Examines the sociolinguistic aspects of Saudi greeting rituals, discussing the phraseology and nonverbal signals employed by greeter and greetee in various situations. Also explores the communication problems that Saudis and Americans have when communicating in each other's language and culture. (MDM)

An identification and treatment model differentiating transient mutism from persistent selective mutism is proposed. The case study of a six-year-old girl is presented, who was treated with a multimodal approach combining behavioral techniques with play therapy and family involvement. At posttreatment and follow-up, she was talking in a manner…

A method for examining intelligibility is studied that involves recording undergraduates' immediate feedback on communication breakdowns, and then analyzing those breakdowns with English-as-a-Second-Language specialists. Pronunciation was found to be the major cause of unintelligibility. (10 references) (Author/LB)

Eureka (Illinois) Middle School has found some user-friendly ways to clarify communication and keep learning personal and accessible. Despite resource deficits, options and output have increased by actively using the school's philosophy: shared ownership for student success. Various community-building programs for students, faculty, and parents…

Investigates possibility of applying industrial organization theories to construct evaluative, analytical framework for educational institutions. Defines organizational identity in terms of culture, communication networks, and school image, using each to examine instability and conflict at Scotland's Summerhill school. Concludes cultural divisions…

School administrators' failure to take action against teacher incompetence results in decreased student achievement, low teacher morale, diminished confidence in schools, teacher and administrator liability, and increased litigation. To break the cycle of "inarticulitis" (nonstraightforward communication about marginal performance), a new paradigm…

Reviews two challenges to free speech (school-sponsored speech and racist and sexist speech) on the college campus. Suggests guidelines for communication administrators attempting to maximize expressive freedom within the dictates of the law. (PRA)

First-grade and kindergarten teachers rated parents' involvement in their children's education. A significant portion of teachers reported limited knowledge of parents' involvement in their children's education. Findings were consistent with reports of a lack of opportunity for meaningful communication between parents and teachers, and indicate…

The communication of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by a qualitative impairment in verbal and non-verbal communication. In past decades a growing body of descriptive studies has appeared on language and communication problems in ASD. Reviews suggest that the development of formal and semantic aspects is relatively…

This article explores the mediational role of classroom discourse in the development of shared understanding in the multiethnic classroom. Successful participation in classroom discourse not only requires linguistic and cognitive competence, but also demands cultural knowledge, which often is taken for granted. Research carried out in a…

The age of globalization requires an understanding of intercultural communication and diversity issues in workplaces. This is especially so in a country such as New Zealand, which has recently been experiencing the phenomenon of recruiting and attracting skilled, professional immigrants from China, India, and other parts of Asia and the Middle…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of pyramidal training with direct care staff in group homes. Training focused on teaching staff how to provide opportunities for communication to non-speaking children with developmental disabilities to communicate. Staff were taught through a combination of a workshop, and nondirective consultation following…

The authors present a checklist designed to help preschool and kindergarten administrators and teachers build confidence in their ability to be inclusive and to increase their awareness of the needs of children with disabilities. Teachers can use the checklist to prepare for the inclusion of a child with a disability. "Identifying potential…

"Culture shock" is the expression generally associated with the frustrations that occur when persons have difficulty functioning in a different culture or when persons are exposed to individuals from another culture. Culture shock typically occurs in a 4-stage process that can unfold over varying lengths of time: the honeymoon, crisis,…

A study examined intervention activities for students identified as having high communication anxiety (CA). The study utilized 2 group interventions. Of 61 students in an introductory speech class invited to participate, the 8 who accepted were divided into 2 groups of 4. The groups met for 5 weeks. Group 1, facilitated by a female counseling…