Discusses the ways languages of Europe render the "given"-"new" distinction on the basis of data collected by means of presenting speakers of various languages with the task of reconstructing a route on a map. The article raises questions about the nature of "wh"-pronouns in English and about what is shared by these…

Evaluates methods used by New Zealand researchers on language maintenance and shift among ethnic minorities to collect data on community languages. Points out that there are many communities in that country whose patterns of language use are mostly unknown. Makes a case for the social, cultural, and educational benefits of research on community…

Examined decisions about which languages to include in the school curriculum and which languages to use as languages of learning and teaching in South Africa, paying particular attention to the relative role and status of Xhosa and English from the perspective of high school students studying Xhosa as a first language and English as a second.…

Investigation of the monitoring behavior of Turkish children speaking Dutch as a second language found that subjects' use repairs increased or decreased with a certain age. A positive relationship was found between monitoring use and subjects' cognitive skills and second language proficiency. (27 references) (Author/CB)

Supports the theory of language policy formulation in a "conflict" paradigm (involving value, resources, and power) with a case example of the development of Ontario's Native language policy. Research and theory were applied to policy formulation when there was significant consensus regarding both societal and educational goals. (CB)

Describes the program to restore the Adyghe language in the Republic of Adyghe, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The principal elements of the program include teacher training, development of course materials, and assessment procedures. The article concludes that as more emphasis is given to the Adyghe language, its status will…

Discusses the attitudes of the Arabic-speaking peoples toward the learning of Western languages, particularly English. Ethnic Arabs regard Arabic as a God-given language. The Arab world is suspicious of any form of foreign influence: political, economic, cultural or educational. A case study of Lebanon is presented. (21 references) (CK)

Examines the myths surrounding the introduction of native language instruction in American Indian communities. Despite the concerns of many parents, such instruction does not "hold back" students, and in fact empowers them to succeed in school. Parent-community involvement is essential for dispelling myths and for reinforcement of the…

Studies the acquisition of timing control by Australians enrolled in first-year Japanese. Instrumental techniques are used to observe segment duration and pitch patterns in the speech production of learners and native speakers. Results indicate the learners can control timing, but their phonetic realization differs from that of native speakers.…

Examines the linguistic isolation of 11 million Magyar-speaking Hungarians in a context of political, economic, and educational change. Changes in foreign language learning since 1989 are outlined, and the declining popularity of Russian and increasing interest in studying the languages of Western Europe are discussed. (Contains 13 references.)…

This study examines the linguistic norm ideals of the German minority in Denmark, which include the Sonderjysk Danish dialect, standard Danish, and standard German. The linguistic realities, as observed in a longitudinal study of minority children, point to a functional bilingualism in Sonderjysk and nonstandard German. (MDM)

Describes an overseas modular interdisciplinary seminar designed for graduate students pursuing a Master's degree in International Management. This study focuses on program components, student activities, instructional objectives, and management of student experiences so that students might obtain the maximum academic benefits. (Author/CK)

This study examined linguistic interdependence in 98 bilingual Turkish/Dutch children of Turkish background living in the Netherlands since birth, to determine whether language and literacy skills can be transferred from 1 language. The results indicated that, although the transference of lexicon and syntax skills was limited, pragmatic,…

Summaries of eight language-related research projects are presented from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Topics include children's reading, nonstandard spoken Indonesian, English speech act performance, classroom verbal interaction, journal writing, and listening comprehension. (LB)

After a historical perspective of foreign language teaching in the United States, the article discusses current needs for second-language instruction, explores attempts to teach critical languages in public schools, and suggests approaches for the future. (SM)