European Journal of Language and Culture Studies
Authors retain the copyright of their work, and grant this journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a <a id="menurqt" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA 4.0)">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA 4.0), that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Cooperative Ability X Foreign Language Skill: Study of Achievement in French Grammar Learning
This study investigates the impact of cooperative learning on students’ achievement in French grammar, aiming to address the issues of low learning motivation and significant disparities in language proficiency commonly observed in French language classrooms. By implementing heterogeneous grouping within a cooperative learning framework, the research seeks to enhance student motivation, improve academic performance, and cultivate competencies essential for future workplace competitiveness. The participants of this study were students enrolled in the French Grammar III course offered by the Department of Applied Languages and Linguistics Studies. A quasi-experimental design was employed, dividing the class into a control group (n = 12) and an experimental group (n = 14). Based on their French Grammar II pre-test scores, students in the experimental group were categorized into four proficiency levels: high (top 25%), upper-middle (25%–50%), lower-middle (50%–75%), and low (bottom 25%). The control group received traditional instruction through teacher-centered lectures and pre-recorded video materials, while the experimental group engaged in the Student Teams Achievement Divisions (STAD) model, wherein higher-proficiency students led collaborative learning sessions during and after class. The primary objectives of this study are twofold: (1) to move beyond conventional instructional methods by incorporating peer-assisted learning strategies, and (2) to stimulate learners’ intrinsic motivation and develop their cooperative and humanistic literacy. It is anticipated that the intervention will result in improved learning outcomes and greater student engagement. The findings will be disseminated through academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications, and will contribute to the development of instructional materials aimed at promoting effective pedagogical practices in foreign language education.
Student Team Achievement Divisions (STAD)
Copyright (c) 2025 Wen-Hui Chang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Worrying Situation of English Language Teaching in Some Secondary Schools in Zinder (Niger Republic): Strengths and Prospects
In Niger, foreign languages such as English are introduced in the curriculum to give learners more opportunities and a better understanding of the outside world. Drawing on field observation, quantitative and qualitative methods, the study aims to identify the strength and challenges of English language teaching in secondary schools in the city of Zinder (Niger) before it proposes some suggestions. The results show that the majority of English teachers in Zinder do not have the necessary university training in English language education and 31% of them teach because there is no alternative opportunities. In addition, while 64,44% of the respondents acknowledge the importance of English in the world today and the necessity to improve its teaching practice, various partners fail to measure the unintended and unforeseen consequences of the policy which requires a lot of resources.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yacoubou Alou http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dagbanli-English Bilinguals Radio Presenters Intra-Sentential Code-Switching
Code switching (CS) has become an observed phenomenon in language use of bilinguals in multilingual societies. This study examines patterns of intra-sentential code-switching (ISCS) as an element of multilingualism which is reflected in the language use of multilingual Dagbanli-English radio presenters at Tamale, the northern regional capital of Ghana. This study aims to test the Matrix Language Frame (MLF) of the ISCS using Dagbanli-English data. The data were solicited through an ethnographic survey and key informant interviews conducted with multilingual radio presenters who had lived and performed radio work in Tamale for the past five years. The study reveals that the ISCS occurs frequently in the language of radio presenters and they use the ISCS more regularly than inter-sentential code switching (InSCS).
