Language Change Research Articles

Dynamic testing of language learning aptitude: an exploratory proof of concept study

Abstract This paper provides an example for how online technology can be utilised to increase efficiency and validity of assessment procedures beyond simple computerization of testing. We report the first steps of the development of an online assessment procedure for the measurement of language learning aptitude that is based on the concept of dynamic testing. Online adaptive dynamic tests provide learning opportunities in the test situation, allowing test takers demonstrate their ability to benefit from feedback. Test performance shown in such test procedures has been demonstrated to be more useful in predicting future learning and to represent a more valid indication of test takers’ learning potential. The newly developed online assessment procedure aims at measuring young learner’s ability to improve performance based on inductive reasoning across lexical, morphological and syntactic rules of an artificial language using pictorial stimuli. The test was administered on ten mainland Chinese children aged between 9 and 13. The tentative analysis indicates that the newly developed test is feasible and has the potential to be a useful diagnostic tool for measuring language learning aptitude. We report and discuss insights gained and outline how these will be utilised for the further refinement of this online assessment tool.

Kemampuan Menelaah Unsur Dan Kaidah Kebahasaan Teks Drama Menggunakan Model Make A Match Siswa Kelas VIII SMPN 1 Hamparan Perak

This research is motivated by the ability to examine the elements and language rules of students' drama texts is still low, students' lack of interest in studying drama texts, the use of learning models that are less attractive and monotonous, the learning process that takes place still uses a teacher-centered model and low student scores, average The average obtained by students is 65. The purpose of this research is as follows. 1) To analyze the elements and language rules of drama texts for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 1 Hamparan Perak before using the Make a Match learning model. 2) To analyze the ability to examine the elements and language rules of drama text for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 1 Hamparan Perak for the 2022/2023 Academic Year after using the Make a Match learning model. This type of research is experimental research with a quantitative approach. The design in the research used is the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design, in this design there is a Pretest before being given treatment and a Posttest after being given treatment. The research results at the time of the pretest obtained an average of 63, and entered into the sufficient category. While the results of the posttest research obtained an average value of 79.8 and included in the good category. It can be concluded that class VIII students of SMPN 1 Hamparan Perak are able to examine the elements and language rules of drama texts using the Make a Match model.

A fragment-based approach for computing the long-term visual evolution of historical maps

Cartography, as a strategic technology, is a historical marker. Maps are tightly connected to the cultural construction of the environment. The increasing availability of digital collections of historical map images provides an unprecedented opportunity to study large map corpora. Corpus linguistics has led to significant advances in understanding how languages change. Research on large map corpora could in turn significantly contribute to understanding cultural and historical changes. We develop a methodology for cartographic stylometry, with an approach inspired by structuralist linguistics, considering maps as visual language systems. As a case study, we focus on a corpus of 10,000 French and Swiss maps, published between 1600 and 1950. Our method is based on the fragmentation of the map image into elementary map units. A fully interpretable feature representation of these units is computed by contrasting maps from different, coherent cartographic series, based on a set of candidate visual features (texture, morphology, graphical load). The resulting representation effectively distinguishes between map series, enabling the elementary units to be grouped into types, whose distribution can be examined over 350 years. The results show that the analyzed maps underwent a steady abstraction process during the 17th and 18th centuries. The 19th century brought a lasting scission between small- and large-scale maps. Macroscopic trends are also highlighted, such as a surge in the production of fine lines, and an increase in map load, that reveal cultural fashion processes and shifts in mapping practices. This initial research demonstrates how cartographic stylometry can be used for exploratory research on visual languages and cultural evolution in large map corpora, opening an effective dialogue with the history of cartography. It also deepens the understanding of cartography by revealing macroscopic phenomena over the long term.

