View Of Language Research Articles

Language as social action: Gertrude Buck, the "Michigan School" of rhetoric, and pragmatist philosophy.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Gertrude Buck and collaborators developed a sociologicallyand pragmatist-informed approach to language that has been neglected in later scholarship. Buck approached the study of language from the standpoint of pragmatist functional psychology, which is indebted to John Dewey's pragmatism at the University of Michigan, and which views language as a normal, dynamic action of human organisms engaged in necessary cooperative relations with one another. Her approach overcomes the small-minded pragmatism that would criticize figurative or poetic language as impractical, and instead shows how figuration is essential to the particular ways in which language is action that conveys meaning to others and serves broader social functions. Buck's forgotten work helps overcome criticisms of the application of pragmatic action theory to language and literature, sketching how language structure may be explained on the basis of language as a natural social-communicative act, how figurative language is inherent in the normal act of communicating situated bodily experiences to others, and how rhetorical speech and writing contributes to participation in democratic social processes. This paper also indicates how Buck's work has been partially rediscovered in Composition Studies, as well as prefigures later reader-response esthetics and feminist analyses of language.

Translinguagem na educação bilíngue: uma análise das práticas orais nas interações de estudantes do 5° ano

Drawing on Translanguaging theory, which views language as a holistic repertoire, this study examines how students’ translanguaging practices (TP) are manifested and for what purposes. The participants were seven fifth-grade peers in a bilingual school in Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese - English). Their TP were recorded during an oral task based on a wordless, short video stimulus. The data were qualitatively analyzed and coded. Results indicate that TP occurred spontaneously and for specific purposes. The most frequent TP use included gestures, task management, meaning negotiation, lexical creativity, syntactic translanguaging, peer correction, and form negotiation. Findings suggest that translanguaging pedagogy is valuable in bilingual contexts where minority languages are developed because it enables students to communicate freely and critically in a fluid and dynamic environment.

Researching ideologies

Abstract Previous critical studies of language textbook analysis have explored politics of content selection in textbooks, examining the way selection of certain materials instead of others or the interaction between various multimodal contents selected for textbooks reinforces certain ideological meanings at the expense of certain others. The current study views language textbooks through lenses of politics of content creation, analyzing such politics in a series of English as a Foreign Language textbooks produced by Iranian Ministry of Education. Using a theoretical framework that draws on theories of language ideology and social semiotic theories of multimodality, the study explores the way ideological meanings are simultaneously created at different orders of language and the way such created meanings multimodally shape different contents of the textbooks, such as lessons and learning activities. The study contributes to the filed of critical language textbook analysis by uncovering the relation between power and ideologies within the generic structure of language textbooks.

Do societal and individual multilingualism lead to positive perceptions of multilingualism and language learning? A comparative study with Australian and German pre-service teachers

Many metropolitan cities have undergone rapid demographic changes in recent years, and such changes hasten and widen linguistic diversities. Similar changes are happening in Sydney, Australia and Hamburg, Germany. These changes are most acutely felt and observed in the classrooms where multiple languages are spoken, despite a prevalent monolingual mindset in education in both these contexts. What do pre-service teachers think of language learning and multilingualism in the face of demographic and sociolinguistic changes? This is a particularly urgent question for pre-service teachers, whose perspectives on multilingualism will considerably influence on how their students view language learning and maintenance. Based on a survey of 436 pre-service teachers in Sydney and Hamburg, this comparative study explores the relationship between their linguistic profiles (monolingual, multilingual and how they become multilinguals) and the way they perceive societal multilingualism and the need to promote multilingual education to all. The findings suggest that formal language education, more than heritage backgrounds and knowledge, provided the necessary experience to foster a more open attitude towards societal multilingualism and language learning.

Аналіз селф-хелп-бізнес-літератури в Китаї на основі книги Лі Кайфу “Будь найкращою версією себе”

The article investigates the self-help business literature in hyper-competitive social system of China. The need to succeed stimulates the wish for self-actualization and self-realization in the context of high social pressure. The self-help business books are being studied by adopting the interdisciplinary approach to the study of discourse that views language as a form of social practice – Discourse Analysis. So, the discourse in the article is understood as the main component of sociocultural interaction. Despite its popularity, the field of self-help discourse is under-researched and undervalued. Self-help books’ main intention is to give us the source to help ourselves. In self-help books, concepts, not the human characters, are the main characters. The content of self-help discourse varies greatly. It is very rhetorical, persuasive, and manipulative. The step-like how-to format is prevailing in this genre, such books give simple steps, implementation of which would lead to achieving the big goal step-by-step along with supportive techniques to strengthen the newly gained knowledge. The book Be Your Personal Best (“做最好的自己”, 2005) written by Li Kaifu (李开复, born December 3, 1961) is a typical representative of self-help literature which responses the user’s needs, it is a part of personal growth and transformational literature which is a branch of self-help literature that covers life and self-improvement. The main aim of the book is to show the reader how to be more effective in achieving private and professional success by means of developing habits. It gives advice and instructions on improving of personal qualities and social relations by increasing one’s potential and raising personal productivity. It includes many formal characteristics of self-help books, such as: lists, application exercises and practices, visualization, metaphors, repetition of core concepts and ideas. The main intention is in the educational purpose, sharing of ideas, knowledge, life experience, concepts, it is a pragmatic advice-giving text.

