Modern Usage Research Articles

The Structural Complexity and Evolutionary Patterns of German Grammar

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the complexities inherent in German grammar, focusing on key features such as the case system, verb conjugation patterns, and syntactic structures. The research explores the diachronic evolution of German grammar, tracing its development from Old High German through Middle High German, and examines how historical linguistic changes continue to influence modern usage. Additionally, the study addresses the cognitive and pedagogical challenges that learners face, offering targeted strategies for effective grammar instruction, including contrastive analysis and contextualized practice. By situating German grammar within a broader linguistic and historical context, this research contributes to our understanding of language complexity and the interplay between grammatical structure and language learning.

Design Issues and Solutions for Improving the Comfort of Neo-Ming Style Chair

This paper explores the design issues and solutions for improving the comfort of new Ming-style chairs. It first analyzes the historical origins, traditional aesthetics, and modern users' new demands for comfort in these chairs. Then, it highlights the comfort-related challenges in terms of chair form, materials, structure, and usage scenarios. The study proposes design principles from the perspectives of ergonomics, material innovation, structural optimization, and modern usage scenarios. Specific strategies to enhance comfort are provided, such as optimizing the angle between the chair back and chair surface, improving cushion materials, optimizing the chair's supporting structure, and incorporating intelligent design. This paper also discusses the challenges of integrating technology with traditional design, the application of eco-friendly materials, and the diverse demands of consumer groups. Finally, it summarizes the future trends and challenges in the comfort-focused design of Neo-Ming style chair.

Object-Oriented Fixpoint Programming with Datalog

Modern usages of Datalog exceed its original design purpose in scale and complexity. In particular, Datalog lacks abstractions for code organization and reuse, making programs hard to maintain. Is it possible to exploit abstractions and design patterns from object-oriented programming (OOP) while retaining a Datalog-like fixpoint semantics? To answer this question, we design a new OOP language called OODL with common OOP features: dynamic object allocation, object identity, dynamic dispatch, and mutation. However, OODL has a Datalog-like fixpoint semantics, such that recursive computations iterate until their result becomes stable. We develop two semantics for OODL: a fixpoint interpreter and a compiler that translates OODL to Datalog. Although the side effects found in OOP (object allocation and mutation) conflict with Datalog's fixpoint semantics, we can mostly resolve these incompatibilities through extensions of OODL. Within fixpoint computations, we employ immutable algebraic data structures (e.g. case classes in Scala), rather than relying on object allocation, and we introduce monotonically mutable data types (mono types) to enable a relaxed form of mutation. Our performance evaluation shows that the interpreter fails to solve fixpoint problems efficiently, whereas the compiled code exploits Datalog's semi-naïve evaluation.

Variations in the Adoption and Use of Different Family Planning Methods and Implications: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study in Nigeria

Despite concerted efforts by all stakeholders to increase acceptability and access to modern family planning (FP) methods, the adoption and usage of family planning methods have remained low, particularly in developing countries which place stringent conditions on achieving SDGs. Therefore, there is the need to understand variations in the adoption and use of FP and their implications to speed-up interventions in the right direction. The study used cross-sectional data collected between June and August 2022 in 2,817 households with 6,641 males and females of reproductive age successfully interviewed. Univariate, bivariate, and binary multivariate logistic regression model were used to model traditional and modern FP usage. Awareness was shown to be approximately two-thirds (62.8%) among respondents with main source of information being radio. Major methods of awareness are condom and pills. In terms of significant others’ support enjoyed, 43.5%, 38.5% and 39.5% enjoyed their mother, mother-in-law, and community support, respectively. Religion, region and parent’s parity were significant predictors of traditional method usage. Living in the North-Western region, increase in education, being gainfully employed, increase in years of marriage and exposure to media increase the use of modern methods of FP, whereas living in the rural areas (AOR = 0.76; CI = 0.58-1.00) and partner FP approval (AOR = 0.64; CI = 0.48-0.85) significantly reduce usage. Diverse variations have been identified in the adoption and usage of FP. To improve utilisation, appropriate education and accurate information through radio and mass media must be provided in rural areas and regions where FP usage is low.

