scholarly journals Vertical and horizontal language needs

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-36
Author(s):  
Juraj Dolník
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Proper Names ◽  
Special Regard ◽  
Objective Truth ◽  
Horizontal Orientation ◽  
Governing Factor ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
Language Needs ◽  
Language Modality

Abstract The author asked the question of how the vertical and horizontal orientation of man manifests itself in his linguistic world. He follows the interpretations of the philosopher P. Sloterdijk and accepts the thesis that man’s activities are governed by his vertical and horizontal needs. He emphasizes that one experiences a vertical need as a need to have access to objective truth as well as a paradigmatic need, that is, the need to discover a pattern for one’s own behavior and action. In contrast, horizontal needs motivate him to concentrate on his own self-realization potential. He then develops the idea that a person also in the language modality has both horizontal and vertical needs and demonstrates how these needs manifest themselves in language communication and then in naming units with special regard to proper names. The interpretation of language communication and naming units from the perspective of these needs led the author to conclude that the fundamental governing factor of language use is the truth.

scholarly journals Test de Français Laval-Montreal: Does It Measure What It Should Measure?

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Romain Schmitt ◽  
Shahrzad Saif
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Target Language ◽  
French Language ◽  
Task Characteristics ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Formation Initiale ◽  
Teacher Training Programs ◽  
Language Needs

This article reports on a study conducted as part of a larger investigation of the predictive validity of the Test de Français Laval-Montreal (TFLM), a high-stakes French language test used for admission and placement purposes for Teacher- Training Programs (TTPs) in major francophone universities in Canada (Schmitt, 2015). The objective of this study is to examine the validity of TFLM tasks for measuring language abilities required by tasks common to the Target Language Use (TLU; Bachman & Palmer, 2010) domains in which preservice teachers are expected to function. Adopting Messick’s conception of construct validity (1989) and Bachman & Palmer’s Framework of Task Characteristics (2010), the study features a comprehensive task analysis detailing the characteristics of TFLM tasks in contrast to those of three major TLU academic and instructional contexts linked to the test. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the standards of validity (Messick, 1996) and qualities of usefulness (Bachman & Palmer, 1996). Findings suggest that TFLM tasks and constructs do not represent those of the TLU contexts and do not address the language needs of preservice teachers as identified by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS). The implications for the consequential aspect of TFLM validity and the potential nega- tive consequences of TFLM use as an admission test are discussed. Cet article présente une partie d’une étude plus complète sur la validité prédictive du Test de Français Laval-Montréal (TFLM), test de langue française à enjeux critiques utilisé comme test d’admission et de placement dans les programmes de formation initiale en enseignement d’importantes universités francophones au Canada (Schmitt, 2015). Le but de ce e étude est d’analyser la validité des tâches du TFLM à des fins d’évaluation des compétences linguistiques exigées dans les tâches communes aux domaines d’utilisation de la langue cible dans lesquels les enseignants en formation doivent fonctionner (Target Language Use (TLU); Bachman & Palmer, 2010). Basée sur la conception de la validité conceptuelle de Messick (1989) et le cadre d’analyse des caractéristiques des tâches de Bachman & Palmer (2010), l’étude compare de manière détaillée les tâches du TFLM à celles de trois contextes académiques et pédagogiques d’emploi de la langue cible. Les résultats de cette analyse sont évalués en termes de validité (Messick, 1996) et des qualités des tests (Bachman & Palmer, 1996). Les résultats indiquent que les tâches du TFLM et les construits qu’il est sensé évaluer ne correspondent pas à ceux des contextes d’emploi de la langue cible et ne répondent pas aux besoins des ensei- gnants en formation tels qu’identi és par le Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS). La validité du TFLM, les conséquences ainsi que les aspects potentiellement négatifs de son utilisation comme test d’admission sont discutés. 

scholarly journals Words That Go Together: Teaching Collocations in the EFL Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-118
Author(s):  
Tünde Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Everyday Language ◽  
Special Regard ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Right ◽  
Constituent Elements

