Analysis of doctors' and patients' oral accounts and responses during medical interactions, from the perspective of an interactional strategy linking social structure to social interaction, demonstrates how the medical interview is characterized by a moment-to-moment battle that mirrors and largely sustains the institutional authority and status…

Investigates simultaneous talk in face-to-face conversation using the analytic framework of "floor" proposed by Edelsky (1981). Analysis of taped conversation among speakers of Japanese and among speakers of English shows that, while both groups use simultaneous talk, it is used more frequently by Japanese speakers. A reference list…

Explores the social relation between a natural sign language and the language of the dominant hearing culture, focusing on language attitudes, status and affiliation, language contact influence, language variation and change, and language standardization. (58 references) (CB)

Carol Padden's influential framework for observations of deaf culture is examined. Some potentially potent socio-anthropological ideas are used to sketch implications for revisions of such a framework, adjusting concepts of culture and asking how notions of deaf culture are constructed. (Contains 55 references.) (Author/LB)

This paper summarizes some of the findings from a project in progress that researches teachers' sociolinguistic awareness in Wales. Some interesting differences between labels and scales data are considered, and issues of importance to language awareness are highlighted. (VWL)

In investigating the degree to which minority languages are not recognized as separate languages by the majority culture, it is helpful to consider the distinction between abstand and ausbau languages. The distinction is also helpful in understanding other political and cultural problems concerning language versus dialect status in Europe. (five…

The strong influence of German on the English language is illustrated, and nearly 100 German loanwords related to food and drink are listed. The terms are described in their cultural, historical, and etymological context. (Author/LB)

Introductory comments to a special journal issue on communicative accommodation provide a framework within which the accompanying articles can be examined. Terminology and field methods are described for this frontier area of sociolinguistic study and more sociolinguistic analysis is advocated. (50 references) (LB)

Examines a strand of Basil Bernstein's sociology that considers the importance of language. Attempts to understand the central meaning of Bernstein's work and classroom applications. Argues against interpretations supporting either a deficit explanation for student performance or one based on home-school differences. Recognizes language's…

Employs the frameworks of sociolinguistics and social psychology to explore the social and functional power of Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) as it is featured in the novels of two prominent Nigerian authors. It is demonstrated how NPE has elevated its social and functional power as an interpreter of the Nigerian social structure. (24 references)…

Discusses the fact that the characters in Indian English fiction perform speech acts in terms that are not entirely alien to readers from other English-speaking traditions. (18 references) (GLR)

Reviews two books, "American Earlier Black English," by Edgar W. Schneider, and "The Death of Black English," by Ronald Butters, that capture the essence of the renewed controversy on the reemergence of the historical issue and a new dispute over the current development of Vernacular Black English. (36 references) (JL)

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…

As an epilog to a theme issue on morality in discourse, this article examines the various types of morality in dialog, focusing on premorality and proto-morality, sincere authenticity versus reflective ethics, and the moral voices of modernity. Concludes that morality is an intrinsic feature of any dialog, and it is a multidimensional,…

Discusses one highly visible and often stigmatized feature of Chicano Spanish--lexical innovation due to intimate contact with English and mainstream culture. Discusses socio- and psycholinguistic factors that play a role in loanword formation. (Author/VWL)