Highlights the use of corpus linguistics--or the the study of language through the use of a large collection of naturally-occurring written and spoken texts. Discusses corpora with computers, applications of corpus linguistics, and the University of Pennsylvania's Linguistic data Consortium, which is conducting a speech study to support linguistic…

Examines the process of language acquisition as well as scientists' understanding of the intricate process of learning to talk. Specifically addresses: (1) foundations of language; (2) prenatal period; (3) first month after birth; and (4) conversation. Also discusses adult-child activities that stimulate language-learning. (SD)

Reviews two textbooks that introduce generative research on second language acquisition and evaluate existing proposals about the role of universal grammar. Comparison of the two texts provides an opportunity to examine conventions the field uses in representing itself to a novice readership. (Author/VWL)

Notes that the employment of databases to the study of the history of a language is a method that allows for substantial improvement in investigative quality. Illustrates this with the example of the application of this method to two studies of the history of Spanish developed in the Language and Information Seminary of the Independent University…

Proposes that one theorist's challenge to the discipline of linguistics, which claims that linguistic structure is temporal and the study of language is a political activity, reflects the influence of philosophical deconstructivism that has heavily influenced other disciplines. The deconstructivist view of language is contrasted with competence…

Examines how medical writers discuss matters they believe to be true, possible, and untrue, drawing on research papers from medical journals. To conclude, a discussion of teaching difficult concepts in medical reading and writing is presented. (80 references) (Author/CK)

Presents insights into how language research develops, with particular focus on the extent to which syllable-timing is a characteristic of the New Zealand English speech of certain ethnic and social groups. The discussion examines the development of hypotheses, methodological challenges and the importance of considering alternative interpretations…

Replies to an article titled "Programmatic Ahistoricity in Second Language Acquisition Theory." Reviews pertinent literature, concluding that historical awareness is evident in second language acquisition, although not as far reaching as the earlier article suggests. Argues that the attitude of most scholars in SLA toward the past is reasonable…

Reviews the multidimensional research on bilingual education, covering contexts where bilingual children are in transitional classrooms as well as schools where curriculum content is experienced in two (or more) languages. Suggests that for bilingual education to play its part in language reversal, it needs to show its relative effectiveness, both…

Drawing on recent work in variationist sociolinguistics, sociology of language and linguistic anthropology, focuses on new approaches to explaining gender differentiated patterns of sound change and language shift, the success or failure of planned linguistic reforms, and changes in the social evaluation of gendered speech styles. (Author/VWL)

This bibliography cites and summarizes essays and reports of research on second and foreign language writing and writing instruction that have become available to its compilers during the period of July 1, 2002 through September 30, 2001. (Author/VWL)

Tests the typological plausibility of Processability Theory, a theory of processability of grammatical structures that formally predicts which structures can be processed by the learner at a given level of development. Tests the theory for two typologically different languages--Italian and Japanese (Author/VWL)

Responds to an article that suggested Lardiere (1998a) should have carried out analyses of lexical aspect and discourse grounding in determining obligatory contexts for past tense marking. Addresses problems with the argument, while showing such analyses could introduce a comparative fallacy problem. (VWL)

Presents the benefits of using online methodologies in second language acquisition (SLA) research. Provides a selection of online experiments that have been widely used in first and second language processing studies that are suitable for SLA research and discusses the hardware and software packages required for setting up a psycholinguistic…

Presents the results of a cross-linguistic study of the role of scope phenomena in untutored second language acquisition, or how adult learners in different source and target language settings acquire the means to express which part of an utterance is semantically affected by scope-bearing elements such scope particles or negation. (Author/VWL)