Linguistic Ecology Research Articles

When language revitalisation transcends linguistic issues: Motivations for the revitalisation of Tonga

This article presents findings from research on Tonga language revitalisation. Tonga is a formerly marginalised indigenous language spoken in north-western Zimbabwe. It is part of Zimbabwe’s linguistic ecology comprising 16 officially recognised languages that exist in a polyglossic situation. The Tonga community recently embarked on a bottom-up language planning approach to revitalise their language, contrary to the traditional macro-level language planning, which is normally top-down. Through semi-structured interviews, the study explores the Tonga speakers’ motivations for the revitalisation of their language. The study also aims to test the usability of Karan’s (2008) taxonomy of language choice motivations as presented in his perceived benefit model of language shift. The findings point to the fact that the linguistic war that the Tonga community have been fighting is fuelled by various agendas. Although on the surface the Tonga people seemed to be dealing with a linguistic issue, the ripple effects touch on other pragmatic considerations such as political, social, economic and educational issues, issues that deal directly with end-user needs, both at individual and community level. Karan’s model was found useful in analysing motivations for revitalisation.

On the problem of preserving the ecological purity of the language in the linguocreative media space

The close relationship of the ecology of nature and the ecology of language as part of culture revived a new term and a whole direction in modern linguistics associated with it -ecolinguistics, which, in turn, was introduced into scientific circulation by the American linguist Einar Haugen [2, p. 87]. Being the founder of the concept of ecology of language and the founder of the theory of ecology of language, Haugen in 1970 defined the ecology of language as a science that studies “interactions between any language and its environment, environment”, while the environment (environment) is understood as “a society that uses language as one of its codes” [5, p. 73]. There are also a number of other conflicting opinions on the correlation of the authorship of this term and even the correlation of the terms “ecolinguistics”, “ecology of language / languages”, “linguistic ecology” and “linguoecology” / “linguistic ecology”. As a rule, these terms are used as synonymous, but attempts are made to differentiate them [3, p. 65- 71].

An Investigation of Family Language Policy in Chinese Urban Middle-class Families

China is a nation with linguistic and ethnic diversity. Putonghua, which translates to “common language” is the common spoken language in mainland China, also known as Standard Chinese historically and Mandarin Chinese in English, has been actively promoted for over half a century aiming at facilitating communication among people with different dialects across China. Under the nationwide promotion of standard Chinese since the State Council issued Instructions Concerning the Promotion of Putonghua in 1956 (Zhou & Sun, 2004), the linguistic ecology represented by the interaction among Putonghua and other dialects in urban contexts has changed dramatically. Based on the three dimensional language policy theory which includes the language ideology, the language practice and the language management (Spolsky, 2004), this study intends to investigate the family language ecology of 30 Chinese parents from 20 urban families with children aged three to seven years. Through analyzing the data collected from survey questionnaires and two interviews, the results indicate that the status of dialect has been marginalized consensually by parents within the family domain. Additionally, parents are shielding their children from dialect both consciously and unconsciously. This study concludes with a discussion of implications for future Family Language Policy (FLP) research within the distinctive Chinese context.

Primary-level English-medium instruction in a minority language community: any space for the local language?

ABSTRACT One of the features of the growing prominence of English across the globe is the proliferation of English-medium instruction (EMI) programmes at all levels of education, driven by a neoliberal agenda which places a disproportionate value on English over other languages. While this spread has primarily affected more developed, urban contexts, EMI has also started to spread beyond the borders of large cities and into peripheral, rural areas, including those where minority languages are used. There is at present, however, a sparsity of research on how the introduction of EMI impacts the often delicate language ecology in such contexts. This paper presents the results of a study of how EMI policy was implemented at a primary school in the Deep South of Thailand, a region where the majority of the population speak Malay as their L1. The findings of this research, drawn on the basis of interviews, focus groups and classroom observations, highlighted the existence of a hierarchical linguistic ecology in which English and Thai, the international and national language, were privileged over the local language, owing both to their dominant position in official language policy and the attitudes of local policy arbiters.

English language education in Indonesia: A review of research (2011–2019)

AbstractThis article reviews the significant and diverse range of research on English language education in Indonesia in the eight-year period 2011–2019. It brings together a body of research consisting of 108 sources, ranging from journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings and doctorate dissertations, to inform the international research and practice community. The contributions cover primary education, secondary education and tertiary education in highly diverse Indonesia where 707 living languages co-exist and struggle to find space in its linguistic ecology. The discussion will provide insights into how factors such as educational policies, ideologies as well as sociocultural and religious values are in contestation in shaping research into and the practice of English language education in the complex, dynamic and polycentric sociolinguistic situation of Indonesia, which has been recently conceptualized as superglossia (Zein, 2020). It is hoped our insights will help inform other multilingual contexts facing the unprecedented need for transforming English language education in this increasingly globalized world.

