scholarly journals Idiomatic variation in Nigerian English : implications for standarization in the context of globalization

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dele Adeyanju
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
International Communication ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Communicative Performance ◽  
The Subject

A global phenomenon that involves language use, which has not been given sufficient attention by researchers, is idiomatic variation. In this study, we provide a classification of idioms in Nigerian English based on factors of stability in both formal and colloquial usage, length of usage, and international intelligibility. We also examine the implications of idiomatic variation for standardization in the context of globalization. Against the backdrop of the debate on whether or not the native speakers’ English should be the sole medium of international communication, this study attempts to explain the reasons why different varieties of English should be accorded recognition and allowed to function as media of international communication provided they meet the condition of international intelligibility. In addition to a general discussion of idiomatic variation in Nigerian English, the study provides real examples of idioms in different contexts of communicative performance targeted at global/transnational audience with a view to addressing the subject of “contending with globalization in World Englishes”.

scholarly journals Verbs of falling in English language: corpus data and typology

2020 ◽  
Vol XVI (1) ◽  
pp. 115-151
Author(s):  
O. Vinogradova ◽  
◽  
A. Viklova ◽  
K. Pospelova ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Written Production ◽  
Scope Of Application ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Language Corpus

The paper presents the results of the studies carried over the group of English verbs with the meaning of falling. The research goals included classification of the lexical meanings, both direct and metaphorical, rendered by those verbs, on the basis of the analysis of the components of the situations put together in the special questionnaire. This was carried out together with native speakers of English, after which the collected set of examples was verified and expanded with searches in the big corpora of English speakers’ oral and written production available at the SketchEngine platform. Besides being a great source of extracting lexical meanings, Sketch Engine also provided the data and the statistics for the analysis of collocational behaviour of the verbs in question used with different subjects of falling. The scope of application of the umbrella verb fall and the distribution between it and its two rivals — drop and fall down — was in focus of the three corresponding sections in the paper, while the range of peripheral verbs of falling with all the comparative analysis of their lexical features formed one more section. Separately from the verbs conveying the direct meanings of falling, metaphoric shifts in the meanings of these verbs made up the content of section 6. Based on the findings presented in the previous sections, the conclusions regarding the concept of falling in English are discussed in the last part of the paper. The research confirmed that the verb fall is by far the most widely used in various contexts of falling. Whether used alone or combined with adverbial or prepositional particles, it covers the overwhelming majority of meanings of falling, both literal and metaphorical. Although drop proved to be the most frequent synonym of fall, there is a distribution of meanings between the two related to the nature of the subject and the intentionality of the action. As shown in the paper, the choice between fall and fall down appears to be determined by the trajectory of the fall and whether the typical position of the subject is vertical or not. Likewise, the distribution between fall off and fall down is conditioned by the trajectory, with the surface mentioned with the latter. Among the various peripheral verbs of falling, come and go — the most general verbs of movement — are also used in combination with down in specific cases of falling.

scholarly journals Attitudes of Non-native Speakers of English Studying in Australia towards World Englishes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Nur Patria
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Direct Approach ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Inner Circle ◽  
English Students

The present study explores attitudes of non-native speakers of English studying in a reputable university in Melbourne, Australia, towards world Englishes. In particular, the study investigates different attitudes between students enrolled in a university subject, which indirectly promotes the students’ acceptance towards them and those who have not taken the subject towards world Englishes. The present study uses the direct approach, which allows informants to give an account of their attitudes (McKenzie, 2010). By adopting a questionnaire designed by Yoshikawa (2005), the present study seeks to answer two research questions: (1) Do non-native English students taking the subject have different attitudes from non-native English students who have not taken the subject towards world Englishes? (2) Do the students enrolled in Linguistic-Related majors have different attitudes from the students enrolled in Non-Linguistic-Related majors towards world Englishes? The findings of the study will contribute to the literature on world Englishes and the identification of a possible way to promote the acceptance of world Englishes. The results show that informants who are taking/have taken the subject tend to have more positive attitudes towards non-Inner Circle varieties than those who have not taken the subject. Similar results are also shown among informants grouped based on their majors in which Linguistics-Related ones are more acceptant. However, there is no significant difference regarding their attitudes toward Inner Circle English.

