Literature, Language, and Linguistics Studies
Not a member yet
658 research outputs found
Sort by
AHANTA-ENGLISH CODE SWITCHING AND CODE MIXING IN CONVERSATION: A CASE OF COMMUNICATORS ON RADIO-AHANTA AWOLOHYῖ DWUMALILΕZƲ (MORNING SHOW)
Full text linkOne of the most intriguing phenomena in the field of sociolinguistic study is the reason why interlocutors switch and mix codes. When a communication gap occurs in a conversation, bilinguals will occasionally turn to their language repertoire to choose the appropriate linguistic unit. Preachers, other famous personalities, and experts on politics and society all use various communication methods. For the illustrations of linguistic impacts of codeswitching and code-mixing on indigenous language, this paper examines how communicators on Radio Ahanta Awolohyꙇ Dwumalilεzʋ employ code switching and code mixing in their conversations. The sample for the study was chosen using a convenience sampling strategy. Data was gathered throughout a day-long-long conversational session. The researcher's primary method of data collection was recording. The research is strictly descriptive and qualitative. The data were analysed from the perspectives of Hoffman's theory of code switching/mixing and Myers Scotton’s Markedness Model. The results indicated that communicators on Radio Ahanta Awolohyĩ Dwumalilεzʋ switch and mix codes when finding replacements for lexical items, convenience, and to talk about certain topics. The study also reveals that communicators use all forms of code switching and code mixing, with the exception of congruent lexicalization. Article visualizations
THE EFFECTS OF TASK-BASED ACTIVITIES ON THE GRAMMAR RETENTION OF EFL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Full text linkThis study investigates the impact of task-based activities on grammar retention among tenth-grade students at Go Den High School in Long An Province, Vietnam. The research aimed to (1) assess how task-based activities influence students' grammar retention, and (2) explore students' attitudes towards task-based learning in grammar instruction. Ninety-two tenth-grade students participated, with the sample divided into two groups based on their pretest scores: an experimental group, which engaged in task-based activities, and a control group, which did not. The study analyzed pretest and post-test scores to measure the effect of task-based activities on grammar retention. Additionally, to gain deeper insights into students' perspectives, informal interviews were conducted with five students. These students were randomly selected and provided valuable feedback on their experiences with task-based activities. Their responses helped clarify how the method impacted both their understanding of grammar and their attitudes toward learning it. The study also utilized questionnaires to gather more comprehensive data on students' overall attitudes toward the method. The findings revealed a significant improvement in grammar retention among students who participated in task-based activities, as well as a positive shift in their attitudes toward grammar instruction. Students reported that task-based activities made learning grammar more engaging, less monotonous, and more memorable. The study concludes by discussing the limitations of the research and offering recommendations for future studies in the field. Article visualizations
EXPLORING CLASSROOM ENGLISH-SPEAKING ANXIETY: PERSPECTIVES OF ENGLISH NON-MAJORED STUDENTS
Full text linkThis study examined the factors contributing to English-speaking anxiety among non-English major students at Can Tho University (CTU), Vietnam, and explored how this anxiety impacted their learning experiences. In addition, the research investigated the coping strategies these students employed to overcome such challenges. With English proficiency becoming increasingly vital in both academic and professional contexts, understanding the root causes of speaking anxiety and identifying effective coping mechanisms are crucial for enhancing students' language learning outcomes. The study involved 200 non-English major students at CTU and employed a mixed-methods approach to collect data, combining both quantitative and qualitative insights. Quantitative data were gathered using a Likert-scale survey, which measured anxiety levels and contributing factors. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews and student feedback, providing a deeper understanding of their experiences and coping strategies. The findings revealed that English-speaking anxiety stemmed from three primary sources: individual factors, language-related challenges, and environmental influences. The study also identified three key consequences of this anxiety: social withdrawal, psychological distress, and physical reactions. In response, students implemented various strategies to manage and reduce anxiety, such as seeking feedback from teachers and peers, cultivating a supportive environment, engaging in regular speaking practice, and participating in psychological training activities. These findings offer valuable insights for improving the English-speaking skills of non-English major students at CTU by highlighting ways to manage anxiety and enhance the language learning experience. Article visualizations
COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCIES: THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC SILENCE IN QUELLING EMOTIONAL RED FLAGS
Full text linkThis study investigates the strategies and practices employed in schools to enhance the acquisition of Communicative Competencies in English language learning. It focuses on three key research areas: the activities learners engaged in to develop Communicative Competencies, the specific competencies applied, and the role of Strategic Silence in managing emotional challenges during lessons. A qualitative approach was utilized, with data collected through classroom observation, lesson recordings, and interviews with teachers of English Language. The findings revealed that learners participated in a range of interactive activities, including group discussions, role-plays, and problem-solving tasks among others, fostering their ability to express ideas effectively and adapt to diverse communication contexts. Teachers emphasized linguistic, pragmatic, and sociolinguistic competencies. The study has notably supported the proposition that Strategic Silence emerges as an effective tool in addressing emotional red flags, promoting reflection, and maintaining harmony. These insights contribute to the understanding of best practices for enhancing communication skills and emotional resilience among learners. Article visualizations
