scholarly journals ANALYZING THE SPEECH ACT OF DISAGREEMENT PRODUCED BY IRAQI EFL LEARNERS: A GENDER STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mushtaq A. Sharqawi ◽  
Elizabeth M. Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Current State ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Pragmatic Strategies

Purpose of study: This is a pragmatic study dealing with the speech act of disagreement at the production level. The aim of the study is to investigate whether gender (the independent variable) affects the production of disagreement strategies (dependent variables) used by Iraqi EFL learners. The study is meant to help educators through diagnosing the learners’ pragmatic abilities which were reported by Iraqi scholars as weak and underdeveloped. The study also intends to enrich the speech act literature which lacks gender consideration in the Iraqi context. Methodology: The study is limited to the analysis of the pragmatic strategies of disagreement within the theory of speech act in relation to gender. The study adopts a descriptive quantitative approach usinga written discourse completion task (WDCT) as a tool for collecting data. The tool consists of 10 open-ended situations to elicit data from80fourth-yearIraqi English as a foreign language (EFL) learners who equally were split into 40 males and 40 females. The study utilized MS Excel 2016 for statistical analysis of directness strategies with their dependent explicitness strategies. Results: It is revealedthat both males and females employ the similar amount of explicit disagreement strategies but as far as the indirect strategies are concerned,females significantly use more indirect disagreement strategies than their male counterparts. Novelty/Originality: The current studyis gender-based deals with the speech act of disagreement at the directness and explicitness levels at the Iraqi EFL learners context. Itreveals the leaners’ current state of affair in terms of their pragmatic ability inthe production of disagreements. It acts as a call for educators and syllabus designers to consider the teachability of the indirectaspect inherent in the act under study.

scholarly journals A Descriptive Analysis of Disagreement Strategies: The Case of Iranian EFL Learners

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Atieh Farashaiyan ◽  
Paramasivam Muthusamy
Keyword(s):  
Social Power ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Situational Variables ◽  
Completion Task ◽  
Contextual Understanding ◽  
Pragmatic Knowledge

<p>The purpose of this research was to describe the L2 pragmatic knowledge of Iranian EFL learners by producing the speech act of disagreement in English in different situations. One hundred and twenty Iranian EFL learners took part in this study. The required data were accumulated through a Written Discourse Completion Task (WDCT). The results showed that most participants tended to make use of more indirect strategies (44.85%) to disagree with another speaker’s statement either with higher or lower power or within different social distance.  The respondents’ most frequent strategy use refers to counterclaims with 44.8%. On the other hand, challenges with 8.8% and Irrelevancy of claims with 3.2% were respectively among the least frequent strategies used in all situations. The results showed that learners almost utilized the same strategies in different disagreement situations with the same frequency. Therefore, it indicates that they did not notice the situational variables of social power, distance and imposition to vary their choice of strategy. In other words, they did not have the contextual understanding of the mentioned factors. Therefore, the results can suggest that the learners lack sufficient pragmatic knowledge in performing the studied speech act. The implication of this study is for Iranian language instructors, materials writers and curriculum developers.  </p>

Phenomenal Correlates of Marital Status in Junior College Students

1969 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-798
Author(s):  
Herbert G. Richek
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Junior College ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Lack Of Control ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Background Data ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Junior College Students

Over 500 junior college students (263 males and 249 females) completed the Bown Self-report Inventory (SRI) and a brief background data form. Utilizing marital status as the independent variable and the SRI measures of harmony with the environment as the dependent variables, groups of married and single students were compared. The hypothesis that married college students perceive their phenomenal worlds more positively than do unmarried students was supported for both males and females. While absence of SES data and lack of control of the age variable make definitive conclusions unwarranted, further research using the SRI is suggested.

The Comparative Effect of Audio-Taped and Written Homework Feedback on EFL Learners’ Speaking Complexity, Accuracy and Fluency

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Maryam Mashoura ◽  
Abdollah Baradaran ◽  
Ghassemi Nazanin
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Comparative Effect ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Participant Selection ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Independent Variable

The main focus of the present study was the comparative effect of two various types of homework and feedback (Audio-Taped Homework Feedback and Written Homework Feedback) on EFL learners’ speaking complexity, accuracy and fluency. Also, there are three dependent variables including Speaking Complexity, Accuracy and Fluency. The study offered the same kind of teaching procedures to 60 female EFL learners, selected from a population of 90 individuals. All have been studying at intermediate level of English learning at the same institute for approximately 3 years. The process of participant selection was based on learners’ performance on a sample piloted test called PET, at Zabansara institution. Indeed, Due to the fact that there is a need to be able to generalize the present study’s findings to similar contexts of learning, the piloted PET test was carried out and general language proficiency level of students was measured meticulously. Moreover, the total number of the present research participants (60) was divided into one experimental groups as Audio-Taped Homework Feedback and one experimental group as Written Homework Feedback. Each individual group consisted of 30 members. 10 sessions of treatment (each 2 hours) were held for both experimental groups. The outlook of the present research study was seen as enhancement of language learners’ Speaking Complexity, Accuracy and Fluency. Hence, two models of Homework (by the participants) and Feedback (by the teacher) were carried out. The present research study included one independent variable with two modalities of Audio-Taped Homework Feedback and Written Homework Feedback. What is more, there are three dependent variables as Speaking Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency. It is necessary to point it out that a Pre and Posttest of Speaking was administered to all individuals (participants) considering Speaking Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency. To this end, the statistical analyses were conducted and the obtained results showed a significant influence of Audio-Taped Homework Feedback on the mentioned dependent variables, comparing with Written Homework Feedback. This research study is hoped to increase students’ general language proficiency level along with the focus on new methodologies of assignment/feedback and implementation of the findings as reference in further educational contexts.

