Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Language Learning

This is a case study using an interactive digital game to teach grammar via Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). The interactive game via MALL is aimed to ease TESL students' fear and trigger their interest in learning grammar. The game uses the Theory of Variation (Marton & Booth) to design the grammar exercises in the game. A survey questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were administered to gauge the students’ perceptions of using the game. The findings show that the game has somewhat improved students’ grammar knowledge. Keywords: Digital board game; Grammar; Mobile Assisted Language Learning; Variation theory eISSN 2514-7528 © 2021 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA CE-Bs by E-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians / Africans / Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v6i19.391

The problem of variation

Chapter 7 maps out a broad framework for considering the problem of variation in evolution. Under the neo-Darwinian view that variation merely plays the role of supplying random infinitesimal raw materials, with no dispositional influence on the course of evolution, a substantive theory of form and its variation is not required to specify a complete theory of evolution. This view has been breaking down from the moment it was proposed, and is now seriously challenged by results from evo-devo, comparative genomics, molecular evolution, and quantitative genetics. For instance, the multivariate generalization of quantitative genetics indicates that selection cannot possibly act as an independent governing force. Replacing a theory of variation as fuel with a theory of variation as a dispositional factor will require, at minimum, an understanding of tendencies of variation (source laws), and an understanding of how those tendencies affect evolution (consequence laws).

Exploring learners’ Acceptance and Attitude towards Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL)

Two main reasons contributing to the lack of mastery in English grammar by students are their apprehension towards the subject and their difficulty understanding tenses. To alleviate the fear and trigger learners' interest in learning grammar, an interactive digital board game was designed via MALL targeted at TESL students. This paper aims to explore these students' perceptions of the game. The game uses the Theory of Variation as a theoretical basis that acknowledges that discernment is a function of variation. A questionnaire and interviews were administered to the students. The findings show that the game helps enhance grammar learning. Keywords: Digital board game, Grammar, Mobile Assisted Language Learning, Variation theory eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.2734

Interactive and Meaningful Language Learning using ToV

Interactive games enhance learners’ engagement and motivation. Hence, to fulfill the needs of learners, an interactive digital game named Throw Back Time (TBT), governed by the Theory of Variation (ToV), was designed. The application of the theory will help learners to develop awareness of the critical aspect of grammar. To clarify how the elements in the Theory of Variation support the design of the questions in TBT, a content analysis was used. Thus, the study suggests how powerful ways of seeing can be developed by helping learners to focus on certain essential features of the subject matter to enhance learning. Keywords: Grammar; The Theory of Variation; Interactive; Digital learners eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/ eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i15.2512.

A novel type of soliton solutions for the Fokas–Lenells equation arising in the application of optical fibers

The Fokas–Lenells (FL) equation is analyzed in this paper as an ironic physical function in optical fibers. A class of FL-equation soliton solutions is constructed by He’s variational principle. Besides, the fractal model of FL and its theory of variation are established. This paper focuses on the innovative research frontiers of FL equation.

O sujeito pronominal na fala de Natal/RN: retrato de uma mudança em tempo aparente / The Pronominal Subject in Natal/RN: Portraits of a Change in Apparent Time

Resumo: Seguindo os pressupostos da Teoria da Variação e Mudança linguística, apresentamos neste artigo uma análise de regra variável da expressão do sujeito pronominal em sentenças matrizes na fala de Natal/Rio Grande do Norte/Brasil, com o objetivo de mapear a evolução do preenchimento do sujeito nessa comunidade. Nossa hipótese é de que a fala de Natal evidencia um quadro de mudança gramatical que pode ser observada sob as lentes da mudança em tempo aparente, conforme postulados de Labov (1994). A amostra analisada compõe-se de oito entrevistas realizadas na década de 2010, extraídas do corpus FALA-Natal, com informantes socialmente estratificados. Considerando quatro faixas etárias diferentes dos informantes (Faixa 1 de 8 a 12 anos; Faixa 2 de 15 a 21 anos; Faixa 3 de 25 a 45 anos; e Faixa 4 mais de 50 anos), os resultados mostram que a representação do sujeito pronominal reflete um caso de mudança em tempo aparente, uma vez que construções com sujeitos preenchidos são condicionadas por informantes mais novos, da faixa etária 1, em oposição aos demais informantes das faixas subsequentes.Palavras-chave: preenchimento do sujeito; mudança em tempo aparente; português brasileiro; FALA-Natal.Abstract: In the Theory of Variation and Linguistic Change, we present an analysis of the variable rule of the expression of the pronominal subject in matrix sentences in the speech of Natal/Rio Grande do Norte/Brazil, with the aim of mapping the evolution of the subject’s filling in this community. Our hypothesis is that the speech of Natal shows a grammatical change, which can be observed in light of change in apparent time, as postulated by Labov (1994). The sample analyzed was taken from eight interviews conducted in the decade of 2010, extracted from the FALA-Natal corpus, with socially stratified informants. Considering four different age groups of informants (Group 1 from 8 to 12 years; Group 2 from 15 to 21 years; Group 3 from 25 to 45 years; and Group 4 over 50 years), the results show that the representation of the pronominal subject reflects a case of change in apparent time, since constructions with filled subjects are conditioned by younger informants, in age group 1, as opposed to the other informants in the subsequent groups.Keywords: subject completion; change in apparent time; Brazilian Portuguese; FALA-Natal.