scholarly journals Attitudes of Non-native Speakers of English Studying in Australia towards World Englishes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-305
Author(s):  
Aditya Nur Patria
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Direct Approach ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Inner Circle ◽  
English Students

The present study explores attitudes of non-native speakers of English studying in a reputable university in Melbourne, Australia, towards world Englishes. In particular, the study investigates different attitudes between students enrolled in a university subject, which indirectly promotes the students’ acceptance towards them and those who have not taken the subject towards world Englishes. The present study uses the direct approach, which allows informants to give an account of their attitudes (McKenzie, 2010). By adopting a questionnaire designed by Yoshikawa (2005), the present study seeks to answer two research questions: (1) Do non-native English students taking the subject have different attitudes from non-native English students who have not taken the subject towards world Englishes? (2) Do the students enrolled in Linguistic-Related majors have different attitudes from the students enrolled in Non-Linguistic-Related majors towards world Englishes? The findings of the study will contribute to the literature on world Englishes and the identification of a possible way to promote the acceptance of world Englishes. The results show that informants who are taking/have taken the subject tend to have more positive attitudes towards non-Inner Circle varieties than those who have not taken the subject. Similar results are also shown among informants grouped based on their majors in which Linguistics-Related ones are more acceptant. However, there is no significant difference regarding their attitudes toward Inner Circle English.

The Esperanto denaskulo

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Fiedler
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
International Communication ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Ethnic Language ◽  
The Status ◽  
Family Language

Native speakers traditionally occupy a special position in foreign language teaching and learning because their language use is norm-providing. In linguistic studies they are crucial as informants because they decide whether an utterance is correct or incorrect. Although Esperanto as a planned language aims at facilitating international communication by means of a common second language, there are also people who speak this language as a mother tongue, a fact that has recently received growing attention both within and beyond the Esperanto-speaking community. The phenomenon deserves attention because it throws light on the character of the speech community, and especially on questions of language loyalty and speaker identity. In addition, the use of Esperanto as a family language stimulates the development of the language. However, the status of Esperanto native speakers cannot be equated with the status of native speakers of an ethnic language both because of their limited number and also because Esperanto is only one of their mother tongues among several. Above all, native Esperanto speakers do not decide on the standard of the planned language.

scholarly journals The Emergence of an “Intersecting Circle” in Kachru’s Three Concentric Circles of World Englishes: A Case of Ethno-linguistic Neutrality in Central Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Peter Ochefu Okpeh ◽  
James Udaa
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Linguistic Identity ◽  
Childhood Exposure ◽  
English Usage ◽  
Concentric Circles ◽  
Inner Circle

There is evidence that contemporary Nigeria is drifting towards a society of monolingual English users a component of which could be defined as lacking in ethno-linguistic identity. This trend is found among a generation of young Nigerian urban dwellers (between the age bracket of (12 and 25) who can neither communicate in their parents’ native language(s) nor indeed in any other Nigerian indigenous language; their only medium of communication is English. Although based on their childhood exposure to the English language and their relative competence in it, English can be described as their ‘‘mother tongue’’ but the fact that they are not native speakers given the socio-geographical circumstances of their birth excludes them from Kachru’s (1988) Inner Circle classification of native speakers. Consequently, these Nigerians are left without a clearly defined ethno-linguistic affiliation. This paper interrogates this emerging sociolinguistic phenomenon in especially Central Nigeria, with the aim of stimulating scholarly consciousness on the ethno-linguistic identity of this category of Nigerians, and its implications for English usage among them. The submission of the paper is that another circle, “the intersecting circle”, be created for them since they bestride both the inner circle in having English as their “mother tongue” and yet they are not native speakers of the language

Speech community theory and the language / dialect debate

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daming Xu
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Linguistic Identity ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Community Theory ◽  
Linguistic Classification ◽  
Linguistic Approach

Much research has been done addressing the issue of language and dialect and has attracted much interest in the Sinophone world. In this paper, the issue is approached from the perspective of Speech Community Theory (SCT) with discussion of the identification of Chinese varieties. There are mainly two approaches in previous research: linguistic and sociolinguistic. In the linguistic approach, the classification of languages and dialects is through comparison of linguistic descriptions and intelligibility. In the sociolinguistic approach, actual language use and attitudes of the speakers are investigated and ethnic and political factors are considered. The two approaches tend to result in different classifications. The purely linguistic classification tends to be narrower than the classification invoking attitudinal, cultural and political factors, resulting in a larger number of languages than the sociolinguistic approach. The different approaches are traced to divergent understandings of what a language is. A language is often understood purely as a tool of communication or, alternatively, it is regarded primarily as an identity device. Applying SCT, we analyze the connection between communication and identity formation, taking the example of Cantonese speakers. That case shows a correlation of linguistic contact with linguistic identity among native speakers. Consequently, the relevance of cultural and socio-political factors is explained through their impact on communication rather than directly on a linguistic identity.

