Language Change Research Articles

Exploring Developmental Connections: Sleep Patterns, Self-Locomotion, and Vocabulary Growth in Early Childhood.

Current research indicates likely developmental connections between the evolution of sleep patterns, motor skills progression, and the expansion of vocabulary. These connections are grounded in the well-established role of sleep in memory and learning, as well as in the cascading effects on language development of the acquisition of new motor skills. However, no study has so far undertaken a comprehensive and systematic examination of these connections or explored their developmental trajectory over time. Yet understanding vocabulary development depends on considering development in the sleep regulation and motor domains, to provide a biologically grounded explanation of how early lexicons are built and strengthened. This study investigates the links between vocabulary growth and two significant changes occurring over the first 2years of life: self-initiated locomotion and the consolidation of overnight sleep. Our results reveal mutual associations between these domains, which tend to emerge during periods of marked developmental change in language, motor skills, and sleep patterns regulation. Moreover, these associations were observed to change over time, suggesting dynamic interconnections between these developmental domains. Our findings point toward the importance of investigating vocabulary development from a dynamic systems perspective, as the product of continuous interactions between cognition, the body and the environment.

Cultivating trans linguistics: Creativity and contestation

This special issue on trans linguistics forefronts both resistance and creativity in responding to transphobia and other interlocking power dynamics that trans people must navigate. These practices exist in the context of growing hostilities, violence and repression of gender non-normative practices on a global scale. The articles highlight the unique configurations of communication born out of trans experiences, illustrating how their study can produce novel insights for the study of language. Together, the authors featured here expand the emerging field of trans linguistics, considering questions of legitimacy, visibility, agency and power by examining trans vocal, grammatical and discursive practices within their sociopolitical contexts. We come to this work as trans people and linguists who have been deeply involved in advancing trans-affirming linguistic change, but who see much room for growth in the ways our discipline serves, represents and accompanies trans people.

Lexical Changes in Qassimi Arabic: A Linguistic Analysis of Intergenerational Variation

Lexical Changes in Qassimi Arabic: A Linguistic Analysis of Intergenerational Variation

ПРАКТИКО-ОРІЄНТОВАНИЙ ПІДХІД ДО ВИКЛАДАННЯ ДИСЦИПЛІНИ «ІСТОРІЯ АНГЛІЙСЬКОЇ МОВИ» НА ФІЛОЛОГІЧНИХ ФАКУЛЬТЕТАХ ЗАКЛАДІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

The article deals with a practice-oriented approach to teaching the discipline “History of the English Language” at the philological faculties of higher education institutions, with an emphasis on combining theoretical education and training practical skills in their usage for explaining language phenomena and ties in communicative situations at different historical stages. Since this course combines historical, linguistic and cultural aspects, it is important to develop students' ability not only to learn theoretical foundations but also to apply this knowledge in real-life language contexts. The main principles of the practice-oriented approach are interactivity and the connection of theory with practice. The use of active learning methods, such as role-playing games, project activities, and group work, promotes deeper student engagement in the educational process. In particular, role-playing games allow you to project certain language situations at different stages of the formation of a foreign language system, involve students in defining and explaining language constructions and phenomena, and analyze the impact of certain historical processes on the modern system of the English language, which, in turn, will provide a better understanding of the historical, social, and cultural factors of the language evolution as a whole. In this aspect, tasks that involve the analysis of authentic texts from different historical periods and the practice of translating texts from Old English or Middle English into modern English become important. The use of contextual exercises during practical lessons in the discipline "History of the English language", which help students understand language changes through practical tasks, is also an effective tool in the educational process. As a result of the practice-oriented approach, students not only acquire theoretical knowledge, but also learn to apply it in practice, which significantly improves the quality of their professional training. This approach allows students to develop the necessary skills for a deep understanding and interpretation of language changes, and provides a holistic perception of the history of the English language in the context of cultural and social processes, which is important for their future professional activities.

