Languages

19 pages, 1024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighbourhood Density in Spoken Word Recognition: An Eye-Tracking Study

by Christina Schelletter

Languages 2024, 9(10), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100329 - 16 Oct 2024

Viewed by 325

Bilingual acquisition research has so far focused on comparisons with monolingual children in terms of linguistic features, performance on standardised tests, input, etc. In contrast, new methodologies, such as eye-tracking, can offer a more detailed understanding of the way bilinguals use both language [...] Read more.

Bilingual acquisition research has so far focused on comparisons with monolingual children in terms of linguistic features, performance on standardised tests, input, etc. In contrast, new methodologies, such as eye-tracking, can offer a more detailed understanding of the way bilinguals use both language systems. Eye fixations provide evidence of online processing. This study investigates spoken word recognition in children and adults. Word retrieval is affected by the number of words that minimally differ from the target (neighbourhood). Previous research found that only bilingual adults activated a similar-sounding competitor from the other language. As children have been found to be sensitive to neighbourhood density from quite early in previous research, similar results might be expected. This study includes 56 subjects (11 German–English bilingual and 12 English monolingual children, aged 8; 21 English monolingual and 12 German–English bilingual adults). The subjects’ online processing of competing items for high- and low-density targets was compared. The results confirm that neighbourhood density affects word recognition in adults and children. The bilingual children activated same-language competitors as well as similar-sounding competitors from the other language. Adults and children differed in terms of latencies, and the monolinguals were more accurate than the bilingual subjects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenging the Paradigm of Bi/Multilingual Research)

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24 pages, 1293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Input, Universals, and Transfer in Developing Rhotics: A Sketch in Bilingualism

by Elena Babatsouli

Languages 2024, 9(10), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100328 - 14 Oct 2024

Viewed by 402

Abstract

Understanding the role of input in bilingual phonological acquisition is revealing for deciphering the workings of language acquisition processes. Input and usage distributional frequencies guide and differentiate speech sound acquisition patterns cross-linguistically. Such processes are operant in first- and second-language acquisition. There is [...] Read more.

Understanding the role of input in bilingual phonological acquisition is revealing for deciphering the workings of language acquisition processes. Input and usage distributional frequencies guide and differentiate speech sound acquisition patterns cross-linguistically. Such processes are operant in first- and second-language acquisition. There is an under-representation of investigations on how context-specific input in bilingualism influences the early acquisition of rhotics in child developmental speech longitudinally. This study addresses the gap by tracing a Greek/English bilingual girl’s rhotic development between ages 2;7 and 3;11, utilizing naturalistic data during daily interactions with an adult interlocutor. The study reports and schematically illustrates the child’s bilingual usage frequencies, informing language choice in her production variables, which demonstrate, quantitatively and qualitatively, the effects of context-specific input on rhotic accuracy levels and substitution patterns in both languages. Specifically, distributional frequencies in the input govern the child’s phonemic and phonetic tendencies in the languages. Findings are compared with previous reports in the literature and enhance language acquisition theory, revealing the pivotal role of input in the dynamic interplay with developmental universals, language-specific tendencies, transfer, and individual variation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Methods for Exploring the Role of Input in Child Bilingual Development)

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19 pages, 595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Word-Final /s/-/z/ Omission in Vietnamese English

by Stephen J. Disney and Le Nu Cam Le

Languages 2024, 9(10), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100327 - 14 Oct 2024

Viewed by 323

Abstract

Southeast Asian learners of English, including those from Vietnam, frequently omit word-final consonants in their English speech. Previous work on Vietnamese learners of English is limited, and errors are typically usually attributed to first-language transfer effects. No large-scale empirical study on Vietnamese learners [...] Read more.

Southeast Asian learners of English, including those from Vietnam, frequently omit word-final consonants in their English speech. Previous work on Vietnamese learners of English is limited, and errors are typically usually attributed to first-language transfer effects. No large-scale empirical study on Vietnamese learners has been carried out to aid the development of an evidence-based pedagogy. This study uses authentic spoken data to compare lexical and morphological word-final /s/ and /z/ in the speech of sixteen Vietnamese adult learners of English. We discuss the relative impact of frequency of use, whether the instance of a target /s/ or /z/ is in a root or bound morpheme, and whether the preceding phoneme is a consonant or vowel. An overall omission rate of 28.4% of expected instances was found. Morphological {-s} when it is preceded by a consonant has the highest error rate (50.7%). A multilevel binary logistic regression was performed to ascertain the relative effects. Morphological words containing /s/ or /z/ were significantly more likely to be pronounced with the /s/ or /z/ absent than lexical words containing a /s/ or /z/, as were those in clusters compared to those with a preceding vowel. The results indicate that phonological effects and morphological effects are stacked and not multiplicative and that the observed omission rates are not solely attributable to L1 transfer effects. Frequency of use is also highly correlated with accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigating L2 Phonological Acquisition from Different Perspectives)

