Linguistic Skills Research Articles

Subtitling for people with hearing impairments in the Arab world context: The case of <i>the Blue Elephant 2</i> movie

Although technology advancements have increased the availability of screens everywhere, making it possible to watch AV products anytime, the deaf-and-hard-of-hearing (DHH) accessibility to these materials in the Arab world is still poor. Only a few Arabic movies with this feature are available via Netflix. In this study, the subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) in <i>The Blue Elephant 2</i> movie are analyzed. This study qualitatively examines the type of information covered in the subtitles of the investigated Arabic movie for Arab viewers with hearing impairment. It also quantitatively investigates the reactions of people with hearing impairment to the technical aspects of the subtitles using a structured questionnaire, which consisted of five open-ended questions. The qualitative analysis revealed two main types of information, namely, para-linguistic/extra-linguistic and linguistic. The para-linguistic/extra-linguistic aspect includes information about music, speakers, vocal non-linguistic features, and non-verbal signs. The linguistic aspect is related to the code-switching between languages where the speaker may use some languages other than Arabic. The quantitative analysis showed that the participants reacted positively to the technical aspects of the subtitles, including the length and synchrony. They stated that they had enough time to read and process the information included in the subtitles. The paralinguistic information was reflected in the subtitles and helped them better understand the movie. The sample attitude towards SDH was good and positive, and they like to watch more Arabic movies with this feature in the future. This study concludes that more attention to DHH people in terms of accessibility to audiovisual content should be paid. This will likely improve their linguistic and cultural skills and help them integrate more with the surrounding community. The study’s findings have substantial implications for enhancing DHH individuals’ access to audiovisual content in Jordan and the wider Arab region. The study emphasizes the need to deliver high-quality SDH that incorporates both linguistic and paralinguistic information to DHH viewers in order to improve their viewing experience.

Teaching EFL reading in Senegal: Current practices and recommendations

Reading comprehension involves understanding and interpreting information in written texts and constitutes a minimum academic ‘threshold’ that impacts broader education. Developing strong reading skills is particularly challenging for non-native readers because of the dual need for strong linguistic skills and efficient strategy use. This study focused on teaching English reading in Senegal, where most students are non-native speakers of the language and often perform poorly on national reading examinations, suggesting that how English reading is taught needs improvement grounded in best practices. 54 Senegalese EFL teachers completed an online survey eliciting their backgrounds and training, classroom profiles, knowledge and frequency of use of instructional practices and beliefs about the effectiveness of and rationale for various practices. Teachers were aware of most basic strategies, but many lacked familiarity with concepts associated with modern (cognitive) approaches to reading. Though some effective techniques were widely used, teachers’ reasons for using them did not always align with research, suggesting that teachers may misunderstand them. The article concludes with recommendations for improving EFL teacher training and instruction, such as a greater focus on interactive questioning and activities with an instructional (not assessment) focus that are applicable in Senegal and other developing nations.

The Relationship Between L2 Interactional Competence and Proficiency

Abstract The relationship between L2 linguistic skills and the ability to use language for social purposes is still under-explored. While previous research suggests that higher proficiency coincides with better pragmatic and interactional performance, incongruities are also apparent with some low-proficiency learners being able to communicate effectively, and some high-proficiency learners showing pronounced weaknesses in interactional performance. In this study, 150 ESL learners completed a standardized speaking proficiency test, the TOEFL iBT Speaking section, followed by a test of interactional competence consisting of role plays and monologues. Quantitatively, we found a fairly strong correlation between measures of speaking proficiency and interactional ability, but our qualitative analysis showed a more nuanced picture with some interactionally relevant features apparently impacted by speaking proficiency, whereas others were largely independent of it. We discuss implications for the conceptualization of second language ability, language teaching, and language testing.

Exploring the relations of executive functions with emotional, linguistic, and cognitive skills in preschool children: parents vs. teachers reports

This study investigated the executive functions (EF) of preschool children and their associations with emotional, linguistic, and cognitive skills, using parent and teacher reports. A total of 130 children aged 34 to 71 months participated. The preschool version of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-P) was completed by both parents and teachers to assess behavioral difficulties in the use of EFs, while children were administered the Test of Emotion Comprehension (TEC), the Test of Language Evaluation (TVL), and the Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM). Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between parents’ and teachers’ reports, with parents attributing to children more EF difficulties than parents. Children’s EF difficulties were negatively associated with emotion comprehension, language ability, and non-verbal intelligence, although correlations were stronger when using teachers’ reports. The value of using indirect measurement of preschoolers’ EF problems and the importance of adopting a multi-informant approach are discussed.