ECO-COGNITIVE APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF EVALUATION CONCEPT

AbstractThis article deals with the development of eco-cognitive approach to the investigation of evaluation conceptin modern linguistics. Linguistic ecology relates to the field of complex and multifaceted phenomena of culturologicaland humanitarian character. It examines the peculiarities of language research approaches as an instrument ofharmonious lifestyle of the people as well as an important means of social contact in the international researchand creation of evaluative worldview.RésuméThis paper discusses the eco-сognitive foundations of evaluation concept. It examines the peculiaritiesof language research approaches as an instrument of harmonious lifestyle of the people as wellas an important means of creation of evaluative worldview. The aim of this paper is to demonstratethe eсo-cognitive grounds of evaluation category. The paper grounds on theses and techniquesof evaluation, cognitive, eco-cognitive and biocognitive theories.Ecolinguistics as a research field that combines ecology and linguistics studies the interactionbetween language, human being as a language personality and his environment. The anthropocentricand eco-centric lines may be distinguished as reasonable forms in the development of contemporaryhumanitarian sciences for the reason that they establish different interpretations in investigatingdevelopment and outcomes of human activity. Axiological aspect of natural environment preservationhas contradicted the anthropocentric outlook, as a result the principles of ecological ethics are thoughtto be much more important for the issue of human survival than anthropocentric ideals of value.Evaluation is a fundamental constituent of cognition, which is based on a value approachto the phenomena of nature and society. So, person's activity and life as of a human being havingdifferent requirements, interests and objectives is impossible without estimation. The paper looksat the evaluation concept as the formation which consists of a nucleus, which is the custodianof the collective knowledge of a particular people, and a periphery that is filled by the subjectiverepresentations of the native speaker of that language. The evaluation concept is an independent mentalformation that is culturally specified. It is considered to be a part of the conceptual and languageworldview of a certain linguocultural community, and can be defined as their structural component.

Dimensions of language education policy in Asia

Abstract This paper will identify the major trends that can be determined from an overall study of recent language policies across Asia. The trends can be seen across three interrelated themes, namely: the promotion and privileging of one language as the national language as part of an attempt to create a nation state, often in polities that are linguistically extremely diverse; a decrease in the promotion of indigenous languages other than the national language and the neglect of these in education in many countries; and the promotion of English as the first foreign language in education systems, often giving other ‘foreign’ languages a minimal role in education. Possible reasons and motivations for these trends will be discussed and countries where exceptions to these trends can be identified will be illustrated. The aim of the paper will be to discuss these trends and to critically evaluate selected language policies. The paper will conclude with predictions for the future linguistic ecology of the region and for the interrelationships of respective national languages, indigenous languages and English

Современная дилемма: овладение английским языком и сохранение русскоязычной идентичности?

Тема статьи подсказана качественно новой ролью английского языка в коммуникативном пространстве современной России. Английский язык не просто стал языком интернационального общения в разных сферах, но мощным проводником политики глобализации. В России последние десять лет идет процесс интенсивной англизации русскоязычной культурной среды, английский язык внедряется в нее как альтернативное средство коммуникации наряду с русским, облегчая путь формирования билингвизма. В этой связи возникает потребность в защите русскоязычной коммуникативной среды и самосознания, особенно в сфере образования и просвещения. Актуальность сохранения национально-культурной идентичности требует коррекции целей, задач и содержания обучения дисциплине «Английский язык» как в школе, так и в вузе. Назрела необходимость в смещении акцентов при обучении этой дисциплине от чисто зарубежно-страноведческого к параллельно-сравнительному с родным страноведением и далее к описанию русскоязычной культуры и распространению информации о ней посредством английского языка за пределами России. Исследуя проблему англизации с междисциплинарных позиций, автор опирается на теорию социолингвистики, в особенности лингвистического ландшафта, лингвистической экологии и языковой безопасности. Помимо анализа литературы, применялся метод наблюдения, целенаправленной выборки примеров гибридизированного русско-английского дискурса, дискурсивный и контент-анализ. Результаты данного исследования и рекомендации автора адресованы, прежде всего, работникам сферы образования и просвещения, работникам СМИ, государственным и общественным деятелям, способным влиять на языковую политику РФ, а также всем носителям русского языка, которым небезразлично его состояние сейчас и в будущем.

