Considers the literature on language learning anxiety in an effort to clarify the relationship between anxiety and second language learning. Suggests that anxiety is indeed a cause of poor language learning in some individuals and discusses possible sources of this anxiety. (Author/VWL)

Draws on sociohistoric theory to argue that voice in writing is simultaneously personal and social, because discourse is understood as fundamentally historical, situated, and indexical. Explores voice as a typification linked to social identities, as the reinvoicing of others' words in texts through processes of repetition and presupposition, and…

Provides reflections on articles contained in this special issue of the journal. Substantial comments are included for each of the four articles contained in the issue. (Author/VWL)

To help students compete in a global economy, American teachers must begin teaching children a second language at an early age. Describes the advantages of learning a second language at the elementary school level, highlighting three currently-used language programs (immersion, Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools, and Foreign Language…

The hand computer, which combines word cards with a repetition system, has yielded positive results for memorizing words in foreign language learning. This system is superior to memorizing lists and is flexible in terms of both contents and type of learner. (Contains 34 references.) (JP)

Responds to a previous article on emergentism, connectionism, and language learning. Suggests that connectionist models of emergent language knowledge will continue to be important in the years to come. (Author/JL)

Discusses questions regarding how the experience of learning to read in a second language can affect literacy in the first language and what benefits of such experience might be. Argues that learning a second language can contribute in many important ways to developing positive attitudes towards reading as well as heightening reading skills in a…

Updates 18 previous compilations of U.S Doctoral degrees related to the teaching of German that have been published in this journal. The current listing contains references to 102 dissertations in German language or literature, comparative literature, and foreign or second language education with applicability to learning and teaching German.…

Replies on behalf of the authors of a previous article to a critique of their study on foreign language anxiety. Argues that factors other than cognitive-linguistic deficits contribute to problems in foreign language achievement. (Author/VWL)

Assesses the nature and value of grammaticalization. Attempts to show that grammaticalization is derivative, that it has no status of its own but relies on other processes and mechanisms of linguistic change that exist independently of grammaticalization but that provide the explanations for the phenomena involved in grammaticalization.…

Emphasizes sociolinguistic factors--the contexts of grammaticalization--which rarely play a role in the grammaticalization literature. Stresses the need to focus on the perspective of individual speakers as well as to address the issue of how extremely long-term trends in grammars can be replicated through the actions of speakers. (Author/VWL)

Examines the relationship between and the relevance of second language acquisition (SLA) and language testing (LT). The relevance of LT to SLA is examined based on written interviews with leading scholars in SLA who were asked about the relevance of LT to their work. (Author/VWL)

North Frisian is an endangered language spoken in northwest Germany near Denmark, with 8,000 speakers representing nine dialects. The paper examines factors that are impelling the language toward attrition and shift, characterizing the current state of the language, discussing the effect of language contact, and presenting dialectalization or…

The notion that a sensitive period exists for language acquisition has gained support from several studies. This study demonstrates that there exist differing periods of heightened sensitivity for certain aspects of the target language, periods before and after in which the learner is less sensitive to the relevant input. (Author/JL)

Considers how far a code of ethics makes language testing an open profession and notes the dangers of face validity and of hypocrisy. Discusses the need for a code of practice to provide detailed guidance to language testers with regard to their professional responsibilities. (Author/VWL)