9 research outputs found
Leveraging chatbot applications to enhance English language learning in Nigerian secondary schools
No full textThis study explores the potential of chatbot applications to enhance English language learning in Nigerian secondary schools, motivated by the ongoing challenges in achieving high English proficiency using traditional methods. The purpose of the study was to assess the current level of English proficiency among students, evaluate the effectiveness of chatbot applications, understand user perceptions, and identify implementation challenges. A quantitative research design was employed, involving 150 students from three international schools, selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, along with thematic analysis for qualitative insights. The study revealed varied levels of English proficiency among students’ general positive perceptions of chatbot applications as effective tools for learning English; significant technical and accessibility challenges, such as poor internet connectivity and limited device availability; and the necessity of comprehensive training for both students and teachers to maximize the benefits of chatbot applications. The study concludes that while chatbot applications have considerable potential to improve English language skills, addressing the identified challenges is crucial. Recommendations included enhancing infrastructure, providing comprehensive training, and improving the software and user interface of chatbot applications to maximize their educational benefits. These insights aim to inform educators, policymakers, and technology developers on optimizing the use of chatbot applications in language education
Syntactic Analysis of Donald Trump’s Inaugural Speech
No full textThis study aimed at examining the syntactic devices in the inaugural speech of Donald Trump. The study adopted a quantitative and qualitative method. The study used frequencies and statistics to examine the frequency of occurrence of the syntactic devices used in the speech. The study also focused on how the devices helped in the interpretation of the speech. The speech was critically read. The syntactic devices (sentence types, modality, conjunctions, adverbials and pronouns) used in the speech were identified, categorised, interpreted and discussed according to the ideas presented in the speech. The findings revealed that the types of sentences employed were simple, complex, and compound sentences. He used more of simple sentences to achieve succinctness in his speech. He also used syntactic devices such as modal verbs, conjunctions, personal pronouns and adverbial phrases to accomplish conciseness, logicality, accuracy and effectiveness in his speech. The study concluded that the use of syntactic devices helped the speaker to achieve cohesion in the speech, thereby enabling him to express his motives, plans, feelings, and expectations from the Americans
Breaking Language Barriers with Chatbots: A New Era in Second Language Acquisition
No full textChatbot applications have emerged as promising tools for enhancing second language acquisition by providing personalized and interactive learning experiences. This paper examines the potential of chatbot technology in language education, highlighting its advantages, challenges, and future directions. Through personalized learning pathways, interactivity, accessibility, and instant feedback, chatbots offer learners opportunities for immersive language practice and skill development. However, chatbots also face challenges such as technical limitations, lack of human interaction, and difficulties in catering to diverse learning styles. Addressing these challenges will require further research and development to advance chatbot technology and pedagogy. Integration with other learning modalities, such as virtual reality and gamification, represents an exciting direction for future development. Recommendations for educators, developers, and policymakers include collaboration, professional development, and efforts to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. By embracing and leveraging chatbot technology, stakeholders can enhance the efficacy and engagement of language education, empowering learners to communicate confidently and effectively in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts
Politeness Strategies and Power Dynamics in Interactions Between Characters in Ama Ata Aidoo’s Anowa
No full textThis study examines the portrayal of politeness strategies, specifically positive, negative, and off-record politeness, in Ama Ata Aidoo’s play, Anowa. The study aims to bridge the gap in existing literature by exploring how linguistic strategies are utilized to explore power dynamics, gender roles, and societal expectations within African communities depicted in the play. Through a qualitative analysis of selected excerpts, the study employs a thematic approach to identify instances of positive, negative, and off-record politeness employed by characters and the narrator. Findings reveal a complex relationship of politeness strategies, with characters employing various linguistic techniques to assert authority, reinforce traditional gender norms, and negotiate interpersonal relationships. Positive politeness strategies, such as expressions of camaraderie and solidarity, are often used to establish rapport and build connections between characters. Conversely, negative politeness strategies, characterized by deference and indirectness, are employed to mitigate threats to face and autonomy. Off-record politeness allows characters to convey their intentions indirectly, providing a means to explore sensitive topics or assert power subtly. The study emphasises the importance of linguistic strategies in shaping interpersonal interactions and social hierarchies within the cultural context depicted in Anowa, shedding light on power dynamics and gender relations in postcolonial African society
