In 10 families in which parents spoke Navajo and children did not, factors that inhibited the transmittal of Navajo to children were the use of English at home, shame toward the Navajo language and culture, the perception that a "glass ceiling" hindered the job advancement of Navajo speakers, and influence of the media. Suggests ways to…

Provides data on the acquisition of Basque in the Basque Autonomous Community (Spain). Reports recent data and results of research studies on bilingual education and the use of Basque, and then focuses on one of the language plans developed by the Basque Government: the "Basquisation" of civil servants. Analyzes results of this plan and…

A survey of educators and speech-language pathologists (n=806) was conducted to determine current perceptions and practices regarding figurative language instruction. Results showed that the majority of respondents provided either formal or informal figurative language instruction and believe that students in special education had more problems…

Examines the spontaneous speech of Portuguese-speaking two-year olds in natural conversation with Portuguese-speaking adults. The children were separated into three groups based on Mean Length of Utterance in Words (MLUW). The children in the highest-MLUW group almost perfectly matched the adult speakers on every measure. (37 references)…

Notes that Samoans establish new communities and identities through different linguistic strategies in the urban context of Los Angeles. Argues that by comparing the different social organizations of language use, it is possible to uncover how certain forms may be used to simultaneously maintain and transform cultural practices within a syncretic…

Suggestions for better communication are offered for volunteers participating in college fund-raising phonathons. They include general guidelines for telephone communication, solutions for specific situations, notes on appropriate word choice, an exercise to regulate speech speed, information on personality types that may be encountered, and…

Examined the influence of the social use and the history of acquisition of Euskera on comprehension and recall of two versions (Euskera-Castilian) of a scientific text read by bilingual high school and college students. Results suggested that both extensive social use and an active history of acquisition of a language improve the level of…

Questionnaire explores the sexual harassment of women professors by students to gain insight into how widespread the problem is, and to understand better how both gender and status define an individual's vulnerability to sexual harassment. Survey data show a range of incidents, from sexist comments to sexual assault. (Author/JS)

With bootstrap methodology, the stability of the Angoff delta item bias index was investigated. Data from item responses of 400 Black and 400 White fifth-grade students taking the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills indicated that the Angoff delta statistic had only moderate stability. (SLD)

Examines three hypotheses regarding the relationship between nativity, language affiliation, and interurban mobility in Canada during the intercensal period 1976-81. A series of crosstabular and logistic regression analyses provide support for all three hypotheses. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed in the context of ethnic…

Discusses the recommendations made by compositionists from 1950 to 1980 to apply the findings of linguists to composition instruction. Argues that the noncontextual orientation of modern linguistics renders it insufficient as a comprehensive source of theoretical or practical assistance in composition instruction. (MG)

A discussion of language policy formation and planning in Mexico focuses on its multilingual/multicultural character and covers the following: turn from national integration to ethnic revival; indigenous successes following the Declaration of Patzcuaro; some problems and solutions regarding the current bilingual/bicultural education policy.…

Outlines a model for an inservice teacher training course in which language improvement is the central element, unlike more traditional English language teaching (ELT) programs for nonnative speakers, which emphasize ELT skills training, grammar, and phonology. In this model, the experience of language learning provides the input for skills…

Discusses the effects of government language policies in Belgium, which have divided the country into Dutch-, French-, and German-speaking areas with no linguistic rights for speakers of other languages, except in multilingual Brussels. Maintains that the federalization of the Belgian state has not settled the country's linguistic strife. (33…

Compares previous findings on the social correlates of the "Usted,""Tu," and "Vos" variation in three Latin American countries. All the countries have a non-solidarity function in the party (toward strangers) and the workplace (toward subordinates and superiors) domains. It is difficult to assess the effects of age…