Effect of Supplemental Language Therapy on Cortical Neuroplasticity and Language Outcomes in Children with Hearing Loss

Background/Objectives: The cortical auditory evoked potential P1 response is a biomarker of cortical auditory maturation for tracking longitudinal cortical maturation in children with hearing loss after treatment with hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. In conjunction with hearing treatments, children with hearing loss commonly receive language therapy services. However, the effect of language therapy on cortical maturation in hearing loss is less well studied. Methods: This study explored auditory cortical maturation changes, using the P1 response, with coinciding language changes, utilizing the Preschool Language Scales test, following approximately six months of supplemental listening and spoken language therapy services in 39 children with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Results: Following supplemental language therapy, P1 latencies significantly decreased in all children, at a rate found to be significantly faster than expected for typical maturation. Language scores also significantly improved beyond expected maturation effects and were correlated with P1 latencies following supplemental therapy. Overall, with approximately six months of therapy, the children in this study made significantly greater gains of 9 to 10 months in total language and expressive communication. A subgroup analysis revealed that children with cochlear implants showed significantly lower language scores than their chronological age following supplemental therapy, while children with hearing aids obtained language scores that were not significantly different to their chronological age at follow-up. Conclusions: Overall, the results from this study showed that supplemental language therapy resulted in more typical auditory cortical maturation and improved language abilities and that the P1 CAEP response can objectively track neuroplastic changes in children as a function of language therapy provided in conjunction with hearing aids and CIs.

Executive Presence Among Young Management and Law Students of SPMVV: An Interventional Study

Executive presence (EP) is a critical attribute for success in leadership roles, combining confidence, communication skills, and the ability to inspire trust. This interventional study explores the impact of targeted EP training on management and law students at Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV). A total of 100 students participated. They underwent a structured EP enhancement program comprising workshop on nonverbal communication, public speaking, and self-awareness. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured changes in key EP dimensions, including selfconfidence, body language, and verbal clarity. Results revealed a significant improvement in the group, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention in equipping future leaders with essential executive competencies. This study underscores the importance of integrating EP development into higher education curricula, particularly for management and law disciplines.

Temporal Word Embeddings for Early Detection of Psychological Disorders on Social Media

Abstract Mental health disorders represent a public health challenge, where early detection is critical to mitigating adverse outcomes for individuals and society. The study of language and behavior is a pivotal component in mental health research, and the content from social media platforms serves as a valuable tool for identifying signs of mental health risks. This paper presents a novel framework leveraging temporal word embeddings to capture linguistic changes over time. We specifically aim at at identifying emerging psychological concerns on social media. By adapting temporal word representations, our approach quantifies shifts in language use that may signal mental health risks. To that end, we implement two alternative temporal word embedding models to detect linguistic variations and exploit these variations to train early detection classifiers. Our experiments, conducted on 18 datasets from the eRisk initiative (covering signs of conditions such as depression, anorexia, and self-harm), show that simple models focusing exclusively on temporal word usage patterns achieve competitive performance compared to state-of-the-art systems. Additionally, we perform a word-level analysis to understand the evolution of key terms among positive and control users. These findings underscore the potential of time-sensitive word models in this domain, being a promising avenue for future research in mental health surveillance.

Digital Health Transformation: Leveraging a Knowledge Graph Reasoning Framework and Conversational Agents for Enhanced Knowledge Management

The research focuses on the limitations of traditional systems in optimizing information flow in the healthcare domain. It focuses on integrating knowledge graphs (KGs) and utilizing AI-powered applications, specifically conversational agents (CAs), particularly during peak operational hours in emergency departments (EDs). Leveraging the Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) framework, the authors tailored a customized methodology, CRISP-knowledge graph (CRISP-KG), designed to harness KGs for constructing an intelligent knowledge base (KB) for CAs. This KG augmentation empowers CAs with advanced reasoning, knowledge management, and context awareness abilities. We utilized a hybrid method integrating a participatory design collaborative methodology (CM) and Methontology to construct a domain-centric robust formal ontological model depicting and mapping information flow during peak hours in EDs. The ultimate objective is to empower CAs with intelligent KBs, enabling seamless interaction with end users and enhancing the quality of care within EDs. The authors leveraged semantic web rule language (SWRL) to enhance inferencing capabilities within the KG framework further, facilitating efficient information management for assisting healthcare practitioners and patients. This innovative assistive solution helps efficiently manage information flow and information provision during peak hours. It also leads to better care outcomes and streamlined workflows within EDs.

