Presents detailed information about school English, a functional variety that has influenced twentieth-century American vernaculars and the writings of most Americans. Sets school English in its nineteenth-century context and comments on factors that have favored its survival. Comments briefly on the Black English case in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (RL)

Proposes that English teachers have an obligation to give more attention to how language can be used in politics. Examines the characteristics of the basic political message. Offers eight suggestions for classroom exercises. (RL)

Analyzes the ways several women have written persuasive discourse and identifies a female rhetorical mode involving indirection, open-endedness, additive attention to small details, restraint, and noncombativeness. (DD)

Discusses a method for teaching French literature by incorporating the study of literary texts in a broader study of language styles. Sample texts are appended. (AM)

An analysis of the syntax particular to newspaper writing, with emphasis on the use of the nominalization of verbs. The possible pedagogical uses of such an analysis are discussed. (Text is in French.) (TL)

Discusses, with many examples, a new Russian dictionary by D. Rosental and M. Telenkowa which is considered excellent for advanced students of Russian because it not only provides information on spelling, punctuation, stress and grammar but also on the levels of usage of both words and constructions. (Text is in German.) (FB)

Discusses problems in contemporary translation theory, particularly in terms of the number of semantic distinctions a given language may draw. (CLK)

Describes a project which investigated perceived differences in the oral communication of technical information, and whether discrimination of gender based upon these perceptions is accurate. Results showed significant gender difference and that respondents largely based their perception of gender on use of technical language or jargon. Manner and…

Examines the structures present in the writing samples of bilingual respondents to written questions in Spanish in order to determine which forms represent a departure from standard Spanish; discusses the patterns that develop; and offers insights into the factors underlying this systemic departure from standard written Spanish. (26 references)…

Drawing on recent work in variationist sociolinguistics, sociology of language and linguistic anthropology, focuses on new approaches to explaining gender differentiated patterns of sound change and language shift, the success or failure of planned linguistic reforms, and changes in the social evaluation of gendered speech styles. (Author/VWL)

Investigates the grammar and style checker in MS WORD software in depth, focusing on its theoretical underpinnings. Contrasts the approaches to grammar and style embodied in the software with those found in current composition pedagogy. Concludes with suggestions that go beyond customizing the Grammar Checker to advocating more thorough…

Challenges some problematic issues of grammar instruction. Transforms inconsequential discussion of nouns, adverbs, and past participles to more significant discussion about writing, access, and improving the world. Explores four activities to do with student writing other than correct grammar. (SG)

Investigates the real and potential functions of English media in the milieu of social openness in post-Mao China. The unique position of China's English media reflects key characteristics of a "hybridized discourse" and a style of reporting that seems both keen to control and eager to please. (Author/VWL)

Focuses on the language of civil engineering as manifested in the professional journal "Civil Engineering ASCE." Articles are analyzed, both syntactically and lexically, in terms of three major rhetorical functions: description, prescription, and persuasion. (17 references) (GLR)

A review of the acquisition of second-language phonology focuses on the following areas: (1) the various factors that have been found to influence the acquisition process, and (2) a discussion of topics in the phonological description of the learner language. (46 references) (GLR)