Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Phonetic Speech Variations Of L1 Portuguese English Learners, Maria Salow Castillo

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

The English pronunciation of six Brazilian Portuguese language learners as well as their language experiences and attitudes are the focuses of this study. Participants provided information regarding demographics and experience with English, then completed the same reading exercise in Portuguese, then English. Interviewees answered the questions and completed the exercises remotely during a Zoom call. Findings include language attitudes and raw phonetic data. All nonstandard pronunciations were transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and prominent unintelligible articulations are highlighted in this study. The resulting pronunciations are derived from the learner’s interlanguage and their understanding of phoneme-grapheme relations between the …

The Effects Of Augmentative & Alternative Communication On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis, Sarah E. Maue

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the question: “What is the role of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices in aiding individuals across the autism spectrum and what perspectives do parents of children across the autism spectrum have with regard to this technology?” This study involved interviewing a parent of an autistic child to glean her perspectives on AAC. The findings from this interview guided the meta-analysis research. Three main categories arose: benefits of AAC, disadvantages of AAC and parent …

Humor In The Foreign Language Classroom, Emily M. Walker

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

Humor is a notoriously vague construct, often identified not by formal definition but by individual intuition (Bell, 2009). This makes it rather difficult to study or categorize concisely – indeed, analyzing humor or explaining a joke is often thought to remove the fundamental enjoyment from the experience. Despite the inherent hazards, this research seeks to provide further insight into the effects and potential applications of humor in the foreign language (FL) classroom, guided by the following research question: How does L1 humor, specifically when used as a pedagogical tool, influence students’ affective filters in a college-level elementary foreign language classroom? …

Sociolinguistics And Insider/Outsider Status In Hawai'i, Elissa M. Uithol

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

Prior to the rise of tourism in Hawai’i, the Hawaiian economy was largely driven by plantations. As labor was imported to work these plantations, a rich, multiethnic culture developed on the islands, producing a similarly diverse linguistic situation. What began as a pidgin blend of several languages for the purpose of communication between workers and supervisors has since developed into a language unique to the islands: Hawaiian Creole English (HCE). Social status in Hawai’i has long been influenced by a person’s manner of speech, as evidenced by elite Standard English (SE) schools founded to educate children of those in the …

Adopting Heritage: What Influences Adoptive Parents In Heritage Language Decisions For Their Internationally Adopted Children, Abigail Mouring

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

The purpose of this study has been to discover more about influences on adoptive parents’ decisions regarding heritage language maintenance/learning for their older, internationally-adopted children. While there is much literature available on heritage language learning/maintenance (see Geerlings et al., 2015; Hornberger & Wang, 2008; McGinnis, 2008; Mu, 2016) and also on intercultural navigation in transnational adoptive families (see Bebiroglu & Pinderhighes, 2012; Lee, 2003), the blending of the two (heritage language in these adoptive families) does not seem to be as well studied – a gap this present study attempts to address. The population specifically addressed in this study is …

The Influence Of Investment On Generation 1.5, Karis E. Ryan

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This study seeks to look at the relationship between Generation 1.5 language learners, and the investment that is made. It reflects on the influence that student language investment in an English-speaking high school has on the language identity and social capital of Generation 1.5. Following the learning patterns of three different immigrant students, readers will observe the differences and effects of investment in school programs, as well as the involvement and availability of ESL programs in public school systems.

The Effectiveness Of Code-Switching In Evangelism: The Use Of African American Vernacular English By Standard English Speakers, Cameron Joseph Myers

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

Abstract

This paper evaluates the use of code-switching as a linguistic and pragmatic tool to build interpersonal relationships between members of the African American minority group and the Standard English “white majority” for the purpose to evangelize the Christian faith. Using the Shannon-Weaver (Shannon & Weaver, 1999) communication model as a foundation, the research suggests that changing the message is the best way to overcome barriers in interpersonal communication (namely evangelistic communication). The research varies in use of code-switching as a pragmatic tool for this message change. Ariffin (2009), Jørgensen (1998), and Madsen (2004) give positive evidence for code-switching, while …

The Collaborative Function Of Verbal Aspect And Aktionsart: A Distributional Analysis Of English Verb-Types, Marc A. Agee

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This paper reviews literature in aspect studies from modern linguistics and Biblical language studies and proposes syntheses of multiple definitions given for these often-confusing verbal categories as the discussion has progressed from the Nineteenth Century to the present day. To inform these definitions, key studies such as Bache (1982), Comrie (1981), Lyons (1977), and Porter (1989) are consulted. In addition to suggesting definitions for these, this paper also discusses the best way to understand aktionsart as it functions in several related languages, and as it relates to aspect in usage. An analysis of evidence for this description as it functions …

