Suggests that psychological and educational testing of members of linguistic minority groups should take into account the diverse social, political, and economic realities moderated by educational opportunities, which in turn are closely linked to standardized testing. Discusses conceptual and operational issues in the area of minority group…

Examines the likelihood of the dominant position of English coming under serious challenge as a world language. Discusses factors such as writing systems, standardization, and modernization.(Author/VWL)

An exploration of linguistic racism in inner-city schools and neighborhoods is offered, with strategies describing how work in schools and communities can help overcome it. (seven references) (Author/LB)

The core idea that we argued for in the target article was that grammatical processing in a second language (L2) is fundamentally different from grammatical processing in one's native (first) language (L1). Our major source of evidence for this claim comes from experimental psycholinguistic studies investigating morphological and syntactic…

Presents a theory that all developing and developed bilinguals have a preferred and a second language (L2) and that the bilingual increases L2 competence through fluctuating activity between bilingual preferred L2 medium-oriented communication and monolingual L2 message-oriented communication. Discusses implications of the theory for language…

Refutes earlier ideas that encouraging bilingualism at a young age retards learning and causes behavioral problems, confusion and anxiety. Considers as sources of learning problems, long overlooked factors such as socioeconomic status, minority affiliation, and society's attitude toward the language of instruction or the dominant language.…

Challenges the new, legally binding provision that spoken Standard English should be taught to all school pupils who do not already speak it. The socially sinister implications of the compulsory curriculum, the flawed description of Standard and non-Standard English, and the resulting lack of flexibility, negotiation, and contestation are all…

Discusses the consequences of the dominance of English for a small language like Swedish and a small country like Sweden. Presents a survey of contrastive studies, which reveal that texts and writing in the mother tongue differ between cultures. Discusses studies of the current situation in Sweden, which reveal a serious threat towards certain…

The privileged position of English in Zambia is discussed, followed by an argument that using English as the language of instruction is counterproductive. Practical and sociocultural implications of teaching "standard" English are considered. (28 references) (Author/LB)

A systematic approach for assessing language competencies of bilingual students is developed. Two issues are clarified. First, the issue of examining separately the four language skills is looked at, as well as the need to consider other related factors including cognitive functions operative in language processing, affective forces, and…

Discusses adaptability of Welsh language as key to its survival. Summarizes history of Welsh in relationship to English. Details Welsh usage and cultural education in schools from 1940 to 1985. Analyzes current hindrances to development of bilingual education in Wales' secondary schools. (TES)

Reasons why Kiswahili has not been officially established as the language of instruction in Tanzania are explored. Language background, sociocultural and pedagogical arguments, and comparisons with the use of French Immersion programs in Canada are discussed. Political interests are identified as the primary reason for retaining English. (34…

Contrasts linguistic imperialism and linguistic hybridity and comments on a previous article that suggests the role of English in endangering regional languages and cultures no longer holds true. The role of the English-a-as-Foreign-Language teacher is discussed. (Author/VWL)

Responds to comments by Canagarajah, which were written in response to an article that suggested that the role of English in endangering regional languages and cultures no longer holds true. (Author/VWL)

Jean-Francois Lyotard is considered by many as the pre-eminent non-Marxist philosopher of the "postmodern condition." This paper offers Lyotard's intellectual biography, describes his political writings and subsequent turn to philosophy, and discusses his views on capitalism in the postmodern condition and the problem of the legitimation…