Cultural Meanings Research Articles

Research on the Innovative Design of Yunnan Intangible Cultural Heritage tile cat Image

Driven by the development of modern design and the need for the protection of intangible cultural heritage, the innovative application of the image of tile cat has become an important topic to promote the inheritance of national culture. Based on the traditional image of tile cat, this study analyzes its cultural symbolic meaning and artistic characteristics in Yunnan, and explores its application form and value in contemporary design. The main purpose of this study is to explore the innovative path of tile cat in modern art design by exploring the symbolic connotation and artistic style of tile cat, so as to promote the modern expression of national traditional art. The research methods include literature analysis, field research and image analysis, revealing the potential application value of tile cat shape in graphic design, cultural and creative products and public space decoration, and trying to find a concrete path suitable for the innovative design of tile cat image, and propose a design framework combined with current design trends. The study shows that the unique shape and cultural symbolism of tile cat are not only suitable for symbolic processing and artistic innovation, but also have strong market potential. Therefore, it is proposed to integrate the image of tile cat into modern design through design strategies such as element extraction, symbol transformation and scene application, which not only retains the national cultural characteristics but also meets the contemporary aesthetic needs. This study provides innovative ideas for the inheritance of Yunnan tile cats in modern art design, and puts forward practical suggestions for the inheritance and revitalization of national art in the contemporary environment, providing a reference for promoting the innovative development of China's traditional national culture.

Sense and Reference Meaning Barriers in Pragmatics among Arabic Native Students

The study investigated some barriers in pragmatics to prevent EFL students from conveying sense and reference meaning. It was carried out in 2024 and was used to collect primary data through a questionnaire filled out by 50 university students in the English department. The results showed the most important differences Cause pragmatics barriers are contextual factors, as stated by (94%) of participants. Then cultural differences were stated by (80%) of them, and (34%) of participants said that differences come from culture more than linguistics. The most common challenges that can reduce ambiguities undermining intended sense and reference meaning are clarifying assumptions upfront, intended sense and reference meaning mentioned by (78%) of participants. Then (68%) stated that intended and reference meaning could be conveyed through non-linguistic cues. (64%) of participants confirmed that English communication assumptions sometimes undermine sense and reference meaning. (76%) of participants claimed that philosophers and linguists (pragmaticians) aim to be scientific. They can distinguish sense and reference meaning concepts throughout research and case studies across communities. Based on ''analysis of pragmatics across diverse languages and context, 66%) of them mentioned that future pragmatics research should incorporate non-English languages. The study ended with some recommendations: Treat FEL students' difficulties in morphemic analysis and vocabulary and focus on some strategies. e.g., translation and interlanguages are facilitators of cultural and contextual meaning.

Historiography of Indonesian Culinary: Tracing Trails and National Identity Through the History of Food

Indonesia's cultural heritage, especially its food traditions, needs more thorough documentation, making it hard to learn about the culture and national identity through cuisine. This often leads to cuisine being seen as just food, ignoring its deeper cultural and philosophical meanings. This study uses a historical approach to address this gap in understanding Indonesian culinary history. Various sources like photos, videos, documents, newspapers, and magazines are used as primary sources in this research. The research finds many historical cookbooks from colonial times to after Indonesia gained independence, each with unique features. These cookbooks reflect the cultural context of their time. Recognizing cuisine as a dynamic part of national identity, evolving over time and across regions, is crucial in establishing a national cuisine. This requires a deep dive into culinary history and an understanding of the role of Indonesian culinary historiography in shaping the nation's food culture.

The Intercultural Adaptation as an Anthropological Experiment

Intercultural adaptations focus on the cultural changes necessary in this process of adaptation, in which a source text is adapted into a film or any other medium, or even the same one, recreating a narrative. Researchers from Adaptation Studies have stated that they are the combination of familiarity and novelty (Hutcheon, 2006); so, in this paper, we argue that the analysis of an intercultural adaptation could benefit from the perspective of Interpretive Anthropology, of thinking the adapter as in the role of an anthropologist who needs to observe the otherness in the source text and make it familiar to the audience. In order to do so, we adopt as support to our thesis authors from Adaptation Studies, such as Hutcheon (2006), Interpretive Anthropology, as Geertz (1973), and Cultural Studies, as Eagleton (2000). To demonstrate our proposition, we provide an illustrative case study of Julieta (2016), a film by Almodóvar that is an adaptation of three short stories by Munro from the book Runaway (2005), also known as “Triptych Juliet”. We use a methodology proposed by Silva (2012) but incorporating the Interpretive Anthropology perspective and adding a new element of analysis: thematic crossovers. This way, we believe that studies of adaptations could avoid value judgment and comparisons of fidelity, because culture is understood as the main motivation in the process of adaptation, maintaining a dialogue between source text and adaptation, but also with all intertextual texts within the fabrication of cultural meaning. Thus, we make sense of our lives and reality through the aesthetic symbols of art, creating individual and collective identity as humanity by observing the other and ourselves in the anthropological experiment we consider to be the intercultural adaptation.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ОНТОЛОГІЧНОГО МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ЯК ЗАСОБУ ВЕРИФІКАЦІЇ РЕЗУЛЬТАТІВ ПСИХОЛОГІЧНОГО ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ ВИВЧЕННЯ ЯВИЩ ГРИ)

