The P.I. is developing this project in response to two unrelated events: 1) recent NSF research initiatives regarding human dimensions of global environmental change, and 2) an invitation from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to participate in a forthcoming international conference that will examine the relationship between linguistic diversity and various social problems. The P.I.'s paper in Budapest, September 1989 will examine parallels between socialinguistic diversity and literacy as they correspond to the social stratification of health care in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The P.I. plans to extend this research to the domain of environmental change. The nature of this research requires that the P.I. travel for consultation. The P.I., therefore, requests travel funds along with funds to pay research assistants and to purchase some equipment.
