Describes a study showing how a linguistic pattern of alternation affecting an entire speech community is realized in individual idiolects; an example representative of colloquial Helsinki speech is used. Results support observations already presented by Labov, according to which linguistic change is linguistically structured to a very high…

Discusses the regional differences within the German language and the influence these differences might have on the learning of English. The study further investigates phonological and lexical similarities between German dialects and English. (GLR)

Outlines some of the principle structural changes that have occurred in the Norman French dialect, spoken on the Isle of Jersey, as the result of contact with English. (18 references) (GLR)

The variety of terms used by different cultures for bathroom facilities not only illustrates the problems language poses for travelers but also opens a discussion of the distinction between linguistic borrowing and etymology. (MSE)

Suggests four methods to help students make intelligent guesses and expand their Spanish vocabulary through induction of cognate patterns, including making students consciously aware of cognate patterns; emphasizing general patterns of English abstract words and their corresponding Spanish cognates; enhancing inductive learning strategies through…

Reviews the current use of Portuguese loanwords in Konkani, 28 years after the absence of Portuguese rule over Goa, India, considering grammatical, phonological, and semantic aspects. Although Goans predictably integrated Portuguese lexicon into Konkani, many of the loanwords are no longer used, especially among younger generations. (CB)

French Creoles are spoken in many different parts of the world, including the Indian Ocean, United States, Caribbean, and South America. These Kweyol speech communities are described, in the Kweyol Project, which examines Kweyol language issues and the establishment of a Kweyol Literacy Scheme. (Contains 15 references.) (LB)

Phonological models of feature geometry suggest that the internal structure of segments is highly articulated. Distinctive features are organized hierarchically within the segment, and this hierarchical organization is relatively stable across and within languages. In this study, the distinctive feature (lateral) is the focus of investigation. (84…

Makes a case for using transliteration in order to avoid wholesale translation of new words from the natural sciences and technology into Indian languages. Proposes introduction of the Roman alphabet (in a modified form), so that the Indian languages can accommodate new loans within their own phonetic systems without any substantial changes. (SR)

Summarizes the main points presented in the 1989 book, "The Death of Black English" by R.R. Butlers (1989). Butler's book presents most important research of last 20 years and subjects the results to variation analysis. It is concluded that the history of linguistic assimilation points to the eventual disappearance of Black English in…

Addresses the issue of whether there exists a matrix language to a code-mixed (CM) sentence, or whether no feasible linguistic analysis can reliably assign a matrix language to a CM sentence. The examination draws on natural conversations involving Chinese-English CM in Singapore. (41 references) (GLR)

Analysis of several types of faulty language selection in polyglots revealed that production errors were not a result of limited vocabulary or language deficiency but rather to interlingual code-switching based on the polyglot's differentiations between dominant language, foreign language, and weak language. (20 references) (Author/CB)

Examines forms and functions of English in Indonesia. Although English is not a dominant code of discourse, it influences Indonesian language use, particularly through lexico-semantic and pragmatic contributions to Bahasa Indonesia, the widely spoken national language. It is concluded that English should be classified as an additional rather than…

Addresses complicated categories of loanwords and their uses in Japanese, an analysis of the developing functions of loanwords; the cultural attitudes that permit borrowings in some semantic areas; and how the present process of borrowing English words has similarities to the borrowing of Chinese language and culture some 1400 years ago.…

The type of relatively rapid speech modification sometimes called "accommodation" was examined by tracking change on the part of speakers of Honduran Spanish newly resident among speakers of Northern Mexican Spanish. Final /n/ velarization and spirantization both changed toward local norms, but local contact resulted in greater change…