Native Language Research Articles

Literature Review: The Influence of Negative Transfer of Mother Tongue on the Syntax of Junior Middle School English Writing

This paper discusses the concept of language transfer of the mother tongue and reviews both domestic and foreign research on the negative effects of such transfer. The focus is on the relevant research in the field of English writing teaching for junior middle school students in China. These studies have shown that the negative transfer of one's native language has a detrimental impact on the acquisition of a second language. Despite the efforts of education experts and scholars to explore various teaching models and improve the situation of junior middle school English writing teaching, the teaching dilemma has not been significantly resolved. To overcome these obstacles, it is vital to investigate students' specific difficulties using quantitative and qualitative methods such as questionnaires and case studies, informing targeted teaching strategies. Additionally, a systematic examination of mother tongue transfer on English syntax, alongside evaluating current teaching methods, is crucial for effective instruction. Collaborative efforts among education experts, linguists, and teachers are essential to integrate findings into practical teaching approaches. Future research should emphasize identifying root causes, applying transfer theory, and continuously evaluating methods to enhance junior middle school English writing instruction.

The Role of Spoken Language on Performance of Cognitive Tests: the Indonesian Experience

Abstract Indonesia is a multicultural country with hundreds of local languages used by Indonesians with Bahasa Indonesia as a national language and used by the mass media, in formal conversation, at all levels of education, and in written language. This study aimed to investigate whether speaking Bahasa Indonesia in public and at home or not, and whether speaking only Bahasa or besides Bahasa (another language) affects the performance of seven cognitive tests when the assessment was done in Bahasa Indonesia. In case large effects will be obtained, this may demand different norm referenced scores. Data of 840 subjects, in age ranging from 16–80 with various levels of education from six regions were included. The results showed that there was a small disadvantage in the Digit Span for people who do not speak Bahasa Indonesia in public and a small advantage of speaking besides Bahasa (another language) in public on Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Test and on time to complete the Figure Reproduction tests. Other tests, such as the TMT, Stroop, 5PT, and Bourdon were without any effect. It can be concluded that corrections for the normative data, as is commonly done for education, age and sometimes sex, for people who do not speak Bahasa daily and for speaking besides Bahasa (another language) considering that the differences were only small, is not indicated.

Parallelisms between Verb–Particle Constructions in English and Verb–Verb Compounds in Japanese: Evidence from Acquisition Research

This study shows two parallelisms between (i) the acquisition process of English verb–particle constructions (VPCs) by children in the process of acquiring English as a native language (henceforth ENL children) and (ii) that of Japanese verb–verb compounds (VVCs) by children in the process of acquiring Japanese as a native language (henceforth JNL children) using the CHILDES database. First, both JNL and ENL children produce creative N–N compounds and complex predicates during the same period, in line with the proposal by Snyder that the Compounding Parameter (TCP) is set to positive for both Japanese and English languages. Second, particles or verbs which are used to represent the path of motion in English VPCs and Japanese VVCs are produced before the VPCs and VVCs they are used in because complex predicates are created by the combination of two or more constituents, such as verbs and particles. Thus, our findings corroborate the proposal that Japanese is a [+TCP] language and suggest that Japanese makes use of VVCs instead of VPCs. Furthermore, this parallelism observed among ENL and JNL children in the acquisition process of creative N–N compounds and VPCs/VVCs, respectively, suggests that English VPCs and Japanese VVCs are related expressions in a grammatical sense. This in turn implies that VPCs and VVCs are connected by more than their semantics; indeed, it implies that they are realizational variations of the same abstract linguistic structure.

Non-Maleficence toward Young Kidney Donors: A Call for Stronger Ethical Standards and Associated Factors in Multidisciplinary Nephrology Teams.

