Part I: Language issues in wilder contexts -- Introduction -- The logical bases of linguistic prescriptivism: A parallel between Classical grammarians and Moslem legal theorists -- A methodological check on three cross-polity studies of linguistic homogeneity/heterogeneity -- Aménagements de frontière et datations des changements phonologiques -- L'etat, gardien de la langue: A diachronic view of language policy and planning in Québec -- Part II: Developments in second language pedagogy -- Introduction -- Interaction: The prelude to communication -- The scenario: Its use in interactive second language instruction -- Four conversations: Task variation and classroom learner discourse -- What do we know about effective second language teaching? -- Second language teaching methodologies: Past influences, current practices, future trends -- Lesson design for teachers of language minority students: Insights from a case study of curriculum development -- Using qualitative research to shape policy and promote effective practice in bilingual education: The case of Connecticut -- Part V: The testing of language proficiency -- Introduction -- Testing linguistic and communicative proficiency: The case of reading comprehension -- On teaching and testing learner proficiency in the case of foreign languages used in a diglossic situation -- The validation of oral performance tests for second language learners -- Part VI: Home and school contexts for language learning -- Introduction -- Ethnolinguistic minority groups and literacy: Tom, Dick and Harry at home and at school -- Using the ethnography of African-American communications in teaching composition to bidialectal students -- Home and school contexts for language development: The experience of two Mexican-American preschoolers.