* American Tongues: A Film About the Way We Talk ; Center for New American Media ; 1987 ; 56m. VHS 1963, 3997, 6528, 7238
Illustrates several dialects of the English language within the United States and various attitudes about regional, social, and ethnic differences in American speech.
* Dialects ; National Educational Television Film Service ; 30m. Film 3:91
Explains and demonstrates dialect differences in standard English. Calls upon five guests from different geographical areas in the United States who illustrate pronunciation differences. Shows how language variations are divided into geographical areas. Features Dr. Henry Lee Smith of the University of
Buffalo.
* Do You Speak American? ; Films for the Humanities & Sciences ; 2005 ; 180m. DVD 1659
Examines sociolinguistic questions and the dynamic state of American English, a language rich in regional variety, strong in global impact, and steeped in cultural controversy. [pt. 1.] Up North & #8212; [pt. 2.] Down South & #8212; [pt. 3.] Out West.
* Language ; Coastline Community College / Insight Media ; 1989 ; 30m. VHS 2150
Examines the uniqueness of human language, the development of language, language and the brain, and languag and different cultures.
* Language & Communication ; Insight Media ; 1994 ; 29m. VHS 7119
Shows how language, the primary means of human communication, is expressed in the sounds and movements of every culture to express feelings and aspirations. Discusses the structure of language and its relationship to thought, as well as the significance of body language. Examines dialect, looking at certain Afro-American dialects. Using the example of the Nuer, whose language includes 400 words related to cattle, discusses whether thought reflects or influences culture.
* Language & Mind [Classroom Ed.] ; Into the Classroom Media ; 1997 ; 72m. VHS 5513
Noam Chomsky, noted professor of linguistics, presents a 50-minute lecture on the nature of language, the acquisition of language, the study of language and the inner complex mechanisms of the mind and brain. The biological evolution of language is a distinction between man and animals. Can machines think? This
research aims at eventually developing a complete general theory of language. Much remains to be done.
* Language & Mind [Instructor Ed.] ; Into the Classroom Media ; 1997 ; 82m. VHS 5514
Intended as a companion to the classroom version of the video of the same title, this edition is for out-of-the-classroom reference or instructor use. The extended lecture by Noam Chomsky provides additional examples and discussions exploring the area of language and mind and his theory of generative grammar. An additional section covers the philosophy of language and problems in semantic and phonetic properties of language.
* African-American English: An Introduction ; Info-Link ; 1997 ; 64m. VHS 9209
Dr. Toya Wyatt discusses historical origins, regional variance, and grammatical features of African-American English.
* Black English as an American Dialect ; Chip Taylor Communications ; 1998 ; 30m. VHS 9197
John Rickford, Professor of Linguistics at Stanford University, who has been studying Black English as an American dialect for 25 years, clarifies the issues surrounding the “Ebonics” controversy. He and host Jim Bettinger also discuss the recent controversies surrounding language in general.
* Becoming Bilingual ; Key Light Productions ; 1989 ; 81m. VHS 1447
Provides in-depth views of working programs of bilingual education at both the elementary and high school levels, showing their methods and strategies as well as results. Dispels many of the misconceptions surrounding bilingual education.
* Bilingual Education ; Films for the Humanities & Sciences ; 1992 ; 30m. VHS 2573
This program examines efforts to increase literacy levels and English language skills among Latinos. It also looks at both the use of non-Spanish speakers as bilingual education teachers and the increasing opportunities for Spanish speakers in the workforce.
* English Only in America ; BBC ; 1997 ; 25m. VHS 5974
Examines the debate over the English-only movement in the United States, focusing on repercussions of language policy measures such as California's Proposition 63 and the issues of bilingual education and language in the workplace. Advocates for and against the English-only policy present some of the social, legal, and educational implications.
