Linguistic Categories Research Articles

The effect of visual displays on the mastery of the forms and functions of English intonation by Chinese L2 students

This study examines the effectiveness of visual displays in improving the mastery of the forms and functions of English intonation among Chinese L2 students. Over a four-week period, two groups of learners (visual-training and auditory-training) took part in five sessions of intonation training, while a control group received no training. Each session began with a 25-minute lesson on the forms and functions of intonation, followed by a 40-minute practice session. All sentences were presented in communicative contexts. With the aid of speech visualization technology, the visual-training group was taught linguistic categories and English intonation structures, and was encouraged to imitate and practice intonation patterns using visual displays of the intonation of each sentence. The auditory-training group learned and practiced intonation by carefully listening to audio clips of each sentence. Intonation production was assessed using speech data from pre- and post-tests. Results showed that the visual-training group outperformed the other two groups, making the greatest progress in mastering the forms of English intonation (pitch accents and boundary tones) and its functions (expressing prominence and marking modality).

Do physicians and patients speak different languages: quantitative evidence from linguistic analysis

Abstract Background Misunderstanding and miscommunication between physicians and patients are well-accepted sources of poor therapy adherence and poor outcomes. Some of these issues are suspected to occur because these two groups speak different "languages". A likely component of such language difference is vocabulary; specifically, the use of medical terminology. Nonetheless, there are other psychological aspects of language such as authoritative and emotional use. The text analysis programme, Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC), was used to assess such features. LIWC is an established tool that analyses the frequency of words that fall into various linguistic, psychological, and emotional categories. The aim was to compare text from both physicians and patients. The context was the use of anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods Three articles from English-speaking countries (Australia, Canada, and the UK) were examined. These articles presented transcribed verbal communications between interviewers and groups of physicians and patients. More than 80 separate comments, each ≥ 20 words, made by each group were extracted from the articles and analysed. The total number of words was 8,609 from physicians and 4,804 from patients. Data were collected for the following LIWC analysis categories: (1) the proportion of big words (words with ≥7 letters), (2) clout; high scores suggest that the speaker is confident, authoritative, and has a high level of social dominance. It implies that the individual is speaking from a position of strength or influence; and (3) emotion: this category is integral to understanding how people communicate feelings and emotions. Results As anticipated the number of big words was higher in physician interviews (19±1%) than for patients (12±1%; P=0.0013). The clout indicator also showed the physicians with a higher score (43±6 vs 16±6; P=0.028). In contrast, in the emotion category, patient scores (1.19±0.02) were higher than for physicians (0.58±0.15; P=0.016); primarily because of a three-fold higher negative emotion score (0.53±0.08 vs 0.16±0.11; P=0.048). Conclusions Physicians and patients used language differently. As expected, vocabulary differed; physicians used more big words. This is consistent with greater use of medical terminology, a known source of miscommunication. The higher physician clout score indicates the potential for a power imbalance. The greater use of emotion-related words by patients is consistent with their anxiety and concern. Human judgment and contextual analysis are required to fully understand and address the nuances of communication and associated understanding. Nevertheless, LIWC can play a supportive role. If we identify language patterns likely to result in miscommunication or misunderstanding, steps can be taken to mitigate the effects. LIWC provided quantitative insight into qualitative impressions and revealed subtle, but potentially vital, differences.

Under the name of “Lua”: revisiting genetic heterogeneity and population ancestry of Austroasiatic speakers in northern Thailand through genomic analysis

BackgroundAustroasiatic (AA)-speaking populations in northern Thailand are of significant interest due to their status as indigenous descendants and their location at the crossroads of AA prehistoric distribution across Southern China, the Indian Subcontinent, and Mainland Southeast Asia. However, the complexity of ethnic identification can result in inaccuracies regarding the origin and migration history of these populations. To address this, we have conducted a genome-wide SNP analysis of 89 individuals from two Lavue and three Lwa-endonym populations. We then combined our outcomes with previously published data to elucidate the genetic diversity and clustering of AA groups in northern Thailand.ResultsOur findings align with existing linguistic classifications, revealing different genetic compositions among the three branches of the Mon-Khmer subfamily within the AA family: Monic, Khmuic, and Palaungic. Although the term “Lua” ethnicity is confusingly used to identify ethnic groups belonging to both Khmuic and Palaungic branches, our genomic data indicate that the Khmuic-speaking Lua living on the eastern side of the region are relatively distant from the Palaungic-speaking Lavue and Lwa populations living on the western side. The Lavue populations, primarily inhabiting mountainous areas, exhibit a genetic makeup unique to the AA family, with a close genetic relationship to the Karenic subgroup of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Conversely, the Lwa and Blang populations, residing in lowland river valleys, display genetic signatures resulting from admixture with Tai-Kadai-speaking ethnic groups.ConclusionUtilizing genome-wide SNP markers, our findings indicate genetic heterogeneity among the Lua, Lavue, and Lwa ethnic groups. The intricate interplay of genetics, cultural heritage, and historical influences has shaped these ethnic communities. Our study underscores the importance of accurate ethnic classifications, emphasizing the use of self-identified endonyms, names created and used by the ethnic groups themselves. This approach respects the AA communities in northern Thailand and acknowledges their significant contributions to advancing our understanding of genetic anthropology.

