Regional Varieties Research Articles

Social factors condition consonant separation in Moroccan Arabic word-initial clusters: Amazigh-Arabic bilingualism, region, and speaking style.

Moroccan Arabic is a regional variety of spoken Arabic that contains linguistic features, which make it distinct from other dialects. Moroccan Arabic, for instance, contains a larger number of words with consonant clusters, a result of a historical vowel reduction process, compared to other Eastern varieties. Even within Moroccan Arabic, there is variation across speakers that is relatively understudied. The present study investigates across- and within-speaker factors that condition variation in the duration of acoustic separation between adjacent consonants in word-initial clusters in Moroccan Arabic. Three factors are examined: speaking style (clear vs fast speech), speaker region of origin (the Easternmost region of Morocco vs other regions), and speaker first language (Moroccan Arabic vs an Amazigh language). It is determined that (1) speakers produce more frequent, and longer when present, consonant separation in clear speech; (2) Amazigh-Arabic bilingual speakers produce higher rates and longer durations of consonant separations between adjacent consonants; and (3) regional dialect variation is also observed: speakers of Easternmost Moroccan Arabic produce more frequent and longer consonant separations than speakers from other Moroccan regions. Results are discussed for implications of speech production models as well as for theories of sound change.

Imputation of missing land carbon sequestration data in the AR6 Scenarios Database

Abstract. The AR6 Scenarios Database is a vital repository of climate change mitigation pathways used in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment cycle. In its current version, many scenarios in the database lack information about the level of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) removal via land sinks, as net-negative CO2 emissions and gross removals on land are not always separated and are not consistently reported across models. This makes scenario analyses focusing on CO2 removal challenging. We test and compare the performance of different regression models to impute missing data on land carbon sequestration for the global level and for several sub-global macro-regions from available data on net CO2 emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. We find that a k-nearest neighbors regression performs best among the tested regression models and use it to impute and provide two publicly available imputation datasets (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13373539, Prütz et al., 2024) on CO2 removal via land sinks for incomplete global scenarios (n=404) and incomplete regional R10 scenario variants (n=2358) of the AR6 Scenarios Database. We discuss the limitations of our approach, the use of our datasets for secondary assessments of AR6 scenario ensembles, and how this approach compares to other recent AR6 data reanalyses.

Characterization of Metabolites and Transcriptome of Pepper Accessions from Four Southern Provinces of China

Background/Objectives: Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a widely grown vegetable and spice crop worldwide. This study aims to reveal the differences of metabolites among pepper accessions from different regions and explore candidate genes related to metabolites of pepper. Methods: The metabolome and transcriptome of 36 pepper accessions were determined by widely targeted metabolomics analysis and RNA sequencing technology, and the differential metabolites and differential genes among C. annuum from four important pepper production and consumption provinces of China, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan, were analyzed. Results: Flavonoids are the main characteristic metabolites that distinguish pepper accessions from Yun_Gui_Chuan Group and Hunan Group. The aglycones of characteristic flavonoids in each group are different; in Yun_Gui_Chuan Group mainly are luteolin, quercetin, chrysoeriol and isorhamnetin; in Hunan Group mainly are apigenin. Transcriptome data showed that two genes related to flavonoid 3′-monooxygenase differed significantly between the two groups of chili peppers, and we speculated that they may be the core enzymes regulating their flavonoid profile. And an SNP mutation located in gene Cgla06g001871 showed a strong correlation with pepper accessions from Yun_Gui_Chuan Group, which can be used as a DNA marker to identify pepper accessions from Yun_Gui_Chuan Group, and provide strong support for regional specialty variety conservation. In addition, we also analyzed the metabolites related to the taste and nutrition of pepper accessions in the four provinces, and the results showed that the sugar content of pepper accessions from Guizhou was low and the capsaicinoids content of pepper accessions from Sichuan was low, while no significant difference was found in acid and vitamin contents among pepper accessions from the four provinces. Conclusions: The metabolome and transcriptome of 36 pepper accessions from four important pepper production and consumption provinces of China were determined, and the characteristic metabolites and expressed genes of pepper accessions from each province were analyzed.

