Linguistic Situation Research Articles

Constructions with reduplication of the referent in sentences with the relative pronoun который in the translation of «Il regno degli slavi» by Mavro Orbini

The article considers some language features of the translation from Italian made by Savva Ragusinsky in the first quarter of the XVIII century by order of Peter I. The historiographic work under consideration is Mavro Orbini’s book «Il regno degli slavi». The author of the article analyses the use of the construction with the pronoun который and the repetition of the referent, which allows identifying the degree of influence of the original language on the translated text, various transformations within the construction or a gradual departure from it. Savva Raguzinsky, while working on the translation, resorts to using the construction 40 times, not always relying on the original text and often using synonyms, which may indicate its consistent destruction. The paper analyses two manuscripts dating from 1714 and currently stored in the library of the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg, the text published in 1722 «The Book historiography of the Commencement of the Name, Glory and Expansion of the Slavic People ...», as well as the original text in Italian. The relevance of the research topic is due to the significant influence of translations from foreign languages on the formation of a new type of language. It was in the Peter the Great era that texts appeared, the language of which modern researchers call «simple», contrasting with the «high Slavonic dialect». There are practically no Church Slavonic and obsolete forms, words and phrases in it. Until now, a generally accepted view of the linguistic situation of the first quarter of the XVIII century has not been developed, and many printed and handwritten monuments of that time have not become the object of research.

Языковое планирование в Японии с середины XIX до начала XXI века

The article examines language planning in Japan from the second half of the XIX century to the beginning of the XXI century. It analyzes changes in the linguistic situation, identifies the key actors of language planning, as well as legislative acts of the Japanese government that turned various elements of language planning into an organized system of state policy. Special attention is focused on the Meiji era and language reforms after World War II, when changes to the Japanese language were stimulated by powerful popular movements. At other times, as well as at present, language planning has been under strict control of the Japanese government and has been primarily limited to its language policy. Additionally, the article provides a brief overview of language planning and policy issues in Japan on occupied territories during World War II. It also highlights the key features of the contemporary linguistic situation and the current tasks of language policy and planning in Japan in the XXI century.

On Fran Kurelac and Slovaks

Enclosed are two letters that Fran Kurelac sent from Pest to Bratislava in 1836 and 1837 to his peer, Slovak revivalist Alexander Boleslavín Vrchovský. Numerous studies have been written about the life and work of philologist and writer Fran Kurelac (1811 – 1874), one of the pioneers of the Croatian national revival. In view of the fact that he only published his first noteworthy text in a Croatian periodical in April 1848, when he was already 37 years old, few of Kurelac’s biographers had the ambition to paint as complete and well-rounded a picture of him as possible. The main subject of the interpretation of these letters is Fran Kurelac’s relationship to the Slovak cultural and political situation at the time. He strongly advocated for the unity of linguistically and religiously divided Slovak intellectuals. The linguistic situation among the Slovaks at the time when these two letters were written was characterised by the coexistence of Slovak, Czech, and other languages, which was reflected above all in the lexical fund. Considering the fact that the Czech language was not yet fully standardised and there were different tendencies in its standardisation, we also find at least three variants in its use among the Slovaks. Kurelac’s letters are written in a special, interesting, and clearly bohemianised variant of the Slovak language, influenced by the language of Ján Kollár’s literary works.

The Analysis of conversational implicature of Elon Musk A.I and Mars in English Speech

This study aims to discuss the importance of communication and conversational implicature in conveying meaning effectively. It highlights the significance of understanding the context and linguistic situation to prevent misinterpretation. The research aims to uncover and describe the types of conversational implicatures contained in Elon Musk's English public speech on A.I. and Mars, emphasizing the importance of analyzing implicatures in informal interactions. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze conversational implicatures in Elon Musk's discussions on A.I. and Mars in English speech. The research focused on identifying implicature types and functions in the conversations, with data collected from Elon Musk's public speeches and transcribed for analysis. The data reduction process involved constructing a data-collecting sheet, selecting relevant data, explaining and justifying the chosen facts, concluding, and verifying the accuracy of the information gathered.

