scholarly journals A Small Island With Big Differences? Folk Perceptions in the Context of Dialect Levelling and Koineization

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantina Fotiou ◽  
Kleanthes K. Grohmann
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Perceptual Dialectology ◽  
Regional Dialects ◽  
Regional Dialect ◽  
Greek Cypriots

This paper presents the results of the first study within a perceptual dialectology framework in the Greek-speaking community in Cyprus. Thirty participants from three age groups of equal size took part in a sociolinguistic interview. As part of the language module component of the interview, they discussed their beliefs about regional variation in Cyprus and completed the so-called ‘draw-a-map task’. All participants were residents of urban areas of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. The Greek-speaking community in Cyprus is diglossic: Standard Modern Greek is the High variety, while Cypriot Greek—the mother tongue of Greek Cypriots—is the Low variety. The latter is currently undergoing levelling of marked local basilect features and subvarieties. A quantitative analysis of the maps demonstrates that some areas in Cyprus (mainly in the periphery) have a stronger sociolinguistic salience than others. At the same time, the participants’ own way of speaking is perceived as unmarked, neutral and one that enjoys wider acceptance over other regional dialects. This study also shows a clear preference for characterizing a (presumed) dialect area with linguistic characteristics, rather than with evaluative commentary contra many similar studies in the literature and suggests a number of reasons why this may be so. Overall, this research shows how studies on language perception can inform and complement studies on language production in a given community. The participants drew an average of just four regional areas on their maps and viewed the different cities and their districts, or combinations thereof, as the different regional dialect areas they perceive to exist in Cyprus. It is argued in this paper that the small number of areas drawn and the emphasis on urban sites are consistent with regional dialect levelling. Consistent with regional dialect levelling is also the finding that the participants’ linguistic description of regional variation, while mainly accurate, is superficial and lacks detail. Interestingly, many of the participants also seem to be well aware of regional dialect levelling in their community. Other studies in the literature do not really discuss speakers’ awareness of levelling and this should be further explored in future studies.

scholarly journals Regional Variation in Rates of IVF Treatment across Australia: A Population-based Study

10.36469/9795 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-26
Author(s):  
Louise Rawlings ◽  
Pauline Ding ◽  
Stephen J. Robson
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Intrauterine Insemination ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation

Background: There is variation in uptake of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) between countries, and Australia has high incidence rates of IVF due to universal public funding. However, it remains unclear whether there is regional variation and, if present, what might cause this. Objectives: We sought to determine whether regional variations in treatment rates existed and what might influence these. Methods: The number of cycles of fresh IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI) for women were obtained for the period 2011 until 2014 in two age groups (25 to 34 years and 35 to 44 years) to calculate incidence rates. Proxy indicators that might influence treatment affordability were: unemployment rates; average weekly total earnings; coverage of private health insurance; and, percentage of women in the highest socioeconomic quintile. Measures of accessibility considered were percentage of the population remote from urban areas and average state population density. Linear regressions were performed using log-transformed ratio of IVF and IUI incidence rates. Results: Variations were found in IVF uptake between states with greater differences in older women. There was no significant association between IVF procedures and population density or geographic isolation. Economic factors were not associated with IVF uptake. Conclusion: These findings suggest that factors such as physician preference, clinical practice guidelines, and cryopreservation protocols of ART units might explain the national variation in uptake of IVF.

An Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Study of Giardia lamblia in Anbar Province – Iraq

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Suad Shallal Shahatha
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Giardia Lamblia ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Teucrium Polium L ◽  
Therapeutic Study

This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiology of Giardia lamblia parasites in patients who visited some of the hospitals in Anbar province, which included (Fallujah Teaching Hospital, Ramadi Teaching Hospital, Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Women and Children and Hit Hospital) during by examining 864 stool samples in a direct examination method, The results revealed the infection rate was 41.7 % and the percentage of infection among males 47.8% is higher than that of females 35.4% with significant differences (p≤0.05). The age groups (1-9) years recorded the highest rates 55.4% and the lowest rate 13.6% in the age group (40-49) years. The highest rate of infection was 62.5% during the month of June, while the month of October was the lowest rate 5% and significant differences. The incidence rate in rural areas was 50.6% higher than in the urban areas 32.5%. The study also included the effect of Teucrium polium L. on the parasite in the culture media HSP-1, the concentrations of 0.5-3 mg / mL significantly affected Giardia, it was noted whenever the greater the concentration, the greater the effect during different treatment periods (1-4) days, as the highest concentration 3 mg/ml killed all Giardia parasites on the fourth day of treatment.

