Digital Commons Network^™

Revealing Students’ And Teachers’ Perceptions Of Challenges And Strategies In Arabic Reading Comprehension, Osama Othman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the perceptions of Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) students and teachers regarding the influence of eight textual features on reading comprehension. These features are: vowelization, word patterns, roots, vocabulary, case endings, word order, punctuation marks, and text organization. It also investigates reading comprehension strategies employed by both groups to overcome comprehension challenges associated with these features. Data were collected from 102 AFL students and 26 AFL teachers through questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 students and 11 teachers. Results revealed that students generally rated the influence of these features more highly than teachers. The …

The Syntax Of Natural Language, Michael Diercks, Beatrice Santorini, Anthony Kroch

Pomona Faculty Books

An introductory textbook to the syntax of natural language from the perspective of generative syntactic theory. Suitable for undergraduate courses and introductory graduate courses.

The Routledge Handbook Of Discourse Analysis (2023), Fatima Moussa

Al-Kīmiyā

Handford, M., & Gee, J. P. (Eds.) (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis. Routledge

The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis includes articles written by prominent scholars in the field of Applied Linguistics. The articles are particularly helpful as they overlap in their approaches to understanding and applying discourse analysis. The book can thus be helpful to scholars and students alike, covering a wide range of topics and providing numerous examples that can provide a shortcut to the various ways in which discourse analysis could be practically applied in research. The handbook is divided into eight parts, each of which …

« Au Cœur Du Harem » Et Du Métissage Linguistique D’Elisa Chimenti En Italien : Comparaison Différentielle Et Décentrement Linguistique, Pierpaolo Amenta

Al-Kīmiyā

This article examines the literary language of Elisa Chimenti (1883-1969), which is full of xenisms, linguistic loans, metaphors, and idioms that stem from a transcultural and heterolingual imaginary. Her novel Au cœur du harem (Éditions du Scorpion, 1958), translated into Italian in 2000 under the supervision of Emanuela Benini (Edizioni E/O), is a striking example. Drawing on a differential comparative approach (Heidmann, 2017), we look at these texts to reflect on Elisa Chimenti’s literary language and to examine the translational stakes of her work and its heterolingualism (Grutman, 1997; Suchet, 2014).

English title
Au cœur du harem (In the Heart …

Les Origines Du Français Sur Objectifs Spécifiques : Regards Historiques, Mariam Sahraoui

Al-Kīmiyā

As a continuation of our research work on the teaching of French for Specific Purposes, we recommend to better define the specificities of this concept by going back to its origins as a means to understand its dimensions, its structures, its actors, etc. Indeed, the concept of French for Specific Purposes (FOS in French) appeared in the 1920s. FOS has undergone several phases of evolution that have marked its historical and methodological journey from military French to the language of specialization, to instrumental French, to functional French.
This article presents FOS’s journey through its history for the purpose of identifying …

Le Français Au Liban : Défis Contemporains Et Efforts De Revitalisation Dans Un Contexte Multilingue, Layali Rifai, Gina Abou Fadel Saad

Al-Kīmiyā

This article addresses the place of French in Lebanon as a foreign language, a language of education, and a second language, in a context marked by the rise of English. It insists on the importance of preserving the Arabic–French–English multilingualism, which constitutes a real cultural heritage in Lebanon. It highlights the revitalization efforts undertaken by French-speaking individuals and cultural projects aimed at preserving the relevance of French in an increasingly globalized world.

English title
The French Language in Lebanon: Contemporary Challenges and Revitalization Efforts in a Multilingual Context

Résumé
Cet article aborde la place du français au Liban en tant …

Introduction, La Rédaction De « Al-Kīmiyā »

Al-Kīmiyā

Le numéro 25 d’Al-Kīmiyā s’inscrit dans une réflexion interdisciplinaire et plurielle sur la diversité linguistique, culturelle et discursive, explorant les interactions entre langues, cultures et contextes historiques. Les contributions rassemblées mettent en lumière des enjeux variés, allant de la traduction et du métissage linguistique à l’analyse pragmatique, sociolinguistique et discursive [...]

