This article stresses the need for examining the total context of language, including the biological characteristics of the speaker, and anthropological, psychological, geographic, and socioeconomic factors. (CLK)

Discusses the applicability of the notion of structured variability in language to contrastive analysis. (Author/AM)

Learned academies deplore the deterioration of Castillian Spanish due to foreign contamination. They ignore the real source of the problem within Spain itself where everyone speaks the language badly except those in the remote towns and a few intellectuals. A ray of hope comes from the Americans. (Text is in Spanish.) (AMH)

A study of the acquisition of interrogative forms in children of high socioeconomic status reveals that utterances belong more to the colloquial than to the standard range. It is concluded that disadvantaged children would show similar usage, leading to the suggestion that teachers teach language as they use it. (Text is in French.) (CDSH/CLK)

Argues that the temptation to isolate Black Englsh and to identify it as a single cause for all black problems in America must be resisted; e.g. those who suggest that Black English usage is the primary cause of reading problems in black children ignore many factors which may be possible causes of failure, such as inadequate schools. (Author/JM)

Special issue on "Changing Linguistics." (DD)

Special issue on "Changing Linguistics." (DD)

Examines viewers' perceptions of characters and their speech to see if: (1) the language of the characters corresponds to the language of Black speech communities as described by sociolinguists; (2) White viewers perceive language as important in their perceptions of the characters; and (3) White viewers are more likely to identify with speakers…

The bicultural and bilingual family patterns and language acquisition patterns of 24 upper middle class children of foreign-born Chinese parents are outlined. Findings suggest two bilingual development patterns, one for children born in Canada or immigrating before school age, and the other for those immigrating during school years. (MSE)

Discusses the problem of discrepancies between the pedagogical model of the French language traditionally used in language instruction, and the model of so-called "common French." (Text is in French.) (CLK)

The role of language in cross-cultural research is investigated through analysis of: communication of information; conceptual and functional equivalence; measurement of linguistic variables; and social and language changes. Available from: UNESCO, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France. (Author/DB)