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AGITATION AGAINST VACCINATION. METAPHORICAL CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF VACCINE HOSTILITY IN BLOG COMMENTS FROM THE STANDARD (2021)
No full textThe SARS-CoV pandemic has increased the influence of (social) media in spreading (mis)information about vaccines and side effects. After the coronavirus outbreak, many people obtained their information primarily via online news portals and social media and were suspicious of official announcements in the “reputable” media. The article therefore takes anti-vaccine propaganda in public discourse during the Corona crisis (2021) as a starting point and illustrates how the refusal to vaccinate is metaphorically conceptualized in selected comments on a blog entry in the Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard, which was followed by over a thousand postings. Metaphor models in the context of the global corona infection not only demonstrate how abstract concepts are linguized through metaphorical expressions and thus made tangible, but also which conceptualizations dominate and can thus claim collective relevance.
Keywords: Corona crisis; vaccine hostility; infodemic; blog comments; conceptual metaphor theory; metaphor models
NOTES ON THE OLD TURKISH VERB ARKA- “TO SEEK…” AND ITS SEMANTIC FIELD
No full textThe verb arka-, whose meaning was only recorded in Old Turkish as "to search, to investigate", has many unrecorded meanings. Some of these meanings are recorded in later historical and contemporary dialects. Some of them can be identified thanks to the derivatives of the verb. Although the connection between some derivatives of the verb arka- has been mentioned in a few studies, these words have not been associated with each other in most of the studies. According to the data in historical and contemporary dialects, it is understood that the verb arka- has the following meanings: 1. to pass through. 2. to pass between, to extend or place an object between two things. 3. to support, help. 4. to lie diagonally or transversely between two things. 5. to line up in a row. 6. to thread, weave. 7. to send. 8. to follow. 9. to seek, to investigate. The verb arka- is derived from the verb Old Turkish *ar- “to pass through”, with the suffix -kA-, which carries an intensifying function. The core meaning of the verb *ar- and arka- is the same. All meanings of the verb have emerged from the meaning of "to pass through". It has not been clarified whether the verb ara-, which survives in the Oghuz group Turkish dialects today, and the verb arka- which is recorded as Oghuz in DLT, are the same verb, due to the fact that the *arga- intermediate form in the development of arka- > *arga- > ara- has not been detected in any Turkish dialect to date. In addition, in dialects that preserve long vowels, the first vowel of the verb ara- is long, while in derivatives of the verb arka- such as arkış, argaç, the first vowel is short. For these reasons, it does not seem possible to determine with certainty whether the verbs arka- and ara- are the same verb.
Keywords: Old Turkish; Oghuz Turkish; arka-; ara-
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN GERMAN LESSON: EVALUATION AND SELF-REFLECTION ON AN INTERCULTURAL TEACHING SEQUENCE
No full textIn addition to acquiring the ability to communicate in a foreign language, acquiring an open and tolerant attitude towards the country and people of the language being taught has long been a natural and integrated learning goal of foreign language teaching. In order to integrate this learning goal, it is important to know how specific cultural and intercultural values can be conveyed. This can now be treated from different scientific perspectives. Nevertheless, especially in foreign language teaching, it is interesting and important to look at cross-cultural topics from a didactic perspective. As part of this work, the terms intercultural learning, intercultural competence, intercultural communication and culturally reflective learning were examined and discussed based on the relevant specialist literature. In this regard, a teaching proposal on the topic of “food” was implemented in the Albanian context at the Goethe Center Tirana with the aim of promoting intercultural learning. The teaching suggestion on the topic of “Food” is intended to give teachers systematic and didactic suggestions for the use of culturally reflective learning in foreign language lessons. Intercultural learning has long been a topic in the fields of foreign and second language teaching research, and there is interest beyond it. This work therefore aims to provide a coherent overview that can be used for the development of intercultural language teaching. In addition, it takes into account the aspect of intercultural learning that can no longer be neglected in intercultural foreign language teaching in Albania.
