Sociolinguistic Aspects Research Articles

The role of minority language bilingualism in spotting agreement attraction errors: Evidence from Italian varieties.

Bilingual adaptations remain a subject of ongoing debate, with varying results reported across cognitive domains. A possible way to disentangle the apparent inconsistency of results is to focus on the domain of language processing, which is what the bilingual experience boils down to. This study delves into the role of the bilingual experience on the processing of agreement mismatches. Given the underrepresentation of minority bilingual speakers of non-standard varieties, we advance a unique comparative perspective that includes monolinguals, standard language bilinguals, and different groups of minority language bilinguals, taking advantage of the rich linguistic diversity of the Italian peninsula. This comparative approach can reveal the impact of various sociolinguistic aspects of the bilingual experience across different bilingual trajectories. We developed an auditory acceptability judgement task in Italian, featuring Subject-Verb agreement mismatches. Participants evaluated the stimuli on a 5-point Likert scale and reaction times were recorded. The results do not reveal significant differences between the speakers of standard languages: Italian monolinguals and Italian-Spanish bilinguals. Instead, significant differences are found between monolinguals and the two groups of minority language bidialectals, as well as between the bidialectal groups themselves: Italian-Pavese bidialectals were faster than both Italian-Agrigentino bidialectals and Italian monolinguals, while Italian-Agrigentino bidialectals were less accurate than both Italian-Pavese bidialectals and Italian monolinguals. This intricate picture is explained through variables associated with second language use and language switching. Our findings suggest that if bilingualism is viewed as a yes/no phenotype, it is unavoidable that the bilingual experience will remain a mystery linked to intensely debated results. If, however, one accepts that bilingual adaptations are shaped by the environmental ecology of each trajectory, variation across bilingual processing outcomes is unsurprising. Overall, we argue that specific sociolinguistic factors behind each bilingual experience can reveal where bilingual adaptations on language and cognition stem from.

On sociolinguistic aspects of hypocoristics in the Jordanian context

On sociolinguistic aspects of hypocoristics in the Jordanian context

Growing up in a Ukrainian Bilingual Community: Families’ Daily Practices and Educational Environment

The article analyses the language situation in Ukraine before the beginning of Russian military aggression in February 2022. The data reflect the language practices of Kyiv families with preschool age children. The sociolinguistic study shows the use of different languages, primarily Ukrainian and Russian, in families raising children of this age group. The author traced the correlation between parents' language behaviour and children's language practices. This article examines bilingualism in the context of the daily language practices of children and families. The author pays attention to the sociolinguistic aspects of the Ukrainian language used in the formal and non-formal communication of Kyiv's preschool children.

Compliment Responses Among Sudanese Learners at Sudan University for Science and Technology

Speech acts that express and indicate cultural values are compliments. Many of the values represented by means of compliments are possessions, personal appearance, new acquisitions, skills, and talents. It is particularly significant when it comes to social language interactions. According to the data, the most employed strategy types in formal and informal contexts fall within traditionally indirect strategies. Participants’ responses of compliment analyzed by following strategies that conducted by Holmes’ (1986). The result is that, almost all students tend to accept compliment in one way or another. The study recommends that advanced English language students should be aware of the sociolinguistic aspects of communicative competence, and teachers and lecturers should educate their students those conversations cannot be built only with a good sentence structure, but they need to know social and cultural aspects of communication, along with other recommendations.

A Sociolinguistic Investigation of Making Request Among Sudanese learners at Sudan University for Science and Technology

This study aims to understand how advanced English language learners in Sudan employ request strategies. The study’s individuals are university-level English language learners. The testing instrument used is "discourse completion tasks". Following Blum-Kulka et al.’s (1989) classification of request methods, the participants’ replies were examined. Based on the data, conventional indirect techniques are the most utilised type of tactics in both formal and informal cases. The study recommends that advanced English language students know the sociolinguistic aspects of communicative competence, and teachers and lecturers should educate their students that Sentence forming alone cannot establish a conversation. Still, they need to know the social and cultural aspects of communication and other recommendations.