Diversity or Division: Language Choices on International Organizations’ Official Websites

Research problem: With the extensive use of the internet, cyber language management has become a critical issue for international organizations (IOs). IOs' language choices on their official websites represent the very interests of member nations and form a key factor in organizational image construction. However, research on IOs' cyber language management is rather limited. Literature review: Previous studies examined the use of different languages on websites of large corporations, state institutions, and organizations that aim to reach linguistically diverse populations, but discussions of language management of international organizations generally focus on traditional offline language policies. This article attempts to examine the choices of languages on IOs' official websites. Research questions: 1. What languages are used on international organizations' official websites? 2. How do intergovernmental organizations differ from nongovernmental organizations in such language choices and cyber language management? Methodology: Data from the official websites of 50 intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and 20 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) were collected, and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted to analyze the data. Results: The findings show that English is the dominant language on IOs' official websites, and is especially preferred by NGOs; inconsistency of IOs' cyber language policy is found among the languages used on specific pages, e-documents, and the general available languages; and IGOs' language choices are more diversified, unified, and standardized than NGOs'. Conclusion: Accordingly, the effect of technology on IOs' language policy is further analyzed, and suggestions for IOs' language management are presented concerning the linguistic ecology at supra-national levels.

Ecological Properties of Speech in the Communicative Field of Russian As a Foreign Language: New Extension

The author presents an endevour to comprehend the culture of Russian as a foreign language on the ecological angle - as an integral part of the surrounding polylingual speech environment. An ecological approach to the culture of the verbal multimodal sphere of communication implies commitment to national linguistic traditions, fostering an effective love for the past, present and future of the Russian language.The article actualizes the topic of linguistic ecology, in which a culture of thinking and communicative speech behavior in a polylingual environment arises, fostering a linguistic taste, protecting, enriching and improving the literary language and speech aesthetics. Studying modern active processes leading to democratization and liberalization of the Russian language, the author highlights the influence of the Internet and media language styles as key trendsetters of modern rhetorical trends, foreign borrowings and the expanding detabooing of abusive language patterns. Concluding that bridging communication gaps is the responsibility of linguistic ecologists, the author gives a brief thesaurus of linguo-ecological terms that show the creative nature of communication. The article also accentuates that the ecology of language and the ecology of culture are becoming the advanced and central national challenges of our time.
 Keywords: ecological aspect, polylingual speech environment, linguistic ecology, communication gaps, linguistic taste, speech aesthetics, state mission of our time

Harmonization of Communication in Professional Setting

The 21st century has introduced many changes in modern workplaces which have become multilingual and multicultural. The present paper sheds light on selected aspects of workplace discourse, revealing that backstage communication in a professional setting plays a very significant role in establishing and maintaining effective subject-bound transaction and/or interaction between the partners involved in communication. The theoretical framework of the paper is designed to consider recent contributions in professional communication research supported by some seminal theoretical writings on linguistic ecology that explore the role of language in natural interactions that occur among people working for multinational companies. T he linguistic politeness theories are taken into account when cases of communication harmonization in a professional setting are examined. T he empirical part of the paper deals with a qualitative discourse analysis of authentic electronic data collected in a multilingual company in Riga, Latvia. T he study concludes that a present-time multilingual workplace exhibits a direct relationship between the use of language and power equilibrium, which vividly characterises contemporary communication in a professional setting. Pragmatic strategies employed can enhance the harmonization of communication in order to avoid the risk of miscommunication.

On the teaching of British and American Literature in Colleges and Universities Based on Ecological Linguistics

世界科学出版社（World Science Publishing-WSP）立足国际，积极配合中国“走出去”出版战略，大力推进版权输出与引进，并不断拓展国际间的交流与合作，取得显著成绩。WSP国际图书出版项目力倡中国科研人员出版英文图书，出版社具有丰富的国际传播资源与雄厚的编辑、翻译、出版力量，拥有一批著名的中外翻译专家、出版专家，及一支精通国际出版的编辑、翻译和国际营销队伍。探索“科学进步”与“社会进步”是人类永恒主题，WSP推崇以科学信仰引领学术方向，遵循各国法律和地方法规，能够协助您优质、快捷、低

Variability of the language norm in the functioning of toponyms: Problems and contradictions

