An analysis is presented of the speech act sequence of indirect complaint/commiseration in conversational interactions between Japanese learners of English as a Second Language and their English-speaking peers. Consequences of nonsubstantive, noncommiserative responses are explored in light of missed opportunities for interaction. (46 references)…

A test on the effects of native/nonnative (NS/NNS) English-speaker status and gender on the structure of directions issued by native speakers of English is reported. It confirms that direction giving is highly conventionalized and that NS/NNS status and gender systematically influence a small range of linguistic choices. (24 references) (Author/LB)

Examines how classroom cultures in the United States and Asia are discursively constructed by researchers in applied linguistics and education. Suggests that the literature of applied linguistics and some in education compares idealized perspectives of U.S. classrooms with more typical images of classrooms in Asia. (Author/VWL)