Complex Ideas Research Articles

Exploring the Impact of Photovoice on Self-Expression in English Language Learning: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review explores the impact of Photovoice on fostering self-expression among English language learners and identifies the key challenges in implementing this participatory visual methodology within classroom settings. Using the PRISMA method, this review analyzes peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2024. A total of 270 articles were initially identified through databases such as Scopus and Google Scholar, with 9 studies selected for thematic analysis focused on self-expression and the integration challenges of Photovoice in English language learning. The findings demonstrate that Photovoice significantly enhances self-expression in students by enabling them to confidently articulate complex emotions and ideas in English, reducing language anxiety, and promoting deeper engagement. However, obstacles such as limited classroom time, inadequate technological resources, and insufficient teacher training were noted as barriers to its effective implementation. This review addresses a critical gap in the literature by focusing specifically on the role of Photovoice in fostering self-expression in English learners, an area that remains underexplored. The study contributes to educational practice by providing educators with insights into how Photovoice can be integrated into language teaching to enhance self-expression, while also highlighting the practical challenges and offering recommendations for overcoming them to maximize the method’s potential.

Why Early Chatter Matters: The Role of Language in Shaping Futures

The words we learn early in life are building blocks for our brains, helping them grow and helping us understand the world better. As we learn new words and the concepts behind them, we support the foundation on which our future learning, relationships, and achievements are built. A rich early vocabulary opens the door to understanding complex ideas, solving problems, and expressing thoughts and emotions more clearly. Early language can even support distant future outcomes such as academic success in high school and employment as an adult. This article will discuss why early chatter is so powerful, how it supports future learning, and what factors are the most important contributors to developing vocabulary in the first few years of life.

RISH Assistance: Voice Activated Digital Assistant for Developers

The increasing use of computing devices brings convenience but also challenges. Traditional interfaces can lead to repetitive strain, slow interactions, and accessibility problemsfor software developers, who often find it hard to turn complex ideas into code, especially with unfamiliar APIs. In response, there is a growing interest in automation and smart machines that act like humans. However, a major obstacle remains—the gap in human-machine interaction. Introducing “RISH Assistance,” a voice-activated digital assis- tant designed for developers. RISH enables users to navigate tasks more efficiently, reducing reliance on screens and tra- ditional input methods. Utilizing advanced voice recognition and Natural Language Processing (NLP), RISH transforms the developer experience by providing easy access to resources, seamless code suggestions, and natural troubleshooting—all through voice commands. Additionally, it can manage phone functions, allowing calls and messages directly from the desktop interface, enhancing productivity. Security is ensured with face authentication, and current session chat history tracking allowsusers to revisit previous interactions. RISH boosts productivity through hands-free interaction, en- abling developers to focus on creative problem-solving. It im- proves accessibility by offering an alternative input method and streamlines workflows, reducing cognitive load while fostering a more intuitive development environment. By facilitating natural and efficient engagement with machines, RISH Assistance aims to enhance human-machine collaboration and create a more inclusive software development landscape.

The Impact of Character Creation and Customization on Self-Expression and Identity in RPGs

While a large of research investigates the importance of character creation and customization in role-playing games (RPGs) on players’ motivation and enjoyment to play, little is known about the impact of character creation and customization on players’ self-expression and identity exploration. Video games have been a venue for both developers and gamers to explore complex stories and ideas. Role-playing games (RPGs) are a type of video game in which players can take the role of a character in a fictional setting and interact with the game’s narrative. This paper is part of a larger research on the construction of individual identities using RPG character creation and customization. Building upon existing research on identity adaptation theory, queer theory, the proteus effect theory, and the performance of identity, this paper finds that players’ choices of character creation and customization contribute to opportunities for self-expression and individual agency. This paper also examines the character Creation and Customization preferences among different demographic groups and the association between in-game identity and real-life self-perception and social behaviors of players.

Technologies in the History of the Movie Industry

The paper titled “Technologies in the History of the Movie Industry” examines the evolution of film technologies and their profound impact on the industry. It explores key technological advancements, from early silent films to talkies, black-and-white to colored films, and the rise of CGI and 3D technology. Each advancement not only enhanced the visual and emotional experience for audiences but also helped filmmakers convey complex ideas and create immersive worlds. The success of iconic films like Avatar, Metropolis, and Jurassic Park demonstrates how innovations in special effects, sound, and imagery have shaped the industry’s growth. The paper emphasizes that these technologies not only improved film quality but also allowed for deeper connections between audiences and the stories being told, ultimately expanding the possibilities of cinematic expression. Through historical analysis, the paper reveals how each technological milestone contributed to the artistic, cultural, and economic success of the film industry.