TRAGEDY OF BHOPAL IN LITERARY IMAGINATION: INVESTIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMANITARIAN CRISES IN INDRA SINHA’S ANIMAL’S PEOPLE AND ARUNDHATI ROY’S THE MINISTRY OF UTMOST HAPPINESS
Full text linkThis paper looks into the literary elucidation of the aftermath of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the most cataclysmic industrial disasters, through engaging with Indra Sinha's Animals People and Arundhati Roy's The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. The Bhopal disaster, which happened due to the negligence of the corporate and neoliberal apparatuses, wreaked a dreadful despoliation in Bhopal; it caused over 3,000 instant deaths and over 25,000 deaths in subsequent years, resulting from the gas exposure. The novels under scrutiny deal with this traumatic historical event and investigate its frightful consequences from both ecocritical and humanitarian perspectives. Through the maimed protagonist, Animal, Sinha attempts to bring the Bhopal victims to the forefront, who still wrestle with excruciating illness and several forms of deformity that are not yet treated with seriousness and care. Worst of all, Sinha lamentably shows how aggressive nationalism and hideous internal power politics stand as barriers to fighting the subsequent ecological disasters, jeopardizing any hope for a better future. Similarly, Roy has also depicted the precarious vision of existence in Bhopal, where human beings are even deprived of “clean water” and “medical care”, without getting any slightest help from the authority and the media. Through the juxtaposition of Roy and Sinha's novels, this paper illustrates the manifold ways in which literary creativity can engage with environmental and humanitarian plight, providing nuanced insights into the long-lasting impacts of such tragedies on individuals and society at large. Furthermore, the paper also brings to the fore how these two fictional representations deal with issues of environmental deterioration, corporate or neoliberal negligence, and governmental apathy towards Bhopal’s toxic legacy. Article visualizations
MEDIA AND EDUCATION: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDUCATION SECTION IN VIETNAM’S TUỔI TRẺ ONLINE NEWSPAPER
Full text linkIn this study, we—the researchers—examined the characteristics of the Education section on Tuổi Trẻ Online, Vietnam, during the fourth quarter of 2023. Our focus was twofold: the unique features of digital journalism and the specific content and presentation styles of this section. Regarding content, the articles in the Education section addressed urgent, real-time educational issues with accurate and relevant information. They were well-organised by thematic categories, offering readers a structured overview of key developments in education. Additionally, the section went beyond formal school-related news by including stories of student resilience, creativity, and broader societal concerns linked to education. These narratives reflect Tuổi Trẻ Online’s commitment to covering education as a dynamic, human-centered domain. In terms of presentation, the newspaper invested in high-quality visuals and interactive elements. With continuous updates in digital technology, the Education section has improved its interface and user experience, making it more appealing and accessible. Typography, layout, and graphics were carefully selected to enhance readability and engagement, encouraging readers to interact with and respond to the articles. These design and content choices have helped establish the section as a trusted and engaging source for educational news. Article visualizations
THE PERCEPTION OF ENGLISH-MAJORED STUDENTS TOWARDS LEARNING ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN READING LESSONS AT NAM CAN THO UNIVERSITY, VIETNAM
Full text linkEnglish vocabulary learning is crucial for effective communication in second language acquisition, yet English major students often find vocabulary memorization to be a tedious and challenging task. This study investigates how English major students at Nam Can Tho University perceive and utilize reading as a method for vocabulary acquisition. The research aims to explore learners' attitudes, beliefs, and experiences regarding the role of reading in expanding their English vocabulary. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study employed a questionnaire survey to gather both qualitative and quantitative data from the participants. The findings reveal a range of perspectives: some students view reading as a primary strategy for vocabulary development, while others advocate for supplementary methods such as explicit vocabulary instruction. These insights underscore the importance of incorporating learners' perspectives into the design of vocabulary learning interventions. By doing so, educators can develop more effective reading-based frameworks that enhance vocabulary acquisition and support students in becoming proficient English professionals. Article visualizations
ERIC HAMP AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO ALBANOLOGY
Full text linkIt is my great pleasure to offer this small piece in recognition of the fine scholarship through which Eric Hamp has contributed to our language, linguistics and culture. In this contribution honouring Eric P. Hamp, I shall examine the end description of his contribution to linguistics. The topic of my paper is to examine some facts about Albanian and some Slavic or Romani languages. Hamp’s contributions to understanding the Albanian language were recognized in 2012, around the time of his 92nd birthday, when Posta Shqiptare, the national postal service of Albania, issued a stamp in a series commemorating three foreign Albanologists. Hamp was the only living Albanologist recognized, according to the University of Chicago. Article visualizations
