Azizullah Mirzaei; Mahmood Hashemian; Fatemeh Safari
Volume 4, Issue 2 , September 2016, , Pages 39-54
Abstract
Before a president practically begins his four-year term of office in Iran, a formal inaugural ceremony is held in the parliament. Being attended by national dignitaries and representatives from other countries, the inauguration of Iran's seventh president, Hasan Rouhani, was spectacular in several respects. ...
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Before a president practically begins his four-year term of office in Iran, a formal inaugural ceremony is held in the parliament. Being attended by national dignitaries and representatives from other countries, the inauguration of Iran's seventh president, Hasan Rouhani, was spectacular in several respects. The current study aimed at investigating the generic structure and rhetorical moves that ran through the president’s inaugural discourse. Then, a critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach, drawing upon Fairclough’s three dimensional approach (2010), was adopted to explore the socio-cultural, religious, and political values underlying different rhetorical moves he employed in his inaugural address. The results demonstrated that Rouhani constructed his inaugural address on a succession of 9 generic moves using an interdiscursive mix of generic (i.e., inaugural, report, informational) and discoursal (i.e., religious, constitutional, and revolutionary) structures to reach out to different sectors of Iranian population. The predominant inaugural genre was then manifested largely through intertextuality and interdiscursivity, drawing upon other related (sub-) genres.
Mohammad Hossein Keshavarz; Majed Amro
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2019, , Pages 40-51
Abstract
This study aimed at investigating the attitude of Muslim students towards the use of certain English idioms and proverbs. Thirty Muslim students were asked to express their reactions and feelings towards two categories of English idioms and proverbs: the first category included idioms and proverbs containing ...
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This study aimed at investigating the attitude of Muslim students towards the use of certain English idioms and proverbs. Thirty Muslim students were asked to express their reactions and feelings towards two categories of English idioms and proverbs: the first category included idioms and proverbs containing the names of animals that are prohibited in Islam, and the second category contained culturally inappropriate idioms and proverbs. The results of data analysis revealed that idioms and proverbs belonging to the first group were found by the majority of the participants to be rather offensive, while culturally inappropriate idioms and proverbs were less offensive. This indicates that religion is the main influential factor in the reaction of Muslim students towards English idioms. Non-Muslim English teachers may find the results of this study useful in gaining awareness about the attitudes of Muslim students towards the use of religiously and culturally-loaded idioms and proverbs and taking precautions in using such idioms in the classroom environment.
Masood Khoshsaligheh; Azadeh Eriss; Saeed Ameri
Volume 7, 2 (Special Issue on Iranians Views of Cultural Issues) , September 2019, , Pages 40-51
Abstract
Audiovisual translation, the same as other forms of intercultural communication, tends to intervene with the original in order to comply with the norms of the receiving culture. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the Iranian cinema has resorted to a conservative approach wherein the portrayal of the ...
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Audiovisual translation, the same as other forms of intercultural communication, tends to intervene with the original in order to comply with the norms of the receiving culture. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the Iranian cinema has resorted to a conservative approach wherein the portrayal of the role of women, among other cultural issues, has been controlled to adapt to the Islamic thoughts, which constitute the pivotal Iranian ideological framework. The underground cinema, on the other hand, resists this official practice and adopts a more norm-breaking approach. This study examines the portrayal of women in a selection of dubbed and subtitled films into Persian. The findings reveal that the gender-related content in dubbed films was altered due to the socio-cultural considerations and ideologically charged motivations as well as the norms and clichés prevalent in the Iranian society. Similar measures, however, were not taken in the subtitles of the foreign films, which were produced by the amateurs.
Abdel Wahab Khalifa; Ahmed Elgindy
Volume 2, Issue 2 (Special Issue on Translation, Society and Culture) , September 2014, , Pages 41-56
Abstract
English translations of texts associated with Arabic fiction remain largely unexplored from a sociological perspective. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology, this paper aims to examine the genesis of Arabic fiction translation into English as a socially situated activity. Works of Arabic fiction ...