* ESL / Bilingual Education: In-service for Teachers and Administrators ; Louisiana Public Broadcasting ; 1991 ; 283m. VHS 2825
Professor Henry Stewart and a variety of guest experts explore the many issues that must be considered when developing a curriculum for students learning English as a second language. Pt. 1. Bilingual special education (56:05) & #8212; pt. 2. Teaching math and science to LEP students (56:07) & #8212; pt. 3. ESL and other alternatives (59:36) & #8212; pt. 4. Parental involvement (54:32) & #8212; pt. 5. Gifted and talented LEP students (53:45)
* ESL, English as a Second Language. Addressing the Needs of Language Minority Students ; Louisiana Public Broadcasting ; 1990 ; 550m. VHS 2824
Host Henry Stewart and a variety of guest experts explore the changes in demographics occurring in the U.S. and how these changes effect schools. They explore how language is acquired, the special needs of ESL students, and the multicultural classroom. 1. Serving students of a global society (56:30) & #8212; 2. Second language acquisition (54:36) & #8212; 3. Program models and guidelines for serving students (55:10) & #8212; 4. Identification, entry, placement, exit and follow-up (52:49) & #8212; 5. Meeting literacy needs (58:28) & #8212; 6. Teaching content areas through ESL strategies (58:39) & #8212; 7. Validating the student's culture in the classroom (57:10) & #8212; 8. Assessing and monitoring student progress (57:10) & #8212; 9. Working with culturally diverse parents (56:57) & #8212; 10. Sources and resources for services to LEP students (53:35)
* ESL, English as a Second Language. Methodology and Curriculum Development in Second Language Instruction. ; Louisiana Public Broadcasting ; 1991 ; 550m. VHS 2823
Professor Wayne Gregory and a variety of guest experts explore the many issues that must be considered when developing a curriculum for students learning English as a second language. Pt. 1. Second language acquisition (48:44) & #8212; pt. 2. Content based ESL (52:02) & #8212; pt. 3. Teaching ESL grammar (54:30) & #8212; pt. 4. Teaching ESL reading (57:32) & #8212; pt. 5. Evaluating the ESL student (55:16) & #8212; pt. 6. Current issues in language teaching (58:26) & #8212; pt. 7. The Role of the teacher in curriculum development (51:35) & #8212; pt. 8. Content area ESL instruction (57:22) & #8212; pt. 9. A Curriculum developed on communicative goals (53:54) & #8212; pt. 10. Focusing on sociocultural appropriateness (55:11).
* Learning Together: Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Programs ; Univ. of CA ; 1996 ; 27m. VHS
6050
An overview of the rationale for two-way bilingual immersion. Discusses the model's goals and effectiveness and presents actual classroom scenes depicting bilingual students engaged in challenging academic activities.
* Linda Chavez: Author, Out of the Barrio: Toward a New Politics of Hispanic Assimilation ; C-SPAN ; 1996 ; 57m. VHS 4902
Linda Chavez discusses the social, economic, and political implications of the integration of Hispanics into U.S. culture. She argues in favor of making English the official language of the U.S.
* Spanish-Speakers and Bilingualism ; Films for the Humanities and Sciences ; 1992 ; 19m. VHS 2759
Focus on the different kinds of Spanish spoken in the U.S. and on the interchangeable use, or code switching, of English and Spanish by bilinguals in South Texas.
* Gender & Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior ; UC Extension ; 2001 ; 42m. VHS 8168
This video explores the impact that gender has on both verbal messages including speech, language, and vocabulary, as well as on nonverbal channels of communication such as touch, movement, and gesture.
* Sexism in Language ; Films for the Humanities & Sciences ; 1991 ; 25m. VHS 2056
Presents closely analyzed examples that show how sexism and anti-sexism may be contained in language use - in song lyrics, everyday conversation, news reports, written conventions, and satire.
* The Birth of a Language ; High Road Productions ; 1999 ; 55m. VHS 6760
Explores the history and development of language from the time when early humans
began to have the need to communicate through the development of speech in
modern infants. Presents interviews with anthropologists Sherwood Washburn and Jane
Goodall and considers communication in animals. Also depicts an ape using sign
language, artwork of hominoids digging for food and making tools, and anatomical
models of the speech mechanism.
