Asserts that there is no such part of speech in Chinese as the "co-verb" and demonstrates that such forms are simply transitive verbs which, in addition to several other Chinese structures, are used to translate English sentences with prepositional phrases. (FWB)

Evaluates tenses as to (1) communicative importance, (2) frequency, and (3) range. Under (1), finds actual tense less important than accompanying adverbials and extra-linguistic factors. Discusses chief difficulties appearing in use and interpretation of past tenses, and how the results of linguistic research may help to deal with them. (Text is…

It is shown that supplying positive evidence in the second-language (L2) classroom does not necessarily trigger the appropriate L2 value of a parameter of Universal Grammar. The verb movement parameter of Pollock is investigated; results suggest that positive evidence does not preempt the first-language parameter. (27 references) (Author/LB)

This article discusses the difference between French and English constructions of motion and change of place, by contrasting French and English examples of such constructions. (CLK)

A reassessment of the role of negative evidence in nonnative language acquisition argues that the grammar-building process cannot make use of negative evidence to restructure interlanguage grammars, and that second-language learners do not unlearn verb movement but extend the pattern with which they are already familiar. (46 references) (Author/CB)

Focuses on a parametric difference between French and English, namely the issue of whether or not the language allows verb movement. It is argued that form-focused classroom instruction is more effective in helping second-language learners to arrive at the properties of English than positive input alone. (23 references) (JL)

In this study the inadequacies of rules governing the present perfect in isolated sentences are discussed and then two contextual factors thought to be connected with current relevance and the use of the present perfect are described. These factors are experimentally shown to influence use of the present perfect significantly. (CHK)

Examines the spatial deictic features of Spanish, the study focuses on the topic's pedagogical implications for second- language learning and an accurate description of the contrast between Spanish and English deixis. The article concludes that there is a need to view Spanish spatial deictics as elements "in use" and to see them as…

Presents various learning activities and instructional materials for helping students learn French or Spanish grammar and culture. These materials include flash cards and lists of items to be used on labels. Activities include using the flash cards, writing newspaper ads in the foreign language, and naming the different items in a house. (CK)

Examines the expression of temporality in the basilang speech (the earliest stage of second language development) of five adult subjects. Temporality is studied from three perspectives: morphology, semantics, and pragmatics. The taxonomy provided by the pragmatic analysis best captures the expression of time at this level of interlanguage…

Based on a review of research, the most common syntactic errors made by native Arabic-speaking learners of English as a second language are discussed. Seven categories of error are distinguished and described: verbal errors (use of tense, phase, aspect, voice, verb formation, concord, finite/non-finite verbs); relative clauses (interlingual and…

This is a summary of a report investigating the way verb forms are treated in four audiovisual or audiolingual methods (textbooks) for the teaching of introductory English as a second language. The methods under investigation are: (1) "Methode Audio-visuelle d'Anglais, 1," Filipovic; (2) "My Friend Tony--Pratique Audio-Orale des Structures, "…

For years, French language instructors in Alberta have wondered about the possibility of coordinating in a better way their students' transition from last year of secondary education to first year at the university level. At the end of a university year, errors were found in the French compositions of 34 randomly chosen students (out of 68), which…

The sixth volume of this series contains eight contrastive studies in the syntax and semantics of English and Romanian. They are: "Criteria for the Contrastive Analysis of English Nouns," by Andrei Bantas; "Adjectives as Noun Modifiers in Post-Verbal Position," by Ioana Poenaru; "Towards a Semantic Description of 'Tense'…

The grammar is designed to be used as a reference for addressing structural problems in Czech. The guide is organized into 11 chapters. The first describes the pronunciation of written Czech and explains spelling conventions. Aspects of the language covered here include the alphabet, arrangement of words in the dictionary, vowels, diphthongs,…