8.1566, Qs: ESL, Dialects, Language Planning in China

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List:  Vol-8-1566. Fri Oct 31 1997. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 8.1566, Qs: ESL, Dialects, Language Planning in China

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 ==========================================================================

We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then  strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list.   This policy was
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=================================Directory=================================

1)
Date:  30 Oct 97 15:13:06 PST
From:  Laurie.Zaring at directory.reed.edu (Laurie Zaring)
Subject:  ESL Proficiency Testing

2)
Date:  Thu, 30 Oct 1997 18:16:35 -0500 (EST)
From:  MichaelSC at aol.com
Subject:  Dialects in the World

3)
Date:  Fri, 31 Oct 1997 17:54:06 +0800
From:  Peter Yongqi Gu <petergu at ln.edu.hk>
Subject:  Language Planning in China

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  30 Oct 97 15:13:06 PST
From:  Laurie.Zaring at directory.reed.edu (Laurie Zaring)
Subject:  ESL Proficiency Testing

I'm looking for some easy-to-implement testing procedures for determining the
approximate level of proficiency (oral and/or written) of non-native speakers
of English.  I have an undergraduate student who is pursuing an independent
research project working with speakers of Mandarin Chinese, and she needs to be
able to gauge roughly the degree to which they speak English.  I know that
ACTFL has a detailed process for assessment of written and spoken proficiency
in many languages, but this involves a lengthy training process and goes into
much more detail that we need for this particular project.  Does anyone know of
less-detailed and more readily-available testing materials that might lend
themselves to what we need?  If so, please contact me at:

Laurie.Zaring at reed.edu

Thanks in advance!

Laurie Zaring


-------------------------------- Message 2 -------------------------------

Date:  Thu, 30 Oct 1997 18:16:35 -0500 (EST)
From:  MichaelSC at aol.com
Subject:  Dialects in the World

I am trying to find out how many dialects exist.  I don't need an EXACT
number but something in the ballpark would be useful.  I know that there are
~ 6,700 languages in the world but there MUST be more variants than that.  If
you have any idea, please contact me @ margaritaman at linkport.com (NOT by
replying to this message!) as I am using a co-worker's account at my
internship site.

Thanks for your help!

Kevin Orfall


-------------------------------- Message 3 -------------------------------

Date:  Fri, 31 Oct 1997 17:54:06 +0800
From:  Peter Yongqi Gu <petergu at ln.edu.hk>
Subject:  Language Planning in China

I'm looking for materials published in English regarding language planning
and language policy in China. I posted this question to the BILINGUAL list
and got only a few replies. Would someone here give me some pointers please.
Thanks!
Peter



  ___________________________________________________________________
               Dr. Peter Yongqi Gu, Assistant Professor
        Dept of English, Lingnan College, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
  Tel: (852) 2616-7783 Fax: (852) 2461-5270  Email: petergu at ln.edu.hk

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