* The Human Language Series ; Gene Searchinger ; 1995 ; 165m. VHS 3187
Explores human language, its origins, acquisition and evolution. Pt. 1. Discovering the human language & #8212; pt. 2. Acquiring the human language & #8212; pt. 3. The human language evolves.
* In Search of the First Language ; NOVA ; 1994 ; 54m. VHS 3528
Discusses the research that has been done on tracing the roots and families of languages, specifically the Indo-European and the Sino-Tibetan. Shows how certain words, through their sound and grammar can be considered part of a common family, and the evolution or death of a language through time. Portrays efforts to keep the almost extinct language of Salish (northwest Native American) alive; and explores Basque, a unique language.
* The Story of English ; BBC ; 1986 ; 300m. VHS 394
Details the history of the English language and provides a unique focus on current English usage worldwide with a special emphasis on American English. pt. 1. An English speaking world. Mother tongue & #8212; pt. 2. A muse of fire. The guid Scots tongue & #8212; pt. 3. Black on white. Pioneers O Pioneers --pt. 4. Muvver tongue. The loaded weapon & #8212; pt. 5. Next years words: a look into the future.
* Baby Talk ; BBC ; 1984 ; 50m. VHS 2708
Presents various theories of language acquisition during a child's first four years.
* A Child's Guide to Language ; Films for the Humanities ; 1993 ; 50m. VHS 2758
This BBC Horizon program looks at some of the different language acquisition methods in use in schools around the world.
* Language, Learning, and Children ; Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting ; 1981 ; 30m. VHS 6722
Children's language learning is demonstrated and analyzed, including the acquisition of speech, the ability to use language in a social setting, and reading skills.
* Out of the Mouths of Babes ; Filmakers Library ; 1978 ; 28m. DVD 2450, VHS 58
Demonstrates the chronology of normal language acquisition during the first six years of life. Shows Peter and Jill de Villiers of Harvard using structured games and tests to elicit information from children.
* Speaking ; Films for the Humanities & Sciences ; 1999 ; 55m. DVD 2855
Discusses topics of language acquisition by children: process of cognition, babbling, timeframes for learning to speak, etc.
* Worlds of Childhood & #8211; disc 9: Symbol Formation and the Acquisition of Language ; GPN Educational Media ; 1992 ; 30m. DVD 1685 disc 9
Part of a series showing the intimate and accessible scenes of daily life, filmed with 12 families on five continents. A multicultural and cross-cultural package which serves as a unique resource for understanding how youngsters grow and develop in many diverse and pluralistic worlds of childhood.
* Chimp Talk ; Films for the Humanities & Sciences ; 1998 ; 14m. DVD 1630
Originally produced for television broadcast as a episode of: News Hour with Jim Lehrer. Explores the controversial issue of language use by apes with primatologist Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh and Dr. Laura Ann Petitto. The results of Savage-Rumbaugh's 20-year study with chimpanzees reveal that they can use language with the astounding accuracy of a two-year-old human, which includes a rudimentary syntactical ability.
However, Petitto's research indicates that humans have a cognitive predisposition for language lacking in chimps, which leads to the conclusion that although apes communicate by associating symbols with objects and actions, they do not have language abilities in the way that humans do.
* Koko, A Talking Gorilla ; Criterion Collection ; 1977 ; 80m. DVD 2976
Koko, a six-year-old gorilla, is the subject of a controversial Stanford University research project conducted by Penny Patterson. A perceptive simian who communicates with humans via sign language, Koko knows more than 300 signs and can combine them to make new hybrid descriptions. Director Schroeder and cinematographer Almendros present a visual argument exposing the contradictions that arise when scientific experiments are used to graph human behavior onto animals.
* Teaching Sign Language to the Chimpanzee, Washoe ; Penn State Audio-Visual Services ; 1973 ; 48m. VHS 2168
Documents Project Washoe, an experiment in which two-way communication was established with a chimpanzee by means of the sign language of the American deaf, Ameslan. Illustrates the range of the chimp's vocabulary, shows the development of sentence structure, examines the contexts in which she signed, and shows the project's research methodology.