Comprehensive knowledge of mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission, prevention, and associated factors among reproductive-age women in East Africa: insights from recent demographic and national health surveys

BackgroundMore than 90% of babies acquire HIV/AIDS through vertical transmission, primarily due to low maternal comprehensive knowledge about Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV/AIDS and its prevention, which is a cornerstone for eliminating MTCT of HIV/AIDS. However, there are limitations in terms of population data and literature evidence based on recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) reports in East Africa. Therefore, this study aims to assess the comprehensive knowledge and PMTCT of HIV/AIDS among women, as well as the associated factors in East Africa.MethodsOur data was obtained from the most recent DHS conducted in East African countries between 2011 and 2022. For our research, we included DHS data from ten nations, resulting in a total weighted sample of 133,724 women for our investigation. A generalized linear model (GLM) with a log link and binomial family to directly estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between the independent variables, and the outcome variable. Finally, we reported the adjusted prevalence ratios along with their corresponding 95% CIs. Factors with p-values ≤ 0.2 for univariate logistic regression and < 0.05 were considered statistically significant factors of HIV/AIDS knowledge and prevention in the final model.ResultsIn this study, 59.41% (95% CI: 59.15–59.67) of respondents had a comprehensive knowledge about MTCT of HIV/AIDS and its prevention among reproductive-age women in East Africa. Being in the older age group, better education level, being from a rich household, employment status, having ANC follow up, institutional delivery, and modern contraception usage were associated with higher prevalence ratios of comprehensive knowledge about MTCT of HIV/AIDS and its prevention. However, being single in marital status, rural women, and traditional contraception utilization were associated with lower ratios of comprehensive knowledge about MTCT of HIV/AIDS and its prevention.ConclusionOur findings indicate a significant deficiency in comprehensive knowledge and prevention of HIV/AIDS MTCT among women in East Africa. These results emphasize the need for significant improvements in maternal-related health services. It is crucial to effectively target high-risk populations during interventions, raise awareness about this critical public health issue, and address the catastrophic consequences associated with MTCT. By implementing these measures, we can make substantial progress in reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child and ensuring better health outcomes for both mothers and their children.

Effects of family planning counselling and media messages on contraceptives use by Nigerian men: Evidence from the Nigeria demographic and health survey.

Generally, man plays a more significant role in population health in developing countries like Nigeria, as most of them show no interest in contraceptive use. Hence, to achieve the desired population control in a developing country like Nigeria, men must step up the modern use of contraceptives. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of family planning counselling and media messages about reproductive health on men's acceptance of contraceptives. Precisely, the study sought to determine if the use of counselling and radio messages on family planning could enhance the acceptance of contraceptive usage among men in developing countries like Nigeria. The researchers sourced the data for the study from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2018 and used the Logit regression method for the data analysis. Results from the analysis showed that counselling at health facilities and radio messages on modern contraceptive use have positive and significant effects on men's acceptance of contraceptives. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the best way to increase contraceptive use among men in Nigeria and some other developing countries is to compel pregnant women attending antenatal care services to come with their husbands to the health facility once a month, during which the men could be counselled on the importance of modern contraceptives usage.

Examining the decline in modern contraception usage among married women in Bangladesh: Applying Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis.

Controlling population expansion and reducing unintended pregnancies through the use of modern contraceptives is a cost-effective strategy. In recent years, the rate of modern contraceptive use in Bangladesh has been declining. So, this study aimed to investigate the associated factors of the deterioration in modern contraceptive usage. This study used data from two successive Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (2014 and 2017-18) and applied the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis to understand the drivers. A popular binary logistic regression model is fitted to determine the factors that influence the use of modern contraceptive methods over the years. This study revealed that highly educated women were more likely to use modern contraception methods, and their use increased by 3 percent over the years. Factors such as women's working status, husband's education, number of living children, and fertility preference were found significantly associated with decreased usage of modern contraception methods over years. The result of the Blinder-Oaxaca (BO) decomposition analysis found a significant decrease between 2014 and 2018. Respondent's age, working status, husband's age, opinion on decision making, region, and media exposure were the most significant contributors to explaining the shift between 2014 and 2018. The two factors that contributed most to narrowing the difference between the two surveys were women's decision on own health (26%), and employment status (35%). The factors that influence modern contraceptive prevalence are important to know for policy implication purposes in Bangladesh. The findings indicate the need for further improvement of factors for balancing the usage of modern contraception methods.

