One of a series on Anthropology and Education by the Columbia Teachers College Press, this is a group of papers with a common focus upon language behavior in the classroom. The emphasis of the authors is not on the structure of language, but on how language is used to communicate between teachers and students. The book is divided into three parts: Perspectives from Nonverbal Communication, Varieties of Language and Verbal Repertoire, and Varieties of Communication Strategies. Among the problems discussed are sign language, bilingualism, Black uses of English, and learning studies among Indian children. Each essay, many of which are written by members of minority groups who have experienced difficulty in communication, is followed by a bibliography. (RS)