Expansion of the SyllabO+ corpus and database: Words, lemmas, and morphology.

Having a detailed description of the psycholinguistic properties of a language is essential for conducting well-controlled language experiments. However, there is a paucity of databases for some languages and regional varieties, including Québec French. The SyllabO+ corpus was created to provide a complete phonological and syllabic analysis of a corpus of spoken Québec French. In the present study, the corpus was expanded with 41 additional speakers, bringing the total to 225. The analysis was alsoexpanded to include three new databases: unique words, lemmas, and morphemes (inflectional, derivational, and compounds). Next, the internal structure of unique words was analyzed to identify roots, inflectional markers, and affixes, as well as the components of compounds. Additionally, a group of 441 speakers of Québec French provided semantic transparency ratings for 3764 derived words. Results from the semantic transparency judgment study show broad inter-individual variability for words of medium transparency. No influence of sociodemographic variables was found. Transparency ratings are coherent with studies showing the greater transparency of suffixed words compared to prefixed words. Results for participants who speak French as a second language support the association between second-language proficiency and morphological processing.

Cross-Regional Patterns of Obstruent Voicing and Gemination: The Case of Roman and Veneto Italian

Italian has a length contrast in its series of voiced and voiceless obstruents while also presenting phonetic differences across regional varieties. Northern varieties of the language, including Veneto Italian (VI), are described as maintaining the voicing contrast but, in some cases, not the length contrast. In central and southern varieties, the opposite trend may occur. For instance, Roman Italian (RI) is reported to optionally pre-voice intervocalic voiceless singleton obstruents whilst also maintaining the length contrast for this consonant class. This study looks at the acoustic realization of selected obstruents in VI and RI and investigates (a) prevoicing patterns and (b) the effects and interactions of regional variety, gemination, and (phonological and phonetic) voicing on consonant (C) and preceding-vowel (V) durations, as well as the ratio between the two (C/V), with a focus on that particular measure. An acoustic phonetic analysis is conducted on 3703 tokens from six speakers from each variety, producing eight repetitions of 40 real CV́C(C)V and CVC(C)V́CV words embedded in carrier sentences, with /p, pp, t, tt, k, kk, b, bb, d, dd, ɡ, ɡɡ, f, ff, v, vv, t∫, tt∫, dʒ, ddʒ/ as the target intervocalic consonants. The results show that both VI and RI speakers produce geminates, yielding high C/V ratios in both varieties, although there are cross-regional differences in the realization of singletons. On the one hand, RI speakers tend to pre-voice voiceless singletons and produce overall shorter C durations and lower C/V ratios for these consonants. On the other hand, VI speakers produce longer C durations and higher C/V ratios for all voiceless singletons, triggering some overlap between the C length categories, which results in partial degemination through singleton lengthening, although only for voiceless obstruents. The implications of a trading relationship between phonetic voicing and duration of obstruents in Italian gemination are discussed.

Europeanization in 21st Century Hong Kong Written Chinese (HKWC)

Abstract Europeanization of written Chinese refers to the influence of European languages on the Chinese lexicon and syntactic structures. As a regional variety, Hong Kong Written Chinese (HKWC) also possesses various Europeanized features. Most studies have spotted Europeanized features in written Chinese, whereas the consolidation of data sources and updated corpus-based analysis is required. This study fills the gap by tallying the usage frequency and examining the change in the degree of societal acceptance of the significant Europeanized features in HKWC in the 2020s. The usage frequency reveals that some of the debatable features have fallen into disuse, whereas the rest have been legitimized and incorporated as part of the normative standards in today’s HKWC. The corpus-based analysis shows that certain Europeanized features have evolved into new usage. In addition, this study also identifies semantic shift and other contact-induced phenomena resulting from Europeanization.

