In this study the inadequacies of rules governing the present perfect in isolated sentences are discussed and then two contextual factors thought to be connected with current relevance and the use of the present perfect are described. These factors are experimentally shown to influence use of the present perfect significantly. (CHK)

Existing theories of the development of religious thinking in children appear to be of limited use for curriculum development in religious education. Suggests new approaches for research which employ methodologies developed in other areas of educational and psychological research. (Author)

This paper examines sex differences on the Franks-Marolla Semantic Differential measure of self-esteem and raises questions about the meaning of such differences for theoretical and experimental studies of self-esteem. Subjects were 442 sixth-through eighth-grade students. (BD)

Compares the relative effectiveness of facilitator-directed (FD) and self-directed (SD) programmed treatments on the same participants. The programmed treatments were tested for their capacity to induce change in the quality of group member verbal interaction, and for their differential semantic meaning. Results are inconclusive. (Author/HMV)

In connection with the hypotheses of Whorf and Sapir, this article describes a test using Osgood's semantic differential technique on subjects who were monolingual speakers of English or French. The control group consisted of multilinguals. It is concluded that the experiement supports Whorf's hypothesis. (IFS/WGA)

Investigated were the abilities of 98 educable mentally retarded adolescents to encode and retrieve words using semantic and acoustic cues in a free and cued recall task. Available from: Ablex Publishing Corporation, 355 Chestnut Street, Norwood, New Jersey 07648. (CL)

This research investigates the role of speech recoding, particularly its relationship to meaning analysis during reading. Experiment I documents a speech processing conflict; Experiment II analyzes this conflict; and Experiment III demonstrates contributions of speech and meaning processes to reading memory. Results are related to three classes of…

This article discusses a chapter to be published on the state of psycholinguistics in Brazil. (CFM)

A study of some reformulations in linguistic theory which have been brought about by a shift from generative to casual grammar. An attempt is made to integrate these transformations into one of the current sociolinguistic currents: the elaboration of a theory of speech production. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

An analysis of exercises concerning indirect, direct and free discourse appearing in tests of the "premier cycle," from both pedagogical and linguistic points of view. The thesis is that a method giving primacy to manipulative exercises based on prefabricated sentences militates against discourse and communication. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Administered a purpose-built Semantic Differential Scale to 372 adolescents from middle class and lower socioeconomic homes. Adolescents from middle class homes had more significantly positive self-concepts than those from lower class homes. Lower class adolescents had more positive self-concepts than their counterparts on only the…

Describes two studies of word meaning acquisition among children. Concludes that (1) even very young children can learn new words and their meanings on basis of linguistic expressions and in absence of direct experience with referents, and (2) that particular forms of discourse (e.g., narrative and dialogue) can render new meanings more accessible…

Forty students aged 9-18 were asked to explain the meanings of lexically ambiguous advertisements from magazines, newspapers, and brochures. Older subjects explained the meanings correctly more frequently than younger subjects. The psychological meanings of the ads were found to be more difficult to explain than the physical meanings. (Author/JDD)

Examines the range of conditional sentences which appear in English in contrast to the restricted selection of conditionals usually presented to foreign students. Sample exercises for identifying types of conditionals and determining appropriate conditional structures are provided. (Author/LMO)

A shortened version of Zaichkowsky's 20-item Personal Involvement Inventory was created, removing four items which might be difficult to understand for noncollege-educated populations. The 16-item modified version had acceptable internal consistency; test-retest reliability; and factorial and predictive validity. (Author/GDC)