scholarly journals The Impact of Raising Awareness of the Speech Act On Speaking Ability across Gender and Proficiency Level

HOW ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-111
Author(s):  
Kobra Ghayebi ◽  
Parisa Farrokh
Keyword(s):  
Speech Acts ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Traditional Teaching ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Awareness Raising ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Impact

The present study intended to investigate the possible effects of speech acts strategies on Iranian beginner and intermediate EFL learners’ speaking ability. The first step in conducting this research was the administration of QPT as the homogenizing tool. It was administered to 180 beginners and intermediate EFL learners. After analyzing the results, 80 males and females as starters and 80 males and females as intermediate subjects were chosen. Then, the beginner and intermediate EFL learners were randomly divided into control and experimental groups (including 40 beginner male and 40 female EFL learners in each class). Next, a pretest of speaking was administered to all the participants and the experimental groups received speech act role play as treatment. However, the researcher did not use any treatment of speech acts in control groups. After ten sessions, the posttest was administered to all participants. The findings suggested that awareness raising on speech acts resulted in a better speaking ability as compared to the simply traditional teaching of speaking for Iranian intermediate and beginner EFL learners. Additionally, intermediate EFL learners’ achievement in speaking was not in line with the beginner EFL learners’ achievement in the corresponding group. Finally, it was found that gender does not interact with awareness raising on speech acts in such a way as to produce a statistically significant effect on the beginner and intermediate EFL learners’ speaking ability.

scholarly journals PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE OF THE YEMENI EFL LEARNERS

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Qasem H. Al-Khadhmi ◽  
Mirza M. B. ◽  
Abdullah Ali Al-Eryani
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Analytic Approach ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Completion Task ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
Refusal Strategies ◽  
Loading Scheme

<p>The present study aimed at investigating the pragmatic competence of the Yemeni Non-Native Speakers of English (YNNSs) through examining their performance in the speech act of refusals. The study followed the qualitative comparative analytic approach. For the purpose of attaining the required data for this study, forty (YNNSs) and forty American Native Speakers (ANSs) of English were involved. The questionnaire used for collecting data from the participants was a written Discourse Completion Task (DCT), which was developed by Beebe et el. (1990), employed for collecting the data related to the use of refusal strategies by the two groups of participants in English. The data collected from DCT was analyzed by using a loading scheme adapted from Beebe et al. (1990). This study revealed that the Yemeni NNSs were not pragmatically competent enough in English. In spite of the similarity between the two groups in their use of refusal strategies, the differences between them were more apparent. The total number of strategies used by the American NSs was almost double those used by the Yemeni NNSs in all refusal situations. This study recommends that instructors should design contextualized, task-based, oral activities and integrating the intercultural aspects of language into ELT textbooks. </p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0895/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Analyzing Speech Acts In The Pakistani Social Media Scenario: A Gender-Based Comparison

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-44
Author(s):  
Anmol Ahmad ◽  
Fizza Farrukh
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Gender Studies ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Linguistic Differences ◽  
Twitter Data ◽  
The Status ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Gender Based

Gender studies have been an invigorating field of study under numerous lenses. Such explorations explore the inimitable distinctiveness and resemblance between the two genders. Correspondingly, this study focuses particularly on written communication of Pakistanis. Utilizing Searle’s Taxonomy for Speech Acts (1969) and Wulandari (2014)’s Taxonomy for Speech Act Functions, this research investigates differences and similarities of language use among Males and Females on the online social platforms of Facebook and Twitter. Data comprises of a thousand utterances accounted from selected social mediums. Results reveal Pakistani Males tend to use Expressive Acts often within their language while updating their status messages on Facebook and Twitter; contrastingly, Pakistani Females prefer to employ the Directive and Assertive Acts frequently in their language used in Facebook and Twitter status updates. Furthermore, Pakistani Males utilize the medium for informing their potential audience about various topics. While, Pakistani Females make use of the status messages to achieve multiple purposes, including: informing, suggesting and asserting. Through application of ANOVA, study’s results validate linguistic differences in language use of Pakistani Males and Females. It corroborates the fact that gender-based differences are part of the identity of a person and these are reflected through the medium of language elaborately.