Arguments D’Autorité Dans Les Éditoriaux Du Quotidien « Aujourd’Hui Le Maroc » : Analyse Des Périodes Pré Et Post Vaccination, Zakaria Ouallou

Al-Kīmiyā

The Covid-19 health crisis, which shook the world in 2020, aroused keen interest not only in the media, but also among citizens, at the international level. This study focuses on the analysis of arguments of authority, which are powerful tools in editorial rhetoric, used to support positions by relying on recognized sources, focusing specifically on editorials in the French-speaking Moroccan newspaper Aujourd’hui le Maroc, relating to two phases, that of containment and that of vaccination. This period was marked by major health, social, economic and political upheavals. In this context, we will examine the editorialists’ choice of arguments in …

Communication Interculturelle : Regards Croisés Sur L’Expression De La Gratitude Dans Les Contextes Marocain Et Français, Salaheddine Belarbi, Mohamad El Jarari

Al-Kīmiyā

This study aims to compare the communicative practices between French spoken in France and Moroccan Arabic, focusing on the acts of thanking. The aim is to understand the underlying cultural differences through a comparative analysis of speech acts, particularly the acts of thanking, in both languages. The study falls within the field of contrastive pragmatics, which seeks to identify intercultural correspondences and dissonances in linguistic behavior. The results highlight that the comparison between the act of thanking in Morocco and in France reveals profound nuances in the way gratitude is expressed and perceived within these distinct cultures. Notwithstanding these differences, …

Les Fonctions Du Langage Dans « Lettres À Ses Amis » De Mouloud Feraoun, Rachida Sadouni, Fatiha Ramdani, Amina Tahraoui

Al-Kīmiyā

This article examines the epistolary correspondence in Mouloud Feraoun’s literary work Lettres à ses amis. It mainly aims to study the language functions employed in these letters according to Jakobson’s categorization (1963), as well as the traces of subjectivity and privacy. This paper analyzes the personality of Feraoun through his letters, and infers the characteristics of this writer’s epistolary. This article also examines Feraoun’s work from its conception to its final publication. We argue in this paper that the epistolary is not only a means of information and communication but also a revelation of secrets and disclosure of individual …

Health Literacy’S Relationship With Hearing Loss And Tinnitus In Marines And Sailors At An Air Base, Caton Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Health literacy is listed as an international health issue by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is one of the primary goals of Healthy People 2030 (USDHHR, 2023; WHO, 2023). Health literacy is the minimal amount of information needed to make appropriate health decisions (Nutbeam, 2017). Individuals must have adequate health literacy to sufficiently read and comprehend medical brochures and medical pamphlets and understand verbal instructions from their medical providers (Bo et al., 2014). Poor health literacy can reduce overall quality of life and access to health care. Health literacy is lower in adolescents and lower socioeconomic groups; therefore, the …

Form-Meaning Mappings Of Cyclic Gestures, Wilho Macneil

Linguistics ETDs

Hirrel (2018) examines form-meaning mappings between speech and co-articulated cyclic gestures, identifying meanings associated with such gestures. To test replicability, this thesis analyzes two functional-semantic domains: modification (adverbs, quantifiers) and morphosyntactic constructions (complex sentences, English Progressive) and their relationship to cyclic gestures. About 12 hours of video was coded in ELAN for cyclic gestures (n=586) and analyzed textually for speech instances (n=1919) of target constructions. Contrary to Hirrel’s predictions, cyclic gestures were not more commonly co-articulated with adverbs than quantifiers and were also not more commonly co-articulated with complex sentences than the English Progressive Construction. Neither pattern reached statistical significance …

Neurophysiological Indices Of Lexical Tone Processing In Children With Different Language Background, Andres Felipe Diaz