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul-Razak Inusah, Mahama Shaibu Seth https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
AI and Poetry: Navigating the Challenges of Translating Mahmoud Darwish’s “The Dice Player”
As a result of the profound connection that exists between Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry and Palestinian identity, history, and cultural legacy, translating his poetry is not only a rich but also a demanding endeavor as poetry seems to be lost in translation. When it comes to comprehending the deep cultural metaphors and historical references that are ingrained in Darwish’s work, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has unique challenges. This is despite the fact that AI has made great progress in language translation. The limitations of artificial intelligence in terms of grasping symbolism, emotional resonance, and the complex meanings that distinguish Darwish’s style are the primary topic of this research, which investigates the difficulty that AI has in capturing the essential components in Darwish’s poetry. The aim of this study is to highlight the common challenges and issues faced while rendering poetry. it tends also to evaluate ChatGTP’s rendering quality, the failures and the successes. Despite the fact that artificial intelligence is capable of processing linguistic structures and translating literal meanings, it frequently fails to express the cultural and emotional depth that is necessary for truly understanding Darwish’s poetry. Therefore, human insight is crucial for maintaining the cultural depth and metaphorical complexities and the linguistic characteristics inherent in Darwish’s work. Ethical implications of depending on AI for culturally sensitive translations are also discussed in this paper.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdellah Ghazi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Marital Dispute and Separation in African Patriarchal Setting: A Cultural Appraisal in Flora Nwapa’s Idu
It is sometimes erroneous to limit the African patriarchal system to one that oppresses and stifles the female gender to the profit of the male gender. On the contrary, evidence in Flora Nwapa’s Idu shows, through some customs and traditions, that the African patriarchy often forces the male gender to make some compromise for the survival of the household. This study aims to show how, in the case of marital dispute and separation, the African patriarchal system paves the way for fair interaction and mutual understanding, irrespective of gender. The study uses cultural, womanist and radical feminist theories and is based on the assumption that married women enjoy the freedom to make decision when they abide by societal cultural rules and regulations. Findings show that, to prevent family dysfunction in African society, especially in Igbo society, patriarchal rules and regulations compel married men to make concessions. In addition, it is observed that although the African patriarchal system might be marred by shortcomings, Flora Nwapa, through her womanist stance, has revealed its positive aspect, which justifies her fight to educate her female pairs by referring to Igbo cultural values that refute any radicalism in women’s relationships with their husbands. Thus, this work has filled a critical gap in the existing body of knowledge by offering an alternative interpretation of African patriarchal systems, moving beyond a purely negative portrayal. It has provided new insights into how traditional customs and values, particularly in Igbo society, can actually empower women in certain marital situations. By analyzing Flora Nwapa’s ‘Idu’, the study contributes a literary perspective to socio-cultural discussions, enriching the understanding of gender dynamics within African contexts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Akinola Monday Allagbe, Ablam Amouzou, Mamoudou Conde, James Nawa Toure, Yoh Odile Niamy http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Representation of Selective Mutism through the Character Ahn Dae-bum in the Korean Drama Summer Strike
Selective mutism is a condition of extreme anxiety disorder that results in an individual being unable to speak in certain social situations despite his or her normal speaking ability. These disorders are often affected by past trauma, which creates barriers to verbal communication and encourages individuals to use nonverbal communication. This study aims to uncover the representation of selective mutism through the character Ahn Dae-bum the Korean drama Summer Strike. Using qualitative methods, data in the form of scenes and dialogues were analyzed to see the dynamics of verbal and nonverbal communication, and the influence of trauma on characters. The results of this study show that Ahn Dae-bum faces speech difficulties due to social anxiety and past trauma related to his sister’s death. He more often uses nonverbal communication such as body cues, facial expressions, and writing to replace verbal communication. The deep trauma caused by his father’s accusations creates a pattern of communication in an attempt to withdraw and avoid. This study provides insight into how trauma can shape individual communication patterns as well as expands the study of selective mutism on representation in drama. The study also emphasizes the importance of popular media such as Korean dramas in increasing public understanding of mental health issues, especially those related to the impact of trauma on communication patterns and social adaptation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maya Pradhipta Hapsari, Bambang Wibisono, Hairus Salikin http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Echoes Across Cultures: Tracing the Evolution and Prospects of Translating Chinese Minority-themed Films into English