* Think Like an Animal: Cognition Studies ; Films for the Humanities & Sciences ; 1996 ; 51m. DVD 1629
Presents research on animal intelligence and communication from various projects involving chimpanzees, pigeons, African gray parrots, octopuses, and orangutans.
* Washoe: Apes and Sign Language ; Films for Humanities & Sciences ; 1994 ; 52m. DVD
1638
Documentary that traces the life and unique accomplishments of Washoe, the first chimpanzee to communicate with humans and other monkeys in American sign language. Shows Washoe as she was raised like a child by two psychologists, Allen and Beatrix Gardner, who were studying the influence of human interaction on simians.
Their experiment, without precedent, follows Washoe from her first communication in sign language with her human parents, to her role as teacher of sign language to her son and fellow monkeys. Shows all of the monkeys communicating freely without outside prompting.
* Behavior Modification: Teaching Language to Psychotic Children ; Appleton-Century-Crofts ; 1969 ; 42m. VHS 6980
Examines the steps involved in teaching psychotic children the functional use
of speech, and discusses the need for correction of self-stimulation and destructive
behavior before learning can begin. Describes how instruction may proceed through
reward and punishment techniques in the imitation of sounds, labeling of objects,
discrimination among alternatives, recall of experiences, and the development
of a degree of spontaneity.
* L'Enfant Sauvage ; François Truffaut ; 1969 ; 86m.
VDISC 158, DVD 1473
Motion picture based on memories of Victor de l'Aveyron by Jean Itard. Follows
the capture of a young boy found living like an animal in the forest. Dr. Jean-Marc-Gaspard
Itard of the National Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, Paris, believes the
child can be transformed into a civilized being. The doctor removes the boy
from the institute into his own home. The boy, named Victor, is divided between
his longing for the wilderness and his new life with the doctor. Itard, whose
teaching strategies survive today in the Montessori Method, is unsure whether
he is helping a savage become human or turning a forest child into a semi-civilized
idiot.
* Secret of the Wild Child ; NOVA ; 1994 ; 58m. VHS 3320
Presents the story of Genie, a girl who was socially isolated for the first
13 years of her life, discovered in 1970 in southern California. Contrasts
her case with the well-known case of Victor, a French child found and analyzed
in the 18th century. Shows some of the attempts to study and rehabilitate Genie.
* Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds ; Georgetown
Univ. Press ; 2003 ; 13m. DVD 933
Simple Arabic conversational phrases are introduced through a series of short
situational skits. It is especially helpful in introducing the student to the
colloquial dialect of Cairo.
* Connect With English ; Annenberg/CPB Collection ; 1997 ;
991m. VHS 8742
Connect with English is a dramatic new way for speakers of other languages to
learn English. Through the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer on a journey
across America, the series touches on life's important issues: leaving home,
parenting, education, work, love, success, and loss.
* Further Ahead Video ; Cambridge University Press ; 1997
; 55m. VHS 5912
Video designed to help intermediate learners of business English improve their
listening and viewing skills.
* Strategic Interaction in First-Year German ; Australian National University ; 1986 ; 35m. VHS 1732 (VHS 1732.5 & #8212; PAL version)
An introduction to “Strategic Interaction”, a communicative language
teaching approach developed by Robert di Pietro. The video outlines the principles
of Strategic Interaction in English and illustrates these with excerpts from
a first year German class.
* Basic Signs ; Joy Enterprises ; 1987 ; 113m. VHS 899
Excerpts from the 9-hour Joy of Signing series. Videocassette release of 1978
program. [v.1] Basic signs I & #8212; [v.2] Basic signs II.
* Say It With Sign ; Magic Lamp Productions ; 1998 ; 20hrs.
VHS 8185
A husband and wife team of sign language educators teach the
basics of sign language; they introduce hundreds of words, counting, and fingerspelling,
and describe aspects of American lifestyles as they relate to life for and with
the hearing impaired.