English Registers of Hotels’ Signage in Surabaya

This study focuses on the concept of register in sociolinguistics and its relevance to the study of language usage in different domains. Registers represent specific language varieties associated with particular professional or social groups, characterized by distinct vocabulary and sentence structures. The study specifically is to identify the different registers used in hotel signage. In order to describe these registers, a qualitative descriptive research method was employed, as the data consisted of words, phrases, and long expressions extracted from hotels’ signage in Surabaya. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and semantic analysis, with a particular focus on Lexical Relations. The findings of the research revealed that the signage in Surabaya hotels can be categorized into two groups: Limited Envelope Register and Open Envelope Register. This study fills a gap in existing literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of the linguistic features and variations that characterize hotel signage, shedding light on the specific language choices and patterns employed in this context. The findings contribute to our understanding of sociolinguistic aspects within the hotel industry and the role of registers in language usage.

Juraj Dolník – enlightened Slovak linguist of the 20th and 21st centuries

Abstract Juraj Dolník belongs to the most notable Slovak linguists, next to Ján Horecký (1920 – 2006) or Jozef Mistrík (1921 – 2000). His research areas comprise mainly general linguistics, Slovak studies and German studies. In the synchronic Slovak studies, he has devoted himself thoroughly to the study of lexicology, as well as to individual aspects of cultural stylistics, sociolinguistics and linguistic pragmatics. His ideas about the linguistic culture have become significant stimuli for the Slovak linguistic and cultural theory and language counseling practice. He has also laid the theoretical foundations for studies of linguistic otherness in the Slovak linguistic environment. As a distinguished professor emeritus, he authored a modern trilogy about language and society (2017 – 2021), thus providing further conspicuous methodological and theoretical inspirations for Slovak linguistics, and, in a wider context, also for Slavic linguistics of the 21st century.

Sociolinguistic Aspects on Contemporary English Language Teaching and Learning at Tertiary Levels in Vietnam

Language is considered as the object of sociolinguistic researchers in the correlation of social aspects. Therefore, the relationship with age, gender, ethnic varieties etc. is analyzed. During the era of integration, globalization impulses Vietnamese to communicate with the rest of the world. Accordingly, English is taught in Vietnam based on the curriculum of Ministry of Education (MOE) in general and at tertiary institutions in specific. By reviewing and analyzing preceding articles, the author would discuss the impacts of social aspects on teaching and learning English in higher schools in Vietnam besides instructors ’ teaching quality in terms of English competence and pedagogical one.

Sociolinguistic aspects of the spoken version of Hausa in Ghana

Even though Hausa is not an indigenous Ghanaian language but it plays a very important role in Ghana’s sociolinguistics. It is the lingual franca for many people living in the zongos. Zongos are located in every major city in Ghana and they are occupied by different ethnic groups who use Ghanaian Hausa for their daily communications. Some popular and vibrant market centers in Ghana also use Ghanaian Hausa for their trading activities. However, there is no study that discusses both the features of Ghanaian Hausa and its social context. This explorative paper examines the current state of Hausa spoken in Ghana. It first discusses its historical and social contexts of use. Then, the paper examines its linguistic features in comparison with varieties of Hausa spoken outside Ghana (Nigeria) by drawing on data gathered from Ghanaian Hausa speakers and native speakers of Hausa who hail from Nigeria. The paper argues that Ghanaian Hausa is unique from the target Hausa from Nigeria, it is the first language for some residents in the zongos, it is widely used on some of the national televisions, radio stations and market centers, and it is the medium of instruction in the Islamic schools (makaranta). The paper proposes that the Hausa learnt and spoken in Ghana is best described as a Ghanaian Hausa because its peculiar features.

The Representation and Emotional Resonances of the Joy in Indonesian Proverbs

This study combines Cognitive Semantics Analysis (CSA) and Qualitative Method (QM) to delve into the intricate interplay between language, culture, and emotion within Indonesian proverbs. Through a comprehensive examination of a diverse selection of proverbs, the study aims to uncover the inherent expressions of joy and happiness encoded in these linguistic gems. By applying the lens of CSA, the study strives to reveal the underlying conceptual structures that shape the joyful nuances within these proverbs. The QM further facilitates the exploration of cultural connotations and sociolinguistic aspects that contribute to the manifestation of joy in the proverbs. The results show that (1) the intricate web of metaphorical mappings formed the basis of joy expression in Indonesian proverbs, such as nature-centered metaphors, community and sharing, achievements and success, and festivals and rituals, and (2) the joy-related proverbs served as significant cultural markers that reflected historical events, religious beliefs, and communal values. This study deepens our understanding of the rich cultural and emotional tapestry woven into the Indonesian language. It sheds light on the broader realm of cognitive semantics analysis in studying idiomatic expressions and their emotional underpinnings.

