Language Organization Research Articles

Critical Peer Feedback for Oral Presentation at TEFL Tertiary Education: Comparison, Perception and Reflection

Critical peer feedback is regarded as an effective means to facilitate quality of peer feedback in TEFL class. In this study, a comparative study was conducted between two experimental classes (Nc1=31, Nc2=31) to study Chinese undergraduate perception and efficiency of critical peer feedback in oral presentation. By a mixed study, the 5-scale Likert questionnaires and semi-structured interviews (N=8) were implemented at the setting. The study finds that students have strong confidence that critical peer feedback can improve their quality of oral presentation and the quality of peer feedback. And the quality of oral presentation and quality of peer feedback are facilitated in this comparative study. However, the students still perceive that they are inefficient of the skills of oral presentation like eye contact, PPT design and language organization, and critical peer feedback like critical questions and rubrics. In addition, this implies that the skill training of oral presentation and critical peer feedback is the prerequisite for the novice users in TEFL class which can be facilitated by training, and critical peer feedback focuses on the critical content of peer feedback by critical thinking.

A review of Dr Wrangham’s book, ‘the Goodness Paradox . . . ‘, and insights into the evolution of human language, aesthetics, and free will

Dr Richard Wrangham’s book and YouTubes are helping to explain our evolved psychology as primarily occurring in African hunter-gatherer bands before the end of the last ice age. This perspective is supported by the exquisite cave paintings and tool artifacts from this ancient time. The most important evidence about our origins, however, comes from recent anthropological studies of current bands that represent the earlier age. Results showed that 5-psychosocial-behaviors produced both the environment and the natural selection for our psychology. These are: 1) language, coalitional activities and egalitarianism organization, 2) problems of bullies for egalitarianism, 3) management of the problems by gossip, ostracism and executions, 4) those targeted by the management had shorter lives and fewer children demonstrating strong natural selection, 5) reduced targeting occurred for those showing high-quality activities or high status, which increased the complexity of the selection to include all of our psychological abilities. The evolved psychological abilities include those highlighted by Dr Wrangham: emotions, intelligence, conscience and personality, as well as those with only supporting evidence: developmental and social learning, theory of mind, language, aesthetics, and free will. Further support for the importance of the 5-psychosocial-behaviors is provided by evidence from the domestication syndrome, natural selection pressure, and a positive feedback model. In addition, these perspectives can explain issues such as why 50% of our thoughts and behaviors comes from our environment and development as demonstrated in identical twin studies, and why we experience life with agency and free will. Dr Wrangham’s work is producing a new explanation of our nature that can help us all to understand why we are the way we are.

Atypical language organization in a Spanish-speaking adolescent with drug-resistant epilepsy: a multicultural case report

Objective: Epilepsy disproportionally affects children from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, particularly among those born outside the U.S. Longstanding health-related disparities associated with ethnicity (e.g. language use) further contribute to gaps in care. Neuropsychologists are beginning to outline best practices when working with non-English speakers; however, the lack of appropriately normed/validated measures for pre-surgical language evaluation is a limiting factor. This report informs practices among neuropsychologists by discussing atypical language organization in a non-English speaker using a multicultural framework and collaborative therapeutic assessment process. Method: The current study presents a 16-year-old, right-handed, monolingual Spanish-speaking, Latina designated female with drug-resistant focal seizures with impaired awareness. Comprehensive presurgical epilepsy workup included: CBC, video EEG, brain MRI, functional MRI, PET, MEG, baseline neuropsychological evaluation by bilingual Spanish-English providers, and Wada testing. Results: Neuropsychological testing revealed the most pronounced deficits in language, working memory, and processing speed domains. Functional MRI showed bilateral language activation, which Wada testing confirmed along with bilateral memory representation. Conclusion: Diagnosis, treatment, surgical intervention, and post-operative status are discussed. The clinical course is examined through a multicultural lens, highlighting limitations in international health services, barriers accessing health care in the U.S., and patient-specific factors that were considered as a part of the clinical decision-making process. Targeted recommendations related to culturally-informed care are offered.