* Signing Naturally, Level 1 ; Dawn Sign Press ; 1988 ; 118m.
VHS 8423
Designed for use outside the classroom to reinforce and expand vocabulary, grammar
and language functions taught in the classroom.
* Signing Naturally, Level 2 ; Dawn Sign Press ; 1992 ; 240m.
VHS 8424
Revolves around a major language function: locating things around the house;
complaining and making requests; talking about life events; nationalities and
family histories; describing object; and talking about the weekend.
* Signing Naturally, Level 3 ; Dawn Sign Press ; 2001 ; 137m. VHS 8412
Reinforces and expands on vocabulary, grammar and language functions taught in the classroom.
* People of theCaribbean ; Video Knowledge
; 1990 ; 59m. VHS 2790
A bilingual program designed to develop concepts regarding the heritage of our
minority groups. Highlights the countries that have sent many Black and Spanish-speaking
people to our country, including Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica,
Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Cuba. Cassette contains a program in English
(27:30 min.) followed by the identical program in Spanish (31:30 min.)
* Survival Spanish ; Language Plus ; 1984 ; 59m. VHS 7653
Ten lessons of conversational Spanish focusing on thinking in Spanish rather than on grammatical rules, enabling the student to become fluent more rapidly. The lessons cover realistic survival situations.
* A Motivational Strategy for Language Learning ; Sky Oaks Productions ; 1975 ; 30m.
VHS 2889
Demonstrates a method of teaching foreign languages where little use is made of reading and writing in teaching Spanish to a class. The purpose is to maintain high motivation in use of the language by having the students take commands from the instructor and eventually repeat the commands as well as do role play situations.
* Body Language: Non-verbal Communication ; Learning Seed ; 1994 ; 25m. VHS 9261
Teaches how gestures, posture, eye movements and control of personal space are
important means of communication. pt. 1. Gestures and signals & #8212; pt. 2. Eye
contact & #8212; pt. 3. Facial expressions & #8212; pt. 4. Posture & #8212; pt. 5. Position and
territory.
* The Human Animal: A Natural History of the Human Species (v.1 & #8211; The
Language of the Body) ; Discovery Channel ; 1999 ; 50m. VHS 6941
In this series, Desmond Morris examines human behavior and the human condition.
Issues such as body language, human evolution, modern culture, love and sex,
human genetics and human creativity are discussed.
* Nonverbal Communication ; MJD Productions ; 1995 ; 29m.
VHS 6654
Discusses how nonverbal communication can either work for or against you in
supervisory and selling situations. Special topics include proxemics, objects,
posture and gestures. The video is based on behavioral research but presented
with easy to understand everyday examples.
* Sound and Fury ; Docurama ; 2000 ; 80m. DVD 1383
If you could make your deaf child hear, would you? Sound and fury is the intimate,
heart-rending tale of the Artinians, an extended family with deaf and hearing
members across three generations. Together they confront a technological device
that can help the deaf to hear but may also threaten deaf culture, and their
bonds with each other.
* Through Deaf Eyes ; PBS Home Video ; 2007 ; 120m. DVD 3603
Explores nearly 200 years of Deaf life in America. Presents the experiences of American history from the perspective of deaf citizens.
Six artistic works by Deaf media artists are woven throughout the documentary that compliment the core of the film.
* A World of Differences: Understanding Cross Cultural Communication ; Univ. of CA Extension ; 1997 ; 35m. VHS 5730
Gestures from different cultures around the world are explored. People from
many nations are shown performing all kinds of gestures and the different gestures
that there are. Also explored are the meaning, function and origin of gestures.
* A World of Gestures: Cultural and Nonverbal Communication ; Univ. of CA Extension ; 1991 ; 27m. VHS 2709
Gestures from different cultures around the world are explored. People from
many nations are shown performing all kinds of gestures and the different gestures
that they are. Also explored are the meaning, function and origin of gestures.
