Emergence and Development of Contact Idioms in the Frame of Philosophy of Global Evolutionism

Based on observations of the emergence of pidgins, their further extension and transformation into creole languages (all these forms of language are denoted by the term "contact idioms" in this article), the hypothesis is put forward in this part of the exploration that the origin and development of the human language seem to be similar in many dimensions to the emergence and development of contact idioms. In support of that hypothesis, both the general conceptions of some contemporary evolutionary linguists (in particular, D. Bickerton, W.T. Fitch, T. Nikolaeva, B. Bichakjian) are described and evolutionary strategies for some particular languages and language families are surveyed. The similarity of evolutionary vectors of pidgins and creole languages and several of the other language families is assumed. Based on the considered linguistic material, it is postulated that the law "ontogeny manifests a repetition of several phylogenetic stages" or the recapitulationist theory – with all its ambiguousness from the standpoint of present-day biology – seems to be true for linguistic evolution. Attention is focused on the importance of using a comprehensive communicative-discursive approach to the study of glottogenesis, as described in the works of domestic and international linguists who specialize in evolutionary linguistics and general linguistics and whose names are mentioned above. The relevance of the material of contact idioms and languages of other groups and families listed in this paper for such purposes is emphasized.

Dawne polskie intensyfikatory wywodzące się od staroczeskiego "přieliš"

Historical Polish Intensifiers Derived from the Old Czech přieliš This article is devoted to a historical-linguistic analysis of the equivalents of the Old Czech přieliš in historical Polish: the words bezlisz, brzezlisz, przelisz, przezlisz and przylisz. The study refers to key findings of researchers about these words, their origins and meaning. On the basis of analysis of linguistic material the author formulates conclusions about word-formation of the equivalents of přieliš in Polish, their frequency in monuments of Polish literature from the Old Polish period to the end of the sixteenth century, their meaning and status in Polish, as well as presumable causes of their disappearance from the language. The paper presents examples that confirm their functioning in monuments of the Polish language, such as Biblia królowej Zofii [Queen Sophia’s Bible] from the mid-fifteenth century and Biblia Jana Leopolity [John Leopolita’s Bible] from 1561, as well as in dictionaries of Polish. The study also considers information about Old Czech and compares parallel verses of Polish and Czech Bible translations. Dawne polskie intensyfikatory wywodzące się od staroczeskiego přieliš Artykuł poświęcony jest historycznojęzykowej analizie odpowiedników staroczeskiego přieliš, czyli wyrazów bezlisz, brzezlisz, przelisz, przezlisz i przy­lisz w dawnej polszczyźnie. Autorka przytacza najważniejsze opinie badaczy o wymienionych wyrazach, ich pochodzeniu i znaczeniu. Na podstawie ana­lizy materiału językowego formułuje wnioski dotyczące budowy słowotwór­czej staroczeskich odpowiedników přieliš w języku polskim, ich frekwencji w zabytkach literatury polskiej od staropolszczyzny do końca XVI w., znaczenia i statusu tych wyrazów w polszczyźnie, a także przypuszczalnych przyczyn ich zaniku. W artykule przedstawiono przykłady potwierdzające funkcjonowanie wspomnianych wyrazów zarówno w zabytkach języka polskiego m.in. w Biblii królowej Zofii z połowy XV w. i Biblii Jana Leopolity z 1561 r., jak i w słowni­kach języka polskiego. Ponadto autorka przywołuje informacje o staroczeskim i porównuje równoległe wersety przekładów Biblii na język polski i czeski.

Language Contact, Cognition, and Cross-Linguistic Influence in the Greek Pentateuch

This study engages recent discussions concerning the description of the Greek of the LXX Pentateuch and the nature of source text interference. Research in contact linguistics and cognition provides a framework to describe the various phenomena observed, ranging from borrowing of linguistic material to the more widespread structural transfer. Processes such as pivot-matching and the cognitive aspects of word-choice transfer shed light on the mechanics of translation and issues such as the nature of cross-linguistic influence and a translator’s apparent inconsistencies. In this context, the intelligibility of specific renderings or their grammatical conventionality are not sufficient criteria for assessing cross-linguistic influence since its effects can be felt at the level of register or genre. This has important ramifications for the register or genre categorization of various textual units of the LXX Pentateuch and stylistic descriptions.