Veterans in the workplace: a model of factors affecting veteran transition

PurposeThe aim of this work is to enhance workplace diversity and inclusion by exploring and addressing unique barriers faced by veterans during their transition from military service to civilian occupations.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on existing expatriate theory, we introduce the Veteran Employment Transition (VET) model. Drawing parallels between veterans and expatriates, the model illustrates key antecedents crucial for a successful transitional adjustment.FindingsThe proposed VET model outlines essential factors contributing to successful veteran transitions. These factors include individual factors such as language skills, job and organization factors such as role clarity and nonwork factors.Research limitations/implicationsThe VET model establishes a foundation for future research on veteran transition and answers the call for theory development in the field.Practical implicationsThe insights derived from the VET model offer practical recommendations for designing interventions and transition support programs tailored to the unique needs of returning veterans.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper lies in the development of the VET model, offering a novel perspective for understanding and addressing the distinctive challenges faced by returning United States (US) military veterans.

Universal Grammar and Universal Grammar’s Influence and Related Theories Concerning Second Language Acquisition

Universal Grammar, represented by Chomsky, believes that the human brain is born with a Language Acquisition Device. Under the stimulation of the language environment, the language function of the human brain dedicated to language learning will be activated and begin to acquire a language. Universal grammar is the core idea of Chomsky's generative linguistics theory, which is composed of a limited number of syntactic principles representing the common features of human language. It is precisely because the human brain naturally generates this universal grammar that human beings can acquire their own mother tongue when language input is poor or even lacks "negative corpus" (that is, the indication of language errors or faults). Chomsky once proposed a simple language acquisition model, namely "language input —Language Acquisition Device —language acquisition", which means that language input generates grammar through Language Acquisition Device, thus acquiring language. It is worth noting that Chomsky's theory is not specifically designed for the study of Second Language Acquisition, and he himself has not given any guidance in this field, but it provides theoretical support for the theory of Second Language Acquisition (Yang Chunyuan, 2020). Hence, learning the whole semester’s course of Second Language Acquisition, having seen universal grammar as a important content in my textbook, this paper tries to integrate these related theories and make a conclusion and comment or paraphrasing（not all the bibliographies are quoted directly in this paper, paraphrased or arranged instead）based on various bibliographies.

ABOUT BUSINESS E-MAIL AS A GENRE OF PROFESSIONAL INTERNET COMMUNICATION IN THE COURSE OF “LANGUAGE OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION”

The research focuses on exploring lexical-grammatical, syntactic, punctuation features of the text of business e-mail as a genre of professional Internet communication in the course of “Language of business communication”. The tasks are outlined as follows: 1) to reveal the contents of the course of “Language of business communication”; 2) to highlight the importance of the content module on professional Internet communication; 3) to analyze business e-mail as a genre of professional Internet communication. The descriptive method and various types of linguistic analysis are applied. Emphasis is placed on the motivational-practical (speech) component of the course as a defining feature of the “Language of business communication” discipline, which determines the approach to the thematic content of the four content modules. The proposed research highlights the fourth content module, which reveals the peculiarities of Internet business communication and encompass follows themes: “Internet communication: specifics, types, genres”, “Language organization of business Internet communication”. The analyzed content module involves familiarizing students with the concept of Internet style, types of network communication, genres of business Internet communication, types of posts in social networks, and the culture of Internet communication. To improve the practical skills of business electronic correspondence, an educational model (formulated in linguistics) was used, which consists in the synthesis of four interrelated aspects. The first aspect is based on mastering the theoretical foundations of the researched problem: philology students reveal the essence of the concept of an electronic business letter, systematize the basic principles of creating and rules for writing business e-mails. The second aspect is practical. It consists primarily in the formation of skills and abilities to analyze the texts of business letters. For example, the structural-compositional, lexical-grammatical, and punctuation features of an electronic Cover Letter and a Request Letter are considered. The third aspect is research. It involves independent processing of the text of an electronic business letter in accordance with the proposed algorithm. The fourth stage is creative. It provides for the independent creation of an electronic business letter taking into account the specified requirements. The results of the research can be used as materials for practical classes on the language of business communication, Ukrainian language for professional purposes, language culture, etc. Key words: “Language of business communication”, business e-mail, professional Internet communication, etiquette of business correspondence.