“Why the long nose?”: A sociolinguistic analysis of deaf migrants’ language learning experiences in adult education

Linguistic skills are often seen as valuable capital necessary for migrants to successfully integrate into society. As part of Sweden's integration policy, deaf migrants are provided with opportunities to learn Swedish and Swedish Sign Language. Using an ethnographic approach comprising of classroom observations and semi-structured interviews in four folk high schools in Sweden, this study examines how deaf migrants’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds influence their language learning experiences. The study also explores different misunderstandings that have arisen as a result of not having the relevant linguistic resources necessary for efficient communication. The findings show the complexity of language learning and how this process is influenced by several social factors such as communication with family growing up, educational experiences or lack thereof, and cultural differences.

Status of research and publication in India

India is potentially in one of its excellent growth phases in various aspects and one of those is medical research and publishing. Although India’s scholarly output has increased in recent years, it still has a long way to go, in terms of both quantity and quality, to catch up with the global leaders in this regard. The real impediments to this are the inadequate communication and linguistic skills of Indian researchers on one hand, and the limited dissemination of the nuances of modern research methodology and basic biostatistics on the other. If Indian scientific literature has to attain true global standards, our researchers have no other option but to improve their skills on all these counts. The rise of artificial intelligence and its misapplication will only serve to further complicate a situation where the best of our clinical journals are struggling hard to improve the integrity and quality of their scientific data.

A scoping review of communication outcomes measures in augmentative and alternative communication

ABSTRACT Although outcomes are a critical component of evidence-based practice, measuring augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) outcomes remains problematic. This is, in part, because there is no consensus on how to operationally define AAC communication outcomes. To gain greater insight into AAC communication outcomes, we used the communicative competence framework to determine which areas of AAC intervention have received the greatest attention and how these outcomes are being measured. The following data were charted from the 77 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the scoping review: study design, study participants, study communication target (e.g., language, word learning, etc.), and communication outcome measurements. Across the included studies, researchers used a variety of standardized and non-standardized measures to assess outcomes. Seventy-seven percent of the studies assessed social skills and 62% assessed linguistic skills. A limited number of studies measured operational (14%), strategic (4%), and psychosocial (18%) skills. Using the communicative competence framework enabled us to identify gaps in the research that has been conducted to date.

Assessing handwriting task difficulty levels through kinematic features: a deep-learning approach.

Introduction: Handwriting is a complex task that requires coordination of motor, sensory, cognitive, memory, and linguistic skills to master. The extent these processes are involved depends on the complexity of the handwriting task. Evaluating the difficulty of a handwriting task is a challenging problem since it relies on subjective judgment of experts. Methods: In this paper, we propose a machine learning approach for evaluating the difficulty level of handwriting tasks. We propose two convolutional neural network (CNN) models for single- and multilabel classification where single-label classification is based on the mean of expert evaluation while the multilabel classification predicts the distribution of experts' assessment. The models are trained with a dataset containing 117 spatio-temporal features from the stylus and hand kinematics, which are recorded for all letters of the Arabic alphabet. Results: While single- and multilabel classification models achieve decent accuracy (96% and 88% respectively) using all features, the hand kinematics features do not significantly influence the performance of the models. Discussion: The proposed models are capable of extracting meaningful features from the handwriting samples and predicting their difficulty levels accurately. The proposed approach has the potential to be used to personalize handwriting learning tools and provide automatic evaluation of the quality of handwriting.

Exploring the Relations of Morphological Awareness with Phonological Awareness and Vocabulary: The Case of the Greek Language.

Although relations between morphological awareness, phonological awareness, and vocabulary have been widely observed, questions remain about their precise associations. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relations of morphological awareness with two highly related linguistic skills (phonological awareness and vocabulary) in a transparent orthographywith rich morphology. The study sample consisted of 121 (58 males, Mean age = 93.94months, SD = 3.32) 2nd grade Greek-speaking children. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three-factor model provided the best fit to thedata, indicating that although morphological awareness, phonological awareness, and vocabulary are highly correlated, they represent distinct linguistic constructs. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the bidirectional effects between the three linguistic skills. Results revealed that both phonological awareness and vocabulary significantly contributed to morphological awareness, with phonological awareness having a stronger effect. Conversely, morphological awareness significantly affected both phonological awareness and vocabulary. The effect size from phonological awareness and vocabulary to morphological awareness was similar to the effect size reported from morphological awareness to phonological awareness and vocabulary. These results suggestthat morphological awareness is highly associated with phonological awareness and vocabulary, being though a distinct skill. In addition, it seems that these linguistic skills have bidirectional effects with each other in first grades.

