Sociolinguistics in a languagised world: Introduction

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Jaspers ◽  
Lian Malai Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
Critical Potential ◽  
Risk Of Confusion ◽  
Linguistic Practices

AbstractThe idea that there exist separate, enumerable languages has in the last decades been widely criticised, and it has led scholars to propose various new terms and concepts such as ‘polylingualism’, ‘metrolingualism’, and ‘translanguaging’, among others. As these terms are attracting considerable acclaim within the academy, this paper argues it is time to reflect on their occurrence, provenance and pertinence for future research and theorisation. We devote particular attention to the risk of confusion if newly proposed terms interchangeably serve descriptive, ontological, pedagogical and political purposes; to the continuing relevance of language separation outside as well as inside the academy; and to the purported transformative and critical potential of fluid language practices in education and beyond. We suggest a close consideration of each of these concerns is central to a sociolinguistics of rather than for particular linguistic practices.

scholarly journals Neoliberal ideology, discursive paradox and communicative language teaching

2020 ◽  
pp. 147821032097153
Author(s):  
Ria Angelo
Keyword(s):  
Related Problem ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
Hegemonic Discourse ◽  
Language Commodification

This paper deals with the relationship between neoliberalism and communicative language teaching in language-in-education policy. Neoliberalism, or the deregulation of state based on meritocracy, or equal competition, gives rise to paradoxical discourses. On the one hand, sociolinguistic superdiversity shows us the unprecedented mixing and switching of languages by transnational migrants. On the other, language commodification requires us to use standard or monolingual language forms to access high-paying jobs in the global market. Parallel discourses in communicative language teaching pedagogy that distinguish between weak and strong forms also give rise to monolingual and multilingual language practices, respectively. This paper examines how language commodification and sociolinguistic superdiversity relate to the method-related problem of identity, a tension in the literature between the monolingual language practices of weak communicative language teaching, and post-structuralist language learner identities that are delineated by language. By drawing discursive and epistemic links between language commodification and sociolinguistic superdiversity and weak and strong communicative language teaching, I argue that language commodification emerges as a hegemonic discourse in weak communicative language teaching policy precepts, responsible for the method-related problem of identity. I attribute the discursive hegemony to a positivist epistemic framework that imposes preconceived language structures and identities on post-structuralist language learners in second and foreign language learning through monolingualism. This paper discusses important implications of sociolinguistic superdiversity as a counter-hegemonic discourse in superdiverse communicative language teaching contexts, as well as directions for future research.

scholarly journals LANGUAGE PRACTICES AND LANGUAGE IDEOLOGIES IN THE TRANSMISSION OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY IN MOSCOW

2021 ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Светлана Алексеевна Москвичева ◽  
Маммадали Магсад оглы Гасанов
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
Positive Type ◽  
Linguistic Representations ◽  
Research Interviews ◽  
Linguistic Practices ◽  
Younger Generation ◽  
The Russian Language