INVARIANCE AND VARIABILITY IN THE PHRASEOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF THE RUSSIAN AND CHINESE LANGUAGES: FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COMPARATIVE LINGUOCULTURAL DESCRIPTION

Введение. Рассмотрены способы реализации языковой вариантности, репрезентированные на уровне фразеологических подсистем русского и китайского языков. Объект научного описания ‒ сфера языковой семантики, получающая концептуальное осмысление в связи с ее исследованием в аспекте межкультурной и межъязыковой коммуникации. Наличие смыслового инварианта в содержании русских и китайских фразеологизмов обусловливается существованием общих тенденций смыслообразования и действием универсальных законов развития любого национального языка. Смысловые варианты возникают в силу своеобразия национальных лингвокультур в результате совокупного действия ряда экстралингвистических и лингвистических факторов. Цель статьи – изучить функциональные проявления теории вариантности на фразеологическом уровне русского и китайского языков в аспекте сопоставительно-лингвокультурологической интерпретации. Материал и методы. В качестве единиц анализа привлечены 54 фразеологизма, функционирующие в современном русском и китайском языках, отобранные путем сплошной выборки из лексикографических источников. Основной метод исследования – сопоставительно-лингвокультурологический. Результаты и обсуждение. Отправной точкой исследования стал тезис о наличии у фразеологизмов не только языкового, речевого, но и лингвокультурологического и лингвокогнитивного статуса. В значении большинства русских фразеологизмов присутствует ярко выраженный национально-культурный компонент смысла. С учетом этого фактора выявлены общие (инвариантные) и частные (вариативные, характерные для конкретной лингвокультуры) смысловые компоненты в семантике фразеологизмов, которые составляют корреляционные семантические пары (эквивалентные, безэквивалентные, неполно эквивалентные). В эквивалентных парных фразеологизмах ядром семантики выступает смысловой инвариант, безэквивалентные отличаются доминированием вариативных смысловых признаков, неполно эквивалентные являются переходным типом. Заключение. Сопоставительные лингвокультурологические исследования вносят значительный вклад в изучение различных лингвистических концепций, в том числе теории языковой вариантности, смысловой интерпретации, перевода, на основании чего делается вывод об их исключительной актуальности для современной научной парадигмы. Introduction. The article is devoted to the consideration of ways of implementing language variability, represented at the level of phraseological subsystems of the Russian and Chinese languages. The object of the scientific description is the sphere of linguistic semantics, which receives conceptual understanding in connection with its study in the aspect of intercultural and interlanguage communication. The presence of a semantic invariant in the content of Russian and Chinese phraseological units is determined by the existence of general tendencies of sense formation and the action of universal laws of development of any national language. Semantic variants arise due to the peculiarity of national linguistic cultures as a result of the combined action of a number of extralinguistic and linguistic factors. Aim and objectives. The aim of the study is to study the functional manifestations of the theory of variation at the phraseological level of the Russian and Chinese languages in the aspect of comparative linguocultural interpretation. Material and methods. 54 phraseological units operating in modern Russian and Chinese languages, selected because of a continuous selection from lexicographic sources, were used as units of analysis. The main one is the comparative linguoculturological research method. Results and discussion. The starting point of the study was the thesis that phraseological units have not only linguistic, speech, but also linguocultural and linguocognitive status. In the meaning of most Russian phraseological units there is a pronounced national-cultural component of meaning. Taking this factor into account, general (invariant) and private (variative, characteristic for a particular linguistic culture) semantic components in the semantics of phraseological units that make up correlation semantic pairs (equivalent, non-equivalent, incompletely equivalent) are identified. In equivalent paired phraseological units, the core of semantics is the semantic invariant, nonequivalent ones are dominated by variable semantic attributes, incompletely equivalent are transitional types. Conclusion. Comparative linguistic and cultural studies make a significant contribution to the study of various linguistic concepts, including the theory of language variability, semantic interpretation, translation, on the basis of which it is concluded that they are extremely relevant for the modern scientific paradigm.

