This report is the result of a two-month study commissioned by the World Fertility Survey prior to the inclusion of Cameroon in the WFS program, in order to examine the problem of linguistic diversity and the obstacles this problem might pose to a demographic survey of the country. The study was to propose a strategy which would uphold the WFS…

This teaching guide (entitled "Kusema,""to speak") presents a multi-sensory approach to teaching language-oriented activities on Africa to students in kindergarten through grade seven. This approach encourages students to verbalize and interpret verbalizations about Africa by employing multiple senses including auditory…

The place of the English language in contemporary Africa is changing. English has spread rapidly, but, at the same time, the indigenous languages have remained and have grown in strength because of an increase in population and an awakening of national consciousness. A developing country must have a national language, whether English or native, to…

In order to test whether certain structures characteristic of West African languages are also present in the Negro English dialect of Natchitoches Parich, Louisiana, 355 short autobiographical papers written by Negro high school students were analyzed. Another 355 papers written by white high school students were used as controls. The papers were…

Egbema, one of six Ijo groups in Nigeria, is an obscure group in danger of becoming dominated by the culture of its neighbors. The Ijo people appear to be socially, politically, and spiritually lost, and their dialects are disappearing. In the Ijo society physical appearance is important, and men and women wear specified dress. Performing…

This paper presents a "natural" method of second language learning which stresses contact with native speakers and de-emphasizes textbook learning. The method described here is that used by Baptist missions in eastern Africa to teach Bemba, but is transferrable to any language. Some of the main principles of the method are: (1) language…

Development of Somali literacy through romanization and a government campaign is described, as well as the parts played by educational reforms, Somali language modernization and expansion, government involvement, use of the mass media, use of poetry as artistic expression, and recognition of orthography as a key element in learning. (Author/MSE)

This document contains the 1994 edition of a publication designed to share information in the field of linguistics that is of practical, theoretical, administrative, or general interest. Articles in these issues include: "Ethnography Vs. Questionnaire" (Thomas E. Murray); "Differences: A Diary Entry"--concerning structuralism…

A discussion of language proficiency in college-level African language programs begins with a review of the literature in the broader field of foreign language learning concerning notions of language competence, proficiency, and proficiency goals. This section examines linguistic competence, communicative competence, communicative syllabus design,…

This report describes an evaluation of the Local Languages Literacy Project in Southern Sudan, a project to develop literacy education and instructional materials in the various vernaculars of that region and to create a bridge to the more common English and Arabic usage. The first chapter gives background information about the project and the…

Papers given at an international conference applying the social sciences to the study of the relationships of languages include the following: "Reseaux sociaux et comportements langagiers en milieu de contact des langues" ("Social Networks and Language Behaviors in a Language Contact Setting") by M. Blanc and J. Hamers, with…

The school setting is now the only place where one can learn French in Zaire. At present Zaire is regaining its authenticity especially through the effort to promote its native language and literature. At the same time, French is also gaining ground due to the increase in formal education, still almost totally in French. Summaries of the research…

The handbook contains an annotated bibliography of print and non-print materials concerning the black American's contributions to the United States, past and present. The materials, which are available in the Afro-American Resource Center of the Ohio Public Schools, can be integrated into the regular curriculum at the kindergarten level through…

This material is a series of lessons prepared in French to give an introduction to the Kanouri language. The need for such material arose during a twelve-week Niger-Chad Peace Corps training project which took place at San Francisco State College in the summer of 1966. The teachers were bilingual French-Kanouri speakers, and it was therefore…

This bulletin examines the current status of Soviet training programs for Africa: the training of personnel from Africa in the U.S.S.R; Soviet study and research in the U.S.S.R. on Africa; and training programs in Africa connected with Soviet developmental projects. The increasing Soviet penetration of Africa has considerable import for the free…