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16504 papers
This article examines the influence of communication in social networks on norms, on the development of lexical composition of the modern English language. Language is continuously enriched at the lexical level. One of the examples of the development of any language is the process of the emergence of new words - neologisms. The relevance of the work lies in the fact that currently the English language is experiencing a real "neological boom". The research purpose is to study the trends of word formation of new words in English language under the influence of social networks use, to identify and characterize the most productive word–forming means. The study analyzed Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and neologisms that have appeared in the English language over the past 10 years. These social networks are one of the most productive sources of neologisms. There are a plenty of people sitting in them, which is a good prerequisite to generate new words rapidly. In the course of the study, various linguistic research methods were used, such as: analysis of scientific literature, descriptive method involving observation of language processes and word-formation analysis. The material for the study was Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, as well as neologisms and abbreviations used in social networks, processed by continuous sampling method. The results of work showed that the Internet, including social networks, is an inexhaustible source for the neologisms' formation in modern English. Study of the latest neologisms allows to see a native speaker's current life state. The practical significance lies in the fact that the study materials can be used in writing textbooks on the lexicology modern English, special courses on the English neology. The scientific novelty of the study presents a number of particular observations and conclusions made as a result of the analysis of specific material.
The issue of typical lexical errors, which negatively affect the effectiveness of the communicative activity of specialists in the field of tourism and social security, is outlined. Along with the violation of other norms of the modern Ukrainian language, the use of lexical errors is the most frequent phenomenon in the speech of future specialists in the field of tourism and social security. The specified lexical errors of future specialists in the field of tourism and social security impoverish their speech, negatively affect the formation of specialist competencies, the creation of subject-subject relationships between communicators, and spoil the image not only of the future specialist, but also of the institution or organization. in which such a specialist works, because this is a manifestation of a low level of language culture. The most used violations at the lexical level of the modern Ukrainian literary language are determined. Recommendations for overcoming frequently used mistakes in the communicative activity of specialists in the field of tourism and social welfare are formulated and presented: do not combine several speech styles; read / view / listen to Ukrainian-language content in the relevant field; monitor the correct use of words that belong to the professional vocabulary; do not use unfamiliar terms or those that have a specific meaning in a certain field; work on expanding the vocabulary: the more words a person knows, the less lexical mistakes you will make in the text; make notes with own lexical errors, in order to eliminate them; introduce mandatory practical trainings that will allow you to visually examine typical speech errors and practice correct speech in situations close to real ones; follow the use of modern standards of literary language and communicative quality features of language culture in one's own speech. One of the priority tasks is to overcome the low level of language culture, to eradicate lexical errors from the active vocabulary of a specialist in the relevant field, as well as to increase the level of proficiency in the modern Ukrainian language among specialists in the field of tourism and social welfare, with the aim of developing their systematic knowledge of the language, its norms, rules and patterns of functioning in these spheres of professional activity, since the use of lexical errors in the speech of specialists in the field of tourism and social security is a negative factor in their effective communicative activity.
The linguistic category of evaluation is a reflection of the logical category of evaluation, which expresses the subject's attitude to some object or phenomenon. The category of evaluation has points of contact with such phenomena as comparison, as in the evaluative act there is always a correlation with a certain standard, and modality, which, like evaluation, contains such elements as objectivity, subjectivity, and attitude. The distinctive features of the two mentioned categories from the category of evaluation are the absence of an axiological conclusion in the comparison and the limitation of the expression of modality to the level of the sentence, while evaluation can be expressed by elements of all linguistic levels. The obligatory elements of the evaluation frame are the subject, object and basis of evaluation. In literary texts, the source of all evaluative judgements is the author, who can put them into the mouth of the observer, narrator or characters. The object can be any element of reality, but most often people’s actions and qualities are subject to evaluation. Depending on the basis, there are axiological, intellectual, emotional, etc. evaluations. Although there is a notion of subjective and objective evaluation, we can only speak of relative objectivity. In connection with this criterion, we distinguish between evaluation in the narrow sense, associated with the subjective opposition between good and bad, and in the broad sense, where the object is correlated with the norms accepted in society. The evaluative semantics is revealed most fully by means of lexical-phraseological and syntactic levels. Lexical evaluative predicates are divided into general evaluative predicates, in which the evaluative meaning constitutes the denotation, and particular evaluative predicates, where the evaluative component of the meaning is included in its connotation along with expressive and emotional components. In most cases, these three components are co-present in a word, on the basis of which many linguists do not distinguish between evaluativeness, emotionality and expressiveness. However, there are differences: expressivity consists in the purposeful influence on the listener by increasing the impressive power of the utterance without changing the semantics of the unit, emotionality expresses the subject’s own impressions, while the evaluative component is associated with the reflection of the measure of conformity of the object to a standard in some quality.
The aim of the research is to identify the mechanisms for translating occasional units (nonce formations) in the English version of A. Platonov’s dystopian novella “The Foundation Pit” (1930). The originality of the research lies in the differentiation of units of occasional syntagmatics, i.e., occasional words, phrases, and constructions, and the identification of methods for translating these units from Russian into English. As a result, the research revealed that occasional words in the analyzed work are primarily translated using loose and descriptive translation. Occasional phrases created through intentional violations of lexical-semantic compatibility are translated through contextual substitution, calquing, mixed, descriptive, and loose translation, as well as addition and grammatical substitution. Occasional constructions created based on intentional violations of grammatical compatibility of words are translated through calquing, mixed translation methods, and through grammatical and contextual substitution. In many analyzed contexts, more than one syntagmatic violation was identified, including violations of stylistic norms of the Russian language, which pose a particular challenge in translation.
The topicality of undertaken research is determined by the constantly changing social norms in modern society, which are reflected in the cinematographic world. Cinematography provides a golden opportunity to consider and analyze a range of unique linguistic phenomena. The major purpose of the present paper is to study the phenomenon of dysphemisation in the English-speaking film space based on the set of the following films in English: Green Book by the American film director, Peter J. Farrelly, the screen adaptation of the autobiography 12 Years a Slave by Terrence S. McQueen, the well-known film The Help by Tate Taylor and the biographical drama Hidden Figures by Theodore Melfi. In the films the main storyline is generally based on the aspect of discrimination against persons of certain racial backgrounds and women, based on the policy of the United States of America during the infamous period of slavery (XVII–XIX centuries) and the historical era of segregation (XIX–XX centuries). During the study theoretical methods (analysis and synthesis) and empirical methods (observation and description) were used. As a result of the conducted study, the classification of dysphemistic lexical units was determined in terms of author’s intentions (dysphemisms with an emphasis on a different skin color; dysphemisms-comparisons with animals, plants and inanimate objects; dysphemisms-designations of social status; dysphemisms expressing gender discrimination), as well as their role and reason for use in the selected set of films – demonstration of a biased, cruel attitude towards recipients and also a reflection of the socio-cultural environment that encompassed US society during the historical time period under study.
The purpose of the study is to determine the lexical features and main differences with the literary Kabardian language in the speech of the indigenous inhabitants of the villages of Batekh and Etoko in the lower part of the village of Malka (Hajihable) Zolsky district of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time since the 50s of the twentieth century, the lexical features of the Malkin dialect of the Kabardian language have been comprehensively studied and characterized. The article analyzes the main differences in the vocabulary of the Malkin dialect in the context of the data of the literary language, reveals the lexical differences themselves, when identical concepts in the literary language and dialect are expressed in different lexical units, traces some differences in the design of the form of words that are common to the Malkin dialect and the literary language. The article also describes some inconsistencies in the semantics of lexemes in the studied dialect with the norms of the literary language. The obtained results show that the main lexical differences in the structure of the dialect and the literary language at the present stage can be divided into conditional groups: lexical ones, when the same concepts in the literary language and dialect are designated by different lexical units; discrepancies in the form of words that are common to the Malkin dialect and the literary language.
