Measurement of the mutual intelligibility of dialects of a language is discussed. The focus is on several theoretical constructs in measurement, illustrated with data from an earlier study of the mutual intelligibility of 17 Chinese dialects. Measurement procedures are also explained. It is proposed that mutual intelligibility is based on the…

Suggests that the loss of any good idea which cannot be shared because a person lacks the language spoken by the majority is a detriment to maintaining democracy. Such loss is what we may expect whenever the opportunity to learn standard spoken English is limited for any reason. (TO)

Viewing expression of affection as a problem in interpersonal communication, the author surveys psychological theories of affection and hostility. A brief summary of Freud's concepts of "death wish" and "eros" and a thorough consideration of Menninger's approach to re-direction of self-love are included, along with an overview…

Discusses some ramifications of the Conference on College Composition and Communication's resolution on "Students' Right to Their Own Language." (DD)

Presidential address delivered to the Linguistic Society of America at its Annual Meeting, December 28, 1972, Atlanta, Georgia. (DD)

Explores the Indian variety of English from the point of view of the discoursal strategies speakers adopt in verbal interaction. In particular, the paper examines how discoursal markers function in the Indian English conversational context. (29 references) (GLR)

Discusses a problem involved in teaching English pronunciation--the question of intelligibility. Previously intelligibility has meant that nonnative speakers were intelligible to native speakers; the increase in the use of English for communication between nonnative English speakers has complicated this issue. Implications for teaching and study…

Gondi, a Dravidian language spoken by 2.2 million people in central India, is a chain of dialects, some of which are not mutually intelligible. This study looked at a two-step sound change, responsible for this dialect division. (ER)

Discusses communication between multilingual individuals by means of a language other than their native languages. (Text is in Spanish.) (DS)

This paper explores the origins and correct use in Spanish of "tu,""vos" and "Usted." Corroboration for the points made is sought in ancient and contemporary literature. (Text is in Spanish.) (CK)

THIS TEXT WAS WRITTEN FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN AREAS OF PANAY AND THE ROMBLON ISLANDS IN THE PHILIPPINES. COVERED IN THIS SHORT TEXT ARE "ALL THE DIALECTS OF THE WESTERN VISAYAS" (EXCEPT THE DIALECTS SPOKEN BY THE NEGRITOS)--AKLANON, KINARAY-A, CAPIZNON, ILONGO, LOOCNON, ODIONGANON, AND ROMBLOMANON. IN SPITE OF DIFFERENCES AMONG THESE…

This paper examines three aspects of phonological interference observable in the speech of Puerto Rican bilinguals: (1) segmentation patterns, (2) accentual patterns, and (3) pitch patterns. Ten representative speakers, including nine students and one faculty member, were selected to read a story in the original Spanish and in English translation.…