Sociolinguistic Style, Awareness, and Agency among Southern California Latinx Spanish–English Bilinguals

This study examined different degrees of awareness regarding the stigmatization of Southern California (SoCal) Spanish across four groups of Spanish–English bilinguals from Southern California (n = 87). The participants were presented with Spanish sentences and asked to decide which profile of speaker would likely express that sentence, given six options, such as: “someone living in Los Angeles/SoCal who grew up in Mexico” or “a Spanish-English bilingual who grew up in Los Angeles/SoCal”. Experimental stimuli included seven different linguistic categories of stigmatization, including English contact forms. The participants tended to attribute the stigmatized forms to bilinguals who grew up in Southern California. Central Colloquial and Taboo categories were more salient and perceived as forms used by people in Mexico. In contrast, English borrowings and redundancies seemed to be recognized by the participants, particularly for simultaneous bilinguals who grew up in Southern California, as salient forms of an identified Southern California Spanish variety. The results are interpreted within Exemplar Theory, with certain stigmatized forms indexing “Mexican Spanish” exemplars, and English borrowings identified as exemplars of SoCal Spanish. We advocate for usage-based approaches to understanding language perceptions and critical approaches to interrogating academic discourses.

Analisis Kesalahan Berbahasa Teks Berita Dalam Website "Detiknews" Edisi Februari 2024 Sebagai Kalayakan Bahan Ajar Membaca Kritis Siswa Kelas X SMA Terhadap Perilaku Sosial Remaja

The development of the times is accompanied by progress in various fields of life, such as science, technology, and economics. Progress is also felt in the scientific field of journalism. One of the terms in the field of journalism that is commonly known by the general public is print mass media, such as newspapers. Today's newspapers are not only printed on paper, but many newspapers have created their own blogs or pages so that news can be read online. The aim of this research is to analyze language errors based on the classification of linguistic categories, namely syntax, which includes the areas of spelling and sentence effectiveness. The data source is several news stories published on the detikNews website in the February 2024 edition. The data was then analyzed using the listening method and note-taking techniques. The results of the research showed that there were 52 errors in the use of spelling and punctuation, which were described as follows: a) there were 11 errors in writing foreign words; b) there were 8 errors in writing numbers; c) there were 13 errors in writing capital letters; d) there were 15 errors in the use of punctuation marks; e) there were 5 errors in writing pronouns. Apart from that, there were 44 errors in the use of ineffective sentences, which are described as follows: a) there were 14 errors in choosing diction; b) there are 10 sentences with no subject or predicate; c) there are 9 sentences with overlapping words; d) there are 11 long-winded sentences. It is hoped that the results of the analysis in this article will increase understanding and deeper knowledge regarding linguistics, namely syntax, including the areas of spelling and word choice and their use, knowledge about the types, as well as providing suitable teaching materials for class X high school students for them to carry out assessments and considerations. about adolescent social behavior critically.

