scholarly journals Travel in Rībi Hideo’s Novels or the Search for an Alternative Writing Style in Japanese

2021 ◽  
pp. 405-428
Author(s):  
Dan Fujiwara
Keyword(s):  
Original Writing ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Japanese Literature ◽  
Border Crossing ◽  
Writing Style ◽  
Psychological States ◽  
The Usa ◽  
American Author ◽  
Globalized World ◽  
Central Characters

Ever since the publication of Seijōki no kikoenai heya in 1987 (translated in English by Christophers D. Scott: A Room Where the Star-Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard, 2011), Rībi Hideo, the Japanese pseudonym of Ian Hideo Levy (1950-), has been considered one of the most important “border-crossing writers” on the contemporary Japanese literary scene. And it should be noted that this rare American author writing in Japanese that isn’t his mother tongue, has been challenging so-called “monoethnic ideology” of Japanese literature, according to which Japanese literature should be written by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language, for Japanese readers. One of the fundamental characteristics of his novels, is that these are mainly set within travelling situations. Each novel features central characters with a similar profile to the author himself (an American translator or writer living in Japan) and who move from Japan to Taiwan, China, or the USA. However, the travels described in Rībi’s novels, which have been analysed largely through the prism of modern-day concepts such as mobility and globalization, do not seem to be so free flowing. Indeed, the protagonists’ emotional and psychological states are often affected and disturbed by a number of problems, particularly language. Rībi’s characters are obsessed with the languages people around them use and permanently feel uncomfortable despite their ability in these languages. Travelling is above all a linguistic experience in the sense that it provokes critical thinking about the potential and the limit of language, in other words its identity. This paper aims to analyse Rībi’s novels by focusing on how different travel situations relate to language problems. It will also argue that the themes explores by Rībi enable him to develop an original writing style in Japanese. Finally, it will seek to emphasise that this unusual author’s literary oeuvre offers us an alternative framework for reflecting on our so-called globalized world.

Language Loss

2019 ◽  
pp. 181-195
Author(s):  
Nilsa J. Thorsos
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Loss ◽  
English Only ◽  
The Usa ◽  
First And Second Generation

This chapter explores the phenomenon of heritage language loss (mother tongue) and the implications for English only speakers born in the USA with parents who are first- and second-generation English language learners. Drawing from critical race theory (CRT), first language loss is examined in the perceptions of Americanism, nationalism, citizenship, otherness, and discrimination. In addition, the chapter examines the dynamics of Latinx parents' decision to encourage their children to speak English only and as a result erode their ability to speak their first language (L1) or mother tongue and cultural identity. The author makes the case for language maintenance and assurance of all children learning English, without losing their mother tongue.

Cybersecurity behaviour of smartphone users in India: an empirical analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pintu Shah ◽  
Anuja Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Computing Device ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Controls ◽  
The Usa ◽  
High Level

Purpose For a good number of Indians, their smartphone is their first digital computing device. They have less experience in dealing with the Internet-enabled device and hence less experience in handling security threats like malware as compared to users of other countries who have gone through the learning curve of handling such security threats using other Internet-enabled devices such as laptop and desktop. Because of this, the inexperienced Indian smartphone user may be vulnerable to Internet-related security breaches, as compared to the citizens of developed economies. Hence, it is essential to understand the attitude, behaviour and security practices of smartphone users in India. Limited research is available about the security behaviour of smartphone users in India as the majority of research in this domain is done outside India. Design/methodology/approach In this empirical study, the researchers identified 28 cybersecurity behaviours and practices through a survey of relevant literature. An online survey of identified cybersecurity behaviours and practices was administered to 300 smartphone users. Frequency analysis of the respondent data was done to understand the adoption of recommended cybersecurity behaviours and practices. Pearson’s chi-square with 5% level of significance has been used to test the hypotheses. Post hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction was conducted for statistically significant associations. Findings Overall, the respondents did not exhibit good cybersecurity behaviour. Respondents have adopted some of the most popular security features of the smartphone such as the use of screen lock. However, respondents have not adopted or are not aware of the technical security controls such as encryption and remote wipe. Statistically significant differences were found between the cybersecurity behaviour and practices and independent variables such as gender, age, mobile operating system (OS) and mother tongue. Respondents reported high level of motivation to protect their device and data, whereas they reported moderate level of threat awareness and the ability to protect to their device and data. Results of the comparative analysis with a similar study in China and the USA are also reported in this study. Research limitations/implications The main limitations of this study are as follows: the respondents' perceptions about their cybersecurity behaviours and practices were measured as opposed to their actual behaviours and practices and the generalizability of the study is limited because the sample size is small as compared to the total number of smartphone users in India. Practical implications The findings of this study may be useful for the design of effective cybersecurity prevention and intervention programs for general smartphone users of India. Originality/value This study provides an insight about cybersecurity behaviour of smartphone users in India. To the knowledge of the researchers, this is the first study to collect such quantitative data of smartphone users in India for a better understanding of the cybersecurity behaviours and practices. This study identified 28 cybersecurity behaviours and practices, which smartphone users should follow to improve cybersecurity.

