Search

Our study examines the extent to which French immersion students use lax /?/ in the same linguistic context as native speakers of Canadian French. Our results show that the lax variant is vanishingly rare in the speech of immersion students and is used by only a small minority of individuals. This is interpreted as a limitation of French immersion students' sociolinguistic competence. Within the group of students who do use both variants, we document a positive correlation between female and middle-class students and use of the lax variant and suggest these speakers are generally more sensitive to sociolinguistic variation. A reverse correlation between English cognates and laxing was found. This is taken as evidence that the learning of laxing is lexically mediated.

In this paper we present a methodological approach that can be used to determine the likelihood that innovations observed in a minority language are the result of language contact. We then use this methodological approach to frame a discussion of data concerning eight innovations that can be attributed to transfer from the majority language (English) to the French of Francophones residing in the province of Ontario in Canada. This discussion shows, notably, how systemic and extra-systemic factors play a role in the emergence of these innovations. We also demonstrate that there are interesting differences in the extent to which these innovations are used across speaker groups and communities, and we argue that such differences suggest that there are thresholds of language contact associated with the emergence, or lack thereof, of particular transfer-induced innovations.

This article examines the sociolinguistic competence of French immersion students. We first present an overview of the range of variation found in L1 speech and make a distinction between vernacular, informal, formal, and hyper-formal variants. We then compare the use of these forms in the speech of Canadian francophones and Grade 9 and 12 students enrolled in a French immersion program. Our analysis shows that the immersion students' sociolinguistic competence is lacking in that they rarely or never use vernacular and informal variants and overuse forms that are formal or hyper-formal. In order to address this shortcoming, we propose a pedagogical methodology for improving students' sociolinguistic competence, concentrating in particular on the need to increase students' use of informal variants (e.g., ne deletion and /l/ deletion) and to decrease their use of hyper-formal ones (e.g., the verb habiter and subject pronoun nous).

This article presents a variationist analysis of verbs meaning "reside" in Ontario French. Four lexical variants are examined: "demeurer," "habiter," "rester" and "vivre." Results reveal that "rester" is used most often by unrestricted speakers and least often by those whose use of French is restricted. "Vivre" is found frequently in the speech of restricted speakers. This result is attributed to intersystemic transfer from English, due to the similarities between "vivre" and the English verb "live." "Demeurer" is used most often in the minority community of Pembroke. Finally, "habiter" is almost never used in Ontario French. In addition, variation is shown to be conditioned by lexical priming. (Contains 7 tables and 5 notes.)

This article is one among a series of studies on the acquisition of patterns of linguistic variation observable in the speech of native speakers of Canadian French by French immersion (FI) students. The present study is centered on deletion of the central vowel schwa, a widespread feature of casual spoken French. In this study, FI students are compared with same age native speakers of Ontario French. Our study has arrived at the following main findings: (I) Fl students delete schwa much less frequently than do the speakers of Ontario French; (II) FI students observe the same phonetic constraints that influence schwa deletion in native Ontario French; (III) FI students do not observe the constraint of topic formality which is observable in native Ontario French; and (IV) FI students who have had extracurricular contacts with native speakers of French display higher rates of schwa deletion than the FI students who have not had such contacts. (Contains 6 tables and 3 footnotes.)

This paper synthesizes research on the acquisition of linguistic variation by learners of French as a second language--an overview that, to our knowledge, is the first of its kind. It also presents a case study on French immersion students' acquisition of the pronouns "nous" and "on" "we," an alternation in many varieties of spoken French. The study shows that the students use the mildly marked variant "on" slightly more often than the formal variant "nous" but much less often than native speakers (who use it almost categorically) and immersion teachers (who strongly favor it). Female and middle-class students favor "nous," students with greater extracurricular French language exposure favor "on," and students who speak a Romance language at home favor "nous." Various explanations are proposed for these correlations. Finally, the students, like L1 Francophones, favor "on" in linguistic contexts in which the referent is both nonspecific and unrestricted.

Examines the variable presence/absence of third person plural marking on French verbs in the speech of French immersion students. Considers both linguistic and social factors that condition variation and compares results with those found for native speakers of French. (Author/VWL)

Abstract This article presents a variationist analysis of verbs meaning “reside” in Ontario French. Four lexical variants are examined: demeurer, habiter, rester and vivre. Results reveal that rester is used most often by unrestricted speakers and least often by those whose use of French is restricted. Vivre is found frequently in the speech of restricted speakers. This result is attributed to intersystemic transfer from English, due to the similarities between vivre and the English verb live. Demeurer is used most often in the minority community of Pembroke. Finally, habiter is almost never used in Ontario French. In addition, variation is shown to be conditioned by lexical priming.

Abstract The present study examines the variable presence/absence of third person plural marking on French verbs in the speech of French immersion students. The analysis considers both linguistic and social factors that condition variation and compares results with those found for native speakers of French. The principle findings are that agreement marking in the speech of immersion students is comparable to that of native Francophones whose use of French is restricted. The only social factor found to condition variation is amount of French language schooling. Several linguistic factors condition variation. Some of these are also found in restricted native speaker French, while others are particular to the immersion students.

Solubility and permeability are intimately linked in drug absorption processes. They have, however, been traditionally assayed separately. To support this linkage, a combined solubility/permeability assay was developed for determining absorption [...]