17 pages, 384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

This Is the Sacrifice: Language, Ideology and Religious Identity Performance in Erei Personal Names

by God’sgift Ogban Uwen and Edadi Ilem Ukam

Languages 2024, 9(10), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100326 - 9 Oct 2024

Viewed by 420

Abstract

This paper examines personal names derived from traditional religious beliefs and practices among the Erei people in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State in South-South, Nigeria while utilising insights from the multidisciplinary inferences of socio-onomastic theory to account for the cultural, [...] Read more.

This paper examines personal names derived from traditional religious beliefs and practices among the Erei people in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State in South-South, Nigeria while utilising insights from the multidisciplinary inferences of socio-onomastic theory to account for the cultural, social and situational contexts that create the religious content of the names. Data were obtained by means of participant observation and semi-structured interviews during six months of fieldwork involving 40 participants who were the name-givers, name-bearers and name-users. Our findings highlight the socio-onomastic tradition of Erei people in which personal names are bestowed through a conscious application of symbolic linguistic resources to express and perform ideologies and identities that are rooted in the traditional religion’s foundations and sociocultural practices that represent Erei people’s indigenous beliefs system and spiritual worldview. Focused on the ideals of African traditional religion, religious identities are constructed through the use of personal names related to idol worship, the mysteries of death, reincarnation and commemoration, cultural festivals and performances, symbolic objects, familial rankings and other aspects derived from their environment that also bear traditional religious significance. And because this set of personal names is now predominant among the ageing population and is losing contemporaneity due to an increasing subpopulation with a new (Christian) beliefs system, this study serves to preserve a transiting and endangered Erei socio-onomastic practice that represents the people’s traditional cosmology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Personal Names and Naming in Africa)

13 pages, 1197 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Language Diversity and Bi/Multilingualism in Aphasia Research

by Monike Egia-Zabala and Amaia Munarriz-Ibarrola

Languages 2024, 9(10), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100325 - 9 Oct 2024

Viewed by 473

Abstract

Previous research on aphasia has recognised the need for cross-linguistic studies and studies on bi/multilingual aphasia. However, a study by Beveridge and Bak revealed that papers published between 2000 and 2009 were restricted to a few languages, with a clear predominance of English. [...] Read more.

Previous research on aphasia has recognised the need for cross-linguistic studies and studies on bi/multilingual aphasia. However, a study by Beveridge and Bak revealed that papers published between 2000 and 2009 were restricted to a few languages, with a clear predominance of English. The aim of this study is to present a follow-up to that study with more recent literature from the next decade (2010–2019) and to compare it with the previous one. We analysed 307 articles published between 2010 and 2019 following a similar procedure to the one used by Beveridge and Bak. The results revealed that there still is a pronounced bias towards studies on English speakers (60.29%), that the distribution of language families is similar across the two decades, with the exception of the increment in non-Indo-European languages, and that there has been an increase in studies reporting bi/multilinguals’ performance in more than one language. Still, the literature on aphasia between 2010 and 2019 seems not to reflect the reality of the world’s languages. We discuss some possible explanations for these findings related to challenges for clinical practice as well as insights for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenging the Paradigm of Bi/Multilingual Research)

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39 pages, 622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The That-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo

by Mary Amaechi and Doreen Georgi

Languages 2024, 9(10), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100324 - 9 Oct 2024

Viewed by 540

Abstract

In many languages, a subject/non-subject Ā-extraction asymmetry can be observed: While non-subject extraction is unproblematic, long extraction of the subject requires repair strategies. This phenomenon is known as the that-trace effect. Two broad types of approaches to this effect have been proposed [...] Read more.