The global dominance of English has transformed it into a dynamic, hybrid language enriched by contributions from non-native speakers. This paper investigates the integration of loanwords, grammatical structures, and narrative techniques from languages such as Spanish, French, Arabic, and Kurdish into English, emphasizing the role of non-native authors in reshaping its lexicon and syntax. Through a mixed-methods approach—combining corpus analysis, lexical examination, and discourse studies—the study reveals how linguistic borrowing reflects sociocultural exchanges and challenges traditional norms of "standard" English. Case studies of authors like Khaled Hosseini and Sheni A. Othman illustrate how multilingual narratives preserve cultural identity while innovating English literary expression. Findings indicate that loanwords often retain phonological and semantic traits of their source languages, with social media accelerating their adoption. Grammatical adaptations, such as syntactic calques and code-switching, further demonstrate the fluidity of English in multicultural contexts. The paper argues that non-native contributions foster linguistic diversity, though tensions persist between global intelligibility and local authenticity. By examining these phenomena, the study advocates for inclusive language policies that recognize non-native varieties as legitimate forms of English. Ultimately, this research underscores the transformative power of linguistic hybridity, positioning English as a living, evolving entity shaped by its global users rather than a static, monolithic system.
The paper focuses on the problem of language ecology in modern academic texts and analyses Russianlanguage scientific articles on construction and building. The study is relevant due to the need to establish linguoecological norms to improve the effectiveness of scientific communication. The study aims to identify the main linguistic and ecological problems of scientific text, i.e. lexical, grammatical, style errors, excessive nominalization, and syntactic complexity. The material of the study includes Russian-language scientific articles of the thematic area “Construction and Architecture” published in the journal “Bulletin of SUSU” in 2023. Linguotoxic elements can be traced both in the title complex, in the abstracts and full texts of research papers. The most characteristic linguoecological problems of scientific texts of this area are syntactic complexity, excessive nominalization, as well as cliches. The formation of linguoecological competence of a researcher will improve academic literacy and develop the culture of academic writing.
Formulaic language contributes to demonstrating membership in a specific discourse community. However, the norms of a specific language community tend to change over time, which adds to the complexity of academic writing. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the changes in the usage of lexical bundles in scientific papers in the field of education over the last 20 years. The focus is on lexical bundles, multi word sequences that recur frequently and are distributed widely across different texts. As a prominent feature of any text, exploring their usage and change over time brings insight into the changes which occur in the academic writing style. The results showed a decrease in the usage of lexical bundles over time. Statistically significant differences were found in the structural and functional usage of lexical bundle tokens for both groups and subgroups. This indicates that the concrete bundles used over time have not significantly changed but only the frequency of their usage.
Abstract Ever wider spread of the Latin language in Europe during the Renaissance period resulted in de facto bilingual society. Latin grew into a cultural code to understanding the ancient high culture heritage though in everyday life people kept using local dialects. Classical Latin was also used as the language of education and by the 15th century, most of the aristocratic elites had achieved a high-level proficiency in Latin. The desire to become a part of the elite class pushed artists, their customers, friends or relatives to place Latin inscriptions on works of fine art. Occasionally they even hired experts to create the text for the inscriptions. However, they were not always well-educated humanists and connoisseurs of the classical Latin, therefore the inscriptions contain numerous errors both in the original, custom-made texts and in quotations from ancient works. The analysis of the Latin inscriptions on paintings, frescoes and engravings of the Renaissance period shows that the most common errors are phonetic and orthographic. This reflects the peculiarities of the pronunciation of Latin letters and letter combinations in this period: use of digraphs ( ae, ое ), alternation of letters е-а, oe, o-u, а-о, replacement of y with i, simplification in writing doubled consonants, interchange of ti and ci, parallel use of letters k and c, substitution of Greek aspirates with single-grapheme counterparts etc. Fewer are the errors of the morphological (declension) and syntactic (use of syntactic constructions, agreement, etc.) levels. Even rarer are the lexical deviations from the norms of classical Latin: most of the vocabulary of the inscriptions comes from the classical period. The desire to avoid incorrect use of certain forms often led to hypercorrection. In some cases, the errors were made because the artists did not understand the meaning of the inscription.
The lexical and phraseological level of the language system is constantly in dynamics, reflecting the communicative needs of society. Changes in the socio-political life of recent decades have also caused a change in the attitude of native speakers of modern Russian to the language norm. The boundary between codified and uncodified speech is not always clear. This determines the active interaction of colloquial and slang speech. The increased expressiveness of oral speech causes people who use urban slang to need to transform the linguistic means they know, entailing their reduction and increasing the expressiveness of the utterance. Such processes contribute to the use of phraseological units as a means of expressive derivation. However, a free transition from communication involving slang units to communication within the framework of literary and colloquial speech can ensure that some of the reduced phraseological neologisms enter the circle of colloquial units, and then it is possible to continue the derivation process, as a result of which the language system can be enriched with a new lexical unit. Using the example of the phraseological neologism “na krainyak” (to the extreme), one can see the mechanism of action of phraseological reduction as an intermediate stage of expressive derivation.
Abstract This paper deals with a corpus study of event-based time concepts. Here we investigate their use in time reckoning practices in modern Polish culture and language. The results presented here are based on a cognitive-conceptual and linguistic analysis of the Polish National Linguistic Corpus (NKJP). These results suggest that Polish has rich inventories of lexical and phrasal expressions for event-based time intervals based on environmental and celestial indices and social norms that have not previously been described from a cognitive, anthropological, and cultural perspective. Event-based time intervals found in domains of times of day and night, are here presented. We hypothesize that even when the Polish language employs conventional metric (calendar and clock) time units, the hybrid blends of day/night cycle and cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) could reveal an emergent form of time conceptualization. This conceptual and cultural hybridization is still common among the users of the Polish language and is indicative of complexity and dynamism in body-environment interactions. This interaction is schematized in twofold conceptual constructions of event-based and metric time, blending processes that may generate more creative enactions as an alternative to the mechanical 24-hour system.
The magazine presents a monograph by Tatyana Dubrovskaya, Olga Musorina, Yana Blokhina and Natalia Vidineeva, devoted to the children’s periodical press of the late Soviet era. Drawing on the lexical and thematic content of the “Pioneer” and “Koster” magazines, the researchers reconstruct the pattern of social norms and values in late-Soviet society. The monograph begins with a historical essay on the 1970s and 1980s, linked to publishing processes in the field of children’s periodicals. The main content of the book is an analysis of word usage in the corpus of magazine texts cited for the period 1970–1989. Lexemes are grouped according to individual onomastic concepts (anthroponyms, toponyms), character or thematic features, and statistical calculations of the occurrence of certain lexemes are carried out. This book presents one of the variants of the Soviet “dictionary” of values, specific to one era and one genre, and allows us to reflect on the extent to which children’s periodicals contributed to the formation of the normative model of late Soviet society.