What Did God Say? A Critical Analysis Of Dynamic Equivalence Theory, Katelyn R. Fisher

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This paper is a critical analysis of Eugene A. Nida’s theory of dynamic equivalence as it relates to Bible translation, largely through a comparative study of select passages from the biblical genres of poetry, proverbs, and Pauline epistles. In addition, a brief survey distributed to 72 students at Cedarville University provides both qualitative and quantitative data regarding which English Bible version they prefer and why. Identifying Nida’s contributions to translation studies and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of his theory in practice serves to provide implications for believers who are seeking to discern which English version is the most accurate, …

Symbolism As The Language Of Millennials, Esther L. Mazor

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This paper is a linguistic analysis of symbols in regard to marketing strategies becoming relevant to the Millennial generation. This study aims to examine how technological advances affect Millennial characteristics and behaviors arnd contribute to the growing phenomenon of visual literacy. Research on the topic was synthesized and used to create a survey with various symbols. Utilizing Abdullah and Hubner’s (2006) semiotic design analysis of icons and pictograms, fourteen popular brand name symbols were chosen to be first analyzed and then anonymously named by Millennials. This study found that marketing professionals’ strategies are successfully relevant to the Millennial generation, causing …

The Speech Act Of Naming In Context: A Linguistic Study Of Naming In The Old Testament, Lauren Yost

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This research sought to study the act of naming in the context of the Old Testament using speech act theory. To analyze naming as presented in the Old Testament, I first studied the Hebrew words qārāʾ and šēm, creating from my findings the following extended definition: (naming is) the act of giving a name within particular specified circumstances by one with authority over the name-receiver, whose authority is respected by others such that the name spoken is hence used to identify and represent the receiver. This, along with an understanding of Alston (2000) and the example of Arcadi (2013), …

The Effects Of Code-Mixing On Second Language Development, Aimee K. Spice

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

Second language development is an important topic of discussion in an increasingly multilingual world. This study aims to examine and detail research on the effects of code-mixing (CM) on second language development, answering how CM facilitates or constrains second language acquisition. Peer-reviewed articles on the topic published between 2013 and 2018 were examined and synthesized. Language learners/multilinguals answered questionnaires about their views on CM and second language acquisition, and a language teacher was interviewed regarding use of L1 in the language classroom and CM as a pedagogical tool. This study found that CM can be a beneficial tool for language …

Listener's Perceptions Of Stuttering, Katie Lauren Smith

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes disruptions in the normal flow of speech. Often, the disorder is accompanied by anxiety, stress, and discomfort in communication. Due to prominence of the disorder, stuttering can cause discomfort for both the listener and speaker. While some factors, such as level of fluency, familiarity with the disorder, and openness about the disorder can influence listener perceptions, the risk of negative stereotyping is high. In the following study, listener perceptions of stuttering are measured in a Christian, college-aged environment. 31 participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire about stuttering. Of the 31, 6 …

Language And Entertainment: Can Language Be Learned Through Movies?, Elizabeth Carraher

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This paper looks at second language acquisition and factors that affect second language acquisition. This project also utilizes a small experiment conducted to help determine how difficult or how easy it is for one to learn even a small number of words in another language. In this experiment a small number of college students watch a movie in another language and after finishing said movie take a short quiz to determine if the students were able to learn the meaning of some frequently used words. These students have had little to no interaction with the language in question. Even so, …

Evangelical Perceptions On Linguistic Sexism In English, Anna M. Beckmeyer

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This study explores how evangelical Christians view connotatively and denotatively sexist language in English through a comparative study against non-evangelicals. Research on unnecessarily gendered language establishes English as contextually and denotatively sexist through falsely generic nouns, lexical asymmetries, and derogatory terms for females. Evangelical Christians have historically viewed gender roles as distinct from each other, however, little research has been done on how that affects perceptions of gendered language. Taking the stance that English unnecessarily prioritizes maleness, this study uses surveys and interviews to gather opinions on definitions of sexist language and asks participants to apply that definition in specific …

The L1 Context Embedding Method In Foreign Language Vocabulary Instruction: A Comparative Study With The Keyword Method, Jordan V. Nanda

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

The L1 Context Embedding Method that has been proposed and tested by Zi-Gang (2015), consists of inserting target L2 vocabulary, with translations in brackets, into an L1 story text. It has been demonstrated by Zi-Gang (2015) to be more effective than rote memorization. This current study tested the L1 Context Embedding Method against the Keyword Method (Atkinson, 1975) to see if the two methods are comparable. Sixteen university students from an Elementary Spanish class were taught 10 novel Spanish words using each method in a counterbalanced presentation order. They were administered an immediate posttest for each set of 10 words …