Globalization, Culture, and Communication: Renationalization in a Globalized World

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koichi Iwabuchi
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Nation Branding ◽  
Border Crossing ◽  
Media Culture ◽  
Cultural Encounters ◽  
National Boundaries ◽  
Globalized World ◽  
Container Model ◽  
National Borders ◽  
Culture And Communication

Cultural globalization has promoted seemingly opposing forces simultaneously, such as recentering and decentering, standardization and diversification, and renationalization and transnationalization. The intensification of transnational flows of media culture and the associated cross-border connection and communication has been destabilizing national cultural borders and engendering the formation of diverse mediated communities among hitherto marginalized people and groups within and across national borders. At the same time, we have observed the increasing pervasiveness of the inter-nationalized modes of media culture flows and communication—“inter-nationalized” with a hyphen is intentional—in the sense of highlighting the nation as the unit of global cultural encounters that resolidify exclusive national boundaries. The synergism of the process of market-driven glocalization and the state’s policy of soft power and nation branding has further instituted a container model of the nation, as the inter-nationalized circulation and encounter of media culture have become sites in which national identity is mundanely invoked, performed, and experienced. In this process, national cultural borders are mutually reconstituted as transnational cultural flows and encounters are promoted in a way to accentuate a nation-based form of global cultural encounter and exchange. While lacking in a historically embedded, coherent narrative of the nation, it works to institute a new, container form of the nation in which cultural diversity within national borders is not given its due attention and thus sidelined. Facilitation of border crossing of culture and communication does not necessarily accompany the transgression of clearly demarcated national cultural borders.

scholarly journals The Rithmatist by B. Sanderson

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsi McGillivray
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
International School ◽  
Harry Potter ◽  
School Librarian ◽  
Writing Style ◽  
Alternate History ◽  
The World ◽  
American Author ◽  
Grade 3

Sanderson, Brandon. The Rithmatist. Illus. Ben Sweeney. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2013. Print.What if the survival of humanity depended on the geometry skills of a few elite youths? But it does.Winner of the YALSA 2014 Teen’s Top Ten Award, this book asks readers to envisage an alternate history for Earth. The Asian nation of JunSeo has overtaken much of the globe, and technology relies on elaborate systems of springs and gears. Society relies on the skills of Rithmatists, who use geometric shapes and angles to wage war against a rogue force of chalklings – two-dimensional chalk drawings with a penchant for blood.All Joel has ever wanted to be is a Rithmatist, but he has not been chosen by the Master. In spite of this, he spends all his time exploring Rithmatic principles. Joel’s dreams are realized when the disgraced Professor Fitch begins to tutor him along with remedial Rithmatics student Molly. When the far-off war against chalklings in Nebrask becomes more real and Rithmatic students begin to be targeted close at home, Joel’s suspicions are fixated on the new Rithmatics professor, Nalizar.In the misdt of this fantasy novel, American author Brandon Sanderson has embedded a number of intriguing questions. What would the world be like if a power other than Great Britain had achieved world dominance? What does the idea of predestination mean for those who are not chosen? What if different technologies had taken hold?Although there are literary and symbolic elements that posit this story as a thriller, the author has included enough humor that it still maintains a playful and adventurous tone. A sense of anticipation is maintained throughout, as the principles of Rithmatics and the plot are gradually revealed. Though Sanderson’s writing style at times impedes the immersive quality of the story, the reader is kept deliciously in suspense until the end. Ben Sweeney’s illustrations at the end of every chapter masterfully enhance the reader’s understanding of Rithmatic principles.The first in a series, this book would appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy, such as the Harry Potter series or The Golden Compass.  It is recommended for children in grades 7-12 and is a good example of “hi-lo” fiction. The accessible language will engage reluctant readers. A reading and activity guide is included at the end of the book, suitable for discussion and exploration in a classroom setting.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kelsi McGillivrayKelsi McGillivray teaches grade 3 at an international school in Kathmandu, Nepal. She is currently working on her Masters of Education in teacher-librarianship and aspires to become the school librarian in the future. She enjoys reading, hiking, and adventures.

scholarly journals Between Jazz, Cherry Blossoms, and Baseball: Transculturality in the Publications of Murakami Haruki

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-84
Author(s):  
Sarah Anna Juen
Keyword(s):  
Short Story ◽  
Consumer Goods ◽  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Japanese Literature ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Writing Style ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Music And Literature ◽  
Societal Norms ◽  
Norms And Values