This paper delves into the English translation challenges associated with Chinese minority-themed films. The complexities of translating Chinese minority-themed films into English are examined with their historical context, significance, and translation obstacles. By addressing these challenges, the study aims to enhance cross-cultural communication in cinema and promote global cultural exchange. Through a detailed analysis of translation issues, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in film translation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Biyu Wu, Jing Hua http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
How Language Contributes to Ethnic Identity: Insights from a Socio-cultural Framework
Language is an essential component of human identity. In fact, it plays such a pivotal role in shaping human identity that many branches of humanities use it as the main instrument to study the human being and the human condition. This paper aims to show the impact of language particularly in contributing to the establishment of the ethnic identity of an individual or a group and in their historical survival. First, the article discusses how language is used to define ethnicity and how it is used to trace the origin of its present-day speakers. Then some linguistic examples, such as codeswitching and language revival, are analysed in depth to better describe the intimate relationship between language and ethnic identity. This relationship, as the analysis suggests, can be seen as a symbiosis where each is beneficial to the other, and ultimately, they both are crucial for the individual and the group.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alban Beqiri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Lesson Planning in EFL: Raising Learners’ Awareness of the Use of English Imperatives
Research studies report the existence of strong positive correlation between lesson planning and teaching effectiveness. However, despite being an essential feature of teaching in EFL settings, lesson planning has been a sparsely researched topic. The present study attempts to present an overview of the related literature on the topic to design a sample lesson on English imperatives. The study unfolds different facets of lesson planning, and tries to incorporate them in the proposed lesson plan. It is anticipated that the study will be helpful to EFL teachers, especially the novice in developing their awareness of lesson planning while teaching a component on language systems. The study might also interest researchers who are planning to conduct research on lesson planning or any other related area.
Copyright (c) 2025 Othman Aljohani, Zulfiqar Ahmad http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In studying compounds, complex words formed from already existing words, many interesting issues come up, touching virtually every aspect of the study of language—phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and sometimes, pragmatics. These issues may relate to the characterization of compounding, their classification, meaning, whether or not they are headed constructions as well as how to distinguish them from derived words on the one hand and phrases on the other. This study discusses some core issues in studying Dagbanli compounding, a Mabia language spoken in the Northern Region of Ghana. It deals with issues such as the classification of Dagbanli compounds, headedness in Dagbanli compounds: types and position and distinction between compounds and phrases in Dagbanli. Regarding the possible classes of compounds in Dagbanli, it is shown that the most common compounds consist of only two lexical bases and that the commonest combinations of syntactic categories in Dagbanli compounds are Noun-Noun, Noun-Adjective, Noun-Verb and Verb-Noun. It is also shown that while most compounds are right-headed (RH), phrases tend to have an obligatory head initial occurrence, making them left-headed (LH) constructions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul-Razak Inusah http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring De-Pragmatization as a Language Enrichment Strategy with Reference to Iraqi Arabic
This study deals with having the pragmatic force of a given expression be lost under certain processes of de-contextualization, conventionalization and abstraction. This phenomenon is introduced under the term ‘de- pragmatization’. It is addressed as a broad strategy that enriches language with new contexts of use for expressions that already exist in different contexts. The phenomenon in question is tested via selected expressions from Iraqi Arabic, as an objective to explore the strategies of de-pragmatization to borrow new contexts through certain strategies such as semantic erosion, formalization, institutionalization, disambiguation, simplification, elimination of the cultural aspects, loss of context, literalization, avoiding pragmatic markers, and abstractions. The de-pragmatized expressions can be identified with such features as recontextualization, minimizing illocutionary load, conventional meaning, frequent use, and used by people of influence. This process plays a key role in shaping language and future communication modes as it can be viewed as a significant indicator of a language’s adaptability and responsiveness to societal paradigm shifts.
