Recent studies of Asian American youth language practices have presented compelling insights about the identities and migration experiences of young people of Asian descent. This article offers a detailed examination of the relationship between language use and select issues concerning Asian American youth, including social life, schooling,…

It is proposed that middle- and upper-middle-class slang used among white young people in modern America shows age-related themes. For youngsters between the ages of eight and early adolescence, the major theme in slang use is to establish in-group and out-group membership, with standards of judgment based on clothes, manners, and physical appeal.…

People tend to tailor their language to fit a particular situation. A person's choice of words in describing a burglary might be innovative. Similarly, an adult conversing with a child might alter his vocabulary to communicate his thoughts. (CK)

Because speaking was a major symbolic focus of 17th century Quakerism, a movement of radical puritanism, and distinctive ways of speaking represented the principal visible means by which the Quakers differentiated themselves from others, much of the religious and political conflict surrounding Quakerism implicated speaking in some way. One aspect…

At certain points in their historical development, languages are not adequately equipped to serve their societies and do not offer certain communicative functions. Political and cultural domination can influence the language community to adopt a foreign language for higher communication, leaving the vernacular underdeveloped for those…

This experiment using the matched-guise technique in a natural setting shows that listeners' cooperative behavior can be influenced by a speaker's style of speech not only in a face-to-face situation, but also on the basis of voice cues alone. Broadness of pronunciation also influences reactions. (POP)

Discusses the importance of conversational, situationally-rooted speech in language instruction, and the necessity for transfer of training from patterned exercises. (RS)

Eighteen issues are outlined concerning theory and measurement of attitude, and language attitude in particular, and research motivated by these issues described. (RM)

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…

Presents evidence in support of Klaus Bayer's claim that present-day German has two systems of pronominal address: "Sie" and "du." The study analyzes the two systems, investigates the conflict situations between them, projects future trends, and looks at how the two are taught in the classroom. (SED)

Notes that it is not surprising to find a time lag between the development of a field, in this case socio-linguistics, and the application of its concepts and methodologies to a specific setting, the classroom. (Author)

Describes a study using matched-guise technique designed to (1) determine how West Welsh preadolescents would react to Welsh speakers reading a passage of prose in one of three language varieties (Received Pronunciation English, Welsh-Accented English, Welsh) and (2) to examine what effect language of testing might have on children's social…

Discusses ethnic speech styles in New Zealand, the extent to which they can be detected, and how they and English received pronunciation are evaluated by listeners. (EKN)

Knowledge of a language requires more than mastery of grammar; effective communication includes social and cultural aspects of language use, such as speaking volume and intonation, conventions of politeness, and set social formulas. The language teacher must be aware of these rules to convey them to students. (CHK)

Paper presented March 6, 1971, at the TESOL Convention in New Orleans, La. (VM)