Theses and Dissertations

The development of lexical tone processing in children is shaped by both language experience and acoustic salience. While mismatch responses (MMRs) and late negativity (LN) components of event-related potentials (ERPs) have revealed early sensitivity to lexical tone in monolingual children, the timeline for achieving adult-like neural responses—particularly for acoustically distinct versus subtle tone contrasts— remains unclear. Moreover, little is known about how bilingual language experience, especially with tonal versus non-tonal home languages, modulates this neural processing. This study employed a passive multi-oddball paradigm using Mandarin Tone 3 (low dipping) as the standard, and Tone 1 (high level) and Tone 2 …

The Beliefs And Attitudes Held By High School Students On Emoji Usage For Communication, Stacy Bonano

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the attitudes and beliefs of high school students regarding emoji use and its impact on their communication with others. Despite the prevalence of emoji use among adolescents, limited research has examined how students interpret and apply these visual symbols. Eleven high school students from Dutchess County, New York, participated in in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using the theoretical frameworks of semiotics and constructivism to interpret how the students assigned meaning to emojis. Key findings identified emojis as emotional amplifiers, tone clarifiers, and tools of efficient communication. Participants also noted challenges related to misinterpretation and generational …

From The Editors, Meredith Mccarroll, Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth, Zada Komara

Art Faculty Publications

Anyone involved in academic publishing understands—to some extent—the time needed to solicit, compile, and edit a range of voices to create something worthwhile that holds together. To do so in collaboration as editors adds a layer of complexity. Here, we see that complexity pays off as Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth and Zada Komara invite multiple perspectives on material culture in Appalachian society into conversation in this special issue of the Journal of Appalachian Studies. It is an honor to be a small part of this work, carried out by the co-editors, whose introduction follows. I invite you, as you read, to contextualize …

La Historia Externa Del Español Hasta La Reconquista, Alicia Westmoreland

World Languages and Cultures Senior Capstones

This paper talks about the romance language, Spanish, which evolved from Vulgar Latin after the fall of the Roman Empire. Influenced by the Visigoths, Moors, and the Christian Reconquista, its linguistic development reflects centuries of cultural exchange. The Moors introduced Arabic vocabulary, while the Reconquista reinforced Castilian dominance. Despite external influences, Spanish retains a phonetic system closely linked to Latin. This essay examines Spanish’s historical linguistics, highlighting how conquests, migrations, and societal shifts shaped its evolution.

Proficiency And Positivity: Investigating Learner Affect Toward L2 Instructional Methods, Learner Goals, And L2 Success, Natalie Spiva

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Second language (L2) learning outcomes vary widely due to factors both internal and external to the learner, including learning and usage contexts and learner goals and motivations. Learners may feel more proficient in and positive towards an L2 if they have intrinsic motivation and positive experience with the L2. Many students in the United States are first exposed to an L2 later in life as an academic requirement, which often impedes L2 learning success and can limit the learner’s relationship with the L2 and related cultures. Because of the highly interconnected global society, investigating the experiences of today’s language learners …

Area Of Effect The History And Effects Of Linguistic Choices Made In The Final Fantasy Franchise, Camille Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations

The Final Fantasy franchise, a seminal role-playing game (RPG) series, has captivated a global audience since its inception in 1987. This thesis, titled "Area of Effect: The History and Effects of Linguistic Choices Made in the Final Fantasy Franchise," explores the intricate use of language that has shaped the series' identity and influenced its worldwide fanbase. The linguistic landscape of Final Fantasy is as diverse and dynamic as its fantastical worlds, evolving from simple text boxes to fully voiced narratives. This study examines the historical context and evolving linguistic choices throughout the series, highlighting how these decisions enrich the gaming …

How Self-Perceptions Relate To Recorded Proficiency: An Action Research Project Aimed At Implementing A Supplemental Reading Program For Balinese Students, Katherine L. Johnson