Enhancing Language Learning using the Theory of Variation

The study is on the use of Throw Back Time (TBT), an interactive digital board game aimed at teaching grammar tenses and aspect. The game exclusively designed according to the Theory of Variation (Marton & Booth, 1997). Four patterns of variation including contrast, separation, generalization, and fusion were used. The study employed a qualitative content analysis in illuminating the principles of the Theory of Variation (ToV) in the design of the grammar exercises in the game. Hence, the study suggests that the elements in the (ToV) governing the tasks in the game delivers positive outcomes to help learners learning grammar.Keywords: Grammar; The Theory of Variation; Interactive; Digital learnerseISSN: 2514-7528 © 2020 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v5i15.342

Digital Board Game Using the Theory of Variation to Enhance Grammar Learning

The study is on the use of Throw Back Time (TBT), an interactive digital board game aimed at teaching grammar tenses and aspect. The game exclusively designed according to the Theory of Variation (Marton & Booth, 1997). Four patterns of variation including contrast, separation, generalization, and fusion were used. The study employed a qualitative content analysis in illuminating the principles of the Theory of Variation (ToV) in the design of the grammar exercises in the game. Hence, the study suggests that the elements in the (ToV) governing the tasks in the game delivers positive outcomes to help learners learning grammar.Keywords: Grammar; The Theory of Variation; Interactive; Digital learnerseISSN: 2398-4287 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v4i12.1829

UM OLHAR SOCIOLINGUÍSTICO SOBRE O PORTUGUÊS MOÇAMBICANO: A CONCORDÂNCIA VERBAL DE TERCEIRA PESSOA DO PLURAL | A SOCIOLINGUISTIC LOOK AT MOZAMBICAN PORTUGUESE: THE THIRD PERSON PLURAL VERBAL AGREEMENT

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>Resumo: </span><span>Estudo sociolinguístico sobre a concordância verbal de 3a pessoa no Português de Maputo, Moçambique. A partir dos pressupostos da Teoria da Variação e Mudança (WLH, 1968), o objetivo é constatar o estatuto da regra (LABOV, 2003) de marcação de plural na variedade moçambicana. Assim, observaram-se as restrições (extra)linguísticas que condicionam a concordância. Os resultados obtidos por meio do programa </span><span>GOLDVARB X </span><span>revelam o comportamento de uma regra semicategórica (96.8% de marcas), índice que deve ser compreendido após análise qualitativa, que aponta a existência de contextos efetivamente variáveis. No entanto, a particularidade da situação multilíngue de Moçambique localizaria a variedade em posição intermediária dentro de um </span><span>continuum </span><span>de padrões de concordância da Língua Portuguesa. </span></p><div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>Abstract: </span><span>Sociolinguistic study on verbal agreement of 3rd person in the Portuguese of Maputo, Mozambique. From the assumptions of the Theory of Variation and Change (WLH, 1968), the objective is to verify the status of the agreement rule (LABOV, 2003) in the Mozambican variety. Thus, the (extra)linguistic restrictions that constrain the rule were observed. Through the statistical treatment performed in GOLDVARB X, the results obtained reveal the behavior of a semicategorical rule (96.8% of marks), which must be understood after qualitative analysis, that indicates the existence of effectively variable contexts. However, the particularity of Mozambique's multilingual situation would establish an intermediary position for the variety within a continuum of the Portuguese agreement standards. </span></p><p><span>Keywords: </span><span>Mozambican Portuguese; Sociolinguistics; Multilingualism; Verbal Agreement. </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>