The rising frequency of live kidney donations is accompanied by growing ethical concerns as to donor autonomy, the comprehensiveness of disclosure, and donors' understanding of long-term consequences. To explore donors' satisfaction with the ethical competence of multi-professional nephrology teams regarding disclosure of donation consequences to live kidney donors. A cross-sectional study was performed among Israeli live kidney donors who had donated a kidney in two hospitals that belonged to the Ministry of Health's Transplantation Center one year after the donation, from December 2018 to December 2020. Data collection was conducted online and through face-to-face interviews with the donors in their native language (Hebrew or Arabic). Overall, 91 live kidney donors aged 18-49 years were enrolled. Of those, 65.9% were males, and 54.9% were academic donors. Among the live kidney donors, 59.3% reported that the motivation behind the donation was a first-degree family member vs. 35.2% altruistic and 5.5% commercial. Only 13.2% reported that the provided disclosure adequately explained the possible consequences of living with a single kidney. Approximately 20% of the participants reported that the disclosure included information regarding their risk of developing ESRD, hypertension, and proteinuria. The donors reported a low mean of the index score that indicates a low follow-up by the physician after the donation (mean = 1.16, SD = 0.37). The mean GFR level was significantly lower in the post-donation period one year following a kidney donation (117.8 mL/min/1.73 m2) compared with the pre-donation period (84.0 mL/min/1.73 m2), p < 0.001. Our findings display that donors' satisfaction with the ethical competence of multi-professional nephrology teams regarding the disclosure of donation consequences to live kidney donors is low. This study indicates that donors are at an increased risk of worsening kidney functions (creatinine and GFR), and BMI. Our findings underscore the imperative to advise donors that their condition may worsen over time and can result in complications; thus, they should be monitored during short and long-term follow-up periods. This study was not registered.

Mental representation of words and concepts in late multilingualism

Abstract Speakers of multiple languages must store the respective lexical items efficiently to enable correct access. Importantly, all items must be linked to semantic information and world knowledge. One prominent model of the mental lexicon of late bilinguals is the Revised Hierarchical Model (Kroll &amp; Stewart, 1994), which postulates bidirectional but asymmetrical connections between separate stores for L1 (native language) and L2 (second/foreign language), and a shared conceptual store. Using German native speakers with advanced English proficiency, Experiment 1 largely confirmed model predictions regarding different preferred mental routes and processing times depending on translation direction. Moreover, the original design was extended by including abstract stimuli and picture naming in L2. A series of additional measures, such as proficiency and age of acquisition, served to specify the language experience of the participants and made it possible to compare the results with a group of non-native speakers of German (Experiment 2). Interestingly, the results suggest that the model also applies to two or more non-native languages, potentially influenced by the experimental and environmental language context.

Language attitude of Pedawa`s adolescents towards their native language

Assessing language attitudes in a multilingual community is important to investigate the shifted language use. In certain domains, research on language attitudes has received much attention in recent years. Pedawa village is a traditional village that is newly developed into a tourism destination in the northern part of Bali Island, Indonesia. Due to its contact with recent developments in tourism, and the use of the National Language (Indonesian), it is presumed that the adolescents have shifted their attitude towards their native language, Bali Age (BA). This research aims to describe the language attitudes of Pedawa adolescents towards their native language; in-depth interviews and distributing questionnaires were conducted to obtain the data. The results revealed that they have a positive attitude towards their language. It is signified by the response to the questionnaires which have five indicators concerning the frequency of using their language (BA) compared to the Indonesian and Balinese languages with Bali Dataran dialect, and six questions related to language attitudes. Though the village has just been promoted as one of the tourist destinations, it does not affect their positive attitude towards their native language.

Translating Open-Ended Questions in Cross-Cultural Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Framework.

Globalization has increased the importance of multicultural research to address health disparities and improve healthcare outcomes for underrepresented communities. The International Nursing Network for HIV Research (The Network) serves as a platform for researchers to collaborate on cross-cultural and cross-national HIV studies. This article discusses the Network's approach to overcoming barriers in multicultural and multinational research in a qualitative context. The network created a protocol to guide decision-making throughout the translation process of qualitative data collected from participants in their native languages. The protocol includes aspects of why, when, what, who, how, where, and by what means the translation is completed. The protocol has allowed researchers to enhance the validity, reliability, and cultural sensitivity of translation process, ensuring the clarity and impact of their research findings. Rigorous translation practices promote cross-cultural understanding and respect for participants' perspectives, fostering global collaborations and knowledge exchange.

Formation of Students’ Communicative Competence in Russian Language Classes

The article discusses the issue of developing the communicative competence of students in Russian language classes. The author cites the results of a study conducted at a university, during which the main problems and difficulties that students face when learning the Russian language were identified. Methods and approaches to the formation of communicative competence are also presented, which allow you to effectively develop communication skills in your native language. In conclusion, the authors draw conclusions about the need to constantly improve teaching methods and develop the communicative competence of students for the successful development of the Russian language.