Language Contact and Morpho-Syntactic Change in Bajjika: A Sociolinguistic Study of Auxiliary Verb Variation

This study examines the impact of language contact on morpho-syntactic change in Bajjika, a minority language spoken in the north-western districts of Bihar, India. Specifically, we investigate the adoption of the Bhojpuri auxiliary verb hawe in Bajjika, and its implications for language variation and change. Our analysis is based on a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data from 12 speakers across four age groups. The findings suggest that language contact with Bhojpuri has led to the diffusion of new auxiliary verb forms in Bajjika, particularly among adult speakers. Interestingly, our data reveal a conflict-driven motivation for this language change, with Bajjika speakers adopting Bhojpuri forms as a means of distancing themselves from Maithili, a language closely associated with the Brahmin castes in Bihar. Our study contributes to a nuanced understanding of language contact, variation, and change, and highlights the complex interplay between social, cultural, and linguistic factors in shaping language use.

Career-related learning of non-European full-time master's students in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT In this paper, we examine the influence of higher education systems on the career-related learning and development of non-European master’s students in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Based on 28 in-depth interviews with graduates originating from India, China, and Iran, our analysis suggests that five contextual elements have a major influence on students’ career development: change of major, course language, internships, course duration, and group work. These elements offer unique opportunities for students to enhance their career-related learning during studies, resulting in differences in foreign language proficiency, the expansion and deepening of subject-specific and labour market knowledge, and the establishment of career networks. Additionally, these differences create diverse horizons and levels for career management and professional identity.

Last embodiments of Traditionalism: Comparing Responses to Colonialism in the Protagonists of "Twilight in Delhi" and "Things Fall Apart"

This comparative analysis examines how the protagonists in Ahmed Ali's "Twilight in Delhi" and Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" respond to colonialism's cultural and political influence on their societies. This study examines how the protagonists, Mir Nihal and Okonkwo, symbolize traditional values and beliefs threatened by colonial forces, drawing on postcolonial literary theory. This analysis reveals how the protagonists' responses to colonialism differ, with Mir Nihal striving to protect traditional values in the face of colonial encroachment. However, Okonkwo's response is characterized by violent resistance. This paper also examines how colonialism affects cultural identity and traditionalism in India and Nigeria, including social structure and language changes. Finally, this study contends that the characters' responses to colonialism in these novels can be used to comprehend colonialism's more significant cultural and political effects on traditional civilizations.

The design principles of a sociolinguistic typological questionnaire for language contact research

Abstract This paper presents the design rationale and pilot demonstration of the GramAdapt Social Contact questionnaire; a research tool developed for collecting global comparative sociolinguistic data on language contact scenarios. The questionnaire is qualitative with quantitative potential, inviting language community experts to provide best-assessment answers to questions about social contact in their communities of expertise. The main purpose is to compare contact scenarios, however the questionnaire can also be a broad survey of any given contact situation as it was designed to target factors associated with language contact and change phenomena at large. Two experts of small-scale multilingual communities answer an abridged version of the questionnaire to qualitatively demonstrate this proof of concept. The experts of Mawng and Kunbarlang (northern Australia), and Tundra Enets and Nganasan (northern Siberia) were chosen as these communities defy nation-based models of multilingualism. The responses are broadly successful, thus demonstrating the theoretical contribution and methodological potential of this questionnaire.

The cyclicity of reborrowing and the ping-pong effect: The case of Arabic–Hebrew–Arabic ṣabāba/sababa ‘ok’

Aims and objectives: The nature of the effect of language contact has been a source for extensive investigation in the linguistic field. More specifically, the case of reborrowing, that is, the shift from language A to language B and then cyclically back to language A, often involving a change in meaning and/or form, has been a source for extensive interest. In this paper, we examined the word ṣabāba/sababa ‘o.k’ as a case study of reborrowing from Classical Arabic into Israeli Hebrew and then back to Spoken Palestinian Arabic. We show that while language contact does motivate and affect change, it does not necessarily take part in internal changes exhibited in the target language itself, but can, in turn, later be exhibited back in the original language or one of its dialects. In addition, as language-contact change operates according to more general principles of linguistic change, such as grammaticalization, we shall demonstrate both intra- and inter-language changes. Methodology and data: We used the Lisān al-ʿArab (لسان العرب, ‘Tongue of Arabs’) dictionary for the etymological investigation in Arabic,1 the corpus of the Quran for historical Arabic data, scripts and poems from the Mamluk Arabic period for the Middle Ages’ Arabic data,2 and for contemporary spoken Arabic, we used a corpus of 100 random WhatsApp messages of Israeli Arab Bedouin students (such usage exists in all Palestinian Arabic dialects). For the Hebrew data, we used the Israeli Historical Jpress Corpus3 and the Hebrew Historical Maagarim corpus;4 and finally, for contemporary Hebrew data, we used 100 random examples from the hetenten corpus.5 Analysis: We found a reborrowing ‘ping pong effect’, from classical Arabic to 20th-century Hebrew, and in the contemporary 21st century back to Spoken Palestinian Arabic. We also found a phonetic change from Classical Arabic ṣabāba صَباَبة to Contemporary Arabic sababa صبابا. A similar phonetic change occurred in Hebrew, from sabaaba סבאבה to sababa סבבה. Thus, this was not a diachronic shift from Classical Arabic to Spoken Arabic, but rather the classical Arabic word was borrowed into Hebrew and then, in a ‘ping-pong’ reborrowing shift, went back to spoken Arabic. This process involved mechanisms of metonymy, bridging contexts, and lexicalization. Conclusions: While language contact does motivate and affect change, it does not necessarily occur through internal changes exhibited in the target language itself but rather can be transferred back, in a cyclical fashion, to the original language. These results focused on a bilingual community, shedding additional light on the nature of linguistic processes of reborrowing and language contact.