A Critical Discourse Analysis Study of UNHCR Reports on Internally Displaced Iraqi People

Critical discourse analysis is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of discourse that views language as a form of social practice. Thus CDA is considered a theory in qualitative research in which the framework of analysis includes analysis of texts, interactions and social practices at the local, institutional and social levels.The present research paper is concerned with utilizing critical discourse analysis in analysing UNHCR reports that have been selected from internally displaced people of Iraq. The main aim of this on-going study is to investigate the linguistic devices that have been found in UNHCR reports. Thus, five UNHCR reports have been selected randomly from the internet for the reference period of 2014 to 2017. The procedure followed for the analysis of these reports is Norman Fairclough’s Three-layer model (2001). The study has come up with the following concluding points: on the textual analysis level, the reports consist of vocabulary items including synonymy, collocations, hyponymy, Acronyms, etc. On the discoursal analysis level, the reports involve repetitions, conjunctions, articles, and conjunctions. On social analysis level, the reports are said by different UNHCR representatives and happened in different occasions to send different messages.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL ELEMENTS ANALYSIS OF LYDIA MACHOVA’S SPEECH IN THE SECRETS OF LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE TED TALKS: A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS STUDY

<p class="AbstractTitleMaJER">Systematic Functional Linguistic (SFL) views language as a sign system that can be analysed based on language structure and language use. The research is about circumstantial elements of Lydia Machova’s speech at The Secret of Learning a New Language TED Talks. This study aims to find out the types of circumstantial elements and the most dominants circumstantial in Lydia Machova’s utterances. This research used the theory proposed by Halliday & Mattiessen (2004). This research used descriptive quantitative research. The source of data was taken from utterances of Lydia Machova which provides the circumstantial elements. The research result shown all types of circumstances occurred in Lydia Machova utterances. The highest usages of circumstance are location due to the function of location give the information about the absolute place where the experience, methods and tips occurred and also give the details of time when the moment actually happened for how long and how often.</p>

Comparing the functional range of English to be to German sein: a test of the boundary permeability hypothesis

Abstract The boundary permeability hypothesis views language as a system of categories which are more or less rigidly separated from one another. In previous work on grammatical categories, English was characterized as a soft boundary and German as a strict boundary language. This project presents a test of the prediction that English to be has a wider functional range than its German counterpart sein. The range of these verbs is determined on the basis of a bidirectional translation study. English to be is translated by a larger variety of lexical verbs in German while sein is translated by a smaller number of lexical verbs in English. In fact, the translation equivalents of sein form a subset of those of to be. Moreover, to be plays a much larger role in constructions such as there is and it is than sein does. The boundary permeability hypothesis views this structural difference and the wider semantic range of to be as two sides of the same coin. It is suggested that English is a more speaker-friendly language than German.

Beyond the Lines of ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’: A Positive Discourse Analysis of ? Dioelected Speeches of Nelson Mandela

Keeping in view language as a social practice capable of bringing socio-political changes, the current study is an endeavour to conduct positive discourse analysis of Nelson Mandela’ speeches, an anti-apartheid leader of South Africa. Taking guidelines from Van Dijk’s ideological square, we illustrate how novel strategies, contrary to the conventional ones, were employed by the orator to break the boundaries between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Mandela used the merger of dichotomies in terms of pronouns, positive other representation, mitigation through passivization, and replacement of positive words with words having negative connotations to describe the out-group and malicious state of affairs. The aim was to promote inter-racial tolerance and solidarity among the divided nation in order to attain the goal of an all-inclusive nationhood. The study concludes that Mandela’s strategic and unconventional use of discourse enabled him to play a major role in the peaceful democratization of South Africa and made him a global icon of peace and humanity.
 Keywords: apartheid, ideological square, positive discourse analysis, us-them dichotomy

Language as a marker of cultural identity and commodification: The language socialization practices of multilingual, Latina/Mexican American mothers

ABSTRACT This comparative multi-case study investigated the language ideologies of six Latina/Mexican American mothers raising emergent bilingual children. Qualitative data analysis of mother interviews revealed important commonalities in multilingual parenting ideologies and family language socialization practices. The results demonstrate how the mothers tie language to cultural identity and to potential future economic success. These ideologies demonstrated how the mothers view language and how they worked against surrounding English-only, monolingual attitudes that threaten their children’s ability to maintain their home language.