Избыточность лично-возвратного местоимения себя: к вопросу о небанальном грамматическом плеоназме

The article deals with the case of grammatical pleonasm, which involves the verbalization of the verbal position of the actant or localizer by the case forms of the personal reflexive pronoun self, which have a spatial or subject-object meaning. This phenomenon is widespread in modern usage (at least 50 verbs participate in it), in different types of discourse (journalistic, political, advertising, colloquial, literary, educational and scientific), in oral and written speech, but it is not comprehended in terms of “language norm” or “speech error”, although the data of explanatory dictionaries impose a ban on the duplicate use of the pronoun self with some verbs. The article proves the deficiency of such combinations based on the semantic analysis of verbs, as well as by means of grammatical transformation – changing the part of speech or word order, which serve as additional methods of error verification. Based on the analysis of semantics, the list of verbs (50 units) that form pleonastic collocations (55 units) with all members of the case paradigm (Genitive, Accusative, Dative, Ablative and Locative with or without a preposition) of the personal reflexive pronoun self was revealed. Pleonastic control is provoked mainly by transitive verbs with the meaning of “location” and “placement / movement of an object” (integrating it into something, or excluding it, joining it with something, collecting or eliminating), as well as the meaning of “possessing” or “obtaining”. In metaphorical contexts with these verbs, the pronoun self is also redundant. From the point of view of linguistic logic, semantics and existing dictionary stipulations, this phenomenon should be codified as a grammatical pleonasm.

Two-Dimensional Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization.

Two-dimensional Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (2D FTICR) mass spectrometry is a developing form of data-independent acquisition that allows for the simultaneous fragmentation and correlation of fragment ions to their precursors across a range of m/z values. The modern usage of 2D FTICR is performed using electrospray ionization (ESI) as the dried droplet preparation for matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) does not produce a consistent packet of ions over a number of scans. This work uses pneumatic spray techniques from mass spectrometry imaging to create a homogeneous surface for use with MALDI as an ionization source for 2D FTICR. A mixture of peptides and matrix was deposited onto a glass slide using an HTX pneumatic sprayer. MALDI was then used to ionize the peptide mixture for use with a standard 2D FTICR pulse sequence. The generated 2D spectrum reveals comparable structural information to spectra collected in a 1D experiment. Artifacts observed in the collected 2D MALDI spectra do not significantly differ from those expected from 2D ESI spectra.

Unveiling Barriers to the Modern Contraceptive Uptake in the Urban Slums of Karachi: Perceptions, Attitude, and Accessibility.

Background Modern contraception plays a vital role in family planning and preventing unintended pregnancies. However, its uptake remains limited in many developing countries, including Pakistan. This study aimed to evaluate the barriers to modern contraception and identify strategies to enhance its adoption in the urban slums of Karachi. Methods A multi-site, cross-sectional study was conducted in 38 slum areas of Karachi, Pakistan. Women aged 15-49 years were interviewed using a comprehensive questionnaire. The questionnaire covered socio-ethnic and economic demographics, knowledge and perceptions of modern contraception, accessibility, affordability, attitudes, and usage. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)version 24 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results The majority of the respondents identified as Pathan ethnicity (49%), and the age range was predominantly from 23 to 34 years (45.5%). A high proportion of participants demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of contraceptives (87.6%). However, a significant portion perceived contraception or family planning to be in conflict with religious beliefs (84%). Many women expressed a desire for more children (56%) and had concerns about contraceptive side effects (78%). A notable proportion of women reported that their spouses forbade the use of contraceptives (12%). Among the surveyed population, the most widely used contraceptives were injections among women (15.5%) and condoms among their male partners (12%). Conclusion Despite sufficient knowledge and accessibility, considerable barriers exist in the uptake of modern contraception in the urban slums of Karachi, Pakistan. These barriers include religious conflicts, cultural norms, concerns about side effects, spousal disapproval, and desires for larger families.

Gadget vs device: the experience of semantic analysis

The subject of the study is the semantics of the lexemes gadget and device in the modern Russian language. The spheres of use of these words, semantic differences and similarities between them, and their stylistic specificity are discussed. As sources of linguistic information about the functioning of lexemes, the data of the Russian National Corpus, the results of an Internet search and a questionnaire were used. The article reveals the multiple meanings of the words gadget and device in the modern Russian language. The YandexGPT neural network was used to verify the selected word meanings. The results obtained do not coincide with the data presented in modern explanatory dictionaries. The word-formative productivity of borrowed bases is noted – non-formal derivatives of different parts of speech are consistently formed from them. A descriptive method was used in the article. Based on the innovative nature of denotative realities and the inconsistent lexicographic description of the corresponding lexemes in modern dictionaries, the article applied an onomasiological approach ("from thing to word"). The scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time a comparative semantic study of these lexemes was carried out using the above methods, their regular meanings and stylistic specificity were revealed. The analysis made it possible to draw conclusions: lexical neologisms naming innovative devices are inconsistently described by modern dictionaries, their study is an important task and requires modern research methods with the use of computer technologies; the words gadget and device are hyperonyms in relation to the lexical units of the field "Personal computing devices", they have both semantic differences and similarities and are actively adapted in modern Russian-speaking usage. The communicative relevance of these words is evidenced by the possibility of their indirect ironic use as a means of designating almost any object.