Behavioural Profile, Linguistic skills, Adaptive Behaviours and Intellectual Functioning of School aged Children with History of Early Language Delay

Introduction: Language is a fundamental skill and a foundation stone for multiple cognitive and socio-emotional aspects of development. Considering that well-developed language abilities enable children to negotiate the social-relational demands of school life and provide the foundational knowledge upon which academic skills are built, there is a higher chance of scholastic difficulties, social and, behavioural and emotional maladjustments resulting in poor mental health in those who have language delay.
 Methods: An ambispective study conducted at a tertiary centre after taking ethical approval from the institutional review board. Children with isolated early language delay were reassessed at school age for intelligence quotient, language development, adaptive behaviours and behavioural issues.
 Results: out of 57 children, persistence of poor language skills was seen in 65%, mean IQ score was 90 ( ± 17. 067) and mean VABS score was 94 ( ± 15). 61.4% children had significant behavioural issues. On interview, most worrisome issue reported by children was ‘being teased by friends’ due to poor language skills. Additionally, lower social competence level was noted in children who had poor language skills.
 Conclusions: persistence of language, cognitive and behavioural dysfunctions in children with seemingly benign ‘speech and language delay’ at an early age, emphasizes the importance of comprehensive reassessment of these children at school age for early recognition and management.

Impact of Daily Choral Singing and Creative Writing Activities on the Cognitive Development of Second-, Third-, and Fourth-Grade French Children from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds.

In France, around one-fifth of children have reading difficulties, and school results are highly dependent on their socio-economic status. In this context, the need for alternative and innovative teaching techniques holds importance, and more artistic approaches are promising. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a daily choral singing or creative writing practice on the cognitive and linguistic development of French children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Eighty children participated in this longitudinal study, for whom we measured several cognitive and linguistic skills at the beginning (pre-test) and end (post-test) of the school year. The results showed that children in "singing" classes improved both their reading skills and processing speed, while those in "writing" classes improved their reading skills and vocabulary. These results open up new avenues of learning support, specifically for children with difficulties.

Migrant-Native Disparities in Obstetric Neuraxial Analgesia Use: The Role of Host-Country Language Proficiency.

Neuraxial analgesia (NA) is the most effective modality in managing labor pain with widespread availability in high-income countries. Previous research has reported a differential obstetric NA use among migrant and native women, but the contribution of language barriers is not well understood. We aimed to investigate whether host-country language proficiency among migrant women influences NA use and satisfaction with pain management during labor, when compared to natives. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from 1024 native and 1111 migrant women who had singleton vaginal deliveries between 2017 and 2019 and were enrolled in the nationwide Portuguese baMBINO prospective cohort study. Obstetric NA use, satisfaction with labor pain management, and migrants' Portuguese language proficiency were self-reported. Data were analyzed using robust multilevel Poisson regression, adjusted for maternal region of birth (characterized by the Human Development Index), age, and education. Overall, 84.4% of native women gave birth with NA, compared to 81.6%, 71.3%, and 56.9% of migrant women with full, intermediate, and limited language proficiency, respectively. Compared to native women, migrants with intermediate (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 0.91 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.82-0.99]) and limited (aRR = 0.73 [95% CI, 0.56-0.94]) proficiency were less likely to receive NA. However, no significant differences were observed in pain management satisfaction by language proficiency level. Compared to native women, we observed a differential obstetric NA use across migrant women with different host-country language proficiency levels in Portugal, without affecting satisfaction with labor pain management. Although defining the mechanisms underlying NA use discrepancies requires further research, our findings support systematically evaluating pregnant migrant women's linguistic skills and ensuring their access to adequate obstetric analgesia-related information and interpretation services.