Effects of Language Policies of Nigeria and South Africa on Linguistic Diversity and Classification of Indigenous Languages

This study investigated the effects of language policies implemented in Nigeria and South Africa on linguistic diversity and how these two nations categorized their indigenous languages. In this present study, qualitative research methodology was used, and a purposive sampling method was used to select Nigeria’s 2013 Language Policy from the National Policy of Education and South Africa’s 1996 Language in Education Policy. Thematic analysis was carried out using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) software which is a topic modeling methodology that assists in identifying basic themes within wide textual data. The latent level of analysis converged on the implicit ideas, suppositions, notions, and orientations that describe or point out the meaning of the data. The action of incorporating LDA software intensifies the efficiency and level of the qualitative research methodology used to critically examine the language policies of Nigeria and South Africa. The results revealed that the language policies in Nigeria and South Africa have a notable influence on linguistic diversity, supporting the principles of translanguaging and multilingualism. Also, the policies give priority to the inclusion of indigenous languages in education to improve unity and preserve cultural heritage. With a careful survey of language policies and their significance, the results give important and useful recommendations on the increase of inclusivity in language policies for the preservation and promotion of linguistic diversity in different cultural environments. Native languages should be given a notable preference in language policies so that there will be room for the use of translanguaging and multilingual pedagogies in the school systems. Keywords: Inclusive Education, Indigenous Languages, Language Policy, Linguistic Diversity, Multilingualism, Translanguaging

„A Tender Narrator” by Olga Tokarczuk from a Theoretical and Literary Perspective

The article is an attempt at a multi-layered analysis of the category of the „sensitive narrator”, whichOlga Tokarczuk coined in her Nobel speech. This concept has been widely discussed by literarycritics, but it still calls for some kind of synthesis. The article seeks to answer the question whetherthe „sensitive narrator” can be considered a linguistic category or whether this concept shouldbe treated as a metaphor referring to the duties of contemporary literature.

Research On Foreign Language Anxiety in Japanese Acquisition

Foreign language anxiety is a common emotional factor in foreign language learning and is not conducive to learners' development. Since anxiety is specific to certain target languages, current research mainly focuses on English learners, and few studies take Asia languages, such as Chinese or Japanese as the target language. Based on these, this study reviews the current research on Japanese language learning anxiety from the perspective of linguistic classification and summarizes the teaching methods to reduce foreign language anxiety. It is proposed that teachers and learners should be encouraged to rethink their perceptions of mistakes. In addition, the order of knowledge acquisition of Japanese grammar should be respected, and the potential interest of learners in Japanese culture should be utilized. In addition, the establishment of a lighthearted and inclusive learning environment, the judicious use of group activities, and the appropriate administration of examinations and assessments can also be effective in alleviating anxiety.

Philosophical reflections on the future of construction grammar (or, confessions of a Radical Construction Grammarian)

Abstract Many issues face construction grammar today. I start with the role of usage in construction grammar, and trace the changes in the usage-based model from mental storage to social interaction to evolution of populations of speakers and utterances. Just as speech communities and linguistic categories can be described as evolving populations, so can the construction grammar community and the theoretical concepts and formalisms that have evolved in it. Meaning remains the most challenging question for the future. Meaning is human experience, incredibly rich, and I suggest that construction grammar move away from mental representations to radical embodiment (existential phenomenology).

Interpreter-mediated political communication N-Grammed: a corpus-driven discourse analysis of government interpreters’ (ideological) use of formulaic language

ABSTRACT Formulaic expressions/prefabricated chunks are established as crucial in fluent speech production in psycholinguistics and language acquisition/learning yet have been largely underexplored in interpreting studies, barring a few experimental studies. Formulaic expressions are particularly underexplored from a discursive perspective in interpreting, that is, how interpreters might employ formulaic expressions for discursive mediation. Drawing on 20 years of China’s political press conferences data, this study conducts a corpus-driven critical discourse analysis to explore the ideological/discursive properties of the linguistic category using the N-Gram function. The findings reveal that the interpreters’ formulaic language use manifests at multiple levels: Instead of being seemingly routine and innocuous, formulaic expressions used in interpreting can be ideologically salient in (re)constructing versions of truth, fact, and reality, discursively further strengthening China’s stance in the global lingua franca English. Contextualised bilingual examples are provided to demonstrate interpreters’ mediation. This interdisciplinary study contributes to current understanding of government interpreters’ agency in a changing sociocultural and geopolitical context.

Can the Mismatch Negativity Really Be Elicited by Abstract Linguistic Contrasts?