The morphology of the Azerbaijani language has a wide range, so the question arises about the introduction of grammatical and lexical system of language rules. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to update the means of teaching junior high school students the rules of the language in Azerbaijani language lessons. The article is designed to reveal the features of grammatical and lexical structure and a comprehensive study of the language norms of the Azerbaijani language for elementary school students. The article aimed to describe grammatical and lexical features and their expression during students’ integrative learning of language rules. For this, the research used the methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, deduction, generalisation, and a pedagogical experiment. The deductive method played a crucial role in this study, revealing unique aspects of the child’s lexical and grammatical mastery. This was achieved by using common knowledge related to education and language capabilities. Deduction was important for the formulation of distinctive features and characteristics that should be taken into account by teachers when teaching the Azerbaijani language. In addition, the article uses the method of generalization to prepare exercises for schoolchildren from a wide range of educational subjects. This approach involved incorporating the theoretical ideas explored in the study into the content of the exercise. The aim was not only to introduce these concepts but also to reinforce their understanding of the tasks, thus assessing the degree of students’ understanding and mastery. This approach enriches the educational process, ensuring the effective implementation of theoretical knowledge in practical learning experience. As a result of the work, it was established that the comprehensive study of language rules from morphology involved increasing the level of student’s knowledge, namely their conscious understanding of words in the process of speaking. Therefore, the main areas of the formation of speaking abilities and skills of younger schoolchildren are revealed. The article proves that this process is closely related to the increase in vocabulary, which, in turn, is an indicator of the richness of the language. The study presents a structured approach to teaching Azerbaijani language to junior high school students, focusing on morphological analysis, suffix exercises, and the interrelation of grammatical and lexical features. It emphasizes integrating these aspects to enhance students’ understanding and use of language. Key findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this integrative method in improving vocabulary, speech culture, and overall linguistic competence.
The language of Heritage Speakers (HS), or of early bilinguals of a minority language, is often seen as incomplete or less developed than that of Monolingual Speakers (MS). This study investigates whether 7- to 9-year-old English/Polish HS can be distinguished from MS in terms of linguistic skills when complexity and fluency are focal rather than accuracy. Data from 78 participants shows no significant differences between HS and MS in fluency on an overall measure in either of the languages, although HS produce more fillers and repetitions. On complexity measures, the results for English were similar across groups for Mean Length of T-Unit, but there was a statistically significant difference in Polish, with HS achieving higher values. On a more specific measure of syntactic complexity (Subordination Index), HS achieved higher scores in both languages. There were no significant differences for Lexical Diversity. Corresponding measures were positively correlated across languages, suggesting that the L1 does not impede L2 achievement. Overall, we observed substantial overlap between the groups, with the vast majority of HS falling within the MS norms and the MS falling within the HS norms. This emphasises the need to move away from the deficit approach towards HS.
This paper describes the effects of hyponymy and emotion on the comprehension and production of compound words. The research subjects are over 2000 concatenated compounds of English taken from the LADEC database (Gagné et al. 2019). The study builds on the research carried out in Charitonidis (2022), according to which context concreteness for the second constituent was a significant positive predictor of lexical decision and naming times from the English Lexicon Project (ELP) and the British Lexicon Project (BLP). In the present paper, the hyponymy norms from Gagné et al. (2020) were added in the analysis. The results show that both hyponymy and context concreteness for the second constituent are relevant. In addition, all models including both variables have a better fit than nested models omitting one of these variables. There is thus strong evidence that both hyponymy and context concreteness for the second constituent are obligatory parameters in compound word processing.
The article studies regularities determining lexical and grammatical transformations involved in translating noun phrases in Russian and English. The regularities were revealed while translating official Russian and English texts and comparing Russian and English noun phrases demonstrating equivalent meaning alongside with different lexical and grammatical forms. Translating such language units means having to search for adequate translation correspondences to adapt the translated text to the target language norms. The recurrence of a certain correspondence allows assuming its systemic nature and regularity. The revealed regularities are based on three contrasting characteristics of Russian and English noun phrases and formulated in the form of interlanguage oppositions. The study was conducted on the basis of empirical data and constitutes an inductive analysis. The methodological basis of the study was the translation theory by V.N. Komissarov, which substantiates the need for establishing adequate translation methods for certain linguistic units. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the attempt to systematize the essential differences between Russian and English noun phrases, which require adapting the translated text to the norms of the target language according to certain translation correspondences through appropriate translation transformations. It was found out that Russian demonstrates syntactic explicitness, whereas English syntax is implicit, which entails the need to reduce the Russian phrase and extensify the English one through translation transformations of omission and compensation. It was also discovered that unlike Russian, English displays a freguent use of verbal forms as noun phrase components, so there is a need to carry out part-of-speech transformations. Finally, Russian shows a tendency towards postposition, English towards preposition of the attributive noun phrase component what demands the syntactic structure of a noun phrase to adapt.
Introduction. Russian as a foreign language (RKI) is a basic element of the formation of linguistic and cultural competence of foreign language students and contributes to the improvement of their speech skills and the expansion of ideas about Russian culture, which determines the relevance of the undertaken research. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the importance of a linguocultural approach in the methodology of teaching Lankan students the Russian language by reading the works of Russian writers, in this case – on the example of the work of M.A. Bulgakov "Towel with a Rooster", as well as in the development of linguistic didactic material for teachers of the Russian Language in preparing students for the exam at the A2-B1 level of proficiency in Russian. Materials and methods. To achieve this goal, the authors use the following methods: the method of analyzing the collected data, the method of testing, the method of comparative analysis and systematization, the method of observation. The approbation of the developed linguistic didactic material based on artistic works was carried out on 150 Lankan students of the Gampaha Vikramarachchi University of Folk Medicine of the Republic of Sri Lanka, who took offline courses on learning the Russian language of the I.Ya. Yakovlev Chuvash State Pedagogical University (I.Ya. Yakovlev CHSPU). The effectiveness of taking courses using the developed linguodidactic material was proved by comparing the test results before and after the training courses. Results. The methodological development consists in the fact that on the basis of the adapted text of the work of art, exercises and test tasks have been compiled, focused both on analyzing the content of the work of art and on improving the skills of using linguistic units in speech. The exercises are accompanied by the necessary theoretical material (materials for reference) for both the student and the teacher. The system of exercises pays attention to the most common communicative situations in order to develop active Russian language skills in accordance with its norms. In addition to the linguistic material contained in the literary text, the exercises also use words and expressions related to the lexical and grammatical theme of the text, which contributes to an active increase in the lexical stock and understanding of the grammatical features of the Russian language. This method of writing assignments based on works of art allowed students to increase their interest in new vocabulary, develop their skills in using explanatory dictionaries, and also contributed to the development of studied grammatical rules not on artificially composed sentences, but through real text and communicative situations. The effectiveness of this technique is confirmed by the high results of passing the certification exam: out of 150 people who completed the training, 100 people successfully passed the exam and received state-issued certificates. Conclusion. The conducted research contributes to the teaching methodology of RKI. The developed didactic materials, taking into account the linguistic and cultural approach, have applied significance and can be used in teaching foreign language students the Russian language and in the system of their comprehensive preparation for the A2-B1 certification exam.
The paper presents a study of dialect speakers’ lexicon excerpt correlated with the sphere of traditional spiritual culture. A classification of an extensive array of facts recorded whilst surveying the informants in the points of mixed residence in Volgograd region is proposed. The research is carried out in line with the established methodological principles of linguistic units interpretation, and is based on the material extracted from the speech recordings of native speakers of the Don and Ukrainian dialects. The study focused on the key concepts in the spiritual culture of the Russian-Ukrainian population of the region. The concepts are verbalized in the speech of dialect speakers, whose way of life, traditions and customs reflect the life of a nationally heterogeneous continuum. The lexical units relevant for the transition of culturally significant information are defined. It is revealed regarding the content-and-semantic principle of detailing information in the text (within the framework of themes and microthemes) and the semantic-and-categorical means of representing ethnocultural meanings in context (within situations and micro-situations). For residents of mixed settlements, the topics “Ethnic identification of dialect speakers”, “Kinship. Family. Kinship and family relations, traditions”, “Calendar and folk rituals, customs and beliefs”, “Leisure amusements, folk games, fun”, “Nature in traditional spiritual culture”, “Folk medicine, healing”, “Folk etiquette, moral norms of behavior in society, community” are noted to be significant. The article describes the procedure for segmenting an excerpt of dialect speakers’ lexicon into individual topics that reflect traditional culture in its spiritual component; it shows the lexical content of microthemes recorded in the stories of Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking informants; and provides the description of lexical means significant for the realization of these ethno-cultural meanings.
