Reports on four Australian experiments using Lambert's Matched Guise Technique for obtaining sociolinguistic attitudes. The accents studied include Australian; Received Pronunciation English, Liverpool, Glasgow Scots, East Coast U.S.A., French, German, and Italian. (EKN)

Discusses different kinds of discourse analysis and notes that they vary in their focus, claims, and techniques. Argues that the philosophical foundations of critical discourse analysis are open to serious question and that it relies on a naive sociological model involving an overambition undermining sound research. (72 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses the use of terms to describe sociolinguistic situations in multilingual societies and proposes several new terms to facilitate such descriptions. (CB)

The essentially sociolinguistic position of Bhatt and Martin-Jones on language awareness is assessed and analyzed in terms of applicability to the majority population. The question of whether bilingualism is a linguistic or social phenomenon is addressed, followed by an argument for including this issue in language awareness teaching. (Contains 10…

A brief review of social constructivism as a general movement and how it has been applied in particular to scientific knowledge precedes a review of investigations into the role language and linguistic activities have in the social construction of knowledge. A 39-citation unannotated bibliography is included. (CB)

Describes 11 common dogmas of understanding (convictions that are impervious to evidence) that have led researchers to ignore or dismiss many features of everyday language. Discusses evidence against them, and some of the dangers they pose for the study of understanding. Argues that using language is fundamentally social, and that social features…

Compares Chicano English and Anglo English speech in both linguistic and social terms. (CK)

A study examined what trained phoneticians do when they are presented with a transcription task to carry out without any knowledge of the dialect they are listening to and without any explicit phonological theory as a point of departure. The "best" tokens of three categories of potential assimilation (full, partial, and zero alveolar)…

In research on the historical present tense, neither interviews nor tape-recorded group sessions proved neutral or adequate. An explanation is found in the notion of a speech event, and simple techniques of participation are advocated. (Author/RM)

Discusses the nature of the difference between dialectology and sociolinguistics and suggests that the findings of dialectology are relevant for use by sociolinguists. (30 references) (CK)

The need for formal quantification of conversational analysis is discussed. Formal quantification provides grounds that a body of research be taken seriously and gives it a certain relevance. At the same time, the constraints inherent in working with naturally occurring events, such as conversations, make formal quantification difficult. (49…

The introduction and spread of "Ms" as the courtesy address title for women is a cornerstone of feminist linguistic planning for English. Its introduction aimed to eradicate the discriminatory inequity in the address system that exposed women through their (non)marital relationship with men. The understanding, use and impact of the courtesy title…

The article explores the interrelationships between theory, ideology, empirical research, and practical affairs, with particular reference to the sociolinguistic nature of the Chicano community. (NQ)

A survey examining the effect of sex, age and social class on the development of the speech habits of children of elementary school age in Germany. (Text is in German.) (TL)