Aging of rural population in Yugoslavia

Stanovnistvo ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 73-92
Author(s):  
Jelena Antonovic
Keyword(s):  
Age Structure ◽  
Rural Population ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Demographic Ageing ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
Rural And Urban

Mass migration to urban areas constitutes the basic direct factor of the decline in rural population of Yugoslavia in the second half of the 20th century. Due to the characteristic migration patterns by age and sex, they have had a substantial impact on the change in age structure of rural population towards rapid demographic ageing. By inducing decline in fertility and an increase in mortality, the newly formed age structure is increasingly becoming one of the basic factors to further decline in population, or even the major factor to rural depopulation in the majority of regions. The paper analyzes changes in age structure of rural population in the FR of Yugoslavia and across its republics and provinces during the period from 1961 to 1991. The conditions prevailing during the last census (1991) are particularly highlighted. The author points to distinct differences in ageing of urban versus rural populations, and considerable regional differences at the achieved level of demographic age. Based on the main demographic age indicators (the share of five-year and larger age groups, average age, ageing index and movement in major age-specific contingents), the author concludes that the process of population ageing had taken place in both rural and urban populations, but was more intensive in villages (higher share of the aged, higher index of ageing and higher average age) during the period under review. The author points to distinct ageing of rural population in all republics and provinces. It was most prominent in central Serbia and Vojvodina, while being quite slow in Kosovo and Metohia and recorded mainly in between the last two censuses (1981-1991). Likewise, Kosovo and Metohia constitute the only major region of Yugoslavia in which rural population in 1991 is still demographically younger than the population in urban settlements. Rural versus urban population ageing was much more intensive in other major regions of the country, both from the base and from the apex of the age pyramid. In view of the minimal differences in fertility and mortality levels by type of settlement (particularly in central Serbia and Vojvodina), the author argues that the inherited age structure constitutes the main cause of rapid acceleration in rural population ageing in low fertility regions.

scholarly journals Trends in prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Zhejiang Province, China, 2016–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Wang ◽  
Ru-Ying Hu ◽  
Wei-Wei Gong ◽  
Jin Pan ◽  
Fang-Rong Fei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Zhejiang Province ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Annual Prevalence

Abstract Background Limited population-based studies have investigated the secular trend of prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in mainland China. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of GDM and time trends in Chinese female population. Methods Based on Diabetes Surveillance System of Zhejiang Province, 97,063 diagnosed GDM cases aged 20–50 years were identified from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Annual prevalence, prevalence rate ratios (PRRs) and average annual percentage change with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results The age-standardized overall prevalence of GDM was reported to be 7.30% (95% CI 7.27–7.33%); 9.13% (95% CI 9.07–9.19%) in urban areas and 6.24% (95% CI 6.21–6.27%) in rural areas. Compared with 20–24 years age group, women in advanced age groups (25–50 years) were at higher risk for GDM (PRRs ranged from 1.37 to 8.95 and the 95% CIs did not include the null). Compared with rural areas, the risk for GDM was higher in urban areas (PRR: 1.69, 95% CI 1.67–1.72). The standardized annual prevalence increased from 6.02% in 2016 to 7.94% in 2018, with an average annual increase of 5.48%, and grew more rapidly in rural than urban areas (11.28% vs. 0.00%). Conclusions This study suggested a significant increase in the prevalence of GDM among Chinese female population in Zhejiang province during 2016–2018, especially in women characterized by advanced age and rural areas.

scholarly journals Pilonidal sinus disease on the rise: a one-third incidence increase in inpatients in 13 years with substantial regional variation in Germany