On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, we have started working on the creation of the National Dictionary Fund (NDF). NDF is a digital resource that contains electronically recorded data on the functioning of the norms of the Russian language from various dictionaries. The development of NDF is due to the need to create a single, complete body of scientific knowledge, reliable and objective information about the norms of the Russian language in their current state and historical dynamics in a certain era of its development, as well as the history of the vocabulary of the modern Russian literary language from the time of its appearance to the present day. The system of Russian dictionaries will be integrated into a single network operating in a continuous development mode and representing an interactive dynamic model of the lexical system of the modern Russian language. It is supposed to have open access to information through a convenient digital tool with simple navigation. The NDF will be equipped with linguistic markup and an online search system for necessary information. NDF will offer the user not only the opportunity to see the information from a particular dictionary, but will also provide an expertly developed tool for extracting various types of language information from dictionaries.
Multiple representation theories posit that concepts are represented via a combination of properties derived from sensorimotor, affective, and linguistic experiences. Recently, it has been proposed that information derived from social experience, or socialness, represents another key aspect of conceptual representation. How these various dimensions interact to form a coherent conceptual space has yet to be fully explored. To address this, we capitalized on openly available word property norms for 6339 words and conducted a large-scale investigation into the relationships between 18 dimensions. An exploratory factor analysis reduced the dimensions to six higher-order factors: sub-lexical, distributional, visuotactile, body action, affective and social interaction. All these factors explained unique variance in performance on lexical and semantic tasks, demonstrating that they make important contributions to the representation of word meaning. An important and novel finding was that the socialness dimension clustered with the auditory modality and with mouth and head actions. We suggest this reflects experiential learning from verbal interpersonal interactions. Moreover, formally modelling the network structure of semantic space revealed pairwise partial correlations between most dimensions and highlighted the centrality of the interoception dimension. Altogether, these findings provide new insights into the architecture of conceptual space, including the importance of inner and social experience, and highlight promising avenues for future research.
The article drawed attention to the importance of studying euphemisms that are actively used in the production and processing of livestock products to conceal or mitigate information that may cause negative associations among consumers. The purpose of the study was to investigate the psychological and social aspects of the use of euphemisms in the field of production and consumption. The study used descriptive-analytical, comparative, lexical-semantic and discourse methods to analyse euphemisms in the context of their structural, functional, cultural and communicative features. The article focused on how euphemistic language influences consumers' perception of products, promotes the formation of positive associations and allows avoiding ethical and moral issues related to production processes. The mechanisms of influence of euphemisms on psychological comfort, risk perception and decision-making were described. The social factors that contribute to the spread of euphemisms in marketing communication, including social norms and the desire for emotional protection, were analysed. The article described approaches that include linguistic analysis, cognitive and socio-psychological methods that allow to study the role of euphemisms in shaping consumer perception and decision-making. Particular attention was paid to the methods of corpus analysis of texts, experimental surveys and analysis of consumer behavioural reactions to certain euphemistic expressions, such as “ecological”, “useful”, “recycling” and “premium”. The article highlighted the role of euphemisms as a tool for manipulating and influencing consumer decisions, as well as their impact on the ethical responsibility of producerswho are both directly and indirectly involved in concealing ethical and environmental problems related to production. An analysis of the effectiveness of these language strategies and their impact on consumer perceptions of food products is proposed, which is of practical importance for improving communications in the field of production and marketing
The present study delves into code-switching among young Algerian English as a foreign language Facebook users, aiming to elucidate its functions and motives and thereby contributing to the sociolinguistic discourse on online communities. To achieve this, 917 posts and comments from 42 second-year English-major students aged 19-22 at Batna 2 University were analyzed for code-switching instances. These participants were selected through convenience sampling. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 randomly selected members of the sample to gain further insights. The findings illuminate code-switching as a strategic tool rather than a random choice, serving various linguistic and social functions such as using habitual expressions, filling lexical gaps, economizing words, clarifying, emphasizing, showing affection, addressing specific audiences, and avoiding taboos. Motivations behind code-switching were diverse, including low English language proficiency, linguistic limitations, facilitation of communication, novelty-seeking, emotional expression, and politeness. Overall, the research underscores code-switching as a purposeful linguistic strategy that transcends norms to fulfill communicative intentions and enhance stylistic expression. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding code-switching motivations in online communities, offering valuable insights into language dynamics in digital environments.
Infants' early words tend to be phonologically similar. This may reflect a systematic approach to early production, as they adapt newly acquired forms to fit familiar structures in the output. This "rich-get-richer" approach to phonological acquisition, known as preferential attachment in network science, proposes that new words cluster together with existing phonologically similar words in the lexicon (or network). This contrasts with recent work (e.g., Fourtassi et al., 2020) showing that the learning environment is the key predictor of learning (preferential acquisition). This study expands on previous analyses of vocabulary norm data to analyze naturalistic data, namely phonetic transcriptions of nine infants' word productions, from word onset to age 2;6. Network growth models test whether (a) acquisition is best modeled through preferential attachment or preferential acquisition, (b) the trajectory of network growth changes over time, and (c) there are any differences in network growth of adult target forms versus infants' actual productions. Results show that preferential attachment predicts acquisition of new words more convincingly than preferential acquisition: newly acquired words are phonologically similar to existing words in the network. Furthermore, systematicity becomes increasingly apparent over the course of acquisition, and infants produce their early words more systematically than we would expect from looking at target forms alone. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
The Kyrgyz language, as a low-resource language, requires significant effort to create high-quality syntactic corpora. This study proposes an approach to simplify the development process of a syntactic corpus for Kyrgyz. We present a tool for transferring syntactic annotations from Turkish to Kyrgyz based on a treebank translation method. The effectiveness of the proposed tool was evaluated using the TueCL treebank. The results demonstrate that this approach achieves higher syntactic annotation accuracy compared to a monolingual model trained on the Kyrgyz KTMU treebank. Additionally, the study introduces a method for assessing the complexity of manual annotation for the resulting syntactic trees, contributing to further optimization of the annotation process.
BACKGROUND: The use of mobile devices to continuously monitor objectively extracted parameters of depressive symptomatology is seen as an important step in the understanding and prevention of upcoming depressive episodes. Speech features such as pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate are promising indicators, but empirical evidence is limited, given the variability of study designs. OBJECTIVE: Previous research studies have found different speech patterns when comparing single speech recordings between patients and healthy controls, but only a few studies have used repeated assessments to compare depressive and nondepressive episodes within the same patient. To our knowledge, no study has used a series of measurements within patients with depression (eg, intensive longitudinal data) to model the dynamic ebb and flow of subjectively reported depression and concomitant speech samples. However, such data are indispensable for detecting and ultimately preventing upcoming episodes. METHODS: In this study, we captured voice samples and momentary affect ratings over the course of 3 weeks in a sample of patients (N=30) with an acute depressive episode receiving stationary care. Patients underwent sleep deprivation therapy, a chronotherapeutic intervention that can rapidly improve depression symptomatology. We hypothesized that within-person variability in depressive and affective momentary states would be reflected in the following 3 speech features: pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate. We parametrized them using the extended Geneva Minimalistic Acoustic Parameter Set (eGeMAPS) from open-source Speech and Music Interpretation by Large-Space Extraction (openSMILE; audEERING GmbH) and extracted them from a transcript. We analyzed the speech features along with self-reported momentary affect ratings, using multilevel linear regression analysis. We analyzed an average of 32 (SD 19.83) assessments per patient. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate were associated with depression severity, positive affect, valence, and energetic arousal; furthermore, speech pauses and speech rate were associated with negative affect, and speech pauses were additionally associated with calmness. Specifically, pitch variability was negatively associated with improved momentary states (ie, lower pitch variability was linked to lower depression severity as well as higher positive affect, valence, and energetic arousal). Speech pauses were negatively associated with improved momentary states, whereas speech rate was positively associated with improved momentary states. CONCLUSIONS: Pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate are promising features for the development of clinical prediction technologies to improve patient care as well as timely diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response. Our research is a step forward on the path to developing an automated depression monitoring system, facilitating individually tailored treatments and increased patient empowerment.