Is structural priming a possible mechanism of language change in heritage language grammars? Some evidence from accusative clitic doubling in Spanish

Is structural priming a possible mechanism of language change in heritage language grammars? Some evidence from accusative clitic doubling in Spanish

Fenomena Perluasan Makna dalam Interaksi Penutur Bahasa Indonesia di Media Sosial X (Januari—Juli 2024): Analisis Semantik

This study aims to see language change in the form of meaning expansion between Indonesian speakers on social media X in the period January to July 2024. This qualitative research uses the method of listening and recording to collect data from the interaction of Indonesian speakers. The results of this study show that there are 11 data found to have experienced changes in the meaning of language in the expansion of meaning. The most frequently found causal factors are social and cultural change factors, then previous meaning associations and differences in areas of use. The three causal factors for the expansion of meaning with each data are as follows: 1) association factors totaling 3 data, namely in the words "goreng", "sampah", and "binatang"; 2) factors of differences in areas of use totaling 3 data, namely in the words or lexemes "najis", "receh/recehan", and "matang"; 3) social and cultural changes totaling 5 data, namely in the words "sepuh", "aman", "garing", "jompo", and "drama".The most common causative factors found are social and cultural change factors, then previous meaning associations and differences in fields of use.

The sociolinguistic foundations of language modeling.

In this article, we introduce a sociolinguistic perspective on language modeling. We claim that language models in general are inherently modeling varieties of language, and we consider how this insight can inform the development and deployment of language models. We begin by presenting a technical definition of the concept of a variety of language as developed in sociolinguistics. We then discuss how this perspective could help us better understand five basic challenges in language modeling: social bias, domain adaptation, alignment, language change, and scale. We argue that to maximize the performance and societal value of language models it is important to carefully compile training corpora that accurately represent the specific varieties of language being modeled, drawing on theories, methods, and descriptions from the field of sociolinguistics.

Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) implementations to control cholera outbreak in Oromia region, Ethiopia

BackgroundOromia regional state experiencing cholera outbreaks in a protracted pattern despite various interventions at local and regional levels. This study aimed to examine the implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities for cholera outbreak control in the region.MethodsWe conducted a quantitative and qualitative mixed-method study. The study included 422 respondents for quantitative, 22 key informant interviews (KII), and 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for the qualitative methods. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities were assessed using standard questionnaires adapted from national cholera guideline later categorized as poor, satisfactory and good. The findings have also been derived qualitatively from three distinct themes or pillars, specifically (coordination and logistics, RCCE, and the Oral Cholera Vaccine). The quantitative data were analyzed using Stata, version 14.0, and ATLAS.ti9 software was used for qualitative data analysis. An ordinal logistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with the RCCE status, and a thematic content analysis was performed for the qualitative study. Odds Ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to present the findings from the quantitative analysis.ResultsOnly 53% (223) of participants had received health information on cholera of whom 22.8% (96) had material for Social Behaviour Change (SBC) in the local language (Afan Oromo). The overall RCCE implementation status was rated as poor by 73% of the respondents, satisfactory by 23%, and only 4% rated it as good. Level of education and occupation of the house are among the factors affecting the implementation of RCCE. The qualitative findings revealed a lack of regular community dialogues, and community engagements were notably minimal during the early phase of the outbreak. Overall, the RCCE implementation activities were characterized by inconsistency, a lack of comprehensiveness, and uniformity across all levels.ConclusionThe RCCE-related intervention activities were found to be minimal, inconsistent and less focused. The RCCE interventions and awareness creation need to begin with the small units of the community structures, including individuals and families and have to happen continuously with the community, and health workers' involvement at all level. Preliminary evaluation of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) materials before their distribution should be made, and adopting diverse communication modalities to control the outbreak.