A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Ogba Proverbs as Tools for Cohesion

Sociolinguistics means many things to different people. It is a field that studies the relationship between the users of language and the social structures in which they live. “A sociolinguistic analysis of Ogba proverbs” focuses on the study of Ogba proverbs, exploring the sociolinguistic aspects. Its aim is to explore and analyse Ogba proverbs from the sociolinguistic perspective in the context of English as a second language in Nigeria. This will go a long way to offer a sociolinguistic insight to the contributions of Ogba language, culture and way of life. The data for the study were collected orally through interviews of competent Ogba first language speakers and translated to the English language for analysis. The qualitative and descriptive research designs were adopted for the analysis. In all, twenty (20) proverbs were analysed using Dell Hyme’s Ethnography of Communication Theory as the major analytical framework with insights from Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. This is because of the relevance of Dell Hyme’s Speaking which accounts for such sociolinguistic variables as setting, scene, participants, act sequence, instrumentality and genre as is evidenced in the data, and how the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis allows this paper to relate its data to aspects of Ogba worldview and culture. This paper establishes that Ogba proverbs are relevant to both oral and written communications within and outside the Ogba environment. They are employed to embellish, spice and beautify oral and written communications commonly but proudly exploited in Ogba people’s interpersonal relations through conversations. On typology, Adedimeji’s (2003) typological classification is applied for the classification of the data into types. It was discovered that Speaking allows for the comprehensive understanding of the data for this paper which is as a result of its explicit and analytic potential, while Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis shows aspects of Ogba Culture that manifest in Ogba proverbs.

The Method of Application of Mini-corposes for the Analysis of Language Variation of Etiquetial Expressions in Bilingual Language Situations in the Sociolinguistic Aspect.

The author examines the process of creating and methodology of applying the mini-corps to solve the problems in the field of language choice learning in the sphere of speech etiquette. The different stages of compiling a mini-corps from the peculiarities of material collection to the construction of theoretical models of language use of speech etiquette are considered. The terminological apparatus of the study is introduced. The features of different methods are compared and the need for a comprehensive approach to compiling a mini-corpus is substantiated. The shortage of corpora for the study of language choice in a bilingual situation is stated. Advantages and disadvantages of the chosen methodology are described. In particular, the necessity of selecting authentic examples of spontaneous speech taken from videos based on the method of non-included observation is pointed out. The place of the mini-corpus technique in the set of methods used in this study is shown. The result is a corpus-based description of the algorithms of speakers' use of etiquette expressions in a particular language under the influence of various configurations of factors and parameters of the social context. It is concluded that this method allows, on the one hand, to obtain the necessary and sufficient material for the analysis, on the other hand, it does not involve the use and processing of a large array of data. The prospect of researching the method is to apply it in other situations of bilingualism in order to complement and correct the theoretical models obtained in the course of the study. Thus, the method of compiling bilingual mini-corps makes it possible to reach the level of generalization of linguistic facts, sufficient to build universal models for interpreting the patterns of language choice of etiquette expressions in bilingualism.

The aesthetic ideal of a modern woman in English-language advertising: sociolinguistic aspect

This article is devoted to the topic of gender stereotypes and ways of their verbalization in language by the example of the aesthetic ideal of a modern woman in the texts of English-language advertising. The rapid development of feminism as a social and cultural phenomenon has been reflected in various types of discourse – from artistic to advertising. The redistribution of social roles between women and men caused, first of all, the transformation of the image of an ideal woman both at the level of external characteristics and at the level of the axiological paradigm of a woman's personality as a full-fledged member of society. The main means of constructing the concept of the "ideal woman" at the text level are keywords. The lexical and semantic analysis of the description of women in English-language advertising allowed us to make our own classification of the dominant components of the aesthetic ideal of a modern woman based on the theory of archetypes, which determines the novelty of the study. The most famous archetypes of ancient Greek goddesses are taken as a basis. It has been established that the modern English-language advertising text extrapolates four leading archetypes: "the seductress woman" (Aphrodite), "the hearth keeper woman" (Hestia), "the independent woman" (Artemis) and "the warrior woman" (Athena). The choice of an archetype is carried out according to the practical and social orientation of the advertised product. The perspective of the research is seen in the comparison of these archetypes with female images in Russian advertising discourse, taking into account the specifics of linguistic, cultural and sociolinguistic identity

