Illustrates some of the methodological problems, in relation to some pitfalls in the qualitative analysis, that are associated with gender, education, and discourse studies. Two studies are critically evaluated as a basis for further discussion: one from the primary education sector and the other from a further education perspective. (GR)

Discusses the dominant paradigm for analyzing interactions, Conversation Analysis (CA), pointing out that the paradigm does not include participant intention in its analysis. Notes that CA practitioners focus on empirical investigations of what the participants are doing and how they are doing it and that the understanding of an utterance is…

Examines through a text analysis of spoken and written discourse the meaning and function of the double genitive (DG) in English in comparison to the inflected preposed genitive. The study shows the DG to possess unique and specific pragmatic functions not adequately described for nonnative students. (22 references) (Author/CK)

A framework is presented for analyzing discourse during parent-child interaction about moral matters, using speech genres and registers. This analysis considers social, cultural, and historical influences on moral development and locates the origins of moral sensibilities and differences in moral functioning in the discourse parents and children…

Demonstrates the need to bridge the gap between theoretical descriptions of discourse and type of language description that should be used in the English for academic purposes classroom in accordance with recent approaches to teaching a second language. Compares accounts of causal metatext from a sample of textbooks on academic writing to results…

Suggests that, in the author's experience teaching fiction to high school students, the key to their understanding a work lies in their ability to make connections with the characters. Notes the importance of using many activities to enable all of the students to understand character. Describes three such activities, incorporating brainstorming,…

Draws on a study of the literate lives of two African Americans living in urban poverty. Suggests that the nonalignment between home and school discourse communities is not the only, or even perhaps primary, problem for the subjects. Suggests that explanations must account for the complexity of literate subjectivities through the process by which…

Considers a selection of discourse and rhetorical norms of Modern Standard Chinese and contrasts them with a comparable selection of discourse and rhetorical norms of an "inner circle" variety of English. Because transfer of discourse and rhetorical norms from a first to a second language commonly occurs, predicts that a Chinese variety…

Analyzes the extensive use of personal examples and stories in the academic essays of students who are nonnative speakers of English. Draws on a large database of college examination essays to compare the use of personal examples in essays written by native and nonnative speakers. Finds nonnative students not only use examples more often than…

Examines fundamental rhetorical constructs that students and business professionals should consider when analyzing textual and financial information contained in corporations' annual reports. Discusses how students in business communication classes evaluate the rhetorical effectiveness of specific annual reports, as well as the ethics associated…

Uses William B. Stiles' discourse analysis system to determine whether there are general differences in the way individuals varying in construct system development use their utterances to establish understanding with each other. Finds that construct system development was positively correlated with edification and question response mode use, and…

Analyzes Fisher Ames' fiery speech of 1796 on the Jay Treaty. Demonstrates the influence of Scottish enlightenment thinkers (particularly in moral sense philosophy and faculty psychology) on Ames and his rhetoric. Demonstrates how Ames made a compelling case to shift the standard of political judgment from reason to passion. (SR)

Addresses one aspect of English usage by Yoruba speakers of English as a Second Language in Nigeria, and analyzes the meanings of English kinship terms as used by educated Yoruba speakers in relation to specific sociocultural contexts of the Yoruba environment. (Author/VWL)

Critically reviews selected research on the learning of English by Chinese speakers, focusing on the difficulties they experience and the variables determining their language learning success. Topics explored include phonology, morphology and syntax, typological transfer hypotheses, analysis of written and spoken discourse, and reading. A list of…

The verbal and nonverbal strategies of rapport, their environments, and their consequences are identified. Interviews between two foreign student advisors and 16 foreign students (both native and non-native speakers of English) were videotaped, and playback sessions with students and advisors were audio-recorded. Rapport-building and…