Coherence and comprehensibility in second language speakers’ academic speaking performance

AbstractThis study examined the role of discourse organization in second language (L2) comprehensibility ratings. Twelve English for Academic Purposes teachers listened to 60 L2 speech samples elicited through a TOEFL–type integrated speaking task, evaluating each sample for comprehensibility and coherence (perceived interconnectedness of ideas). The samples were analyzed for the occurrence of discourse features at micro and macro levels. Results revealed a strong association between coherence and comprehensibility (r = .70). Whereas L2 speakers’ use of additive connectives (e.g., and) uniquely predicted comprehensibility, ordering of ideas and source–speech similarity in speakers’ performances predicted coherence. Lexical overlaps predicted both constructs. Findings underscore the importance of coherence to comprehensible academic L2 speech demonstrating that the two constructs include partially overlapping yet distinct characteristics.

Sociolinguistic analysis of code switching in medical register

The research work is associated with identifying an in-depth understanding about the ways that are used by patients and practitioners to handle the medical registers of language in medical communication. The research works focuses on the code-switching approaches in the medical communication that is important in patients. However, some challenges are associated with code switching usage in medical communication due to the usage of code switching along with its frequency as well as pattern of code switching. Previous researchers have focused on the impact of patient education level in code switching as well as the role of doctors to handle the approaches. The study is also supported by the concepts of theory of language acquisition device. However, previous research has not focused on the role of administration and leadership in that particular field. A descriptive research design is followed in order to collect primary data from the medical practitioners in order to generate further outcomes that can be valued in that particular research field. Software like IBM SPSS is used to generate results from the collected quantitative data.

Children's Acquisition of Arabic Language Based On Chomsky's Theory Of Nativism

This study delves into the acquisition of Arabic language by children in the context of Chomsky's Theory. Acquisition of Arabic language for non-native students in Indonesia is very important to find out how Indonesians acquire arabic language and are able to understand the rules of the target language. The research focuses on non-native students in Indonesia, shedding light on how they grasp Arabic language and comprehend its linguistic rules. Through a qualitative approach and the Miles and Huberman model for data analysis, the study reveals that children can proficiently learn Arabic through language acquisition rather than traditional learning methods. And results of study are that children can master arabic language by means of language acquisition, if he masters the second language it is not through the learning process in school. The findings underscore the significance of innate language skills in children, as proposed by Chomsky's Theory of Nativism, emphasizing the presence of a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) from birth. This study contributes valuable insights into the natural language acquisition process and the role of innate linguistic abilities in mastering Arabic language skills. So, there must be some important aspects regarding the language system that is naturally within the child.

Lietuvių kalbos draugijos ir kitų visuomeninių kalbos organizacijų veiklos sklaida „Gimtosios kalbos“ žurnale

After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence in 1990, non-governmental organizations devoted to the linguistic education, the teaching of the Lithuanian language and its popularisation, and the rights of the state language, that had been active during the interwar period, began to be re-established. The most prominent of the organizations restored were the Lithuanian Language Society and the Union of Teachers of Lithuanian Language and Literature. During the years of the restored independence, various new organizations emerged whose aims and activities had more or less in common with those of the Lithuanian Language Society and the Union of Teachers of the Lithuanian Language and Literature.
 In 1990, the language popularisation periodical “Gimtoji kalba” [Mother Tongue], which had been established in Kaunas in 1933, was restored. The object of the analysis is the information about the activities of non-governmental language organizations published in the restored periodical. The main focus is on the Lithuanian Language Society, a non-governmental organization that was the editor (1935–1937 in Lithuania, 1958–1968 in the USA) and the publisher (1938–1941 and 1990–1996 in Lithuania) of the “Gimtoji kalba”.
 The aim of the paper is to highlight and summarise the changes in the goals of the Lithuanian Language Society, the development of its activities, and the search for new forms of activities, as reflected in the publications of “Gimtoji kalba”. Descriptive, analytical and summarizing methods were applied.
 The analysis of the publications in “Gimtoji kalba” shows that the restored Lithuanian Language Society, which at first based its activity on the experience of the interwar period and the language movement of 1968–1988, contributed to the development of the state language surveillance system. The development of the state language surveillance system has led to a change in the direction of the Society’s activities. While at the beginning of the restoration of independence the focus was on language correctness and its maintenance, over time the Lithuanian Language Society became increasingly oriented towards linguistic education of society and promotion of the Lithuanian language.