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English translations of texts associated with Arabic fiction remain largely unexplored from a sociological perspective. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology, this paper aims to examine the genesis of Arabic fiction translation into English as a socially situated activity. Works of Arabic fiction emerged in English translation in the early twentieth century. Since then, this intellectual field of activity has gone through three distinct, though overlapping, phases that have affected its structure, capital at stake, agents involved, modes of production, and the volume of activity. This paper also aims to argue for a fourth phase which could be referred to as ‘post 9/11 phase’ and will investigate its agents and dynamics. The field of Arabic fiction translation into English was subjected to both internal and external factors which formed and conditioned its structure and dynamics. In contrast to the linear understanding of the history of Arabic fiction translation, Bourdieu’s sociological concepts of field and capital will be used as analytical tools to both describe and interpret the translation activity in this field
Farida Indri Wijayanti; Djatmika Djatmika; Sumarlam Sumarlam; FX. Sawardi
Abstract
This study captured the characteristics of a good leader from speech acts and politeness strategies performed by the candidates for the commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during the interviews and public tests from a gender perspective. This qualitative research applies a naturalist ...
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This study captured the characteristics of a good leader from speech acts and politeness strategies performed by the candidates for the commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during the interviews and public tests from a gender perspective. This qualitative research applies a naturalist paradigm and a sociopragmatic approach. The analysis of six videos selected by purposive sampling indicates no difference in the politeness strategies used by female and male candidates, both of which used positive politeness strategies. However, female candidates are slightly different compared to the male candidates in the use of directive speech acts of asking for permission and negative politeness strategies to give deference and impersonalize speakers. Ten character dimensions observed from the candidates include drive, collaboration, humility, integrity, temperance, justice, accountability, courage, transcendence, and judgment. The female candidates show a higher prevalence of collaboration and humility, whereas male candidates have a higher prevalence of integrity and judgment.
Rafat Bagherzadeh; Zia Tajeddin
Volume 9, Issue 1 , March 2021, , Pages 43-57
Abstract
Teacher education programs can pursue the aim of helping teachers acquire the knowledge base for effective teaching. However, the representation of curricular knowledge, one of the important dimensions of the teacher knowledge base, varies across educational and sociocultural contexts. As this knowledge ...
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Teacher education programs can pursue the aim of helping teachers acquire the knowledge base for effective teaching. However, the representation of curricular knowledge, one of the important dimensions of the teacher knowledge base, varies across educational and sociocultural contexts. As this knowledge has rarely been explored in the context of Iran, the current study sought to analyze the contents of teacher education programs to identify the representation of curricular knowledge. For this aim, the programs of 15 English language institutes were analyzed using a checklist developed based on Roberts’ (1998) model. Totally, 12 general categories, including 59 components, were found in pre-service programs; however, only 4 categories and 12 components were related to curricular knowledge, namely Methodology and instruction, Planning lessons, Materials, and Assessment. Regarding in-service programs, it was found that curricular knowledge was embodied only in two programs. The findings can provide insights to teacher educations for designing more effective teacher education programs that enhance teachers’ curricular knowledge.
Marianna Zummo
Volume 5, Issue 1 , March 2017, , Pages 44-57
Abstract
This study looks at the communication between users concerning health risks, with the aim of exploring their use of fora and assessing whether participants establish a niche with like-minded users during these exchanges. By integrating a corpus linguistic approach with content analysis and multiple studies ...
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This study looks at the communication between users concerning health risks, with the aim of exploring their use of fora and assessing whether participants establish a niche with like-minded users during these exchanges. By integrating a corpus linguistic approach with content analysis and multiple studies on computer mediated health discourse, this study analyses the intense attention paid to the correlation between the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, as an example of elaboration of the message and risk of emotive amplification, with fora working as echo chambers. Results include: a) a qualitative analysis of the content of posts and their qualification, b) a focus on the type of concerns questioners raise, and c) a comparison of the qualifier proportions between the posts and the responses they get. The comparison between posts/responses investigates whether the forum works as an amplification station of emotions, or as a locus to establish a belief niche.
