Local Dialect Research Articles

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES: ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS AND LISTENERSHIP OF COMMUNITY RADIO

Community radio has long been recognized as a powerful tool for empowering marginalized communities by providing them with a platform to voice their concerns, share their stories, and access essential information. Community radio (CR) is a third-tier media, together with broadcasting on public and privately owned radio. This research paper throws light on the listenership pattern of listeners of community radio, their program preferences and CR programs' effectiveness on listeners. A survey was conducted among listeners of ‘Radio Varsha’ which is situated in the Gopalganj district of Bihar for the purpose of data collection and analysis. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative survey data and extracts of discussions held with stakeholders and listeners. The research discovered that programs are effective in generating awareness on various topics among listeners. The broadcast content in local languages and dialects was liked by the listeners, thus, leading to the effectiveness of the programs.

Dialect in Decline: The Dilemma of Sichuan Dialect and Possible Means of Revitalization

Sichuan dialect, one of the most popular dialects in China, is continuously receiving a wide range of attention among teenagers. However, in recent years, the users of this dialect are becoming less and less. This paper talks about the reason why the users of the Sichuan dialect are experiencing the process of decline. It is separated into various aspects such as society, technology and educational influences that may be influencing the declining trend. Studying the reason for the reduction of users of the Sichuan dialect can help contribute to the preservation of local dialects. Understanding these factors is crucial not only for comprehending the dynamics of linguistic shifts, but also for formulating strategies to safeguard and inherit this local dialect. Efforts to maintain and renaissance local dialects are essential for safeguarding cultural heritage and identity. The presented findings aimed at providing a renewed appreciation for the Sichuan dialect among the younger generations.

Sign Language Detection and Recognition Using Media Pipe and Deep Learning Algorithm

People lacking the sense of hearing and the ability to speak have undeniable communication problems in their life. People with hearing and speech problems communicate using sign language with themselves and others. These communicating signs are made up of the shape of the hand and movement. Sign language is not essentially known to a more significant portion of the human population who uses spoken and written language for communication. Therefore, it is a necessity to develop technological tools for interpretation of sign language. Much research have been carried out to acknowledge sign language using technology for most global languages. But there are still scopes of development of tools and techniques for sign language development for local dialects. This work attempts to develop a technical approach for recognizing American Sign Language Using machine learning techniques, this work tried to establish a system for identifying the hand gestures from American Sign Language. A combination of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of Assamese gestures has been used to prepare a dataset. The Media Pipe framework has been implemented to detect landmarks in the images. The results reveal that the method implemented in this work is effective for the recognition of the other alphabets and gestures in Sign Language. This method could also be tried and tested for the recognition of signs and gestures for various other local languages of India

The Application of Subtitle Translation Characteristic Culture in Journey to the West from the Skopos Theory

In the current era, cross-cultural communication has become an important issue in today's society. Film art communication is one of the effective ways of cross-cultural communication, such as the Hollywood movies, India's Bollywood films and so on. It not only attracted the attention of the world for the film itself; but more importantly it attracts the attention of the national culture around the world. In the communication of film art, subtitle translation builds a bridge between different languages and countries so subtitle translation plays a very important role in the communication of film art. This paper uses the movie Journey to the West as an example and analyzes the full application of Skopos theory and translation strategies in the subtitle translation of this film. Film of Chinese culture subtitles translation is mainly reflected in the local dialect, literary classics and some contemporary cultural vocabulary. The analysis of this paper shows that subtitle translation plays an important role in film culture.

