The 2000 Georgetown University Round Table on Languages and Linguistics brought together distinguished linguists from around the globe to discuss applications of linguistics to important and intriguing real-world issues within the professions. With topics as wide-ranging as coherence in operating room communication, involvement strategies in news analysis roundtable discussions, and jury understanding of witness deception, this resulting volume of selected papers provides both experts and novices with myriad insights into the excitement of cross-disciplinary language analysis. Readers will find—in the words of one contributor—that in such cross-pollination of ideas, "there's tremendous hope, there's tremendous power and the power to transform."

James E. Alatis is distinguished professor of linguistics and modern Greek, and dean emeritus, School of Languages and Linguistics at Georgetown University, as well as director of the MAT Program and department vice-chair.

Heidi E. Hamilton is associate professor of sociolinguistics at Georgetown University.

Ai-Hui Tan is the coordinator of the Georgetown Round Table on Languages and Linguistics, 2000.

"Language is at the heart of professional work. Here is a book that shows what can be achieved when expert linguists really engage with professional practice across a wide terrain."

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