Acehnese Language Addressing System: A Sociolinguistic Study in Indrapuri, Aceh Besar

This research aims to analyze the sociolinguistic aspects of the system of addressing terms in Acehnese in Indrapuri District, Aceh Besar. This study focuses on the complexity of language and variations in how to greet each other in AL, with an emphasis on social and linguistic aspects. In this study, the complexity referred to is the complexity or variations found in a particular language in an area. This research uses descriptive qualitative research, where the focus of the research is on exploring the social situation that will be studied thoroughly. The population used was native AL speakers, consisting of 15 respondents who lived in Indrapuri District, Aceh Besar Regency. The selected respondents spread across six villages, including Ulee Ue, Mon Alue, Cureh, Groet Baro, Seulangai, and Seuramoe. The respondent selection technique used purposive sampling, with the condition that the informant had intact speech organs, including complete teeth, and had lived in the Indrapuri area for more than ten years. The research instrument used was a questionnaire list of addressing terms that had been formulated. Data was collected through two methods: observation and questionnaire distribution to each respondent. The data is classified based on types and factors. The results of this research show that there are six types of addressing terms, including kinship terms, non-kinship terms, religious terms, occupational terms, pronouns, and proper names. Factors that create variations in addressing terms in AL include politeness, gender, family lineage (noble status), marital status, religion, and social status.

Bridging Identities: Analysing Code-Mixing in Yuna's Conversation with a Local Malaysian Activist

Code-mixing, the seamless blending of two languages within the same utterance or sentence, is a natural occurrence among proficient multilingual speakers. Recently, there has been a growing interest in exploring code-mixing due to its prevalence and significance in multilingual societies. This study aims to investigate the types and motivations behind code-mixing in Yuna's interview with a Malaysian music activist titled "Korek Fizikal bersama Yuna." Employing a qualitative research design, the study identifies three types of code-mixing (insertion, alternation, and congruent lexicalization) using Musyken's classification. The framework of Hoffman's theory of code-mixing is adopted to categorize the reasons for its usage, such as expressing identity and emphasizing points. Throughout the interview, Yuna's code-mixing is prevalent, notably employed to assert her local Malaysian identity and establish familiarity with the interviewer. This highlights the significance of code-mixing as a powerful communicative tool for expressing cultural identity and building rapport in interviews. The findings of this research have broader implications for our understanding of language dynamics and bilingualism in multicultural societies like Malaysia. By comprehending how proficient multilingual speakers utilize code-mixing, we can gain valuable insights into the sociolinguistic aspects of language use and intercultural communication.

Sociolinguistic aspects of integrating within the space of the ‘Other’: the case of Arab students in Jewish schools

ABSTRACT Israel, a multilingual and multicultural society, has an indigenous Arab minority distinguished from the Jewish majority by national, religious, cultural, and linguistic characteristics. Jews and Arabs live mostly in different geographical locales and education systems are also split. In recent years, the number of Arab students attending Jewish schools has increased significantly. Using mixed methods, we examined the question of how, and to what extent, does the integration of Arab adolescents in Jewish schools affect their identity construction, their attitudes toward Hebrew and Arabic, and the maintenance of other cultural and religious characteristics. We explored this from both the parents’ and the students’ perspectives. Findings pointed to the complexity of this experience, including its psychological advantages, the social-emotional challenges involved, and the significant role of teachers. By shedding light on these processes, this study may help to reformulate policy to decrease conflict levels between the groups, and promote intergroup solidarity.

