Intangible Elements Research Articles

The Impact of Language Revitalization Efforts on Indigenous Cultural Practices: A Case Study of the Tahltan, Cherokee, and Lakota Nations

Historically (and currently) Indigenous languages have been suppressed and marginalized within society, inspiring declining levels of language usage and L1 and L2 speakers. It can be argued that these declining levels of speakership have impacted the tangible and intangible elements of Indigenous cultural practices. Although Indigenous peoples have faced punishment for using their languages, the reclamation or revitalization of Indigenous languages can lead to the recovery of cultural knowledge and, in the process, help heal the trauma caused by colonization. This article seeks to address the impact language revitalization efforts can have on maintaining the cultural practices of Indigenous communities by examining three case studies of ongoing revitalization efforts: the Tahltan Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and the Lakota Nation. Moreover, a theoretical analysis will be conducted following the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis of linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism. A review of these practical and theoretical examples demonstrates that the language we speak can shape our thinking patterns as well as how we are predisposed to view the world.

An Empirical Study on the Development and Assessment of a Supplier Selection Model based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process in the Al Kharj Industrial Sector

Selecting a supplier is a critical strategic decision for supply chain management in today's global context. The process involves evaluating suppliers based on core competencies, pricing, delivery timeframes, location, data gathering, and related risks. Suppliers play a crucial role in an organization's profitability and stability. Finding the most optimal supplier can help industries reduce material expenses and maintain their competitive advantage. The supplier not only impacts the organization's profit margin but also its economic strength. Choosing a supplier requires considering qualitative and quantitative elements, making it a decision issue with several criteria. This study aims to create and evaluate a supplier selection model using the analytical hierarchy approach, focusing on a specific case study. When selecting the best supplier, it is crucial to consider tangible and intangible elements that may conflict. The supplier selection process considers several criteria, including qualitative and quantitative variables. The proposed methodology involved a literature review and informal interviews with industry experts and academics to establish the selection criteria. "Quality Supplier Co." was chosen due to the paramount importance of their quality. This research will comprehensively analyze several criteria to identify suppliers accurately.

Factors Contributing to Formation and Existence of Community Identities in Bangkok Metropolis

In Bangkok, some traditional communities have maintained their identity despite urbanization. This research investigates the factors that influence the formation and existence of identities in three historic communities: Sam Phraeng, Talat Noi, and Soi Prachanaruemit (Wood Street). The research uses surveys, observations, and interviews to examine tangible and intangible elements. The results indicate that community identity originates from tangible elements such as architecture and landmarks, including intangible elements such as economics and society. Participation is essential to maintaining these identities, which requires effective community management, leading to income generation through activities and tourism that reflect the existence of community identities.

Patches, Corridors, Matrix, Webs and Clouds. Expanding Richard TT Forman’s Land Mosaic Approach in the Medina of Tunis

This study proposes a framework for analyzing the medina of Tunis, based on Richard T.T. Forman's theory of land mosaics. Departing from traditional preservationist methods, it views the Medina as a multifaceted landscape, integrating both tangible and intangible elements. Drawing from Félix Guattari’s concept of the three ecologies, the paper expands upon Forman’s model by introducing two additional categories: webs and clouds, to encompass the social and subjective aspects of the landscape. Through a literature review and landscape fieldwork, the study advocates for an integrative approach to analyzing the medina's physical and intangible components. The resulting framework offers a landscape analysis tool applicable to other urban landscapes, moving beyond the taxidermy of urban/cultural conservation practices and considering marginalized communities affected by capitalism-driven heritage management and tourism. Such a perspective is integral in promoting social and ecological inclusivity and embedding sustainable practices, particularly in response to the pressing challenges of climate change. Ultimately, this approach would help the contemporary landscape project succeed in “grounding new narratives and topologies” of “re-signification” of other historic urban areas and medinas across North Africa.

Transient Transformations: Memory and Identity Lessons from Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela, held every twelve years at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj, India, is the largest religious gathering and ephemeral city in the world. This article explores the physical and social dimensions of the festival, drawing parallels with other temporary architectures and paying particular attention to the role of memory. The physical structure of the city, organized into a flexible grid, accommodates millions of pilgrims while preserving spaces for the community and its collective identity. The material memory of the site, layered with historical and spiritual significance, intersects with the intangible memory carried by pilgrims through traditions and cultural practices. This blend of tangible and intangible elements fosters a sense of continuity, even in a temporary setting. By examining the Kumbh Mela, the study highlights the importance of memory in creating cohesive, resilient communities within transient urban landscapes, and offers valuable lessons for the design and planning of other temporary settlements.

