scholarly journals Identifying English Language Use and Communication Challenges Facing “Entry-Level” Workplace Immigrants in Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liying Cheng ◽  
Gwan-Hyeok Im ◽  
Christine Doe ◽  
Scott Roy Douglas
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Personal Attributes ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
Language Knowledge ◽  
Communication Challenges ◽  
Canadian Immigrants ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Topical Knowledge

Abstract Canada has one of the world’s largest immigrant populations, with one in five people in Canada born outside the country. Among these immigrants, a great majority started their lives in Canada working in entry-level jobs. This study examined the English language use and communication challenges among these new Canadian immigrants in entry-level workplace settings. Fourteen participants were interviewed. The results showed four distinct patterns of categories: topical knowledge, language knowledge, personal attributes, and communication strategies. These patterns of language use and communication challenges were narrated in each workplace where these immigrants survive and thrive using English. This study addresses the research gap of entry-level workplace immigrants in Canada and provides a nuanced understanding through work and life stories in reference to their English language ability.

An historical analysis of species references in American English

Corpora ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-349
Author(s):  
Craig Frayne
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
American English ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
The Past ◽  
Corpus Studies ◽  
Google Books

This study uses the two largest available American English language corpora, Google Books and the Corpus of Historical American English (coha), to investigate relations between ecology and language. The paper introduces ecolinguistics as a promising theme for corpus research. While some previous ecolinguistic research has used corpus approaches, there is a case to be made for quantitative methods that draw on larger datasets. Building on other corpus studies that have made connections between language use and environmental change, this paper investigates whether linguistic references to other species have changed in the past two centuries and, if so, how. The methodology consists of two main parts: an examination of the frequency of common names of species followed by aspect-level sentiment analysis of concordance lines. Results point to both opportunities and challenges associated with applying corpus methods to ecolinguistc research.

English language schooling, linguistic realities, and the native speaker of English in Hong Kong

Multilingua ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jette G. Hansen Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Native Language ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Government School ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

AbstractThe study employs a case study approach to examine the impact of educational backgrounds on nine Hong Kong tertiary students’ English and Cantonese language practices and identifications as native speakers of English and Cantonese. The study employed both survey and interview data to probe the participants’ English and Cantonese language use at home, school, and with peers/friends. Leung, Harris, and Rampton’s (1997, The idealized native speaker, reified ethnicities, and classroom realities.TESOL Quarterly 31(3). 543–560) framework of language affiliation, language expertise, and inheritance was used to examine the construction of a native language identity in a multilingual setting. The study found that educational background – and particularly international school experience in contrast to local government school education – had an impact on the participants’ English language usage at home and with peers, and also affected their language expertise in Cantonese. English language use at school also impacted their identifications as native speakers of both Cantonese and English, with Cantonese being viewed largely as native language based on inheritance while English was being defined as native based on their language expertise, affiliation and use, particularly in contrast to their expertise in, affiliation with, and use of Cantonese.

On thetical grammar

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunther Kaltenböck ◽  
Bernd Heine ◽  
Tania Kuteva
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Word Structure ◽  
Language Knowledge

Most frameworks of linguistic analysis tend to highlight phenomena of language use and/or language knowledge such as sentence and word structure, while backgrounding or ignoring other phenomena that are interpreted as being of more marginal interest for the linguist. The main goal of this paper is to argue that some phenomena that have previously been treated as being more peripheral play an important role in the organization of linguistic discourse, and that the latter operates in at least two different domains, namely that of sentence grammar and of thetical grammar. Each of the two domains has its own internal structure, and the two tend to be separated from one another syntactically, prosodically, and semantically. Building on recent research, the paper aims at defining the main characteristics of thetical grammar.

Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use

2021 ◽  
pp. 136700692110345
Author(s):  
Van H Tran ◽  
Cen Wang ◽  
Sharynne McLeod ◽  
Sarah Verdon
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Language Ideologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
Language Management ◽  
Factors Associated

Aim: To explore Vietnamese–Australian children’s proficiency and use of Vietnamese and English and identify associated factors that are related to demographics, language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Methodology: Vietnamese–Australian parents ( n = 151) completed a questionnaire (in English or Vietnamese) regarding their child’s language proficiency and use, demographic details and a range of factors as conceptualized by Spolsky’s language policy theory: language practices; language ideologies; and language management. Data and analysis: Bivariate analyses (Pearson’s correlation and analysis of variance) and multiple regression models were conducted to explore associations between language proficiency and use and associated factors and identify the most significant factors. Findings/conclusions: Factors associated with children’s Vietnamese language proficiency (oral/written) included: demographic factors; language practices; language ideologies; and language management. In contrast, children’s English language proficiency (oral/written) was linked to demographic factors and language practices. Children’s Vietnamese language use was not significantly correlated with demographics but rather with language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Children’s home language use and proficiency did not have a negative impact upon their English proficiency. Originality: This study is the first to consider factors associated with Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use. Significance/implications: Demographic factors, language practices, language ideologies, and language management were associated with children’s language proficiency and use. The results can be used by parents, educators, policy-makers, speech–language pathologists and other professionals to support Vietnamese–Australian and multilingual children around the world to develop and maintain their home and majority languages.