Bilingualism is the cornerstone of linguistic proficiency and the ultimate objective of communication in our increasingly diverse and multilingual global context. François Grosjean, emeritus professor at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, has synthesized his extensive contributions to the domain of bilingualism over more than four decades in a seminal work titled On Bilinguals and Bilingualism. This comprehensive volume meticulously documents his scholarly trajectory, delineating the evolution from his formative research initiatives to his current preeminence in the field. Specifically, the book provides a unique perspective on understanding bilingualism by combining personal stories of bilingual people with new research on bilingualism.The book contains 11 chapters on several subtopics in bilingualism, which can be categorized into three main parts. Part I (Chapter 1) introduces the author's personal experiences with bilingualism. Part II (Chapters 2–6) outlines the author's constructed concepts and theories related to bilingualism. Part III (Chapters 7–11) elaborates on the theoretical explanations of social phenomena related to bilingualism.In Part I, Chapter 1, the author introduces his personal journey as a bilingual person, transitioning from a monolingual background to becoming proficient in French, English, Italian, and American Sign Language. This narrative illustrates the significant influence of various language settings on one's linguistic skills and cultural identity. Grosjean also reflects on the evolution of bilingualism research, exploring the shifts in its definition, methods, and areas of focus through an analysis of his master's thesis, completed at Sorbonne University, and his subsequent work in the field. He notes that initial studies concentrated on linguistic knowledge and error analysis, with subsequent research shifting toward language use and cultural integration. Moreover, the author shares his insights from involvement in bilingual research initiatives, such as conducting English–French bilingual interviews with colleagues, which shed light on the real-world application and difficulties encountered by bilingual people in their language practices.Part II (Chapters 2–6) mainly covers the research experience of the author on the phenomenon of bilingualism, including the holistic view of bilingualism, the language modes, and the complementarity principle. These chapters collectively present the author's theoretical contributions to the study of bilingualism, offering a significant analytical framework for understanding the linguistic behavior and characteristics of bilingual speakers.In Chapter 2, the author critically examines the traditional monolingual perspective by analyzing two papers from 1985 and 1989. The author argues that bilingual people are not simply the combination of two monolingual speakers but rather possess a unique and specific linguistic configuration. Then, the author presents the holistic view of bilingualism, which refers to how bilinguals seamlessly integrate two languages into a unique linguistic system during their everyday communication. He introduces a definition of bilingualism as “the use of two or more languages (or dialogues) in everyday life,” a perspective that aligns closely with the views of many scholars, prioritizing language usage over linguistic proficiency (García & Li, 2014). This chapter also delves into the language skills, language acquisition processes, and the impact on language research of bilingual people, highlighting the importance of conducting independent and comprehensive research on bilinguals.Chapter 3 delves into the intricate language modes of bilingual people, exploring the shifts in their linguistic behavior when interacting with monolinguals and other bilinguals, as well as across various communication settings. This analysis encompasses the monolingual mode, the bilingual mode, and the transitional intermediate mode, as delineated by Grosjean. The chapter elucidates how bilinguals fine-tune their language activation and processing strategies in response to different linguistic contexts. Furthermore, it examines the consequences of these language modes on the production and perception of language.Chapter 4 introduces the complementarity principle, which describes how bilingual people typically acquire and use their languages for distinct objectives, across various domains of existence, and with different interlocutors. The proficiency levels in diverse linguistic competencies among bilinguals are subject to fluctuation, contingent on the specific language necessitated and the situational context in which it is applied. Moreover, Grosjean and his team have undertaken empirical investigations to quantify the linguistic practices of bilinguals through comprehensive questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews. As a result of this research, they have crafted the Complementarity Index, a tool designed to measure the distribution of language usage and proficiency within particular domains.Chapter 5 delves into the mechanisms and strategies underlying the oral processing capabilities of bilingual people. Key phenomena such as the gender-marking effect, the base language influence, and the recognition of borrowed words are examined in depth. The chapter introduces the groundbreaking computational model of bilingual lexical access, called BIMOLA, which is grounded in the interactive activation framework. BIMOLA is designed to replicate the complex language network and cognitive processing strategies that bilinguals use during spoken word recognition, as proposed by Léwy and Grosjean (2008). This computational model provides a theoretical framework for understanding and interpreting the language processing abilities of bilinguals.Chapter 6 delves into the reciprocal interplay between languages, examining how one linguistic system affects the vocabulary, syntax, and other facets of another language in a predominantly monolingual context. It scrutinizes how these interlinguistic influences mirror the linguistic architecture and communicative patterns of bilingual people. Grosjean posits a distinction between static interference, dynamic interference, and the broader concepts of interference and transfer. Drawing on empirical evidence, the author elucidates the process of linguistic restructuring experienced by Spanish–French bilinguals in the French-speaking cantons of Switzerland. This research surfaces clear indications of the first language's enduring influence on the second language within an extended bilingual milieu. Furthermore, it validates the significance of this nuanced differentiation in comprehending and investigating the interplay between languages, as underscored by Grosjean and Py (1991).Part III (Chapters 7–11) predominantly extends the application of the bilingual theory established in Part II, providing a comprehensive analysis of various bilingual phenomena across social contexts, professional domains, and unique demographic groups. Collectively, these chapters delve into a richer understanding and a nuanced examination of bilingualism, spanning a wide array of dimensions—from individual particularities to societal collectives, from scholarly inquiry to practical application, and from linguistic competence to cultural identity.Chapter 7 delineates the nuanced distinction between bilingualism and biculturalism, clarifying that the ability to speak two languages does not inherently imply a dual cultural identity, and conversely, biculturalism is not solely the province of bilingual people. The author elucidates three defining attributes of biculturalism: active engagement in the lives of two or more cultural milieus, the capacity to adapt to disparate cultural norms and behaviors, and the synthesis of cultural attributes into a cohesive identity. Although these traits resonate with the definition of bicultural phenomena posited by Nguyen and Benet-Martinez (2007), the latter's conceptualization places a stronger emphasis on the integration of cultures. Subsequently, the author delves into the ways in which biculturals forge a unique sense of self and navigate the dual classifications imposed by disparate cultural communities. Additionally, the chapter challenges the prevalent notion that bilinguals undergo personality shifts with linguistic alternation, contending that changes in demeanor are more profoundly influenced by the social environment and contextual factors than by the language being spoken.Chapter 8 initially analyzes the similarities and differences in language use between deaf bilinguals and their hearing counterparts. It delves into the bilingual proficiency and bicultural experiences of deaf people, underscoring their distinctive and multifaceted status as a linguistic and cultural minority. Deaf people constitute a unique demographic, characterized by their bilingual and bicultural competencies (Ritzmann & Gore, 2019). The author advocates for attention to the bilingual education rights of deaf children, pointing out the importance of sign language and mainstream language (written or spoken) in their development. Concurrently, the chapter addresses the societal misconceptions surrounding deaf bilingualism and biculturalism, issuing a call for greater inclusivity and support. This advocacy is aimed at ensuring that deaf children have equitable access to and mastery of both languages, thereby enabling them to engage fully in both the deaf and hearing communities.Chapter 9 explores the complex statistical terrain of global bilingualism, shedding light on the nuanced differences and methodological challenges encountered when attempting to measure bilingual populations across different countries. By