* Navajo Code Talkers: the Epic Story ; Tully Entertainment ; 1995 ; 58m. VHS 4384
During World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps recruited Navajo Indians for duty
as communication specialists. The Navajos developed a special voice code based
on the Navajo language to transmit battlefield messages during the Pacific campaign.
This code was never broken by the Japanese.
* Yeah, You Rite! ; Center for New American Media ; 1984 ; 26m. VHS 2105
The English language as spoken in New Orleans has been influenced by the city's rich and varied history, leaving it with dozens of unique words and phrases that all New Orleanians understand but which frequently baffle visitors.
* Arabic (Eastern): The Complete Course ; Pimsleur Language Programs ; 1999. Cd-Audio no. 90
* Basic French ; Audio-Forum ; 197?. Cassette 1197
* Beginning Indonesian ; Cornell University ; 199?. Cassette 1228
* Basic Functional Japanese ; Japan Times ; 1987. Cassette 1084
* An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese = Chukyu no Nihongo ; Japan Times ; 1994. Cassette 1183
*Oxford Take Off in Japanese ; Oxford Univ. Press ; 2000. Cassette 1286
* Den Dus Bod Kyi Skad Yig : Modern Tibetan Language ; Library of Tibetan Works & Archives ; 1984. Cassette 1227
* Comparative Sound Systems ; Drake Educational Associates ; 1976. Cassette 1002
Explores the use of phonetics in aiding learners with pronunciation difficulties.
Includes : reasons for comparing sound systems, introduction to the use of sounds
in terms of articulation, the structure of sound systems, a phonemic inventory
of English.
* Concise Heritage Dictionary: Voice-Indexed Dictionary for Blind and Physically Handicapped People ; Houghton Mifflin ; 1976. Cassette 159
* Contrastive Syntax and Error Analysis ; Drake Educational Associates ; 1976. Cassette 1015
* The Development of the English Language ; Drake Educational Associates ; 1978. Cassette 1013
* Etymology and the English Vocabulary ; Drake Educational
Associates ; 1978. Cassette 1020
A discussion of the origin and development of the English vocabulary and the
main sources of the English wordstock.
* International English : A Guide to Varieties of Standard English ; Edward Arnold ; 1982. Cassette 160
* Language & Definitions ; Audio-Forum ; 1975. Cassette
1026
Lecture on the use of language as a component of thought.
* Language: Key to Human Understanding. Cassette 1034
* Making Sense of the Verb in English ; Drake Educational
Associates ; 1982. Cassette 1016
Looks at the verbs in English and discusses a number of ways of subdividing
the verb class: by form (morpholgical) and from point of view of meaning (semantics).
* Meaning and Language ; Drake Educational Associates ; 1979. Cassette 1021
* Phonemic Transcription of English ; Drake Educational Associates
; 1982. Cassette 1019
Provides a graded sequence of expositions and tests for students of linguistics.
* Rhythms and Tunes of English ; Drake Educational Associates
; 1981. Cassette 1059
Pitch and rhythm together play a significant part in determining English meanings, but they operate at a level which is largely opaque to ordinary users of the language. These tapes and book provide an introduction to intonation of English.
* Science Looks at Speech ; JNP Tape Library. Cassette 1027
* The Sounds of English ; Drake Educational Associates ;
1976. Cassette 1001
Describes phonetics as one of the linguistic sciences, including: practical
phonetics, the bases of speech, practicing segmental sounds of English, advice
on teaching of speech sounds.
* Taking Center Stage: Drama in America ;
Univ. of MI Press ; 1997. Cassette 1226
An advanced level text for Alliance, the Michigan State University textbook
series of theme-based content instruction for ESL-EFL.
* Text Interpretation ; Drake Educational Associates ; 1982.
Cassette 1018
Description of a procedure for arriving at a linguistically based text interpretation,
together with a practical example based on Keats’ “La Belle Dame sans merci”.
* Three Theories of Grammar ; Jeffrey Norton Publishers ; 1968. Cassette 1028
Jump to top of page.