Techniques of semantic feature analysis are applied to exploration and reinforcement of vocabulary. Students are presented with categories of familiar items and asked to describe their characteristics. The method can be used to elicit sentences, reinforce existing vocabulary, and begin discussion. Sample exercises for several difficulty levels are…

A cultural perspective is applied to modern popular songs that encourages listeners to use a critical ear and consider not only the songs themselves, but also how they fit into the broadcast industry's schema. Different song types and industry patterns of song exploitation are considered. (MSE)

Argues that the paragraph represents a semantic unit, not just a grammatical convention. Presents original research to establish the types and frequencies of certain paragraph formats found in expository material. Discusses the most appropriate time for teaching students the ideational relationships within paragraphs. (FL)

Studied the existence of body build stereotypes, extent of identification with this stereotype, and the effect of this identification on children's self-evaluation. Found fat and skinny child stereotypes invariant across age and sex groups. The majority of children identified with the average child in all settings. (PAS)

It is argued that dictation is a neglected technique for second-language training. Students' error patterns at three levels are presented to show how the technique can be used effectively for both teaching and testing, and to develop integrative skills and accuracy in both listening and writing. (Author/MSE)

Outlines a program of vocabulary development that contains cognitive, affective, and physical elements. Points to test results showing that the program has been effective with fourth grade students. (FL)

Showed that in a task requiring judgments about the concept of "more" based on the relative numerosity of sets, three- to four-year-old children may base their judgments on such parameters as the extent to which the sets are homogeneous with respect to the color of their components. (Author/DB)

Reexamines two current, popularly held views about reading: the relative importance of word perception versus the reader's attention to the larger syntactic and semantic redundancies of the text. Some recent findings suggest the seriousness of the difficulty for those who cannot read high-frequency simple words. (Author/DB)

Two experiments provided tests of predictions about children's use of semantic contextual information in reading, under conditions of minimal experience with graphic processes. Subjects, aged 6 1/2, 8, and 11, orally read passages of continuous text with normal and with low semantic constraints under various graphic conditions, including cursive…

Focusing on the question, "Can chimpanzees produce new sentences or merely sequences?" Terrace describes his efforts to teach the chimpanzee Nim to communicate through sign language. From his results, and the Gardners' experiments with Washoe, he concludes that no proof yet exists that chimpanzees can use language as humans do. (SJL)

Earlier research with the lexical decision task led to the hypothesis that semantic context facilitates the encoding of words related to the context. Six experiments which employed different tasks (e.g., making a lexical decision) and different experimental paradigms (e.g., tachistoscopic exposures with masking stimuli) further investigated this…

Analyzes the roles of verbal coding skills, processing efficiency, and memory ability in accounting for individual and developmental differences in the reading comprehension of children in grades 3 through 8. Results indicate that skill differences can arise through ability differences at two independent levels--processing speed and memory.…

Reviews the conceptual differences among the various kinds of learning experiences which are provided for adults, particularly by employing organizations. Also examines labels and semantics, implications of the various concepts, who should bear the responsibility for human resource development, mutual expectations, fade-out of unused skills, and…

Reports on a study which sought to determine the effect of family tactile history on attitude toward touch in public, and the relationship between this tactile history and the frequency of public touching behavior. (Author/AM)

Studies the developmental stages deaf children pass through in acquiring the adult forms of pronominal classifiers in American Sign Language. Data were obtained on production, comprehension, and imitation from nine children aged 3 to 11. Complexities of classifier usage influence the learning strategies used. (PJM)