scholarly journals Cultural Maintenance in the Face of Language Shift- Young Sindhi Muslims in Karachi, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (II) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Language Shift ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Cultural Maintenance ◽  
The Face ◽  
Identity Markers ◽  
Deep Relationship

The Sindhi language, a descendent of a pre-Vedic Prakit language is the most widely spoken language in South Asia. Sindhi speech community comprises both Muslims, and Hindus which have distinct cultural and religious practices, yet they are socially connected because of the geographical link with their land. However, due to the partitioning of the Indian sub-continent, many Sindhi Hindus migrated to India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and many other countries. There has not only been an external diaspora but within Pakistan, there has also been an internal diaspora of younger Sindhi Muslims who have moved to cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur to pursue tertiary education. These young speakers have acquired and learned the dominant languages Urdu and English as their second and third languages while shifting away from their native Sindhi language. This study investigates the identity markers which have enabled them to retain their Sindhiness[1]. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 male and female young Sindhis and shadow observation of three participants in Karachi. The analysis shows that young Sindhi speakers have a high sense of group solidarity with their community and retain the use of culturally loaded identity markers which include naming patterns, cuisine, dressing, music, customs, rituals, social values, and networking. According to Fishman (1996), there is a deep relationship between language and culture. Despite a shift away from the habitual use of the Sindhi language these respondents have maintained their cultural values and norms. Keywords: cultural maintenance, language shift, Sindhi community, Karachi

scholarly journals O le Aso Ma le Filiga, O le Aso Mata’igatila. A qualitative study looking at Samoan language maintenance within second generation households

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Leitumalo Paongo-Parsons
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Language Shift ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Heritage Languages ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Endangered Language ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand

<p>Samoan language within Aotearoa New Zealand has been labelled as “at risk” of becoming an endangered language if language shift continues (Hunkin, 2012; Wilson, 2017). Language shift or language loss is defined as when a speech community gradually stops using one of its two languages in favour of the other, in this case English (Ravindrantha, 2009). The Samoan population is the largest community of the Pacific diaspora living in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, the use and maintenance of the Samoan language is rapidly declining. Although community-led initiatives have led to establishing of Aoga ‘Amata (Samoan language and culture immersion preschool), Pacific Islands Early Childhood Association (PIECA) and the establishing of Samoan Studies departments within tertiary institutions, there continues to be an urgent need for government support and the implementation of Pacific language policies to ensure the continued use and protection of Samoan and other Pacific languages within the realm of Aotearoa New Zealand.  The three research questions framing this investigation are as follows:  1. How do the second and third generation Samoans view language and culture as contributing to their identity?  2. Where are second and third generation Samoans using and learning Samoan? 3. Is there a relationship between wellbeing and language shift?  O le Filiga Afa, a qualitative research methodology, was born out of this research in response to the need for a culturally responsive framework. Data was gathered through focus group and one-to-one discussions and included New Zealand - born Samoan - speaking and non-Samoan - speaking Samoan participants. Key findings from this study include:  • All participants had a deep yearning for maintaining and revitalising their heritage languages;  • Language, culture and identity are intertwined and cannot be separated from one another; • The role of elders, genealogy and the connection to culture contributes significantly towards the reinforcing and the maintenance of the Samoan language. • A strong connection can be found between language shift and one’s wellbeing</p>

scholarly journals Language Maintenance and Language Shift among Keralites in Oman

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-327
Author(s):  
Roy P. Veettil ◽  
P.M. Binu ◽  
J. Karthikeyan
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Language Maintenance ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Shift ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Organizations ◽  
The Cost