Christopher McKinley; Yam Limbu; Long Pham
Volume 8, Issue 1 , March 2020, , Pages 44-59
Abstract
Strong doctor-patient relationships generate greater patient satisfaction and compliance with physician recommendations. Although prior research has explored distinct factors driving favorable patient outcomes, investigations have yet to comprehensively address the efficacy of different communication ...
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Strong doctor-patient relationships generate greater patient satisfaction and compliance with physician recommendations. Although prior research has explored distinct factors driving favorable patient outcomes, investigations have yet to comprehensively address the efficacy of different communication styles. Furthermore, it is critical to explore the full impact communication approaches have on perceptions of medical services. This investigation addressed two patient-centered communication approaches – empathy and nonverbal immediacy – as antecedents to Vietnamese patients’ impressions of physicians and hospital services. Results showed that these two factors were powerful, independent predictors of satisfaction and trust. Conversely, patient participation was a less robust predictor of judgments toward physicians as well as a weak mediator between patient-centered communication skills and favorable physician impressions. In addition, results showed that patient satisfaction in physicians was a key intervening factor in the relationship between patient-centered communication skills and hospital satisfaction. Overall, the findings highlight the critical importance of physician connectedness with patients as central to patients' global judgments of medical services.
I Gusti Agung Sri Rwa Jayantini; Sang Putu Kaler Surata; Putu Desi Anggerina Hikmaharyanti; Ni Nyoman Deni Ariyaningsih
Abstract
What people see through their eyes may touch their hearts. Their reflection shows how emphatic they are about their surroundings. This study aims to identify the reflection shown in the writing of English for Foreign Language (EFL) learners on what they see and feel through the photovoice technique. ...
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What people see through their eyes may touch their hearts. Their reflection shows how emphatic they are about their surroundings. This study aims to identify the reflection shown in the writing of English for Foreign Language (EFL) learners on what they see and feel through the photovoice technique. Given that senses and emotions are linked and can be measured through emotioncy levels, photovoice is used to lead EFL learners to experience the world around them and then reflect on it. By taking pictures and making use of them as ways of developing a piece of descriptive writing, this study found that reflection through photovoice SHOWed could give positive results. The students’ senses and emotions are blended to enhance the level of involvement that makes them able to describe things captured by their eyes as the visual sense and involve their hearts as the core of emotion to contribute to showing the actions of caring for their surroundings.
Napoleon Epoge
Volume 4, 1 (Special Issue on African Cultures and Languages) , March 2016, , Pages 45-57
Abstract
The meaning of an idiomatic expression cannot be transparently worked out from the meanings of its constituent words due to its figurative and unpredictable nature. Consequently, the syntactic composition and the structural paradigm of an idiomatic expression are supposed to be the same in every context. ...
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The meaning of an idiomatic expression cannot be transparently worked out from the meanings of its constituent words due to its figurative and unpredictable nature. Consequently, the syntactic composition and the structural paradigm of an idiomatic expression are supposed to be the same in every context. However, this is not the case in the institutionalized second language varieties of English spoken around the world. In this regard, the present paper aims at showing that the input-oriented syntactic composition and structure of English idiomatic expressions undergo innovative processes such as substitution, addition, and deletion of lexemes or phrases in the grammar of L2 learners of English in Cameroon. This reveals that, the imageable ideas of English idioms do not call up the same conventional lexical and syntactic features in the minds of L2 learners. Every New English context has its rules of constructing English idiomatic expressions as the speakers strive to indigenize and domesticate the English language.
Amir Zand-Moghadam; Leila Bikineh
Volume 3, Issue 1 , March 2015, , Pages 47-61
Abstract
Due to the significance of multiculturalism in politics, and the central role linguistic devices play in organizing the political discourse, this text-based qualitative study was carried out to compare political interviews in the Iranian and English contexts to find out the probable similarities and ...