Od dystansu do poufałości. Formuły powitalne listów elektronicznych kierowanych przez nauczycieli do rodziców

From Formality to Familiarity: Greeting Formulas in Emails Written by Teachers to ParentsThe purpose of the article is the analysis of greeting formulas in emails written by teachers to parents. The linguistic material is based on 513 email messages sent to parents by means of an online parent portal (e-dziennik). The messages in question were sent by teachers representing a number of schools in Lesser Poland Province. The formal relationship between the participants of the communication and the written form of the exchanges clearly pertains to the traditional formality of the situation; as a result, expectations are raised in terms of the official style of utterances produced under these circumstances. The analysis of the obtained material indicates that greeting formulas used in emails diverge significantly from those used in official paper-based correspondence. Traditional formulas such as Szanowni Państwo (Dear Sir/Madame, Dear Sirs) are clearly replaced by formulas originating from direct verbal communication (Dzień dobry, Witam). There is an apparent tendency to become familiar with recipients by using emoticons or the language formulas present in private correspondence between people who have a close relationship. In addition to the lack of text segmentation, the overall linguistic layout and spelling strategies that prevail in both greeting formulas and the entire body of letters indicate a negligent attitude in terms of text layout. Od dystansu do poufałości. Formuły powitalne listów elektronicznych kierowanych przez nauczycieli do rodzicówCelem artykułu jest analiza formuł powitalnych w listach elektronicznych nauczycieli do rodziców. Bazę materiałową stanowi 513 e-maili kierowanych przez nauczycieli wybranych szkół w południowej Polsce do rodziców za pośrednictwem dzienników elektronicznych. Formalny typ relacji między uczestnikami komunikacji oraz pisemna forma komunikatu stanowią tradycyjnie jaskrawy wykładnik oficjalności sytuacji i – co za tym idzie – powodują oczekiwanie oficjalnego stylu komunikatu powstającego w takiej sytuacji. Analiza materiału pokazuje, że formuły inicjalne listów elektronicznych znacząco odbiegają od grzecznościowych form powitalnych stosowanych w oficjalnej korespondencji papierowej. Nad tradycyjnym Szanowni Państwo wyraźnie dominują formuły zaczerpnięte z bezpośredniej komunikacji ustnej (Dzień dobry, Witam). Daje się zauważyć skłonność do przełamywania dystansu w postaci stosowania zwrotów do adresata, charakterystycznych dla korespondencji prywatnej między osobami będącymi w bliskiej relacji uczuciowej czy używania emotikonów. Kształt językowy i ortograficzny znacznej części formuł inicjalnych (ale i całości listów) oraz brak segmentacji tekstów świadczą o braku dbałości o graficzną stronę wiadomości.

Expressing Value-Loaded Content as the Most Important Function of Paroemias and Idioms

The monograph under review is highly appreciated as having been long-awaited by specialists in phraseology and cultural linguistics. This is an up-to-date original work full of innovations and creative discoveries. Performed for the first time in philology, the comprehensive analysis of idioms and paroemias as signs of language and culture is highly welcomed. The innovative and effective aspects of the monograph are as follows: the study of the correlation of idioms and paroemias with cultural codes; the comparative linguocultural analysis of idioms and paroemias, on the one hand, and idioms and riddles, on the other hand, which are the units most saturated with culture-specific information. We underline the originality of the author’s conclusions about the influence of cultural connotations of the studied linguistic material on the dynamics of the British linguistic worldview. The linguistic and cultural analysis of the proper name as a component in the composition of proverbs, sayings, riddles and idioms – signs of language and culture – results, for the first time, in representing the anthroponymic code of culture. On the basis of extensive phraseological material, the author describes in detail the processes of semiotization of the value-loaded content of culture.

The first mathematics textbook printed in Moldavia. Elementi aritmetice arătate firești (Iași, 1795)

The first mathematics textbook printed in Moldavia (Iași, 1795) was not sufficiently examined, although the translation offers us valuable information on the Italian influence on the Romanian language and a precious linguistic material as regards both the configuration of the Romanian literary language in Moldavia at the end of the 18th century and the constitution of mathematical terminology. The linguistic material excerpted reflects phonetic and morphologic norms specific of the author’s dialect, sometimes going beyond the criteria illustrated by the local tradition, especially in the morphosyntax field. The lack of a terminological tradition is to be observed in the high number of un-adapted terms, semantic loans and old terms. Amfilohie’s intense activity of translating from Italian (the scholar being a genuine forerunner of the Italianate movement in Moldavia) is proof of the depths of the cultural contacts with the western world, resulting in the intensification of the renewing of the Romanian vocabulary by assimilating Latin-Romance borrowings in general and Italian ones, in particular.

Virolinguistics: Introduction to the Study of the Coronavirus Language

This paper undertakes the introduction to virolinguistics, a new linguistic discipline that investigates the virus language (virolect) based on the Hungarian linguistic material drawn from the scientific literature and our own collection. The goal of this work is to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on certain aspects of the Hungarian language: genres, vocabulary, communication, the linguistic landscape, and social media. The linguistic materials of these various areas play an important role in our society: they have a warning, entertaining, or stress-relieving function. Due to the restrictions, most studies have moved to the Internet. The methodological paradox of virolinguistics can be identified in the fact that it disregards certain scientific standards in order to assist linguists in collecting their valuable linguistic and visual materials.