This study explores the current status of language maintenance (LM) and language shift (LS) among Keralites, popularly known as ‘Malayalees,’ living in Oman. It analyses the leading factors that affect language maintenance and language shift: a particular focus is given to identifying the various domains in which language maintenance is facilitated; the attitudes held by the Keralite parents and their children towards their first language (L1), the initiatives taken by parents, religious and cultural organizations; and the role of educational institutions in promoting language maintenance. Data for this study have been gathered from semi-structured interviews and participant observation of Keralites who have lived in Oman for more than ten years. Analysis of the data indicates that while parents value their mother tongue as their first language and take various measures to maintain it, second-generation children are not keenly attached to L1. Instead, their first language oracy is strikingly marked with code-switching and code shifting, and their writing skills in L1 are diminishing. Refuting the previous findings, the present study reveals that language shift is a temporary phenomenon, and it does not take place at the cost of L1. On the contrary, various factors contribute to the maintenance of their heritage language. Also, the migrant Keralites, as a result of their living abroad, acquire two or three more new languages: English, Hindi, and Arabic depending on their study and work domains, thereby making them a multilingual society. Language shift can gradually result in linguicide, which can have various effects such as alienation from and the loss of culture and cultural values. It is expected that this study will unveil if there is a language shift of a severe nature among the Keratitis in Oman.

scholarly journals Language Maintenance and Language Shift among Keralites in Oman

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy P. Veettil ◽  
P.M. Binu ◽  
J. Karthikeyan
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Language Maintenance ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Shift ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Organizations ◽  
The Cost

This study explores the current status of language maintenance (LM) and language shift (LS) among Keralites, popularly known as ‘Malayalees,’ living in Oman. It analyses the leading factors that affect language maintenance and language shift: a particular focus is given to identifying the various domains in which language maintenance is facilitated; the attitudes held by the Keralite parents and their children towards their first language (L1), the initiatives taken by parents, religious and cultural organizations; and the role of educational institutions in promoting language maintenance. Data for this study have been gathered from semi-structured interviews and participant observation of Keralites who have lived in Oman for more than ten years. Analysis of the data indicates that while parents value their mother tongue as their first language and take various measures to maintain it, second-generation children are not keenly attached to L1. Instead, their first language oracy is strikingly marked with code-switching and code shifting, and their writing skills in L1 are diminishing. Refuting the previous findings, the present study reveals that language shift is a temporary phenomenon, and it does not take place at the cost of L1. On the contrary, various factors contribute to the maintenance of their heritage language. Also, the migrant Keralites, as a result of their living abroad, acquire two or three more new languages: English, Hindi, and Arabic depending on their study and work domains, thereby making them a multilingual society. Language shift can gradually result in linguicide, which can have various effects such as alienation from and the loss of culture and cultural values. It is expected that this study will unveil if there is a language shift of a severe nature among the Keratitis in Oman.

scholarly journals O le Aso Ma le Filiga, O le Aso Mata’igatila. A qualitative study looking at Samoan language maintenance within second generation households

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Leitumalo Paongo-Parsons
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Language Shift ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Heritage Languages ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Endangered Language ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand

<p>Samoan language within Aotearoa New Zealand has been labelled as “at risk” of becoming an endangered language if language shift continues (Hunkin, 2012; Wilson, 2017). Language shift or language loss is defined as when a speech community gradually stops using one of its two languages in favour of the other, in this case English (Ravindrantha, 2009). The Samoan population is the largest community of the Pacific diaspora living in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, the use and maintenance of the Samoan language is rapidly declining. Although community-led initiatives have led to establishing of Aoga ‘Amata (Samoan language and culture immersion preschool), Pacific Islands Early Childhood Association (PIECA) and the establishing of Samoan Studies departments within tertiary institutions, there continues to be an urgent need for government support and the implementation of Pacific language policies to ensure the continued use and protection of Samoan and other Pacific languages within the realm of Aotearoa New Zealand.  The three research questions framing this investigation are as follows:  1. How do the second and third generation Samoans view language and culture as contributing to their identity?  2. Where are second and third generation Samoans using and learning Samoan? 3. Is there a relationship between wellbeing and language shift?  O le Filiga Afa, a qualitative research methodology, was born out of this research in response to the need for a culturally responsive framework. Data was gathered through focus group and one-to-one discussions and included New Zealand - born Samoan - speaking and non-Samoan - speaking Samoan participants. Key findings from this study include:  • All participants had a deep yearning for maintaining and revitalising their heritage languages;  • Language, culture and identity are intertwined and cannot be separated from one another; • The role of elders, genealogy and the connection to culture contributes significantly towards the reinforcing and the maintenance of the Samoan language. • A strong connection can be found between language shift and one’s wellbeing</p>

