Presents a portrait of adult literacy in Illinois based on the results of the State Adult Literacy Survey conducted in 1992 as part of the National Adult Literacy Survey. Highlights include age differences; foreign-born individuals; effects of education and training; employment, economic status, and civic responsibility; and language use.…

The efficacy of different methods of teaching English for Special Purposes (ESP) was studied, with focus on whether the communicative method is compatible with the goals of ESP teaching. The role on ESP learning of general English taught at high school was also examined. (Contains 15 references.) (LB)

An essayist shares ideas on the making of good speeches. Elements recommended include establishing rapport early, structuring the speech well, using language for movement, making the most of the occasion, focusing comments carefully, phrasing well, communicating purpose, having a theme, avoiding problematic vocabulary, and arriving at completion.…

Written apologies of deaf students were examined from data obtained from a discourse completion test. Results show that both word choice and word order give a routinized feel to the apologies, in part attributable to American Sign Language; and that strategy choices may reflect a culture-specific view of social offenses. (Contains 44 references.)…

Examined the frequency and type of pragmatic devices used in oral New Zealand English, based on analysis of the Wellington Corpus of Spoken New Zealand English. It found "you know" and "eh" were both found more frequently in working-class than middle-class speech. Other age, gender, and class distinctions are discussed. (45…

Tests the subjective reactions of standard Russian speakers and American English speakers to regional pronunciation. Homogeneously-grouped subjects listened to a series of recorded voices and rated each speaker for various attributes on a numerical scale. These attributes included competence, personal integrity, and social attractiveness. (CK)

Examined the classroom discourse of an African American urban community college teacher as she interacted with her class of predominantly African American students. The teacher employed African American English forms and allowed them to coexist alongside standard English. (24 references) (MDM)

Advocates a language awareness approach that aims at helping learners of a second language develop awareness of how the target language is typically used to achieve communication. Presents a pragmatic awareness lesson for upper intermediate students of English based on an extract from Charles Webb's "The Graduate." (18 references) (MDM)

Critiques the idea that standard British or American English is the only model for second language instruction, arguing that successful English language teaching in nonnative contexts, such as in India, must address the relationship between the forms that English manifests and its speakers' perception of reality and the nature of their cultural…

This paper reviews recent insights into the pragmatics of language use and language learning that point to the importance of larger prefabricated units. It suggests that prefabricated "chunks" of language might be a useful starting point for a more holistic approach to pronunciation teaching. (21 references) (MDM)

During the 1980s, the number of home speakers of non-English languages (HSNEL) increased much more than monolinqual English speakers. School-age HSNEL are a growing proportion of the total school-age population. Advocates for language minorities should inform themselves on the meaning, limitations, and implications of available information.…

Presents preliminary findings of a study of the language practices of two undergraduate asynchronous English conferences. Examines briefly the roles of the teachers in the conferences. Suggests what questions must be addressed if teachers are to create learning environments to support students. (RS)

This study used ethnographic methods to determine the underlying motivations for the role of two speech-language pathologists in public elementary schools. The study found that much of the behavior observed and the artifacts used by the speech-language pathologists were directed to establish or maintain prescriptionistic forms of language…

A longitudinal analysis of the spontaneous speech (first-person pronouns and reflexives) of three children tests the claim that children's poor performance in binding and coreference is due to performance factors. Children appear to understand the principles of binding and coreference at the earliest stages of language development. (33 references)…

Language planners assert that languages are tools that can be transformed into resources and managed by states through elaboration of language policies to be carried out through language planning. Language planning is explored from the Afrocentric point of view, considering it as part of pro-Western propaganda. (SLD)