Copyright (c) 2024 Basim Jubair Kadhim http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Historical Overview of Equivalence in Translation Studies
The concept of equivalence has been of specific concern to many Western translation scholars. It was an essential feature of translation theories in the 1960s and 1970s, which sited it within the framework of structural linguistics. This paper will primarily discuss the notion of equivalence in a comprehensive way according to translation scholars since the 1950s. The first part of this paper will review the earlier debate on meaning and equivalence as one of the key linguistics issues in the 1950s. The general view of equivalence at that time attempted to explain how the source text (henceforth ST) and target text (henceforth TT) share some kind of similarity. This is followed by further efforts to explain this term according to the perspectives and approaches of several theorists. The second part focuses on contemporary translation scholars investigating equivalence in broader terms. Contemporary theorists have shifted from looking at differences in each type of equivalence and the effect of meaning to another perspective where equivalence is seen as a relationship between two texts.
Copyright (c) 2024 Alhanouf Nasser Alrymayh http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Human and Non-Human Beings: Ecological Discourses in European Fairy Tales
From childhood, we heard a lot of fairy tales fascinating and imaginative to attract children. The impact of fairy tales on kids’ lives includes making their life colorful, expanding their horizons to the world and even having the meaning of moral education. Behind almost every European fairy tales, there seems to have a deep connection between nature and human being, in which has not only played a substantial role of our perception towards the environmental writing but also transferred to the modern movies, novels and children literature as well. Forest, the origin of enigma and mystery, plays a significant role in the European fairy tales. Throughout the folktales, mythology and Medieval Romance literature, the enchanted forests represent the places of unknown, cradle of uncertainty and danger. Another essential role of the natural writing in the European fairy tales is the ocean and the lake. As in many cultures, ocean is the beginning of life, the place where it brings the prosperity. As for in the literatures, ocean is often represented as human emotions, love, pity, calm, greedy, etc. Therefore, are the ecological representations related to fairy tales real or imaginary? Do the characters in these tales can be reflected from the text or images and be compared to typical figures related to ecology? This paper intends to analyze the European fairy tales from the ecological perspective. By comparing the natural elements and non-human beings plots of the tales, an attempt is made to summarize the ecological prototypes of European fairy tales.
Copyright (c) 2024 Wen-Hui Chang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Revisiting Brown and Levinson's Theory of Politeness
This paper aims at revisiting Brown & Levinson framework in order to reduce the total number of positive politeness strategies from fifteen to seven high order Pos Pol strategies, and the number of negative politeness from ten to five high order Neg Pol strategies. This reanalysis ultimately builds up a self-consistent and coherent picture of polite usage that is intuitively satisfactory and economical. We end up with a general frame of reference which presents an organized analysis and theory of politeness, the main point of which is that it purports to be a general explanation of the particular phenomenon of disparity of usage and universality of use of politeness.
Copyright (c) 2024 Said Fathi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Status of Velar Fricatives and Flap in Dagbanli
The study is cross-dialectal investigation of the velar fricatives [x, ɣ] and the flap [ɾ] in Dagbanli, a Mabia language spoken in the Northern Region of Ghana. The issues investigated and assessed for the purpose of Dagbanli phonology are the status of the velar fricatives [x, ɣ] and the flap [ɾ] across Dagbanli dialects. Ethnographic approach is employed to solicit the primary data from bucolic Dagbanli speech communities. Descriptive method is engaged for the analysis of the primary data available. The investigation reveals that Dagbanli dialects have the velar fricatives [x, ɣ] confined to specific segmental contexts with a particular inventory stricture. The flap[ɾ] is noticed to occur in mostly in intervocalic but entirely missing in Dagbanli indigenous words in word-initial. The velar fricatives [x, ɣ] and the flap[ɾ] are observed to be non-contrastive and only suffice as dialectal allophones in the language. The paper shows evidence of coalesce of non-coronal labial /m/ and coronal fricative /s/ to produce dorsal fricative [x] in intervocalic and coalesce of stem final stop /ɡ/ and suffix onset fricative /s/ to yield the dorsal fricative [x], a finding which shows the status of the segment [x] in Dagbanli phonology. The paper concludes that the segments [x], [ɣ] and [ɾ] are positional variants of /s/, /ɡ/ and /d/.