TOPONIM WILAYAH KOTA PEKANBARU: ETNISITAS, PENGGUNAAN BAHASA, DAN CAMPUR KODE

Urban areas have developed rapidly in terms of demography and culture. This is because urban areas attract people who are searching for higher income and a better life than those in rural areas. Demographical and cultural development in urban areas often affects local culture. One example can be found in Pekanbaru City, Riau Province, Indonesia. The Riau Malays, the city’s native ethnic group, no longer dominates the city’s demographical landscape. In fact, the Minangkabaus as a migrant ethnic group actually dominate Pekanbaru City. However, there is still a limited body of documentation of and research on the language and culture in Pekanbaru City. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the toponyms of various areas in Pekanbaru City. This research is also intended to reveal the meaning of less popular local toponyms to provide valuable information for the general public. This research used the qualitative method with the toponymic approach. Data consist of all sub-district names in Pekanbaru City. Analysis was conducted to classify those names based on their basic toponymy, focusing on their lexico-semantic aspects. The meaning of those toponyms was obtained from interviews with selected respondents. In addition, this study also connects toponymy with various sociolinguistic aspects, especially ethnicity, language use, and code-mixing. Results show that most local toponyms in Pekanbaru City refer to certain geographical conditions, trees, hopes, and rivers. Furthermore, most local toponyms contain roots which originated from Indonesian, Riau Malay, and Javanese languages. In terms of ethnicity, Pekanbaru City is dominated by the Minangkabaus, Riau Malays, and Javanese. The dominant languages in Pekanbaru City are Indonesian, Minang, and Riau Malay. Code- mixing in local toponyms mostly occur between Indonesian and Javanese. However, not all sub-district names have identifiable toponymic meaning, so further research is needed to complement the existing results.

Language Assimilation and Linguistic Diversity in India: Exploring the Role of Geography and Migration

Indian language assimilation, linguistic variety, geographical location, and population movement all have complex interrelationships with one another. The importance of investigating how these elements influence linguistic and cultural identities is explored. The investigation of language contact, linguistic variation, geographical context, and migratory patterns in India is crucial. The research highlights the role of geography in shaping language dynamics, as migration patterns impact linguistic assimilation in different regions of the country. It examines how migration to urban areas has contributed to the spread of English as a common language among diverse linguistic communities. A more accepting and peaceful society can be fostered by the application of this information in the form of policy, education, and social integration initiatives. Navigating a complex linguistic landscape, obtaining trustworthy data from diverse communities, and untangling the impact of geography and migration from multifaceted assimilation processes while maintaining cultural sensitivity are all obstacles to the study of language assimilation and linguistic diversity in India. The paper provides a complete method called Geo-Linguistic Computational Mapping Analysis (G-LCMA), which integrates spatial analysis, migration dynamics, and sociolinguistic aspects. The research intends to model potential scenarios of language absorption through computational simulation analysis. Policymakers and educators can benefit from this method since it provides information about the outcomes of linguistic encounters. There are repercussions for the future of language, culture, and social cohesion that stem from this study. This research helps India's linguistic landscape become more peaceful and welcoming by separating the intricate relationship between language, geography, and migration. 

Socioletramiento:

Affirmative actions in Brazil create access to people that, in other times, could not imagine themselves studying at public universities. People from rural areas bring with themselves a sociolinguistic profile that conflicts with the academic culture of the university. Faced with this challenge, I present the result of a survey on socioliteracy, which was carried out in the Rural Education Course (LEdoC) at Faculdade UnB, Planaltina, from 2013 to 2019. This paper aims to examine socioliteracy practices in essays which integrate knowledge, theoretical-methodological aspects of sociolinguistics, multiple literacies, ethnographies, actions, and conflicts of peasant people.

Formation of Ethnic Identity of Mari People in Absence of Single Mari Literary Language

This study is devoted to the history of the formation of the ethnic identity of the Mari people in the Republic of Mari El. Particular attention is paid to the changes in the identification of Mari, which occurred in direct proportion to extralinguistic factors. The question of the role of language, confessional affiliation, historical past, relations with nature and mythological symbols that characterize the modern ethnic Mari identity is considered. The importance of the demographic imbalance in the Republic, which played the most significant role in shaping the character of the Mari, is emphasized. The relevance of the study is due to the increased interest of science in recent decades in the topic of ethnic and Russian identity. The identity of the Mari people has not been previously studied by the author of this work, although many problems of Mari El have been analyzed and described in detail: the language situation in different time periods, language policy, the legislative framework regarding languages and the education system, the history of the Mari literary language, its writing and a number of other sociolinguistic aspects. Unlike articles by other authors on the topic of Mari identity, the novelty of this work lies in the fact that for the first time the identity is shown in the process of formation, from antiquity to the present day. A characteristic of the identity of the Mari people, formed under the influence of a variety of factors, is compiled.