Exploring the relevance and relative importance of interpreting aptitude constructs and their underlying factors: A data-driven tripartite investigation

AbstractThis study aims to explore the relevance and underlying factors of an array of interpreting aptitude constructs, and, on that basis, the collective and group-specific perception of their relative importance. To meet the research purposes, a questionnaire survey was designed and distributed to interpreting trainers, trainees and professional interpreters, asking respondents to evaluate the relative importance of 40 aptitude constructs drawn from an extensive literature review. A total of 769 valid responses were collected. An explorative factor analysis retained 23 constructs divided into three factors focusing on cognitive skills for online information processing, personality traits and temperaments, and foundational linguistic skills respectively. While personality traits and temperaments were regarded as a stable and distinctive dimension of interpreting aptitude, cognitive skills for information processing were viewed as the most important factor. Particularly, listening and speaking in B enjoyed the highest rating. Although statistically significant differences existed in the relative importance of certain constructs, the substantive differences indicated by the effect sizes were small. Compared with trainees, trainers and professional interpreters demonstrated a more sharpened awareness of market demands and industrial priorities, but otherwise the three groups converged more than they diverged in the evaluation of aptitude constructs and factors.

Study of Chinese Junior High School Students' English Pragmatic Failure from the Perspective of Cultural Transfer

In the context of English as an international lingua franca, people's cross-cultural communication is obviously enhanced. In the process of cross-cultural communication, people with different cultural backgrounds ways of thinking, and cultural language habits use their own native culture to guess the behavioral habits of people who are different from their own culture. When negative cultural transfer occurs, it will cause the interlocutor to make a linguistic error in the communication. This affects the smoothness of intercultural communication. The rational use of English in cross-cultural communication situations has always been a major challenge for Chinese English learners. There are many domestic studies on the analysis of English language use from the perspective of negative cultural transfer based on second language acquisition, but not enough attention has been paid to the study of junior high school students English language use errors from the perspective of cultural transfer. The emphasis on pragmatic failure from the time students have the appropriate cultural awareness will help them improve their linguistic skills, reduce the phenomenon of Pragmatic failures, and improve their communication skills in intercultural. Therefore, this paper investigates the reasons for the emergence of junior high school students' pragmatic failures from the perspective of cultural transfer and draws teachers' attention to the development of students' pragmatic competence so that students can effectively avoid pragmatic failure in cross-cultural communication.

Defining the Characteristics of Story Production of Autistic Children: A Multilevel Analysis

Several studies suggest that a valuable tool to examine linguistic skills in communication disorders is offered by procedures of narrative discourse assessment. Following this line of research, we present an exploratory study aimed to investigate storytelling abilities of autistic children to better define the characteristics of their story production. Participants included 41 autistic children and 41 children with typical development aged between 7.02 and 11.03 years matched on age, gender, level of formal education, intelligence quotient, working memory, attention skills, theory of mind, and phonological short-term memory. Narrative production was assessed by analysing the language samples obtained through the “Nest Story” description task. A multilevel analysis including micro- and macro-linguistic variables was adopted for narrative assessment. Group differences emerged on both micro- and macro-linguistic dimensions: autistic children produced narratives with more phonological errors and semantic paraphasias (microlinguistic variables) as well as more errors of global coherence and a fewer number of visible events and inferred events (macrolinguistic variables) than the control group.This study shows that even autistic children with adequate cognitive skills display several limitations in their narrative competence and that such weaknesses affect both micro- and macrolinguistic aspects of story production.

The effectiveness of music-movement integration for vulnerable groups: a systematic literature review.

This systematic review synthesized the outcomes of previous intervention studies published from January 2000-October 2022 to evaluate the effectiveness of Dalcroze-based or similar music-movement integration among groups of individuals considered vulnerable (in relation to their abilities and health/wellbeing). The target groups addressed in previous intervention studies included individuals with special educational needs (such as disorders, disabilities, or impairments) or with a (risk of) decline in health and/or physical strength. Twenty articles met the review inclusion criteria. All studies showed beneficial outcomes for music-movement intervention except one that suffered from low adherence rates. In older adults, the benefits were cognitive, physical, social, and/or emotional, including improved postural stability, balance, gait safety, confidence in mobility, metamemory skills, dual-task performance, social and physical pleasure, autotelic/flow experience, enjoyment, health, and quality of life. In individuals with special educational needs, improvement was seen in relation to inclusion, reductions in compulsive and other problematic behaviors, self-regulation, perceptual and cognitive abilities and functions, linguistic and learning skills, auditory attention and phonological awareness, social interaction, engagement, and agency.