In many languages, a subject/non-subject Ā-extraction asymmetry can be observed: While non-subject extraction is unproblematic, long extraction of the subject requires repair strategies. This phenomenon is known as the that-trace effect. Two broad types of approaches to this effect have been proposed in the literature: (a) structural accounts that prohibit subject extraction in the syntax; (b) surface-oriented PF accounts according to which nothing blocks long subject movement in the syntax, but a surface filter prohibits the output string where a trace follows the complementizer. In this paper, we argue for a syntactic cause of the effect in Igbo (Benue-Congo, Nigeria). The empirical evidence centers around the distribution of resumptive pronouns in the language. We show that Igbo has all the ingredients required for a PF approach to the that-trace effect (viz., long Ā-movement and trace spell-out); nevertheless, it does not apply them to enable long subject extraction but rather resorts to prolepsis (among other strategies). Further evidence against a PF account comes from the impossibility of short subject extraction. Finally, we provide evidence from subextraction from subjects for an antilocality component underlying the subject extraction restriction in Igbo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Escaping African ‘Islands’)

20 pages, 2701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sociolinguistic Style, Awareness, and Agency among Southern California Latinx Spanish–English Bilinguals

by Claudia Holguín Mendoza and Eve Higby

Languages 2024, 9(10), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100323 - 8 Oct 2024

Viewed by 386

Abstract

This study examined different degrees of awareness regarding the stigmatization of Southern California (SoCal) Spanish across four groups of Spanish–English bilinguals from Southern California (n = 87). The participants were presented with Spanish sentences and asked to decide which profile of speaker [...] Read more.

This study examined different degrees of awareness regarding the stigmatization of Southern California (SoCal) Spanish across four groups of Spanish–English bilinguals from Southern California (n = 87). The participants were presented with Spanish sentences and asked to decide which profile of speaker would likely express that sentence, given six options, such as: “someone living in Los Angeles/SoCal who grew up in Mexico” or “a Spanish-English bilingual who grew up in Los Angeles/SoCal”. Experimental stimuli included seven different linguistic categories of stigmatization, including English contact forms. The participants tended to attribute the stigmatized forms to bilinguals who grew up in Southern California. Central Colloquial and Taboo categories were more salient and perceived as forms used by people in Mexico. In contrast, English borrowings and redundancies seemed to be recognized by the participants, particularly for simultaneous bilinguals who grew up in Southern California, as salient forms of an identified Southern California Spanish variety. The results are interpreted within Exemplar Theory, with certain stigmatized forms indexing “Mexican Spanish” exemplars, and English borrowings identified as exemplars of SoCal Spanish. We advocate for usage-based approaches to understanding language perceptions and critical approaches to interrogating academic discourses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Language Contact in Borderlands)

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25 pages, 4923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developmental Aspects of Greek Vowel Reduction in Different Prosodic Positions

by Polychronia Christodoulidou, Katerina Nicolaidis and Dimitrios Stamovlasis

Languages 2024, 9(10), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100322 - 7 Oct 2024

Viewed by 558

Abstract

This study investigates the development of Greek vowel reduction across different prosodic positions (stressed, pre-stressed, post-stressed), examining normative data from 72 participants aged 3 years to adulthood and balanced for gender. Participants performed a delayed repetition task, producing real trisyllabic words with the [...] Read more.

This study investigates the development of Greek vowel reduction across different prosodic positions (stressed, pre-stressed, post-stressed), examining normative data from 72 participants aged 3 years to adulthood and balanced for gender. Participants performed a delayed repetition task, producing real trisyllabic words with the vowels [i, ε, ɐ, o, u] examined in the second syllable. Measurements included relative vowel duration, normalized acoustic vowel space areas, and Euclidean distances of vowels from the centroid of the acoustic space. Our findings show that changes in speech motor control, system stiffness, and stress marking with age, along with children’s prosody sensitivity, contributed to several developmental milestones: the completion of the developmental trajectory of relative vowel duration and temporal vowel reduction at early adolescence; the attainment of adult-like spatial vowel characteristics and their reduction at preschool age; and the early acquisition of the prosodic strength of the stress conditions, leading to vowel reduction from the stressed to pre-stressed to post-stressed conditions. The correlation strength between temporal and spatial vowel reduction across ages revealed age-related differences in spatiotemporal speech organization, with significant gender-related differences observed only in vowel space areas, where females exhibited larger areas possibly related to sociophonetic factors. Intrinsic vowel duration appeared from age 3. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Facets of Greek Language)

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16 pages, 1994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitatively Measuring Developmental Characteristics in the Use of Deictic Verbs for Japanese-Speaking Children: A Pilot Study

by Hiroshi Asaoka and Tomoya Takahashi

Languages 2024, 9(10), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100321 - 7 Oct 2024

Viewed by 451

Abstract

The acquisition of deictic verbs is a significant milestone in language development. This complex process requires an understanding of the interplay between the personal pronouns “I/you” and deictic verbs. Although demonstrating the cognitive processes associated with deictic shifting through data is valuable, research [...] Read more.