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Due to the significance of multiculturalism in politics, and the central role linguistic devices play in organizing the political discourse, this text-based qualitative study was carried out to compare political interviews in the Iranian and English contexts to find out the probable similarities and differences in the use of discourse markers (DMs) between the two cultures. To this end, three sets of interviews were selected, and the DMs used in those interviews were identified and classified based on the framework proposed by Fung and Carter (2007). The results revealed that along with the similarities, some differences were present in the use of DMs among the interviewees. Such differences can be attributed to the cultural differences between the interviewees and their communicative purposes. The findings of the study help us understand the importance of DMs in organizing institutional discourse and intercultural inconsistencies that exist between Iranian and English-speaking politicians.
Sasan Baleghizadeh; Hamid Rastin
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2015, , Pages 47-56
Abstract
Pragmatic aspect of second language (L2) as a component of communicative competence has recently received more attention. Many research studies have investigated the gap between native and nonnative speakers’ command of L2 pragmatics. However, development of L2 pragmatics has been the focus of ...
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Pragmatic aspect of second language (L2) as a component of communicative competence has recently received more attention. Many research studies have investigated the gap between native and nonnative speakers’ command of L2 pragmatics. However, development of L2 pragmatics has been the focus of few studies. In this study, how coursebooks can help both nonnative teachers and learners develop L2 pragmatics was investigated. It was suggested that teachers’ books can act as a medium for developing both language teachers and learners’ L2 pragmatic competence. Therefore, one of the popular English coursebook series, Top Notch (1st and 2nd eds.) teachers’ books, were examined in order to find instances of metapgarmatic information. The results showed that, both editions provided metapragmatic information for teachers and that Top Notch second edition teachers’ books provided more metapragmatic information than the first edition. The implications of such findings are discussed at the end of this paper.
Marianna Lyan Zummo
Volume 6, Issue 1 , March 2018, , Pages 47-59
Abstract
The paper argues that everyday exchange of business emails produces a development in the work-group relationship, which, in turn, makes new communication styles possible and acceptable by the users' habit to computer-mediated forms, even in unbalanced professional exchanges. The focus is on the (spoken) ...
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The paper argues that everyday exchange of business emails produces a development in the work-group relationship, which, in turn, makes new communication styles possible and acceptable by the users' habit to computer-mediated forms, even in unbalanced professional exchanges. The focus is on the (spoken) discourse features of email messages in a self-compiled corpus of selected computer-mediated business emails, produced by five participants over three months (October 2015 – February 2016). The exchange, involving the use of English by non-native speaker interactants (in particular, Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF)), as well as language adjustments in a computer-mediated exchange, takes the form of a ‘written dialogue’, and closely resembles the features of the spoken discourse. Results confirmed that, despite being the oldest computer-mediated communication technology, emails constitute a ‘not yet conventionalized’ communication mode that is influenced by the push email system, and provide a new (dynamic) communicative frame.
Wyman King; Richard Emanuel; Xavier Brown; Niroby Dingle; Vertis Lucas; Anissa Perkins; Ayzia Turner; Destinee Whittington; Qwa'dryna Witherspoon
Volume 6, Issue 2 , September 2018, , Pages 47-58
Abstract
The N-word is the ultimate insult that has tormented generations of African-Americans. Yet over time, N-word derivatives have become popular terms of endearment by the descendants of the very people who once had to endure the N-word. Therein lies the root of an ongoing argument in society today: Who ...
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The N-word is the ultimate insult that has tormented generations of African-Americans. Yet over time, N-word derivatives have become popular terms of endearment by the descendants of the very people who once had to endure the N-word. Therein lies the root of an ongoing argument in society today: Who has the ‘right’ to use the N-word and N-word derivatives? A quota sample (N=347) of undergraduate students at a historically Black college/university in the deep-South participated in this survey study. Participants were mostly Black (88%) and female (62%). Using a five-point semantic differential scale from ‘always’ to ‘never’, participants were asked the degree to which they believe it is acceptable to use the N-word and N-word derivatives. A majority (76%) of respondents agreed that it is never acceptable for non-Blacks to use the N-word with anyone in any situation. Fifty-six percent of respondents agreed that it is never acceptable for anyone to use N-word derivatives with anyone in any situation.