Abstract The mismatch negativity (MMN) is an event-related potential component that reflects pre-attentive change detection in the brain. As an electrophysiological index of processing that responds to differences in incoming consecutive stimuli, the MMN can be elicited through, for example, the presentation of two different categories of sounds in an oddball paradigm where sounds from the “standard” category occur frequently and sounds from the “deviant” category occur rarely. The specificity of what can elicit the MMN is yet to be fully defined. Here we test whether the MMN can be generated by an abstract linguistic contrast with no reliable acoustic cue. Previous studies have shown that the way in which an acoustic cue is used to elicit MMN is influenced by linguistic knowledge, but have not shown that a nonacoustic, abstract linguistic contrast can itself elicit MMN. In this study, we test the strongest interpretation of the claim that the MMN can be generated through a purely linguistic contrast by contrasting tenses in ablauting irregular English verbs (where there is no reliable acoustic cue for tense). We find that this contrast elicits a negativity, as do other linguistic contrasts previously shown to elicit MMN (a contrast between phonologically voiced and phonologically voiceless segments and a purely acoustic contrast between aspirated and unaspirated segments). The findings provide evidence that the MMN is indeed sensitive to purely abstract linguistic categories.

Hong Kongers and their languages: bordering, scale and identity

Abstract In this paper, we examine discourses about border and scale in the context of Hong Kong’s relationship with mainland China. We argue that, as the physical and political borders between Hong Kong and the mainland are eroding, other forms of bordering practices – such as linguistic borders – become more salient and contested. We draw on selected thematic analyses of a corpus of 70 articles from Hong Kong English media, as well as socio-historical analyses that have widely circulated since Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China, in order to examine how the construction of “Cantonese” and “Mandarin” is managed against anxieties about Hong Kong’s potential loss of distinction and fears of becoming “just another Chinese city”. In this process, both borders and scales become key terrains of negotiation and function themselves as ideological resources in debates about Hong Kong’s identity and future, as certain distinctions take on reduced or pronounced meaning from particular scalar perspectives. Amid an ongoing reframing of what it means to be “Chinese”, examining language ideologies in Hong Kong contributes to our understanding of how national and linguistic categories achieve or reframe their social meanings.

Associations between Serum Iron Indices and Self-Assessed Multiple Intelligence Scores among Adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Micronutrient deficiencies, including iron deficiency, are linked to different cognitive impairments and sensory functions. However, whether circulating iron levels affect self-assessed multiple intelligence (MI) scores in adolescents remains uninvestigated. This study aimed to investigate associations between serum iron levels and self-assessed MI scores in adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Recruiting 434 Saudi adolescents (174 boys and 260 girls, aged 12-17), we administered the McKenzie questionnaire to assess MI across nine categories. Anthropometrics and fasting blood samples were collected to measure circulating iron and transferrin levels. Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels were calculated. Notably, girls exhibited significantly higher MI scores in the interactive domain than boys (age and BMI-adjusted OR = 1.36, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.73, p = 0.01). No significant correlations were observed between serum iron and MI. However, normal TSAT levels (TSAT > 20%) corresponded with higher age and BMI-adjusted odds of MI scores in the musical (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.1-2.2, p = 0.006), linguistic (1.57, 1.1-2.3, p = 0.016), kinesthetic (1.48, 1.1-2.1, p = 0.024), spatial (1.45, 1.1-2.1, p = 0.03), and existential (1.56, 1.1-2.1, p = 0.01) categories compared to ones with lower TSAT levels (TSAT ≤ 20%), only in boys. In conclusion, serum iron levels may not directly influence MI domains in adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; however, lower TSAT levels, indicative of iron-deficiency anemia, may influence MI, only in boys, indicating a possible relationship between iron metabolism and cognitive functions.

PROPER NAME AS AN EMOTIVE LEXICAL UNIT UNDER BILINGUALISM IN A MULTIETHNIC LINGUISTIC ENVIRONMENT IN THE LIGHT OF LANGUAGE POSITIVITY THEORY

The article deals with the linguistic category of emotivity. Informal forms of proper names are very re-levant onomastic material for the interpretation and substantiation of the theory of language positivity, since the word-building formants involved in their making, even outside the context and consituation, are able to convey the fi ne nuances of positive human emotions. The purpose of this research is to prove that anthroponymic emotives are both means of explication and implication, manifestation and concealment of emotions. To achieve the goal, a sur-vey of respondents was conducted. The questions used a sample of the most popular, rare and average frequency names in Bashkortostan for 2022, including female names like Amina, Octavia and Valeria, and male names such as Amin, Justin and Vladimir. A number of questions asked about the proper names of informants and their attitudes towards the use of diminutive forms. The analysis of responses showed that most respondents perceived these forms positively. The main scope of these names was limited to communication with loved ones. The frequency of use of informal vocatives in 57.1% of responses was determined by the situation. Participants in the survey off ered 24–80 variants for diminutive forms, which according to respondents implied a subjective positive evaluation. Among the diminutive suffi xes of anthroponyms, the most positive emotional connotation is carried by suffi xes such as -ochkand -ik. Linguistic and cultural analysis has allowed us to identify value dominants and stereotypes of communica-tive behavior among linguistic personalities. The extralinguistic interpretation of diminutive proper names provides a reason to regard onomastic units (anthroponyms) as positively connotated emotives. Based on the results of the research, we can conclude that the ethnically specifi c feature of speech in bilingual conditions, using the onomastics of the Republic of Bashkortostan as an example, is the tradition of person naming that has developed in the native language as well as the use of Russian word-formation patterns.