Introduction.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing condition that is characterized by itching and redness of the skin. Our modern usage of atopic dermatitis dates back to 1933, when Wise and Sulzberger first coined the term to signify the disease's close association with other respiratory atopy, such as bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. A recent systematic review of 69 cross-sectional and cohort studies has confirmed that AD is now a worldwide phenomenon with lifetime AD prevalences of well over 20% in many affluent country settings. Although there is no obvious consistent overall global trend in the prevalence of AD, studies have shown that climate, urbanization, lifestyle, and socioeconomic class influence the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. Despite the pervasiveness of the disease, an understanding of atopic dermatitis has been hampered by a number of factors. Data suggests that extrinsic environmental factors work in concert with intrinsic immune mechanism and genetic factors to drive disease progression. With such a complex etiology, management of atopic dermatitis currently at best achieves symptomatic control rather than cure. This approach poses a significant burden on healthcare resources, as well as patients' quality of life. Current management methods of AD often involve a combination of non-pharmacologic modalities and prescription medications. Though they can be effective when employed, there are significant barriers to treatment for patients including time, costs, and medication side effects. Our aim, throughout this text, is to explore the complexities of AD, providing the healthcare provider with tips and tricks to improve patient care and satisfaction and the most current trends and treatment approaches on the horizon.

Factors affecting utilization of modern contraceptive methods among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia.

Modern contraceptive use is important for improving health and socioeconomic outcomes, but Ethiopia is among the lowest-using countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors affecting modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. This population-based cross-sectional study used data obtained from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS). A total of 8,885 reproductive-age women were included in the analysis. A weighted generalized estimating equation approach was used to account for the clustering and weighting effects in the assessment of associations between modern contraceptive usage and socioeconomic and demographic variables. Modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia is low (28%). Prevalence is highest among women aged 25-34 (40.11%), with higher education (30.97%), who are Orthodox Christians (31.67%), married (40.40%), middle wealth index (31.70%), female-headed households (31.42%), with 1-3 living children (44.85%), who headed by under 31 years old (40.07%), and in the Amhara region (34.45%). In the generalized estimating equation analysis, women aged 35-44 and over 45, Muslims, households heads aged 41-50 and over 50, and in female-headed households were less likely to use modern contraceptives, while women with primary, secondary, and higher education, married, middle and rich wealth index, and with 1-3 and more living children were more likely to use modern contraceptive than their counterparts (reference group) and were statistically significant. Modern contraceptive use is notably low among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. Factors such as age, women's educational level, religion, marital status, number of living children, wealth status, gender and age of household head, and region were identified as significant factors associated with modern contraceptive use. Therefore, to increase modern contraceptive use, governmental and non-governmental organizations should invest in women's education and financial empowerment and raise awareness about the benefits of modern contraceptives, especially among older, unmarried, financially poor, elderly-led households, with few living children, and uneducated women.

Ethnozoological uses of wild animals among the Iraqw in Northern Tanzania

Historically, humans have developed knowledge of how to exploit and use wildlife species for food, clothing, traditional healing, and other purposes. This study aimed to determine the scale and scope of the ethnozoological uses of wild animals in the Iraqw community, in northern Tanzania. The study used semi-structured face-to-face questionnaire interviews with 45 key respondents in Endagaw, Mewadan, and Ng’wandakw villages in Mbulu District, to acquire the required data. The results found that 28 wild animal species including mammals (13 species), birds (12), insects (1), fish (1), and reptiles (1) were used by Iraqw for different purposes. Most species (n=23) were used mainly for food, namely helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), African savanna hare (Lemus microtis) and Hildebrandt’s francolin (Francolinus hildebrandti), while other wild animals were used for medicine, traditional beliefs, and rituals. This study provides information on the historical human-nature relationships and a baseline for developing future conservation efforts in the region to protect wild fauna. We recommend similar studies on other traditions and/or modern usages of wildlife to improve protection worldwide and that actions be taken to heighten community awareness of ethnozoological uses of faunal resources to ensure retention of this knowledge for future generations.