Transformation of an impersonal predicative construction in the speech of citizens from the region of Yambol

The analysis focuses on a regional variant of an impersonal- predicative construction of the type strah me e (beshe) (I am/was afraid in English). The citizens from the region of Yambol use the variant stra(h)sheme. It is a contamination of the noun and the 3rd person singular form of the auxiliary verb sam (to be in English) most often in the imperfective aspect. The phenomenon occurs only in the literary model with a short form of a personal pronoun in the accusative case. The semantically corresponding personal verbs are always reflexive – strahuvam se (I’m afraid in English). The phenomenon was noticed by I. Kochev in the 1960s in Sliven and in three villages to the east and southeast of Yambol. It is defined as a hypostasis. I add examples from the speech of people born in two other villages to the south and southwest of the town of Yambol. They confirm the examples found so far and show diversity with respect to some grammatical categories. I draw some conclusions about the nature of the transformation, its territorial distribution and sustainability.

Linguistic Strategies for Mitigation in the Spanish Language of Bucaramanga, Colombia

This article presents a part of the results of a research project on frequently used features considered characteristic of the Spanish spoken in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. In this case, we study some linguistic strategies used in mitigation. For this purpose, 10 oral interviews from the Oral Language Corpus of Bucaramanga were analyzed. After determining the structures of interest to the study, ATLAS.ti was used to identify 203 contextual fragments (units of analysis) in which these structures acted as mitigators. As a result, it was possible to establish the percentages of occurrence of certain phrases in these interviews—conditional (27.09%); diminutives (11.33%); such as [como] (19.7%); suddenly [de pronto] (11.82%); and that is [digamos] (30%) being among the most frequent. This study contributes to an exhaustive characterization of the aforementioned variety of Spanish. At the same time, it allows us to correct the lack of studies on this variety; therefore, it can serve as a reference point for other works that delve deeper into the subject, specifically in the knowledge of linguistic variation at the pragmatic level of the regional varieties of Colombian Spanish, an area of ​​enormous interest, which has not received much attention in research on linguistic variation.

Altyd ’n snaakse woordjie tussen-in: Nama click consonants in post-shift Namaqualand Afrikaans

Several regional varieties of Coloured Afrikaans in the Northern Cape retain lexical items in the aftermath of shift from Khoekhoe-branch languages, predominantly Nama and †Kora. These loaned lexical items are pronounced using click consonants even by entirely monolingual speakers of Afrikaans, implying substrate interference with the Afrikaans phonetic inventory. Unfortunately, very little formal linguistic attention has been paid to these click consonants, and only limited data on their phonetic and phonological properties are available. Documentation of Nama click consonants in monolingual speakers of L1 Namaqualand Afrikaans reveals that the post-shift click inventory is extremely variable, with speakers often employing different click types in different tokens of the same word. A brief phonetic sketch of these loaned click consonants, followed by preliminary phonological and sociohistorical discussion, are compared with similar outcomes from click loan events in the southwestern NTU languages of and Namibia and Botswana. Improved linguistic documentation of click consonants in post-shift speech communities in South Africa is urgently advised.

YIDDISH FOOTPRINTS: THE SILENT INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN ENGLISH, STANDARD JAPANESE, REGIONAL POLISH, AND ARGENTINIAN SPANISH

This study considers the complex history of the Jewish diaspora that may have led to either direct or indirect adoption of Yiddish loanwords into American English, standard Japanese, Argentinian Spanish, and regional variants of Polish. This corpus-lexicographic loanword analysis connects the number of Jews in various regions with the status and entrenchment of Yiddish loanwords in the languages in question. The noted, in some cases, indirectness of loanword adoption is believed to be caused by varying degrees of language contact.

UTILIZĂRI ALE PREPOZIȚIILOR LA, DE ȘI DE LA ÎN STRUCTURI DE GENITIV SAU DE DATIV DIN ROMÂNA NONSTANDARD

In the present article the author describes the use of the prepositions la, de, and de la in genitive or dative structures, encountered in the regional varieties of Romanian, emphasizing the frequency of the aforementioned structures and their specific features as shown in the corpus of dialectal texts investigated. The author also illustrates and discusses the different stages of grammaticalization of the preposition la in the expression of the genitive and dative and the connection between the genitive/dative relation and the locative relation.