Initial evaluation of the TALES (technology and literacy engagement after stroke) programme targeting functional literacy and social engagement in people with aphasia after stroke

ABSTRACT Background and aims Literacy skills are typically affected in people with stroke aphasia, leading to reduced engagement in functional everyday reading/writing tasks, such as email/messaging via social media. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of the TALES (Technology And Literacy Engagement after Stroke) programme, a group-based online literacy-focused programme for people with aphasia after stroke. This first evaluation of this programme aimed to examine outcomes related to feasibility, changes in language, literacy and self-ratings of communication skills. Methods Five participants with aphasia were assessed on a range of outcome measures relating to language and self-perception of communication skills. These were: the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R; (Kertesz, 2007)), literacy subtests from the Psycholinguistic Assessment of Language Processing in Aphasia (PALPA; (Kay et al., 1996)) and the Communication Outcomes after Stroke (COAST; (Long et al., 2008)). TALES consisted of a weekly group online session, 1:1 supported telehealth reading/writing practice and regular messaging via email. Results and main contribution From a descriptive statistics perspective, the mean gains across the cohort were 7.94 (from 84.24 to 92.18) on the WAB AQ (aphasia quotient), 8.92 (from 81.18 to 90.10) on the WAB LQ (language quotient). Additionally, there was a change in the mean scores for PALPA subtests (31, 37 and 40) observed between the pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment assessment. Finally, the mean score increased by 8.8 (from 49.40 to 58.20) on the COAST (max score = 80). Results indicated gains in literacy and communication measures as well as changes to self-rating of communication reflecting changes in communication confidence. Conclusions Mindful of the threats to the internal validity inherent in the study design, the reported online therapy can overcome barriers such as distance and mobility limitations and may provide greater accessibility to therapy for individuals with aphasia. TALES was a low-therapist-input yet reasonably intensive treatment approach which embedded language practice immediately in functional use through the social group format and personally-relevant written communication. Implications The TALES programme meets many neuroscience principles of neurorehabilitation including “use it or lose it”, salience and transference. Future research may usefully investigate the contribution of the group format versus the functional literacy components towards these potentially promising early data.

Individual variation in contact effects – stability, convergence, and divergence

Abstract In this study, we investigate the contact effects of stability, convergence, and divergence regarding the use of the same linguistic construction in the same contact situation. To do that, we collected experimental production and judgment data by native German speakers living in the Netherlands regarding their usage of the complementizer um ‘to’ in German and compared those data to those of a control group of German speakers not in contact with Dutch. The results show that most speakers show evidence for some contact-induced language change in their German. At the same time, speakers seem to experience different contact effects, demonstrating that it is not the structural properties of the construction that result in one effect over the other, but rather factors that pertain to the individual speakers. In particular, we argue that speakers can either focus on the similarities or on the differences between their languages, to some extent driven by their attitudes towards their languages and language change, and then over-generalize these similarities or differences to new contexts. Overall, this result clearly underlines the importance of focusing on individual speakers as the initiators of language change, which is in line with a usage-based approach.

An exploration of mock juror experience during the deliberations of a defendant diagnosed with a personality disorder

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how mock jurors’ experiences of deliberations are impacted by the defendant having a personality disorder.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a qualitative approach to explore mock jurors’ experiences during the deliberations of a fictional defendant, Sarah Priest. Ten participants formed two mock juries, and each mock jury were given two case studies to deliberate. Case study one described Priest as having “Severe Personality Disorder, Borderline Pattern” whereas case study two described Priest as having “Complex Mental Health Problems”. There were no changes to the content of the case studies aside from the change in language used to describe the defendant.FindingsAn inductive thematic analysis identified two main themes relating to juror experience: “Interaction with Other Mock Jurors” and “Language as a Barrier to a Verdict”. Participants constructed that prosocial interactions with other mock jurors in the deliberations helped them make a verdict decision, but some of these interactions led to disagreements between participants due to a wide variation of opinion. Second, the different description of the defendant in each case study were constructed to have made the deliberations and decision-making difficult, but for different reasons. In case study one, a lack of knowledge surrounding BPD was the reason for this difficulty, and in case study two, participants thought that the applicability of diminished responsibility criteria were unclear, making it hard to reach a verdict.Practical implicationsThe findings have key implications for the judicial system; common experiences can be identified and recorded to implement procedures to protect jurors from adverse experiences.Originality/valueThere is a lack of studies that have investigated juror experience in the UK, and the few studies available have used a quantitative methodology. The approach taken in the current study is, therefore, unique in a UK context. The findings have key implications for the judicial system; common experiences can be identified and recorded to implement procedures to protect jurors from adverse experiences.