Purpose. Methodological differences in the verification standards for the results of scientific knowledge between individual psychological branches represented in the domestic and global scientific space, the peculiarities of extremely complex psychological knowledge objects indicates the need to modernize the relevant standards and choose the optimal methodological platform for the verification of the results of modern psychological research. This paper discusses the feasibility of choosing such a ontological modeling platform, which is a special descriptive methodology and an alternative to the naturalistic experimental approach in verifying the results of psychological research. Ontological modeling provides the possibility for a more objective verification of the achievements for the study of intelligible objects, which have a distinct cultural and historical meaning, extremely complex structure and functionality, an ancient and diverse history of their own empirical representations. The purpose of the article is a theoretical study of ways to modernize the standards of verification of the results of modern psychological research using the example of the verification of the promising theory of game modeling of human vital activity in uncertainty conditions. Methods.The research uses the methods of analysis and systematization for psychological and interdisciplinary approaches in the study of verification patterns for the psychological knowledge results, comparison and optimization for the content of its standards on the study example of game modeling of human vital activity in uncertainty conditions. Results. According to the results of the study, the expediency of choosing ontological modeling (the names "conceptual modeling", "formal ontology", "formal ontology" and "ontological engineering" are also used synonymously) as a perspective basis for the verification of the psychological research results, a new universal methodological tool of Ukrainian psychology, has been proven using the example for game modeling of human vital activity in uncertainty. The existing scientific approaches that argue for the choice of ontological modeling as the basis for the verification of new psychological knowledge are specified. The methodological perspective of the modernization for the verification norms of psychological theories and concepts based on the ontological approach has been updated and substantiated. Modern scientific ideas are generalized and fundamental approaches to the verification of the results of knowledge of unlimited generality objects, i.e. ultra-complex simultaneously intelligible and empirical objects, are deepened. It has been established that ontological modeling has a universal scientific purpose and is able to overcome the shortcomings of the naturalistic experimental method for verification of research products, to be the optimal methodological platform for the verification of the modern psychological research results. Conclusions. The results of the study allow us to conclude about the relevance of the above issues and the expediency of choosing ontological modeling as a prospective basis for the verification of the psychological research results using the example for game modeling of human vital activity in uncertainty. A well-founded description of the standards and the process for verification of the psychological research results for game modeling of human vital activity in uncertainty conditions is considered promising.

Sociolinguistic study of kilba personal names

This paper delves into the sociolinguistic factors and semantic implications of Kilba names and naming systems. It explores how names are given in Kilba community, explaining the cultural and social meanings attached to names .The research method involves primary data collection from aged parents in the Hong local government of Adamawa State, as well as secondary sources such as books, journal articles, and online materials. Contextual and conventional theories of meaning were used as guide for the study. The analysis categorizes Kilba names names into five main groups based on their significance and origins. The findings highlight the importance of names as identifiers of individual personalities and reflect the unique circumstances or situations surrounding a child’s birth. This study concludes that the significance of names to Kilba people is beyond mere labels, but a reflection of socio-cultural values, beliefs, and experiences.

Analysis of Translation Strategies for Culturally Charged Terms in the French Version of Red Sorghum Clan

Mo Yan's Red Sorghum Clan is known for its unique style of language, in which a large number of words are loaded with cultural meaning. During the translation process, how to accurately convey the unique cultural information of the original text to the reader is a difficult task that translators often encounter. Based on Eugene Nida's method, this article will classify culturally loaded terms and then discover the translation strategies that two translators (Sylvie Gentil and Pascale Guinot) have used, with the aim of providing a reference for translators in translating Chinese literature and better promoting the dissemination of Chinese literary works.