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Oetzmann von Sochaczewski ◽  
Jan Gödeke
Keyword(s):  
Pilonidal Sinus ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Pilonidal Sinus Disease ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Reconstructive Procedures ◽  
Sinus Disease ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Purpose Collective evidence from single-centre studies suggests an increasing incidence of pilonidal sinus disease in the last decades, but population-based data is scarce. Methods We analysed administrative case–based principal diagnoses of pilonidal sinus disease and its surgical therapy between 2005 and 2017 in inpatients. Changes were addressed via linear regression. Results The mean rate of inpatient episodes of pilonidal sinus disease per 100,000 men increased from 43 in 2005 to 56 in 2017. In females, the mean rate of inpatient episodes per 100,000 women rose from 14 in 2005 to 18 in 2017. In the whole population, for every case per 100,000 females, there were 3.1 cases per 100,000 males, but the numbers were highly variable between the age groups. There was considerable regional variation within Germany. Rates of inpatient episodes of pilonidal sinus disease were increasing in almost all age groups and both sexes by almost a third. Surgery was dominated by excision of pilonidal sinus without reconstructive procedures, such as flaps, whose share was around 13% of all procedures, despite recommendations of the national guidelines to prefer flap procedures. Conclusion Rates of inpatient episodes of pilonidal sinus disease in Germany rose across almost all age groups and both sexes with relevant regional variation. The underlying causative factors are unknown. Thus, patient-centred research is necessary to explore them. This should also take cases into account that are solely treated office-based in order to obtain a full-spectrum view of pilonidal sinus disease incidence rates.

scholarly journals Teleworking and Online Shopping: Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Their Impact on Transport Demand

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7211
Author(s):  
Juan Ramón López Soler ◽  
Panayotis Christidis ◽  
José Manuel Vassallo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Online Shopping ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Commuting Patterns ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Teleworking and online shopping became commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be expected to maintain a strong presence in the foreseeable future. They can lead to significant changes in mobility patterns and transport demand. It is still unclear, however, how extensive their adoption can be, since each individual has different preferences or constraints. The overall impact on transport depends on which segments of the population will modify their behaviour and on what the substitutes to the current patterns will be. The purpose of this work is to identify the user profiles and spatial aspects that affect the adoption of teleworking and online shopping, and to explore the potential impact on transport demand. To that end, data from an EU-wide survey on mobility were analysed using a Machine Learning methodology. The results suggest that while the take up of the new work and consumption patterns is high on average, there are significant differences among countries and across different socio-economic profiles. Teleworking appears to have a high potential mainly in certain services sectors, affecting commuting patterns predominantly in large urban areas. Online shopping activity is more uniform across the population, although differences among countries and age groups may still be relevant. The findings of this work can be useful for the analysis of policies to encourage the uptake of new technologies in transport and mobility. They can be also a good reference point for future studies on the ex-post analysis of the impacts of the pandemic on mobility.

How left behind are rural parents of migrant children? Evidence from Thailand

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN KNODEL ◽  
JIRAPORN KESPICHAYAWATTANA ◽  
CHANPEN SAENGTIENCHAI ◽  
SUVINEE WIWATWANICH
Keyword(s):  
Adult Children ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Economic Changes

ABSTRACTThe consequences of adult children's migration from rural areas for older parents who remain behind are keenly debated. While the mass media and international advocacy organisations favour an ‘alarmist’ view of desertion, the academic literature makes more sanguine assessments using the ‘household strategy’ and ‘modified extended family’ perspectives. We examine the relationship between the migration of adult children and various dimensions of older parents' wellbeing in Thailand using evidence from a survey that focused on the issues. The results provide little support for the alarmist view, but instead suggest that parents and adult children adapt to the social and economic changes associated with development in ways not necessarily detrimental to intergenerational relations. The migration of children, especially to urban areas, often benefits parents' material support while the recent spread of cell phones has radically increased their ability to maintain social contact. Nevertheless, changing living arrangements through increased migration and the smaller family sizes of the youngest age groups of older people pose serious challenges for aspects of filial support, especially at advanced ages when chronic illness and frailty require long-term personal care. Dealing with this emerging situation in a context of social, economic and technological change is among the most critical issues facing those concerned with the implications of rapid population ageing in Thailand and elsewhere.