Plant microbiomes as contributors to agricultural terroir

Agricultural products such as tea, chocolate, coffee and wine are valued for their sensorial and nutritional qualities. Variation in the growing conditions of a crop can influence the plant’s phenotype, thus it behooves agriculturalists to optimize the conditions on their farms to grow the highest quality product. The set of growing conditions associated with a certain geographic location and its influence on the product’s chemistry is known as terroir. Although terroir plays a significant role in marketing and consumer appreciation as well as product identity and valorization, rarely are the biochemical differences or the factors creating them very well understood. The word derives from the Latin for “land”, suggesting terroir is simply a function of the geographical location where a plant grew, while in its modern usage, terroir is understood to be the result of soil type, climate, landscape, topography, biotic interactions and agricultural practice. Except for fermented food products like wine and chocolate, plant associated microbiomes have been little studied for their contribution to a crop’s terroir; however, modern metagenomics and metabolomics technologies have given scientists the tools to better observe how microbial diversity can impact the chemical variation in plant products. Differences in the microbiomes inhabiting plant organs can change phytochemistry by altering host metabolism, for example increasing the nutrients absorbed by roots that then are deposited in leaves, seeds and fruits. Plant associated microbes can consume plant molecules, removing them from the metabolome, or they can contribute smells and flavors of their own. This review aims to synthesize research into rhizosphere, endosphere, phyllosphere, spermosphere, carposphere, and anthosphere microbiome influences on plant biochemistry and crop derived products, while helping to increase the appreciation that beneficial microbes are able to contribute to agriculture by improving phytochemical quality.

Modern smartphone usage can negatively impact postural balance while standing on dynamically challenging grounds

BackgroundWhile several studies have explored the impacts of smartphone usage on postural balance, their tasks are limited to texting or calling, and the studies were performed on rigid ground. Research questions1.How does modern smartphone usage, specifically taking selfies or posting statuses on social media, affect balance?2.How does their interaction with challenging ground conditions affect balance? MethodsSixteen healthy young adults were recruited to perform two smartphone tasks: taking selfies and posting statuses on social media; participants were standing on four different grounds: rigid, foam-based compliant, robot-simulated compliant, and robot-simulated oscillatory grounds. The center-of-pressure (CoP) under each foot was recorded via force plates and the net CoP was calculated. Temporal, spatial, and control aspects of postural balance were analyzed by virtual time-to-contact (VTC), CoP path length (PL) and sway area (SA), and switching rate (SR), respectively. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were performed for each dependent variable to compare the mean differences between smartphone tasks and ground conditions and their interaction effect. Paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction were used to determine significant differences in post-hoc analyses. ResultsVTC decreased significantly whereas CoP PL and SA increased significantly during smartphone usage (all p-values <0.001). Interaction effects between task and ground condition (all p-values <0.001) were observed in all measures but SR, implying that the effect of smartphone usage on postural balance can significantly change depending on the ground condition. SignificanceThese results highlight the potential fall risks due to the impact of modern smartphone usage on standing balance. Understanding the effect of smartphone usage on standing balance and the interaction effect with various ground conditions opens the door for potential balance assistive devices and mobile phone applications to minimize falls.

Small Genres of Spanish Folklore

The article analyzes the small genres of Spanish folklore. Genre is the main form of study in folklore; it translates a certain life experience of the people. The formation of the Spanish genre system was influenced both by Western and Eastern folklore traditions, and Spain itself has repeatedly served as a cultural intermediary. Spanish and Russian folklorists do not share the same take on terminology: Spanish researchers do not typically classify groups of genres according to their volume, therefore proverbs and sayings are studied as part of phraseology, whereas riddles, rhymes, tongue twisters and other texts are perceived as an example of children’s folklore creativity. However, variability of form and versatility of such texts allow us to study them within the framework of a single approach. Since the 15th century small genres have attracted special attention of Spanish scientists; authoritative collections of popular expressions and aphorisms have been published. Proverbs and sayings are also used by linguists as an example of the correct language usage. Thematically, proverbios and refranes touch on topics significant for the spiritual and economic life of a person, reflecting historical periods and social institutions of the past; at the same time, in modern usage, the meaning of paroemias can be reinterpreted. Spanish children’s folklore is represented by such genres as oraciones, inicios de juego, formulillas variadas, trabalenguas, adivinanzas, acertijos, and riddles are the most multifunctional type of them. The genres of children’s folklore are characterized by a particularly strong geographical reference that vividly illustrates the processes of intergenerational continuity, as well as preservation and transmission of national traditions.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants of Using Modern Reversible and Permanent Contraceptive for Limiting Family Size in Bangladesh