Assessing Industrial Heritage Through Collaborative Counter-Mapping: A Case Study of Salts Mill, UK

The decline of Britain’s traditional manufacturing economy has resulted in an increase in abandoned factories and industrial structures, signifying a crucial turning point for local communities historically anchored in these industries. This research centres on the Salts Mill complex, a former textile factory that has undergone a remarkable transformation into a versatile space in the heart of Saltaire Village in Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. It delves into the revitalisation of Salts Mill, focusing on the intersection of industry and art. This approach uniquely highlights the socio-cultural and intangible elements embedded in the regeneration process, exploring strategies crafted to inject vitality into local communities intricately connected to this industrial site. Counter-mapping served as the primary participatory method, allowing insights from both rational observers (experts) and the involved users (local communities) to be integrated into three main areas of inquiry: the embodied experiences of Salts Mill, the essence of the locale as reflected in the building, and the everyday life interactions facilitated by arts-led regeneration. The authors argue that these components are indispensable for achieving comprehensive understandings and insights crucial to pioneering research on industrial heritage buildings. Moreover, reimagining the transformation of old factory structures through innovative arts-led initiatives can significantly bolster long-term sustainability and nurture resilient community development. This highlights the importance of prioritising community and broader context over merely focusing on the assessment and conservation of collections and buildings within post-industrial cities and towns.

Service quality, customer sentiment and online ratings of beach hotels: an analysis of moderating factors

PurposeThis study investigates the service quality dimensions of hotel resorts in renowned beach destinations of Thailand. It also explores the relationship between review text sentiment expressed in online platforms and the satisfaction ratings provided for those reviews.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a two-step analysis approach: first, supervised and unsupervised machine learning via support vector machine (SVM) and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) are used to identify service quality dimensions, and second, SmartPLS with PROCESS macro is applied to analyze the moderating roles of quality signals and reviewer’s experience on the relationship between sentiment and satisfaction rating. The dataset comprises 102,179 online reviews from TripAdvisor, focusing on 187 selected hotels rated from 3 to 5 stars.FindingsEight service quality dimensions were identified, including leisure activities, tangibles and surroundings, reliability, responsiveness, service process, food, empathy and ambience. The study underscores that the service process stands as the sole dimension exhibiting negative sentiment. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a robust positive association between sentiment of review texts and satisfaction, and reviewers’ experience and brand affiliation influenced the relationship between customer sentiment and satisfaction.Practical implicationsHotel managers should focus efforts on maintaining tangible aspects while enhancing existing service quality level of other dimensions, particularly those related to intangible elements. Independent hotels might implement quality audit to ensure that service quality gaps are monitored.Originality/valueThis study contributes an examination of the moderating roles of quality signals and reviewer’s experience on the relationship between review sentiment and satisfaction rating in online reviews.

Examining the Effects of Food Consumption Value and Food Image on Tourists’ Intention to Purchase Guilin Rice Noodles

ABSTRACT Gastronomy serves a crucial function in the tourism sector, with distinctive local cuisines greatly enriching the experiences of travelers. This research examines Guilin rice noodles, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage of China, to investigate the interplay between tourists’ perceived consumption values, culinary image, and purchase intentions. Employing structural equation modeling, the study correlates tangible factors such as quality and price with intangible elements like health benefits, in relation to tourists’ cognitive and emotional responses. Data collected from tourists with direct experience indicate that both tangible and intangible perceived values have a significant influence on the food’s image and the intention to purchase. The results of this study expand upon consumer value theory within the context of tourism, illustrating how evaluations of both tangible and intangible attributes affect decision-making processes. The research advocates for a marketing strategy that emphasizes quality, pricing, health benefits, and novelty, thereby fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of a robust emotional and sensory appeal in strategic marketing efforts, thereby contributing to the body of literature on culinary tourism and consumer behavior.

An ethnographic study on the traces of Georgian culture in the cuisine of Ordu (Türkiye)