Mohammad Reza Ghorbani; Gholam Hassan Khajavy
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine Iranian university students’ attitudes toward the US government and the English language in the Trump era. For this purpose, 359 Iranian university students who were taking general English courses took part in the study and completed two questionnaires ...
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The purpose of the present study was to examine Iranian university students’ attitudes toward the US government and the English language in the Trump era. For this purpose, 359 Iranian university students who were taking general English courses took part in the study and completed two questionnaires measuring their attitudes toward the US government and the English language in the Trump era. The results of the study indicated that Iranian university students did not have favorable attitudes toward the US government in the Trump era, while their attitudes toward the English language were more positive. Furthermore, we found that demographic information, including gender, field of study, educational level, and economic status could affect the attitudes toward the US government and the English language. We also found that participants with higher English language proficiency levels had more positive attitudes toward the English language. Finally, findings were discussed, and directions for future research were recommended.
Akmaral Tukhtarova; Sabira Issakova; Zhainagul Kussaiynova; Salima Kenzhemuratova; Assemgul Nassyritdinova
Volume 9, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 49-63
Abstract
The article examines common issues and difficulties of rendering culture-specific vocabulary in a popular American fantasy television series “Game of Thrones”. In a fantasy genre, translators have to deal with different concepts that might have no equivalents in the target language. The purpose ...
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The article examines common issues and difficulties of rendering culture-specific vocabulary in a popular American fantasy television series “Game of Thrones”. In a fantasy genre, translators have to deal with different concepts that might have no equivalents in the target language. The purpose of the research is to identify basic methods of adapting non-equivalent vocabulary in the Russian translation of the “Game of Thrones” television series. The descriptive, comparative, and statistical analysis methods provided a comprehensive investigation of audiovisual translation in the linguocultural aspect. The scientific novelty of the research involves the authors’ attempt to compile some essential guidelines for overcoming cultural barriers in audiovisual translation. The research findings prove that a competent linguocultural approach to audiovisual translation facilitates an adequate representation of the source culture through television series in the modern globalized world. As a conclusion of the research, the guidelines for overcoming linguocultural barriers in audiovisual translation were provided.
Alireza Jalilifar; Farideh Nattaq
Volume 1, Issue 2 , September 2013, , Pages 51-68
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine how four teachers used the seven processes of videotape analysis to develop an analytic approach and reflective thinking towards their teaching. The study was organized within video clubs and was used to describe the interactions among four teachers about their ...
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The purpose of this study was to examine how four teachers used the seven processes of videotape analysis to develop an analytic approach and reflective thinking towards their teaching. The study was organized within video clubs and was used to describe the interactions among four teachers about their experiences at a language institute. Data were gathered through videotaped recordings of lessons, observations, interviews, transcripts, and questionnaires. Results showed that the seven processes helped these participants develop an analytic approach to their teaching as well as develop their reflective thinking strategies about their practice. These processes created a framework that helped teachers investigate their methods as well as improve their skills to engage in reflective thinking skills. In addition, it was found that the role of the researcher as a facilitator enhanced the participants’ learning.
Wincharles Coker
Volume 2, Issue 1 , March 2014, , Pages 53-62
Abstract
As a result of the epiphany of giant multinational media conglomerates, transnational trade networks and the politics of globalization, it is tempting to believe that individual and national identities have morphed. This article argues that such homogenization in relation to individuation is tedious ...
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As a result of the epiphany of giant multinational media conglomerates, transnational trade networks and the politics of globalization, it is tempting to believe that individual and national identities have morphed. This article argues that such homogenization in relation to individuation is tedious to accept. It draws from theories of symbolic interactionism, social psychology, Foucauldian, and postcolonial constructs to hold that structuralist significations of postmodern society ought to be contested. The article emphasizes that human identity can hardly be spoken of in either/or terms, by revisiting notions of selfhood, culture, and bio-power. The paper concludes by examining how these elements act, shape, and constrain individual identities in ‘glocal’ societies, rather than as persons affected by them in homologous deterministic ways.