Pattern of Female Genital Mutilation among Adolescents Attending Secondary Schools’ in Enugu Metropolis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awoere T Chinawa ◽  
Josephat M Chinawa ◽  
Edmund N Ossai ◽  
Ann E Aronu ◽  
Godwin E Ozokoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Circumcision ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Major Complications ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Background Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a public health menace and it study among adolescents is not exhaustive. Objectives The aim is to study the prevalence, pattern, cultural values, health implications and consequences of FGM among adolescent females attending secondary schools in Enugu metropolis. Methods A descriptive study involving female adolescents aged 13–21 years recruited by multistage sampling in three Girls Secondary Schools in Enugu Metropolis. Results Four hundred and fifty (450) questionnaires were distributed and four hundred and fourteen (414) were retrieved. The parents with moderate value for culture and tradition had the highest circumcised respondents (7.8%) (p = 0.056). Majority of the respondents, 93.7% were aware of female circumcision. The major complications of female circumcision according to the respondents were painful urination and menstrual problems. The prevalence of female circumcision among the respondents was 9.4%. A minor proportion of the respondents, 5.8% were of the opinion that all females should be circumcised. Respondents whose fathers attained tertiary education were three times less likely to be circumcised when compared with those whose fathers attained secondary education and less (adjusted odds ratio  = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.3–1.5). Conclusion Prevalence of FGM among adolescents aged 13–21 years in Enugu metropolis was 9.4%. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of FGM, and major complications noted were painful urination and menstrual problems. Fathers education level is a very strong reason for this high awareness of FGM among female adolescents.

scholarly journals Telling Our Stories: Resilience during Resettlement for African Skilled Migrants in Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3954
Author(s):  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
Leticia Anderson ◽  
Kathomi Gatwiri
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
African Migrants ◽  
Cultural Expectations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Resilience Factors

Background: Emigration to Australia by people from Africa has grown steadily in the past two decades, with skilled migration an increasingly significant component of migration streams. Challenges to resettlement in Australia by African migrants have been identified, including difficulties securing employment, experiences of racism, discrimination and social isolation. These challenges can negatively impact resettlement outcomes, including health and wellbeing. There has been limited research that has examined protective and resilience factors that help highly skilled African migrants mitigate the aforementioned challenges in Australia. This paper discusses how individual and community resilience factors supported successful resettlement Africans in Australia. The paper is contextualised within a larger study which sought to investigate how belonging and identity inform Afrodiasporic experiences of Africans in Australia. Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted with twenty-seven (n = 27) skilled African migrants based in South Australia, using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants were not directly questioned about ‘resilience,’ but were encouraged to reflect critically on how they navigated the transition to living in Australia, and to identify factors that facilitated a successful resettlement. Results: The study findings revealed a mixture of settlement experiences for participants. Resettlement challenges were observed as barriers to fully meeting expectations of emigration. However, there were significant protective factors reported that supported resilience, including participants’ capacities for excellence and willingness to work hard; the social capital vested in community and family support networks; and African religious and cultural values and traditions. Many participants emphasised their pride in their contributions to Australian society as well as their desire to contribute to changing narratives of what it means to be African in Australia. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that despite challenges, skilled African migrants’ resilience, ambition and determination were significant enablers to a healthy resettlement in Australia, contributing effectively to social, economic and cultural expectations, and subsequently meeting most of their own migration intentions. These findings suggest that resilience factors identified in the study are key elements of integration.

scholarly journals Rural Aboriginal high school students' views of their future tertiary education

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jessica Howard ◽  
Jacob Jeffery ◽  
Lucie Walters ◽  
Elsa Barton
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Educational Aspirations ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Aboriginal Australians ◽  
Relationship Networks

Abstract In the context of a stark discrepancy in the educational outcomes of Aboriginal Australians compared to non-Aboriginal Australians, this article aims to contribute the voices of rural Aboriginal high school students to the discourse. This article utilises an appreciative enquiry approach to analyse the opinions and aspirations of 12 Aboriginal high school students in a South Australian regional centre. Drawing on student perspectives from semi-structured interviews, this article contributes to and contextualises the growing body of literature regarding educational aspirations. It demonstrates how rurality influences a complex system of intrinsic attributes, relationship networks and contextual factors. It offers an important counterpoint to discourses surrounding academic disadvantage and highlights the lived experience of rural Aboriginal Australians.

