Focuses on the relationship between involuntary verbal rehearsal, Piaget's egocentric speech, Vygotsky's inner speech, and the song stuck in my head phenomena. It is hypothesized that song may act as a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) activator or be a strategy of the LAD in the ontogenetic development of language. (28 references) (Author/VWL)

The research base for computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is disturbingly small, with serious obstacles that limit much of the research's relevance to the practitioner. Practitioners and researchers must expand this research base to fully explore the many uses of CALL in the field. (CB))

Examines the relationship between and the relevance of second language acquisition (SLA) and language testing (LT). The relevance of LT to SLA is examined based on written interviews with leading scholars in SLA who were asked about the relevance of LT to their work. (Author/VWL)

Evaluates the commonly held idea that girls are better language learners than boys. Results indicate that boys are not weaker in any of the language skill areas tested. Recommends that future research concentrate on the sex and image of the teacher. (EKN)

Suggests that cognitive science, a field that draws on research in linguistics, psychology, anthropology, and computer science, might provide better explanations of student behavior in the classroom than mainstream second-language acquisition research. An attempt is made to show how research from cognitive science might offer explanations for what…

Discusses the phenomenon of communicative language testing as it emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction against tests constructed of multiple choice items and the perceived overemphasis of reliability. Traces the legacy of the communicative movement from its first formulation, through present conundrums, to tomorrow's research…

Examines the Variable Competence (VC) approach to second language acquisition (SLA) by defining what is meant by VC and looking at the variable rules and how they are acquired. The research implications of VC models are examined, presenting arguments for and against their use in applied linguistic research in language testing and SLA. (32…

Reviews four books on speech research: (1) "The Speech Chain: The Physics and Biology of Spoken Language" (Peter B. Denes and Elliot N. Pinson); (2) "Speaking: From Intention to Articulation" (Willem J. M. Levelt); (3) "Talking to Learn: Conversation in Second Language Acquisition" (Richard R. Day); and (4) "Speaking" (Martin Bygate). (eight…

Reviews research on the use of the "T-Unit" as a measure of language ability, demonstrating that the measure has limited utility in the case of second language, since it bases itself solely on syntax and does not reward speakers for sophistication in such areas as vocabulary. (Author/CB)

The assignment of primary stress to English words by a group of Arab speakers was studied by having the speakers pronounce both different types of words and validated nonsense words. Results indicate that newly concocted words may not be correctly pronounced by a significant number of subjects selected from the same populations. (18 references)…

Discusses the second language production of adults when responding to the same stimuli (the SLOPE test) under two conditions: (1) unmonitored, when giving spontaneous oral responses and (2) monitored, when giving written responses without time limit constraints. (EKN)

Sequence of consonants in English and Arabic is discussed phonologically. It is suggested that such detailed contrastive studies are useful to: (1) second language teachers in pinpointing areas for classroom attention, (2) language typologists, and (3) typists and printers. (JB)

Discusses the L1=L2 hypothesis which states that, all other things except knowledge of language being equal, first language acquisition is the same as second language acquisition. Reviews the evidence for and against the hypothesis, looks at current research and considers the general distinction between formal and informal learning. (SED)

A review of some of the major works in neurolinguistics published during the last decade extrapolates many implications for second and foreign language theory and practice, covering such issues as hemispheric dominance, language processing, and bilingualism. (35 references) (CB)

Discusses studies done on second-language classroom interaction by classroom researchers and second-language (L2) acquisition researchers. Argues that it is critical to explore how the learner processes L2 information, because classroom interaction is a dynamic process characterized by the interplay between external verbal exchanges and internal…