The acquisition of deictic verbs is a significant milestone in language development. This complex process requires an understanding of the interplay between the personal pronouns “I/you” and deictic verbs. Although demonstrating the cognitive processes associated with deictic shifting through data is valuable, research issues regarding data accuracy and the spatial arrangement of the self and other remain unresolved. This pilot study aimed to quantitatively measure the body movements of Japanese-speaking children during their utterances of “come/go”. Twelve typically developing children aged 6–7 participated in this study. Multiple scenarios were set up where the researcher presented phrases using “come/go” with deictic gestures, such as moving one’s upper body forward or backward, and the participant replied with “come/go”. When performing a role, the researcher sat face-to-face or side-by-side with the participant, depending on the type of question–response. It is possible that there is a learning process whereby verbal responses using “come/go” align with corresponding body movements in the specific question type. This process is deeply involved in the development of perspective-taking abilities. Future research with relatively large samples and cross-cultural comparisons is warranted to deepen the understanding of this linguistic acquisition process and its implications. Full article

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22 pages, 698 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Family Language Policies on Language Proficiency across Generations: A Study of Russian-Speaking Families in Germany

by Olia Blacher and Bernhard Brehmer

Languages 2024, 9(10), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100320 - 3 Oct 2024

Viewed by 574

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of selected aspects of family language policies (FLPs) on language proficiency across three generations of Russian-speaking families in Germany using data from a sample of 18 families. The data were collected via questionnaires and a cloze test was [...] Read more.

This study investigates the influence of selected aspects of family language policies (FLPs) on language proficiency across three generations of Russian-speaking families in Germany using data from a sample of 18 families. The data were collected via questionnaires and a cloze test was used to measure proficiency in Russian. Multiple regression analysis and Dunn’s test were employed to analyze the influence of the selected components of FLP and assess differences in language proficiency between family members. The findings highlight a significant generational shift in language proficiency: parents exhibited the highest proficiency in Russian, followed by grandparents, with children showing the least proficiency and greater variation in their language skills. This pattern reflects the dynamics of language practices in families where older generations predominantly use Russian, whereas children display a greater inclination towards German or enhanced bilingualism. Additionally, this study underscores the positive influence of literacy skills in both Russian and German, reading in Russian, and a positive attitude towards maintaining cultural ties through reading on Russian language proficiency. Although attendance of Russian language lessons was positively correlated with the proficiency scores of children, the statistical models were only partially successful in accounting for their overall impact on proficiency, indicating that other unexplored factors may also play a significant role. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Linguistic Practices in Heritage Language Acquisition)

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14 pages, 600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of the L1 on L2 Collocation Processing in Tamil-English Bilingual Children

by Roopa Leonard, Holly Joseph and Michael Daller

Languages 2024, 9(10), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100319 - 3 Oct 2024

Viewed by 357

Abstract

This study examines the influence of Tamil (L1) on the processing of English (L2) collocations during reading for Tamil-English bilingual children. Building on existing research in formulaic language, we used an online processing tool to investigate whether cross-linguistic transfer can be extended beyond [...] Read more.

This study examines the influence of Tamil (L1) on the processing of English (L2) collocations during reading for Tamil-English bilingual children. Building on existing research in formulaic language, we used an online processing tool to investigate whether cross-linguistic transfer can be extended beyond single lexical items to collocations in bilingual children, a population that is underrepresented in this research area. Fifty-eight children aged 9–10 years from a school in Chennai, India, took part. Using self-paced reading, children’s reading times were measured for both congruent (with equivalent in L2) and incongruent (without equivalent in L2) English collocations embedded in short passages. There were two reading modes (single and chunk), which allowed reading times for the whole collocations and the individual words of the collocations to be examined. Results showed that children read congruent collocations more quickly than incongruent collocations in both modes. For congruent collocations, children read the second word more quickly than the first word, but the reverse was true for incongruent collocations. These results suggest that the L1 (Tamil) is activated during the processing stage of reading English collocations for Tamil-English bilingual children in this context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vocabulary Studies in L1 and L2 Development: The Interface between Theory and Practice)

