In this paper we bridge local and global approximation theorems for po
sitive linear operators via Ditzian-Totik moduli omega(phi)(2)(f, delt
a) of second order whereby the step-weights phi are functions whose sq
uares are concave. Both direct and converse theorems are derived. In p
articular we investigate the situation for exponential-type and Bernst
ein-type operators. (C) 1998 Academic Press.