Composer’s interpretation of Guo Wenjing of Chinese traditional opera «Si Fan»

Relevance of the study. Chinese traditional opera is one of the important treasures of the world musical culture. Now there are about 360 regional varieties of this opera in China, which indicates the active continuation of its public life. At the current stage, Chinese traditional musical art became the focus of attention of many Chinese composers-representatives of “The New Wave”. In their creativity, there is a revival of traditional Chinese music and, at the same time, saturation of traditional genres of modern methods of compositional writing. The subject of the consideration in the article is the composer’s interpretation of Chinese traditional opera “Si Fan”, which was made by Guo Wenjing in 2015. Creating arrangement, the composer aims to enrich the thesaurus of Western musician and listener with intonations of Sichuan traditional opera. Its access to the international level actualizes the research of peculiarities of modern interpretive versions of opera compositions of Sichuan traditional theatre. The main objective of the study is to reveal the specifics of transformation of Sichuan traditional opera “Si Fan” in the composer's interpretation of Guo Wenjing. Methodology. In the research of historical origin of the original source of the studied opera, the role of Sichuan traditional opera in modern musical life, the historical method of analysis is applied. In order to identify the specifics of the transformation of an opera of traditional origin in the modern composer's interpretation of Guo Wenjing, the comparative method of analysis was used. Results and conclusions. The historical origin of the original source of the studied opera is traced. The specifics of changes in the semantic load in operas of the traditional theater are revealed in a historical section, using the example of the opera “Si Fan”. The importance of mutual exchange of musical experience between European and Chinese cultures as the important means of actualizing Chinese traditional theater for modern society is highlighted. The specifics of the transformation of the Sichuan traditional opera “Si Fan” in the composer's interpretive version by Guo Wenjing have been researched. It can be traced in the orientation to the maximum preservation of the natural, authentic sound of gaoqiang chants, which would at the same time become accessible to the modern foreign audience. For this purpose, the following means are used: 1. distinct genre features of Chinese traditional theater are preserved; 2. the acoustic sound of instrumentation is not opposed, but acts as a supplement to the sound standard of traditional Chinese music; 3. the ensemble interaction of the traditional composition of gaoqiang performers is not disrupted with the introduction of an academic instrumental ensemble; 4. five-line and hieroglyphic notation is combined. In Guo Wenjing's arrangement, we observe the genre expansion of traditional opera, according to which the composer leaves the basis of the traditional Sichuan opera, but enriches its expressive possibilities, bringing it closer to the perception of the European listener. According to the results of the analyses of the performance version of the opera “Si Fan” of 2015, the peculiarities of live communication of the performers are summarized, in which the central and leading role of the soloist is emphasized. A conclusion is made regarding the stabilizing influence of musical notation, the presence of an auxiliary instrumental ensemble and a conductor on the architectural construction of the opera. The search of new resources to diversify the musical and expressive language of the traditional heritage of Chinese culture is characteristic of the work of many modern composers, which certainly provides prospects for further analytical investigations and awaits further scientific coverage.

Registration of “Ikhulule’’ Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (<I>L</I>.) Gaertn) Variety

Although finger millet is grown extensively in Ethiopia, the national average yield is much less than the crop's genetic potential. This is due to a lack of stable, high-yielding, and disease-tolerant finger millet varieties. Thus, the current study was conducted to find stable, high-yielding, and disease-tolerant genotypes for increasing production. A randomized complete block design was used to evaluate twelve finger millet genotypes under a regional variety trial at Mechara and Habro for three consecutive years (2017 to 2019) against standard checks (Maba, Addis01, and Axum). The tested genotypes were brought from the Melkasa Agricultural Research Center. Further, some of these genotypes were collected from different areas of Oromia and the remaining were introduced from Kenya including Ikulule through Melkasa Agricultural Research Center. At the multi-environment evaluation, the yield advantage of the new variety is 18% higher than the best-performed standard check Maba (5.8tha<sup>-1</sup>). Additionally, the GGE biplot analysis showed that the Ikulule variety is high-yielding across locations and years. Also at the variety verification trial, the overall mean grain yield of (Ikulule) at on station and farmers' fields is 3.81 t tha<sup>-1</sup> whereas the standard check kumusa is 2.91 tha<sup>-1</sup>. The new variety is not only high-yield but also resistant to blast rust and shoot flies relative to standard check. As a result, this new variety of Ikulule was released for the west Hararghe zone districts and similar agroecologies.