Errors Use of Indonesian Language in Public Outdoor Media in Manado City

The primary objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the utilization of the Indonesian language in outdoor media within Manado City, focusing on physical attributes, linguistic aspects, and the general application of the language in this specific context. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study centers its analysis on outdoor media installations situated in Manado, utilizing a sample size of 10 randomly selected images. The data collection process involves two main steps: firstly, gathering information on language usage in public spaces throughout Manado City, and subsequently, selecting ten data points that represent seven key aspects of Indonesian language prioritization. The findings of the study reveal two noteworthy outcomes: firstly, public space managers exhibit a preference for foreign languages over Indonesian in their language usage; and secondly, deviations from language rules are apparent, particularly in terms of spelling and word choice. The examination of Indonesian language use in outdoor media within Manado City indicates a presence of linguistic errors that defy established rules. Physically, there is a fusion of languages, comprising both Indonesian and foreign languages. While the language structure adheres to rules, imperfections persist in spelling and word selection. Despite these challenges, there is a positive trend in language typography, signaling an improvement in this specific aspect. In essence, the study underscores the existence of linguistic shortcomings in the public use of the Indonesian language in Manado City, encompassing discrepancies in language mixture, structural errors, and evolving typography practices

A Comparative Study of Spoken Language Components of Students With Dyslexia and Normal Peers in the First and Second Grades of Primary School

Background and Aims The present study was conducted to investigate the change in the receptive language, intermediate language, expressive language, semantics, syntax, and phonology of dyslexic students and compare them with the norm group. Methods The statistical sample of the present study comprised 28 dyslexic students studying in the first and second grades of primary school and 29 normal students from the same grades. They were selected non-randomly based on the inclusion criteria. The third edition of the Persian version of the test of language development (TOLD-P3) was used to measure the components of receptive language, intermediate language, and expressive language. Tehran Stanford-Binet intelligence test (TSB-5) and reading and dyslexia test (NAMA) were used to diagnose dyslexia. Multivariate analysis of variance was used for data analysis. Results The findings indicate a significant difference in the evolution of the components of receptive language, intermediate language, expressive language, semantics, syntax, and phonology between dyslexic and normative students. Conclusion According to the results, dyslexic students are weaker in all components of spoken language than their non-dyslexic peers. Considering the dyslexic students’ problem in reading, they are profoundly different from their normal peers in lower levels of language, including spoken language. Thus, the growth and development of language skills must be considered in reading learning disability besides other rehabilitation skills.

American English monophthong tenseness

In General American English, the point vowels of the F2 – F1 verus F1 quadrilateral, [i], [u], and [ɑ] are tense. More generally, Lindau noted the connection between acoustic peripherality and vowel tenseness [Lindau, M. (1975). “Vowel Features.” Working Papers, Phonetics Laboratory, Lund University, 11, p. 1]. In the case of [ae], it is the tensing of this point vowel that initiated the Northern Cities Chain Shift [Labov, W. (1994). Principles of Linguistic Sound Change: Internal Factors. Blackwell Publishers, Malden, MA]. The theses of this talk are firstly that a high degree of acoustic sensitivity to area function change is the reason that peripherality is highly correlated with tenseness. However the reason for the acoustic sensitivity of [ae] is different than it is for the other three point vowels. Second, a more fundamental characterization of tenseness is in its articulatory kinematics during production. The reason for this has to do with the persistence of tenseness with diachronic sound change away from the periphery. Perhaps, though, tense/lax changes appear to be more likely on the periphery than elsewhere.

