New and emerging perspectives of educational contexts of literacy are reviewed that emphasize the inseparability and reciprocal influence of literacy practices with the social and ideological agendas of the communities, institutions, and settings in which the literacy practices are embedded. Research on conversational contexts of literacy…

Twelve mothers were videotaped interacting with their children, aged 13 months, and 100 maternal utterances were coded for pragmatic intent. Prescriptives were coded as either changing or following the child's focus of attention. Results show that, given a joint focus, directing a 13-month-old's behavior can have beneficial effects on subsequent…

The role that talk plays in socialization, social development, and possibly cognitive development is described. Research on talk is categorized as follows: studies that consider talk as a tool for investigation; studies that focus on development of grammar or language acquisition; and studies that fall between those extremes. (LB)

Examines the position of English in the new common curriculum for Northern Ireland schools. A distinctive feature of the program is its emphasis on speaking and listening skills. (18 references) (JL)

Concerns about differences and inequalities in girls' and boys' spoken language and interactional styles have prompted the development of alternative classroom strategies, which are reviewed. Three broad approaches are discussed--antisexist, liberal, and profemale--each suggesting different strategies for positive action. (27 references)…

Refusals among speakers of English and Arabic are studied in three samples: native English speakers in the United States and Egypt; Arab students of English in both countries; and Arabic speakers in Egypt. Pragmatically unsuccessful strategies are analyzed from data gathered by a discourse-completion task. (18 references) (Author/LB)

Problems with the oral Bagrut are discussed, including the complicated rating scale, complicated administration requirements, lack of conformity in materials, unsuitable tests, monologue approach, and scoring system. A suggested form for reporting scores is presented. (LB)

Reviews "The Languages of Jerusalem" by Bernard Spolsky and Robert L. Cooper, noting that their study illustrates that simple models that do not account for relations between spoken language and society are not realistic. Chapters address the language of public notices, the spoken language of the market, and the politics of language…

The author of a new French grammar textbook focusing on the best use of language to express meaning is interviewed. Topics include theories that have influenced the grammarian, distinction between grammar for instruction and grammar for reference purposes, aspects of writing a grammar textbook, and attention given to oral language. (MSE)

Argues that the distribution of lexical stresses in Macedonian and Polish follows from the architecture of metrical theory and can be accounted for by adopting revised obligatory branching (ROB) feet. These are feet where the head dominates an accented syllable and the nonhead may dominate any kind of syllable. (17 references) (JL)

Examines syllable-timed languages (Catalan, Greek, Italian) and stress-timed languages (English, Polish) to show that, in regard to rhythm, both categories behave similarly in several crucial areas. In both language types, the ideal rhythmic pattern involves a separation of stresses and the elimination of clashes. (33 references) (JL)

Analysis of college Spanish students' processing of information under different conditions suggested that learners, and particularly early-stage learners, have great difficulty in attending to both form and content. (22 references) (Author/CB)

Consideration of the use of Panjabi by British Black adolescents and White adolescents in a mixed peer group, analyzing contexts of Panjabi occurrence and crossing, showed that Panjabi was important in managing the divisions that cross-cut youth community and in extending horizons beyond the confines of local neighborhood experience. (31…

Notes that research and clinical studies have identified many relationships between various oral language processes and written language. Provides overview of findings regarding auditory receptive and expressive language processes, including phonemic discrimination, linguistic awareness, listening comprehension, word retrieval, syntax,…

Considers how the cultivation of patterns of spoken English can help basic writers become more aware of the structures of written English. Provides background information needed for discussing with students the similar characteristics of oral and written language. (HB)