Abstract Using the right collocations in a foreign language is often a challenge for language learners who may not be familiar with their use and characteristics. After presenting the types of collocations and the importance they have in the acquisition of a foreign language, the paper draws attention to the necessity of raising students’ awareness of collocations, and at the same time it reflects on possible ways of teaching them. Focusing especially on verb-noun collocations, the paper examines the learning materials used in the EFL classes at Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Miercurea Ciuc, with special regard to the exercises on these constructions. In line with construction grammar theories (Goldberg 1995, 1997, 2006), it is assumed that collocations are to be treated as constructions, pairings of form and meaning, including patterns with different degrees of predictability. Collocations, consisting of both predictable (e. g. read a book, blue sky) and non-predictable forms (e. g. run a program, safe and sound) can be more easily remembered if regarded as constructions where all the constituent elements contribute to the meaning of the construction as a whole (but whose meaning is more than the sum of the constituent elements). In order to gain a better understanding of collocations, the use of electronic corpora and electronic databases as well as additional materials on collocations that would complement the language materials used in class is highly encouraged. By making use of these resources, students can see examples of everyday language use and become more aware of the use of collocations as well as the similarities and differences between them in different languages.

scholarly journals Extracting Significant Words in Engineering Texts for Specialised Language Descriptions

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 5862-5868
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
Academic Discourse ◽  
Multivariate Technique ◽  
Technical Vocabulary ◽  
Reference Corpus ◽  
Language Needs ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Potential Tool ◽  
National Corpus

The academic discourse of a specialised language is characterised by specialised and technical vocabulary, and lexicogrammar. Studies on language description suggest the need to explore and determine the specific characteristics of the academic discourse of each specialised language, to serve the language needs of the learners. This study demonstrates an exploration of this discipline specificity by looking at the nouns used in a specialised language - an Engineering English. It attempts to integrate a multivariate technique, i.e. the Correspondence Analysis (CA), as a tool to extract significant nouns in a specialised language for any further language use scrutiny. CA allows visual representations of the word interrelationships across different genres in a specialised language. To exemplify this, an Engineering English Corpus (E2C) was created. E2C is composed of two sub-corpora (genres): Engineering reference books (RBC) and online journals articles (EJC). The British National Corpus (BNC) was used as the reference corpus. 30 key-key-nouns were identified from the E2C, and the frequency lists of the words were retrieved from all the corpora to run the CA. The CA maps of the nouns display how these corpora are different from each other, as well as, which words characterise not only E2C from a general corpus (BNC), but also the different genres in E2C. Thus, CA proves to be a potential tool to display words which characterise not only a specialised corpus from a general corpus, but also the different genres in that specialised corpus. This study promises more informed descriptions of a specialised language can be made with the identification of specific and significant vocabulary for any academic discourse investigations.

scholarly journals Appraisal of the Fairness Moral Foundation Predicts the Language Use Involving Moral Issues on Twitter Among Japanese

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Matsuo ◽  
Baofa Du ◽  
Kazutoshi Sasahara
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Japanese Version ◽  
Moral Foundations ◽  
Moral Concern ◽  
Moral Foundation ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
The Relationship

Moral appraisals are found to be associated with a person’s individual differences (e.g., political ideology), and the effects of individual differences on language use have been studied within the framework of the Moral Foundations Theory (MFT). However, the relationship between one’s moral concern and the use of language involving morality on social media is not self-evident. The present exploratory study investigated that relationship using the MFT. Participants’ tweets and self-reported responses to the questionnaire were collected to measure the degree of their appraisals according to the five foundations of the MFT. The Japanese version of the Moral Foundations Dictionary (J-MFD) was used to quantify the number of words in tweets relevant to the MFT’s five moral foundations. The results showed that endorsement of the Fairness and Authority foundations predicted the word frequency in the J-MFD across all five foundations. The findings suggest that the trade-off relationship between the Fairness and Authority foundations plays a key role in online language communication. The implications and future directions to scrutinize that foundation are discussed.

scholarly journals Inclusive Language Use in Multicultural Business Organizations: The Effect on Creativity and Performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Lauring ◽  
Anders Klitmøller
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Language Diversity ◽  
Theoretical Idea ◽  
General Hypothesis ◽  
Shared Identity ◽  
Inclusive Language ◽  
Multicultural Organizations ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
And Performance