A Network Analysis of L2 Motivational Factors: Structure, Connectivity, and Central Relational Links

AbstractMotivational factors have long attracted the attention of researchers and educators with their potential to shed light on what drives effective language learning. Although current research now views language learning motivation as a Complex Dynamic System (CDS), there is a dearth of empirical studies utilizing network analysis to understand how motivational systems operate. This exploratory study investigated the structure and connectivity of a second language (L2) motivational factor network, as well as its central relational links by using network analysis and graph visualizations. Findings suggest that L2 motivational factors rarely act alone and unique communities of L2 motivational factors can be identified. Furthermore, certain factors play a central role by connecting together a multitude of other factors and act as bridges between these communities. Learners' physical and emotional states, as initial conditions in the CDS, were key factors in tying communities together. The findings also indicate that motivating and demotivating factors do not only connect with factors of similar polarity (i.e., motivating or demotivating), they are also well‐connected to each other, suggesting their interaction keeps the motivational system dynamic.

Silence behind the Veil: An Exploratory Investigation into the Reticence of Female Saudi Arabian Learners of English

AbstractThis study explores the complexity of language learner silence in the female Saudi Arabian university English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom. To this end, a combination of two methodologies was used. First, a total of 296 students from 12 EFL classrooms were observed using the COPS structured observation scheme (King, 2013a, b) to measure the extent of silence and to identify relevant patterns of learner reticence. Second, to gain deeper insights into the participants' attitudes and feelings about silence in the EFL classroom, we used two complementary qualitative methods: semi‐structured interviews and stimulated recall sessions. The results suggest the existence of three interrelated groups of factors associated learner silence in the study's research context —(i) factors related to prevailing EFL teaching styles in Saudi Arabia; (ii) socio‐psychological factors; and (iii) underlying cultural factors associated with the value of silence and the role of women in Saudi society. The findings highlight the complexity of Saudi Arabian female students' silence and emphasize the need to view language learner silence as a multi‐dimensional phenomenon.

TEACHER’S REFLECTION ON THE DECREASING PARTICIPATION WITHIN ONLINE CLASSES

The use of online classes used during covid-19 pandemic as the replacement of offline classes has affected the way teachers and students view language learning. Online classes are expected to function similarly as offline classes. However, teachers and students may find unequal aspects between the two teaching practices which make them prefer offline classes to online classes. This paper reports the findings in the writer’s study in which she observed the students’ participation from time to time within a semester teaching. This study aimed at discovering the dynamics of the students’ participation levels within online classroom. Recording the communication activities in the online classes, the writer found that the students’ participation varied across the time. The participation level was high in the beginning of the semester but it decreased significantly after the mid-term test. Comparing the participation level before and after the mid test, the writer found that the participation decreased 44% after the mid test. The average number of students’ responses was around 205 in a session before the mid test and the number decreased into around 115 per session. The significant decrease of the students’ participation in the class called for a teaching reflection. The writer as the lecturer felt the need to evaluate and reflect on her own teaching practices to reveal the reasons behind the decrease of students’ participation in her online classes. The reflection was presented to portray some issues emerging within the implementation of online classes.

Identity formation, reformation, and development of teachers of Chinese in a community-based heritage language school

ABSTRACT This study investigates the language teacher identity of one teacher of Chinese in a community-based language school in the U.S. Inspired by Tochon’s authentic learning model (2000) and Bourdieu’s theory of habitus (1972/1977), this study developed a conceptual framework which views language teacher identity as a learning–practice relational triangle that is composed of experiential knowledge, learned knowledge, and knowledge-in-action. The life history of a teacher of Chinese in a community-based language school was investigated. Narrative inquiry was used as the methodology (Clandinin, 2013). The results show that teachers of Chinese are productive practitioners in forming their language teacher identities. Their problem solving and reflective thinking show that they continuously establish communication between different cultural ideological views, and establishing such dialogues is the ultimate goal for language teachers. The results also demonstrate the effectiveness of the learning–practice relational triangle for conceptualising language teacher identity as a contextualised and life-long process.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL ELEMENTS ANALYSIS OF LYDIA MACHOVA’S SPEECH IN THE SECRETS OF LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE TED TALKS: A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS STUDY