СОЦИАЛЬНАЯ КОНФЛИКТОЛОГИЯ: ТЕОРЕТИКО-ИСТОРИЧЕСКИЙ АСПЕКТ

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
А. Н. Сухов
Keyword(s):  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Important Task ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
Psychological Approach ◽  
Structure Dynamics ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
First Time

This given article reveals the topicality not only of destructive, but also of constructive, as well as hybrid conflicts. Practically it has been done for the first time. It also describes the history of the formation of both foreign and domestic social conflictology. At the same time, the chronology of the development of the latter is restored and presented objectively, in full, taking into account the contribution of those researchers who actually stood at its origins. The article deals with the essence of the socio-psychological approach to understanding conflicts. The subject of social conflictology includes the regularities of their occurrence and manifestation at various levels, spheres and conditions, including normal, complicated and extreme ones. Social conflictology includes the theory and practice of diagnosing, resolving, and resolving social conflicts. It analyzes the difficulties that occur in defining the concept, structure, dynamics, and classification of social conflicts. Therefore, it is no accident that the most important task is to create a full-fledged theory of social conflicts. Without this, it is impossible to talk about effective settlement and resolution of social conflicts. Social conflictology is an integral part of conflictology. There is still a lot of work to be done, both in theory and in application, for its complete design. At present, there is an urgent need to develop conflict-related competence not only of professionals, but also for various groups of the population.

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.

Singular agreement in there-existentials

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Collins
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Relative Influence ◽  
Evolutionary Status ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Characteristic Style ◽  
Selection Of

The phenomenon of “singular agreement” (“SA”) in there-existentials — the combination of a plural post-verbal notional subject and a singular verb — has been the subject of a number of studies which have confirmed its covariation with a range of social, stylistic and grammatical factors. Whereas the focus of most such studies has been on the relative influence of these factors, that of the present study is on the nature and frequency of SA across (a selection of eight) World Englishes. Beginning with the assumption, for which there is indirect evidence in the literature, that SA is on the rise in contemporary English, an attempt is made to relate the degree of advancement of the eight varieties to their evolutionary status and characteristic style orientations.

Latviešu metālmūzikas albumu nosaukumi

2021 ◽  
pp. 361-369
Author(s):  
Ingars Gusāns
Keyword(s):  
Current Situation ◽  
Creative Work ◽  
Distinctive Character ◽  
Literary Works ◽  
The Third ◽  
Metal Music ◽  
Local Character ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Common

The aim of the study is to describe the titles of Latvian metal music albums, from the perspective of content, by identifying the common and distinctive character of the metallic music tradition, and perhaps even the local one. Of 241 album titles (data on Dec. 31, 2019), most are in English, some in French, Latin, Russian, some consisting of digits, and 69 titles in Latvian. These titles are the subject of the research. The main source is Encyclopaedia Metallum (www.metal-archives.com), which still does not reflect the current situation concerning Latvian metal music. Album titles in this study are viewed separately from album designs and song titles and are analysed from the perspective of content. The album title is an important part of the work that has been issued because it is an element that makes the audience/buyer pay attention to the album because it must not be forgotten that today the album is also an item that you want to sell. In general, it can be concluded that Latvian metal musicians, with their album titles in Latvian, are mostly following world trends, as evidenced by the integration in the researcher Deena Weinstein’s classification of Dionysian discourse and discourse on chaos. Most titles are more relevant to the discourse on chaos because the thematic circle of chaos is wider. Latvian mythology, along with history, is an up-to-date source for the creative work of bands that is responsible for the local feeling of the titles. A large enough number are titles that are difficult to fit in the Weinstein’s division and form the third group with philosophical titles and simply all sorts of titles. If the philosophical titles follow the world’s trends, the simple titles include the names of the events, tributes, and the titles of literary works, which give them a local character.

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