Developmental changes in phonological and semantic competition during spoken word recognition

Spoken word-recognition is a foundational skill in child language development; the organization and activation of phonological and semantic competitors develops which in turn impacts word recognition. One of the factors impacting spoken word recognition is the ability to resolve lexical competition. The current study first examines how the time-course of lexical activation changes through development, and second, whether children attend more to targets when competitors are visually present or not. To date, 25 children between ages 3–7 who began acquiring French from birth participated in a visual world eye-tracking paradigm. Children were presented with 4 images, each representing a different French word. Images were either presented with both a phonological (e.g., baleine) and semantic (e.g., cerise) competitor of the audio stimuli (e.g., banana) or the audio stimuli had no relation to the competitor images (e.g., épée). Primary analysis reveals that older children look more to the target than younger children [F(2,22) = 3.8, p =.04] and that the presence of competitors does not impact target recognition [F(1,18) = 0.03, p =.87]. Such findings imply that children improve in their abilities to efficiently recognize words with age but are not affected by the visual presence of lexical competitors.

The embedded Wh- in situ clause: French tout court? Les spasmes musculaires incontrôlés, je sais pas c’est quoi (France Info 20/10/21)

AbstractAlthough not studied by the generative approach (Shlonsky 2017), the embedded Wh- in situ clause nevertheless belongs to the French language spoken in a large amount of areas, and, we believe, to “français tout court” (Blanche-Benveniste & Jeanjean 1987): until now, it has mainly been studied in Quebec (Lefebvre & Maisonneuve 1982; Blondeau & Ledegen 2021) and in Reunion Island (Ledegen 2007a, 2007b, 2007c, 2016; Ledegen & Martin 2020), but it has recently been massively attested in the Multicultural Paris French project in the suburbs of Paris (Gardner-Chloros & Secova 2018) and Strasbourg (Marchessou 2018). These new data could be read as a language contact, as a recent linguistic change, or as a long-established “popular” structure (Guiraud 1966), different analytical hypotheses that will be detailed in this study. These recent data also argue in favour of the methodology of ecological corpora, obtained within the framework of a strong acquaintanceship and located at the pole of communicative proximity (Koch & Oesterreicher 2001). The examination of various existing corpora will reveal the structural functioning of the structure and contrast the corpora following the modes of interaction, the oral or written medium, as well as on the chronological axis.

Gender-inclusive Language in Twitter

Abstract: Gender-inclusive language serves to recognize women and people with non-binary gender identities as part of the primary group, and it has been seen in various languages, including Arabic (Berger 2019), English (Berger 2019; Mathews 1995), Hebrew (Berger 2019), Portuguese (Secretaria de Comunicação 2021), Spanish (Berger 2019; Guzmán Stein 2004), and Swedish (Berger 2019; Gustafsson Sendén et al. 2015), among others (Berger 2019). In Spanish, for example, speakers exchange the generic masculine – o gender morpheme for morphemes like –@, – x , or – e . Through an analysis of the use of these morphemes in the word nosotros by Twitter users in or around Madrid, it is argued that a language change based on analogy to non-gender-marked forms such as estudiante and inteligente is in progress (Campbell 2013; Gubb 2013; Moreno, p.c.; Pesce and Etchezahar 2019). Data are manually extracted from tweets posted during the first through the tenth of each month in the years 2010, 2014, and 2018. The data reveal that no inclusive morphemes were used in 2010, but that by 2018, the most frequent gender-inclusive morpheme was –@, – x was the second-most frequent, and – e was the least frequent. The frequency of these morphemes corresponds with their novelty: – @ was created first, and – e is the most recent. Future studies should examine uses of gender-inclusive language in later years, as well as the demographic characteristics of the Twitter users.

Computational linguistics and its role in the Kurdish language Orthography and voice as a model

Today information technology has permeated all aspects of life One of the aspect which is directly affected and under hegemony of technology is language, since language is the most important means of communication, and the whole human society communicate and understand each other through language. With any changes and develops (progress) of life society language changes and progresses parallels, this why technology reflected in language Rather, a special branch of language has emerged is computer language that works on the coordination between computer and language progress The content of this research discuss( focus on) the beginnings of this kind of linguistics( language) and its role in Orthography and phopnology in kurdish language

Text Mining Approaches to Language Use in Social Media: The Case of Portuguese Bué

This study describes processes of language change in Angolan Portuguese focusing on the use of intensifiers. Previous studies have shown that intensifiers are a relevant category for the study of language change due to their rapid change and variable meaning. It has been noted that intensifiers are particularly prone to renewal, suggesting speakers’ desire to innovate. Informed by a Digital Humanities approach, we collect and analyze data from Twitter (now X), focusing on the multi-functional intensifier bué, ‘very’, in Angolan Portuguese (AP). In this paper, we (1) provide an overview of the word’s distribution in AP, (2) consider the processes of change involved in bué’s variation, and (3) discuss the role of linguistic borrowing in language change and grammaticalization, shedding light on some of the cultural aspects that play a role in this word’s development, such as the influence of the media and the contact situation between Angolan and European Portuguese.

