Papers are presented on the loss of language skills by those who have studied and then discontinued the use of a second language. The scope of the papers is summarized and dimensions of language attrition research is briefly discussed. Theoretical aspects of psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics with special relevance to language loss are addressed in: "Insights from Child Language Acquisition for Second Language Loss" (Jean Berko-Gleason); "Social Factors in Language (and Second Language) Retention" (Robert C. Gardner); "Language Loss and Maintenance in Language Contact Situations (Nancy C. Dorian); and Neurolinguistic Aspects of Language Loss as They Pertain to Second Language Attrition" (Loraine K. Obler). Additional papers include: "Determining the Linguistic Attributes of Language Attrition" (Roger W. Anderson); "Technical Issues in Designing and Conducting Research on Language Skill Attrition" (Rebecca L. Oxford); "Measurement Considerations in Language Attrition Research" (John L. D. Clark); "Language Attrition and the Administration of Secondary School and College Foreign Language Instruction" (Albert Valdman); "The U.S. Government's Foreign Language Attrition and Maintenance Experience" (Pardee Lowe, Jr.); "Policy Implications/Complications Arising from Native Language Attrition in U.S. Ethnolinguistic Minority Groups" (Jack Levy); and "Implications of Language Attrition Research for National Language Policy" (Richard T. Thompson). A summary chart of findings from previous research on language loss and a bibliography, both by Susan G. Williamson, are also included. (SW)