The construction of algorithms to present grammatical rules is advocated on the basis of clarity and ease of memorization. Algorithmic procedure is demonstrated for the introduction of subordinate clauses by conjunctions in German, and the formation of plural nouns in English. (AF)

Two questions might be asked of psychologists by foreign language teachers: (1) What steps can be taken to maximize positive transfer and minimize negative transfer between native and target languages, and to what extent are those steps effective? (2) How can we predict the amount of facilitation or interference that will occur when a student…

In this paper the author examines two kinds of phonological interference observable in the speech of Puerto Rican bilinguals--phonemic and prosodic, and argues that because these two phonological subsystems are structured differently and have different signaling functions, each kind of interference must be treated independently with regard to its…

The purpose of the study reported here was to do an automata-theoretical and experimental investigation of the learning of the syntax and semantics of a second natural language. The main thrust of the work was to ask what kind of automaton a person can become. Various kinds of automata were considered, predictions were made from them, and these…

This paper discusses the acquisition of second-language skills through the use of visual aids. In teaching English as a second language, pictures, slides, and film loops are usually presented with appropriate, and more or less predictable, spoken or written English. These visual images, however, may arouse interests beyond the answers provided by…

In the first section of this paper, the author analyzes concepts and theoretical issues found to be significant for the topics of investigation but neither sufficiently explicated nor fully incorporated into the studies to be described later. It is felt that much further work needs to be done in order to achieve such goals. In the second section,…

The foreign language teacher cannot rely simply on linguistic theory as it stands today. Foreign language teaching calls for its own linguistic theory. However, it should be possible, in constructing a FL teaching grammar, to integrate such a teaching theory with current linguistic theory. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Oerberg's "Lingua Latina" was first used at Columbus Academy in 1973 as a textbook for teaching Latin to beginning eighth grade student. Student interest and enrollment increased, and students achieved greater facility with Latin than under more traditional methods. (RM)

Discusses the teaching of qualitative and quantitative comparison expressions in French, specifically the various notions and functions that must be taken into consideration and the various pedagogical phases that should be followed. (AM)

Recommends the "distributional" and transformational grammar approach as especially suitable for developing a teaching grammar for dealing with the French simple infinitive and infinitive with "de". (IFS/WGA)

Describes the experience of a teacher involved in a program for teaching beginning French to prison inmates with a high school education. (AM)

Proposes a model of second language learning that accounts for discrepancies both in individual achievement and achievement in different aspects of language learning. (Author/AM)

Cites evidence showing that the "natural order" found using the Bilingual Syntax Measure to measure morpheme order is not an artifact of the test. (Author/AM)

A study conducted in a Canadian secondary school found that students with a larger inventory of native English vocabulary were better able to recognize cognates in French language instruction. (MLA)

Examines syntactic and semantic constructions of French verbs denoting and causing emotions; and lists these verbs according to infinitive, "active" adjective, and "passive" adjective. (Text is in French.) (AM)