Masood Khoshsaligheh; Saeed Ameri; Farzaneh Shokoohmand; Mehdi Mehdizadkhani
Volume 8, Issue 2 , September 2020, , Pages 55-74
Abstract
Given the increasing pace of dissemination of cultural content across global borders, subtitling as a cost-effective solution for rendering audiovisual programs is gaining more popularity, even in societies, which have been traditionally using dubbing as the dominant modality for foreign films and television ...
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Given the increasing pace of dissemination of cultural content across global borders, subtitling as a cost-effective solution for rendering audiovisual programs is gaining more popularity, even in societies, which have been traditionally using dubbing as the dominant modality for foreign films and television series. Likewise, various types of subtitling practices have developed and are used in Iran both at official and non-official outlets. While official dubbing has failed in some aspect in addressing the growing interest of Iranian viewers of foreign content, a variety of non-professional subtitling has been filling the gap, and subtitling appears to be dominating the audiovisual media market. Despite such developments, the necessities of professional practice of subtitling, including standardized guidelines, codes of ethics and practice, and training, have never been realized in Iran. In the absence of a professional subtitling tradition, this article presents the status quo of non-professional subtitling into Persian and introduces the specific typology of this practice in the Iranian mediascape.
Damir Haydarovich Husnutdinov; Ramilya Kamilovna Sagdieva; Ramil Hamitovich Mirzagitov; Salima Oralhanovna Simbayeva
Volume 8, 3 (Special Issue on Russian Culture and Language) , December 2020, , Pages 37-44
Abstract
In the current study, we are trying to talk about stereotypes of perceptions of two peoples historically connected with each other - Russians and Tatars. An attempt was made to restore at least part of the mosaic composed of history from these mutual images. For this exciting topic, proverbs representing ...
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In the current study, we are trying to talk about stereotypes of perceptions of two peoples historically connected with each other - Russians and Tatars. An attempt was made to restore at least part of the mosaic composed of history from these mutual images. For this exciting topic, proverbs representing a kind of paremia served as factual material. In proverbs and sayings of the Russian people, one can observe stereotypes about the Tatars. Proverbs are interesting in that, with the help of these units, you can explore the cultural and psychological aspects of the people.The primary research method was descriptive-analytical with its main components: observation, generalization, and interpretation. For a comprehensive analysis of the linguistic features of speech, a comparative historical method was also utilized, which allows you to identify some trends in the development of the national literary language. During the study, comparative-typological and statistical methods were also applied.
Nazira Dossanova; Omirkhan Abdimanuly; Almasbek Maulenov; Yerkhan Karbozov; Nursulu Matbek
Volume 9, 2 (Themed Issue on Modern Realities of National Languages of CIS Countries) , August 2021, , Pages 41-53
Abstract
The construction of a system of national literature is based on an understanding of the meaning of the language form and its adaptation to the area where literary creativity is developing. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that it is necessary to highlight the directions of the locality ...
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The construction of a system of national literature is based on an understanding of the meaning of the language form and its adaptation to the area where literary creativity is developing. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that it is necessary to highlight the directions of the locality of texts and their formalization in the space of a geographical nature. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that the connection between the locality of a text and the geographical basis is considered as the foundation for the formation of the literary tradition and as a formalization of previously known social processes. The article reveals the features of the literary heritage of M. Zhumabayev and its influence on the formation of the modern literary Kazakh language. The practical significance of the study is determined by the fact that the local text is considered within the framework of a general understanding of the problems of national literature.
Rita Amorim; Raquel Baltazar; Isabel Soares
Volume 5, Issue 2 , September 2017, , Pages 49-59
Abstract
As the lingua franca of the 21st century, English has become the main language for intercultural communication for those wanting to embrace globalization. In Portugal, it is the second language of most public and private domains influencing its culture and discourses. Language contact situations transform ...