Эргонимикон как важнейший компонент языкового ландшафта современного полиэтнического города (на примере Уфы)

The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the main structural, semantic and linguocultural features of the ergonymicon of a modern multiethnic city in relation to the specifics of its characteristic linguistic situation. The article defines the conceptual foundations for the study of the linguistic landscape of the city; examines the originality of the ergonymicon as an integral component of the onomastic urban space; carries out a multidimensional description of ergonyms recorded in the territory of the city of Ufa. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that, using the example of Ufa, a systematic analysis of the ergonymicon of a modern multiethnic city is carried out according to various parameters (method of education, origin, linguistic and cultural features) and the conditionality of the specifics of these units by intra- and extra-linguistic factors is determined. As a result of the study, it was found that the main features of the Ufa ergonymicon are multilingualism, active appeal to national identity and regional affiliation in the nomination of urban objects, and widespread use of borrowings. It was also found that when creating ergonyms, Russian language units are used most often. Elements of the national (Bashkir) language are less frequently used compared to English-language ones. Urban specificity is especially noticeable in ergonyms created based on toponyms, anthroponyms, and ethno-cultural realities.

Modern Pashto – linguistic situation and the extent of study: Theoretical review

Modern Pashto – linguistic situation and the extent of study: Theoretical review

The city as a factor: the linguistic situation and perception of the problems of ethnic languages in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The city as a factor: the linguistic situation and perception of the problems of ethnic languages in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Ethnic aspects of identification and linguistic situation in non-capital cities of Tatarstan

Ethnic aspects of identification and linguistic situation in non-capital cities of Tatarstan

Americanisation: The deterioration of British English

The study of the influence of American English on British English is necessary to understand both the short-term and long-term prospects for the development of global English in the world and the linguistic changes associated with the world’s national languages. The purpose of study was to examine the key differences in vocabulary, grammar, orthoepy, and spelling between American English and British English. The principal methods used in the study were comparative, analytical, synthetic, and statistical analysis, as well as elements of lexical, grammatical, orthoepic, and spelling analysis. The study examined the use of English in education in the context of the linguistic landscape of Europe, specifically Poland. Considering the statistical data, it was concluded that the americanization of the English-speaking space continues and leads to a gradual simplification of grammatical orthographic and orthoepic patterns of British English. Globalization and technological advancements today present two possible scenarios for the development of English: linguistic convergence between British and American English or complete separation of these varieties. The study noted that the influence of American English on the educational environment in Poland is high, but the study of the global language is based on British standards. In the long run, the impact of americanization will increase not only on British English, but also on national languages, which may lead to the spread of pidgin (American-Polish). This study can be used in the research of linguistic patterns in historical dynamics, Americanized regional varieties of English, and monitoring of the linguistic situation in the world

Bilingualism and Intelligence: An Examination with a View of Peal and Lambert's Study: The Relation of Bilingualism to Intelligence

Bilingualism is based on a description of the linguistic situation in a speech community that consists of colloquial and standard language, ultimately resulting in the existence of two different languages that are used alternatively in speaking, writing, listening, and reading. The acquisition of another language will cause changes on the brain. Studies have been inquiring into the pros and cons of having two or more different languages. The study of Peal and Lambert supported significant structural changes involved in the acquisition of another language form, and that it guaranteed the enhancement of intellectual capacity, cognitive ability, and intelligence. The present study aims to shed light on the effects of bilingualism on the intellectual functioning in the brain and the life of bilingual as a whole. It adopted the descriptive method of the relation of bilingualism to intelligence. The study concluded that bilingualism could enhance life by improving cognitive abilities. It recommends conducting further studies to explore bilingualism, intelligence, and other areas, including passive vs. active, sequential vs. simultaneous, and receptive vs. productive bilingualism. Received: 3 April 2024 / Accepted: 13 June 2024 / Published: 02 July 2024

A Contrastive Analysis of Diglossia in Japanese and Javanese

This study aims to describe the linguistic situation of the use of Japanese and Javanese varieties in a diglossic situation. This research uses descriptive qualitative method by using data analysis method of pairing method. The method used in data collection is the listening method embodied in the tapping technique and when necessary the researcher uses the listening technique with the recording technique. The results showed that the findings in Japanese in jougei kankei (seniority relationship) determine the type of language used in communication. Language levels include the variety of ordinary forms (Futsu) in informal conversations and polite forms (Teinei) respectful forms (Keigo) in formal conversations. The finding of Javanese language that the situation of diglossia between speakers of Javanese speech community in Asahan dominantly occurs in familiar symmetrical and familiar asymmetrical situations. In the familiar symmetrical situation, all language varieties used are ngoko lugu variant forms. The relationship of social factors that are parallel and the relationship of familiar closeness between speakers causes the use of ngoko varieties with the variant form of ngoko lugu between speakers, while in familiar asymmetrical situations it is dominated by using the form of ngoko lugu, the rest are variant forms of ngoko alus and ngoko alus-ngoko lugu and lugu krama varieties.