Project based STEM activities as an effective educational technology in the context of blended learning

The study aims to investigate the implementation of project-based STEM activities within a blended learning framework in higher education. This approach encourages students' independent creativity and prepares them for contemporary work environments. STEM education is positioned as a tool to develop key competencies like multicultural understanding, linguistic skills, and adaptability. This innovative educational method emphasizes the real-world application of scientific, mathematical, technical, and engineering knowledge. The research methodology combines theoretical analysis with practical evaluation. Key findings underscore the significance of independent research, interdisciplinary integration, and skill development in a blended learning environment. A notable outcome emphasizes empowering students to craft scalable business models, such as startups, vital for success in today's world.

THE IMPACT OF USING BOARD GAMES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SITUATIONAL MOTIVATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

The study highlighted the impact of an activity program in which board games were used to develop situational motivation in first-grade school children. The participants (ages 6-8 years) were primary school students from rural areas randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG; n= 13) and control group (CG; n= 13). The level of situational motivation was measured with the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) developed by F. Guay, R. J. Vallerand, and C. Blanchard (2000). After initial testing, for eight weeks, ten board games (Dixit, Domino in syllables, my first 5-second game, Tetris, Vocalopoly, etc.) were introduced twice a week for the development of mathematical and linguistic skills. The results of the comparison t-test on paired samples, as well as on independent samples of the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS), show that there are statistically significant differences regarding the level of situational motivation in the two moments of the application of the scale, pretest, and posttest in the experimental group (t =-15.503, p<0.001), but also between the two groups (experimental and control) in the post test phase (t=10.539, p<0.001). In conclusion, the research results highlight that using board games in the activities carried out with first-grade students improves the motivation of school children.

Socio‐Occupational Integration of Chinese Migrant Women in Andalusia Through Spanish Language Training

The present article explores the perceived role of work and proficiency in a second or additional language(s) among a group of Chinese migrant women learning Spanish in Andalusia. The enrolment of Chinese adult learners in language upgrading programmes in immersion contexts is relatively low, as Chinese expatriates tend to establish close‐knit, socio‐culturally elusive communities whose interactions with local residents are often limited to work‐related purposes. The distinctiveness of this ethnographic work lies in its focus on women who, having resided in southern Spain for extended periods and aiming to emancipate themselves from male family referents, have only recently sought greater inclusion in Spanish society. Through in‐depth interviews, these women’s prospects for professional advancement and self‐employment are also identified, albeit subsidiarily, among the reasons for pursuing higher levels of linguistic competence. The results point to a desire to develop higher levels of competence in linguistic, civic, and socio‐cultural literacies to expand their social networks and engage more actively in the communities where they currently live. Avoiding vulnerability to potential deception in the workplace and administrative settings, coupled with the need to participate in better‐informed decision‐making at the personal level, is also highlighted as contributory factors to their willingness to pursue multiliteracies in linguistic, civic, and occupational areas. The conclusions point to a mismatch between the training aspirations of these women and the curricula of the courses available to them within a Chinese educational organisation, whose focus lies almost entirely on the development and reinforcement of linguistic skills.

Funkcjonowanie pokolenia Alpha – wyzwania i zagrożenia. Rola edukacji medialnej w kształtowaniu nowej generacji

The aim of the article is to present the specifics of the functioning of the Alpha generation and to show the importance of undertaking media education by the family and school environment in order to maintain the digital hygiene of this generation. The article is theoretical in nature and covers the characteristics of the Alpha generation, including the presentation of the strengths and weaknesses of this generational group. An important part is the presentation of the importance of media education for shaping the right attitudes, thinking, reasoning, and values of the younger generation. Today’s children are sometimes described as the touchscreen generation or the first generation to be born into mediatized home environments. From an early age, they use screen media (televisions computers, smartphones, tablets, or computer games). The availability of technological achievements undoubtedly affects children’s development in the emotional, social, and motivational spheres. The considerations undertaken show, on the one hand, the potential of the young generation, their needs, possibilities, and the specificity of functioning, and, on the other, indicate the legitimacy of undertaking media education. The aim of good media education should also be to develop empathy, self-reliance, kindness, and self-control as well as to arouse intellectual curiosity. Shaping proper digital hygiene habits should be one of the most important tasks of the modern education process. The proper use of smart technological devices can contribute to the development of the cognitive, linguistic, and social skills of the youngest.