Pragmatic Reference in Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell's The Dining Table
No full textThis study examined the pragmatic references used in Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell's poem, The Dining Table. The study adopted content analysis as its method. This involved the description and interpretation of referents (words used to refer to people, things and events in a special and indirect way) used in the poem. The poem was critically perused and the referents were identified and analysed. The referents were then interpreted and related to the ideologies expressed in the poem. The findings revealed that the poet used referents to point accusing finger to the events of war and the troubles that come with it. This was evident with the deployment of referents such as dinner, tonight, gun wounds, desert tongues, vegetable blood, pepper, scorpions, guests, oceans of bowls, vegetables, tongues, the table, an island, guerrillas, crocodiles, surf, Alphabeta, empty palms, switchblades, silence, voices, playground, children`s toys, roadblocks, cup of life, ticks, cracked lips, milk, moon, revolutionary, Nile, tributaries, night, lovers of fire, gun wounds, boots, walk. The study concluded that the use of referents in the poem helped to express the brutality and horror of war, suffering, agony, revolution, the dark side of child soldiers, violence and blood bath. Above all, pragmatic reference helped to set the gloomy mood and sad tone of the poem. Keywords: Pragmatic Reference, Referent, Pragmatics, Meaning
Pragmatic Implicature and the Articulation of Protest in Femi Osofisan’s Plays
No full textThis study was motivated by the need to explore the pragmatic strategies employed by Femi Osofisan in his plays Women of Owu, Morountodun, and Red Is the Freedom Road to depict protest and resistance. The purpose was to analyze the use of pragmatic implicature in these plays, illustrating how implied meanings and contextual cues enhance the expression of socio-political struggles. Utilizing a qualitative research design, the study conducted a content analysis of key speeches within the selected texts, examining the pragmatic implicature of the language used. Three major findings emerged: first, Osofisan’s use of implicature effectively exposed the moral hypocrisy and brutality of oppressors; second, the speeches affirmed the importance of unity and collective action in resistance movements; third, the implicit messages within the dialogues fostered a deeper emotional and ethical engagement with the audience, enhancing the plays\u27 impact. The study concluded that pragmatic implicature is a crucial linguistic tool in Osofisan’s work, which enriches the narrative and powerfully conveys the dynamics of protest and resilience. This study contributed to a better understanding of how language can be used to articulate and inspire resistance within socio-political contexts
Leveraging WhatsApp to Improve English Language Skills in Nigerian Secondary Education
No full textThis study investigated the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a digital platform for improving English language skills among secondary school students in Nigeria. It was undertaken to address the research gap on how mobile messaging applications influence language learning in resource-constrained contexts. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the impact of WhatsApp on students’ reading comprehension, writing, and speaking skills; to evaluate the level of engagement fostered by the platform; and to determine its influence on academic performance. Guided by the constructivist learning theory, a quasi-experimental design was employed involving 600 students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Participants were divided into an experimental group using WhatsApp for English learning and a control group without access to the platform. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, surveys, and academic records, and analysed using t-tests and ANOVA. The study found that students who engaged with WhatsApp recorded significant improvement in language proficiency, demonstrated higher levels of participation and motivation, and achieved better grades compared to those in the control group. The study concluded that WhatsApp is not only a communication tool but also a valuable educational resource capable of enhancing English language learning. The study contributed to existing knowledge by providing empirical evidence of the pedagogical value of mobile messaging platforms in secondary education and recommended their structured integration into classroom instruction
Cambios en el crecimiento, digestibilidad y anatomía intestinal de pollos de engorde alimentados con dietas que contienen harina de semillas de ricino ( Ricinus communis L.) tratada con etanol
No full textEight weeks feeding trial was conducted to investigate the chemical
composition, growth response, apparent nutrient digestibility, gut
characteristics and morphology of broiler chickens fed four diets
containing ethanol-treated castor oil seed meal (ECAM). Two hundred
day-old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were then allotted to the four
experimental diets containing ECAM at 0, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg,
respectively. Each treatment was replicated five times with 10 birds
per replicate. The final live weight, weight gain and feed intake
reduced (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary inclusion of ECAM.