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22 pages, 2401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Corpus-Based Study of Spatial Frames of References in Early Child Mandarin Chinese

by Dandan Wu, Sheila Degotardi, Hui Li and Nga Yui Tong

Languages 2024, 9(10), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100318 - 30 Sep 2024

Viewed by 440

Abstract

This study examines the developmental pattern of spatial frames of reference (FoRs) in Chinese preschoolers using the naturalistic data elicited from the Beijing Early Childhood Mandarin Corpus. Altogether, 2837 static spatial sentences were identified from the corpus, and 785 of them used [...] Read more.

This study examines the developmental pattern of spatial frames of reference (FoRs) in Chinese preschoolers using the naturalistic data elicited from the Beijing Early Childhood Mandarin Corpus. Altogether, 2837 static spatial sentences were identified from the corpus, and 785 of them used FoRs; thus, they were analysed using the seven-class FoRs coding system developed from the literature review. The results indicated that: (1) six classes were produced by the Beijing preschoolers, including the direct reference (DR), geomorphic reference (GR), landmark-based reference (LBR), object-centred reference (OCR), relative reference (RR), and people-centred reference (PCR). But, the absolute reference (AR) frequently used by Beijing adults was not produced by the preschoolers; (2) significant age differences were found in the utterances with reference and demonstrative sentences and were also identified in the production of OCR, PCR, and RR; (3) there were no significant gender or gender x age effects in the production of FoRs, except for the no-frame sentences; and (4) there was a stable and consistent pattern of FoRs allocation by age, and the most frequently used was OCR. All these findings indicate interactions among language, culture, and cognition. Full article

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41 pages, 668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Category-Sensitive Escape from Islands in Limbum and Asante Twi

by Johannes Hein

Languages 2024, 9(10), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100317 - 30 Sep 2024

Viewed by 426

Abstract

While strong islands generally constitute domains from which extraction is not possible, it has been observed that under certain conditions, they may allow DP but not PP gaps. Based on the recent literature on Asante Twi (Kwa, Ghana) and on novel data from [...] Read more.

While strong islands generally constitute domains from which extraction is not possible, it has been observed that under certain conditions, they may allow DP but not PP gaps. Based on the recent literature on Asante Twi (Kwa, Ghana) and on novel data from Limbum (Grassfields Bantu, Cameroon), this paper shows that strong island configurations in these two African languages are permeable to nominal extractees without restrictions, but the otherwise admissible movement of VPs and PPs is blocked. As DP-displacement from islands shows properties of

\bar{A}

-movement; an explanation in terms of base-generation and binding of a covert resumptive pronoun, which is only available for nominal elements, is not feasible. Taking into account the overall distribution of overt and covert resumptive pronouns, for Asante Twi, an account of the selective island permeability in terms of repair by resumption, as suggested in previous literature, might be possible. For the Limbum pattern, however, this paper argues that such an approach seems implausible. It then goes on to develop an analysis of selective island permeability based on the distribution of

ϕ

-features and their interaction with complementizer agreement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Escaping African ‘Islands’)

13 pages, 343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pronominal Address in German Sales Talk: Effects on the Perception of the Salesperson

by Heinz L. Kretzenbacher and Susanne Hensel-Börner

Languages 2024, 9(10), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100316 - 29 Sep 2024

Viewed by 533

Abstract

Increasing numbers of commercial enterprises in the German-speaking countries are switching from the traditional formal Sie address for customers to the more casual du address. This article reports on a part of an interdisciplinary empirical study evaluating the effect that the address pronoun [...] Read more.

Increasing numbers of commercial enterprises in the German-speaking countries are switching from the traditional formal Sie address for customers to the more casual du address. This article reports on a part of an interdisciplinary empirical study evaluating the effect that the address pronoun used towards the customer has on the perception of the salesperson. Respondents were shown short videos of sales encounters and asked to indicate their perception of the salesperson in a guided questionnaire. The choice of either du or Sie as the address pronoun used by the salesperson in the videos did not make a substantial difference to the way the salesperson was perceived by the respondent group as a whole, but some significant differences appeared within sub-cohorts, which were determined by the gender, age group and education level of respondents, and by the industries in which the videos that the respondents watched were set. The overwhelming majority of the significant differences in the perceptions of the salesperson according to the address pronoun used shows that the salesperson using Sie is seen in a more positive light. This suggests that, somewhat surprisingly and counterintuitively, addressing customers with du does not have the general effect of improving the perception of the salesperson. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perception and Processing of Address Terms)

