This paper discusses mimesis, the direct representation and total imitation of an event. It studies the co-occurrence of quotative verbs with mimetic enactment based on two corpora of U.S. American English, both available through the University of Pennsylvania Data Consortium. The Switchboard Corpus has 542 speakers ranging in age from 20-60 years…

In many cultures, the "troubles-talk narrative" is a speech event which builds solidarity between interlocutors through the indirect speech act of complaining and through face-saving strategies such as speaker "hedges" and listener "commiserative responses" as backchannels. The manner in which speakers perform such…

This digest discusses the simulated oral proficiency interview (SOPI), a performance-based, tape-mediated speaking test. The SOPI follows the general structure of the oral proficiency interview (OPI) used by government agencies and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to measure speaking proficiency. Whereas the OPI is…

An extensive research review by M. Adams (1990) led her to the conclusion that providing instruction and reinforcement in learning common rimes is highly beneficial in fostering growth in learning to read. While substantial amounts of reading, either independent or with partners, is critical in learning words with common rimes, focused study is…

This textbook is a fourth reader that uses supplementary reading, memory exercises, exercises in oral and written expression, vocal training, and phonic analysis. Poetry, prose, and biographies are included.

Examined two aspects of the relationship between oral and written language for third-grade students (N=77). Results indicated that moderate relationships existed between grammatical aspects of oral and written language. Oral language proficiency significantly differed for groups rated high, medium, and low on the basis of written language…

The article summarized findings on the oral output of 40 gifted elementary school children who voluntarily attended language workshop sessions. Students were offered a wide range of oral expression, yet they exhibited haphazard and inconsistent oral abilities. Recommendations are made to improve the linguistic abilities of gifted children. (CL)

Attributes McLuhan's theories about media to his interpretation of history as an interpenetrating sequence of three processes: all history originated in oral societies, which were fragmented by literacy, but electronic media are returning society to that original state through implosion. Reviews the historical, literary, and aesthetic sources for…

Determined how proficiently children identify gender of adults and children, based on whispered and phonated vowels. Compares performance with adult listeners. Both groups obtained simiiar average rates of accuracy when identifying gender based on preadolescent children's phonated vowels. Adults were more accurate when perceiving whispered vowels.…

Argues that the study of speech may present the characteristics of a "tao"--a path leading to an increase in humane being. Calls for speech teachers to profess the primacy of speech: "...the source of life of the human mind, the source of the compassion of the human spirit." (PD)

Lists a number of ways in which writing differs from speech, and encourages writing teachers not to uncritically adapt oral rhetorical techniques to writing. (DD)

Explores the ethical issues involved in transcribing. Argues that the challenge for the transcriber is to produce transcriptions that are accurate and readable but that are also reflexive in how they make explicit to the reader the constructed nature of written talk, a role giving rise to the problematic nature of accuracy and readability. (27…

Reviews previous work on phonological variation in American Sign Language (ASL) and examines issues that distinguish spoken languages. Presents an account of the data collection, reduction, and analysis, with an emphasis on issues particular to the analysis. Discusses implications of the results, including possible change in ASL. (Author/VWL)

States teachers/learners use spoken language in a three part mathematics lesson advocated by the British National Numeracy Strategy. Recognizes language's importance by emphasizing correct use of mathematical vocabulary in raising standards. Finds pupils and teachers appear to ascribe different meanings to scientific words because of their…

Explores the relationship between lexicography and variation in both spoken languages and sign languages. Examines the function of dictionaries and discusses the nature of linguistic variation, using an example of lexical variation in American Sign Language. (Author/VWL)