Problems of Translating Cultural Vocabulary: A Case Study on The Translation of Indonesian Folktales

This study investigates the translation strategies employed in rendering culturally-laden vocabulary from Indonesian into Japanese, focusing on the folktale “Bujang Sembilan: Legenda Danau Maninjau”. The objective is to identify the translation techniques used and analyze their effectiveness in conveying cultural nuances and meanings. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, analyzing 33 sentences containing cultural terms. The findings reveal several issues, including the loss of cultural meaning through the use of general terms, inaccurate adaptations, and a lack of supplementary explanations. The study concludes that a combination of transliteration, adaptation, and explanatory notes is crucial for accurately conveying the cultural richness of the source text. This approach ensures that the target audience grasps not only the literal meaning but also the cultural significance embedded within the original vocabulary.

Khazanah Leksikon Perayaan Asyura Kota Serang

Ashura celebrations not only reflect spiritual aspects, but also represent the cultural entity of society as a whole. Ashura celebrations involve local religious and cultural values that interact and adapt to each other. This research aims to determine the lexicon of names and cultural meanings of Ashura celebrations in Serang City, Banten Province. The research technique used is descriptive qualitative with ethnographic interview methods, participant observation, and literature review which also includes an examination of the Kitab Kuning. The source of research data comes from the Ashura celebration in Serang City. Research findings show 18 Ashura celebration lexicon data that can be classified into three Ashura celebration times: 9 Muharram, 10 Muharram, and 11 Muharram. The Ashura celebration lexicon is grouped into (1) monomorphemic word-form lexicon, (2) polymorphemic word-form lexicon, and (3) phrase-form lexicon. Each lexicon has noun and verb categories. Keywords: lexicon, Ashura, ritual, religious

The Future Geographies of Food: Possibilities, Contradictions, and Opportunities

ABSTRACT Amid deepening socioecological concerns, the future geography of food promises to become more contested in the next few decades. This special issue, which is an offshoot of the American Geographical Society’s symposium on the Future of Food, brings together a rich blend of articles that interrogate diverse aspects of the future of food, including questions on the promise of high-tech modes of food production, alternative food sources for the future, and smallholder agriculture. In this introduction, we synthesize these debates across articles and highlight what is at stake for the future of food. While we may not be able to accurately predict what we will eat in the years ahead, food will change tremendously and foodways will be shaped by ongoing ontological politics and contestations over what constitutes “clean” and “healthy” food, and how to produce it. Globalization will shape place-based food practices, yet food will retain its cultural meaning even as traditional foodways are shaped by culinary practices and products from distant geographies. Similarly, small agriculture promises to be resilient and will continue to foreground food security for many across the world, particularly in the Global South.

Beyond Typologies: Early Modern Italian Town Halls in Comparative Perspective (14th-17th Centuries)

By challenging the traditional, typological, approach to the history of town halls, we aim to place Italian civic architecture at the center of a cross-disciplinary study focused, on one hand, on the uses and functions of these buildings, and on the other, on their cultural and identity meanings. The papers gathered in this special collection do not present a history of architectural models and persistencies, but rather one of continuous transformations, conversions, and adaptations, shaped by the material and symbolic functions that public buildings fulfilled, and often continue to fulfill, in the places where they were built.

The Ultimate Difference: Interpreting and Using “Culture” in Comparisons of Crime and Justice

Abstract This article examines culture, an ambiguous yet prevalent concept in comparisons of crime and justice. It investigates the extent to which culture’s application and meaning across research reflects Western-centric bias in criminological knowledge-production despite it being a concept meant to advance understanding on different groups and places beyond the “Western” worldview. The article extends the discussion on Western-centric bias but also on culture in criminology by tracing the use of this concept on East Asian populations and by identifying patterns of application and meaning in international and comparative research through a scoping review of 230 journal publications. The findings address patterns of culture’s appearance in criminology journals in the past two decades and its meaning. Similar to previous scholarship on Western-centrism in criminology, the article finds that this bias does, too, exist in uses of culture but also shows how culture’s conceptual ambiguity is conducive to this bias, in that some groups and places are given one meaning of culture while others receive another.

Introduction of the Digital Gaming Relationship

In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in studying the appeal of digital games. However, there is still a call for further research, especially on the theoretical and methodological advancements. Hence, a novel approach and a concept of the Digital Gaming Relationship (DGR) is presented. The DGR model is adapted from earlier work on physical activity and with the central concept as “meaning,” it provides an alternative perspective to motivation-oriented literature for the field of game studies. With this approach, the fundamental view is that each person has a varying relationship with digital games and gaming over their life span. The relationship builds on the individual’s encounters with the social world of digital gaming and its cultural meanings. In the long term, accruing digital gaming-related knowledge, experiences, and emotional connections contributes to a rich tapestry of meaning, thus creating a deep and meaningful relationship capable of shaping one’s actions, behaviors, and even identity. The framework theorizes the mechanisms of an individual’s socialization process to the digital gaming world and illustrates that the relationship with digital games includes much more than just playing them. In this article, the theoretical roots and key concepts of the DGR are introduced, and the practical applicability of the approach is discussed.