Kesalahan Ejaan dan Tanda Baca pada Berita Online Terbitan Sukoharjonews Edisi Oktober 2024

As a communication tool, language requires precise rules in spelling and punctuation to convey messages effectively. Speaking means the activity of using a language. Language errors often occur due to language users who do not understand the language rules they use. This study was made with the aim of identifying and analyzing spelling and punctuation errors contained in online news published by Sukoharjonews in the October 2024 edition. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method to collect and analyze data containing language errors. This analysis classifies the types of errors contained in the online news portal into two types of categories, namely the spelling error category and the punctuation error category. The results of the analysis show the existence of various errors such as errors in writing foreign language absorption words that are not italicized which is the most common form of error found, as well as errors in the use of punctuation marks which often experience errors in placing a certain punctuation mark. These errors can potentially damage the clarity of the message and reduce readers' trust in the news. Therefore, news writers need to pay more attention to spelling and punctuation rules to ensure effective and accurate communication. This research emphasizes the importance of a deep understanding of spelling and punctuation as part of the writing skills that journalists and writers should possess.

Формирование языковой личности сотрудника органов внутренних дел Российской Федерации

The modern image of a policeman in Russia seems to citizens to be fair and hardy, responsible and disciplined, polite and tactful, ready to help in any situation, i.e. a professional with a capital letter, capable of conducting a constructive dialogue and proficient in the norms and rules of the modern Russian literary language. One of the main indicators of the professionalism of police officers is the level of development of professional speech culture. What disciplines are studied at the Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia that contribute to the formation of a "linguistic personality" of an employee in continuing education, as well as necessary for improving professional and speech activities in conditions of obtaining additional qualifications, retraining and training in an adjunct course. The article discusses the issues of training managerial and scientific and pedagogical personnel in the leading educational organization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the basis of which are such disciplines as practical rhetoric, Russian language and speech culture, psychology and pedagogy of higher education, cultural studies. Research methods: content analysis, analysis of work programs studied at the Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia disciplines, generalization of the results. Support of the Russian language and preservation of the culture of speech is one of the priorities of the state policy of the Russian Federation in 2024. In the Russian law enforcement system, the police occupies one of the key places, performing certain tasks and functions to protect the rights and interests of citizens from criminal encroachments and maintaining law and order in constant interaction with the population. The activity of an employee of the internal affairs bodies in the Russian Federation is aimed at obtaining a constructive dialogue with public authorities, organizations and institutions, public associations, with various categories of citizens, as well as with colleagues and subordinates, thus the possession of the word as a means of communication is one of the main criteria for the professional activity of a police officer.

Bi-aspectual verbs in heritage Russian against the background of baseline language dynamics

Our study investigates language processing in mono- and multilingual settings, focusing on language dynamics in heritage Russian against the background of baseline Russian.In this context, we explore bi-aspectual verbs as an unstable part of Russian grammar. As verbs without morphologically marked expression of aspectual contrasts, bi-aspectual verbs represent a special case within Russian aspectual morphology and demonstrate significant variations in their monolingual use. Our study examines the use of bi-aspectual verbs in heritage Russian acquired as a home language in a multilingual environment in families with migrant background. In contrast to monolingual speakers, heritage speakers operate with polylingual variation, which can comprise single varieties within the same language or even two or more typologically different languages. These language variation mechanisms in heritage speakers represent notable specifics of their language use and the special dynamics of heritage Russian. Therefore, when comparing the use of a dynamic part of the language system, we aim to shed light on the analogous vs specific language processing in baseline and heritage Russian.Based on the elaborated production data, we test the use of ten bi-aspectual verbs in heritage speakers (N = 30) with high proficiency in Russian. The control group of the study was composed of monolingual Russian respondents (N = 30). By examining the use of bi-aspectual verbs in monolingual (baseline Russian) and bilingual (migrant heritage Russian) speakers, we focus on the question of the extent to which language dynamics in the core domains of the language system are either similar or dissimilar in heritage vs baseline language. In so doing, we further contribute to the discussion of the primary vs secondary role of the internal vs external mechanisms of language change.