Із спостережень над сучасними тенденціями у функціюванні української мови в місті Ізмаїл

It is the special role of Izmail among other settlements of the Budzhak region that necessitates paying attention to the functioning of the Ukrainian language in Izmail, to changes in the linguistic behavior of the city’s residents in connection with social and political transformations in the country, in connection with Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. The relevance of this issue is reinforced by the fact that the success of the Ukrainian language in Izmail will largely determine the state of the Ukrainian language in the region as a whole and national security in it. The purpose of the article is to highlight the main trends in the functioning of the state language in Izmail, Odesa region, caused by changes in the literary standard, in the language and educational legislation of Ukraine, in particular the adoption of the Laws of Ukraine “On Education” 2017, “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language” 2019, “Ukrainian Spelling” 2019, social and political transformations, and Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. The author uses descriptive method of investigation, method of language biography, observation and etc. Results. The author notes significant positive changes in the functioning of the Ukrainian language in Izmail after the start of military aggression against Ukraine: Ukrainian language is becoming more widely spoken, it is increasingly heard in the city in various spheres of communication; Ukrainian speech is becoming more literate, speakers are trying to ensure the purity and correctness of their Ukrainian speech; attitudes towards Ukrainian as a native language are changing (even representatives of other ethnic groups, such as Moldovans, Gagauz’s, Bulgarians, etc. are beginning to consider it as such), as a prestigious, positive language, and its aesthetic values are changing. Originality. The peculiarities of the very dynamic functioning of the Ukrainian language in the city of Izmail in this time, in the context of changes in language and educational legislation, and Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine have not yet been scientifically described. Conclusion. Positive changes in the functioning of the Ukrainian language in Izmail are not yet stable, but rather trends that need to be consolidated by continuing the process of Ukrainization. This will contribute to the full-fledged consolidation of the Ukrainian language in Izmail, and to the expansion of its use as a means of interethnic communication in the region’s multilingual environment.

Happiness across the borders-A cross-sectional study among patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in Europe.

Dermatological research has traditionally concentrated on evaluating mental comorbidities, neglecting positive concepts like happiness. Initial studies indicate that psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) impair the happiness of those affected. Considering global happiness variations, this study aimed to explore the disease- and country-specific differences in disease-related quality of life and happiness, and potential influential factors on heuristic happiness among psoriasis and AD patients in Europe. A cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted in dermatology departments of university-affiliated hospitals in eight European countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Ukraine) between October 2021 and February 2023. Adult psoriasis and AD patients completed a standardized questionnaire in their native languages, providing data on demographics, disease-related characteristics, disease-related quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index, DLQI), heuristic happiness, positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA) and satisfaction with life (SWL). Descriptive analysis and quantile regression were performed. Between psoriasis (n = 723) and AD (n = 316) patients almost no differences were observed in happiness, SWL and NA, except for DLQI and small differences in PA, with AD patients reporting greater impact than psoriasis patients. Country-wise variation emerged in DLQI, heuristic happiness, PA, NA and SWL with Austrian patients displaying the highest levels of happiness, satisfaction and positivity, coupled with higher treatment care and lower disease severity. Quantile regression revealed varying coefficients for predictor variables across quantiles, indicating, for example positive effects on heuristic happiness associated with current or previous receipt of systemic therapies at different quantiles. This study shows notable happiness differences across European countries and significant disease-related variations, particularly with AD patients being more impaired than psoriasis patients. The findings highlight the need for equality in treatment access and support the development of targeted positive psychological interventions to enhance happiness considering country-specific distinctions in future research and health policies for psoriasis and AD patients.

Classifying coherent versus nonsense speech perception from EEG using linguistic speech features

When a person listens to natural speech, the relation between features of the speech signal and the corresponding evoked electroencephalogram (EEG) is indicative of neural processing of the speech signal. Using linguistic representations of speech, we investigate the differences in neural processing between speech in a native and foreign language that is not understood. We conducted experiments using three stimuli: a comprehensible language, an incomprehensible language, and randomly shuffled words from a comprehensible language, while recording the EEG signal of native Dutch-speaking participants. We modeled the neural tracking of linguistic features of the speech signals using a deep-learning model in a match-mismatch task that relates EEG signals to speech, while accounting for lexical segmentation features reflecting acoustic processing. The deep learning model effectively classifies coherent versus nonsense languages. We also observed significant differences in tracking patterns between comprehensible and incomprehensible speech stimuli within the same language. It demonstrates the potential of deep learning frameworks in measuring speech understanding objectively.