Multi-criteria model for selection of optical linear terminals based on FUZZY TOPSIS method

Optical networks are an integral part of modern telecommunication systems. Huge traffic and ever-increasing requirements for data transmission capacity and quality encourage the wider use of modern optical technologies in telecommunications. The rational choice of equipment for the design of optical networks is an urgent task at present. The subject of this study is the process of selecting optical line terminals, which is associated with the evaluation of possible options by a set of indicators. The OLT (optical line terminal) in PON technology implements the function of organizing subscriber lines and is also a node equipment - an L4 switch that combines the functions of routing (IP), traffic fragmentation (VLAN), switching (MAC), quality of service (QoS), and some necessary network service functions. The optimal structuring of PON access networks demands a judicious selection of software and hardware, guided by their tactical and technical characteristics, in view of the substantial information load they entail. One of the effective approaches to solving such problems is the use of MCDM (Multiple Criteria Decision Making) methods. Purpose: to construct a TOPSIS model of the optimal choice of optical linear terminals in the conditions of unclear information for different cases of aggregation of evaluations of decision makers. Task: to formalize the process of selecting optical linear terminals; develop a multi-criteria mathematical model for the effective selection of optical line terminals. Methods used in the study: The fuzzy TOPSIS method, four methods of aggregating the opinions of decision makers. The following results were obtained. Alternatives and criteria for their evaluation are defined. On the basis of interviews with decision makers, evaluations of the degree of importance of the criteria and alternatives to the criteria were determined. Linguistic changes were used to describe decision-makers’ evaluations, which were interpreted as triangular fuzzy numbers. During this study, four methods of aggregating the evaluations of decision makers were used. A fuzzy TOPSIS model for selecting an optical line terminal is constructed. The ranking of the selected optical line terminals is obtained and the best alternative is determined. The results of modeling with different methods of aggregating assessments of decision makers are compared. Conclusions. The use of the Fuzzy TOPSIS method for optimal selection of optical linear terminals is proposed. The influence of the methods of aggregation of evaluations of decision-makers is analyzed.

The Asymmetrical Stop Inventory of Witzapan Nawat

AbstractThe stop inventory of Witzapan Nawat, a critically endangered indigenous language of El Salvador, has been traditionally described as consisting only of a voiceless series /p t k kw/. In this paper, I measure the voice onset time, consonant duration, and percent voicing in stops produced by five L1 Witzapan Nawat speakers. I find that, while /p t kw/ have acoustic characteristics of voiceless stops in practically all contexts, the velar stop in this language is better analyzed as a voiced velar stop /ɡ/ rather than /k/. This results in an asymmetrical and unusual stop system that is not predicted by some theories of phonemic inventory structure. For instance, markedness-based theories propose that /ɡ/ is more marked that /b d/ and predict that, if a language has one voiced stop, it would be /b/ or /d/ rather than /ɡ/. On the other hand, feature-systemic models predict that, if a language has a stop with the [+voice] feature at a given place of articulation, it will also tend to have this feature in stops at other points of articulation to maximize feature economy. The phonemic inventory of Witzapan Nawat contradicts these predictions. I explain the asymmetrical stop inventory of this language as the result of diachronic developments involving sound change and analogy, concluding that language change does not necessarily advance towards symmetry and that phonemic inventories are the reflection of their diachrony, as proposed by Evolutionary Phonology.