Metaphor and Symbolism: possiblity of iconic theology

In language and literature, metaphors and symbolism are both used to communicate complex ideas and emotions that are more than what is seen on the surface. Metaphors create connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, while as well as how they can be used to analyse theological contexts and apply them to society. The term “metaphor” comes from the ancient Greek word metapherein, where meta means “beyond,” and pherein means “to transfer” or “to carry over.” Essentially, a metaphor is a linguistic process by which one thing is “transferred” or “carried over” to another thing. This means that one thing is described as another to reveal certain characteristics of the first thing. Aristotle explicitly defined it in Poetics as “using a word that signifies one thing to refer to another; this word then becomes a metaphorical word.” Metaphor is not just a linguistic process but also a fundamental way of thinking about and understanding things.

Exploring the Power of Images and Videos in Visual Storytelling and Content Marketing: Airtel Ovajara as a Paradigm

This study examined the significant power of images and videos in visual storytelling and content marketing using Airtel Ovajara as a paradigm. In today’s digitally saturated landscape, the inability of content marketers to capture attention, convey complex ideas, and build brand authenticity using good images and videos has left some businesses in constant battle for audience/customer acceptability. Employing the Consumer behaviour theory which provided insights into the psychological processes that influence consumer responses to images and videos in visual storytelling, the paper explored the strategic ways in which Airtel Ovajara used images and videos to craft compelling narratives that not only showcased the brand but also fostered genuine connections with customers. The study adopted the mixed research methodology of content analysis and Key Persons Interviews (KPI) to understand the common themes, strategies and elements that position Airtel Ovajara’s visual storytelling as a successful marketing strategy. The use of images and videos as part of this strategy has revolutionized how brands engage with consumers, offering a dynamic way to communicate messages and evoke emotions. The study recommended a valuable insight into the strategic use of visual content to build stronger connections with audiences, demonstrating that effective visual communication was key to contemporary marketing.

Enlightenment in the Learning Process? Aha Moments and Threshold Concepts as Effective Practical References in Higher Education Teaching

This paper examines the role and impact of Aha moments and Threshold Concepts in higher education, focusing on their practical implementation through a case study. Aha moments—sudden insights during learning—are pivotal in grasping complex ideas, fostering deeper understanding and motivation. The integration of real professional experiences into the curriculum is shown to enhance student motivation and improve the application of theoretical knowledge. Positive feedback highlights the effectiveness of this approach, emphasizing the importance of practice-oriented, experiential learning. The paper argues that strategically fostering Aha moments can deepen students’ grasp of Threshold Concepts, leading to greater student satisfaction and better preparation for professional challenges, while also contributing to educational quality and employability.

Maximizing students’ content and language development: The pedagogical potential of translanguaging in a Chinese immersion setting

BackgroundRecent studies highlight the benefits of translanguaging for emergent bi/multilinguals (EMLs), enhancing their understanding of academic content in a new language. Despite the growth of Chinese immersion programs in the U.S., research on translanguaging and its impact on teacher and student experiences in this context remains scarce. AimsThis study aims to explore how Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) teachers implement pedagogical translanguaging to support students’ learning in academic content and language within a Chinese immersion context in the U.S., and to understand the perspectives of teachers and students on translanguaging. SampleParticipants were two Chinese CLIL teachers and six of their students from a Chinese immersion school in the U.S. MethodsUsing a participatory design research methodology that combines ethnographic methods with multimodal conversation analysis, we documented the use of pedagogical translanguaging and triangulated data from field notes, classroom artifacts, and interviews. ResultsFindings reveal teachers utilized diverse communicative resources and exercised translanguaging shifts to enhance students’ grasp of advanced vocabulary and academic concepts, facilitating complex idea articulation in Chinese. Both teachers and students valued these strategies for deepening subject understanding and supporting their learning of the Chinese language. ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of continuous professional development for CLIL teachers to effectively implement pedagogical translanguaging, supporting students’ learning in an immersion setting.