Birth control, often known as contraception, is the deliberate reduction of the number of live births by the use of techniques that temporarily or permanently prevent conception by disrupting the ovulatory, fertilization, and implantation phases of a woman's reproductive cycle. Countries with rapid population growth are more likely to have a high prevalence rate of contraceptives. For the sake of policy application in Bangladesh, knowledge of the socioeconomic and demographic variables that affect contraceptive prevalence is also valuable. For this purpose the study extracted data set form the Bangladesh national representative survey BDHS 2017-18. The study employed bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify the important determinants of using modern contraceptive method. Educated women were more likely to use modern reversible method (OR: .147-1.773) and less likely to use permanent contraception (OR: 0.574-0.831) for limiting family size than illiterate women in Bangladesh. Moreover, women from higher age group were using more likely permanent and traditional contraception than women from lower age group. The other identified determinants of using modern method are husbands’ education, working status of women, age at first marriage, place of residence, division, socioeconomic status, parity, mass media, and religion of women. Findings of this research provide evidence-based guidance for developing a pragmatic strategy to improve modern contraception usage among low socioeconomic status, older age group, and rural women in Bangladesh.

Понятие ереси и теоретические модели различия

The paper deals with the philosophical aspects of the concept of heresy in religion and beyond. It is emphasized that initially "heresy" meant "free choice", "received opinion", "doctrine", and "philosophic school", but very soon after the rise of Christian literature, its meaning had been radically changed. Since then, "heresy" was understood as "false belief" and "erroneous doctrine" that opposed "orthodoxy", so that the opposition of "heresy" and "orthodoxy" became, in the long run, the opposition of "false" and "true". Such significant parallelism indicates the metaphysical prerequisites for the modern usage of the term "heresy". It is also noted that the changes in the very concept of heresy are closely connected with the modernization of traditional societies. Whereas the latter were characterized by a high degree of predetermination of events, which was expressed by the mythologeme of fate, the passage to modernity meant the transformation of inflexible fate into a set of free choices that were made by man. In the issue, the former orthodoxy and heresies turn into a plurality of different but equivalent opinions. Hence, the scrutiny takes into account the history of the notion of difference that is considered in connection with the notions of identity and opposition. They make it possible to construe the transformation of negligible dissimilarity to the "blurred" and "fuzzy" difference and eventually to the polarity of absolute opposition. This implies that the term "heresy" as something "false" should rely on the concept of absolute opposition as the product of metaphysics. On this evidence, the analysis focuses on the reputed statement that the decisive point of monotheism is not the oneness of God but the exclusion of all other gods as the false ones (the so-called "Mosaic Distinction"). Just the exclusivity distinguishes the mode of difference that one faces in monotheism from the negligible dissimilarity that is inherent in polytheism. Accordingly, in connection with the "Mosaic Distinction", one should interpret the ban on idolatry as the inadmissibility of self-sufficiency and thus the divinity of the representations of God.

Linguacultural aspects of the value and semantic attitude to the speech act of promise in Russian

The study develops the speech acts theory in terms of the “condition of sincerity” (Searle 1965). It aims to identify the attitude to the speech act of promise in the Russian communicative culture. The article analyzes the statistically significant consolidation of the value and semantic attitude to the speech act of promise considered as a specific action. The data were drawn from the Russian-language corpus ruTenTen11, provided by the research resource Sketch Engine. The corpus linguistics methods were applied to extract a subcorpus of occurrences of the query “promise” (311,365 occurrences) which was used to identify the value and semantic attitude to it. The results showed that in the Russian language, the speech act of promise is perceived mainly negatively. The word “promise” is fused with the lexical and semantic field of the “empty word”. This contradicts the normatively fixed meanings of the word “promise” itself, as well as the essence of the speech act of promise. The “condition of sincerity” in relation to the speech act of promise is marginalized and becomes meaningless. The study showed that the methods of corpus linguistics open the prospect of clarifying the features of not only modern word usage, but also the linguistic and ethnocultural context of such large groups of statements as speech acts. The article contributes to the theory of speech acts in terms of identifying the essential features of the “common ground” (Clark Carlson 1982) of the participants in communication, as well as contributing to the development of linguistic axiology. The proposed methods can be used to identify the attitude to other speech acts in Russia and other linguistic communities. The results can be used in teaching Russian as a second language.