This paper discusses the sense relation of synonymy, taking the view that this phenomenon should be understood as a gradual concept, a cline along which there are different degrees of synonymy. This view is consistent with the widely held opinion among semanticists that strict or absolute synonymy is rare in human language. A further step is taken…

Verb stems are classified according to the particular group of nouns they appear with. The system reflects a taxonomy of situations involving concrete objects. A verb is chosen according to the shape and number of the object, if it is sitting, falling, etc., and according to the speaker's intention. (SCC)

Analysis of results of tests of cognitive development in Papua New Guinea children indicated that membership of different language/culture groups was an important source of variance. (Editor)

Explores the possible origins of Malacca Creole Portuguese, and compares and contrasts Papia Kristang with other related creoles. (AM)

This paper considers morphophonemic changes that take place in verbal stem formation in Gude, a Chadic language of Nigeria. It is necessary to assign the classificatory features of the phonology to syllables rather than to single segments. (CK)

Attempts to show that the comparison of language structures may be relevant to diachronic linguistics, and in particular to areal linguistics. The article is based on an ongoing comparative study aimed at devising a typology of African languages. (Author/RM)

Different languages code messages in different ways and use different channels for sending messages; thus there are many places for misinterpreting and mishearing messages in an intercultural context. To move from one language to another requires a description of the total language communication system, one that has its universals in social and…

An introduction to the Russian phonemic system leads to a model classification of verb forms derived from the infinitive and present stems of selected verbs. Correspondences between the two sets of verb forms are listed. A brief history of attempts at verb classification concentrates on the theory of Meyer, Berneker, and Bloomfield. A complete…

The variety of syntactic forms for expression of directives is commented on. Data has been collected investigating the empirical distribution of formal variants across social features and predictability of the form of a directive if social features of its context are known. (Author/RM)

Ongoing change in Wolof noun classification is traced by comparing nineteenth-century linguistic evidence with modern sociolinguistic data. Upwardly mobile middle-aged men of high caste tend to reduce the noun class system, whereas other speakers tend to elaborate it. (Author/RM)

Condensed, slightly revised version of an article which appeared in the Chinese Year Book, Shanghai, in 1937. (VM)

Conference held August 1-8, 1970 at Burg Wartenstein, Austria, with support from the Wenner-Gren Anthropological Foundation. (VM)

Paper delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Modern Language Association of America, December 29, 1970, in New York City. (DS)

Summarizes findings of recent studies which suggest that there is no evidence for including Haida in the Na-Dene grouping. (Author/AM)