Relationship between employer branding and employee performance: Mediating and moderating effects of supportive work environment and compensation and benefits

Employer branding is a complex idea that is important in many different industries. It represents a company's ability to attract, engage and retain talent as well as its status as an employer. A strong employer brand transcends industry boundaries to impact the success and sustainability of businesses in today's competitive job market. The authors examined the effect of employer branding on employee performance by mediating and moderating roles of a supportive work environment and compensation and benefits respectively. The authors followed the quantitative methodology with a set of strategies and hypotheses and gathered numerical data. The data were gathered by surveying employees working in information technology sector companies in the city of Bangalore. The data analysis includes descriptive statistics, factor analysis and structural equation modeling analysis using SPSS and IBM AMOS version 28. The Cronbach’s alpha values of the reliability statistics ranged from 0.920 to 0.930 indicating the questionnaire’s internal consistency and reliability. The model fit indices CMIN/DF 1.389, CFI 0.966, GFI 0.952, TLI 0.961, IFI 0.966, NFI 0.904, SRMR 0.060, RMSEA 0.051 and PClose 0.448 indicate an excellent fit of the model. The constructs of compensation and benefits and a supportive work environment partially mediate employee performance through employer branding. The moderator’s supportive work environment strengthens the positive relationship between employee branding and employee performance. Strong employer branding is important for attracting top talent and improving employee performance in various industries but it is especially important in the IT sector.

Males are Toxic: A Masculine Critique of Ayad Akhtar’s Play The Who & The What

Hegemonic and toxic traits of masculinity are complex ideas that have affected personal relationships and social hierarchies for centuries. The play The Who & The What by Ayad Akhtar presents these traits through the male character Afzal, a Pakistani American citizen whose traditional culture and modern American lifestyle lead him to adopt these forms of masculinity. Therefore, the present study basically aims to focus on the impact of Afzal’s masculinity in Akhtar’s play The Who & The What over his daughters, Zarina and Mahwish, as well as Zarina’s husband, Eli. The Who & The What centers around Zarina, the female protagonist, who challenges her society by writing a novel entitled The Who & The What, exploring the personal life of the prophet Mohammed (BPUH). As the play moves, her father, Afzal, opposes her and anyone who crosses the limits set by their traditional Arab-Muslim culture. However, employing the notion of Hegemonic Masculinity by R. W. Connell and the Toxic Theory of Masculinity as proposed by Terry A. Kupers provides new lenses to analyze the text of the play. Thus, the present study found that Afzal’s actions reflect certain hegemonic and toxic assets such as authority, domination, control, superiority, and making decisions for others.

TRANSLATION OF METAPHORS IN MODERN DIPLOMATIC DISCOURSE (BASED ON RUSSIAN, CHINESE AND ENGLISH MATERIALS)

A metaphor in diplomatic discourse is a figure of speech or expression that transfers meaning from one context to another, usually to enhance the impact of a message or make complex ideas easier to understand. In diplomacy, metaphors are often used to make communication more visual and memorable, as well as to covertly convey intentions and positions without directly expressing them. This article explores the complexities and subtleties of translating metaphorical expressions that play an important role in diplomatic communication. The author analyzes metaphors used in diplomatic discourse in three different linguistic and cultural contexts: Russian, Chinese and English, highlighting three categories of equivalence: complete, partial and no equivalence. The choice of translation method (literal, descriptive or free) depends on the degree of equivalence of the metaphor in the source and target languages. The study highlights the importance of adequate translation of metaphors for accurate and effective intercultural communication, suggesting translation strategies for each category. The work contributes to translation theory and practice by emphasizing the need to consider cultural and contextual factors to achieve intercultural understanding in diplomacy.

The Medieval Slavonic Reception of Maximus the Confessor’s Circle – Center – Radii Analogy

The paper contends that certain circle diagrams discovered in 14th-century Slavonic medieval manuscripts of Dorotheus of Gaza’s Instructions, crafted during the Palamite controversy, are influenced by the concepts of Maximus the Confessor. The paper offers an in-depth analysis of select Slavonic diagrams originating from Serbian monasteries in the final decades of the 14th century. It begins by examining simple diagrams wherein the circle’s center represents God, and the radii represent created beings moving towards God, then progresses to investigate more intricate diagrams. These complex diagrams include circle or square shaped center, outer circumference, concentric rings, multicolored radii and twisted cruciform bands. It is further argued that these new diagramatic elements are employed to visualize complex ideas such as the Holy Trinity as differentiations in unity, the ontological limit of creation set by divine providence, the triadic structure of logoi of beings and the double movement of procession and reversion.

Robert (Bob) Anthony Altemeyer (1940-2024).