analyzing census data from the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and France, the chapter illuminates the extensive reach, intricate patterns, and shifting dynamics of bilingualism within these nations. Concurrently, it underscores the untapped potential and critical significance of bilingual statistics as a vital domain for scholarly inquiry, advocating for a more sophisticated approach to capturing the rich and varied aspects of bilingualism on a global scale.Chapter 10 focuses on the intriguing subset of people known as “special bilinguals,” a category that encompasses those whose professional roles or unique talents are inextricably linked to their bilingual proficiency. This group includes such diverse professions as bilingual authors, translators, and educators of second languages, as well as those whose work relies on the mastery of specific linguistic skills, such as pilots, air traffic controllers, and international journalists. Grosjean advocates for the establishment of a novel branch within bilingual research, dedicated to delving deeper into the contrasts and commonalities between special bilinguals and the broader population of ordinary bilinguals.In Chapter 11, Grosjean underscores the imperative of educating the public about bilingualism and biculturalism. He is convinced that the findings of bilingual research hold significant social implications, particularly in the realms of bilingual children's education and the linguistic rights of deaf children. Fellow scholars, such as Higgins and Lieberman (2016), concur with the necessity of guaranteeing language access for deaf children. Despite the fact that approximately half of the world's population is bilingual, research in this area remains scarce. Consequently, Grosjean is dedicated to the dissemination of bilingual insights to both the public and professional spheres. He accomplishes this mission through diverse platforms, including academic instruction, publications, blogging, and public lectures, thereby fostering a broader understanding and appreciation of bilingualism.Throughout these chapters, Grosjean showcases a profound and nuanced understanding of bilingualism, informed by his personal experiences and decades of scholarly inquiry. He delves into the linguistic intricacies of bilingualism and investigates its cultural and societal implications, providing robust theoretical foundations and empirical evidence to underpin the field of bilingual studies. His central thesis can be encapsulated thus: Bilingual people are not merely the sum of two monolingual parts but are distinct linguistic entities whose language abilities are influenced by a tapestry of social settings, communicative demands, and individual backgrounds. Grosjean underscores that bilingualism is a pervasive global occurrence, with bilinguals exhibiting a rich variety of language behaviors. Moreover, he challenges the notion that bilingualism is a linguistic anomaly, advocating instead for a perspective that recognizes it as an integral part of the human experience, deserving of equitable and unbiased consideration.In On Bilinguals and Bilingualism, the author offers readers a richly textured portrayal of the bilingual universe, drawn from more than four decades of immersion in bilingual research, as well as from personal experiences and insights. This work vividly illustrates the intricate and multifaceted nature of the bilingual experience. A standout attribute of the book is Grosjean's meticulous approach to simplifying complex concepts, breaking them down into coherent and accessible parts. Readers emerge with a deeper appreciation for the singular and nuanced aspects of bilingualism. Grosjean's talent for rendering complex ideas in straightforward language is truly remarkable, as is his ability to simultaneously provide subtle and nuanced explanations, which speaks to his profound expertise in the subject matter. Notably, Grosjean's contributions to the field extend beyond academic discourse. He is proactive in promoting the benefits of bilingual education to the wider public, to parents of bilingual children, and to educators, particularly in his advocacy for the bilingual educational rights of deaf children. This commitment highlights his role as a scholar with a strong sense of social responsibility.In many theoretical perspectives, Grosjean has maintained consistent perspectives with those previously held and has offered more comprehensive justifications. For the relationship between bilingualism and personality issues, Grosjean believes that it is the environment and the culture as a whole that cause the bilingual to change languages, along with attitudes, feelings, and behaviors. However, Grosjean has also revised certain viewpoints and introduced fresh perspectives, building on the foundation of the original argument. In two articles published in 1985 and 1989, he emphasized significant distinctions between bilinguals and monolinguals. Grosjean highlights in the book that such distinctions should not be interpreted as monolinguals being linguistically disadvantaged. He asserts that both monolinguals and bilinguals have the potential to become highly skilled communicators.In general, this book offers a thorough and panoramic survey of the historical development and contemporary landscape of bilingualism research. The book delves into the multifaceted aspects of bilingual phenomena, examining language modes, the complementarity principle, cross-linguistic influences, and the formation of a bicultural identity. The author skillfully weaves personal bilingual insights with a wealth of research illustrations, leading to an engaging and methodical scholarly discourse within the realm of bilingual studies. This integrative method brings theoretical explanations to life, rendering them concrete, precise, and accessible to a broad audience.A further commendable feature of the book is Grosjean's dedication to updating the reader on the shifting focal points and advancements within the field. Across its pages, he engagingly discusses the reactions to, replications of, and extensions of his work, showcasing the development and refinement of his theories over the years. This approach not only heightens the book's scholarly significance but also fosters a spirit of critical thinking among readers. Thus, this volume is an invaluable resource for courses in psycholinguistics, linguistics, cognitive sciences, speech and language pathology, and the study of bilingualism, as well as first and second language acquisition. It is an apt text for academics and students in the disciplines of linguistics, psychology, education, and cross-cultural communication, and it holds broad appeal for any reader with a keen interest in bilingual phenomena, particularly for those seeking to delve deeper into the lived experiences of bilingual people, the strategies of bilingual education, and the social dynamics of bilingual communities.Although On Bilinguals and Bilingualism offers significant insights, it is important to acknowledge certain limitations of the book. First, the temporal scope of the book is broad, encompassing a wide range of studies and examples. This extensive coverage means that some of the discussions are grounded in earlier theories and research outcomes, which may diminish in relevance over time. Second, there is a lack of integration between theory and practice. Although the book covers many theoretical viewpoints and academic research, the actual cases of bilinguals included are limited in scope and quantity, and there is little practical application, especially in terms of specific guidance on how to cultivate bilingual children in the education field and family environment. Last, although the book emphasizes the positive impacts of bilingual abilities, it falls short in discussing the negative social biases and pressures that bilingual people may encounter in certain environments.In conclusion, On Bilinguals and Bilingualism by François Grosjean is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the complexities of bilingualism and its associated disciplines. Grosjean's opus marks a substantial advancement in the domain of bilingual research and offers an invaluable trove of knowledge for language learners and enthusiasts.
Abstract Critical comments have shown to figure prominently in determining the fate of manuscripts submitted to reputable journals. While various studies have explored different facets of this evaluative genre, there has been limited examination in the context of second language and disciplinary writing. Using a discourse analytic approach, this study analyzed a corpus of 160 reviewers’ reports on submissions by Iranian nonnative writers in applied linguistics (AL) and engineering. The aim was to compare how reviewers employ different categories of critical comments to prompt writers to revise their submissions. The findings revealed that reviewers, regardless of discipline, more frequently commented on language-use issues than content-related issues. Among language-use comments, issues pertaining to lexical and syntactical usage of English were more prominent than concerns about discourse and rhetoric. The analysis also indicated consistent patterns in the reviewers’ reports regarding discourse organization and the balance between positive and negative feedback. These findings are discussed in terms of their practical implications for novice and nonnative researchers in the examined fields, offering insights into the rhetorical and disciplinary norms governing peer reviews and the linguistic choices made by reviewers to guide authors throughout the review process. Increased awareness of these issues can facilitate more effective responses to reviewers’ feedback.