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education has had a complex history globally. This is especially true for Bali, Indonesia, where tourism is the main driver of the local economy. Learning English is highly valued, yet many students are left struggling to build the skills needed to rise above the local poverty line. In this action research study, the primary goal was to analyze students’ reading proficiencies to recommend the implementation of a reading program that could be appropriately tailored to individual students. This was done through administering a reading test, tracking both comprehension and reading speed, and a survey …

The Scale And Sustainability Of An Early Childhood Dual Language Program, Michelle Belfiore Loconte

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The history of multilingual education in the United States over the last fifty years has gradually transitioned from a subtractive bilingual approach to additive approaches, where students increase their cognition of both their native language and the target language. The dissertation study explored the scale and sustainability of one dual language early childhood program that has been implemented over the past 19 years, expanding across grade levels. The research question of this dissertation study was, “What can we learn from a long-lasting and steadily expanding public early childhood dual language program?” The data for this dissertation was collected through a …

Cross-Linguistic Queerness: A Phonetic Study Of How Bilingual Mandarin-English Speakers Index A Sapphic Identity, Malena L. Sparano

Scripps Senior Theses

The comparative lack of research about Queer identities among speakers of other languages limits cross-linguistic and cross-cultural understanding of Queerness within an increasingly globalized community (Cameron and Kulick, 2003). Moreover, the focus on Monolingual, Western, men’s repertoires excludes important nuances that shape identities falling outside the heteropatriarchy, significantly neglecting Sapphic people and Lesbians (Leap, 2008). Sapphic identity helps broaden the scope of traditionally very gendered labeling, stemming from Zita’s (1981) definition as a person identifying as a woman/non-man and experiencing attraction to women or non-men. Bilingual research is key in understanding the specific roles of multivariable cultural and phonetic analysis …

Cfl Learners’ Real-Time Processing Of Chinese Radicals: An Eye-Tracking Study, Yihsuan Wood, Jeffrey Jack Green, Ellen Knell, Yu Liu

Faculty Publications

This study used eye-tracking to investigate the real-time processing of phonetic and semantic radicals (components of Chinese characters that give clues to their pronunciation and meaning) by intermediate-level university Chinese foreign language (CFL) learners. Additionally, the study examined how knowledge and awareness of radicals affect real time character processing. Real-time radical processing involves identifying radicals and understanding their phonetic or semantic roles, while real-time character processing includes recognizing radicals and instantly comprehending entire characters’ meanings and pronunciations. This study’s first task focuses on radical processing, where CFL learners use radical knowledge to interpret multiple characters simultaneously. The second task extends …

The Emotional Landscape Of Aviation Pilots: Analysis Of Online Professional Forums Using Natural Language Processing, Adrienne S. Renwick, Leo Gonzalez, Charles L. Silber, Alyson Mullen, Cass Dykeman, Adam Stewart, Jennifer C. Ross, James Geisler

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study investigated burnout related to emotions in three categories of pilots: commercial passenger, commercial cargo, and military. While pilot burnout has been previously studied, challenges in self-reporting limit understanding. This study extends previous research by analyzing pilots' anonymous online forum posts to gain insight into burnout-related emotions. Natural Language Processing was conducted with the RoBERTa-base-go_emotions model, which analyzed 1,130,530 online forum posts from commercial passengers, commercial cargo, and military pilots for 27 emotion categories and one absence of emotion category (i.e., neutral). An exploratory composite score reflecting burnout-related emotional expression omnibus burnout score was calculated using seven burnout-related emotions …

Linguists: Our Evolving Role, Patricia Macgregor-Mendoza

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

As linguists, we play many roles in and out of the classroom. In our classes, we strive to educate students about the nuances of linguistic systems, encourage them to expand upon their innate knowledge of language and inspire them to use this knowledge to enhance their lives, their careers, and their communities. However, as Bucholtz et al. (2014) remind us, “scholars should not simply speak out as expert advocates on behalf of marginalized groups, as important as this responsibility is, but they must also help empower their research participants to take action themselves (Cameron et al. 1992, 1993)” suggesting that …

Book Review - Language Ideologies And Linguistic Identity In Heritage Language Learning., Michelle F. Ramos Pellicia

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

No abstract provided.