THE LINGUISTIC CATEGORY OF EVALUATION AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UKRAINIAN MASS MEDIA

The article is devoted to the characterisation and interpretation of the linguistic category of evaluation, its essence and main features on the basis of modern mass media texts. The ambiguity of scientists’ interpretation of the nature of evaluation as a complex multidimensional linguistic, cultural and linguistic-pragmatic phenomenon with a dual nature — linguistic and mental — requires us to consider the peculiarities of the linguistic category of evaluation as an axiological component of word semantics. We understand evaluation as the result of the speaker’s activity in relation to the subject of speech, which is verbally fixed in the sense of heterogeneous linguistic units united by evaluative semantics, expressing a positive or negative attitude towards it in accordance with the existing ideal model of the world and aiming to evoke the speaker’s predicted reaction in the addressee of the message. Evaluative values are expressed at all levels of language: lexical, syntactic and phonetic. Evaluation fulfils cognitive, communicative, pragmatic and linguistic-cultural functions; it forms the idea of values or anti-values. The set of values reflects the hierarchical scale in which the spiritual culture of a given society is represented. It is proved that the linguistic category of evaluation is a means of realising the positive or negative significance of the results of human activity for the satisfaction of their objectively determined needs and interests. It was found that evaluation, which is explicitly or implicitly linked to comparison, always contains subjective (modal evaluation framework) and objective (descriptive, attributive) components that interact with each other.

The effect of different types of comparative reviews on product sales

Comparative online reviews have evolved into a vital instrument for consumers in decision-making, offering valuable comparisons and available options. Drawing on the insights from the linguistic category model (LCM) and elaboration likelihood model (ELM), we propose that different types (attribute-based and experience-based) of comparative reviews can affect consumers' perceived credibility of online reviews, thus impacting product sales. We analyzed 136,260 reviews on e-commerce platforms to assess these effects and introduced review valence as a boundary condition. Utilizing a combination of pattern discovery, supervised learning techniques, and manual coding, we identified attribute-based and experience-based comparative reviews and subsequently classified them based on positive, neutral, and negative valence. Subsequently, we took the product sales as the dependent variable and applied a two-way fixed effects model. The results indicate that attribute-based comparative reviews exert a more favorable influence on product sales compared to experience-based ones. Additionally, positive comparative reviews, irrespective of their attribute-based or experience-based nature, demonstrate a greater impact than regular positive reviews. However, negative and neutral comparative reviews, only when associated with attribute-based information, exhibit a significant effect. The results highlight the value of different types of comparative reviews and illuminate the moderating role of review valence. Our findings offer new insights and practical guidance for marketers and e-commerce platforms in capitalizing on the important influence of comparative reviews and enhancing the presentation of online reviews.

New Constitution in Nepal: Fundamental Freedoms and Educational Rights Provisions, and Implications for Dalits’ Schooling

ABSTRACT When Nepal promulgated a new constitution in 2015, discourse around the ‘New Nepal’, post-monarchical rule, was powerful; the new constitution was perceived as a landmark text to provide a clear vision for New Nepal’s overall development. The poor state of Dalits’ human rights and educational realities were widely cited as critical issues requiring attention and expedited intervention during the constitution-writing process. Almost a decade later, however, no outstanding progress is evident regarding the overall development of the historically marginalized Dalits. This paper aims to interrogate the perpetuation of the dominant ideology, as the basis for the marginalization of people lacking power, in the new constitution’s fundamental and educational provisions by exploring its marginalizing semantic elements. We selected these semantic elements or linguistic categories through reading the new constitution. Our analyses expect to unfold the link between Dalits’ poor state of human rights and educational experiences and the provisions of the new constitution. This study helps expose the roots of inequality, exclusion, and social injustice by appraising policies of public interest in situations where human rights violations, illiteracy, and poverty have distressed the lives of marginalized people, as well as encouraging research on the problems faced by extremely vulnerable population like Dalits, who are not only marginalized in their place of birth but also in the diaspora.