Целью настоящей статьи является анализ условий и факторов, влияющих на передачу и сохранение азербайджанского языка в азербайджанской общине города Москвы в среде хорошо интегрированных и социально успешных мигрантов первого и второго поколения. Работа вписывается в проблематику языковых контактов в городе в аспекте социолингвистической динамики поддержания и сохранения языка. Выбор азербайджанской общины был обусловлен сложностью ее социальной структуры, развитыми связями внутри сообщества, наличием языковой среды в различных доменах, сложной социолингвистической конфигурацией используемых языков, включающей отношения между литературными и диалектными формами азербайджанского языка и русским языком. Использование и передача языка молодыми азербайджанцами рассматривалась с учетом символического и инструментального измерений языковой ситуации. Анализ как реальных языковых практик, так и языковых идеологий носителей идиома позволил решить две задачи: выявить направления динамики использования и передачи азербайджанского языка в условиях миграции и проанализировать, насколько желания носителей языка, их аттитюды и языковые репрезентации соответствуют реальным усилиям по поддержке и сохранению языка. Методология исследования включала проведение социолингвистического анкетирования (70 анкет) и серии исследовательских интервью с представителями общины (6 интервью). Интерес к уровню владения и передачи языка в молодом поколении обусловил деление информантов по критерию возраста на две когорты: от 18 до 29 лет и от 30 до 65+ лет. Далее анализировались и сравнивались языковые практики этих когорт. Результаты исследования показывают высокую сохранность и уровень передачи языка, высокую лояльность его носителей и положительный тип репрезентаций в обеих когортах. Вместе с тем в молодом поколении отмечается повышение роли русского языка, сдвиг в использовании диалектных и литературной форм азербайджанского языка, в социальном образе языка отмечено превалирование символических репрезентации и оценки языка аффективного типа. The purpose of this article is to analyze the conditions and factors influencing the transmission of the Azerbaijani language in the Azerbaijani community in Moscow among well-integrated and socially successful migrants of the first and second generation. The research complies with the problem of linguistic contacts in the city in the aspect of the sociolinguistic dynamics of maintaining and preserving the language. The choice of the Azerbaijani community was due to the complexity of its social structure, developed connections within the community, the presence of linguistic environment in various domains, a complex sociolinguistic configuration of the languages used, including the relationship between the literary and dialectal forms of the Azerbaijani language and the Russian language. The use and transmission of the language by young Azerbaijanis was considered taking into account symbolic and instrumental dimensions of the language situation. The analysis of both real linguistic practices and linguistic representations of native speakers of the idiom made it possible to solve two problems: to identify the directions of the dynamics of the use and transmission of the Azerbaijani language in conditions of migration and to analyze how the desires of native speakers, their attitudes and linguistic representations correspond to their real efforts to support and preserve the language. The research methodology involved a sociolinguistic questionnaire (70 questionnaires in total) and a series of research interviews with community representatives (6 interviews). Interest in the level of language proficiency and transmission in the younger generation led to the division of informants according to the age criterion into two cohorts: from 18 to 29 years old and from 30 to 65+ years old. Further, we analyzed and compared the language practices of these cohorts. The results of the study show a high preservation and level of language transmission, strong loyalty of its speakers and a positive type of representations in both cohorts. Meanwhile, among the younger generation we observe the dynamics of linguistic practices towards increasing the role of the Russian language and a shift in the use of dialectal and literary forms of the Azerbaijani language; symbolic representations and overvaluation of the affective type prevail in the social image of the language.

scholarly journals Gender-Fair Language in a Minority Setting: The Case of Breton

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-74
Author(s):  
Michael Hornsby
Keyword(s):  
Minority Language ◽  
Linguistic Minorities ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
Social Equality ◽  
North West ◽  
The Past ◽  
Job Advertisements ◽  
Linguistic Practices

AbstractThis paper explores the use of the Breton language (Brittany, North-West France) in contexts where speakers wish to signal their commitment to social equality through their linguistic practices. This is done with reference to examples of job advertisements which have pioneered the use of gender-fair language in Breton. Linguistic minorities are often portrayed as clinging to the past. This paper, however, sheds a different light on current minority language practices and demonstrates a progressive and egalitarian response to modernity among some current speakers of Breton, in their attempts to assume gender-fair stances.

Parasite defense mechanisms in bees: behavior, immunity, antimicrobials, and symbionts

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison E. Fowler ◽  
Rebecca E. Irwin ◽  
Lynn S. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Immune Priming ◽  
Social Bees ◽  
Bee Health ◽  
Landscape Scales ◽  
And Function ◽  
Solitary Species

Parasites are linked to the decline of some bee populations; thus, understanding defense mechanisms has important implications for bee health. Recent advances have improved our understanding of factors mediating bee health ranging from molecular to landscape scales, but often as disparate literatures. Here, we bring together these fields and summarize our current understanding of bee defense mechanisms including immunity, immunization, and transgenerational immune priming in social and solitary species. Additionally, the characterization of microbial diversity and function in some bee taxa has shed light on the importance of microbes for bee health, but we lack information that links microbial communities to parasite infection in most bee species. Studies are beginning to identify how bee defense mechanisms are affected by stressors such as poor-quality diets and pesticides, but further research on this topic is needed. We discuss how integrating research on host traits, microbial partners, and nutrition, as well as improving our knowledge base on wild and semi-social bees, will help inform future research, conservation efforts, and management.