scholarly journals Analysing Gender Effect on the Speech Act of Suggestion: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Mushtaq A. Sharqawi ◽  
Elizabeth M. Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Completion Task ◽  
Politeness Strategies ◽  
Box Method

This is a pilot study on analyzing the effect of gender on the speech act of suggestion. It introduces preliminary analyses of whether gender affects the use of suggestion strategies produced and recognized by Iraqi EFL learners. The strategies are dealt with from three perspectives: structural, directness, and politeness. The purpose of this small-scale study is twofold, (1) to explore if there is a relationship between gender and suggestions and (2) to check the validity and reliability and thus the workability of the instruments in question to a large-scale study. To this end, the study sampled voluntarily, on an equal base, 10 male and 10 female fourth-year undergraduates using a name-in-box method. The study used two quantitative-based instruments to elicit suggestions: Written Discourse Completion Task (WDCT) and Multiple-choice Discourse Completion Task (MDCT). Each of which consisted of 12 situations approximating real-like interactions. The corpus was statistically analyzed via SPSS and yielded that gender affected the use of structural and directness strategies of suggestions, but it had no effect on the politeness strategies. Results along with the feedback of the raters, who were chosen to rate the situations, have both proven that the instruments in question are valid and reliable to work on relevant further studies.

scholarly journals The gradient nature ofs-lenition in Caleño Spanish

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. File-Muriel ◽  
Earl K. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Symbolic Representation ◽  
Speaking Rate ◽  
Final Position ◽  
Lexical Frequency ◽  
Word Position ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Linear Regressions

AbstractWhereas previous studies of Spanishs-weakening have relied on impressionistic coding, the present study examines temporal and gradient acoustic details in the production of /s/ by eight females from Cali, Colombia, during sociolinguistic interviews. We propose a metric for quantifyings-realization by employing three scalar-dependent variables:s-duration, centroid, and voicelessness. The results of linear regressions indicate that the dependent variables are significantly conditioned by local speaking rate, word position, following and preceding phonological context, stress, and lexical frequency. This study sheds light on how each independent variable influencess-realization acoustically. For example, as local speaking rate increases, duration, centroid, and voicelessness decrease, which is indicative of lenition, and the same weakening tendency is observed when /s/ occurs in word-final position or is followed by a nonhigh vowel, whereas frequency contributes only tos-duration. We discuss the advantages of opting for instrumental measurements over symbolic representation.

scholarly journals Seemingly Unrelated Mixed-Effects Biomass Models for Black Locust in West Poland

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 380
Author(s):  
Karol Bronisz ◽  
Szymon Bijak ◽  
Rafał Wojtan ◽  
Robert Tomusiak ◽  
Agnieszka Bronisz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Locust ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Cross Model ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Dry Biomass ◽  
Biomass Components ◽  
Independent Variable

Information about tree biomass is important not only in the assessment of wood resources but also in the process of preparing forest management plans, as well as for estimating carbon stocks and their flow in forest ecosystems. The study aimed to develop empirical models for determining the dry mass of the aboveground parts of black locust trees and their components (stem, branches, and leaves). The research was carried out based on data collected in 13 stands (a total of 38 sample trees) of black locust located in western Poland. The model system was developed based on multivariate mixed-effect models using two approaches. In the first approach, biomass components and tree height were defined as dependent variables, while diameter at breast height was used as an independent variable. In the second approach, biomass components and diameter at breast height were dependent variables and tree height was defined as the independent variable. Both approaches enable the fixed-effect and cross-model random-effect prediction of aboveground dry biomass components of black locust. Cross-model random-effect prediction was obtained using additional measurements of two extreme trees, defined as trees characterized by the smallest and largest diameter at breast height in sample plot. This type of prediction is more precise (root mean square error for stem dry biomass for both approaches equals 77.603 and 188.139, respectively) than that of fixed-effects prediction (root mean square error for stem dry biomass for both approaches equals 238.716 and 206.933, respectively). The use of height as an independent variable increases the possibility of the practical application of the proposed solutions using remote data sources.

scholarly journals Multifaceted origins of sex differences in the brain

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1688) ◽  
pp. 20150106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret M. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Molecular Analyses ◽  
The Past ◽  
Current State ◽  
Biological Variable ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Brain

Studies of sex differences in the brain range from reductionistic cell and molecular analyses in animal models to functional imaging in awake human subjects, with many other levels in between. Interpretations and conclusions about the importance of particular differences often vary with differing levels of analyses and can lead to discord and dissent. In the past two decades, the range of neurobiological, psychological and psychiatric endpoints found to differ between males and females has expanded beyond reproduction into every aspect of the healthy and diseased brain, and thereby demands our attention. A greater understanding of all aspects of neural functioning will only be achieved by incorporating sex as a biological variable. The goal of this review is to highlight the current state of the art of the discipline of sex differences research with an emphasis on the brain and to contextualize the articles appearing in the accompanying special issue.

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