Healthcare and Terrorism: The Lebanese Experience

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Nooreddine Iskandar ◽  
Tatiana Rahbany ◽  
Ali Shokor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Common ◽  
First Time

Abstract Background: Due to the common instability caused by political and security issues, Lebanese hospitals have experienced acts of terrorism multiple times. The most recent Beirut Explosion even forced several hospitals to cease operations for the first time in decades—but studies show the preparedness levels for such attacks in similar countries are low. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the experience of Lebanese hospitals with terrorist attacks. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders to assess their experience with terrorist bombings. Data was analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Results: The researchers found that Lebanese hospitals vary greatly in their structures and procedures. Those differences are a function of 3 contextual factors: location, culture, and accreditation status. Hospitals found near ‘dangerous zones’ were more likely to be aware and to have better response to such events. A severe lack of communication, unity of command, and collaboration between stakeholders has made the process fragmented. Conclusion: The researchers recommend a larger role for the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in this process, and the creation of a platform where Lebanese organizations can share their experiences to improve preparedness and resilience of the Lebanese healthcare system in the face of terrorism.

scholarly journals Optimism despite profound uncertainty: school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Peterson ◽  
Ellen F. Olshansky ◽  
Yuqing Guo ◽  
Lorraine S. Evangelista ◽  
Nancy A. Pike
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Single Ventricle ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Sequelae ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Face ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology ◽  
Physical Limitations ◽  
Uncertain Future

Abstract Background: Survivors of single ventricle heart disease must cope with the physical, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial sequelae of their cardiac disease, which may also affect academic achievement and social relationships. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the experiences of school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological methodology was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained via chart review. Results: Fourteen adolescents (aged 14 to 19 years) with single ventricle heart disease participated. Interviews ranged from 25 to 80 minutes in duration. Four themes emerged from the interviews, including “Don’t assume”: Pervasive ableism; “The elephant in the room”: Uncertain future; “Everyone finds something to pick on”: Bullying at school; “They know what I have been through”: Social support. The overall essence generated from the data was “optimism despite profound uncertainty.” Conclusions: Adolescents with single ventricle heart disease identified physical limitations and school challenges in the face of an uncertain health-related future. Despite physical and psychosocial limitations, most remained optimistic for the future and found activities that were congruent with their abilities. These experiences reflect “optimism despite profound uncertainty.”

scholarly journals Organisational change in hospitals: a qualitative case-study of staff perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Pomare ◽  
Kate Churruca ◽  
Janet C. Long ◽  
Louise A. Ellis ◽  
Jeffrey Braithwaite
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Metropolitan Hospital ◽  
The Face ◽  
Negative Expectations

Abstract Background Organisational change in health systems is common. Success is often tied to the actors involved, including their awareness of the change, personal engagement and ownership of it. In many health systems, one of the most common changes we are witnessing is the redevelopment of long-standing hospitals. However, we know little about how hospital staff understand and experience such potentially far-reaching organisational change. The purpose of this study is to explore the understanding and experiences of hospital staff in the early stages of organisational change, using a hospital redevelopment in Sydney, Australia as a case study. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 46 clinical and non-clinical staff working at a large metropolitan hospital. Hospital staff were moving into a new building, not moving, or had moved into a different building two years prior. Questions asked staff about their level of awareness of the upcoming redevelopment and their experiences in the early stage of this change. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Some staff expressed apprehension and held negative expectations regarding the organisational change. Concerns included inadequate staffing and potential for collaboration breakdown due to new layout of workspaces. These fears were compounded by current experiences of feeling uninformed about the change, as well as feelings of being fatigued and under-staffed in the constantly changing hospital environment. Nevertheless, balancing this, many staff reported positive expectations regarding the benefits to patients of the change and the potential for staff to adapt in the face of this change. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that it is important to understand prospectively how actors involved make sense of organisational change, in order to potentially assuage concerns and alleviate negative expectations. Throughout the processes of organisational change, such as a hospital redevelopment, staff need to be engaged, adequately informed, trained, and to feel supported by management. The use of champions of varying professions and lead departments, may be useful to address concerns, adequately inform, and promote a sense of engagement among staff.

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