The nature of lexical associations in a foreign language: valence, arousal and concreteness

Abstract Recent studies suggest that similarity in emotional features and concreteness are critical cues underlying word association in native speakers. However, the lexical organization of a foreign language is less understood. This study aims to examine the structure of word associations within the mental lexicon of a foreign (English) and a native language. To this end, 145 native Spanish-speakers produced three lexical associates to cue words in both the foreign and native language. We observed that the associates were more neutrally valenced in the foreign language. Moreover, as cue words increased in their arousal, the produced associates were less arousing in the foreign language. Thus, the structure of these lexical associations could account for prior evidence of emotional detachment in foreign languages. Finally, as cues were more abstract, the foreign language associates were more abstract. Our findings revealed that the linguistic context modulated the lexical associations.

The Effectiveness of Role-Play Activity in Practicing EFL Learner’s Communicative Skills

The constant development of the world makes the status of communicative skills more and more significant. And the new curriculum standard also emphasizes the cultivation of students' comprehensive language use ability. As a kind of dramatic classroom activity, role-play activity can dramatize the static knowledge of language and culture and transform them into dynamic classroom activities, so that students can experience cultural differences, improve their listening and speaking skills, language organization and creativity, and improve their communicative skills in practice.

An Analysis of the English Translation of The Class Struggles in France Based on AntConc

Studying Marx’s analysis of class struggles in France provides insight into historical socio-economic dynamics, revealing patterns of oppression, resistance, and revolution. It elucidates the role of the bourgeoisie and proletariat in shaping societal structures, informing contemporary understanding of power dynamics, inequality, and potential pathways for social change. Based on the English version of the Class Struggles in France, the language use and organization of it are analysed by using the retrieval and analysis functions of AntConc. Through the analysis, its language features are concise, clear structure, strong logicality, key terms centred around the main theme, and a coherent logical relationship. The vocabulary used exhibits emotional tendencies, particularly concerning communism and capitalism, highlighting the author’s emotional attitude.

Social-ecological semiotics and the complex organization of psyche, language, and culture

In each given situation, our words and deeds carry signs and meanings that are contingent on, and reflect, the social-ecological semiotic settings. The purpose of this work is to better understand the complex organization of psyche, language, and culture. The process of hyper-generalization brings affective and cognitive opposites into the whole sign field and guides the whole relating with the world. As well, the process of semiotic mediation entails signs constraining and enhancing both interpersonal and intrapersonal psychological processes and experiences, including through nested systems (the levels of the individual-the relationship-the community-the societal). We present data for Australia and Thailand on Hofstede’s six culture dimensions, that is, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, individualism/collectivism, short-term/long-term orientation & restraint/indulgence. An idealized and dynamic model of relations of Hofstede’s six culture dimensions and four indeterminate pronouns (e.g., ‘every’-one, ‘some’-one, ‘any’-one, ‘no’ one) is proposed. As a framework for construing the complex semiotic organization of (western, English-speaking) culture and psyche, four “cyclical” regulatory statements are outlined, regarding personal constraint, personal enhancement, cultural constraint, and cultural enhancement in language and culture, that is, in semiotic cultural psychology. Examples on the values of caring for people and planet are given to illustrate the social-ecological semiotic framework.

Withdrawal of A Decent Man: On the Irony in “Running for Governor”

Mark Twain’s short story “Running for Governor” is threaded with irony, which achieves a structural effect and contributed a lot to the organization of the story on the macro-level, and achieves a strong rhetorical effect with artful linguistic devices on the micro-level, therefore forming a sharp contrast between truth and falsehood. Irony in the story is effectively penetrating and powerful in its function of plot development, characterization and the demonstration of authorial attitude. This paper aims to reveal how the artistic effect of irony is achieved in this story, and show that the artistry of Mark Twain’s irony lies in creating the tension between ambivalent feelings through which there comes a direct communication between the author and reader through the ingenious organization and masterful use of language.

