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Language Revival or Language Construction? A Discussion in Support of the Normannique Language Revival
No full textThe aim of this paper is to show that constructed languages provide rele-vant methods for the reconstruction and revitalization of natural languages. Iuse the example of Normannique, a reconstructed Scandinavian language de-rived from remnants of Old Norse found in Normandy’s place names (France)and currently the focus of a modest revitalization program. Since August2024, this language has had a website with resources (normannique.org) anda youtube channel featuring 114 subscribers (youtube.com/@normannique).First, I address the difference between constructed and natural languages.I argue that the languages classified in these categories sometimes have thesame degree of arbitrariness. It is therefore not so much the arbitrary aspectof language planning as the population’s attitude towards the language thatdefines its classification as a constructed or natural language. In a secondstep, I show that the arbitrary nature of language planning can lead to a po-sitive attitude among the population when it fulfils a function aimed in par-ticular at improving the feasibility of a revitalization process. Thus, despitebeing classified as natural, revived languages are not always distinguishablein practice from constructed languages. Finally, I show that conventional me-thods of linguistics, unlike the planning methods developed for constructedlanguages, struggle to take this feasibility criterion into account. I proposean example of a mixed method, which I illustrate using the Normanniquelanguage revival as an example
Usages and Translations of the Italian "tanto" in Spoken Language
No full textThis paper explores the meanings, usages in context and translations into English of several tanto constructions (e.g., tanto meno, tanto poi, così tanto che, perché tanto, tanto è vero, etc.). The phrasemes are searched for in a spoken Italian corpus, where frequencies, meanings and usages in context are accounted for and discussed. Translation options are then retrieved from Italian-English parallel corpora, where also occurrences and meanings are taken into consideration. Such translations are corroborated or challenged by consulting spoken American and spoken British English corpora. Relative frequencies, pragmatic meanings, and usages are compared across all corpora. The findings reveal that several translations of the tanto constructions are retrieved from the spoken American English corpus; some others are obtained from the British English corpus. Conversely, the parallel corpora sporadically give rise to infrequent or unnatural language samples, especially as far as idiomatic expressions are concerned. Hence, the paper findings bring to the fore different patterns and pragmatic meanings of the source and target expressions. In particular, the tanto expressions, their translations, frequencies, and language patterning may greatly differ in terms of content and context
Constraints on the Art and Craft of Constructing Languages: Lessons Learnt from Classic Interlinguistics
No full textIn the 21st century, constructed languages started to be normalized as an object of scientific study. Their construction has become increasingly popular thanks to the spread of the internet and, therefore, the availability of linguistic resources from the most ‘exotic’ human languages. The practice of constructing languages (in brief, conlanging) is often made by non-professional linguists with much enthusiasm and anecdotal experience but without a solid linguistic ground. Interlinguistics may be divided into four periods (prehistorical, classic, modern, postmodern), where conlanging is the postmodern part. From its history, contemporary conlangers can profit from the errors and successes of their predecessors of classic Interlinguistics. This period started with the publication of Volapük (1879) until the release by IALA of Interlingua (1951). Its protagonists were mainly involved in the quest for the optimal International Auxiliary Language (IAL); nonetheless, their lessons are still valid
The musk deer and its musk in classical Indian literature
No full textThe musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson) is a small hornless animal, only 40–60 cm high. It lives in the Himalayas and Tibet between 2100 and 3300 m. The caudal musk gland of the adult male provides the famous aromatic black substance known as musk which is traditionally much used in perfumery.
After a short introduction about the animal and its habits, its role in Indian classical literature is discussed. It is missing in the Veda and epics (except one short mention in the Mahābhārata), but since the early first millennium it it rather often mentioned. It is variously called karāla, kastūrīmṛga, and mṛganābhi. Part of the accounts are rather fanciful.
The second part of the article concentrates on musk itself, Sankrit kastūrikā, also mṛgamada and kuraṅgamada. It was variously used perfuming the body, clothes, and even as a condiment added to drinks. Physicians mixed it in various medicines.