18 pages, 2045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Acoustic–Phonetic Description of Hidatsa Vowels

by John P. Boyle, Jiaang Dong, Armik Mirzayan and V. B. Scott

Languages 2024, 9(10), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100315 - 29 Sep 2024

Viewed by 324

Abstract

In this study, we report on results of a preliminary acoustic–phonetic analysis of the Hidatsa vowel system. We conducted acoustic measurements of Hidatsa vowels in terms of averaged temporal and spectral properties of these phones. Our durational analysis provides strong evidence that Hidatsa [...] Read more.

In this study, we report on results of a preliminary acoustic–phonetic analysis of the Hidatsa vowel system. We conducted acoustic measurements of Hidatsa vowels in terms of averaged temporal and spectral properties of these phones. Our durational analysis provides strong evidence that Hidatsa has a ten-vowel system with phonemically long and short vowels, in addition to two diphthongs. Our spectral measurements consisted of averages and time-evolution dynamic properties of the first three formants (F1, F2 and F3) at 30 equally spaced time points along the central portion of each vowel. The centers and distributions of the F1 and F2 formants, as well as their time-averaged trajectories, provide strong evidence for separate vowel qualities for both the short and long vowels. These measurements also show that all Hidatsa vowels have some degree of time-dependent spectral change, with the back vowels generally displaying a longer time-evolution track. Lastly, our results also indicate that in Hidatsa mid-short vowels do not appear with the same frequency as the other vowels, and that the short [é] has no unstressed counterpart. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue An Acoustic Analysis of Vowels)

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17 pages, 399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Trajectories of the Russophone Speakers in Germany: 30 Years of Observation

by Katharina Meng and Ekaterina Protassova

Languages 2024, 9(10), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100314 - 29 Sep 2024

Viewed by 412

Abstract

This article presents a multifaceted portrait of immigrants to Germany from the post-Soviet states. The article traces the paths of two families over the course almost of a third of a century after immigration, focusing on language use and integration into the new [...] Read more.

This article presents a multifaceted portrait of immigrants to Germany from the post-Soviet states. The article traces the paths of two families over the course almost of a third of a century after immigration, focusing on language use and integration into the new environment. In-depth interviews conducted at various stages of the integration process and age-appropriate tests served as research material. The content, text, and lexical analyses, as well as a linguistic biography method, were used. The research included four generations of Russian Germans and Jews in each family. Russophones in Germany have not had an easy time integrating but, ultimately, have a positive attitude toward their adoptive country. The results show that the German language became the primary means of communication outside the family and partly within the family where Russian dominates among the second and third generations. The oldest generation (great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers) were fluent in German to some extent; those who moved at the age of 20–40 learned it sufficiently for their jobs; their children studied in German preschools and schools and became completely bilingual; and the great-grandchildren were born in Germany. The younger generations have fully integrated into German society, although strong connections with locals exist among the older generations too. Proficiency in the Russian language is still maintained even among the great-grandchildren’s generation, although not to the same extent as among the generation of young parents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Linguistic Practices in Heritage Language Acquisition)

16 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Discourse on Criminal Responsibility and Its Impact on Political-Legal Decisions: Analysing the (Re-)Appropriation of the Language of Law in the Sarah Halimi Case

by Nadia Makouar

Languages 2024, 9(10), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100313 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 437

Abstract

This applied linguistics study on the lay discourse about legal language analyses online public reactions to a court decision in the Sarah Halimi case, a French Jewish woman killed by her neighbour in Paris in 2017. This study draws on discourse analysis with [...] Read more.