Keywords: intercultural communication; culturally reflective learning; GFL lessons; self-reflection
GEOCHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY OF LEAD-ZINC MINE TAILINGS FROM THE ARTANA LANDFILL IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
No full textThe aim of this work was to identify and characterize the chemical elements in the samples of flotation tailings from the Pb-Zn mine in the Artana landfill, Republic of Kosovo. A total of 38 tailings samples were analyzed for their geochemical composition using: inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), as well as for their mineralogical composition using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The geochemical data show that the content of most elements is in the following range: iron 5.8 – 31.9 %, calcium 0.69 – 13.4%, aluminium 0.08 – 1.98%, potassium 0.11 – 1.34%, lead 0.26 – 1.75%, and zinc 0.03 – 1.89%. The semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRPD) analysis shows the information for the most common minerals with their average content: pyrite 37.38%, basanite 25.28%, anhydrite 18.62% and quartz 16.93%. The data obtained from the collected samples with different instrumental techniques (ICP-AES and SEM-EDX) show a good correlation for the content of the following metals: Fe, Ca, Al, K and Pb
AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO DATA
No full textThis paper explores the mechanisms by which companies can gain access to data necessary for automated decision-making in scenarios without direct contractual agreements, focusing on market-driven approaches. It introduces the concept of the essential facilities doctrine under EU competition law and examines its applicability to sets of data, alongside an examination of current ex-ante regulatory instruments which grant data access rights, such as the Type Approval Regulation, the Open Data Directive, the Electricity Directive, the Digital Markets Act, and the Data Act. These legal instruments are analysed in terms of their ability to facilitate access to data necessary for the automation of decision-making processes. In addition, the study looks at the challenges and opportunities presented by these legal instruments, including the nuances of applying the essential facilities doctrine to data. The article concludes that the most efficient way for a company to gain access to sets of data required for automated decision-making (in the absence of a contractual agreement) is to base its data access claim on an act of ex-ante regulation. If, however, such legal basis does not exist, a company could still base its data access claim on the essential facilities doctrine. The practical applicability of the doctrine to sets of data, however, remains unclear
LACK OF QUALIFIED WORKFORCE IN KOSOVO: BUSINESS CHALLENGES IN THE CONTEXT OF VISA LIBERALIZATION
No full textAs Kosovo endeavors to meet global standards amidst rapid technological advances and increasing international market demands, its path to sustainable development encounters notable obstacles. This research paper investigates the challenges faced by the Kosovo\u27s business sector, stemming from a significant lack of qualified workforce. This shortage impedes not only competition and business growth but also stifles innovation, adaptation to technological advancements, and overall expansion. This study methodically examines the repercussions of this skills deficit on local enterprises through a detailed statistical data analysis, interviews with business representatives, and an extensive review of prior research. Additionally, it assesses how visa liberalization could influence the local labor market by potentially intensifying brain drain—where skilled individuals might emigrate in search of better opportunities, thereby further depleting local talent pools. The paper proposes targeted recommendations to enhance educational systems, vocational training, and workforce development strategies. These suggestions aim to foster sustainable, innovative, and vigorous economic growth, enabling Kosovo to integrate more effectively into the global economy and harness the advantages of increased labor mobility. This analysis provides critical insights into strategic planning necessary to overcome labor market challenges, crucial for Kosovo\u27s economic and social progression
SECURING THE DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS OF MINORS: PRIVACY IMPLICATIONS OF AI
No full textThe unprecedented growth of ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (hereinafter referred to as AI) has brought immense benefits but at the same time has posed complex challenges that has impacted users’ lives, including privacy and data security, particularly, children who are vulnerable to these problems. This paper examines privacy of children in the era of AI and the legal framework’s adequacy in protecting children’s privacy, focusing on India, the world’s most populous nation in 2024,[1] with over 833.7 million[2] internet users, accounting for more than half of its population. With the advent of AI, unprecedented accumulation, processing, and analysis of massive datasets has become possible by algorithms applying predictive analytics on discrete datasets. Nevertheless, AI’s pattern recognition ability has blurred privacy boundaries which has enabled it to feed on sensitive information such as that concerning health, emotions, interests, and behaviours. Due to innate curiosity and digital immersion, children are more susceptible to privacy violations in this ‘AI-driven’ digital era. Since children possess a limited understanding of privacy risks, they are more likely to share information online. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the issue concerning the increased digital footprint of children and the associated conflict between the ‘age of consent’ and the ‘age of contractual capacity’ for the purpose of fixing the ‘digital age’ of the child. Such a requirement can be potentially addressed through legislative intervention by enacting a comprehensive piece of legislation to regulate the ubiquitous collection of data. Facial recognition, predictive analytics, autonomous systems, and other AI applications, could be the reason for the apprehensions that systemic discrimination could occur and governance is also at stake that points out the need for transparency and accountability. While AI brings with itself exponential growth, there is also a need to underscore the importance of protecting children’s right to privacy, given their vulnerability. A comprehensive legislative framework, responsible corporate policies, and increased awareness can help strike a balance, allowing children to harness AI’s benefits while safeguarding their fundamental rights.
