Designed to interpret and synthesize the existing research and related information about dialects for those people who are involved in teaching a standard English to speakers of other dialects, the information in this report is based on an analysis and synthesis of over 1,250 articles and reports dealing with dialects and dialect learning. The content is divided into general descriptive materials on dialects; issues in dialect study; materials, methods, and existing programs; teacher preparation; and bibliographies. Among the specific dialects examined are regional, social, and nonstandard, including black dialects, Mexican-American and Puerto Rican dialects, and the American Indian, Appalachian, Chinese, and Hawaiian dialects. Two appendixes--a glossary and a report of the treatment of features of nonstandard usage in language arts textbooks--complete the report. (HOD)