Language in the Education of the Working Class

A shortened version of a lecture delivered at the University of Sussex, October 1981. The original list of references stands.
It is a limitation in much of the literature on language and class that the language (or sociolect) of each class is treated as though it exists in isolation from that of other classes and independent of class relationships. In fact it is an important feature of our society that workers encounter the language of other social strata in certain significant contexts, in their place of work, in the media, in their necessary negotiations with bureaucracy. Children encounter a sociolect different from their own in school though that contact is full of social and linguistic ambiguities. But as Edward Thompson (1965) says     

The Use of Arabized Software Packages in Jordan University Libraries

This study reviews the higher education movement, and the development of Universities in Jordan. Academic libraries use of Arabized software packages (MINISIS and CDS/ISIS), rationale for selection, applications, services, problems, solutions, and future plans are surveyed. Types of hardware, staff, and material entries are discussed. The study samples included 20 libraries. All of 17 (85%) respondent libraries are computerized. Six (35·3%) use MINISIS, nine (52·9%) use CDS/ISIS, and two (11·8%) use customized packages. Systems are mostly employed in technical processing, reference services, bibliographies, and acquisitions. Adaptability to Arab libraries functions, handling of bi-lingual documents, and networking ability are the prime priority, inter alia , reasons for packages selection. Insufficient funds and equipment, and unskilled staff are the major hindrances which obstruct the full use of packages. This study stresses the need to develop packages conducive to meet particular Arab libraries demands, plans for manpower academic training, and the necessity for libraries linkage to networks.