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As the lingua franca of the 21st century, English has become the main language for intercultural communication for those wanting to embrace globalization. In Portugal, it is the second language of most public and private domains influencing its culture and discourses. Language contact situations transform languages by the incorporations they make from other languages and Portugal has witnessed an increase in the pervasion of English in written communication. The aim of this study is to disclose how this sociolinguistic behavior is perceived by examining the presence of English loanwords in the Portuguese financial media to uncover its role and functions. Three Portuguese newspapers, Diário Económico, Expresso Economia and Vida Económica were chosen as the corpus of analysis over a two-week period in January 2016 corresponding to the pre and post presidential election weeks. This may reveal if the electoral results affect the presence of English. The motivations of journalists for borrowing English items and the reactions of readers complement the analysis. Results have shown English borrowing as an acceptable/accepted behavior in the analyzed Portuguese financial newspapers.
Abdelrahman Abdalla Salih; Lamis Ismail Omar
Abstract
One of the influences of globalized English in recent years on the English language teaching (ELT) practice is the rise of the significance of intercultural teaching and learning. Such a development has made teaching intercultural competence a compelling requirement. This study investigates (N = 16) ...
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One of the influences of globalized English in recent years on the English language teaching (ELT) practice is the rise of the significance of intercultural teaching and learning. Such a development has made teaching intercultural competence a compelling requirement. This study investigates (N = 16) English language teachers’ perceptions of intercultural teaching and learning and their actual classroom practices in Oman. Data were collected from a survey administered to the participants. Results showed differences in the teachers’ opinions concerning intercultural teaching. While only a small minority of teachers believed that EFL classrooms should adopt intercultural teaching, nearly half supported teaching culture in foreign language classes but cited concerns about cultural clashes that might occur. The study also revealed that the participants favored avoiding teaching culture in language classrooms, especially in contexts that lack support for interculturality. The study draws on the significance of addressing the challenges that occur in the absence of intercultural teaching.
Zohreh Eslami; Chia Ning Liu
Volume 1, Issue 1 , March 2013, , Pages 52-73
Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of explicit pragmatic instruction on the acquisition of requests by college-level English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners in Taiwan. The goal was to determine first whether the use of explicit pragmatic instruction had a positive effect on EFL learners’ ...
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This study investigated the effectiveness of explicit pragmatic instruction on the acquisition of requests by college-level English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners in Taiwan. The goal was to determine first whether the use of explicit pragmatic instruction had a positive effect on EFL learners’ pragmatic competence. Second, the relative effectiveness of presenting pragmatics through two delivery systems—face-to-face, in-class activities and computer-mediated communication (CMC) via e-mail and WebCT—wascompared. One hundred and eighteen Taiwanese undergraduate students completed the entire study. There were 40 students in the control group, 36 students in the experimental/Teacher Instruction group and 42 students in the experimental/CMC group. The results showed that explicit pragmatic instruction had a positive impact on the EFL learners in both the Teacher Instruction and CMC groups. Learners who received explicit pragmatic instruction performed better on the Discourse Completion Task posttest than those who did not. The findings also indicated that technology can be a valuable tool for delivering pragmatics instruction.
Siripen Ungsitipoonporn; Kumaree Laparporn
Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2019, , Pages 52-66
Abstract
Although 1.4 million people speak Northern Khmer in Thailand, they are aware that their language is still in decline. To deal with this threat, native speakers have cooperated with linguists from Mahidol University to work on a community-based research project since 2007. Teaching the Northern Khmer ...
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Although 1.4 million people speak Northern Khmer in Thailand, they are aware that their language is still in decline. To deal with this threat, native speakers have cooperated with linguists from Mahidol University to work on a community-based research project since 2007. Teaching the Northern Khmer language as a subject in the formal school system was the first project which started at Ban Pho-kong school, Surin Province. Later, however, they realized that their children had enough potential in their mother tongue to teach a bilingual program from kindergarten 1, and there were teachers available who could speak Northern Khmer fluently. However, when they started the bilingual education program at the kindergarten level, the children could not use Northern Khmer language to communicate with the teachers. Linguists from Mahidol tried another approach to increase the use of the mother tongue by applying a language nest pattern at the pre-kindergarten level to prepare a strong foundation for the student’s mother tongue, before they go on to kindergarten and then primary school.