scholarly journals Investigating Language Skills and Field of Knowledge on Multilingual Information Access in Digital Libraries

Author(s):  
Paul Clough ◽  
Irene Eleta

Digital libraries remove physical barriers to accessing information, but the language barrier still remains due to multilingual collections and the linguistic diversity of users. This study aims at understanding the effect of users’ language skills and field of knowledge on their language preferences when searching for information online and to provide new insights on the access to multilingual digital libraries. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered using a questionnaire and results show that the language skills and the field of knowledge have an impact on the language choice for searching online. These factors also determine the interest in cross-language information retrieval: language-related fields constitute the best potential group of users, followed by the Arts and Humanities and the Social Sciences.

Author(s):  
Vasudeva Varma ◽  
Aditya Mogadala

In this chapter, the authors start their discussion highlighting the importance of Cross Lingual and Multilingual Information Retrieval and access research areas. They then discuss the distinction between Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR), Multilingual Information Retrieval (MLIR), Cross Language Information Access (CLIA), and Multilingual Information Access (MLIA) research areas. In addition, in further sections, issues and challenges in these areas are outlined, and various approaches, including machine learning-based and knowledge-based approaches to address the multilingual information access, are discussed. The authors describe various subsystems of a MLIA system ranging from query processing to output generation by sharing their experience of building a MLIA system and discuss its architecture. Then evaluation aspects of the MLIA and CLIA systems are discussed at the end of this chapter.


Author(s):  
Peggy Nzomo ◽  
Victoria Rubin ◽  
Isola Ajiferuke

This research presents the results of a case study on potential users of Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) systems –international students at the University of Western Ontario. The study is designed to test their awareness of Multi-Lingual Information Access (MLIA) tools on the internet and in select electronic databases. The study also investigates how non-native English speakers cope with language barriers while searching for information online. Based on the findings, we advocate for designing systems that incorporate CLIR options and other MLIA tools to support users from diverse linguistic backgrounds with varying language proficiency levels.Cette recherche présente les résultats d’une étude de cas auprès d’utilisateurs potentiels, des étudiants internationaux de l’University of Western Ontario, d’un système de repérage d’information par langue croisée (RILC). L’étude est conçue pour tester leur connaissance d’outils d’accès à l’information multilingues (AIM) sur Internet et dans certaines bases de données électroniques. L’étude s’intéresse également aux moyens que prennent les locuteurs non natifs de l’anglais pour palier aux barrières linguistiques lorsqu’ils cherchent de l’information en ligne. Selon les résultats, nous recommandons de concevoir des systèmes qui incorporent des options de RILC et d’autres outils d’AIM pour aider les utilisateurs d’origine linguistique diverse ayant des niveaux de maîtrise linguistique différents.


First Monday ◽  
2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangping Chen ◽  
Yu Bao

This paper presents a case study of Google Language Tools, especially its cross-language search service. Cross-language search integrates machine translation (MT) and cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) technologies and allows Web users to search and read pages written in languages different from their search terms. In addition to cross-language search, Google Language Tools provides various language support services to multilingual information access. Our study examines the functions of Google Language Tools and the performance of its cross-language search. The results and analysis show that Google Language Tools are useful for Web users. Its cross-language search service provides quality query translation while the automatic translation of result pages needs further improvement. The paper suggests that cross-language search could be used by different types of Web users. The authors also discuss the strategies and important issues with regard to implementing multilingual information access services for information systems.


Author(s):  
Simon Keegan-Phipps ◽  
Lucy Wright

This chapter considers the role of social media (broadly conceived) in the learning experiences of folk musicians in the Anglophone West. The chapter draws on the findings of the Digital Folk project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK), and begins by summarizing and problematizing the nature of learning as a concept in the folk music context. It briefly explicates the instructive, appropriative, and locative impacts of digital media for folk music learning before exploring in detail two case studies of folk-oriented social media: (1) the phenomenon of abc notation as a transmissive media and (2) the Mudcat Café website as an example of the folk-oriented discussion forum. These case studies are shown to exemplify and illuminate the constructs of traditional transmission and vernacularism as significant influences on the social shaping and deployment of folk-related media technologies. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the need to understand the musical learning process as a culturally performative act and to recognize online learning mechanisms as sites for the (re)negotiation of musical, cultural, local, and personal identities.


2021 ◽  
pp. 095042222110126
Author(s):  
Stella Xu ◽  
Zimu Xu ◽  
Fujia Li ◽  
Arun Sukumar

Entrepreneurship-related modules have become increasingly popular over the years, not only among business school students but also among those from other disciplines, including engineering and the arts and humanities. In some circumstances, they are offered as optional modules for students across different faculties and disciplines. While it is beneficial to mix students with different backgrounds, bringing in a wide range of perspectives, there are also challenges relating to course design and student engagement. With these challenges in mind, the authors trialled a new approach in the hope of motivating students from diverse academic and socio-cultural backgrounds to engage more fully in the classroom by utilising student entrepreneurs as guest speakers. The student-centric approach has proved effective in enhancing student engagement, as evidenced by both informal and formal feedback.


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