This paper aims to document the coinage and diffusion of sin-lexemes and to evaluate the extent of their regional, chronological, and social reach. It starts by tracing the genesis of these concepts and lexemes in Latin and Old English texts, with a particular focus on their usage during the Benedictine reforms in the second half of the tenth century. Special attention is given to the works of Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 950-1010) and Archbishop Wulfstan (d. 1023), who are known to have collaborated on texts for religious instruction. In addition, the paper examines evidence from anonymous treatises such as the Capitula Theodulfi (c. 800, translated into English around the time of Ælfric and Wulfstan), as well as the works of Byrhtferth of Ramsey (c. 970-1020) and penitential literature. Despite the strong link between Ælfric and Wulfstan, comparisons with other contemporary authors, and especially penitentials, reveal that Ælfrician vocabulary did not achieve widespread adoption. This lack of uniformity may have contributed to the limited survival of Old English sin-lexemes into the Middle English period.
In response to tumultuous gender relations in South Korea, many feminist and anti-feminist communities have increased their online presence since the 2010s. At the extreme end of this spectrum is the radical cyberfeminist community Womad. In this paper, we examine Womad’s online dictionary, which prescribes specific language to be used on their platform, which we interpret as an example of micro language planning. Our analysis of their dictionary reveals that similar to previous feminist language reforms around the world, Womad’s new words correct lexical asymmetries that present men as the norm and eliminate words that invoke patriarchal connotations. However, what distinguishes Womad’s language reform are their words that denigrate men, which sharply contrasts with linguistic anti-sexism. Womad’s separatist and consciousness-raising agenda is distinctly evident in their dictionary, and as a radical group, they are not motivated by widespread acceptance of their reform. Instead, their intention is to combat patriarchy by challenging existing gender norms and expanding the space for diverse feminisms through their radical approach. Specifically, Womad’s transgressive language serves as an important tool in achieving their goals. Due to policing by other users and administrators, Womad can ensure that their language planning efforts are maintained within their community.
Do early effects of predictability in visual word recognition reflect prediction error? Electrophysiological research investigating word processing has demonstrated predictability effects in the N1, or first negative component of the event-related potential (ERP). However, findings regarding the magnitude of effects and potential interactions of predictability with lexical variables have been inconsistent. Moreover, past studies have typically used categorical designs with relatively small samples and relied on by-participant analyses. Nevertheless, reports have generally shown that predicted words elicit less negative-going (i.e., lower amplitude) N1s, a pattern consistent with a simple predictive coding account. In our preregistered study, we tested this account via the interaction between prediction magnitude and certainty. A picture-word verification paradigm was implemented in which pictures were followed by tightly matched picture-congruent or picture-incongruent written nouns. The predictability of target (picture-congruent) nouns was manipulated continuously based on norms of association between a picture and its name. ERPs from 68 participants revealed a pattern of effects opposite to that expected under a simple predictive coding framework.
Although previous work has contributed to our knowledge of bilingual compound verbs (BCVs) in different code-switching varieties, there is scant research on the semantic nature of these innovative constructions. To fill this gap, the present study examines semantic aspects of BCVs in Northern Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, two sociohistorically connected communities where Spanish hacer ‘do’ BCVs have been attested. Drawing on two datasets, we analyzed the semantic domains that are most open to other-language lexical verbs as well as the potential use of these structures as identity markers. The analysis of 1,140 BCVs (903 in Northern Belize and 237 in Yucatan) revealed that whereas ‘education’ particularly favored English lexical verbs in Northern Belize, ‘nourishment’ was the semantic sub-category most open to Yucatec Maya lexical verbs in the Yucatan Peninsula. Notably, only hacer BCVs from Yucatan evince the incorporation of cultural elements and linguistic practices such as albur ‘word play’ to index a Yucatec Maya ethnolinguistic identity. Our findings highlight the importance that the nature of bilingualism and community linguistic norms have on the semantic use of BCVs.
The research aims to identify the characteristics of Kate Middleton’s speech manner and communication style as a representative of the linguocultural type “lady” in British linguoculture. The scientific novelty of the work lies in revealing the dynamism and variability of the linguocultural type “lady” through a complex analysis of Kate Middleton’s speech portrait in the context of modern cultural realities. The research is the first one to integrate phonetic, grammatical, and lexical aspects of speech, which contributes to a more complete understanding of how speech characteristics shape public image and reflect cultural expectations. The article examines interviews and public speeches by Kate Middleton, which makes it possible to analyze the characteristics of her speech in various contexts. As a result, key aspects of Kate Middleton’s speech portrait as a representative of the “lady” type have been identified. The strict adherence to Received Pronunciation (RP) norms, expressed in the clear articulation of consonants and adherence to rhythm, emphasizes Kate Middleton’s commitment to the traditions of aristocratic communication. The active use of abstract vocabulary and evaluative adjectives creates emotionally rich communication, contributing to the formation of trusting relationships with the audience. The use of the imperative mood and personal pronouns highlights Kate Middleton’s leadership qualities and strategic focus on establishing close contact with interlocutors. These results confirm that Kate Middleton is a striking example of the combination of traditional refinement and modern communication norms in the context of the linguocultural space.
BACKGROUND: People with aphasia (PWA) typically exhibit deficits in spoken discourse. Discourse analysis is the gold standard approach to assess language deficits beyond sentence level. However, the available discourse assessment tools are biased towards English and European languages and Western culture. Additionally, there is a lack of consensus on which discourse measures to use and limited evidence of the psychometric properties of published discourse measurements. AIMS: (1) To develop a standardized, norm-referenced, culturally and linguistically appropriate Arabic Discourse Assessment Tool (ADAT); and (2) to examine the psychometric properties of content and construct validity and interrater reliability of different discourse measures elicited using three discourse genres (descriptive, narrative and procedural) in neurotypical control adults and matched PWA. METHODS & PROCEDURES: Discourse samples were collected using three novel discourse stimuli that are sensitive to the Arabic language and culture from 70 neurotypical control adults and a matched group of 50 PWA. Transcription agreement was assessed. A standard approach was used to evaluate construct validity and interrater reliability for 16 discourse measures that assess fluency, language productivity, information content, lexical-semantics, lexical diversity, grammatical category, grammatical structure and syntactic complexity. Strong measures were identified based on their psychometric properties, and normative data were established on these measures. Discourse performance of PWA was then examined using the newly developed tool (ADAT). OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Transcription agreement was extremely high for all discourse stimuli in both groups. Eight discourse measures were proven to have consistently very high construct validity and consistently very good to excellent reliability across the three stimuli in both neurotypical control and aphasia groups: lexical information units, content information units, words per minute, discourse duration, number of different words, number of complete sentences and proportion of open and closed class words. Norms were established on these measures, and cut-off scores of impairments were determined. Other measures showed low construct validity and variable or poor reliability across the two groups. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: The newly developed, standardized, and norm-referenced tool (ADAT) consist of three discourse stimuli and eight high-quality discourse measures that assess multiple aspects of spoken discourse and were able to differentiate PWA from neurotypical adults consistently. ADAT also includes normative data and cut-off impairment scores. The tool has great potential to enhance clinical practice and research with Arabic speakers. Evidence was provided that not all discourse measures are of high quality, as some are vulnerable to differences between raters, discourse stimuli and groups. Clinicians and researchers can use ADAT for accurate aphasia assessments, better management plans and to monitor therapy effectiveness. ADAT can be further validated in other clinical populations with language impairments. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Discourse analysis is the gold standard approach to assess language deficits beyond sentence level. However, existing discourse assessment tools are biased towards English and European languages and Western culture. Additionally, there is a lack of consensus on which discourse measures to use in aphasia, and limited evidence of the psychometric properties of published discourse measurements. What this paper adds to existing knowledge A novel, standardized, norm-referenced Arabic Discourse Assessment Tool (ADAT) was developed and validated in this study. ADAT was further validated among PWA. The study provides evidence that not all discourse measures are of high quality and thus should not be used with confidence. Specific measures are vulnerable to the type of stimuli, the rater and/or the tested group. On the other hand, eight discourse measures were identified to be reliable between different raters and across different stimuli for the two groups, and they were able to differentiate the discourse performance of PWA from neurotypical control adults. Normative data derived from neurotypical control adults were established on these strong measures, and the performance of PWA was classified as impaired based on these norms. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The present study provides a novel, standardized, norm-referenced, validated discourse assessment tool that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for use by Arabic speakers (ADAT). ADAT holds immense potential to enhance clinical practice and research with Arabic speakers. The study also identified strong discourse measures that can be used to assess language productivity, information content, lexical-semantics, lexical diversity, grammatical category, and syntactic complexity for accurate and comprehensive assessments. This will lead to better rehabilitation management by guiding the development of tailored client-centred interventions. ADAT can be utilized in clinical and research settings in PWA and has the potential to be further validated with other clinical populations.