Robert (Bob) Anthony Altemeyer (June 6, 1940-February 7, 2024) was an influential social psychologist who also shaped personality and political psychology. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Bob was educated at Yale (undergraduate) and Carnegie-Mellon (graduate). Following a 2-year stint at Doane College in Nebraska, he established his career at the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada) from 1968 to 2008. In 1986, Bob was awarded the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science Prize for Behavioral Science Research, largely for his development of the right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) construct. Whereas the authoritarian personality construct developed by Adorno and colleagues in the 1950s was rooted in psychodynamics, Bob drew on social learning principles and conceptualized authoritarianism as both an attitudinal orientation and trait. Not all of Bob's ideas held true, such as the social learning underpinnings that he proposed for RWA. But true to his inquisitive nature, he wrote that he would be excited to learn of RWA's strong heritable components if uncovered (as they later were). An anticonformist to the core, Bob published almost exclusively in books despite the field prioritizing journal articles, typically as sole author and working with few collaborators, and writing about complex ideas with rather informal and unconventional language. His legacy is proof that fighting the odds and remaining authentic, rather than chasing conventions and norms, can leave an indelible mark on science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Numerical and Symbolic Analysis for Mathematical Problem-Solving with Maple

This study explores the versatile capabilities of Maple, a widely used mathematical software, in addressing a wide range of numerical and symbolic computations essential for scientific and engineering applications. The researchers investigated Maple's diverse suite of tools, including numerical integration, nonlinear equation solving, polynomial interpolation, symbolic integration, and various numerical methods. Through an in-depth literature review, illustrated case studies, and detailed performance evaluations, the paper demonstrates the effectiveness and accuracy of Maple's computational approaches in dealing with complex problems in various areas of applied mathematics. This study's findings underscored Maple's tremendous value as a reliable and comprehensive software package for researchers, scientists, and professionals involved in advanced mathematical analysis and scientific computing. Furthermore, the paper highlighted Maple's versatility in creating high-quality three-dimensional plots, crucial for visualizing and analyzing complex mathematical and scientific data. Using either sets or lists, the ability to display multiple surfaces in a single three-dimensional plot showcases Maple's power in data visualization and communicating complex ideas. By positioning Maple as a powerful platform for solving versatile mathematical problems, this study highlights the software's indispensable role in advancing scientific discoveries and engineering innovations.

Conceptual Metaphor Analysis in Advertising Slogans about Coffee Brands

This paper delves into the strategic use of conceptual metaphors in advertising slogans for coffee brands, exploring how these linguistic devices influence consumer perception and brand appeal. By employing cognitive linguistic theories, this study categorizes eight global coffee brand slogans into five distinct metaphorical patterns, revealing the underlying conceptual mappings that enhance brand messaging. The analysis underscores the importance of metaphorical language in simplifying complex ideas, evoking emotional responses, and establishing a connection between the product and the consumer’s everyday experiences. This paper concludes that the judicious application of conceptual metaphors in advertising is a powerful tool for creating memorable and impactful slogans that resonate with the target audience.

The Visual Rhetoric in Comics for Reader Interpretation and Engagement to Meaning-Making in the Medium

Comics are a unique form of sequential art that combines text and visual graphics to tell a story. In academic circles, the purposeful use of visual elements to convey meaning or visual rhetoric has been gaining increasing attention. This research explores how comics' use of visual rhetoric affects readers' interpretations of and interactions with the medium. Additionally, the study seeks to explore how the discussion about models and concepts used affects readers' interactions with the medium and their meaning-making processes. To achieve this, the research employed qualitative methods, using descriptive and semi-systematic approaches to gather information on visual rhetoric related to three predetermined objectives. The study's results advance the field of comics studies by offering new insights into the potential of visual rhetoric to convey complex ideas and abstract concepts. It also contributes to the academic study of comics by providing fresh perspectives on using visual rhetoric to convey complex ideas. Overall, this research offers a better understanding of the interplay between visual elements and textual components in comics, helping readers better appreciate the medium's storytelling capabilities. Through a detailed analysis of comics and their visual rhetoric, this study sheds light on the nuanced ways in which visual elements contribute to meaning-making in the medium. The findings of this research have implications for educators, artists, and scholars interested in understanding the role of visual rhetoric in communication and storytelling. Keywords: Comics, visual rhetoric, visual elements, interpretation, communication.