Enhanced coarticulatory labialization of /ts/ in Argentine Danish

Abstract This paper presents an acoustic study of coarticulation of Argentine Danish /ts/ using Centre of Gravity (CoG) as the acoustic measure. It shows that the articulation of /ts/ is affected by the roundedness of the following vowel, and that this is more prevalent among speakers of Argentine Danish than among speakers of Modern Danish as spoken in Denmark. The analysis also shows that within Argentine Danish, the speakers of the isolated settlement Eldorado have a larger effect of roundedness in their articulation of /ts/ than the speakers of the settlements in the Pampas and in Buenos Aires. The results are discussed from the perspective of phonological theory on enhanced coarticulation as a source of sound change and from the perspective of theory of language change in heritage languages.

History constrains the evolution of efficient color naming, enabling historical inference

Color naming in natural languages is not arbitrary: It reflects efficient partitions of perceptual color space [T. Regier, P. Kay, N. Khetarpal, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104, 1436-1441 (2007)] modulated by the relative needs to communicate about different colors [C. Twomey, G. Roberts, D. Brainard, J. Plotkin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118, e2109237118 (2021)]. These psychophysical and communicative constraints help explain why languages around the world have remarkably similar, but not identical, mappings of colors to color terms. Languages converge on a small set of efficient representations.But languages also evolve, and the number of terms in a color vocabulary may change over time. Here we show that history, i.e. the existence of an antecedent color vocabulary, acts as a nonadaptive constraint that biases the choice of efficient solution as a language transitions from a vocabulary of size [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] terms. Moreover, as efficient vocabularies evolve to include more terms they explore a smaller fraction of all possible efficient vocabularies compared to equally sized vocabularies constructed de novo. This path dependence of the cultural evolution of color naming presents an opportunity. Historical constraints can be used to reconstruct ancestral color vocabularies, allowing us to answer long-standing questions about the evolutionary sequences of color words, and enabling us to draw inferences from phylogenetic patterns of language change.

Transformation of Print Media Management Into Online Media (Case Study on Bengkulu Ekspress Daily Media)

This study examines the management transformation process carried out by print media in switching to online media platforms. The research focuses on understanding media management carried out by print media in adapting information technology and its content into the online realm. Qualitative research methods were used, including an in-depth interview with the editor-in-chief of Media Harian Bengkulu Ekspress, which has transformed into online media. Data analysis was carried out to determine the management changes made by the Bengkulu Ekspress Daily media when switching to online media. The results highlight the transformation of media management of Bengkulu Ekspress Daily, starting from the formation of a special team that handles this online media itself, changes in news language that follow the tastes of the community, adjustments to the layout on the web, and interaction with readers through communication media. The implications of this transformation show significant changes in business models as well as increased reader engagement through online platforms

SysML4GDPSim: A SysML Profile for Modeling Geometric Deviation Propagation in Multistage Manufacturing Systems Simulation

In recent years, paradigms like production quality or zero-defect manufacturing have emerged, highlighting the need to improve quality and reduce waste in manufacturing systems. Although quality can be analyzed from various points of view during different stages of a manufacturing system’s lifecycle, this research focuses on a multidomain simulation model definition oriented toward the analysis of productivity and geometric quality during early design stages. To avoid inconsistencies, the authors explored the definition of descriptive models using system modeling language (SysML) profiles that capture domain-specific semantics defining object constraint language (OCL) rules, facilitating the assurance of model completeness and consistency regarding this specific knowledge. This paper presents a SysML profile for the simulation of geometric deviation propagation in multistage manufacturing systems (SysML4GDPSim), containing the concepts for the analysis of two data flows: (a) coupled discrete behavior simulation characteristic of manufacturing systems defined using discrete events simulation (DEVS) formalism; and (b) geometric deviation propagation through the system based on the geometrical modeling of artifacts using concepts from the topologically and technologically related surfaces (TTRS) theory. Consistency checking for this type of multidomain simulation model and the adoption of TTRS for the mathematical analysis of geometric deviations are the main contributions of this work, oriented towards facilitating the collaboration between design and analysis experts in the manufacturing domain. Finally, a case study shows the application of the proposed profile for the simulation model of an assembling line, including the model’s transformation to Modelica and some experimental results of this type of analysis.