Copyright (c) 2024 Abdul-Razak Inusah http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring Women’s Quandary in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood and Flora Nwapa’s Efuru
This study has highlighted the root causes of women’s quandary in post-colonial African fiction. It explores two giant Nigerian women-authored novels. Analyses have revealed that women’s suffering is basically due to the patriarchal ideology that governs most African societies. Barrenness, motherhood, and poverty are other major factors. Further analysis of these factors shows that the last three aspects are in connection with the first. As a result, one can assume that the excessive patriarchal philosophy is a leading reason for women’s predicaments. For an objective result, we have used a qualitative data analysis approach. We have applied feminism and post-colonial theories in the analyses.
Copyright (c) 2024 Maxime Adjavounvoun, Théophile Houndjo, Célestin Gbaguidi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Number of Innovations in Kazakh Dictionaries of the Eighteenth Century in Comparison with Those of Other Turkic and Finno-Ugric Languages
The analysis of the dictionary published by P. S. Pallas makes it possible to clarify the chronology of changes in Kazakh dialects. The Kazakh dictionary of P. S. Pallas is important evidence that PTu *č was still preserved in the 18th century in Kazakh, and the changes were PTu *j-, *ĺ not finished yet. The dictionary presents only those innovative changes of consonants that are common for all Kipchak languages. It was also interesting that in the Kazakh language spoken in the late 18th century, only 1 sound change from Proto Turkic; in the Tatar dictionary 2 sound changes; in the Nogai dictionary 1 sound change; in the Hill Mari language 2 sound changes; in the South Khanty 5 sound changes; in the North Khanty 3 sound changes, and in the East Khanty 1 sound change.
Copyright (c) 2024 Yulia Normanskaya http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Multilingualism in Burundi: Languages and their Domains of Use
This study describes multilingualism in Burundi, focusing on the social contexts in which each language is used. The main instrument used was a 16-item questionnaire coupled with informal discussions, and the informants were 20 volunteer students admitted to the National School of Administration – the ENA school for short, a government institution assigned to set up and implement an English Language training programme that teaches English to all civil servants from existing ministries. The questionnaire derives from Fishman’s domains of language use, which is the frame adopted for the analysis. The findings reveal that four languages co-exist in Burundi, i.e., Kirundi, the ancestral language; Belgian French, the coloniser’s language; Kiswahili, a trade language dominant in neighbouring countries; English, the working language for various East African regional institutions, including the East African Community, and the Economic Community of the Great Lake Countries. While Kirundi is dominant in the family, religion, and friendship domains, French, a colonial language, reigns in various schools in the country, and English, dominant regionally, reigns supreme in the ENA school.
Copyright (c) 2024 Jean-Paul Kouega, Rufine Dongpe Lontsi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Contribution of Artificial Intelligence to Learning the Arabic Language
The knowledge revolution in the middle of the twentieth century brought about a digital transformation in various aspects of human development, and in view of the knowledge data in machine language, it became necessary to computerize the Arabic language as a means of transferring knowledge, and to make it compatible with modern means of communication in artificial intelligence algorithms to help humans overcome the difficulties of communication and learning. Therefore, researchers in the field of artificial intelligence sought to understand human perception and try to simulate it through the development of computer systems that deal with different levels of languages. Researching a descriptive and analytical reading of the reality of the Arabic language in its relationship to artificial intelligence and computing, and the extent to which it benefits from technological and informational progress, as well as possible horizons that will contribute to solving its problems and challenges.
