A text which provides solutions to the problem of inaccuracies resulting from an emphasis on fluency. It suggests that the restoration of balance depends upon a greater understanding of proficiency and of the roles of cross-linguistic influence, systematic instruction and the correction of errors.

This authoritative 2003 textbook provides an overview and analysis of current second language acquisition research conducted within the generative linguistic framework. Lydia White argues that second language acquisition is constrained by principles and parameters of Universal Grammar. The book focuses on characterizing and explaining the underlying linguistic competence of second language learners in terms of these contraints. Theories as to the role of Universal Grammar and the extent of mother tongue influence are presented and discussed, with particular consideration given to the nature of the interlanguage grammar at different points in development, from the initial state to ultimate attainment. Throughout the book, hypotheses maintaining that second language grammars are constrained by universal principles are contrasted with claims that Universal Grammar is not implicated; relevant empirical research is presented from both sides of the debate. This textbook is essential reading for those studying second language acquisition from a linguistic perspective.

The overuse of capitalization is rampant, and it’s getting worse. People tend to capitalize when emphasizing a point or because they think the word is important and deserves to be capitalized. I looked up the following words in numerous dictionaries, and none were listed. • Southern California • Southern Italy • West Texas • Texas Hill Country • Eastern Kentucky The proper nouns—California, Italy, Texas, and Kentucky—should be capitalized, but what about southern, eastern, west, and hill country? Or how about the words below? Is it . . . • French fries or french fries? • cheddar cheese or Cheddar cheese? • Chianti or chianti? • cabernet sauvignon or Cabernet Sauvignon? • Brussels sprouts or brussels sprouts? You may be surprised at some of the answers you’ll find. Dictionaries may not list these words, and style guides avoid specifics. The good news is when using this book, you won’t have to wonder again. The book covers geographical locations, compass points, religious deities, topographical locations, streets and roads, buildings, animal breeds (including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep, and poultry), titles, academic degrees and courses, wine varietals, food groups, acronyms, eponyms, dialogue, brand names, titles of books, other works of art, and more. What do you do when the word you’re looking up isn’t in the dictionary and isn’t covered by your style guide? Check How to Capitalize Anything.

This extremely practical resource includes worksheets that can be used as instant, educationally appropriate language activities for pupils of various ages and abilities, but are written specifically with the inclusive classroom in mind.

The Handbooks of Applied Linguistics provide a state-of-the-art description of established and emerging areas of Applied Linguistics. Each volume gives an overview of the field, explains the most important traditions and their findings, identifies the gaps in current research, and gives perspectives for future directions.

This book presents a collection of articles that put forward original research and significant insight regarding several key issues related to knowledge and language in Middle Eastern societies. The aspects studied include: the role of knowledge and language in affirming and negating political agendas and self-identities within areas of conflict and tension; ideas regarding the usefulness and interaction of religious and secular knowledge; and the attributes that render knowledge and language, especially that which is believed to be of divine origin, outstanding and worthy of admiration. The selection of studies has been purposefully diverse to include a variety of languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew and Persian, within multiple traditions, including Hellenism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, while focussing on a range of periods, from the classical to the mediaeval to the modern, and examining a range of issues, such as methods of analysing and interpreting Persian, Turkish and Arabic literature, literary and other attributes of the Bible and the Qurâ (TM)an, diglossic languages, the Turkish modernisation project, Turkish-Kurdish tensions, Andalusian music, Azerbaijani politics, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By underlining the substantial commonalities that exist between such seemingly different fields of research, the book highlights the ideaâ "increasingly on the wane in departments of Middle Eastern Studies across many universitiesâ "that a shared area of study, viz. the Middle East, naturally and inherently entails a shared cultural, historical, and sociological milieu. It suggests that academics who engage in different branches of research related to this area shouldâ "rather than focussing singly on their own fieldâ "avail substantially and meaningfully of one anotherâ (TM)s scholarship, learn from each otherâ (TM)s methodologies, and collectively build upon a body of knowledge that should never be seen as dissociated.

Learn about sight words, and prepare yourself for a wonderful reading adventure! Sights words are fundamental to learning to read. These are commonly used words in writing so it’s important that your child be able to recognize them, read them and understand what they are. Can you tell me how many sight words you know?

“A funny and fact-filled look at our astoundingly inconsistent written language, from Shakespeare to spell-check.” —St. Petersburg Times David Wolman explores seven hundred years of trial, error, and reform that have made the history of English spelling a jumbled and fascinating mess. In Righting the Mother Tongue, the author of A Left-Hand Turn Around the World brings us the tangled story of English Spelling, from Olde English to email. Utterly captivating, deliciously edifying, and extremely witty, Righting the Mother Tongue is a treat for the language lover—a book that belongs in every personal library, right next to Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, and the works of Bill Bryson and Simon Winchester.

This latest collection of goofs, gabs, and blunders of the English language includes such excerpts as "World War I made the people so sad that it brought on the Great Depression".