Migration caused by various factors such as war, natural disasters, and famine, significantly influences cultural elements. The tangible and intangible elements acquired from past generations and passed down to subsequent generations can be called cultural heritage. Cuisine is a significant component of the cultural heritage, as earlier migrations have closely influenced culinary culture. Following the wars towards the end of the Ottoman Empire, Georgians who migrated from the Caucasus brought their culinary culture to Türkiye. Ordu was one of the cities where Georgians settled the most during this period. The main objective of this study is to identify and examine traces of Georgian culture in the Ordu cuisine. The research utilized an ethnographic design and a purposive sampling technique. Data were obtained through interviews with eight individuals familiar with Georgian culinary culture and whose families had been in the region for five generations. The obtained data were subjected to content analysis. These findings indicate that prominent elements of Georgian culture in the cuisine of Ordu include the widespread use of spices and sauces, the significant use of walnuts in dishes, limited consumption of oil, frequent preference for medicinal and aromatic plants, changing traditional methods, the preparation of unique dishes on specific occasions, and the resemblance of culturally used materials. Georgian cuisine includes both vary vegetables such as kale, eggplant, corn, leeks, grapes, beans and vary meals such as pepeçura, khachapuri (haçapuri), hinkali, and papa. Common cooking methods include roasting, baking, boiling, and frying. It was also determined that characteristic kitchen utensils such as bileki stone (stone-made bread pan), gobi (wooden dough boat), sanakveli (small wooden bowl for crushing garlic etc.), and laperay (cabbage mashing board) were used in Georgian cuisine. The significant presence of Georgian culture in the cuisine of Ordu is a crucial gastronomic heritage feature that holds considerable value for the region.

Creating a sense of intangible science: Making it understandable to a broad public via geoheritage

The methods and result of scientific studies are often difficult to understand for non-specialists due to their esoteric nature. Such lack of understanding means that such work is removed from our normal life experience, and thus, the applicability, interest and use of such work can be minimal. The communication of geoscience finds a natural conduit through geoheritage. A good example of an inaccessible technique far removed from everyday experience is anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), an extremely useful geoscience technique with many applications, including finding strain and flow directions in rocks. We explored here how to make “AMS” understandable, using three different volcanic sites where the flow of molten rock is an important aspect, each situated in different types of geoheritage visitation context (wild trekkers, beach visitors, and walkers). The method we developed and tested follows the production of simple and adapted explanations, and is coupled with geoheritage inventorying and communication. We utilized the tangible geological features of outcrops, as well as intangible elements such as rock magnetic data, and conducted a geoheritage inventory using the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM) to create narratives for popular comprehension. The M-GAM analysis has identified the geosites of the San Bartolo lava flow of the Stromboli volcano for the communication of AMS. Later, a simple and comprehensible definition of AMS and thus of the flow processes was created using a step-by-step process. This method could be useful for scientific studies to allow them to reach out to a wider public, using their input in the simple explanation stage to con-construct a narrative. This would provide a way for science to be more widely appreciated, useful and applicable.

The structure, concept and identity of traditional Chinese gardens

ABSTRACT Traditional Chinese Gardens (TCG) are renowned for their unique designs and deep cultural significance. While many researchers have studied various elements of TCG, this paper presents a new approach to understanding the conceptual structure and its components. Using content analysis and a review of 118 research studies identifies five main categories for examining and understanding TCG: hard and soft landscapes, tangible and intangible elements, spatial and temporal dimensions, subjective and objective aspects, and natural and designed features. What makes TCG so distinctive is the interweaving of these different elements, which creates a harmonious and meaningful environment. This analysis provides insights into the cultural and philosophical values underlying TCG design. By understanding the rich meanings and concepts behind TCG, designers and researchers could gain a deeper understanding of its significance and develop new ways of approaching garden design. Furthermore, this article provides a new perspective on TCG and their place in Chinese culture. By exploring the structural and conceptual framework of these gardens, it provides valuable insights for anyone interested in garden design, landscape architecture, or cultural studies. Finally, it is shown that the objective and subjective points of view are the most important perspectives for understanding Traditional Chinese Gardens, followed by the hard and soft perspectives and the spatial and temporal dimensions. Therefore, understanding the objective and subjective dimensions of the Chinese Garden is very important to understand the dimensions of structure, concept and identity.

Interpretation of cultural heritage: approaches and methods of excursion work

The article deals with the problem of interpreting cultural heritage in the context of modern society, which faces numerous challenges, including globalisation, technological changes and the need to preserve cultural values. Cultural heritage, which encompasses both tangible and intangible elements, is an important aspect of a nation's identity and history. However, in today's environment, traditional approaches to sightseeing do not always meet the needs of the audience, particularly young people who seek interactive and emotionally charged experiences. The article offers an analysis of the main approaches to the interpretation of cultural heritage, including scientific, educational, aesthetic and socio-cultural. The scientific approach focuses on the objective study of heritage sites, while the educational approach involves engaging a wide audience through interactive elements and new technologies. The aesthetic approach focuses on the emotional perception of heritage, while the socio-cultural approach takes into account the context of cultural values and involves local communities in the process of their interpretation. The article also analyses the methods of excursion work, such as thematic and interactive excursions, excursions using new technologies, as well as specialised programmes for specialists. The latest research by Ukrainian scholars is considered, which emphasises the importance of innovative approaches in this area. Thus, the article concludes that an integrated approach to the interpretation of cultural heritage is needed to ensure its preservation and active use, as well as the formation of respect for cultural values in society. It is also important to involve local communities in the processes of preserving and promoting cultural heritage, which will increase their activity and awareness in this area.