 
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC (2004–2019): BETWEEN WEST AND EAST
No full textThe year 2024 will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Slovakia’s European membership. However, the country has continually displayed the lowest interest in European politics – the turnout in the European elections is only roughly 18%. Moreover, the Slovaks’ confidence level in the European Parliament ranges from 50% to 70%. The “Second-Order Elections” theory only partially accounts for the causes of the low turnout in “European elections”. The electoral differentiation between the western (capital) Bratislava region (preferences for liberals and social democrats) and the eastern Slovak Prešov region (Christian democrats and populist conservatives) showed differences in the European orientation of the Slovak voter. The results of four elections to the European Parliament (2004–2019) confirmed the electoral cleavage between the western and eastern regions. Since the powerful Slovak parties frequently vary in their level of Euro-optimism/Euro-pessimism to obtain more significant electoral benefits (ĽS-HZDS, SMER-SD, OĽaNO). To comprehend the nuances of Slovak voters’ electoral behaviour, it is reasonable to determine the public aspects of Euro-optimism/Euro-pessimism in Slovak regions at different geographical extremities. The students’ political socialization in the Bratislava and Prešov regions demonstrated the delegitimization of parties as political institutions and the highest level of mistrust in Slovak politicians. In this light, Slovak voters began to search for “new faces” in politics. The Prešov region displays unconditional trust for regional politicians (parties) (63%). According to the survey findings, we observe the disparity in confidence in social institutions: public organizations in Bratislava versus the church in Prešov. We believe that the level of conservatism, rather than specific party ideologies, is the primary factor influencing individuals’ perceptions of European politics
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF AI IN CUSTOMER SERVICE COMMUNICATION A CASE STUDY ON CHATBOTS IN DELIVERY APPS IN UAE
No full textThis research covers the adoption of AI within the customer service communication domain, focusing on the effectiveness of AI chatbots used in delivery applications within the United Arab Emirates. It probes into the user\u27s interaction with several leading delivery services operating within the region, such as Talabat, Zomato, and Deliveroo. The application of AI chatbots has been considered a popular way to promote customer support through the possibility of speed and efficiency, especially in handling inquiries and resolving basic issues. However, users\u27 perception of the efficacy of chatbots remains mixed, and levels of satisfaction vary greatly.
Data were collected from 58 delivery application users to get a better understanding of these experiences. Results show that while many users appreciate the speed of chatbots when resolving order issues, significant challenges persist. These include irrelevant/incorrect responses, overall limited functionality, and difficulty in managing complex queries. These conditions highlight the areas of vital concern where improvement in the chatbots is urgently needed, at least in terms of understanding context, personalization, and even response accuracy.
The research then outlines recommendations that can be taken to reduce these shortcomings. Increasing the chatbot\u27s ability to understand the user\u27s intent, making the interaction more human-like and empathetic, and personalization in responses based on particular users\u27 preferences would be considered key ways to increase customer satisfaction. Moreover, enhanced NLP might help chatbots capture incomplete or colloquial inputs of users more accurately, hence leading to smoother, more effective communication.
However, although this study has been useful in providing a variety of insights, some of the accompanying limitations include: the limited sample size of 58 respondents prohibits generalizing such findings to the whole population, and the focus on just three specific delivery platforms limits the scope of the study. This research furthers the new understanding of AI chatbot adoption in the delivery industry and lays a foundation for further investigations.
Food delivery services can, therefore, develop improvements regarding the identified challenges, enhance user experience, instill trust in chatbot technology, and consequently guarantee customer loyalty. This study has underlined the need to balance automation with user-centered design to ensure AI solutions meet shifting consumer expectations within a more digitized world today