CORRELATION OF THE TERMS "CLASSIFICATION ATTRIBUTE", "MOTIVATIONAL ATTRIBUTE", "SEMANTIC ATTRIBUTE"

The problem of distinguishing the terms "classification attribute", "motivational attribute", "semantic attribute" arose in connection with the active development of cognitive linguistics and the expansion of its terminology. The article describes for the first time approaches to understanding terms in a comparative aspect. The author analyzes dictionary definitions, consistently identifying classification, motivational, semantic features of lexemes, demonstrating the differences between these features. The author comes to the conclusion that the terms "classification attribute", "motivational attribute", "semantic attribute" differ functionally, their use is due to the paradigm and the field of linguistics in which the researcher works. Purpose. The purpose of the study is to distinguish the terms "classification attribute", "motivational attribute", "semantic attribute". Materials and methods. The material for the study was contexts with these terms extracted from scientific papers on cognitive linguistics, word formation, theoretical semantics, as well as dictionary entries. The descriptive and comparative methods, and method of theoretical analysis, were used. Results. The results of the study showed that the terms "motivational attribute", "semantic attribute", "classification attribute" differ functionally. The study of motivational attribute is aimed at identifying linguistic patterns. The study of semantic attribute is aimed at describing lexical (linguistic) meanings. The analysis of classification attribute aims to identify extralinguistic, namely cognitively significant information about the objects of reality. Practical implications. The results of the study can be used in lexicographic and translation practice, in research on issues of nomination, lexical meaning and linguistic categorization.

ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONAL SPEECH ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN MILITARY TRANSLATION

The research is focused on the aspect of functional speech adaptation of language interpreters who are gaining practical experience at the initial stage in the sphere of foreign-language military-professional communication and paying special attention to the search for original speech strategies to achieve the targets of the translation process in the most efficient way. The critical objective of the article is to theorize the functional speech adaptation and underscore the need and importance to develop interpreters’ unique creative strategies in the process of their adaptive professional maturation for the due carrying out of normal and special translation tasks under the conditions of operational military activities abroad. A detailed review of the scientific sources is carried out concerning research into definitions of linguistic terms such as: “adaptation,” “speech adaptation,” “speech strategies.” The author’s definition of the core of the term “Functional speech adaptation” is given and its main differences are outlined versus the definitions of the linguistic categories “adaptation” and “pragmatic adaptation” proposed by Russian linguistic theorists earlier. The most effective strategies for interpreting are reviewed, viz.: implementation of an interpreter’s anticipation, a strategy for target text forming from the ground of precision information, and a strategy for source text segmentation into minimal translation cells. The study applies the methods of definitional analysis, comparative analysis of theoretical principles with their generalization, theoretical synthesis of the concepts’ definitions, linguistic description method and linguistic modeling. The results of the conducted research make a significant contribution to studying functional speech adaptation of military interpreters in the implementation of interpreting and translation tasks on the foreign military sub-languages material. Moreover, the results of the study can be used for future research purposes of translation studies, theoretical and applied linguistics.

Lost in Untranslatability: Ishvara, Allah and Interfaith Dialogue

While translation plays a vital role in bridging intercultural gaps, it struggles to convey the exact meaning of certain ideas due to the unique characteristics and structures inherent in each language and the underlying social context. This difficulty is pronounced when translating between the language pair Hindi and Urdu, which, despite both originating from Khari Boli, have diverged significantly under the influences of Hinduism and Islam. In an Indian social context, the Arabic-origin Urdu word Allah is often equated with the Sanskrit-origin Hindi word Ishvara. However, this translation is problematic and can cause confusion because the Hindu idea of the divine, Ishvara, is fundamentally different from the Islamic concept of Allah. Building upon the theory of Sanskrit non-translatability proposed by Malhotra and Babaji, this paper argues for the existence of cultural untranslatability in the domain of Urdu-Sanskrit translation. Using a case study approach for the terms Ishvara and Allah, the paper concludes that specific religious terms should not be translated and makes the case that preserving precise linguistic categories is essential for meaningful inter-faith engagement.