The article examines the linguistic content of the language norm related to the spelling of geographic proper names. As the basic notion, the authors use Ludmila Verbitskaya’s definition of the norm recognizing orthographic standards as a particular case of a language norm. The significance of a research in this area is due, firstly, to specificities of spelling norms, and secondly, difficulties of proper name codification. The orthographic norms are characterized by a significantly higher degree of strictness in comparison with other types of linguistic standards, hence, the avoidance of toponymic orthographic doublets creating problems in place-name identification. Normally, place names are not present in popular orthographic dictionaries and other non-specialized lexicographic sources. Not infrequently, the spelling of a particular locality in a codified form can only be found either on geographical maps and atlases or in gazetteers and registries of geographical names of a particular region. As a result, the spelling norm becomes established in the the native speakers’ linguistic competence primarily through the assimilation and application of the corresponding rules. It was revealed that the most significant contradictions in the implementation of the spelling norm take place when choosing an upper- or lowercase letter in compound proper names, as well as when representing the elements of compounds (separately, as one word or hyphenated). The resultss of the present research can be used in revision of orthography of both existing and newly formed place names to make them concordant with the principles of linguistic ecology

A sociolinguistic perspective in the analysis of English textbooks: Development of a checklist

This study aims to suggest a checklist for teachers and researchers to analyze English as a second or foreign language textbooks from a sociolinguistic perspective. In the literature there is not a checklist or framework by which English textbooks can be evaluated considering the sociolinguistics issues raised in this study. After obtaining expert opinion and a piloting on 8 textbooks used in state schools in Turkey, a checklist consisting 6 criteria was suggested. Then, the check list was applied on the 9th grade English book ReLearn (Karamil & Birincioglu Kaldar, 2019) used in state schools in Turkey to demonstrate how the checklist can be utilized. The findings suggest that from a sociolinguistic perspective, the book in focus occasionally conforms to the sociolinguistic concerns while it needs some qualitative improvements. Improvements in providing genuine speakers of non-native and non-standard accents of English rather than using standard accent vocalizations for the speakers that are depicted as non-natives can be a primary suggestion and at the same time, the textbook should focus on different ways of life and perspectives instead of mostly providing intercultural knowledge such as cities or historic places. Finally, the textbook should pay more attention to the linguistic ecology in Turkey and adjust its contents so as to compensate for the foreign language status of English in Turkey. Accordingly, this study contributes to the literature by providing a checklist to evaluate textbooks systematically with regard to essential sociolinguistic issues and it demonstrates the application of the checklist.

Эмотивные границы экологичности

We describe the established relationship between linguoecology and emotioology, which is manifested in the emergence and development of emotive linguoecology. We substantiate the use “ecology” concept in the refraction of emotivity. We consider the influence of emotivity on the boundaries of ecology. The material of the work is an artistic emotive text, on the example of which its ecology is established by the method of emotive analysis. As an assumption, the follow-ing is accepted: emotive analysis is universally applicable to any text, both in terms of its func-tional, stylistic, and genre affiliation, and in terms of its temporal relevance; ecology of the text is related to the emotional motivation of its author and is determined by the rating sign of emotives in the text. The main result of the work is to clarify the emotional coordinates of ecology by refer-ring to the role of emotions as the motivational basis of all human activity. The work concludes that ecology is manifested in the emotional motivation of the author who produces an emotive text. We noted why the relationship between emotive and ecological linguistics ensures their mutual development and resilience. We list the main emotive perspectives of linguoecology and linguoecological perspectives of emotionology. We predict the possibilities of their further integration.

Tracing the Emergence and Growth of Ecocritical Language

During the last few decades, the disturbance in the environmental conditions has given rise to a great threat to Earth and the organisms residing in it. Under these circumstances, a new theory of reading texts came into existence known as Ecocriticism. Ecocritism is a literary theory which shows the interconnectedness between the human and the non-human agency, but it has not yet achieved that attention which other theories have. In this context, ecocritics strive to influence readers and writers by introducing and developing a specific vocabulary in their works. This paper can assist readers in understanding how ecocritics have developed a vocab ulary of their own. This paper aims to find and trace the emergence of ecological linguistics and its growth. Also, the aim is to perform an up-to-date assessment of its current state. Since Ecolinguistics work upon the role language plays in the life-sustaining interactions of humans and their physical environment, the main aim is to explore this language as used by ecocritics in order to reach the eco-critical judgements about certain texts—both the provisional and the temporal judgements. The language has a soft, respectful and rigorous influence on the envi ronment, so in this perspective, ecocritics establish tools in order to determine the influence of narrative techniques and the structures on readers. Readers and writers encounter varied narra tive styles when discussing environment and ecology, this paper will show how the attempt to create a specific vocabulary in this regard will better solidify the foundations of this field.