LE MAL-ÊTRE DE L’ÊTRE : DE LA DÉSESPERANCE MÉTAPHYSIQUE À L’ANGOISSE ONTOLOGIQUE DANS PUISSIONS-NOUS VIVRE LONGTEMPS D’IMBOLO MBUE
Full text linkLe roman, Puissions-nous vivre longtemps (2021) d’Imbolo Mbue se dresse comme une pierre de touche dans la critique de la désespérance métaphysique, une angoisse existentielle qui transcende la simple détresse sociale pour interroger le fondement même de l’être-au-monde. Alors que la littérature critique a largement scruté les dimensions écocritiques et postcoloniales de l’œuvre, en élucidant les mécanismes de la violence lente et les dynamiques de l’extractivisme, elle a souvent éludé la profondeur de la crise ontologique vécue par les habitants de Kosawa. La présente exégèse s’attache à combler cette lacune en postulant que la dissolution du lien ontologique entre l’homme et son environnement, orchestrée par l’indifférence systémique du pétrocapitalisme, engendre une désespérance qui transcende la causalité matérielle pour se muer en un mal-être existentiel. Dès lors, la question de recherche à laquelle répondra la présente étude investigative est : En quoi la quête infructueuse d’un remède, symbolisant l’échec de la rationalité à restaurer un monde brisé, révèle-t-elle la désespérance métaphysique comme un mode d’être qui se dérobe à toute tentative de résolution empirique ? L’objectif d’une telle étude est d’élucider la transformation de la douleur en angoisse existentielle, en montrant que l’échec de la guérison physique est en fait une défaillance de la logique et du sens. À cet effet, l’emploi de l’approche phénoménologique sera avantageux. La pertinence de cette méthode réside dans sa capacité à décrire l’expérience vécue de la désespérance depuis le point de vue du sujet, c’est-à-dire comment les personnages de Kosawa perçoivent et réagissent à l’absurdité de leur monde. Son rôle est de mettre en lumière la manière dont la désespérance métaphysique se manifeste et se noue à la fois aux corps souffrants et aux esprits brisés, en faisant de la maladie une allégorie de l’aliénation existentielle. Toutefois, cette approche limite la présente analyse en risquant d’occulter les causes structurelles et systémiques au profit de la seule description de l’expérience intérieure. En termes d’articulation, deux centres d’intérêt seront décryptés: « La désespérance ; rupture du lien ontologique » et « La désespérance et l’impuissance face à l’absurdité ».Imbolo Mbue’s novel, How Beautiful We Were (2021), stands as a touchstone for critiquing metaphysical despair, an existential angst that transcends simple social distress to question the very foundation of being-in-the-world. While critical literature has largely scrutinized the ecocritical and postcolonial dimensions of the work, elucidating the mechanisms of slow violence and the dynamics of extractivism, it has often overlooked the depth of the ontological crisis experienced by the people of Kosawa. This exegesis seeks to fill that gap by postulating that the dissolution of the ontological bond between humans and their environment, orchestrated by the systemic indifference of petrocapitalism, engenders a despair that transcends material causality to become an existential malaise. Consequently, the research question that the current investigative study will answer is: To what extent does the unfruitful quest for a cure, symbolizing the failure of rationality to restore a broken world, reveal metaphysical despair as a mode of being that evades all attempts at empirical resolution? The objective of such a study is to clarify the transformation of pain into existential angst, by showing that the failure of physical healing is, in fact, a failure of logic and meaning. To that end, the use of a phenomenological approach will be advantageous. The relevance of this method lies in its ability to describe the lived experience of despair from the subject’s point of view, that is, how the characters of Kosawa perceive and react to the absurdity of their world. Its role is to shed light on how metaphysical despair manifests and intertwines with both suffering bodies and broken spirits, making illness an allegory for existential alienation. However, this approach limits the present analysis by risking the obfuscation of structural and systemic causes in favor of solely describing the inner experience. In terms of structure, two points of interest will be explored: Despair: Rupture of the ontological bond and Despair and helplessness in the face of absurdity. Article visualizations
CONTRAPUNTALITY AND AFFILIATION IN ABDULRAZAK GURNAH’S DESERTION
Full text linkEdward Said, in his notable book, Culture and Imperialism, asserts that the nascence of the novel, which is a European invention, is inseparable from the thrusts of imperialism, and so, premised on this, identifies two paramount concepts tied to the evolution of the novel and how it should be critically approached. These concepts are filiation and affiliation. The filiative approach proposes that every novel should be treated as an offshoot of the other novels that have preceded it based on Western literary canons, while the affiliative approach proposes that the novel should be read as a cultural artefact of the society that produces it, without any fixation on literary, canonical and traditional inclinations. Both approaches inform Said’s proposal of Contrapuntality as a framework for reading the novel. Hence, this essay applies the contrapuntal framework to the reading of Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Desertion. The essay makes the following findings. First, Gurnah’s novel is a postcolonial or cross-cultural text founded on affiliation, which foregrounds cultural specificity. Second, the novel reappropriates, rehistoricises and renarrativises Africa’s historical and cultural realities hitherto desolated and disappeared by European and Arab coloniality. The essay concludes that the contrapuntal framework should be deployed more due to its fluidity in unearthing imperial subtleties. Article visualizations