Linguistics Initiative
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Switching the Script: Unveiling the Linguistic Dance of Code-Switching in Nigerian Online Skits
Get PDFThis journal article presents an in-depth investigation into the intricate phenomenon of code-switching in Nigerian online comic skits, a burgeoning genre of digital entertainment. Within Nigeria, a nation characterized by linguistic and cultural diversity, online comic skits have emerged as a potent medium for creative expression, social commentary, and cultural representation. This research delves into the analysis of the different roles and types of code-switching employed by content creators in these skits, elucidating their linguistic, sociocultural, and comedic dimensions. Conducting a descriptive qualitative analysis, Poplack's (1980) Model of Types of Code-Switching and a functional model adapted from Hoffmann (1991) and Appel and Muysken (2005) were applied. Five skits, selected based on substantial viewership and the popularity of content creators, formed the core of this study. Our findings indicate that all three types of code-switching are prevalent in the skits, with inter-sentential switching being the most frequent. Additionally, the seven functions of code-switching manifest in the skits, with the referential function emerging as the most frequent. The primary use of code-switching in these skits revolves around fostering humor, expressing strong emotions, and portraying the educational status of the characters
Thematic Analysis of President Akufo-Addo’s 2023 State of the Nation Address
Get PDFThis study examines the items given prominence in President Akufo-Addo’s 2023 State of the Nation Address. As a qualitative research with textual analysis design, the study adopted the Theme-Rheme model of Halliday and Matthiessen’s (2014) Systemic Functional Linguistics theory with which the clause is construed as a message. The findings of the study indicate that (1) topical, interpersonal and textual Themes have their representation and distribution in the text. The most frequent ideational/topical Theme used in English is Participant followed by Circumstance. Process is the least thematised experiential. The textual Theme include mostly conjunctions, followed by conjunctive adjuncts. Interpersonal Theme includes mostly vocatives and few modal adjuncts and very few finite verbal operators. The elements of the topical Theme which present the core content of the message include; Participant such as Actor, Scope, Senser, and Identified – realized by pronouns and nominal group; Circumstantial of Temporal Location, Duration, Manner, Cause, Accompaniment, Role, Angle of Viewpoint. The study could be a significant contribution to scholarship in functional grammar, particularly in Theme-Rheme analysis of English use in ESL context. It demonstrates how a grammatical theory highlights foregrounding of experiences in a discourse and facilitating text composition and comprehension
From Product-Oriented Learning to Exhibition-Based Exam in Translation Class
Get PDFForeign language learners need to be provided with various real experiences to enhance their translation competence. The combination of product-oriented learning and exhibition-based exam is initialized through this research as an attempt to meet the need for translation learning. This research aims to elaborate on the application of product-oriented learning and exhibition-based exam in the translation class. This research was a descriptive study. The data of the research were mostly responses to the activities so a triangulation of quantitative data and qualitative data was employed. The quantitative data were obtained from the students’ questionnaire on the application of product-oriented learning in translation class and the visitors’ questionnaire on exhibition-based exam at the end of the course. Whilst, the qualitative data were taken from the lecturer’s observation notes. The research results show that the students had attained knowledge and skill in translation, entrepreneurial training, and enjoyment in learning. The students also gave positive responses toward the application of product-oriented learning and exhibition-based exam in translation class. The results proved that product-oriented learning and exhibition-based exam are compatible. The gist of exhibition-based exam supports the goal and process of product-oriented learning
The Study of Javanese Politeness Strategy Used by Warung Community at Magetan
Get PDFPoliteness in speaking is an important point that must be considered in communication. Someone must speak politely so that the message conveyed can be received properly. The researcher uses qualitative method. The primary data in this research has 99 utterances. Data collection techniques are observation, documentation, and interview. Data analysis uses Miles & Huberman‘s theory (1994) namely data reduction, data display, and conclusion. This study aims to find the politeness strategy of the Javanese in the Warung community at Magetan. The object research in this study is the seller and the buyer conversation in warung. The politeness strategy consists of 4 maxims namely, kurmat, andhap asor, tepa selira, and empan papan. The result of this study from 99 utterances, the researcher gets 56 utterances to analyze in politeness strategy. It can be divided into 38 utterances (67,8%) of empan papan maxim and 18 utterances (32,8%) of kurmat maxim
The Syntactic Complexity of Noun Phrases in Second Language Students’ Writing
Get PDFInvestigations on learners' writing have multiplied over the recent decades, but writings created by students of institutions of education are still mostly unstudied. This research looks into how noun phrases (NPs) were used in writings created by students at Ghanaian colleges of education (CoEs). Lu's (2010) three metrics for measuring overall NP complexity for text—a length-based metric of NP complexity, mean length of clause (MLC), and two specific NP complexity metrics—number of complex nominals per clause (CN/C) and number of complex nominals per T-Unit (CN/T)—were chosen and applied to a total of 318 texts written by Levels 100, 200, and 300 students from three colleges of education in Ghana. The results from the one-way ANOVA and its post hoc analysis showed a significant difference between Levels 100 and 300 students as well as between Levels 200 and 300 students in their use of complex noun phrases. Overall, Level 300 students significantly used more complex NPs than students in the other levels. It is recommended that in further studies, lexico-grammatical features such as relative clauses, prepositional phrases, and nominal clauses, should be analysed to assess complexity since academic language is a multifaceted entity which may be researched in various fields like SLA, applied linguistics, and language testing