History of organization and development of the Azerbaijani literary language

History of organization and development of the Azerbaijani literary language

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) and social media corpora

The study of computer-mediated communication (CMC) has received extensive attention in recent years, due to its impact on human communication and the immediacy of its form. This introduction briefly reports on some of the changes that CMC has undergone lately. The focus is on those topics currently considered to be central to the field, such as questions of identity and ideology, (im)politeness and face, humour, group creation and affiliation, verbal violence, cyberbullying, etc. Some observations are also made on the challenges that the compilation of CMC corpora poses for linguists, ranging from data copyright, anonymisation and representativeness to distinctive features of CMC texts, namely multimodality, non-standard language and non-sequential organisation. It also introduces each of the eight papers selected for this special issue of Research in Corpus Linguistics, highlighting their specific contribution to the field of CMC studies.

Czy istnieje norma językowa? Między snobizmem i modą a potrzebami języka

In this article, I engage in a discussion of the approaches of the normativists postulating the absence of a linguistic norm and assuming the identification of the norm with usus. I have made an attempt to prove the existence of the norm as a level of internal organisation of language, based on linguistic and mathematical-computational considerations. I accept the need for separate models of language: linguistic and mathematical, which serve different purposes and have different properties. I ponder the dual nature of language manifested by its finite infinity, assuming that only the usus is infinite. I postulate the adoption of a theory (formulated by K. Kłosińska) assuming the existence of an invariant norm together with ‘allonorms’. I also propose the introduction of the probabilistic Gaussian model into the codification procedures of the linguistic norm as a method objectifying the procedure and removing the (qualitative and quantitative) arbitrariness of codifiers.

The Official Lithuanian Language in the Interwar Years

The article aims to show the state of the Lithuanian language in the years of the national movement at the turn of the 20th century and its functioning in the restored independent Lithuanian state from 1918 up to 1940 when it was occupied by the USSR.
 Under the rule of the Russian Empire, the Lithuanian language was confined to the domestic setting: the press in the Latin script was banned and the use of Lithuanian in public was prohibited. As a continuation of the Springtime of Nations, the Lithuanian national movement relied on the Lithuanian-speaking society, and the language was perceived as one of the most important components of Lithuanianness. Scientific literature sometimes claims that the Lithuanian identity has been built on the philological foundation. This idea can be found in the history of many European nations, so the emphasis on the native language in Lithuania was nothing out of the ordinary.
 Drawing on national legislation and archival data, the article outlines how the Lithuanian language was taking root in the state that declared its independence in 1918. Reform of the economy, development of culture and education, the choice of the Western way of life, and formalising Lithuanian as the official language in the 1922 Constitution, created favourable conditions for the Lithuanian language and culture to function independently in the entire public life.
 The development of the Lithuanian language in the years of independence is analysed in three dimensions: legal (introducing the official language in all areas of life), structural (conducting research of the language, compiling the great dictionary, etc.), and educational (developing the modern theory of standard language grounded in structuralism and implementing its principles). The ideological basis of the educational work (as part of national upbringing), its implementers (the Lithuanian Language Society, different commissions and organizations), and the results thereof are also discussed.

Development of Ethnoscience-Based Science Education Module Using a Case Based Learning Model

This research is a research and development (R&D) study using the 4- D model. The research aims to produce valid a integrated ethnoscience science education module using a case based learning model. The data sources consisted of three expert validators who used validity instruments with four indicators (structure, organization of material, language, and appearance). The research data were analyzed using a quantitative descriptive method. Test the validity of the learning tool using score validation analysis. The results of the validity test show that the average score validation for structure module is 3.89 with a very valid category, for the material's organization it is 3.66 with a very valid category, for the language it is 3.67 with a very valid category, and for the appearance it is 3.73 with a very valid category. With a very valid category, the overall average mark validity is 3.74.