The Role of Intangible Features in Developing Open Spaces

this paper focuses on the role of intangibleelements of the public spaces in the residential areas such asa neighbourhood. The main emphasis is the significance ofthe factor of social satisfactions on developing public spaces.The research to date has tended to focus on examining thephysical quality of public space, particularly tangiblefeatures, but fewer have dealt with the intangible featuresthat related to the residents’ social life and communityinteraction. Consequently, in this research, the analysisincludes some important intangible elements such as a senseof community, social satisfaction and safety and security inthe public spaces and the local initiatives. The researchincludes two case studies in Misurata, Libya. Both cases areneighbourhoods type with similar in size, population,number of houses and distance from the city centre.However, one case is a Governmental Neighbourhood GNswhile the other one is a Traditional Neighbourhood TNs.This inquiry is a qualitative research, however, it adoptedmixed methods approach, and i.e. both questionnaires andin-depth interviews were utilized for data collection. Theresults of this study show that there are a several crucialfindings related to the importance of these intangibleelements, these findings suggest some practical guidelines tobe considered in new development projects.

Dealing with soft variables and data scarcity: lessons learnt from quantification in a participatory system dynamics modelling process.

System dynamics (SD) models are commonly used for structuring complex problems to support decision-making. They are used to investigate areas in which limited knowledge is available, describing nonlinear relationships and including intangible elements. Although this explorative nature is one of the key advantages, it also represents a challenge for quantifying the intangible, i.e. more qualitative aspects of an SD model, especially when it is not possible to apply conventional analytical methods due to data scarcity. Procedures to obtain and analyse information using participatory approaches are limited. First, this article outlines existing quantification methods and related open questions when dealing with soft variables and data scarcity. Secondly, it summarises the quantification process developed during a participatory SD process, describing how we dealt with data scarcity and soft variables. Lastly, we suggest a quantification framework in relation to data availability and level of stakeholder engagement.

Place Attachment On Kayutangan Cultural-Heritage Area As Sustainable Public Space

Reserving heritage areas has become a topic that has been discussed very frequently in recent years. What is interesting about preserving heritage areas is the active interaction that connects tangible and intangible elements. This active interaction is usually called place attachment. In the revitalization of the Kayutangan area, the government's efforts to revive the area with the concept of a heritage area are closely related to the attachment that local communities have to their place of life. Therefore, this research was conducted to find out, evaluate, and understand how places are attached to the Kayutangan area as a cultural heritage area. The research was conducted using descriptive and qualitative evaluative methods by conducting field observations and literature studies. The data obtained was evaluated using an analysis unit to see the qualifications that the Kayutangan area must fulfill as a public cultural heritage area. The results obtained from this research are the lack of cultural heritage public space elements in areas such as local architecture, the dominance of the main business in adaptive reuse buildings, authentic experiences, the lack of facilities that show gender equality and attention to the disabled community, resulting in no sense of loss. of justice, and a sense of mission in showing the attachment of local residents to their living area. The results of the research contribute to knowing how the results of Kayutangan revitalization are progressing and serve as input for evaluation in the future development of the area

Handwoven interior accessories from palm leaves as sustainable elements

PurposeThis paper argues that cultures with the same climate have similar handicrafts as they have similar cultivation and identical raw materials. This study focuses on how mountainous, coastal and hot regions partaking in similar crafts and cultural heritage use palm leaves and analyses the resulting handicrafts' similarities.Design/methodology/approachA review of mapping these samples establishes this similarity in the traditional industries of some civilizations' cultural heritage from countries sharing similar climates.FindingsThe handwoven crafts using palm leaves were significant patrimonial artifacts in different societies' and communities' cultural heritage. Our studies revealed that climate plays an active role in influencing all aspects of humanity’s life. It affects the construction methods and style, agriculture and lifestyles.Research limitations/implicationsTraditional handwoven palm leaf product models, especially plates and baskets, are studied from South America, Africa, Gulf Countries and Asia.Practical implicationsAdditionally, this paper focuses on preserving these treasures as an essential part of interior elements as accessories for most inhabitants of these areas.Social implicationsCultural heritage also embraces intangible aspects such as skills passed down through generations within a particular society. The tangible and intangible elements complement each other and contribute to an overall legacy.Originality/valueCultural heritage reflects a society’s way of life carried down through the years across lands, items, customs and aesthetic concepts. People are the gatekeepers of society, as they preserve their way of life for future generations to emulate. Tangible artistic and cultural heritage comprises artifacts. It comprises all human evidence and expressions, such as traditional handicrafts, pictures, documents, books and manuscripts.