Testing The Effect Of Speech Separation On Vowel Formant Estimates, Joseph A. Stanley, Lisa Morgan Johnson, Earl Kjar Brown

Faculty Publications

While recent advances in sociophonetic data processing have made it possible to analyze large datasets and audio not originally intended for linguistic analysis, overlapping speech in recordings with multiple speakers continues to be an issue that results in lost data. We evaluate whether current source separation models produce audio that is clean enough to produce reliable measurements for sociophonetic analysis. We compare formant estimates from a pair of pristine recordings and merged-and-separated versions of those same recordings using the Libri2mix, Whamr16K, and WSJ02mix source separation models. Based on auditory inspection of the separated files, visualization of vowel formant estimates, and …

La Integración De La Literatura Chicana En La Enseñanza Del Español Como Lengua Adicional Hacia La Competencia Cultural Y Lingüística En Ee.Uu., Marina Linares Klauke

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Los enfoques tradicionales para la enseñanza del español como lengua adicional en los Estados Unidos han dependido en gran medida de perspectivas eurocéntricas que priorizan las variedades peninsulares y latinoamericanas, presentando el español como una lengua extranjera desconectada de su realidad sociolingüística dentro del país. Este enfoque obsoleto ignora la presencia histórica y contemporánea del español como una lengua viva utilizada por comunidades hispanohablantes en todo EE. UU., lo que contribuye a una desconexión cultural y lingüística tanto para los estudiantes de herencia como para aquellos que aprenden español como lengua adicional. Esta tesis examina el impacto de la integración …

Listening To Cursive: The Roles Of Regional Identity And Folk Beliefs In Perceptual Cue-Weighting, Stella Takvoryan

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

Listeners use knowledge acquired from experiences to weight phonetic-level cues to phonological contrasts. Phonetic knowledge is imbued with expectations about the contexts in which cues covary, speakers of a variety, and identity categories or constructs, so it can be challenging to distinguish expectations about variation from expectations about speakers. This study aims to explore the extent that expectations about iconic vowel quality variation in Southern American Englishes can drive cue-weighting. Listeners categorized stimuli with vowel qualities synthesized from an [ɛ]-[eɪ] continuum from a Southern and a non-Southern talker, with duration manipulated in tandem. Half of the participants saw a label …

How Raciolinguistic Ideologies Shape Afro-Anglophone Caribbean Students' Negotiations Of Their Linguistic Identities, Merlyn Andrea Vanderstarre

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

During the last and current century, the United States has witnessed an increasing upward trend in immigration from the racially and linguistically diverse English-speaking or Anglophone Caribbean (Lorenzi & Batalova, 2022). However, there needs to be more research on Afro-Anglophone Caribbean (AAC) students recounting their experiences in schools in the United States. Framed by a raciolinguistic perspective and post-colonial theory, this qualitative study captures the experiences of seven (7) student participants from four (4) academy high schools in an urban school district in the U.S. Northeast, who provided insights into their linguistic identities and experiences in high schools in the …

Welcoming Historically Under-Represented Groups In Higher Education Through Awareness Of Standard English Ideology, John Hellermann, Lynn Santelmann, Jennifer Mittelstaedt, Janet Cowal, Steven L. Thorne

Applied Linguistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the context of changing demographics at regional universities (including our own), we highlight an ongoing project at our university that addresses the last area of acceptable bias in English-medium higher education: bias against speakers of other languages and non-standard dialects of English. We discuss the hegemonic aspect of the Standard Academic English used by default at most US institutions of higher education and its role in potential discrimination against users of languages other than English and dialects other than the Standard. Data from over 2000 surveys, 55 follow up interviews, and three focus groups from faculty, staff and students …