Systematic Functional Linguistic (SFL) views language as a sign system that can be analysed based on language structure and language use. The research is about circumstantial elements of Lydia Machova’s speech at The Secret of Learning a New Language TED Talks. This study aims to find out the types of circumstantial elements and the most dominant circumstantial element in Lydia Machova’s utterances. This research used the theory proposed by Halliday & Mattiessen (2004). This research used descriptive quantitative research. The source of the data was taken from the utterances of Lydia Machova signified as the circumstantial elements. The research result uncovered all types of circumstances occurring in Lydia Machova’s utterances. The highest usages of circumstance are location due to the function of location. It is not the main verb but has to be a participle phrase or in a form of adjective clause. the information about the absolute place where the experience, methods and tips occurred and also giving the details of the time when the moment actually happened for how long and how often.

Językoznawcze zainteresowania Józefa Ignacego Kraszewskiego

The article is devoted to the linguistics interests of Józef Ignacy Kraszewki who views language as a complex lexical, syntactic and semantic structure rather than merely the matter used for creating a literary vision of the world. The subjects of the detailed analysis are the journalistic and quasi-linguistic texts published in Studia literackie (Literary studies) and Nowe studia literackie (New literary studies) which discuss the relics of the Polish language’s past and the development of its vocabulary, with particular focus on the status of loanwords, neologisms and archaisms from various stages of the development of the Polish language. The image that emerges from the analysed texts is one of a writer-linguist who perfectly understands the mechanisms that rule language and who shows that language is dynamic and changes due to the needs of its users and all possible external factors.

Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics

Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics

Die rol van handgebare in oudiovisuele aanbiedings van teologiestudente: Belyning van teorie en praktyk

Kommunikasie in die 21ste eeu het grootliks multimodaal geword. 'n Verskeidenheid primêre modusse, byvoorbeeld geskrewe teks, mondelinge vertelling, beweging, kleur, klank en musiek, word ook elektronies "vertaal" en sekondêr deur rekenaars, selfone en tablette afgelewer. Een van die genres wat gekenmerk word deur multimodaliteit is oudiovisuele aanbieding. In studente se aanbiedings is spraak gewoonlik die primêre modus, en word aangevul deur teks, animasie (beweging), foto's en kleur. Die mondelinge aanbieding tree as deel van 'n multimodale ensemble op, waar die unieke eienskappe van elke modus benut word om betekenis oor te dra. Eers gee ek 'n definisie van die konsep "handgebaar", gevolg deur 'n uiteensetting van algemeen erkende gebareteorieë en tipologieë wat gebare indeel volgens semiotiese gebaretipes, handigheid (links, regs of beide), gekonvensionaliseerde handvorme en palm-oriëntasies, en beweging en posisie in die gebareveld. Daarna volg 'n beskrywing van 'n navorsingsprojek wat berus op die analise van ko-taalgebare in 'n korpus van 17 gevideo-graveerde mondelinge aanbiedings deur teologiestudente. Die artikel word afgesluit deur puntsgewyse advies vir die gebruik van gebare in studente se oudiovisuele aanbiedings. Die advies is sowel gegrond op teorieë en tipologieë van gebare as op die analise van die korpus. Waar dit relevant is, word verwys na handleidings oor kommunikasie en openbare redevoering.

Epistemological Challenges Against Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics is a linguistics science that seeks to express the values of life that are revealed in language. Sociolinguistics is stuck in the study of language, which is purely empirical. This assessment can be observed when sociolinguistics only comes to the study of language, which reveals the linguistic system. It is essential to point out the other side of sociolinguistics that has not been explored, namely the aspect of language meaning. In this case, epistemology tries to challenge the existence of sociology concerning the role and function of sociolinguistics itself. Through literature study, Hermeneutics and heuristics are consistently and consistently used as the basis for the research method in this case. It can be concluded that sociolinguistics must begin to view language as a form of culture that becomes a social system and acts as a tool for human development.

Multilingualism in Indonesian Literature: A Literary Review from the Perspective of Anthropolinguistics

There is an interesting problem to raise, namely the use of unique language symptoms in Indonesian literary works. The uniqueness of language use in Indonesian literary works can be seen from two or more languages in Indonesian literary works. The use of two or more languages is called multilingualism in Indonesian literature. Multilingualism in Indonesian literary works is seen as "the overlapping use of language in Indonesian literature." Using more than one language can interfere with reading fluency for readers who do not come from the same culture. However, if we face literary works with multilingualism phenomena, we must respond and understand them. Duranti (1997: 21) explains that Anthropolinguistics emphasizes language as an expression of people's mindset. Anthropolinguistics views language as a set of cultural applications.