Say It Again: A Case Study On Improving Communication In An Autistic Adolescent, Olivia P. Seymour

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

Diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have increased significantly in recent years, necessitating a deeper understanding of its symptoms and how to improve on the resulting deficits in communication and social skills. This study examined the possibility of improving the communication of a thirteen-year-old boy with ASD. Within eight sessions, several methods of improving communication were tested, including using a computer to type messages, using pictures to guide conversations, and using simple, open-ended questions. Despite predictions that his communication would improve with the help of focused efforts to communicate and the implementation of these strategies, the participant’s communication skills did …

The Effect Of Signal-Independent Information And Sentence Predictability On Speech Comprehension In Babble Noise For Typical Hearing Young Adults, Mariah N. Smart

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

The influence of signal-independent information and sentence predictability on listeners’ comprehension was investigated by measuring transcription accuracy of a series of English sentences spoken in multi-talker babble background noise with circumstances varying between sets of sentences. Fourteen native English speaking young adults with no self-reported hearing or language disabilities completed written transcriptions of four sets of sentences. Listeners were presented with a control set of the signal alone, followed by a set of sentences spoken in multi-talker babble noise, then a set with visual presence of the speaker included, and finally a set where content context was given in addition …

Is This Author Intelligent? The Effect Of Spelling Errors On Perception Of Authors, Rachel M. Schloneger

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This study seeks to understand how the presence of spelling errors affects readers’ perceptions of an author’s intelligence and writing ability. Undergraduate students and professors read a short essay and completed a sixteen-question questionnaire concerning their perceptions of the author and the essay. The number of spelling errors present (zero, five, or ten) in the essay was manipulated by the researcher. Participant perceptions of the author and the essay suffered as more spelling errors were found. Participants in the five- and ten-error conditions judged both the author and the essay more harshly, giving it lower scores. Further, intelligence ratings suffered …

What’S In A Name? Sound Symbolism And Coffee Shops, Claire Anderson

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This study explores the relationship between sound symbolism and coffee shop names. Specifically, phonetic qualities in coffee shop names have crossmodal associations with other sensory experiences such as taste, sight, sound, and touch. Previous studies show a strong association between product or brand name and consumer preference; therefore, a study of coffee shop names is worthwhile in expanding the corpus of sound symbolism knowledge. A phonetic analysis of top-rated coffee shops in the United States, paired with a survey, shows that a balance of stops and smoother phonemes (fricatives, nasals, laterals, etc.), as well as a mixture of front and …

A Linguistic Comparison Of Biblical Greek And English: How Should The Adverbial Participle Be Translated?, Sarah C. Nickchen

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This paper combines the two fields of linguistics and biblical Greek studies in a scientific study of original research. Linguistics can be defined as “the scientific study of the language systems of the world” (Black, 1995, 5). Biblical Greek studies focus on analysis of the original New Testament text. Semantics (the meaning of words and phrases) is one subfield of linguistics, and the focus of this paper. The Greek adverbial participle is the most versatile Greek participle. The English adverbial participle is much less versatile. Thus, this paper focuses on adverbial participles in Greek and English in order to determine …

The Effects Of Bilingualism And Multilingualism On Lexical Retrieval, Sarah E. Young

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

This research reviews literature that has been written concerning the positive and negative cognitive impact bilingualism has on the speaker. It then takes this research one step further asking whether increasing the number of languages one speaks slows down the person’s lexical retrieval. Methods include an interview and two tests, the data from which strongly supports the hypothesis mentioned in the literature review that bilingualism slows down lexical processing. This research concludes that having more languages does increase a person’s difficulty with retrieving words on demand.

Key terms: bilingualism, lexical retrieval, RIF, retrieval induced forgetting, aphasia, tip of the tongue, …

Linguistic Expression And Gender: A Function Word Analysis Of Jane Austen’S Pride And Prejudice, Erica Corbiere

Linguistics Senior Research Projects

The current study investigates ten dimensions of female and male categories of speech, which focus on function words, as previously identified by Newman et al. (2008). Through the use of the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count tool (using the LIWC2015 dictionary), these ten categories were analyzed in the dialogue of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Results were consistent with previous findings by Newman et al. (2008). Four of five previously identified categories as more often used by male speakers (numbers, words per sentence, prepositions, articles, and words greater than six letters) were used with an even greater difference between …