A review of research about second language learning indicates that nonprimary acquisition is sensitive to the center-periphery distinction. There is clear evidence that this construct has reflexes in interlanguage word order with respect to the probability of native word order influence, difficulty, and order of emergence. (CB)

Presents a study of technical lexical structures with the aim of assisting students of English as a Second Language in processing and deciphering the lexico-grammatical realization of technology in the field of plastics. The analysis aims to show that technical terminology is closely related to grammar, and that technical lexis and grammar should…

The booklet describes efforts to preserve Australian Aboriginal languages and culture, profiles individuals who have a significant role in these efforts, contains individuals' commentaries on Aboriginal language issues, gives background information on the languages and language groups, and describes programs and organizations supporting the…

Fifteen articles are presented in this collection on contrastive linguistics: "On Syntactic Levels--One Tertium Comparison is in Contrastive Linguistics" (L. F. Jakobsen and J. Olsen); "Equivalence in Bilingual Lexicography: From Correspondence Relation to Communicative Strategy" (R. R. K. Hartmann); "How Useful Are Word…

Chicano English, spoken by many Chicanos and some Anglos, is an ethnic variety of English that serves as a marker of social identity, and it has specific linguistic parameters. It is similar to standard English, and often exists alongside interference English, spoken by Spanish-speakers beginning to learn English. Research supports the argument…

This paper proposes a tentative notational or marking system which attempts to provide more information on the sociolinguistic constraints upon the use of linguistic features than has been the case in other systems. A review of other studies in language variation, particularly those of William Labov, suggests that much can be done toward…

This 10th-grade unit on language introduces the major ways in which people learn language. Primary source materials used are Roger Brown's "Words and Things" and selected writings of Francis Nelson, Cathy Hayes, and Charles Hockett. The linguistic and nonlinguistic "worlds" in which people live and the need for people to…

A two-part communication model for teaching elementary mathematics is proposed. Part I delineates symbols commonly used in teaching arithmetic. Parts of mathematical language (mathematical objects, relations, operations, expressions, and sentences) are compared to analogous parts of the English language. Part 2 is a conceptualization of strategies…

The history, linguistic development, and chief characteristics of the French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish languages are presented in short, informative sketches as guidelines for foreign language study. The article also briefly analyzes major literary works and cultural highlights of areas where the languages are spoken. (DS)

This teacher's handbook is a guide to available paperback translations of primary material in the humanities field. The selections chosen to be included are recommended by the compiler as the best English translations available. The book is divided into sections chronologically: (1) ancient, to 450 A.D.; (2) medieval, 450-1500 A.D.; (3) early…

Formality as a style may be defined as language which reflects or "keynotes" the degree of familiarity between participants in a discourse. Working from this assumption, this paper attempts to answer the question, "How is formality best described?" Results of a series of tests indicate that informants' labels (with the…

A total of 240, 7- and 10-year-olds were tested on memory and sex-role preference tasks. The memory task was the Wickens release from proactive inhibition paradigm in which short-term recall of words is tested on successive trials. On trials 1-4 words were selected from 1 of 2 categories, either words with masculine or feminine connotations. On…

An experiment which measures the foreignness of selected languages with reference to each other, to native languages of listeners, and to listeners' language experience is described. The procedure involves the tape recordings of 50 sentences in the native languages of 10 selected speakers. The second major stage involves playback to listener…

This anthology gives a view of the development of comparative cross-cultural study and presents the basic theoretical and methodological problems involved, together with some discussion of the progress to date in solving these problems. Four classifications on development, theory, sample, and method include selected articles on: (1) investigating…

Selected articles illustrate different ways of analyzing social customs for cross-cultural comparisons. Approaches represent a veriety of theoretical points of view, thus exposing some fundamental problems in comparative research. Emphasis is placed upon contrasting ways of analyzing information on human behavior, social life, and culture. Five…