The Functioning of the English Language in the Educational, Political and Cultural Spheres of Belgium

Introduction. The English language continues to spread around the world, exhibiting a globalist function. The relevance of the presented research lies in the interest that follows from this fact in the positions of this language in countries where it is not a native or a state one. Belgium, as one of the important European centers from a socio-political point of view, is also a unique case due to the linguistic situation present in the country related to the Dutch and French languages. The purpose of this work is to analyze the position of the English language in Belgium in various areas and try to determine the trends in its development in the European state.Methodology and sources. The research materials include statistical data obtained as part of a study of the level of English language proficiency, recordings of speeches of the Prime Minister of Belgium at the UN, as well as information from the website of the Cannes Film Festival. Additionaly, results of the researchers Janssens and Hertogen concerning the language situation in Belgium are addressed. This work uses methods of synthesis and analysis, observational and descriptive methods, as well as a comparative method.Results and discussion. Belgium is one of the most advanced countries in terms of English language proficiency. Despite the existing ambiguous linguistic situation between the official languages of Belgium, English is not only able to make its way into this environment, but also has a fairly high influence. This is noticeable in the field of higher education, where, albeit with varying percentages by region, each of Belgium's most prestigious higher education institutions has programs in English. We can talk about a similar influence in the political sphere, since some major political figures in Belgium predominantly prefer English, even on those platforms where French is one of the languages of these platforms. However, the example of cinema shows that English is still poorly spread in the cultural sphere of life in Belgium.Conclusion. Younger generations of Belgium are accelerating their learning and mastery of English, playing a role in establishing very high levels of English proficiency. The contradictions that are reflected in the sphere of culture, partly in the sphere of higher education, as well as in the falling rates of language proficiency among older generations, ultimately do not alter those factors that allow us to say about the widespread and possible increase in the role of this language in the social language environment of Belgium.

Code switching patterns in Kazakh-Russian hybrid language practice: An empirical study

The study investigates Kazakh-Russian and Russian-Kazakh code switching in the framework of hybrid language practice to provide insights into the sense-making process among bilinguals. The unique characteristics of the synchronic linguistic situation in Kazakhstan stem from historically rooted ethnic bi- and multilingualism. Language switching has evolved into a tool for addressing communicative partners and sustaining communication in bilingual culture, rather than being viewed as a deviant pattern. It appears to be a dynamic resource for ensuring mutual understanding and harmonised communication. The study aims to reveal the motivations behind individuals’ language switching, how Kazakh and Russian speakers explain hybrid communication, and their sentiments towards it. Data from two surveys conducted in January-February of 2021 and January of 2024 are presented. Each survey involved 50 respondents with higher education, ranging in age from 21 to 40, who have resided in Kazakhstan for an extended period, with many being native-born residents. We argue that switching between the Kazakh and Russian languages serves as a communicative tool utilised by Kazakh and Russian speakers to signify their belonging to a specific sociocultural community. The study posits that hybrid language practice can be viewed from two underlying perspectives: from a ‘deficit’ perspective, signalling limited proficiency in Russian or/and Kazakh, and from a more complex sense-making communicative perspective, assisting interaction. As part of the sense-making process and in sustaining interaction with communication partners, code switching serves an instrumental function. Importantly, hybrid language practice is not portrayed as a sign of cultural decline. There is no strong correlation between the mixing of Russian and Kazakh and social, cultural, and educational barriers. Further implications for research are prompted by the rapidly changing situation. The development of the Kazakh language as a state language is becoming a major goal and central focus in this evolving context, which inevitably raises the issues of linguistic ideology. Distinguishing between ideologically neutral analysis and critical analysis of language use as a tool of symbolic power for specific social groups would provide a more gradient picture of the dynamics in Kazakhstan’s bi- and multilingual situation.

Declaration on the Common Language (Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku, 2017): Anti-nationalist Provocation, or a Reflection of Objective Reality?