Uncovering Language in Business Communication Space: Variation between Formal and Informal Language in Mandailing Natal

This research delves into the intricate dynamics of formal and informal language usage within the realm of business communication in Mandailing Natal. Mandailing Natal, characterized by its cultural and linguistic diversity, serves as a distinctive backdrop for comprehending the nuanced role of language in business interactions. Employing a method of language variation analysis, this study scrutinizes various business communication texts, including formal letters, emails, and face-to-face conversations. The objective is to unravel the disparities in the utilization of formal and informal language. The findings of the research reveal that within the business communication space, the deployment of formal and informal language not only mirrors organizational hierarchy but is intricately linked to the local cultural context. Formal language predominantly governs official documents and written communication, while informal language prevails in face-to-face interactions and everyday situations. Furthermore, language variation extends to the incorporation of local dialects and distinctive expressions unique to Mandailing Natal, contributing cultural richness to business communication.

Arabic Language Impact on EFL Learners’ Speaking Competence: The Case of Algerian First Year Bachelor Students at Kasdi Merbah University-Ouargla

The present paper examines the impact of Arabic language on EFL learners (Algerian) speaking competence. Arab students encounter numerous obstacles in developing their L2 speaking skills. Their limited exposure to English, both in and out of the classroom, impedes their ability to achieve fluency and proficiency in speaking. In the Algerian case, students’ background of learning foreign languages is affected by both their standard Arabic and various local dialects that differ completely from one region to another. In this regard, serious linguistic obstacles may exist due to differences between Arabic and English morphology, phonology, syntax, and orthography so that the teaching process would not be an easy task, especially for beginners. In the light of this, the current study raises the problem of how Arabic language can affect EFL learners’ speaking competency. It aims at highlighting their common errors, raising the Algerian (Arab) students’ consciousness about the impact of their Arabic background on their fluency in English, and developing their competence of speaking through detecting the appropriate methods and techniques of addressing the challenges and difficulties of communicating in the target language. A descriptive type of research was followed via attending and observing sessions of oral expression with first year students (a group of 37 learners) at the University of Kasdi Merbah in Ouargla-Algeria. Via adopting a quantitative approach, a questionnaire was administered to 150 students from the same level to assess their speaking competence and common errors sources. The findings indicate that the Algerian learners’ Arabic background reduces their fluency in English as a result of linguistic, phonological, syntactic, and cultural differences.

(263) Sexuality and Fertility among Young Women Treated for Cervical Cancer

Abstract Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth cancer in women. Its incidence is particularly high in developing countries. The increase in cases among young women in low- and middle-income countries may be due to changes in sexual behaviors and an increased risk of HPV infection and the absence of vaccination programs. The mortality and morbidity rates of cervical cancer are very high if diagnosed at an advanced stage. It is a preventable Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) related cancer. Cervical cancer patients are often stigmatized because of the idea that this cancer is associated with early-onset sexuality. Furthermore, the treatments for such cancer are mutilating for women often causing definitive infertility and sexual and/or couple dysfunctions. Objective This study aims to describe the changes in sexuality and fertility among young women diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer Methods It is a monocentric cross-sectional study based on a phone survey. We included and contacted all young women (under 40) when they were diagnosed with and/or treated for cervical cancer in our institution for 11 years from January 2010 to December 2020. We excluded all patients with a history of chronic disease other than cervical cancer. The study took place from January To May 2022. We developed an 8-item questionnaire in the local dialect and used the validated translation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to evaluate the participants' sexual function. Results We included 23 cases of cervical cancer in young women, i.e. a response rate of 4.6%. The average age of our sample was 34.7 years (±4.7). The median age of first sexual intercourse was 21.5 years [20–25.25]. The abortion rate was 2 [0.25–2.75] per participant. The median age of the first pregnancy was 21 years [21–27]. The most common symptom leading to the cancer diagnosis was post-coital metrorrhagia in 12 (52.2%) of cases. The first Pap smear led to a cervical cancer diagnosis in 13 cases (56.5%). Five patients had a tumor size ≤ 40 mm and 4 patients were metastatic at the time of the diagnosis. Eighteen patients underwent surgical treatment of whom 5 had a fertility-sparing technique. All patients got radiation. The average duration of follow-up was 5.72 years ±0.3.247. The average survival is 9.7 years (±0.9 years; 95% CI 7.9 – 11.5 years). The 3-year survival rate is 82.6%, and the 5-year survival rate is 82.6%. Five patients expressed a desire for pregnancy after the treatment, one got pregnant after 5 years. Five patients expressed that there was an impact on their sexuality after the treatment with sexual disorders with pain, in particular dyspareunia and vulvodynia, and a decrease in female desire associated with a guilty feeling. All patients had pathological FSFI scores regarding all the domains of female sexual function Conclusions Sexuality and fertility are taboo among young cervical cancer survivors. The sexual stigma of cervical cancer as a sexually transmitted disease is present in our population. Fertility-sparing surgical techniques and less sexually harmful radiation techniques are still to be perfected. Disclosure No.