Media Aplikasi Inovatif dalam Memudahkan Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Anak di Madrasah

Arabic is a must for Muslims. Arabic is currently the international language of Saudi Arabia. Learning Arabic is also a native language or a foreign language that is often heard. Learning Arabic requires a learning medium. Arabic learning media is currently evolving and adapting to the increasingly sophisticated technological revolution. Learning media plays a vital role in the success of teaching and learning activities. Just like today's app media, there are many teachers who can easily use innovative apps using their mobile phones. The use of media is a teaching skill of teachers in the classroom. There are four skills to master Arabic in MI/SD: listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.These skills can be easily mastered if teachers use media as a learning aid. The data collection methodology used by the library through processing, analysis and summarization of the data obtained.The aim of the study is to examine what is meant by innovative media such as media in Arabic language learning and the use of media in Arabic language learning.

Construction of China’s National Image in the Digital and AI Era: A Study on the Influence of National Language Capacity in Media Narratives

This paper aims to explore the construction of China’s national image and the influence of national language capacity in this process against the backdrop of the digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) era. With the rapid development of digital and intelligent technologies, the media has undergone profound changes, presenting new challenges and opportunities for the dissemination of national images. The paper first analyzes the definition, components, and evaluation indicators of national language capacity and discusses its significant role in international communication. It is found that national language capacity plays a crucial role in the construction of a national image, as it not only enhances the efficiency of international communication but also strengthens a nation’s cultural soft power. The paper proposes that improving national language capacity requires efforts on four levels: policy, media, the public, and international cooperation.

Ideologie językowe w programach wyborczych Nowej Partii Postępowej w Portoryko

The aim of this article is to analyze language ideologies towards Spanish, English and bilingualism articulated in selected political party programs (or party platforms, programa de gobierno) of the New Progressive Party (NPP) in Puerto Rico after 2000. The study examines the beliefs, declarations, and objectives related to the main language ideologies on the island, regarding: (1) Spanish as the national language of Puerto Ricans (monolingualism); (2) English as the language of American citizens and the U.S. federal government (monolingualism); (3) English as a resource for social and economic advancement (linguistic instrumentalism and/or linguistic entrepreneurship); (4) bilingualism as a resource for social and economic advancement (linguistic instrumentalism and/or linguistic entrepreneurship); (5) English as a global language (perceived as a universal means of communication). The article examines the programs presented during the general elections that led to the NPP candidates assuming the positions of governors: Luis Fortuño (2009-2013), Ricardo Rosselló (2017-2019), and Pedro Pierluisi (2021-2024). This analysis is contextualized within the language debates that form part of the island’s long history of the coexistence of Spanish and English since 1898.

Neurocognitive mechanisms of emotional interference in native and foreign languages: evidence from proficient bilinguals.

Currently available data show mixed results as to whether the processing of emotional information has the same characteristics in the native (L1) as in the second language (L2) of bilinguals. We conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment to shed light on the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying bilinguals' emotional processing in L1 and L2 during an emotional interference task (i.e., the Emotional Stroop Task - EST). Our sample comprised proficient Italian-English bilinguals who learned their L2 during childhood mainly in instructional rather than immersive contexts. In spite of no detectable behavioural effects, we found stronger brain activations for L1 versus L2 emotional words in sectors of the posteromedial cortex involved in attention modulation, episodic memory, and affective processing. While fMRI findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a stronger emotional resonance when processing words in a native language, our overall pattern of results points to the different sensitivity of behavioural and hemodynamic responses to emotional information in the two languages of bilingual speakers.

A Hybrid Deep Ranking Weighted Multi-Hashing Recommender System

In countries where there is a low availability of resources for language, businesses face the challenge of overcoming language barriers to reach their customers. One possible solution is to use collaborative filtering-based recommendation systems in their native languages. These systems employ algorithms that understand the customers’ preferences and suggest products or services in their native language. Collaborative filtering (CF) is a popular recommendation technique that simulates word-of-mouth phenomena. However, the accuracy of a CF recommendation can be affected by sparse data. In this research article, we present a novel hybrid weighted multi-deep ranking supervised hashing (HWMDRH) approach. Our method leverages both user-based and item-based CF by merging the item-based deep ranking weighted multi-hash recommender system prediction with the user-based deep ranking weighted multi-hash recommender system prediction to generate Top-N prediction. We conducted extensive experiments on the MovieLens 1M dataset, and our results show that the proposed HWMDRH model outperforms existing models and achieves state-of-the-art performance across recall, precision, RMSE, and F1-score metrics.