The language policy of the states in which Serbo-Croatian was the official language at the time has not always been the same either in the historical plan or in the present. From the first half of the 19th century until the establishment of the Yugoslav state (1918), a part of the Serbian and Croatian elites was characterized by a search for ways to find a mutually acceptable standard for their common written language. This process then continued under changed political conditions after 1918, but without romantic notions, especially on the part of the Croatian political and professional community. The rejection of the sociolinguistic project of a common written language with the Serbs manifested itself first during the Second World War (1941–45), then in the period 1967–71, and finally in the new Croatian Constitution of 1990. Linguistic issues related to the specifics of the language of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina began to emerge in the late 1960s, but only came into full force after the break-up of the SFR Yugoslavia (1992). The four national communities using Serbo-Croatian (and then in a separate form Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin) during the Yugoslav era generated a total of seven declaratory texts with different scope, content, accents and conclusions between 1967 and 2007. All of them, however, were united by their linguistic nationalism – from moderate and rather defensive to radical and offensive. The eighth was the Declaration on a Common Language (2017), another decade later, the nature of which contradicts many of the postulates proclaimed in previous declaratory texts. This approach has been described by many critics as a marginal effort to return to Serbo-Croatian or even as a provocation that contradicts the relevant constitutional articles and that threatens national independence. The authors of the Declaration, however, point out that their declaration does not mandate anything, does not oblige anyone, does not discriminate against anyone, but tries to point out the obvious shortcomings of the existing language policy in the post-Serbo-Croatian space, which lead to linguistic segregation in schools and other unusual and even defective manifestations caused by the alleged otherness of the four written languages mentioned above. At the same time, they offer a relatively simple and appropriate model of how to understand and interpret the linguistic situation in the territory of the former Serbo-Croatian language, e.g. in the university teaching of Slavic studies.

Translating Soviet Moldova’s Language Politics: Observations on Tatiana Ţîbuleac’s The Glass Garden in Spanish Translation

Grădina de sticlă (The Glass Garden) is the second novel by the prize-winning Moldovan and Romanian author Tatiana Ţîbuleac. Set in Soviet Chişinău towards the end of the communist era, the book is narrated by a Moldovan-speaking young girl who has been adopted by an elderly Russian-speaking woman. Language and identity play key roles in the book, as the child is encouraged to forgo the Moldovan language and to learn how to speak Russian, the language of Soviet prestige and power. This personal struggle occurs against the background of the major sociopolitical and linguistic changes of perestroika and beyond, including the independence of Moldova, and is reflected by the fact that the text of the novel itself (though originally written in Ro-manian) is sprinkled with words and phrases in untransliterated Russian. Accordingly, noting that this complex linguistic situation could conceivably pose a challenge for translators of the novel into other languages, this study contrasts the original with its Spanish version, El jardín de vidrio. The aim is to show how, as part of the legacy of Soviet rule, the enduring complexities of Moldova’s linguistic and socio-political situation can be rendered through translation. Focussing initially on how the Spanish translation deals with the general features of Moldova’s language situation, it then moves to detailing how the novel’s frequent usage of Russian and the Cyrillic script is accommodated in the translated version. Lastly, selected aspects centring on the interplay between languages (e.g. differences in script and lexis, wordplay, misspellings) are scrutinised.

Language and Cultural Identity: Cross-Cultural Communications Among the Vernacular Communities in the West Kalimantan-Sarawak Border Region in Indonesia

In border areas, multi-ethnic communities may experience both positive and negative impacts of being in a border area. On the one hand, being in a border area has a unique beneficial effect since traveling overseas is now easy and affordable. People move across the borders. However, on the other hand, there can be negative impacts because they are prone to conflicts due to several factors, such as differences in language, culture, social aspects, politics as well as economic differences. In this context, the language identity of multiethnic communities in the Kalimantan-Sarawak border area in Indonesia can be seen in the language situation and the factors that influence it. This research examines this issue. The study uses a qualitative method. Data collection employs surveys, observations, interviews and focus group discussions. As techniques. The findings demonstrate that: multi-ethnic communities in border areas are often bilingual. They have the abilities to speak languages other than their own ethnic language; they also exhibit flexibility in cross-language interactions; and the linguistic situation in border areas, particularly regional languages is preserved in families, homogeneous environments, traditional ceremonies, and religious activities. A linguistic identity is characterized by a strong sense of ethnicity: ethnic culture, regional geography, social groups, family and surroundings, regional history, education, as well as economic activities. These are aspects that influence the linguistic identity of the multiethnic population in the West Kalimantan-Sarawak border region in Indonesia.

