In discussing the rich linguistic history of Afro-Americans, the author points out that black people had a linguistic system when they came to the New World and frequently had a knowledge of a form of English which had been influenced by Black Portuguese and West African languages. Despite many assertions to the contrary, Black English, "the…

Discussed are ways to develop language communication skills in preschool children attending a child care center. Examples of communication without words such as animal sounds and actions are given. Babies are seen to learn to talk through the aid of a mother and child care worker who decipher the signals and encourage babbling in infants and…

A variety of contributors explore the implications and the historical background of the future of literacy. We have inherited a belief that a vital literary tradition can uphold humane values, but events of twentieth century history have completely undermined faith in literacy as a stronghold of humanism. George Steiner suggests that literature is…

"Weasel words"--newly minted phrases and words or novel interpretations of old words which may be "intentional slants, distortions, and outright coinages inspired by a purpose of profit, propaganda, or, at the very least, personal or institutional prestige" are exposed as they appear in the language of violence, dissent, the right, the left, the…

This article criticizes a resolution drafted by the Executive Committee of the Conference on College Composition and Communication. It argues that the framers of the resolution create misleading impressions about the sociolinguistic situation in the U.S. (Author/AM)

This paper discusses some of the psychological and social problems that the average Jamaican immigrant faces in a society such as Canada. The focus of the discussion is on the problems that have a direct or indirect relationship to the language system of this particular group. (Author/AM)

This paper suggests that bilingualism can increase the child's metalinguistic awareness and promote an analytic orientation to linguistic input. (Author/AM)

Explores the approach to reading which emphasizes reading within a total language context and concludes that teacher training should stress awareness of the child's general language situation and should discourage reliance on word-skill material. (JM)

The 1977 Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is reported on here. Propositions dealt with were language acquisition, language application, and language appreciation. Several speeches are summarized and awards noted. New officers were named. (CHK)

After a definition of terms, a dialectological and sociolinguistic review of linguistic minorities existing in Italy is made. Geographic aspects of distribution and retrogression of regional speech and use of Italian by minorities form the basis for differentiating degrees of deculturization. The role of linguistic and other minorities is studied.…

This article shows that the language situation in Quebec cannot be characterized as a diglossic one (as defined by Ferguson) because of the links existing between Standard Canadian French and "joual." Due to political factors, Quebec is moving toward a mixed standard language. (Text is in French.) (CDSH/CLK)

Notes the declining enrollments in language courses and the national lack of support for language studies. Five objectives to be sought in increasing university language studies, especially at advanced levels, are outlined. (CHK)

This essay affirms that people are not, like insects, genetically compelled to live and work collectively. Above all, language separates us from the rest of the animal world, allowing us to depart from reflex activity to consider the ambiguous and unknown and formulate new ideas. (Text is in Spanish.) (CHK)

A review of contemporary research in second-language pedagogy highlights the arguments underlying three distinct rationales for multiple language acquisition: vocational opportunities, second languages in liberal education, and learning theory. (MSE)

Considers the linguistic creativity of West German users of English and their particular variety of English, its forms and functions, processes of nativization, the borrowing process, and West Germans' attitudes toward English, and highlights the unique social, cultural and linguistic role English plays in the German context. (Author/CB)