Abstract In this day and age a continuous flow of ideas and culture takes place, which is part of the globalisation process. These exchanges influence the development of a transcultural literature. Murakami Haruki is not only a transcultural writer, but one of the most popular and internationally acclaimed authors of contemporary Japanese literature who has changed the literary scene in Japan since the publication of his debut novel Kaze no uta o kike (Hear the Wind Sing). Murakami has experimented with postmodern expressions and eventually developed his own writing style, which integrates elements of Western cultures into his works. This paper focuses on the author’s transcultural strategy, which is often reflected in his choice of the setting and time frame, the frequent mentioning of cultural consumer goods and linguistic features such as the utilisation of loanwords. In particular, references to music and literature play a major role in Murakami’s publications. This paper analyses how and to what extent transculturality influences the characters, their actions, and the storyline on the basis of the short story “Nemuri” (Sleep) published in 1989. In the process it is concluded that, above all, these references underpin aspects such as the search for identity, the escape into ‘another world’, and the rejection of societal norms and values.

scholarly journals Transregionalism in relations between Latin America and the European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (Extra-B) ◽  
pp. 297-304
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Andreevna Vinogradova ◽  
Marina Vladimirovna Kuznetsova
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
World Politics ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Globalized World ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
The Eu

Nowadays the globalized world faces new challenges, for instance, trade and economic contradictions between the main actors of the world politics (the USA and China, the USA and the EU). Amid this situation, Latin America could play the card, add momentum to the cross-regional contacts and considerably benefit from it. Fostering relations with the EU serves the national interests of Latin American countries, since the EU investment and technologies can be the tools to modernize the economy. The EU is the leader in implementing harmonization between regions. The relations between the EU and Latin America can be considered as a model of hybrid interregionalism. While bilateral relations or the ties of the EU with subregional integration associations remain strong, the relations between the EU and the entire Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region are still underdeveloped, and countries have been trying to rectify it recently.

scholarly journals Is English a Killer Language or an International Auxiliary? Its Use and Function in a Globalised World

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Ceramella
Keyword(s):  
British Empire ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
The Other ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
And Function

<strong><strong></strong></strong><p align="LEFT">I<span style="font-family: DejaVuSerifCondensed; font-size: small;">n the Introduction to this article, I deal with the importance of speaking one’s </span>own language as a way to assert one’s identity. Then I pass on to the evolution of the English language from its start as Old English, spoken by only a few thousand Angles and Saxons.</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: DejaVuSerifCondensed; font-size: small;">I remark how, at fi rst, it was contaminated by thousands of </span>Latin, French and Scandinavian words, of which contemporary English still bears many clear traces, but nobody has ever thought that English was ever in danger of disappearing. By contrast, in the long run, it became the mother tongue of the speakers in comparatively newly founded countries, such as the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, and owing to the spread of the British Empire, it has dramatically increased its appeal becoming the most spoken and infl uential language in the world. Thus, according to some linguists, it has led several languages virtually to the verge of disappearance. Therefore, I argue whether English has really vampirised them, or has simply contributed to make people understand each other, sometimes even in the same country where lots of diff erent tongues are spoken (e.g. Nigeria).</p><p align="LEFT">It is self-evident that English has gradually been taking the role of a common unifying factor in our globalised world. In this view, I envisage a scenario where English may even become the offi cial l anguage o f the E U with the c ontributions &amp; coming, though in varying doses, from all the speakers of the other EU languages.</p>

Emblematic gestures learning in Spanish as L2/FL: Interactions between types of gestures and tasks

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110068
Author(s):  
Helena S. Belío-Apaolaza ◽  
Natividad Hernández Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Learning Mechanisms ◽  
The Usa

The acquisition of communicative competence in second and foreign languages requires the incorporation of verbal and non-verbal elements. Notwithstanding, few studies have performed empirical research into the acquisition of non-verbal signs. This research studies the learning of emblematic gestures for students of Spanish in the USA using an evolutionary analysis after instruction. Interactions between types of gestures ( common, different, and unique) based on the similarities with the first language and learning mechanisms in free and guided comprehension and production tasks are taken into account. The results indicate that although the detection and production of emblems improve with instruction, the progress is unequal: the categories different and unique obtain a higher rate of improvement than common emblems in specific tasks. In conclusion, it is essential for the teaching of gestures and non-verbal communication to consider, along with the non-verbal target language code, the non-verbal mother tongue code.

scholarly journals A Corpus Assisted Comparative Study of Metadiscourse Markers in Opinion Articles of American and Pakistani Newspapers

2020 ◽  
Vol V (III) ◽  
pp. 43-53
Author(s):  
Athar Rashid ◽  
Arshad Ali ◽  
Shahid Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Writing Style ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Usa Today ◽  
Primary Focus

Writers often use metadiscourse markers to express their messages compellingly and persuasively. The current research explores the frequency of metadiscourse markers in Pakistani and American Newspapers using corpus linguistics methods. Opinion articles from both The News and The USA Today were collected, cleaned, and analyzed using the AntConc software. The primary focus of the research was on two interpersonal features: hedges and boosters. The findings of the study suggest that American writers tend to use more metadiscourse markers than Pakistani writers do. The findings also suggest that the frequency of hedges is higher than that of boosters in both Pakistani and American articles. The findings also suggest that writers prefer to use hedges to convey doubt, uncertainty, and lack of confidence. On the other hand, writers prefer to use boosters when writing about facts that make their writing style more confident and assertive.

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