Heritage, tourism theming, and intercultural processes: The cases of Oaxaca, Mexico, and Malaga, Spain

ABSTRACT Theming is a common tool in urban tourist destinations. It allows the recognition of some type of brand that makes a destination more competitive. In this work, the themings of Oaxaca, Mexico, and Malaga, Spain, are compared. Malaga offers an international and avantgarde cultural experience, while Oaxaca is known for the ancestral traditions that still prevail in the city. It is possible to define a highly touristified spatial core in both cities. Additionally, both cities have themed their historic centers, focusing on historical and intangible elements. We focus on how some tourist systems reproduce ethnocentric, colonial, or other forms of domination while branding their cities for consumption. Even within systems where such an asymmetry cannot be clearly defined, the selection of discourse might affect social self-attitude and identity on varying levels. Although Oaxaca looks firmly at its past, at the same time, such success magnifies tradition and hinders modernity. Meanwhile, Malaga looks to the future but loses some of its traditions at a very high cost.

Examining Traditional Food Processing Landscapes from the Perspective of Cultural Landscapes: Pickle-Making in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

The cultural landscapes of living and living industries in Asia are changing and disappearing, and this is currently under-documented and under-discussed in the international publishing field. This study takes pickle-making in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, as the research subject, clarifies the constituent elements and characteristics of the cultural landscapes of pickle-making in Yamagata, and analyses the formation and change of the local landscapes from the point of view of the food-processing and production activities. The elements of the cultural landscapes of pickle-making in Yamagata Prefecture were classified as follows: landscapes of cultivation sites, landscapes of processing sites, landscapes of sales sites, landscapes of cooking and eating spaces, and landscapes of special festivals. It was found that the cultural landscapes of pickle-making in Yamagata Prefecture can play a role in supporting and maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance within the region and that they are highly recognizable and inherited. The elements of the cultural landscape of pickle-making are rich and diverse, and the carriers of dependence are not fixed. Special celebrations and festivals constitute important intangible elements of food production behavior and become the spiritual connotation of its cultural landscape. The results of this study are useful in supplementing the current system of cultural landscapes in Japan and the gaps in existing research. It is also conducive to enhancing the understanding of Japanese food culture in the international publishing field and the influence of productive cultural landscapes in Japan as well as in Asia.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE BALANCE SHEET OF IRAQI BANKS

The most significant changes in the modern business environment during the 1990s have been the increasing importance of intangible elements of knowledge, technology, individual skills, and other factors that have become the main source of wealth and income and the enhancement of the competitive advantages of the business to survive and grow. This has been accompanied by a higher market value of the business than double its book value, especially in knowledge-intensive sectors such as communications, medicines, and software. This is due to the current accounting model's inadequate treatment of intangible assets, which are recognized as assets only when purchased from third parties. The research aims to attempt to provide an accounting framework for intangible assets that avoids previous deficiencies and criticisms to increase the effectiveness of financial reporting in light of contemporary developments in the business environment by assessing the accounting treatment of intangible assets purchased in the standards issued.

Geopolitics of Urban Squares: Atmospheric Securitisation and Counterterrorism in Everyday Urban Spaces in Berlin

ABSTRACT In this article, we scrutinise the concept of ‘affective atmosphere’ at the Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, Germany. By unpacking key moments and elements in the Breitscheidplatz’s history, when measures of security and counterterrorism transformed, we investigate how the felt experience of city dwellers and users of the square altered. We argue that the concept of atmosphere, taking the affective dimension of urban life into account, offers an enriching layer of understanding the everyday life in European cities. By focusing on the spatial and affective securitisation that was implemented before and after the attack in 2016, this paper converges everyday urban geopolitics and the concept of affective atmospheres. Bringing together the engagement with experiences of everyday urban life and the atmospheric situation that security and counter-terrorism measure entail in European urban spaces. This paper approximates the felt experience and intangible elements with the help of sensory ethnographies. Shedding light on the aesthetic and sensorial paradoxes of securitisation and counterterrorism measures, hegemonic practices of affective politics and discriminatory spatial expulsion are unravelled.