The Case for a Quantitative Approach to the Study of Nonnative Accent Features.

Research with nonnative speech spans many different linguistic branches and topics. Most studies include one or a few well-known features of a particular accent. However, due to a lack of empirical studies, little is known about how common these features are among nonnative speakers or how uncommon they are among native speakers. Moreover, it remains to be seen whether findings from such studies generalize to lesser-known features. Here, we demonstrate a quantitative approach to study nonnative accent features using Dutch-accented English as an example. By analyzing the phonetic distances between transcriptions of speech samples, this approach can identify the features that best distinguish nonnative from native speech. In addition, we describe a method to test hypotheses about accent features by checking whether the prevalence of the features overall varies between native and nonnative speakers. Furthermore, we include English speakers from the United States and United Kingdom and native Dutch speakers from Belgium and The Netherlands to address the issue of regional accent variability in both the native and target language. We discuss the results concerning three observed features. Overall, the results provide empirical support for some well-known features of Dutch-accented English, but suggest that others may be infrequent among nonnatives or in fact frequent among natives. In addition, the findings reveal potentially new accent features, and factors that may modulate the expression of known features. Our study demonstrates a fruitful approach to study nonnative accent features that has the potential to expand our understanding of the phenomenon of accent.

The Albanian Diaspora in Budzhak and Priazovye: A Problem of Language and Identity

The article analyses the problem of language and identity among the Albanian diaspora – an ethnic minority living along the Black Sea coast in the Budzhak region and the Azov Sea area in the Priazovye region. The paper outlines the history of Albanian settlements in Eastern Europe and traces various strategies for self-identification and the nuances of being an Albanian during different historical periods. In the last two decades of the 21st century, the Albanian diaspora has experienced a big rise in interest in the Albanian language, culture, and traditions. This surge has brought new group initiatives, a search for connections to the historical homeland, new ways of marking ethnic identity, and efforts to preserve the native language. Based on the author's field data, the research focuses on local ethnic activism and contemporary communication and “recognition” between representatives of the Albanian diaspora and Albanians from the Balkans. Particular attention is paid to the issue of the Albanian dialect and standard Albanian, which plays a significant role in the policy of integrating the Albanians of Budzhak and Priazovye into the transnational diaspora space.

Factors Affecting Lecturers’ Willingness and Readiness to Teach the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Compulsory Course

Recently, the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia made it compulsory for all higher institutions to teach the Integrity and Anti-corruption course as part of the compulsory General Education (MPU) courses in tertiary education starting September 2023. This study examines the connection between the characteristics of the current MPU lecturers and non-MPU lecturers (n=50) in selected universities and their willingness and readiness to teach the Integrity and Anti-corruption course. A completed survey was analysed using descriptive analyses while selected lecturers did semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the lecturers willing to teach the Integrity and Anti-corruption course were more likely to have experienced teaching MPU courses before, taught at least one (1) MPU subject before, received the training to teach the mentioned course, and have a greater understanding on the importance of the course to the students. Almost half of the population who participated in the survey were reluctant to teach the new MPU course due to certain factors, such as the need to teach the course in the National Language, which is the Malay Language, and if they were not trained to teach the course. They also perceived that the MPU courses were less important to the students. In this study, the results are discussed regarding the implications for training designed to increase lecturers’ willingness and readiness to teach the Integrity and Anti-Corruption course.

Does Social Trust Travel? Comparing Resident and Non‐resident Citizens from a High‐Trusting Country

In this study, we analyzed the effects of emigration on a high‐trust population's trust in other people. Our object of study was the Swedish‐speaking Finns, a homogenous national language minority of Finland with a relatively high proportion of emigrants. Using two highly comparable random sample surveys, one among Finland‐Swedes who had emigrated and one among Finland‐Swedes residing in Finland, we used emigration as a quasi‐experiment for explaining change in social trust. Theoretically, our aim was to test the symmetry of the experiential theory that, in similar studies but with low‐trust populations emigrating to higher trusting countries, has been found to explain an increase in trust. We distinguished between highly similar destinations and destinations that have lower levels of social trust. With the entropy balancing technique of weighting the covariates of the control group, we constructed two conditionally identical groups. The average difference in outcome of the weighted groups shows that the emigrants lost some of their trust when moving to countries with lower levels of trust. The effect was, however, time indifferent, which casts doubt on the assimilation hypothesis. The findings indicate that the experiential theory can explain also the loss of trust but that this comes with some restrictions.