The contribution of suprasegmental cues to perceived L1 and L2 accent distance

First (L1) and second language (L2) pronunciations that diverge more segmentally from the local accent are rated as more distant. However, fewer studies have addressed relations between suprasegmental features, such as intonation, and accent distance. We examined the relation between perceived accent distance and four suprasegmental measures: time normalized f0 Euclidean distance, mean F0, pitch range, and speaking rate. Thirty adults completed six ladder tasks in which listeners ranked talkers’ perceived distance from the local accent. For each ladder, listeners heard one sentence produced by 24 talkers: one man and one woman from six L1 and six L2 English varieties. Each suprasegmental measure independently predicted distance rankings with a variety of significant interactions. Talkers with higher accent rankings had narrower pitch ranges, lower mean f0, faster speech, and greater f0 Euclidean distance. Furthermore, suprasegmental measures related to accent distance differentially based on syntactic structure. For example, as f0 Euclidean distance increased, accent rankings increased for interrogative sentences, but not for declarative sentences. These data support the need for future studies examining how suprasegmental features impact perception of L1 and L2 accents. [Work supported by NSF grants 1941691 and 1941662].

How rhythmic cues influence perception of accent distance across L1 and L2 English speakers

Segmental and suprasegmental cues can both contribute to listeners’ accent strength and distance judgments. This study examined the influence of a suprasegmental cue—rhythm—on listeners’ judgments of accent distance. Rhythm was quantified using two measures of variability in vocalic interval duration: normalized pairwise variability index (nPVI) and VarcoV. Thirty adults ranked productions from female and male speakers from six L1 and six L2 English varieties (24 speakers) across six sentences based on their perceived distance from Midland American English (the local dialect). Linear mixed effect models predicted accent distance ratings from rhythm measures—specifically, differences in nPVI and VarcoV between the L1/L2 speakers and Midland speakers, with speaking rate and sentence length as covariates. Differences between L1/L2 speakers’ and Midland speakers’ nPVI and VarcoV scores did not significantly predict accent distance rankings. However, significant interactions between nPVI and certain accents (e.g., Irish, Southern American, Cantonese-accented English) suggest that rhythmic properties may significantly impact accent distance judgements for some accent varieties. These results provide further insight into how rhythmic cues contribute to accent perception. [Work supported by NSF grants 1941691 and 1941662].

The importance of worldwide linguistic and cultural diversity for climate change resilience.

Local minority languages and dialects, through the local knowledge and expertise associated with them, can play major roles in analysing climate change and biodiversity loss, in facilitating community awareness of environmental crises and in setting up locally-adapted resilience and sustainability strategies. While the situation and contribution of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples are of emblematic importance, the issue of the relationships between cultural and linguistic diversity and environmental awareness and protection does not solely concern peripheral highly-specialized communities in specific ecosystems of the Global South, but constitutes a worldwide challenge, throughout all of the countries, whatever their geographical location, their economical development, or their political status. Environmental emergency and climate change resilience should therefore raise international awareness on the need to promote the survival and development of minority languages and dialects and to take into account their creativity and expertise in relation to the dynamics of their local environments.