Copyright (c) 2024 Adawiya Hayyawi Doohee http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
On the Semantics of the Structure Estar para + infinitive in European Portuguese: From Aspect to Modality
In contrast to most aspectual operators whose meaning remains unchanged regardless of their context of occurrence, the structure estar para + infinitive reveals a great deal of variability in this respect. Thus, in addition to the primary prospective aspect value, this construction also conveys modal meanings that can express uncertainty, counterfactuality, or volition/intention. Factors such as the tenses in which the sentence appears (in particular, the pretérito imperfeito (past imperfect) and the pretérito perfeito (terminative past tense)) and the presence of sentential negation contribute decisively to bringing about this kind of variation. However, there seems to be a shared semantic profile underlying the construction estar para + infinitive, namely the presence of a stative predication that induces a prospective projection.
Copyright (c) 2024 Luís Filipe Cunha http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Aromanian Vlach and Greek: Shifting Identities
In modern times, with Greek being the only language of instruction and communication in the wider society (Chomsky, 1971), Aromanian’s linguistic and cultural shift has been so profound that this language is now endangered (Dinas et al., 2011) in Greece. Aromanian (Weigand, 1895) is an oral Eastern-Romance language spoken by the Aromanians (armâni, or armãneashti), an ethnic group historically known for transhumance, dispersed over a wide area of the Balkans in what is present-day Peninsular Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Southern Romania, Serbia, and Albania. Their ethnicity (Eriksen, 2010) is controversial, with Greeks believing them Latinised Greeks, Romanians considering them Romanian, and others as Balkan natives from Wallachia (Ružica, 2006). In Greek, they tend to be referred to as ‘Vlachs.’ This term derives from the Latin ‘Volci’ (Volks, Wolks) and was adopted by Germanic speakers when mentioning neighboring Gaulish Celts who had become Latinized. The word and meaning evolved over time: Walachen, Wallais, Wallons, Welschme, etc. These terms are still used in different European languages today and refer to ‘Latin speakers.’ Slavic speakers borrowed and adapted the German word as Olahy, Valachi, Vloh, and for the Byzantines, it became ‘Vlachs.’ Their nomadic and secluded lifestyle between remote valleys and high mountains, confined the Aromanians to hardship and socio-cultural periphery while sparing them from major European conflicts, periods of unrest, shifting borders and powers for one thousand years. From 1975 onward, following the consolidation of the modern Greek Republic, ideologies such as ‘one people, one language’ became intrinsic with Greek nationality and nationalism (Moschonas, 2004). Aromanian had, until then, been transferred mostly in the oral form, lacking written standardization, and passed from generation down to generation in the Epirus, Macedonia, and Thessaly regions of Greece. With modernity, came profound socio-economic changes; Aromanians left their local communities in large numbers (Beis, 2000), looking for a better future in Greek urban centers, Germany, the USA, or Australia. Despite Aromanian folklore, music and traditional festivals being kept alive and even revitalized through numerous associations of Vlachs, many self-identified Aromanians do not speak their ancestral language (Kahl, 2011). What is the rationale behind this (apparent) contradiction? What drove Aromanians away from their native language and led to the shift into the Greek language, society, and culture so completely?