Teaching multilingual literacy in Ugandan classrooms: The promise of the African Storybook

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonny Norton ◽  
Juliet Tembe
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Management ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Early Literacy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Eastern Uganda

AbstractFor over a decade, the authors have worked collaboratively to better understand and address the challenges and possibilities of promoting multilingual literacy in Uganda, a country of over 44 million people where over 40 African languages are spoken and English is the official language. This article focuses on the diverse ways that teachers promote early literacy in large multilingual classrooms, and how the innovative African Storybook digital initiative might support primary school teachers in both rural and urban areas. We begin the article with a description of our collaborative work on the African Storybook (http://www.africanstorybook.org/) and one of its derivatives, Storybooks Uganda (https://global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda/). Then, drawing on a collaborative study of primary school classrooms in eastern Uganda, we analyze four common strategies that Ugandan teachers use to promote multilingual literacy in their classrooms: the use of the mother tongue as a resource; songs and multimodality; translanguaging; and linguistic strategies for classroom management. We follow this with a discussion of a 2015 teacher education workshop in eastern Uganda, which illustrates how the African Storybook can help support Ugandan teachers as they navigate the challenges of large classrooms. We conclude that the African Storybook has much promise for addressing the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Factors that affect entomophagical practices in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Anankware ◽  
E.A. Osekre ◽  
D. Obeng-Ofori ◽  
C.M. Khamala
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Religious Reasons

This study evaluated the social and ecological factors that affect entomophagy in Ghana with a view to instigate the initiation of programmes for the use of insects for human and poultry nutrition in Africa. Two thousand questionnaires were administered to randomly selected respondents in all the ten regions of Ghana. With regards to social factors, entomophagy was found to be influenced by age, gender, education and occupation. Entomophagy is practiced across all age groups and gender in Ghana. Proportionally, 90, 78 and 74% of the aged (60+), middle aged (31-50) and the youth (18-30), respectively, were observed to consume various insect species. Ecologically, entomophagy was more pronounced in rural than urban areas. Over 87% of respondents who consume edible insects acquire them through harvesting/trapping. Four insect species were identified as feed for animals. The majority (81.6%) of the respondents consume insects as a source of protein, 9.6% for cultural reasons, 5.6% for medicinal values and 3.0 and 0.2%, respectively, for recreational and religious reasons. Gender has the least influence on entomophagy. Considering the economic, ecological and nutritional importance of edible insects in traditional Ghanaian foods, attention should be given to sustainable environmental harvesting practices.

Nasalance Levels in the Speech of Normal Australian Children

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Van Doorn ◽  
Alison Purcell
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Age Dependence ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
Reference Information ◽  
Regional Dialect ◽  
Australian English ◽  
Gender Dependence ◽  
Age Range

Objective Nasalance scores have been shown to depend on the regional dialect of English spoken. Australian cleft palate clinics are increasingly making use of the Nasometer as part of their evaluation of velopharyngeal inadequacy. There are, however, no normative data for Australian English available as reference information. The objective of this study, therefore, was to obtain comprehensive nasalance data for a large group of Australian children, aged 4 to 9 years, for two standard nasalance passages (Zoo Passage and Nasal Sentences) and to investigate any gender or age differences within that age range. Participants The participants were 245 children (123 female, 122 male) ranging in age from 4 years, 0 months, to 9 years, 3 months. The children were recruited from a variety of schools and preschools across the Sydney metropolitan region. The children all spoke Australian English, and their hearing, articulation skills, and speech resonance were within normal limits. Method Mean nasalance scores were obtained for two speech passages that are used as standards for Nasometer testing (Zoo Passage and Nasal Sentences). In addition, the nasalance data were analyzed for any gender and age dependence, using separate analyses of variance for each speech passage. Five consecutive age groups were used to examine age dependence (4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old children). Results A mean score of 13.1 (SD, 5.9) was obtained for the Zoo Passage, and a mean of 59.6 (SD, 8.1) for the Nasal Sentences. The analysis of variance results indicated that, at a probability level of p < 0.01, there was no statistically significant age or gender dependence for either speech passage. Conclusion These normative nasalance data for children who speak Australian English will provide important reference information for clinicians who assess nasality disorders in cleft palate clinics in Australia.

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