Towards Minimizing the Delay/Non-completion Rate of Research Master’s Degree in Ghana: ESL Students’ Perspective of the Challenges of Thesis Work
Get PDFExtant literature confirms that the delay and non-completion of the thesis component of postgraduate studies remain a bane of postgraduate education. With the current spate of interest and enrolment into postgraduate studies in Ghana, and globally, it has become imperative to investigate the phenomenon and spotlight the contributing factors to the delay and non-completion of thesis so that students, supervisors, postgraduate faculties and departments, and all relevant stakeholders could pull efforts together to mitigate it. Through the purposive sampling method, the study recruited ten postgraduate students who have had varied experiences with thesis writing and are at different stages of completion. The data collection instrument was semi-structured interview. The conceptual framework adopted for the study was the Jiranck Dissertation Research Completion model (2010) and the data were analysed using the thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that three factors contribute to the delay and non-completion of thesis. These are; student-related factors, supervisor-related factors and institution-related factors. Based on the findings, it was recommended that postgraduate research institutions should design and develop plans and strategies to help their students complete the thesis within the stipulated period
Enhancing Grammatical Skills through Recounting the YouTube Video to Improve Speaking Ability
Get PDFDelivering ideas to others involves speaking in a significant way. Information exchange amongst language users is facilitated by this. However, many EFL students had difficulties when they tried to practice speaking. During the delivery, they stutter and become stuck. Ten freshmen attend the therapy to address these faults. It modifies YouTube content to enhance students' speaking abilities. To understand how to create sentences, the session began by using lexicogrammar. The instructor requested that the student study and retell a grammar video from YouTube in order to improve understanding. The students watched a vocabulary film on YouTube and then learnt and repeated the topic to increase their vocabulary. They then studied and repeated the information from a YouTube video that described the image. The teacher invited the students to describe photos using both written and spoken language in order to observe the students' growth in their vocabulary, grammar, and speaking abilities. The instructor provided feedback in the most recent class. The information gathered during the procedure was qualitatively examined. The study's findings led to an improvement in the students' speaking abilities by helping them with their grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. This kind of discovery could be used by teachers to teach the pertinent subjects. Additionally, it motivates additional researchers to study relevant topics
The English Teachers’ Strategies for Embracing Students’ Diversities at Indonesian Schools in Malaysia
Get PDFThis study focuses on the description of the English teachers’ strategies for embracing students’ diversity at Indonesian schools in Malaysia. This study employed a descriptive qualitative design. The primary data were obtained by interviewing two English teachers and observing the English classes at two Indonesian schools in Malaysia. The secondary data were collected by documenting all supporting references and taking pictures of relevant events/objects in both schools. The data were analyzed through the analytical process which consists of transcribing, pre-coding and coding, ideas growing, interpreting, and conclusion drawing. The strategies to embrace the students’ diversity done by the English teachers at Indonesian schools in Malaysia are in the form of adapted learning material and accustomed teaching technique to be employed in or out of the classroom. The teachers give equal treatment to all students but furnish actual guidance or instruction to the students who need it. Some other strategies are done by the English teachers following the policy and program carried out by the schools to handle the students’ diversity. The strategies are integrated into intracurricular and extracurricular activities
Trending Technologies: A Corpus-based Genre Analysis of Abstracts on ChatGPT
Get PDFGenre studies have dominated academic contexts, with a particular focus on research article abstracts. Such studies have focused on single and cross-discipline discourse practices, rather than how different disciplines address a common subject based on its communicative purpose. Against this backdrop, this study conducted a corpus-based genre analysis of RA abstracts on ChatGPT. Synergising ESP textual analysis, and corpus-based analysis, the study analysed 72 abstracts. The analyses revealed the ‘Product’ and ‘Purpose’ moves were the most frequent in the abstracts. The ‘Product’ move was afforded much textual space. Concerning the lexicogrammatical features, chatgpt was typified in all the abstracts, occurring frequently at the ‘Introduction’ and ‘Purpose’ moves. Furthermore, the potential and use of ChatGPT, as well as its educational implications, were themes developed from the lexicogrammatical characteristics. Based on these findings, the study provides recommendations for practice and further research
Beyond the Classroom: Using Google Sites as a Supplementary Material to Improve the Learners’ English Academic Performance
Get PDFThe present study investigated the common challenges of learners in the new mode of learning and their frequency, if there would be a significant difference in the performance of the participants after using Google Sites, the acceptability of the Google Sites in terms of its content quality, instructional quality, and technical quality, and the experience of the respondents in using Beyond the Classroom as supplementary material for the Third Quarter. This action research used the survey questionnaires, evaluation tool, pre-tests, and posttest as instruments in answering the research questions. Respondents were 15 Grade 8 High School learners who have internet access. Results indicated always and sometimes characterized their experience on challenges such as understanding the lessons after reading the discussion found in the modules and that there is a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores for lessons that are easy for them to understand and learn alone. Results also revealed that Beyond the Classroom is very acceptable in terms of its content, instructional, and technical quality, and respondents found it helpful in understanding their lessons. Finally, this study showed that learners struggle to cope with the changes in the new normal, and online supplementary material helps them understand their lessons and activities for the Third Quarter of the academic year 2021-2022