The article focuses on the analysis of the nominative fi eld of the sub-concept ΜΑΝΙΑ in the Ancient Greek language, which is one of the components of the macro-concept DISEASE, covering the entire complex of signs which characterize abnormal human behavior. For the completeness of the analysis, a number of methods were used, in particular, the descriptive one, the method of conceptual, etymological and component analyses, and linguistic modeling. As a result of the study, it was estab lished that the mentioned nominative fi eld is monocentric with a clearly defi ned core and paranuclear and peripheral zones. The core consists of the lexemes formed from the root μαν- (μανία, μανικóς, μαίνομαι together with composi tes), which are the most frequent ones and most fully realize the “lack of mental adeq uacy” sema. The lexeme μανια is a term commonly used both in medical texts and in the texts of other genres. In various contexts, it denotes extreme and excessive behavior and mental disorders. The paranuclear zone includes lexemes which characterize various deviations from the norm and differ from the keyword-name of the concept in shades of meaning. As a result of the semanti c analysis, the lexemes were divided into four microfi elds: 1) “inadeq uacy of thinking and actions” (ἀβελτερία, ἀλογιστία, ἀεσιφροσύνη, ἀλλοφρονέω, etc.); 2) “state of aff ect” (ἀδημονέω, δαιμονάω, λύσσα, μαργότης, ἔκστασις, ἔκστασις, etc.); 3) “exaltation” (βακχεύω and verbs derived from it, βάκχευσις, ἐνθουσιάζω, ἐνθουσίασις, etc.); 4) “morbid mental state” (παρανοέω, παράνοια, παραφροσύνη, φρενιτίζω, etc.). The paranuclear zone also includes the commonly used lexemes to denote disease (νόσος, ἀρρωστία, ἀσθένεια) specifi ed by the nouns φρήν, νοῦς, ψυχή. In the peripheral zone, the near and far periphery is distinguished. The fi rst includes words in which the “lack of mental adequacy” seme is secondary although motivated by the main lexical meaning (e.g., ἀάω, ἀνόητος, ἄλογος). The far periphery is represented by the lexemes which acquire close (or identical) to the semantics of the nuclear lexeme meanings only in a certain context; however, these meanings are not motivated by their basic lexical semantics, arising as a result of metaphorization or ellipsis (eg: ἄλη, ἐλλέβορος, πῦρ, λῆρος, παρακοπή, etc.). Key words: Ancient Greek language, nominative fi eld, sub-concept, lexeme, core, periphery.
Abstract African urban youth languages (AUYLs) often function as languages of resistance and “anti-languages”, establishing alternative semiotic spaces. In this paper, we analyse the encoding of politeness and respect in AUYLs, drawing on examples from Southern Africa, and show that they have complex systems of politeness marking, comparable to the matrix languages on which they draw. This includes different types of address forms, polite reference forms, and the use of avoidance language. There are lexical and morphological strategies to achieve politeness in AUYLs and these can be used to express both negative and positive politeness. The picture that emerges from this study is consistent with previous findings showing the structural complexity of AUYLs. However, the paper suggests that the presence of complex politeness marking in AUYLs may reflect the complex, and at times ambiguous, relation of AUYLs with established, mainstream norms.
The research examines the peculiarities of the formation of the German language in the New High German period using the example of the plan of the Ukrainian city in Podil – Kamianets-Podilskyi. This document was created in 1726 in the city of Augsburg (northern Germany) by the famous German engraver and cartographer Gabriel Bodenehr. The work aims to study the process of the formation of the New High German language at its early stage in historical, cultural, regional and linguistic contexts; to illustrate them on the example of the text of the explication of the city plan. The task of this research is to characterize the peculiarities of the process of normalization of the German language in the New High German period; to determine changes in language levels on the example of the German text of the explanation of the city plan of Kamianets-Podilskyi. To achieve the specified goal and solve the tasks, the following research methods were used: descriptive, comparative-historical, biographical, comparative, and linguistic. As a result of the research, it was found that the text of the plan, although it was written in the New High German period, which is characterized by the desire to create a language standard and the departure from regional dialects, still retains its regional flavour and reference to the written norm of the Viennese chancellery. The conducted research proved that the orthographic and phonetic levels were most affected by the region, where there are significant variations of graphemes in marking the length and shortness of the sound, qualitative changes in vowel sounds, orthographic and graphic features of consonant markings, gravitation to the norms of the Viennese chancellery, as well as a gradual rejection of orthographic norms of the Middle High German period. Certain changes at the morphological level were found in the explication text, which testifies to the formation and consolidation of some grammatical categories (tense forms of verbs, use of passive constructions, declension of nouns and adjectives). The information focus of the text determines its lexical content, which can be seen in the author’s extensive use of anthroponyms (names of architectural and church buildings) and toponyms. The historical and cultural context of the development of the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi is reflected in the author’s use of proper names (names of historical figures, religious orders, political and military groups) and a significant number of borrowings from French, Turkish/Arabic, Latin, and Italian languages. It has been established that the syntactic level is the most normalized and closest to the modern German language. Therefore, the conducted linguistic analysis of the text of the city plan testified that in the first half of the 18th century, there was no complete unification of the written norm of the German literary language. However, separate attempts were made to standardize it. Among the promising research areas, it is worth conducting a comparative analysis of other city plans of this period in order to identify common features in the development of the German language.
The article analyzed translations of the public signs installed on the territory of China and are aimed at native speakers of the Russian language. It is important to note that when translating from Chinese into Russian, while taking into consideration to the differences in the system of languages, the norms of the contemporary Russian literary language, including syntactic norms, are violated. In this paper, the authors propose a classification of the types of violations of the linguistic norms of the present-day Russian literary language based on the texts of public signs in Russian. The reasons for the occurrence of these violations are presented and a recommended translation option is proposed. Errors in the translation of public signs are described from the point of view of syntactic structures, e. g. various types of phrases and sentences. At the same time, along with the violation of syntactic norms in the translation of public signs into Russian, violations of lexical norms are considered. More precise equivalents for both languages are proposed, taking into account cross-cultural communication aspects. The set public signs translated into Russian can serve as a starting point for further research into graphic, spelling, lexical, grammatical and even pragmatic errors.