Chloro- and hydrido-complexes of ruthenium(II) with potassium (4-diphenylphosphino)benzenesulfonate (pTPPMS) were prepared and their properties were compared with those of the related complexes of (3-diphenylphosphino)benzenesulfonates. An X-ray crystal structure determination revealed that the para-sulfonated ligand has a Tolman cone angle slightly smaller than that of P[Ph.sub.3]. It was established by pH-potentiometric measurements and by [sup.1]H and [sup.31]P NMR studies that the distribution of the hydride derivatives [RuClH[(pTPPMS).sub.3]] and [Ru[H.sub.2][(pTPPMS).sub.3,4]] is strongly pH-dependent. Hydrogenation of trans-cinnamaldehyde in aqueous--organic mixtures is catalyzed by [Ru[Cl.sub.2][(pTPPMS).sub.4]] and is also strongly influenced by the pH of the aqueous phase due to the pH-dependent formation of the above hydrides. In acidic solutions (pH < 2) an exclusive C=C reduction takes place, while in alkaline solutions (pH > 6) a selective C=O hydrogenation was observed. Key words: ruthenium, water soluble, hydrogenation, hydrides, sulfonated phosphines, biphasic.

CO(sub 2) is widely available in the atmosphere, and its conversion into useful organic C(sub 1) building blocks as methanol or formate is a great challenge for chemistry. The studies of [RuCl(sub 2)(PTA)(sub 4] precursor shows moderate activity in hydrogenation of CO(sub 2) in aqueous conditions, but the rate increases considerably if HCO(sub 3)- is added as substrate.

The fluidity of Synechocystis membranes was adjusted in vivo by temperature acclimation, addition of fluidizer agent benzyl alcohol, or catalytic lipid hydrogenation specific to plasma membranes. The reduced membrane physical order in thylakoids obtained by either downshifting growth temperature or administration of benzyl alcohol was paralleled with enhanced thermosensitivity of the photosynthetic membrane. Simultaneously, the stress-sensing system leading to the cellular heat shock (HS) response also has been altered. There was a close correlation between thylakoid fluidity levels, monitored by steady-state 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene anisotropy, and threshold temperatures required for maximal activation of all of the HS-inducible genes investigated, including dnaK, groESL, cpn60, and hsp17. The causal relationship between the pre-existing thylakoid physical order and temperature set point of both the transcriptional activation and the de novo protein synthesis was the most striking for the 17-kDa HS protein (HSP17) associated mostly with the thylakoid membranes. These findings together with the fact that the in vivo modulation of lipid saturation within cytoplasmic membrane had no effect on HS response suggest that thylakoid acts as a cellular thermometer where thermal stress is sensed and transduced into a cellular signal leading to the activation of HS genes.

The synthesis, structure and reactivity of several three- and four-coordinate magnesium amides are presented. These compounds are substantially more volatile than Cp2Mg and represent potentially superior source compounds. Application of these complexes as source compounds in chemical vapor deposition processes is discussed. Moreover, the crystal structures of the first neutral, monomeric three-coordinate magnesium compounds are presented.

The interactions of animal venoms with neuronal calcium channels to produce polypeptides are suitable models for the development of therapeutics aiming towards ionophores. The venom of the spider Segestria florentina is used to produce SNX-325, a novel selective calcium channel antagonist peptide. The SNX-325 is not as potent at displacing radioiodinated SNX-111 from rat brain synaptosomal membrane than SNX-111. SNX-325 shows selectivity for calcium currents. The characteristic and methodology of isolating SNX-325 are discussed.

Lysine in position 2 and arginines in positions 10 and 21 are necessary for the interaction of the synthetic polypeptide SNX-111 with N-type channels, and residues between 9 and 14 are important in the reaction. SNX-111, having a peptide sequence corresponding to the omega-conopeptide MVIIA obtained from the venom of fish-eating marine snails, is a potent and selective antagonist of N-type calcium channels. The omega-conopeptides, having a size between 24-29 amino acids, are folded into compact structures through three disulfide bridges that allow the interaction with N-type channels.

Studies reveal that heterobimetallic derivatives of cyclopentadienyltitanium bis(dithiolate) anions arise by reaction with Cu(I) or Rh(I) salts. The products interact with bidentate ligands to yield heterobimetallic complexes. The neutral heterobimetallic compounds possess structures that indicate transition metal to early transition metal interactions. The structures are compared to the Ti fragment structures.

Reactivity studies, electrochemical, structural and spectroanalysis of the formation of Ti-S bonds indicate the presence of a radical process involving Ti(III). Reactions with Ti(IV)/donor and thiol involve a radical process. This accounts for the 'base dependence' of thiolate substitution reactions at Ti(IV).

The solution structure of omega-conotoxin GVIA, a peptide antagonist of the N-type neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channel was studied by employing a two-dimensional NMR, distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics. MARDIGRAS, the full relaxation matrix analysis method, was used to produce maximum and minimum distance restraints from the crosspeak intensities in NOESY spectra. One hundred and eighty-seven restraints were derived and used with 23 angle restraints from vicinal coupling constants for the structure computations. Conotoxins were used for neuroprotective functions in animal models of brain ischemia.

Cyclopentadienyltitanium dithiolate derivatives were readily prepared from CpTiCl3 and 1,3-propanedithiol precursors. Subsequent substitution reactions afforded the desired Ti(IV) compounds. The Lewis acidity of the resulting compounds, which came from three low-lying unoccupied orbitals, determined their reactivity in different interactions. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis characterized the structure of the compounds.