Copyright (c) 2022 Alex De Lusignan Fan-Moniz http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Use of Trigger Warning in Teaching English Literature in the Iraqi English Departments
The utilization of trigger warnings in teaching Western literary texts within English classes is a subject of debate, with some advocating for their importance and others questioning their usefulness. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the significance of employing trigger warnings within Iraqi English departments. This will be achieved through the administration of a questionnaire to students regarding their experiences with the literary texts they study. The results of the questionnaire will shed light on whether the use of trigger warnings, whether in oral or written form or integrated into the teacher’s approach to introducing the subject, holds significance. Ultimately, the findings of this study aim to enhance the teaching of literature and foster more academically respectful environments for Eastern, predominantly Muslim students. By understanding the impact of trigger warnings, educators can better tailor their teaching methods to accommodate the diverse backgrounds and sensitivities of their students.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hayder Gebreen http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Globalization’s Impact on Culture: An Exploration of McDonaldization vs. Clash of Civilizations
This theoretical article sets out to conceptualize the notions of McDonaldization and the clash of civilizations in a globalized context and propose a middle-of-the-road solution in this dichotomy, i.e., hybridization. As cultures and cultural values constantly evolve and reshape and new forms of culture emerge, cultural hybridization is the preferred viewpoint adopted herein. In essence, cultural expressions (such as values, beliefs, and ideas) interact and engage with one another, promoting and broadening cultural offerings.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ioannis Karras http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Phonological Structure of the Babasan Language of Serang Banten, Indonesia
This research aims to describe the Bebasan language of Serang Banten, which is related to the phonological aspect in terms of its structure, namely the vowel aspect and the consonant aspect. Regarding data acquisition, researchers collected data using the interview method to obtain data. The interview method recognizes three ways, namely: (1) asking questions, (2) direct recording, (3) recording. Researchers conducted direct interviews with informants or respondents who met the criteria and took direct notes to obtain data. In the data analysis method, the distributional or collection method is used where the researcher analyzes the data using determining tools such as the language in question. This method is usually used to analyze language speech. Meanwhile, in presenting data, formal and informal methods are used. From the results of this research, it can be concluded that in the free language of Serang, there are phonemes in each word or sentence, which can be grouped into vowels and consonants.
Copyright (c) 2024 Agus Sulaeman, Goziyah, Frimadhona Syafri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Perceived Effects of Language and Culture Suppression in the Catalan Region of Spain
The Catalan language has had a complex history. The suppression of the Catalan language had a profound impact on the Catalan culture and identity. This study addresses the interaction between language and culture according to students in a Catalan university. The purpose was to evaluate their insights and report the perceived connection between language and culture. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the interrelationship between language and culture and whether it is perceived that language loss affects cultural loss, and both are intertwined. 67 undergraduate university students between the ages of 18 and 22 years participated in this study. They responded to a questionnaire that included general questions on history, language, and culture. The results suggest that the participants feel there is an interdependent connection between language loss and culture loss. This research puts into focus people’s identification with their own language, culture, traditions, and history, which reinforces the difficulty of separating one’s cultural and linguistic history.
Copyright (c) 2024 Carla Domínguez Anguera, Marni Lynne Manegre http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Game on: Notes on Language Learning Potentials Through MMORPGs’ Social and Motivational Dynamics
This paper explores the dynamic intersection between Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) and second language learning, focusing on the intertwined elements of motivation and social interaction. Through a review of existing research, including works by Peterson (2010), Zheng et al. (2009), Thorne et al. (2009), and Sylvén and Sundqvist (2017, 2012), the paper highlights how MMORPGs provide immersive and authentic contexts for language practice. MMORPGs foster receptive and productive language skills by engaging players in complex linguistic exchanges and culturally rich narratives. The intrinsic motivational aspects of gaming and the social dynamics of MMORPGs create an engaging learning environment. However, the paper also acknowledges challenges such as cognitive overload, the use of informal language, the potential propagation of incorrect language use, and the possibility of negative social interactions. In conclusion, while MMORPGs offer innovative platforms for language learning, careful consideration of their opportunities and challenges is essential. The article calls for continued exploration and thoughtful implementation to fully harness the educational potential of MMORPGs in language education.
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
Copyright (c) 2023 Hélder Fanha Martins http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
On Strategies and Effects of Cross-cultural Communication of Chinese Mythological Animated Films—With Nezha and White Snake as Examples
Animated films with Chinese mythology are endowed with the most distinctive ethnic features. With Nezha and White Snake as examples, this paper analyzes their successes in cross-cultural communication strategies in the context of globalization from the perspectives of native cultural elements, narrations on affections, integration of Western cultures, and so forth, accompanied by their predicaments explained in many aspects including cultural differences between China and the West. It has been found that based on the native myths with less global popularity, the key to the effective communication of such film types lies in the cultural similarities, as witnessed by international narrative styles and mainstream emotional values.