Expanding diversity within phenylketonuria in ecuadorian patients: genetic analysis and literature review of newborn screenings

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme, leading to the accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites, which are toxic to the central nervous system. Without treatment, PKU can result in severe intellectual disability and neurological issues. This study aims to present the first cohort of clinically described Ecuadorian PKU patients, analyzing genotype-phenotype correlations and comparing these variants with global databases to improve diagnosis and treatment in Ecuador. Detailed clinical histories were collected, and an analysis of genotype versus phenotype (affected protein domain) of the variant was performed. Among the PAH genotypes identified, we found 15 distinct variants, with c.[754 C > T](p.Arg252Trp); [754 C > T](p.Arg252Trp) being the most frequent genotype (23.68%), followed by c.[1045T > C](p.Ser349Pro); [1045T > C](p.Ser349Pro) (15.79%) and c.[441 + 5G > T]; [754 C > T](p.Arg252Trp) (13.16%). Additionally, several unique genotypes were identified, such as c.[140G > A](p.Ala47Val); [140G > A](p.Ala47Val) and c.[331 C > T](p.Arg111Ter); [1243G > A](p.Asp415Asn), which are not commonly reported in other populations. Most genotypes were heterozygous (63.2%). The majority of variants were missense variants (66.6%) affecting the catalytic domain (53.3%). The highest phenylalanine levels were found in patients with c.[754 C > T](p.Arg252Trp); [754 C > T] (p.Arg252Trp) (2700 umol/L). Phenotypic data were available for 11 patients, showing 45.45% with classic PKU, 45.45% with mild hyperphenylalaninemia, and 9% with mild PKU. There was a 63.6% concordance with the BIOPKU database. Five low-frequency genotypes not reported in BIOPKU were identified, suggesting unique regional variants. Our study highlights the genetic complexity of PKU in Ecuador, with a high prevalence of unique variants not commonly found in other regions. This underscores the necessity for region-specific genetic analysis to improve PKU diagnosis and treatment. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored therapeutic strategies and continued research to enhance outcomes for PKU patients in Latin America.

Overview of Hong Kong English and China English

Hong Kong English and China English are two different forms of regional variants of English. This paper provides a systematic overview of Hong Kong English and China English and explores their language characteristics, historical background, sociocultural influences, similarities and differences. The study aims to shed light on the complex nature of language contact, adaptation and variation in these regions. By examining the unique characteristics of Hong Kong English and China English, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of language variation and the complexity of English as a global language in different sociolinguistic contexts.

Machine learning insights into regional dynamics and prevalence of COVID-19 variants in US health and human services regions

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic arising from the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 has led to global devastation with millions of lives lost by January 2024. Despite the WHO’s declaration of the end of the global health emergency in May 2023, the virus persists, propelled by mutations. Variants continue to challenge vaccination efforts, underscoring the necessity for ongoing vigilance. This study aimed at contributing to a more data-driven approach to pandemic management by employing random forest regression to analyze regional variant prevalence.MethodsThis study utilized data from various sources including National COVID Cohort Collaborative database, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, World Weather Online, EPA, and US Census. Key variables include pollution, weather, travel patterns, and demographics. Preprocessing steps involved merging and normalization of datasets. Training data spanned from January 2021 to February 2023. The Random Forest (RF) Regressor was chosen for its accuracy in modeling. To prevent data leakage, time series splits were employed. Model performance was evaluated using metrics such as MSE and R-squared.ResultsThe Alpha variant was predominant in the Southeast, with less than 80% share even at its peak. Delta surged initially in Kansas City and maintained dominance there for over 5 months. Omicron subvariant BA.5 spread nationwide, becoming predominant across all Health and Human Services regions simultaneously, with New York seeing the earliest and fastest decline in its share. Variant XBB.1.5 concentrated more in the Northeast, but limited data hindered full analysis. Using RF Regressor, key features affecting spread patterns were identified, with high predictive accuracy. Each variant showed specific environmental correlations; for instance, Alpha with air quality index, Delta with ozone density, BA.5 with UV index, and XBB.1.5 with land area and income. Correlation analysis further highlighted variant-specific associations.ConclusionsThis research provides a comprehensive analysis of the regional distribution of COVID-19 variants, offering critical insights for devising targeted public health strategies. By utilizing machine learning, the study uncovers the complex factors contributing to variant spread and reveals how specific factors contribute to variant prevalence, offering insights crucial for pandemic management.