Regional differences in the production of tones in standard mandarin

This study investigates the intricate patterns of tonal variations in monosyllabic words across distinct regional accents of Standard Mandarin, with a focus on Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. Due to the differing tonal systems of the local Chinese dialects in the three cities, speakers from these areas may exhibit distinct patterns in their production of tones in Standard Mandarin, influenced by their native Chinese dialects. Therefore, to capture the nuances of tonal differences, the study extracts the time-normalized f0 values of four tones (i.e., level, rising, dipping, and falling tones) from monosyllabic words in a Mandarin Chinese speech corpus. The overall f0 contours of the four tones within and across the three regional accents are modeled using growth curve analysis. We expect to find that regional accents of Standard Mandarin exhibit significant tonal variations such that the tone shapes of speakers from Shanghai and Guangzhou may significantly deviate from those of Beijing speakers. Specifically, there are variations in contour shape and temporal dynamics, particularly in the quadratic term for dipping tones and the slopes of rising and falling tones. These findings can provide valuable insights into the intricate characteristics of regional tonal variations in Standard Mandarin.

Examining the maintenance of dialect features in colloquial urban Armenian speech via variationist analysis of vowels in Gavaṛ, Armenia

This study examines the maintenance of previously described local dialect vowels in the regional city of Gavaṛ, Armenia. The dialect vowel system contains additional phonemic and allophonic distinctions not found in supralocal Armenian varieties. As such, adherence to this system was conceptualized through the presence or absence of various vowel mergers. F1 and F2 were measured from picture and word list data collected from sociolinguistic interviews with 31 participants. Mergers were assessed for each participant via Pillai scores and Euclidean distances between clusters of words where different vowels were predicted to appear based on previous descriptions of the dialect. Countering previous claims about dialect leveling in regional cities, some participants were found to maintain some aspects of the dialect vowel system. Fixed effects linear models assessed the effect of demographic predictors (self-reported gender, birth year, education level) on maintenance of dialect vowels. There was an effect of gender, such that men were found to maintain some dialect vowels to a greater degree than women. Participants’ commentary suggested that the most salient aspects of the dialect vowel system are the same ones in relation to which this demographic variation was uncovered, indicating a relationship between salience and maintenance of dialect vowels.

The Contemporary Status of Pingxian Folk Songs and Their Educational Significance in Qinghai Province Through Anthropological Analysis

Background and Aims: This anthropological study delves into the contemporary status and educational significance of Pingxian folk songs in Qinghai Province, China. Pingxian folk songs are known for their delicate melodies. This research aims to analyze the contemporary status of Pingxian folk songs in Qinghai Province and their educational significance through anthropological analysis. Materials and Methods: The research is situated primarily in Qinghai Province, specifically focusing on Xining City, a central hub of Pingxian folk songs. Data collection involves in-depth interviews and systematic observation of performances, facilitated by structured interviews and observation forms. Four key informants, including local musicians, community elders, and music educators. Results: These songs have transitioned from local folk art to distinct local folk music, embracing diverse musical elements and the emergence of professional troupes. They continue to thrive through regular performances, preserving local dialects, and enchanting melodies, and serving as living repositories of history and culture. Furthermore, Pingxian folk songs play a pivotal role in fostering cultural identity, nurturing creativity, and enhancing social cohesion among learners, contributing to cultural heritage protection and the rejuvenation of Chinese traditions. Conclusion: Pingxian folk songs in Qinghai Province epitomize a dynamic cultural heritage that resonates with audiences today. Their enduring legacy, enriched by historical evolution and contemporary vitality, underscores their significance in education and cultural preservation. As valuable tools for instilling cultural identity and fostering creativity.