Names of trees and fishes as topo bases in the Evenki language

Having traveled the taiga length and breadth, taiga nomads Evenks had a perfect sense of direction and identified various geographical phenomena associated with the relief features, terrain conditions and the presence of animals, tree species, medicinal plants, reindeer moss, etc., water features flow and the presence of fish in reservoirs. They reflected all their knowledge, natural observation, their experience of communicating with the outside world in their language in full and in all its diversity. There are original ways of nominating geographical objects that distinguish Evenki toponyms from other languages. This article aims to analyze Evenki toponymic names derived from the names of trees and fish common in the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East.The toponymic names were recorded from the 17th century and later by famous travelers Richard Maak, Innokenty Tolmachev, Alexander Chekanovsky and others in the places where various Evenki groups migrated; the names still appear on modern geographical maps. However, different transcriptions of the same name, recorded by the Russians from the Evenks speaking different dialects, the arrival of new ethnic groups in the territories inhabited by the Evenki and giving them a new meaning to an already known toponym today complicates the interpretation of the true origin and meaning of toponyms. Modern researchers of the Evenki language experience difficulties in etymologizing certain toponyms due to the difficulties of determining the topographic basis of a word, since there are no dialectological dictionaries for many dialects of the Evenki language, a difficult linguistic situation with proficiency in the native language, and the replacement of toponyms with names from other languages.

Sign language choice and policy among the signing community in Kuwait

AbstractSign language is significant in its linguistic complexity and sociocultural values to its users. The linguistic situation of sign languages in the Middle East is controversial. For Arab deaf communities, each country has a rich and complex national sign language without the need for a superior, more standard unifying Arabic sign language (ArSL). There have been attempts to unify sign languages by creating ArSL. This initiative has been mostly taken by nondeaf persons and has been met with opposition and resistance. This paper investigates sign languages in Kuwait and the attitudes towards both Kuwaiti Sign Language (KSL) and ArSL from both deaf individuals and sign language translators/teachers using surveys, informal interviews, and fieldwork visits. The research question is: What sign language would the deaf community and sign language interpreters/teachers in Kuwait choose (KSL, ArSL, or both) to better serve the deaf community. This paper is designed to uncover the impact of language policies on communities' representations of self and explore the richness and complexity of national sign languages that can be underestimated by language policymakers. The findings of this study indicate a preference for KSL or the use of both KSL and ArSL, but not ArSL alone.

Language Choice Among Children of Couples of Different Languages: A Case Study of Techiman Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Ghana is a multilingual country with an average Ghanaian being exposed to at least more than one language. This linguistic situation often impacts language choices among bi/multi-lingual families where parents from different linguistic backgrounds face the reality of deciding which language(s) to expose their children to. This study investigates possible opportunities and challenges that the children of Ghanaian couples of different languages face in choosing the language(s) to speak with either parents or both parents at home using families in Techiman in the Bono East Region of Ghana as a case study. The study, therefore, sought to answer the key question, “What language(s) do children of couples of different languages speak at home with their parents?” Using the purposive sampling technique, the study collected data using questionnaires which were analysed using the bivariate data analysis procedure of Content Analysis (CA). The analyses of the data show that the children of couples of different languages spoke English and Twi/Bono as the major unmarked codes used at home. Some other languages such as Dagomba/Mampruli, Gonja, Sissala, and Hausa were also used at home by a minority of the respondents. The study further found that speaking multiple languages helped the children to make friends seamlessly and to participate in school, church, and mosque activities, and the languages play certain roles in those domains. The study also shows that the main domains where the children of Ghanaian couples of different languages choose a particular code or language are schools, churches, and markets. The outcome of the study contributes to studies on family language use and has implications for language maintenance.

Языковые маркеры прецедентности имени собственного в тексте-реципиенте

The study aims to establish a typology of linguistic markers enabling the determination of the level of precedent/non-precedent status of proper names through the analysis of verbal units. The paper explores ways in which the addresser signals the precedent status of a proper name in the context of reality terminologically referred to as a “linguistic marker of the precedent status of a proper name”. The features of the linguistic environment of a precedent name in the recipient text are described and analyzed. The content of the “recipient text” concept is defined within the scientific paradigm of the theory of precedent phenomena (specifically, the precedent name), noting its indirect and direct relationship with the concept of a “source text” in a specific linguistic situation. The study is novel in that it is the first to describe a system of linguistic markers of the precedent status of proper names. A technology for determining the status of a precedent name through a comprehensive analysis of the contextual meaning of the proper name in the recipient text is presented. As a result, the study identifies and characterizes in detail the types of linguistic markers of the precedent status of proper names employed by the addresser as units to signal the precedent, connotative usage of proper names in context.