Icelandic regional pronunciation, attitudes and real-time change: Latest developments

Abstract In this paper we present selected results from the first data collection phase of the Regional Pronunciation, Attitudes and Real-Time Change (RePARC) research project together with results from two pilot studies that preceded the project. The article focuses on four regional variants of phonological variables, i.e., so-called hard speech and voiced pronunciation, which are primarily associated with the north-eastern part of Iceland, and so-called hv-pronunciation and monophthongal pronunciation, which are regarded as south-eastern features. Informants from two different age groups and three different regions (northern Iceland, southern Iceland, and a so-called neutral area) did a pronunciation test, listened to and gave their attitudinal responses to recordings of speech exhibiting features different from those of their own speech, and answered a questionnaire on their attitudes towards their own pronunciation variants. The results indicate that both voiced pronunciation and hv-pronunciation are fading out, while monophthongal pronunciation and, in particular, hard speech are maintained in their respective core areas. With regard to attitudes, it appears that participants generally consider speech that contains northern features to be clearer than speech that does not. Similarly, participants appear to find these northern features to be more easily recognisable, and at the same time, these features seem to be more closely linked to speakers’ self-identity than other regional features.

Historical evolution and modern research on co-production and processing method of "solid-liquid excipients"

"Solid-liquid excipients" co-production is one of the typical processing methods of excipients used from ancient times to the present day, and is widely applied in various processing schools and regional specialty varieties. This method significantly reduces the toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), moderates medicinal properties, and enhances clinical efficacy. However, modern scientific research has given it limited attention, and many co-production methods of "solid-liquid excipients" have not been applied in production and practice. This paper reviewed the historical development of "solid-liquid excipients" co-production, outlined modern processing standards and methods in different processing schools, and further elaborated on the purposes and effects of this co-production method. This study is expected to provide references and evidence for further in-depth research, inheritance, innovation, and practical application.

The Decolonial Turn in Kurdish Studies: An Introduction

This special-issue introduction highlights the burgeoning movement toward decolonizing Kurdish studies, outlining its challenges and opportunities within the academic landscape. Central to the authors’ discussion is the concept of the coloniality of power, which offers a framework for understanding the enduring oppression faced by Kurds within the context of ongoing colonial domination in the Middle East. The introduction delves into themes of historical erasure and academic marginalization, shedding light on the struggle for recognition within not only national and regional variants of area studies such as Turkish, Arab, Iranian, and Middle East studies but also the Euro-American academy more broadly. Furthermore, the introduction underlines the potential of decolonial methodologies in reshaping the study of Kurds and Kurdistan, emphasizing the significance of amplifying voices from the ground, including those of Kurdish intellectuals, activists, and politicians. Through critical reflexivity and engagement with diverse perspectives, the editors of this special issue call for a reimagining of Kurdish studies that prioritizes epistemic decolonization, centering the experiences and agency of Kurdish communities.

Stability analysis and relationships between traits reveal specific and general adaptability of California varieties/selections from Regional Variety Trials in almond

Stability analysis and relationships between traits reveal specific and general adaptability of California varieties/selections from Regional Variety Trials in almond