Making Knowledge in the Local Settings: Vernacular Education and Cantonese Elementary Textbooks

A growing number of Protestant missionaries engaged in vernacular education in the late nineteenth century. To meet the demands of the new era, Christian church education faced challenges not only in its curriculum design but also in the way it presented new knowledge. Previous studies have focused on church education at the tertiary level while overlooking the elementary level. This article discusses vernacular church education and vernacular textbooks at the elementary level in the late Qing, with specific reference to Youxue baoshen yaoyan 幼學保身要言 (The Human Body for Children). It argues that the demand for spreading new knowledge urged Protestant missionaries to compile vernacular textbooks and present Western knowledge in the local settings. Vernacular church education should be regarded as the precursor of indigenous education proposed by the late Qing Court. The local dialect, Cantonese in this case, bridged the linguistic gap between new terms and children’s cognition and became an effective means of presenting new knowledge. Vernacular textbooks had an unparalleled significance in the cultural sphere of dialect writing, since the language of textbooks could drastically influence the writing and reading habits of the young generation and further influence people’s attitudes towards dialects and dialect literature.

The Impact of Dialect Diversity on Rent-Free Farmland Transfers: Evidence from Chinese Rural Household Surveys

The rent-free farmland transfer that exists widely in China’s rural areas is a topic worthy of attention. Particularly, the regional heterogeneity of its occurrences implies regional cultural heterogeneities. Using local dialects to proxy regional cultural features, this study applies econometric methods to examine the impacts of dialect diversity on rent-free farmland transfers. It also considers possible mechanisms through a mediation analysis, based on a combined two-year rural household survey dataset from the Guangdong and Jiangxi Provinces in 2015 and 2016. Robust estimation results reveal that dialect diversity increases the probability of rent-free farmland transfers at the household and village levels. According to the mediation analysis, dialect diversity influences villages’ farmland abandonment, rural farmland market development, and the flexibility of farmland transfer contracts, which further affects rent-free farmland transfer. Rent-free farmland transfer depends on social trust and contracts’ self-fulfilling advantages. Therefore, cultural and traditional factors should be taken into consideration, which would form beneficial interactions between the selections of rural farmland institutional arrangement and land rights policy implementations.

Ethnomusicological Perspectives on Gaomi Miaoqiang: Unveiling the Cultural Tapestry

This ethnomusicological study delves into the vibrant tapestry of Gaomi Miaoqiang, a traditional Chinese folk opera hailing from the Shandong province, exploring its historical evolution, linguistic intricacies, musical characteristics, and cultural implications. With a foundation rooted in the "肘鼓子" (Zhou Guzi) series of Shandong local operas, Gaomi Miaoqiang has evolved over centuries, blending folk singing styles and incorporating influences from Huagu yangge and Lüqin opera. Acknowledged as China's 67th National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Gaomi Miaoqiang represents a profound cultural legacy.The study scrutinizes the language features of Gaomi Miaoqiang, emphasizing simplicity, clarity, and the integration of local dialects, reflecting the rural life of the Gaomi community. Musical analysis unveils the operatic singing styles, instrumental accompaniment, and the evolution of musical composition. From the authentic tones of the "Original Board" to the intricate patterns of the "Dayoutou Board," Gaomi Miaoqiang's musical journey embodies emotional depth and narrative complexity. The study also explores the roles, makeup, costumes, and stage art, highlighting the art form's transition from grassroots performances to professional troupes. Furthermore, Gaomi Miaoqiang's cultural significance is illuminated, portraying its role as a conduit for spiritual solace and emotional release within local communities. Recognizing its enduring influence, the study advocates for the preservation of Gaomi Miaoqiang's distinctiveness amid urban influences. As Gaomi Miaoqiang navigates the intersection of tradition and modernity, it emerges as a cultural beacon, casting light on the rich legacy of Chinese folk opera and emphasizing the critical role of ethnomusicology in unraveling the intricate threads of cultural heritage.

