Client-Server ODBC-Programming - Best Choices

Could someone help me with a problem that has recently challenged me in my research ? I have to design a client-server system to support a big database on computational linguistics at our university computer lab (using ODBC drivers) and I am somewhat at sea as to a) which DBMS to use, and b) which programming system to choose to program the access and user interface. The choices suggested by our system manager are: for databases - FoxPro for Windows, Paradox for Windows, MS Access, Clipper for Windows, Borland Delphi'95, PowerBuilder, JAM for Windows, Oracle (Oracle Cooperative Development Environment), Informix-NewEra; for programming - MS Visual C++, MS Visual Basic, Borland C++ with Database Engine. I have extensive experience working with Oracle (ver.5,6) and some ideas about MS Access, and I use Microsoft Visual C++ all the time, but I cannot evaluate this huge range of software in terms of compatibility, efficiency, etc. Could someone who has had more experience working with the above-mentioned products give me some lights as to what could be the best choices in my case? Thanks A LOT, Alex