Finally, the role of musk in ancient international trade is discussed. In the Graeco-Roman world it became known in the fourth and fifth century and later on it was also much appreciated in the Islamic world. Its name, Greek μόσχος, Latin muscus, is probably borrowed from Persian (Middle and New Persian mušk ‘musk’) as muṣka in Sanskrit means ‘testicle.’ However, it seems that also in India the musk gland was occasionally confused with testicles
Nourishing the body and food for soul: The role of animals in the South Asian Sufi environment
No full textThis article investigates some aspects concerning the consumption of meat for food in Islam in general and in the South Asian cultural environment in particular. Starting out from a look at the primary sources of authority in Islam, i.e. the Koran and the prophetic Traditions (hadith), concerning legal prescriptions with regard to feeding on meat, the focus moves on to describe how muslims, especially Sufis, in the Indian subcontinent have adapted to the local culture and developed a particular attitude towards eating or refraining from eating meat in their daily diet and/or in the specific circumstances of their initiatory discipline. It argues in favor of a common stance among practitioners in different spiritual traditions, thereby creating a common understanding and attitude characteristic of the multi-cultural environment of India and Pakistan
From the bellowing cow to the cow’s soul: Remarks on the Old Indo-Āryan and Old Iranian animal sacrifice
No full textThis paper aims to draw parallels between the ancient Iranian or Avestan culture and the ancient Indo-Āryan or Vedic Sanskrit culture as regards animal sacrifices. As is well known, these two cultures share an ancient common cultural basin, that is the so-called Indo-Iranian culture located at least within the Andronovo cultural complex, during the Bronze Age, and within the Bactria-Margiana Acheological Complex (BMAC) in the first half of the second millennium BCE. However, the Iranian culture which we know from the Avestan textual corpus developed especially on the Iranian plateau, at least from the ninth century BCE onwards, whereas the Old Indo-Āryan culture we know from the Vedic textual corpus developed in the North-Western area of the Indian subcontinent, that is between Afghanistan and Pakistan earlier (1500-1300 BCE), and later in the area corresponding to today’s eastern Panjab, and Uttar Pradesh (1300-900 BCE). Therefore, despite a common cultural background, for centuries the Avestan and Vedic cultures developed independently of each other, each with its own characteristics. As regards the so-called ‘sacrifice,’ known as yasna in Old Iranian and yajña in Old Indo-Āryan, and in light of the afore-mentioned historical premise, there are nevertheless peculiar parallels that are anything but mere cultural coincidences, nor the mere remnants of an ancient Indo-Iranian cultural unit, but the result of the development of a common cultural heritage under similar historical conditions, despite the peculiarities of each culture. This article aims to highlight such developments, especially in relation to the performance of the animal sacrifice
Divulgare la cultura della sicurezza sul lavoro nelle aule scolastiche: dal progetto sperimentale alla buona pratica trasferibile
No full textLa struttura S.Pre.S.A.L. dell'A.S.L. TO5 ha realizzato un intervento formativo denominato "Progettare la sicurezza sul lavoro" destinato a sei classi terze di un Istituto Tecnico Industriale del territorio. L'obiettivo dell'intervento era quello di accrescere le conoscenze tecniche e le competenze dei lavoratori e delle lavoratrici di domani, per comprendere il fenomeno degli infortuni sul lavoro, favorire la riflessione sulle strategie di prevenzione e la protezione da attuare per ridurre i rischi lavorativi e sensibilizzare in merito all'adozione di comportamenti sicuri e consapevoli. L'elaborato di tesi ha permesso di valutarel'intervento formativo attraverso i parametri ricompresi nella Griglia di individuazione e valorizzazione di una Buona Pratica Trasferibile (BPT)
Are we on the right track for mitigating climate change?
No full textClimate change, primarily driven by human activities, is becoming one of the most urgent global challenges of our time. Over the past decade, significant efforts have been made to address the climate change crisis, resulting in certain impacts in combating climate change and raising awareness about its consequences. This paper critically assesses global climate mitigation efforts, highlighting both achievements and persistent shortcomings. Despite growth in renewable energy, international agreements, and technological innovation, as well as a carbon market, greenhouse gas emissions remain at record highs, and climate impacts continue to accelerate. Key strategies that predominantly rely on a growth-oriented paradigm and technological solutions have fallen short, often reinforcing existing exploitation paradigms rather than transforming them. Drawing on Granular Interaction Thinking Theory (GITT), the paper proposes transitioning from an eco-deficit to an eco-surplus culture—one that views ecological restoration and protection as fundamental for socio-economic well-being and development. Mitigating climate change requires not only scaling proven solutions but also reimagining socio-economic and governance structures to align with planetary boundaries and long-term sustainability
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of in-water and out-of-water births in low-obstetric-risk labour: a retrospective observational study at Piacenza hospital.
No full textINTRODUCTION
The utilisation of birth pool immersion during labour and delivery constitutes one of the primary non-pharmacological methods for alleviating pain. Consequently, an increasing number of women are opting to employ aquatic environments as a means of managing the childbirth experience. However, the literature reports conflicting data and poor-quality evidence on maternal and neonatal outcomes. It becomes important to understand whether water birth is safe for both woman and baby. The objective of this research is to evaluate and compare neonatal outcomes, including infections, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and Apgar scores at one and five minutes, alongside maternal outcomes such as vagino-perineal lacerations, postpartum haemorrhage, the duration of labour and the expulsive phase, as well as infections, between water birth and non-water birth scenarios.
METHODS
A retrospective observational cohort study employing a parallel design was undertaken. A total of 698 women with low-risk obstetric pregnancies were included and stratified into two groups based on the type of delivery. Data analysis was performed using STATA 16.0 software, applying both descriptive and inferential statistical methods to assess the study variables. A logistic model was created for the study population to identify which variables may contribute to an increased likelihood of injury to the perineum.
RESULTS
The research sample comprised 698 deliveries, which were evenly distributed between the two cohorts. The groups exhibited homogeneity concerning maternal age, parity, administration of antibiotic treatment during labour, and positivity rates of vaginal-rectal swabs. A further notable discrepancy (p<0.05) was observed in the volume of postpartum blood loss; however, the difference was minimal in both cohorts. Logistic regression analysis revealed that for each 1 cm increase in infant head circumference, the risk of perineal injury increased by 1.3 times (OR = 1.27; p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
The study identified no significant differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes between water and non-water births. Consequently, it appears both suitable and prudent to permit women experiencing low-risk obstetric labour the autonomy to decide whether to deliver in a water-based setting or not. However, further studies are needed. Despite the findings presented, it is crucial to emphasise that further investigation and analysis are absolutely necessary
