Chapter 4. Identity Construction Through Use of the Masu Form: JFL Learners and Host Families

Author(s):  
Brynne D. Ovalle ◽  
Rahul Chakraborty

This article has two purposes: (a) to examine the relationship between intercultural power relations and the widespread practice of accent discrimination and (b) to underscore the ramifications of accent discrimination both for the individual and for global society as a whole. First, authors review social theory regarding language and group identity construction, and then go on to integrate more current studies linking accent bias to sociocultural variables. Authors discuss three examples of intercultural accent discrimination in order to illustrate how this link manifests itself in the broader context of international relations (i.e., how accent discrimination is generated in situations of unequal power) and, using a review of current research, assess the consequences of accent discrimination for the individual. Finally, the article highlights the impact that linguistic discrimination is having on linguistic diversity globally, partially using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and partially by offering a potential context for interpreting the emergence of practices that seek to reduce or modify speaker accents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aasha B. Foster ◽  
Austin Eklund ◽  
Melanie E. Brewster ◽  
Amelia D. Walker ◽  
Emma Candon

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Isidora Kourti

Although public inter-organizational collaborations can offer better public services, their management is a complex endeavour and they often fail. This paper explores identity construction as a key aspect that assists in managing successfully these collaborations. The study draws upon a longitudinal ethnographic study with a Greek public inter-organizational collaboration. The research illustrates that managers should encourage partners to construct collaborative and non-collaborative identities in order to achieve the collaboration aims. It also suggests that managers should seek both stability and change in the collaborative process and offers four collaborative patterns for the effective management of public inter-organizational collaborations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Ayman Abu-Shomar

This article discusses how Susan Abulhawa's Mornings in Jenin, its thematic concerns and aesthetics, are developed in tandem with the discourse of diaspora and exilic consciousness leading to critical praxis. It traces the interactions between exilic consciousness and identity construction in the context of resistance literature. These interactions exhibit the author's ability to be inside and outside discourses of struggle producing a model in which exile challenges bigoted struggles, hence the evolution of critical praxis. In the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Abulhawa represents another humanistic voice that resists dominant political narratives by dismantling their hegemonic power structure.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lal Zimman

Transgender people’s recent increase in visibility in the contemporary United States has presented new linguistic challenges. This article investigates those challenges and presents strategies developed by trans speakers and promoted by trans activists concerned with language reform. The first of these is the selection of gendered lexical items, including both gender identity terms (woman, man, etc.) and more implicitly gendered words (e.g. beautiful, handsome). The second is the assignment of third person pronouns like she/her/hers and he/ him/his as well as non-binary pronouns like singular they/them/theirs or ze/ hir/hirs. Both of these challenges tap into the importance trans people place on individual self-identification, and they come with new interactional practices such as asking people directly what pronouns they would like others to use when referring to them. The third challenge addressed here is avoiding gendering people when the referent’s gender isn’t relevant or known, which can be addressed through the selection of gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language. The final challenge is how to discuss gender when it is relevant – e.g. in discussions of gender identity, socialisation or sexual physiology – without delegitimising trans identities. Several strategies are presented to address this issue, such as hedging all generalisations based on gender, even when doing so seems unnecessary in the normative sex/gender framework or using more precise language regarding what aspect(s) of gender are relevant. Taken as a whole, trans language reform reflects the importance of language, not just as an auxiliary to identity, but as the primary grounds on which identity construction takes place.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
ROHASLINDA BINTI RAMELE ◽  
YAMAZAKI JUICHI ◽  
MD NAJIB IBRAHIM ◽  
LILIS SHEREENA SAFIEE

This study aims to clarify regulations used among each type of registered and unregistered Malaysian homestays and to reveal issues arose regarding the implemented regulations. Selected homestays that are established by the government organizations and individuals were investigated to carry out the comparison on each homestay. Host families and persons in charge of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (MRRD) were also interviewed. Findings showed that there is only one guideline used for all types of homestays in Malaysia, which is the Malaysia Homestay Registration Guideline, established by MOTAC. MOTAC has also been selected as a leader of homestays in the Southeast Asian countries by the ASEAN Secretariat; therefore, the ASEAN Homestay Standard is also being referred. However, the implementation of this guideline and standard among other homestays unregistered with MOTAC (homestays established by MOA, MRRD, and individuals) is not compulsory, although encouraged, where they may receive equal benefits in term of facilities and promotion. Some issues arose due to the tax regulated by the local authorities, failure on homestays to be registered with MOTAC, and abandoned homestays. This study recommended that the Malaysia Homestay Registration Guideline to be standardized and regulated to all types of homestays, including individuals and unregistered homestays in Malaysia. This is important in order to reduce issues arose involving the homestay industry, providing safety and comfort to the tourists and, to help to develop rural income among host families and the rural community themselves.Keywords: Rural tourism, homestay, regulation, management, operation


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