This applied linguistics study on the lay discourse about legal language analyses online public reactions to a court decision in the Sarah Halimi case, a French Jewish woman killed by her neighbour in Paris in 2017. This study draws on discourse analysis with a focus on semantics analysis and dialogism theory to delve into how legal discourse is disseminated in forums and undergoes semantic redefinition through users’ language practices of legal notion in their own discourses. Thus, the aim of this study is not to develop linguistics theories but to use linguistics to explore the relationship between (1) the public representation and perception of this murder case in three forums and (2) the politico-legal response to decisions about a lack of criminal responsibility. The latter remains a sensitive topic in several countries, and several criminal justice reforms are revised or implemented with close observation of public reaction. This analysis highlights the linguistic markers revealing emotional discourse and a polymorphous expression of a lack of confidence in the justice system and legal actors, emphasising issues in comprehending justice and the work of psychiatrists and highlighting a gap between expectations and the actual delivery of justice. This study also shows that the linguistic strategies of non-experts are similar to those of legal experts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in Forensic and Legal Linguistics)

18 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shift in Igbo Personal Naming Patterns

by Eunice Kingsley Ukaegbu and Bassey Andian Okon

Languages 2024, 9(10), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100312 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 351

Abstract

Some African societies use personal names as a means of conveying their cultural values, traditions, and experiences. Personal names are therefore an important means of identifying their bearers. However, in recent times, it has been observed that the practice of identity construction does [...] Read more.

Some African societies use personal names as a means of conveying their cultural values, traditions, and experiences. Personal names are therefore an important means of identifying their bearers. However, in recent times, it has been observed that the practice of identity construction does not seem to apply in the naming patterns of some African societies. Among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, there has been a shift in the contemporary naming of children as a result of greater media access, global communication, creativity, and the rising profile of Pentecostal Christianity. This study investigates the new trends in naming among the Igbo, as well as the motivations, semantic implications, and the general perception of these names by the Igbo people. Using the causal theory of names, this study adopts a qualitative design approach, and data were elicited from 100 participants who were mainly name-givers, bearers, and users. This study reveals a decline in the observance of the traditional naming patterns or practices of the Igbo, as it was noted that the new naming trend is related to favorableness toward Western culture, religion, and influence, which is seen as a form of style that connects name-bearers with prestige and modernity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Personal Names and Naming in Africa)

33 pages, 1648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Some Observations on the Cantonese Lexical Suprafixes

by Hilário de Sousa

Languages 2024, 9(10), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100311 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 828

Abstract

Suprafixation (more specifically, tonal affixation) is a word-building strategy that is somewhat frequently employed in Cantonese. This article explores the development of the lexical suprafixes in Standard Cantonese from three perspectives: (a) earlier descriptions of the Cantonese suprafixes and the behaviour of the [...] Read more.

Suprafixation (more specifically, tonal affixation) is a word-building strategy that is somewhat frequently employed in Cantonese. This article explores the development of the lexical suprafixes in Standard Cantonese from three perspectives: (a) earlier descriptions of the Cantonese suprafixes and the behaviour of the lexical suprafixes in some older Romanised Cantonese texts; (b) the behaviour of the lexical suprafixes in some non-standard Cantonese varieties; and (c) the behaviour of the suprafixes and diminutives in Yuè and Pínghuà dialects in general. A definite answer cannot be found to the question of what the origin of the Cantonese suprafixes is. Nonetheless, the theory that the Cantonese lexical suprafixes stem from the diminutive suffix *ɲi 兒 (Cantonese ji4, Mandarin ér) remains the most convincing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Typology of Chinese Languages: One Name, Many Languages)

26 pages, 1716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cognate Facilitation in Child Third Language Learners in a Multilingual Setting

by Helen Engemann and Stefanie Radetzky

Languages 2024, 9(10), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100310 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 420

Abstract

Research has established cognate facilitation effects as a robust finding in bilingual adults and children. Recent studies suggest that cognate facilitation also occurs in highly proficient trilingual adults and can even accumulate across languages. The evidence for multilingual children is scarce and inconclusive. [...] Read more.

Research has established cognate facilitation effects as a robust finding in bilingual adults and children. Recent studies suggest that cognate facilitation also occurs in highly proficient trilingual adults and can even accumulate across languages. The evidence for multilingual children is scarce and inconclusive. This study examines whether and in which direction cognate effects arise in 35 ten-year-old unbalanced trilingual children, who, in addition to their L1 Italian, acquired L2 German and L3 English in a three-way immersion class in the multilingual region of South Tyrol in Italy. We manipulated cognate status, comparing naming accuracy and latencies in both the L1 and the L3 across double, triple, and non-cognates. The results reveal cognate facilitation effects in naming accuracy, but not in naming speed, for all cognate conditions relative to non-cognates. Furthermore, cognate facilitation was restricted to the L3, replicating previously attested asymmetric effects in unbalanced speakers. In sum, the results indicate that cognate facilitation may boost lexical learning in unbalanced trilingual children who acquire the L2 and the L3 in mainly instructed settings. We discuss these findings in relation to the potential role of language proximity, the L2 status factor, and implications for lexical learning in diverse multilingual environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Language Use, Processing and Acquisition in Multilingual Contexts)