Intersecting religion and ethnicity: Drawing boundaries in talk-in-interaction

People of Romani background are usually labelled as members of an “ethnic minority” and identified along dominantly ethnicized notions and markers. Discursively, this neglects individuals’ different self-perceptions and multiple belongings. This contribution looks at interactional data and material from workshops conducted in Germany as part of the EU-wide initiative RoMed (Mediation for Roma). The initiative aimed to strengthen opportunities for local participation by people of Romani background in various European cities and communities between 2011-2017. A conversation analytical approach (e.g. at practices of categorization) is used to examine excerpts from group discussions ahead of a meeting with public officials. From an intersectional perspective I look at how boundaries are drawn, blurred, or destabilized between issues of religiosity and ethnicity. The article discusses boundary-drawing as a symbolic ordering process, highlighting the hegemonic discourses which are reproduced and challenged in the investigated linguistic material. The boundaries drawn and negotiated show the delicate balance between the staging of ethnic and religious affiliations and concerns and their political mobilization.

Optimal and appropriate input in a second language: The potential of (modified-)elaborated input in distance and classroom learning

Instructors’ difficulties in judging whether linguistic material is suitable for their students' level seem to have been aggravated during the pandemic (Conti, 2021). In this situation, there is the risk of exposing learners to inappropriate input, which can be detrimental to language acquisition. The proposed solution, (modified-)elaborated input, is designed to increase comprehensibility without sacrificing the richness of authentic input, which is crucial for language acquisition (Long, 2015; 2020; O’Donnel, 2009; Yano, Long, & Ross, 1994). The features of elaborated input make its application beneficial in any kind of language course. In addition, in the context of online teaching, elaborated input can be a powerful tool to deal with the issue of input appropriateness. This work analyzes the theoretical underpinnings of elaborated and modified-elaborated input while providing a review of the existing empirical data supporting its effectiveness. Key words: INPUT APPROPRIATENESS, ELABORATED INPUT, MODIFIED-ELABORATED INPUT, DISTANCE LEARNING Durante la pandemia se ha hecho más difícil para el profesorado valorar si el material lingüístico propuesto es adecuado para el nivel de su alumnado (Conti, 2021). En esta situación, existe el riesgo de que el alumnado esté expuesto a input inapropiado, lo cual puede resultar perjudicial para la adquisición del idioma. La solución propuesta, input elaborado (modificado), está diseñada para aumentar la comprensibilidad sin sacrificar la riqueza del input auténtico, que es crucial para la adquisición del idioma (Long, 2015; 2020; O'Donnel, 2009; Yano, Long y Ross, 1994). Las características del input elaborado hacen que su aplicación sea útil en cualquier tipo de curso de idiomas. Además, en el contexto de la enseñanza virtual, el input elaborado puede ser un instrumento eficaz para tratar el problema de la adecuación del input. Este trabajo analiza los fundamentos teóricos del input elaborado y modificado-elaborado al tiempo que ofrece una revisión de los datos empíricos existentes que respaldan su efectividad. Palabras claves: ADECUACIÓN DEL INPUT, INPUT ELABORADO, INPUT MODIFICADO-ELABORADO, APRENDIZAJE VIRTUAL Durante la pandemia sono aumentate le difficoltà dei docenti nel giudicare l’adeguatezza materiale linguistico per il livello di competenza degli studenti (Conti, 2021). In questa situazione sussiste il rischio di esporre gli apprendenti a input inappropriato, che può compromettere l’acquisizione linguistica. La soluzione proposta è l’input (modificato-)elaborato, concepito per aumentare la comprensibilità senza sacrificare la ricchezza propria dell’input autentico, fattore cruciale per l’acquisizione linguistica (Long, 2015, 2020; O’Donnel, 2009; Yano, Long, & Ross, 1994). Le caratteristiche dell’input elaborato rendono la sua applicazione auspicabile in qualsiasi corso di lingua. Inoltre, nel contesto dell’insegnamento a distanza, l’input elaborato può essere uno strumento efficace per far fronte ai problemi di appropriatezza dell’input. Il presente lavoro analizza le basi teoriche dell’input elaborato e dell’input modificato-elaborato fornendo allo stesso tempo una revisione dei dati empirici che ne supportano l’efficacia. Parole chiave: APPROPRIATEZZA DELL’INPUT, INPUT ELABORATO, INPUT MODIFICATO, APPRENDIMENTO A DISTANZA

"My opinion is that…": the subjective introduction in school students’ written discourse

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the modes chosen to express the speaker’s/writer’s personal evaluations in essays written by children of eleven and twelve years old. The structural-semantic repertoire of subjectification tools, their functional potential, and frequency of occurrence in descriptive and argumentative essays are considered. It has been found that the ‘subjective’ textual density of argumentative texts reflects the developmental level of verbal introspection (related to the theory of mind) and correlates with children’s academic achievements. The results are compared with the data concerning a later mastering of the linguistic means expressing subjectivity. The research combines the methods of longitudinal and assessment observation, elements of statistical data processing and the theoretical principles of linguistic material analysis accepted in the Petersburg school of functional grammar. The linguistic tools of subjectification are interpreted in connection with the concepts of modus, modus frame, and authorship. The guidelines offered to language and literature teachers take into consideration the cognitive and the systemic-lingual difficulty of various subjectification means; they are aimed to enhance communicative skills promoting successful socialization of school children.