Attitudes Towards Exogenous and Endogenous Uses of English: Ugandan’s Judgements of English Structures in Varieties of English

Uganda is a former British protectorate, where English has contributed to the country’s linguistic ecology since 1894, when the British established a protectorate over the area of the Buganda kingdom. Over time, Ugandan English has developed as a nativised second language variety, spoken by Uganda’s indigenous population. At the same time, due to migrations, globalisation and the influence of international media and the Internet, its speakers have increasingly been in contact with varieties other than British English: American English, Indian English, Kenyan English, and Nigerian English may all influence Ugandan English. This paper looks at how Ugandan English can be conceptualised as a variety shaped by other varieties. It reports on the results of acceptability tests carried out with 184 informants in the North, the Central and the West of Uganda and discusses how speakers assess individual grammatical structures used in Ugandan English and in those varieties they are potentially in contact with.

The holographic dynamics of linguistic ecology as a scientific paradigm

The place and significance of the works of Prof. A.P. Skovorodnikov in the dynamic formation of linguoecology is considered. The place of emotive linguoecology in it is shown. The responsibility of journalists for the formation of ecological psychological environment of society is emphasized. Allocated is the role of unecological createms in the information space. Formulated is the importance of a large number of problems highlighted by this science as the subject of its research. Named are the leading linguoecological schools and publications (printed and online). Indicated is the semiotic nature of many linguoecological situations and facts. Raised is the question of the importance of increasingly emerging linguoecological dictionaries. recorded are the results of new knowledge achieved by this science on the relationship of language, communicative practice and their ecology. Mentioned is the place of informational wars, as a result of which a negative ecological syndrome of modern both intra-and intercultural relations is formed. Particularly concerned in this work are the increasingly mentioned facts of the influence of media ecology on language consciousness and communicative personality transformation, from homo sapiens through the stage of homo sentiens into homo confusus. The natural conclusion of the whole article is the thesis that the foundation of many provisions of linguoecology, developed by different scientists within this interparadigmal area, founded by Prof. A.P. Skovorodnikov.

Russian Political Discourse in the Focus of Linguistic Ecology

The article provides an overview of typological mechanisms in the arrangement of communicative practices in modern political discourse and methods of verbal explication of its axiological and symbolic constituents, determining mental universals in individual/collective consciousness. The study provides a systematic characterization of linguistic and social-and-cultural dominants in political interaction. Verbal indicators of social asymmetry are identified. The description of the language of political discourse aspectual data are summarized. A multilevel analysis of the component structure of political interactions is carried out. The genre specifics of legitimate and illegitimate communicative acts is taken into consideration. The combination of the methods applied in discourse analysis, such as linguistic cognitive projection, linguistic-and-cultural interpretation and functional-and-pragmatic examination of text units, enabled the researchers to identify and qualify linguo-semiotic elements of political practices. Hence, an ecolinguistic typology of basic linguistic components of political communication acts characterized by various legitimacy degrees has been carried out. The study revealed a possibility to single out a specific communicative range in Russian political discourse, in the framework of which linguistic and cultural resources of ideologically charged discursive practices would be actualized and the area of possible communication risks would be significantly expanded.

'It will be funny [to speak Hindi]': Travelling Englishes and perceptions about learning migrant languages in Qatar

Abstract 'Travelling' Englishes and neo-liberal ideologies and policies to Qatar have implications for perceptions towards languages other than English, in particular Qatar's migrant languages. The current spotlight on the West and English in Qatar, often viewed in juxtaposition to Arabic, and in competition with it, has led to other languages that play an important role in the society and are part of the linguistic ecology of the region, being ignored. While the capital, status and position of these languages is variable, Qatar has chosen to favour English, leaving multilingualism and linguistic diversity off the agenda. This study examines Qatari students' perceptions about learning migrant languages in Qatar vis-à-vis English and looks at how the mobility of Englishes has in some ways generated further inequalities in Qatar, especially regarding knowledge and appreciation of its migrant languages. Important implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the interface of the impact of travelling Englishes with Qatar's growing linguistic diversity and trajectories related to language planning and policy, as well as Qatar's national identity and visions.