This article discusses the fact the extralinguistic factors can cause interference in second language learning and usage as well as linguistic ones. Specific reference is made to the Hakka villagers in the New Territories of Hong Kong. (CLK)

Defines the practical functions of various types of grammars, and theoretical functions of linguistic grammars. Points out some differences between the two (stressing contrast between native and foreign languages), as well as differences in defining, finality, or variation of categories, and in psycho- and sociolinguistic components. (IFS/WGA)

"African French" exists because linguists are beginning to describe it. This discussion, intended for teachers of French, focuses on its linguistic and sociological bases. Pedagogical implications for the French class in Africa and for foreign language classes elsewhere are discussed. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

This collection of essays includes topics from several areas of linguistics with special attention paid to the issue of language diversity, especially as confronted in the multilingual and multicultural southwestern United States. The first section contains essays on various topics ranging from the value of abstract syntax to "Homophones and the…

A brief analysis and definition of general linguistics focuses on distinct areas of study within the science, including descriptive, historical, comparative, and computational linguistics. Other branches of the science discussed are psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and dialectology. Technical concepts encountered in the literature are also…

A fair number of empirical, scholarly studies of West African languages have been published in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, the study of West African languages was in these years overtaken and nearly overwhelmed by a racist reaction. In the 1930's linguistics began to assume its substantially modern form and scholars…

To assist language researchers in their analysis of interlanguage, some values for the linguistic variables of Source Language (SL), Interlanguage (IL), and Target Language (TL) are set forth. Although the fundamental assumption underlying interlanguage research is that interlanguages are linguistic systems, it is difficult to describe the…

Wagiman is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken in the northern part of the Northern Territory by about ten people. It possesses an unusual open class of words, which are called coverbs. Most frequently coverbs are paired with an inflecting verb from a closed class to form a complex predicate. This book provides a descriptive and analytical…

Contrastive analysis is viewed as an interlinguistic, bidirectional phenomenon which is concerned with both the form and function of language. As such, contrastive analysis must view language psycholinguistically and sociolinguistically as a system to be both described and acquired. Due to the need for a psychological component in the analysis,…

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of educational and linguistic criteria that can be used in selecting, structuring, and presenting the content of foreign language instruction. Some emphasis is laid on application of criteria to Finnish public school curricula. Educational aspects of the discussion include curriculum, individual…

While much attention has been given to the language problems of newly developing nations and to the various phases of planned language development such as graphization, standardization and modernization, not enough attention has been given to language planning that would serve the needs of minority groups in nations such as Australia where the…

This collection aims to provide an introductory study of linguistic minorities in Central and Eastern Europe, taking into account historical development, present situation, language maintenance and shifts, as well as language and educational policies of the different countries in the area. The introduction (by Christina Bratt Paulston) discusses a…

This study of the linguistic acts of assenting and confirming is inspired by an attempt to create instructional materials for the learning of spoken English as a second language, with communicative competence as a goal. Observations are based on several hours of informal conversation between native speakers of English, mostly students and…

Describes features of articulatory shortcuts discovered among middle class, educated native speakers of Spanish in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. It is maintained that these features should be taught to students of Spanish in order that they may understand colloquial Spanish speech. (AM)