Control fed broilers and those fed diets containing 100 g/kg and 150
g/kg ECAM had similar feed to gain ratio. Broilers fed diets containing
200 g/kg ECAM recorded the least (Linear and quadratic contrast, P <
0.05) crude protein and crude fibre digestibility, and the poorest
(Linear contrast, P < 0.05) feed to gain ratio. Similar improved
feed to gain ratio, apparent crude fibre, fat and ash digestibility
were noticed with birds fed the control diet, diets containing 100 g/kg
and 150 g/kg ECAM, respectively. Relative gizzard weight increased (P
< 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion levels of ECAM. Broilers
fed with 200 g/kg ECAM recorded the heaviest (P < 0.05) relative
gizzard, pancreas, duodenum weight and the longest (P < 0.05)
relative jejunum and ileum length. Villi length and crypt depth of the
duodenum reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion of
ECAM. In conclusion, ethanol-treated castor seed oil meal can be
included up to 150 g/kg diet in broiler ration without impairing growth
and nutrient digestibility.Un ensayo de alimentación de ocho semanas se realizó para
investigar la composición química, la respuesta del
crecimiento, la digestibilidad aparente de nutrimentos, las
características y la morfología intestinal de pollos de
engorde alimentados con dietas que contienen harina de semillas de
ricino tratada con etanol (HSRTE). Doscientos pollos de engorde Anak
2000 de un día de edad se asignaron a cuatro dietas experimentales
que contienen HSRTE a 0, 100, 150 y 200 g/kg, respectivamente. Cada
tratamiento se repitió cinco veces con 10 aves por
repetición. El peso vivo final, la ganancia de peso y el consumo
de alimento se redujo (P < 0,01) con la inclusión cada vez
mayor de la dieta de HSRTE. Los pollos de engorde alimentados con el
control y aquellos alimentados con dietas que contenían 100 y 150
g/kg de HSRTE tuvieron una relación alimento:ganancia similar. Los
pollos de engorde alimentados con dietas que contenían 200g/kg de
HSRTE registraron la menor proteína cruda y digestibilidad de
fibra cruda (Contrastes lineal y cuadrático, P < 0,05) y la
relación alimento:ganancia más pobre (Contraste lineal, P
< 0,05). Se notó un mejoramiento similar en la relación
alimento:ganacia y digestibilidad aparente de fibra cruda, grasa y
cenizas con aves alimentadas con la dieta control, dietas que
contenían 100 y 150 g/kg de HSRTE, respectivamente. El peso
relativo de la molleja se incrementó (P < 0,05) con el aumento
de los niveles de inclusión en la dieta de HSRTE. Los pollos
alimentados con 200 g/kg de HSRTE registraron el mayor peso relativo de
la molleja, el páncreas y el duodeno (P < 0,05) y la mayor
longitud relativa del yeyuno y el íleon (P < 0,05). La longitud
de las vellosidades y la profundidad de las criptas del duodeno se
redujeron (P < 0,05) con un incremento de la inclusión en las
dietas de HSRTE. En conclusión, la harina de semillas de ricino
tratada con etanol puede ser incluida hasta 150 g/kg en dietas para
raciones para pollos de engorde, sin perjudicar el crecimiento y la
digestibilidad de los nutrimentos
Cambios en el crecimiento, digestibilidad y anatomía intestinal de pollos de engorde alimentados con dietas que contienen harina de semillas de ricino ( Ricinus communis L.) tratada con etanol
No full textEight weeks feeding trial was conducted to investigate the chemical
composition, growth response, apparent nutrient digestibility, gut
characteristics and morphology of broiler chickens fed four diets
containing ethanol-treated castor oil seed meal (ECAM). Two hundred
day-old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were then allotted to the four
experimental diets containing ECAM at 0, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg,
respectively. Each treatment was replicated five times with 10 birds
per replicate. The final live weight, weight gain and feed intake
reduced (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary inclusion of ECAM.