Textual Trajectories : Analysing Linguistic Evolution in Indian English Novels

This study explores the evolution of linguistic and narrative styles in Indian English novels, reflecting the socio-cultural transformations of postcolonial India. Employing thematic analysis through Leximancer and linguistic pattern analysis via NVivo, the research analyzed novels from the 1950s to the present. The findings reveal a significant shift from the formal, British-influenced English of the early post-independence period to a more colloquial and Indianized form in contemporary times. This linguistic evolution includes the incorporation of local dialects, Indian idioms, and a narrative style resonant with India's oral storytelling traditions. The study also identifies a thematic progression from colonial struggles to issues of globalization, urbanization, and modern societal conflicts. Narratively, there has been a transition from linear, conventional storytelling to complex, non-linear narratives with multiple perspectives, mirroring the complexities of modern Indian life. These shifts in Indian English novels are not only stylistic but also reflect deeper socio-cultural and political dynamics. This research contributes to the broader understanding of postcolonial literature and its role in cultural and societal representation.

Meaning construction in Nigerian multilingual hip hop: a study in sociology of music

Abstract The wide acceptability of Nigerian hip hop music, home and abroad, indicates increasing value of the inclusion of local popular languages in the composition and performance of the music. In the text of many of the award winning singles and albums are mixtures of different languages ranging from English, Pidgin English, Yoruba, Igbo and other local dialects. Drawing on Ferdinand de Saussure’s theory of structuralism, this study examines meaning construction in hip hop music in Nigeria. By focusing on the Nigerian hip hop artists, who adopt different slangs embedded with codes considered absurd within the mainstream cultural milieu, the study closely investigates constructed meanings in the lyrics of four Nigerian award winning hip hop artists. All the artists adopted multilingual codes-switching from one language to another in presentation of their messages. The codes in the songs generally symbolise and present messages or meaning that appears out of the mainstream cultural meanings. Listeners and artistes meet at the level of interpretations. The article argues that Nigerian artists creatively present a sub-culture where they and their fans can relate through codes and words embedded with symbolic meanings shared by both artists and fans.

A Study of the Metafunctions of Lombok Regional Slogans: Systemic Functional Linguistics Analysis

Slogans are now an essential aspect of daily life, commonly encountered in both public businesses and industries such as soft drinks, food, fashion, cosmetics, and markets. While many slogans are written in the national language, numerous others are composed in local dialects. In Indonesia, every region has its own slogan in the local language. On the island of Lombok, there are four regions, and each has its own slogan in the local language, conveying a variety of messages to the inhabitants. But numerous people from Lombok, especially the younger generation, are unable to understand the meaning and message conveyed through the slogans. As a result, this study is aimed at (1). An analysis of the metafunction conveyed by district slogans on Lombok Island, WNT Province, and (2) Determine the type of transitivity system process that is predominantly used in district slogans on Lombok Island, WNT Province. The study employed a descriptive qualitative and quantitative research design. The sample respondents were selected through purposive sampling and data was collected using survey, observation, and interview methods. Results indicate that the slogan encompasses ideational, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions, and also involves material, mental, relational, behavioural, and extension transitivity system processes. Quantitatively, the slogan employs 28 types of processes, with material processes making up the majority (27%), followed by relational processes (23%) and behavioural processes (19%). The slogan text does not contain any verbal processes. Participants related to the slogan text include human resources, goals, actors, sensing, phenomena, and behaviour.

Language Varieties of Italy: Technology Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract Italy is characterized by a one-of-a-kind linguistic diversity landscape in Europe, which implicitly encodes local knowledge, cultural traditions, artistic expressions, and history of its speakers. However, most local languages and dialects in Italy are at risk of disappearing within a few generations. The NLP community has recently begun to engage with endangered languages, including those of Italy. Yet, most efforts assume that these varieties are under-resourced language monoliths with an established written form and homogeneous functions and needs, and thus highly interchangeable with each other and with high-resource, standardized languages. In this paper, we introduce the linguistic context of Italy and challenge the default machine-centric assumptions of NLP for Italy’s language varieties. We advocate for a shift in the paradigm from machine-centric to speaker-centric NLP, and provide recommendations and opportunities for work that prioritizes languages and their speakers over technological advances. To facilitate the process, we finally propose building a local community towards responsible, participatory efforts aimed at supporting vitality of languages and dialects of Italy.