarily in…

A collection of articles on the kinds of variation in English that one finds within the language of one group or one person includes: "The English Language as Rule-Governed Behavior" (Timothy Shopen); "The English Language as Use-Governed Behavior" (Joseph M. Williams); "Styles" (Ann D. Zwicky); "The Organization…

A description and analysis of the various functions of black language as an integral part of the collective experience and identity of American blacks. (EH)

The research cited suggests separate language materials are not needed for college level black and white students. (JH)

This is the first cover-to-cover revision of the basic stylebook adopted in 1960 by United Press International and The Associated Press. Its primary purpose is to provide a set of consistent guidelines, reflecting current word usage, for newspaper editors handling wire-service copy and for others who follow the same style. The main entries, which…

The identifiably different rhetorical behaviors of Patrick Henry and James Madison, as expressed in their Virginia debates, reflect each man's philosophical view of human nature and the role of reason in human behavior. Patrick Henry, expressing the pessimism of Calvinistic tradition, believed that people are intrinsically evil with a dominant…

Certain intellectual phenomena, e.g. racist attitudes, are based on fixed formulas of everyday speech. The linguistic roots of such evils must be discerned before they can be exorcised. Some cliches, e.g. racist ones, insinuate themselves into verbal behavior structures. French cliches reflect certain collective French attitudes: positive towards…

This paper discusses informal, semiformal, and formal speaking and writing, three language levels that differ from one another in organization, preparation, intent, tone, and audience. By demonstrating the essential unity of writing, speaking, reading, and listening, speech communication teachers can develop students' abilities in all the language…

Outlines basic goals, techniques, and materials for a college level course in Russian language stylistics. The use of literature readings, composition writing, stylistics levels of both spoken and written language, and synonym equivalence are discussed. (Text is in Russian.) (DH)

Reveals the social, psychological and economic disadvantages encountered by exclusive users of nonstandard dialects. Suggests bi-dialectism as one solution for American minority members. (MH)