Metadata for Everyone: Identifying Metadata Quality Issues Across Cultures

Metadata is crucial to the dissemination and communication of research. Quality metadata facilitates discovery and access and provides contextual, technical, and administrative information in a standard form. Yet metadata are also sites of tension between sociocultural representations, resource constraints, and standardized systems. Formal and informal interventions may be interpreted as metadata quality issues, political acts to assert identity, or strategic curatorial choices to maximize discoverability and visibility. This presentation documents the work of Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and Crossref on the Metadata for Everyone project to understand how metadata quality, consistency, and completeness impact individuals and communities. Working from a sample of records known to have erroneous, incomplete, or otherwise imperfect metadata, we set out to identify and classify issues stemming from how metadata and communities press up against each other to intentionally reflect (or not) cultural meanings.

Ethnomathematics: Learning Geometric Transformation Through the Formation of Lagosi Motif

The Lagosi motif, a prominent design in the traditional fabric of the Wajo district, is well-known but increasingly rare among local weavers. This motif, drawing inspiration from natural elements such as flowers and stems, holds significant philosophical and cultural meaning for the Wajo people, serving as a key element of their endangered cultural heritage. Despite its cultural importance, the motif has been minimally explored in the context of ethnomathematics. Consequently, this study investigates the mathematical concepts inherent in the design of Lagosi motifs, aiming to utilize them as educational tools for students and to support cultural preservation efforts. Employing a qualitative research methodology with an ethnographic approach, data were collected through observations, interviews, and documentation. The validity and reliability of the data were ensured through triangulation and confirmability. The study reveals that geometric transformations, specifically translation and reflection, play a central role in the creation of Lagosi motifs. These findings highlight the natural emergence of mathematical concepts within local cultural practices, offering potential for their integration into contextualized mathematics education. Furthermore, the results aim to instill a sense of cultural pride in students, thereby contributing to the preservation of Wajo's cultural heritage. The study also underscores the opportunity to leverage Lagosi motifs as culturally relevant educational tools and to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between mathematics and cultural studies.

Football, fandom, and violence: Jean-Pierre Mocky’s À mort l’arbitre ! (1984)

ABSTRACT Jean-Pierre Mocky’s À mort l’arbitre ! (1984) is an interesting example of French sports fiction. It takes us back into French post-Giscardian society, where people lived under the threat of structural unemployment and in fear of a precarious personal and family life. This context allows us to better understand how exacerbated militancy developed among the fans of a sport as popular as football. À mort l’arbitre ! tells the story of a referee who was chased by a group of fans, intoxicated with frustration and rage after he awarded a penalty to the other team. Waylaid outside the locker room, stalked in a supermarket, and attacked at his home, the referee had no alternative but to go through this nightmarish odyssey to the end. The aim of this article is to analyse the political, cultural, and social meaning of fan violence towards football referees during the 1980s.

PECULIARITIES AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES OF ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIVE ART IN THE ANCIENT HUIZHOU REGION, CHINA

Purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the ancient decorative art of Huizhou, identifying its aesthetic, symbolic, and technological characteristics, as well as exploring its development pathways in the modern era through the use of digital technologies. Methodology. This research employs iconography, literature analysis, comparative studies, and other methods to classify and theoretically summarize drawings and textual materials. Results. The study analyzes the reasons behind the establishment of decorative art in ancient Huizhou. It identifies the aesthetic and technological features of the decor in three primary types of traditional crafts in this region. Based on the analysis of ornaments, patterns, forms, their compositions, semantics, and manufacturing technologies, the decorative art of Huizhou is systematically categorized from the perspective of symbolic and cultural meaning, as well as technical methods and production tools. The social function, symbolism, and aesthetic value of Huizhou's decorative art are revealed. Additionally, the prospects for developing and disseminating this ancient art through digital means are demonstrated. Scientific novelty. For the first time, Huizhou's architectural decorative art has been systematically categorized from the perspectives of aesthetics, semantics, and technologies. Its unique artistic significance has been unveiled through a detailed analysis of compositions, their symbolic meaning, materials, and technological processes. A digitization and inheritance strategy for Huizhou's "Three Carvings" (wood, stone, and brick) has also been formulated, aimed at protecting and promoting this intangible cultural heritage through modern scientific and technological means to realize the applied value of ancient art in contemporary design. Practical significance. The results of this study can be applied across various fields of art and design in the ancient Huizhou region by professionals such as digital artists, designers, engineers, and others, to create unique works and gain experience by integrating digital technologies with traditional decorative art.