Dicarbonyl derived post-translational modifications: chemistry bridging biology and aging-related disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-110
Author(s):  
Christian Sibbersen ◽  
Mogens Johannsen
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Dicarbonyl Compounds ◽  
Protein Targets ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Glycation End Products ◽  
Direct Mass Spectrometry

Abstract In living systems, nucleophilic amino acid residues are prone to non-enzymatic post-translational modification by electrophiles. α-Dicarbonyl compounds are a special type of electrophiles that can react irreversibly with lysine, arginine, and cysteine residues via complex mechanisms to form post-translational modifications known as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and 3-deoxyglucosone are the major endogenous dicarbonyls, with methylglyoxal being the most well-studied. There are several routes that lead to the formation of dicarbonyl compounds, most originating from glucose and glucose metabolism, such as the non-enzymatic decomposition of glycolytic intermediates and fructosyl amines. Although dicarbonyls are removed continuously mainly via the glyoxalase system, several conditions lead to an increase in dicarbonyl concentration and thereby AGE formation. AGEs have been implicated in diabetes and aging-related diseases, and for this reason the elucidation of their structure as well as protein targets is of great interest. Though the dicarbonyls and reactive protein side chains are of relatively simple nature, the structures of the adducts as well as their mechanism of formation are not that trivial. Furthermore, detection of sites of modification can be demanding and current best practices rely on either direct mass spectrometry or various methods of enrichment based on antibodies or click chemistry followed by mass spectrometry. Future research into the structure of these adducts and protein targets of dicarbonyl compounds may improve the understanding of how the mechanisms of diabetes and aging-related physiological damage occur.

Effect of Teacher Training Sessions on Listener Perception of Voice Disorders

1985 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. DeGregorio ◽  
Nancy Gross Polow
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
School System ◽  
Voice Disorders ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Bergen County ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of teacher training sessions on listener perception of voice disorders. Three ASHA certified speech-language pathologists provided the criteria mean. Thirty randomly selected teachers from a Bergen County school system, randomly placed into two groups, served as subjects. The experimental group received three training sessions on consecutive weeks. Three weeks after the end of training, both groups were given a posttest. Listener perception scores were significantly higher for the experimental group. The implications of these results for in-service workshops, teacher/speech-language pathologist interaction and future research are discussed.

Comparative Effects of High-Tech Visual Scene Displays and Low-Tech Isolated Picture Symbols on Engagement From Students With Multiple Disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Holyfield ◽  
Sydney Brooks ◽  
Allison Schluterman
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Visual Scene ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference

Purpose Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an intervention approach that can promote communication and language in children with multiple disabilities who are beginning communicators. While a wide range of AAC technologies are available, little is known about the comparative effects of specific technology options. Given that engagement can be low for beginning communicators with multiple disabilities, the current study provides initial information about the comparative effects of 2 AAC technology options—high-tech visual scene displays (VSDs) and low-tech isolated picture symbols—on engagement. Method Three elementary-age beginning communicators with multiple disabilities participated. The study used a single-subject, alternating treatment design with each technology serving as a condition. Participants interacted with their school speech-language pathologists using each of the 2 technologies across 5 sessions in a block randomized order. Results According to visual analysis and nonoverlap of all pairs calculations, all 3 participants demonstrated more engagement with the high-tech VSDs than the low-tech isolated picture symbols as measured by their seconds of gaze toward each technology option. Despite the difference in engagement observed, there was no clear difference across the 2 conditions in engagement toward the communication partner or use of the AAC. Conclusions Clinicians can consider measuring engagement when evaluating AAC technology options for children with multiple disabilities and should consider evaluating high-tech VSDs as 1 technology option for them. Future research must explore the extent to which differences in engagement to particular AAC technologies result in differences in communication and language learning over time as might be expected.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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