MULTICOMPONENCE AS A STRUCTURAL PECULIARITY OF MILITARY TERMS IN FOREIGN MASS MEDIA INTO RUSSIAN TRANSLATION

This article delves into the important analysis of the structural peculiarities of multicomponent military terms, a topic of increasing importance due to the need to describe professional objects and concepts, identify complex ideas, and unearth new dimensions of the studied phenomena. The prevalence of multicomponent terminology in foreign mass media resources underscores its significance in the media landscape. The purpose of the article is to explore the structural characteristics of multicomponent military terms extracted from mass media sources, providing a Russian translation. We also seek to identify the primary formulas and constituent components of these terms. By doing so, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of how English military terms can be formed and the development of a terminological dictionary that will include the latest examples of multicomponent military terms. The scientific novelty of the research lies in its focus on a particular and specialized domain of terminological studies, which will help to comprehend the challenges associated with understanding the structural and semantic features of multicomponent military terms, their word formation and constituent components frequently used in their structural models. The results obtained can also serve as a foundation for other fields of terminology.The research methodology is a combination of different research methods, such as the method of continuous sampling, component analysis, and word-formation analysis, which are used to analyze the selected material, and the quantitative approach helps to deal with the numerical data. The systematized examples of multicomponent military terms, categorized into two-, three-, and four-component terms and compound terms with hyphenated spelling, are accompanied by the corresponding translation. The findings of this research will equip translators, researchers, and practitioners with a deeper understanding of the challenges and strategies involved in analyzing the structural models of multicomponent military terms, thereby enhancing their professional capabilities.

Meaning Shifts of Culture-Specific Expressions: A Case Study of Facebook

This research aimed to examine the effects of meaning shifts in culture-specific content on Facebook. Specifically, it sought to explore the linguistic, cultural, and grammatical similarities between English and Kiswahili, while highlighting the significant mismatches between these two languages. The study used the theory of Principle of Cultural Translation to provide the theoretical relevance. The target population comprised Facebook pages with a significant following and a focus on CSIs posted within the context of conversations on those pages. The study aimed to examine CSIs posted on Facebook pages based in Kenya on foods, fashion and cultural architecture where English-Kiswahili translations were assessed for errors. The study employed purposive sampling to select a sample of 11 Facebook pages for content analysis. Primary data was gathered through the content analysis method, which involved the systematic preparation, organization, and reporting of the data collected. The study found that lexical, rhetorical, and grammatical mis-matches contributed to misunderstandings and misrepresentations in a variety of domains, including food, fashion, and cultural architecture. Based on the analysis, 80% of the Facebook sources revealed food items like "ugali" and "Nyama Choma" were often reduced to overly simplified translations like "cornmeal" and "grilled meat," failing to capture their rich cultural significance. With regards of fashion, the study found that 70% of the Facebook pages mistranslated the garments such as "kanga" led to a loss of their deeper meanings, contributing to cultural appropriation. Similarly, architectural terms suffered from meaning shifts; 55% of the sources depicted that terms describing unique Kenyan architectural styles were reduced to words like "huts," ignoring the cultural and historical narratives they encapsulate. The study concludes that the meaning shifts of culture-specific expressions related to food, fashion, and architecture in Kenya on Facebook have various negative implications as it leads to misunderstandings that go beyond mere words. The study thus recommends that stickers that contain only the most basic information should be made more useful by scaling them down or making them smaller while figurative language, such as idioms, should be used to describe complex ideas. Keywords: Culture-specific expressions, Meaning shifts, Mistranslation, Lexical mismatches, Facebook content

Dangerous dichotomies and misunderstandings in L2 research

This article draws attention to the obstacles created by imprecise definitions and misleading dichotomies. In this case the focus is on second language and multilingualism research literature. Despite the obvious benefits of reformulating otherwise complex ideas and approaches in simpler terms in order to distill their essential meaning, misunderstandings and misrepresentations can too easily arise. These can then proliferate within and beyond these research fields and hinder productive debates between proponents of different theoretical approaches. A selection of classic examples relating to issues of language cognition are discussed in this article. They include definitions of terms like cognitive, nativist, innatist, interactionist, usage-based, and dynamic. Simple contrasts introduced to improve readability and to introduce a longer discussion can become highly misleading where the context fails to include clarification. Incorrect inferences may otherwise be drawn by less well-informed readers. In other cases, dichotomies can be just wrong. We discuss the choice and phrasing of various terms and distinctions and argue that more care is needed by all involved. Discussions can still be carried out in a combative style if discussants so wish but not to the point of introducing conceptual confusion in debates that should serve to advance understanding in second language acquisition research.