Formation of cultural identity of students as a subject of pedagogical discussion

Introduction. Geopolitical challenges of our time encourage teachers to search for optimal means to counteract the deformation of the ideological positions of students, the mixing of cultures, and the devaluation of traditional cultural and historical values. In this context, the formation of cultural identity among students and schoolchildren, which unites all-Russian and regional cultural meanings at the content level, acquires great theoretical and practical significance. As an example, the Novgorod cultural identity is given as an integrative symbol of the cultural and historical heritage of Russia and the Novgorod region. The purpose of the study is the scientific substantiation of the concepts of “cultural code” and “cultural identity” as pedagogical phenomena containing national and regional components. Materials and methods. Using theoretical methods (interdisciplinary analysis, synthesis, generalization), a study of scientific sources was carried out, which made it possible to identify the relationship between the concepts of “cultural code” and “cultural identity”. In order to determine the components and levels of formation of cultural identity among students, a survey was conducted of 327 students and schoolchildren of the Novgorod region aged 14 to 21 years. Statistical data processing was carried out using the Google Forms service. Results. Based on a theoretical analysis of scientific sources, it was established that cultural identity as a conscious position of young people can be purposefully formed by pedagogical means, and the cultural code can be generated and transmitted by various institutions of socialization. The survey data recorded a fairly high level of development of the cognitive component of the cultural identity of students and an average level of development of the affective and behavioral components. Based on the results obtained, the problematic field of cultural categories was translated into the plane of pedagogical discussion and their characteristics as social and pedagogical phenomena were given. Conclusion. The conducted research made it possible to identify the relationship between the concepts of “cultural code” and “cultural identity”, to determine the general civil and regional aspects of the cultural identity of students. The comprehensive educational program for training future teachers developed by the authors, which includes the history of education and enlightenment of the Novgorod region, the theoretical foundations of educational tourism, museum and excursion pedagogy, will be of practical interest for university teachers and school teachers who carry out educational work with students.

Analyzing Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains from a Pictorial Perspective

From the perspective of iconography, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, a classic work of traditional Chinese landscape painting. This work has been highly respected since the Tang Dynasty and is regarded as one of the important representatives in the history of Chinese painting. Its rich connotation and artistic value have always been the focus of scholars' research. The thesis aims to deeply interpret the historical and cultural connotations and artistic symbolism embedded in Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains through the iconographic method, from the levels of ex-iconography, iconography and iconographic analysis, to reveal its important position and value in Chinese traditional art. Adopting the iconographic method, the analysis is divided into three main levels. First, through pre-imaginative analysis, we focus on the physical facts and visual representations on the surface of the work; second, we use imaginative analysis to explore the information of the specific objects in the work and explore their connections and themes; and finally, we carry out imaginative analysis to reveal the deeper historical and cultural connotations and symbolic meanings of the work. Through in-depth iconographic analysis, Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains demonstrates the core values of traditional Chinese landscape painting, presenting a fusion of natural landscapes and humanistic emotions. It is not only a work of art, but also a vivid expression of traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics. The findings of this dissertation will contribute to a better understanding of the profound historical and cultural connotations embedded in Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, as well as its important position and value in the history of Chinese art.

Analysis of The "Sijagaron" Symbol in the Saur Matua Traditional Ceremony of the Batak Toba Tribe

This research aims to analyze the "Sijagaron" symbol in the Saur Matua traditional ceremony of the Toba Batak tribe, a cultural practice that illustrates the death of someone who has reached old age and has children. Saur Matua, which means "blessed" in the Batak Toba language, is the highest form of respect for people who die after completing a successful life and having many descendants. The Sijagaron symbol, in the form of a series of plants such as banyan plants, silinjuang leaves, and sanggar flowers, is placed on the coffin as a sign of honor and achievement. This research examines the philosophical and cultural meaning of Sijagaron, as well as its role in traditional rituals that show prosperity and success in a person's life. Through a qualitative approach and in-depth analysis, this research explores how Sijagaron symbolizes the relationship between humans, nature and God in Toba Batak culture. The research results are expected to provide insight into the cultural values ​​contained in the Sijagaron symbol and the importance of the Saur Matua ceremony in Toba Batak society, as well as its contribution to understanding cultural heritage and customs.