Control fed broilers and those fed diets containing 100 g/kg and 150
g/kg ECAM had similar feed to gain ratio. Broilers fed diets containing
200 g/kg ECAM recorded the least (Linear and quadratic contrast, P <
0.05) crude protein and crude fibre digestibility, and the poorest
(Linear contrast, P < 0.05) feed to gain ratio. Similar improved
feed to gain ratio, apparent crude fibre, fat and ash digestibility
were noticed with birds fed the control diet, diets containing 100 g/kg
and 150 g/kg ECAM, respectively. Relative gizzard weight increased (P
< 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion levels of ECAM. Broilers
fed with 200 g/kg ECAM recorded the heaviest (P < 0.05) relative
gizzard, pancreas, duodenum weight and the longest (P < 0.05)
relative jejunum and ileum length. Villi length and crypt depth of the
duodenum reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion of
ECAM. In conclusion, ethanol-treated castor seed oil meal can be
included up to 150 g/kg diet in broiler ration without impairing growth
and nutrient digestibility.Un ensayo de alimentación de ocho semanas se realizó para
investigar la composición química, la respuesta del
crecimiento, la digestibilidad aparente de nutrimentos, las
características y la morfología intestinal de pollos de
engorde alimentados con dietas que contienen harina de semillas de
ricino tratada con etanol (HSRTE). Doscientos pollos de engorde Anak
2000 de un día de edad se asignaron a cuatro dietas experimentales
que contienen HSRTE a 0, 100, 150 y 200 g/kg, respectivamente. Cada
tratamiento se repitió cinco veces con 10 aves por
repetición. El peso vivo final, la ganancia de peso y el consumo
de alimento se redujo (P < 0,01) con la inclusión cada vez
mayor de la dieta de HSRTE. Los pollos de engorde alimentados con el
control y aquellos alimentados con dietas que contenían 100 y 150
g/kg de HSRTE tuvieron una relación alimento:ganancia similar. Los
pollos de engorde alimentados con dietas que contenían 200g/kg de
HSRTE registraron la menor proteína cruda y digestibilidad de
fibra cruda (Contrastes lineal y cuadrático, P < 0,05) y la
relación alimento:ganancia más pobre (Contraste lineal, P
< 0,05). Se notó un mejoramiento similar en la relación
alimento:ganacia y digestibilidad aparente de fibra cruda, grasa y
cenizas con aves alimentadas con la dieta control, dietas que
contenían 100 y 150 g/kg de HSRTE, respectivamente. El peso
relativo de la molleja se incrementó (P < 0,05) con el aumento
de los niveles de inclusión en la dieta de HSRTE. Los pollos
alimentados con 200 g/kg de HSRTE registraron el mayor peso relativo de
la molleja, el páncreas y el duodeno (P < 0,05) y la mayor
longitud relativa del yeyuno y el íleon (P < 0,05). La longitud
de las vellosidades y la profundidad de las criptas del duodeno se
redujeron (P < 0,05) con un incremento de la inclusión en las
dietas de HSRTE. En conclusión, la harina de semillas de ricino
tratada con etanol puede ser incluida hasta 150 g/kg en dietas para
raciones para pollos de engorde, sin perjudicar el crecimiento y la
digestibilidad de los nutrimentos