Few studies have dealt with inclusive language use in multicultural organizations. This is unfortunate because it has been hypothesized that such organizations will be more creative and will perform better than mono-cultural organizations if communication issues are dealt with correctly by managers. In this study, we test the general hypothesis that inclusive language use by managers and employees in formal and informal situations will increase the creativity and performance in multicultural organizations. By use of responses from 676 individuals employed in privately owned multicultural companies, we found that management common language communication was strongly associated with performance but not with creativity. Openness to language diversity among employees, however, had strong relations with both creativity and performance. This indicates that management communication may provide information and a shared identity that can increase the performance of an organization. Yet in order to increase creativity, there is a need to also facilitate inclusive group processes. The findings provide new insights into the theoretical idea that diversity leads to creativity and performance if communication is managed correctly.

scholarly journals Mythological Names and dróttkvætt Formulae I: When is a Valkyrie Like a Spear?

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-139
Author(s):  
Frog
Keyword(s):  
Surface Texture ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Proper Names ◽  
Old Norse ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Oral Poetry ◽  
Semantic Categories ◽  
First Case ◽  
Illustrative Case Study

This article explores patterns of language use in oral poetry within a variety of semantic formula. Such a formula may vary its surface texture in relation to phonic demands of the metrical environment in which it is realized. Metrically entangled kennings in Old Norse dróttkvætt poetry provide material for a series of case studies focusing on variation in realizing formulae of this type. Old Norse kennings present a semantic formula of a particular type which is valuable as an example owing to the extremes of textural variation that it enables. Focus will be on variation between two broad semantic categories in expressing the formula’s consistent unit of meaning that are otherwise unambiguously distinct: proper names for mythological beings and poetic terms for weapons and armour. This article introduces an approach to kennings as semantic formulae and includes an illustrative case study on kennings meaning ‘battle’ in the last three metrical positions of a dróttkvætt line. The case study is simultaneously used to demonstrate the degree of integration of mythological proper names in the poetic register. This article contains only the first case study of a series. It provides foundations for examining variation in the associative links exhibited by names of mythic beings as a category according to the metrical positions in which a battle-kenning is realized.

ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Lucia Septiana
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Business Administration ◽  
Needs Analysis ◽  
Education Management ◽  
Business Administration Students ◽  
Language Needs ◽  
Vocational Student ◽  
Collection Methods ◽  
Administration Students

The importance of needs analysis is fundamental in vocational student learning. Therefore this study aims to identify English language needs for business administration students at Amik. The focus of this study is to find out whether students need to learn English in business administration, lecturer teaching materials for students whether it is in accordance with their skills (majors), references to students' English books are relevant to their needs. To find answers a qualitative approach was mixed with a quantitative approach in mixed methods. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and documentary studies to check data trust. Data collection methods that refer to language skills, language use, teaching methods and other related issues for needs analysis. The informants of this study were students, lecturers and Amik Dapernas LP3I Padang education management. The results of this study indicate that 1), AMIK students in Dapernas need English skills that will be used in business administration is the ability to read and write. 2), English material used by lecturers does not suit the needs of business administration students, 3) materials and handbooks for business administration students do not fully complement the students' English needs. Based on these findings, it is recommended that an analysis of the English language needs of students to find out the interests, needs and shortcomings of business administration students in English. Then, lecturers and education staff need to conduct evaluations of English language needs of students based on their chosen majors.

scholarly journals Use of Discourse Analysis in Various Disciplines

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Hina Manzoor ◽  
Sumera Saeed ◽  
Abdul Hameed Panhwar
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Systemic Review ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Strong Connection ◽  
Exchange Of Information ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Media Politics

The language plays an important role in the exchange of information and communication of knowledge of society, history, culture, traditions, and customs. Linguists analyse various uses of language to determine its impact and role in various domains of society such as media, politics, journalism, reporting, advertisement, war, criticism, and other such areas. Discourse analysis is associated with the use of language in various forms of communication such as written, spoken or signs of language. It helps in analysing how people say things, its impact on the audience, and how it affects the society, or the way society influences language/communication. This study aims to provide a systemic review of literature from various domains to determine how previous researchers explored discourse and language use in the society. The result reveals a strong connection between discourse analysis and language that reflect social practices and issues.

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