Copyright (c) 2023 Youya Sun, Jing Hua http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Alternation Code-mixing of Chhattisgarhi Conversations
This paper investigates alternation code-mixing between Chhattisgarhi and English. It is very common to mix English with the mother tongue in several places across the world. Code-mixing is widely found in multilingual countries like India, where many languages, dialects, and varieties are present. Code-mixing is a very useful strategy for bilingual speakers to communicate easily and effectively based on the context. Our focus is in this study of how alternation code mixing takes place between Chhattisgarhi and English by Chhattisgarhi speakers in their daily conversations. This paper examines conversational code-mixing in the repertoire of Chhattisgarhi speakers, and it also finds out the increasing interest of speakers in the English language. Adopting ideas from Muysken (2000), this paper explores different types of alternation code-mixing such as non-nested switching, peripherality, adverbial modification, coordination, left-dislocation, right-dislocation and emblematic or tag-switches between Chhattisgarhi and English. It examines how different patterns or structures are found in the mixing of these two languages. This study further explains the properties of code-mixing, such as embedding in discourse, doubling, flagging, and dummy insertion in relation to code-mixing of Chhattisgarhi conversations.
Copyright (c) 2023 Shabiya Noor Mansuri, Suman Kothakonda http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EFL Intermediate Students’ Attitudes towards the Impacts of Teaching Morphological Knowledge on the Degree of Lexical Complexity and the Quality of Academic Essays
Writing is usually considered the most challenging skill for the majority of students in the Vietnamese context. Several previous studies revealed that the instruction of morphological knowledge has positive impacts on expanding students’ vocabulary and indirectly improves the quality of academic writing. This current study was implemented in order to investigate EFL intermediate students’ attitudes towards the impacts of teaching morphological knowledge on the degree of lexical complexity and the quality of academic essays in the context of an English language center in the Mekong Delta. This 14-week experimental research employed the use of pre-questionnaire and post-questionnaire, with the participation of two groups of EFL intermediate students who were studying at a similar level and progress. The results indicated that EFL intermediate students in the experimental group had positive attitudes towards the impacts of teaching morphological knowledge on the degree of lexical complexity and the quality of their academic essays throughout the research period, whereas no positive changes regarding attitudes could be found within the ones in the control group. From that, several recommendations and pedagogical implications were drawn with the attempt to contribute to the innovation of teaching vocabulary and teaching writing in the context of secondary schools and high schools in the Mekong Delta.
Copyright (c) 2023 Phuong Hoang Yen, Thi Hoài Thanh http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The accusative case is mainly attached the objects. It is the case that marks objects in transitive clauses however, in many languages accusative case is not only found on objects, but it is extended to mark NP adverbials. It is attached to elements outside the domain the verb. Consider the example from Arabic below. (1) ðahab-tu ʔila al-madiinat-I layl-an went- Is to the-city-gen night-acc ‘I went to the city at night’ In the example above, we find the word layl-an ‘at night’ is marked with accusative case though it is not an argument. It is adverb of time. The occurrence of case on adjuncts has been termed adverbial case or semantic case. It should be noted that this type of case has not received much attention in the literature of the modern linguistics. Only a few studies have been conducted to investigate this phenomenon. When discussing some examples about the adverbial case, Butt (2006, p. 7) states the following “Given has basic assumption that the primary purpose of case is to mark the arguments of a predicate this type of data remains an issuer which has not as yet received a good/standard solution within modern syntactic theories.” By this type of data, she refers to some data German and Korean where some adverbials are marked with accusative case. So, this issue has not been dealt with in some detail in modern linguistics as also stated by Butt in another context: “Very little work has been done on semantic case, primarily because it tends to be associated with adjuncts, and the theoretical concern is with licensing and constraining the appearance of core verbal arguments” (p.71).
Copyright (c) 2023 Raniah Shakir Al Anssari, Haider Saad Jubran http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0