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18 pages, 389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TED Talks and the Textbook: An In-Depth Lexical Analysis

by Naheen Madarbakus-Ring and Stuart Benson

Languages 2024, 9(10), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100309 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 912

Abstract

The development of TED Talks textbooks has been a welcoming addition to English for Academic Purposes (EAP) pedagogy. The textbooks offer educators and learners a suitable framework for practicing all four of the language skills (i.e., listening, reading, speaking, and writing). However, the [...] Read more.

The development of TED Talks textbooks has been a welcoming addition to English for Academic Purposes (EAP) pedagogy. The textbooks offer educators and learners a suitable framework for practicing all four of the language skills (i.e., listening, reading, speaking, and writing). However, the use of TED Talk resources could create specific vocabulary challenges for learners as they progress through each unit in the textbook. Research suggests that although textbook frameworks encompassing listening resources benefit learners with a familiar lesson approach, the varying vocabulary load and the presence of academic vocabulary and multiword units (MWUs) presented between the chosen resources and the textbook itself could lead to comprehension difficulties for learners. This study investigates the vocabulary of 12 TED Talks included in the commercial textbook Keynote 2 to understand the lexical profile, vocabulary load, and the academic and multiword unit coverage for each of the chosen listening texts. The results showed that the TED Talks selections and the textbook provided inadequate vocabulary practice, limited academic vocabulary exposure, and a lack of item repetition for learners. The study suggests the inclusion of ideal supplementary materials and appropriate TED Talk selections to help provide educators with suitable guidance to support their learners’ varying vocabulary knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vocabulary Studies in L1 and L2 Development: The Interface between Theory and Practice)

33 pages, 10446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

¿Soy de Ribera o Rivera?: Sociolinguistic /b/-/v/ Variation in Rivera Spanish

by Vanina Machado Araujo and Owen Ward

Languages 2024, 9(10), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9100308 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 394

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of language contact on three generations of bilingual Spanish and Uruguayan Portuguese speakers in Rivera City, Uruguay, located on the Uruguayan–Brazilian border. Focusing on the confirmed presence of the Portuguese-like/b/and/v/phonemic distinction, and the lower frequency of the Montevideo [...] Read more.

This study investigates the impact of language contact on three generations of bilingual Spanish and Uruguayan Portuguese speakers in Rivera City, Uruguay, located on the Uruguayan–Brazilian border. Focusing on the confirmed presence of the Portuguese-like/b/and/v/phonemic distinction, and the lower frequency of the Montevideo Spanish-like approximantized stops in Riverense Spanish (RS), the research examines the production of <v> and <b> in 29 female Rivera Spanish bilinguals belonging to different age groups. More specifically, the aim was to see if the previously observed differential use of language-specific phonological variants could be accounted for by using precise measurements of relative intensity, duration, and voicing coupled with a distributional analysis of realizations derived from auditory coding. At the same time, their production is compared to that of 30 monolingual Montevideo Spanish (MS) speakers, who served as the control group, offering a first description of the production of <v> and <b> within this distinct Rioplatense Spanish variety. Riverense’s higher overall relative intensity, duration, and voicing values support auditory coding results, providing evidence of the expected phonological differences between both Uruguayan Spanish varieties. In particular, an exclusive presence of fricative/v/and less approximantization of/b/in RS speech exposed the influence of Portuguese in Rivera bilinguals and their divergence from MS. In addition, as predicted, the findings reveal a higher presence of Portuguese-like productions of [v] and [b] in older bilinguals when compared to younger generations. This illustrates a continuum from Portuguese-like forms to Spanish-like forms, which is confirmed by both acoustic and distributional analyses. Finally, evidence of the existence of innovative forms resulting from mixing Portuguese and Spanish phonological systems in RS are presented. This study’s findings contribute to sociolinguistics and bilingualism by exposing cross-linguistic influence in a border setting with rigorous analytical methods that offer reliable results and go beyond a basic analysis based on auditory identification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Language Contact in Borderlands)

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Languages, Volume 9, Issue 10 (October 2024) – 22 articles

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