scholarly journals Illness perception and high readmission health outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 205510291984450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda T Sawyer ◽  
Stephanie L Harris ◽  
Harold G Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Illness Perception ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
The Relationship

This review identified associations between illness perception and health outcomes of patients with a medical diagnosis included in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. Inclusion criteria were English language, use of quantitative methodology, health outcomes specified, and identifiable effect size and statistical significance of the relationship. Most of the 31 studies in this review showed that favorable illness perception has been associated with better health outcomes, while unfavorable illness perception has been associated with worse outcomes. A multifaceted approach might include behavioral, clinical, educational, and psychosocial components to improve one’s illness perception through educative, cognitive-behavioral, or psychodynamic counseling.

Language and Its Everyday Revolutionary Potential

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Mallinson
Keyword(s):  
Gender Bias ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Reform Movement ◽  
Language Reform ◽  
Gender Neutral ◽  
Third Gender ◽  
Linguistic Practices ◽  
Naming Practices

Centering on the English language reform movement, this chapter describes three main strategies through which feminists have targeted language, both as an object to reform and a platform for revolution. First, it describes the strategy of challenging man-made language forms, exemplified in debates over masculine generics. Second, it discusses the strategy of creating and institutionalizing egalitarian naming practices in order to reclaim the power to name and define. By tracing such forms as Ms., it becomes evident that even small shifts in language use can contribute to cultural change. Third, it describes the strategy of linguistic disruption, illustrated through such neologisms as herstory and womyn, gender-neutral forms such as singular they, and third-gender forms such as zie and zir. By using language creatively and sometimes radically to reject patriarchal language, respond to gender bias, and empower women, feminist activists and everyday speakers alike can employ linguistic practices to promote equality.

scholarly journals Een kritische kijk op krantendiscours over Kenia’s crisis

1970 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 79-101
Author(s):  
Roel Coesemans
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
News Discourse ◽  
News Events ◽  
Nuanced Understanding

A comparison between Belgian and Kenyan newspaper reports about the postelection crisisin Kenya shows that the same news events are reported from different frames of meaning.This is partly due to differing worldviews on which the news discourse is based, andthe various perspectives from which the events are interpreted, resulting in differentimplicit meanings. These can be studied to evaluate the quality of the reporting. The Kenyanpress focuses on the socio-political aspects of the conflicts involved, while the Belgiannewspaper coverage emphasizes the ethnic aspect. Both can be criticized. However, bycombining the interpretive analyses of newspaper language use with contextual explanationsderived from ethnographic information, such as interviews or editorial guidelines, abetter and more nuanced understanding of both national and international newspaper coveragecan be reached.

scholarly journals Motivation towards studying english for specific purposes among students of medical and healthcare studies

JAHR ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-170
Author(s):  
Tajana Tomak ◽  
Martina Šendula - Pavelić
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Motivational Orientation ◽  
English For Specific Purposes ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Personal Motivation ◽  
Language Knowledge ◽  
Healthcare Professions ◽  
High Internal Consistency ◽  
Medical And Healthcare

In today’s modern world marked by globalisation there are great demands for global interaction which stresses the need for English language. The aim of this paper is to recognise the importance of students’ motivation towards learning English for Specific Purposes, i.e. Medical English. In order to determine students’ preferred motivational orientation, a total number of 242 students of medical and healthcare professions were involved in the present study. The results of the principal component analysis of the questionnaire survey showed a three-factor solution with Instrumental, Integrative and Personal Motivation as subscales. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the subscales indicated high internal consistency. The results indicated that participants in our sample, students of medical and healthcare studies, were more integratively motivated. The participants, who self-assessed their English language knowledge as better, had also greater motivation towards learning the language.

scholarly journals Online English Comics as Reading Materials for English Language Education Department Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1359-1369
Author(s):  
A. Syahid ◽  
Ulfah Khoirotunnisa
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
English Language ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Reading Motivation ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Education Department ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Reading Material ◽  
Language Knowledge ◽  
Reading Materials

<p style="text-align: justify;">Online English comic is one of reading material that can be used by students. Students should be triggered by interesting and understandable reading material to increase their reading motivation and English proficiency. The objective of this study is to discuss the benefits of online English comics as reading materials and to discover the applications and websites that are usually used by students to read online English comics. This study applied the descriptive qualitative study supported by interviews as a data-gathering technique. The results of this study showed the benefits of online English comics as reading materials. Those are adding language knowledge such as vocabulary and grammar, enhancing reading comprehension, building critical thinking, increasing creativity, and developing reading motivation. The second finding is about the applications and websites to read English comics that students prefer to read. There are some applications and websites that are usually used by students to read English comics. The applications are Webtoon and Ciayo Comic, and also the websites include Mangakakalot.com, Mangareaderapp.com, Mangazuki.info, and Mangapanda.com.</p>

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