Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Empirical Validation Of Reading Proficiency Guidelines, Troy L. Cox, Ray Clifford

Faculty Publications

The validation of ability scales describing multidimensional skills is always challenging, but not impossible. This study applies a multistage, criterion‐referenced approach that uses a framework of aligned texts and reading tasks to explore the validity of the ACTFL and related reading proficiency guidelines. Rasch measurement and statistical analyses of data generated in three separate language studies confirm a significant difference in reading difficulty between the proficiency levels tested.

Using Elicited Oral Response Testing To Determine The Need For An Interpreter, Troy L. Cox, William G. Eggington

Faculty Publications

Hamza,' an African immigrant, travels on a domestic flight in the United States. He harmlessly flirts with his young seatmate, until she becomes angry with him and moves. When he exits the plane, the police approach him and request an interview. He quickly realizes that something serious is happening and he is being interrogated about his conversation with the young lady. He does not understand what is occurring, but because, in his culture, compliance with authority is seen as a practical and civic duty, he agrees with many of the police's statements. Unfortunately, his English language ability is too poor …

“I Will Bless The Lord At All Times”: Blessing God In The Old Testament, Dana M. Pike

Faculty Publications

Because of his love for them, God is disposed to bless all his children to some extent (see Matthew 5:45). However, in addition to God’s graciously bestowed blessings on all people, many divine blessings are primarily relationship dependent; that is, existing in a particular relationship with God allows one to obtain certain blessings that are often greater than those bestowed upon someone outside such a relationship.1 The Bible indicates that by his power God blessed Adam and Eve (Gen 1:22, 28) and their faithful descendants, including Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and many others. For example, after Noah’s family left their ark, …

Media, Mormonism, And Mormon Media Studies, Sherry Baker

Faculty Publications

Bosco Bae has asked me to write a reflection about the Mormon Media Studies Symposia that were held at Brigham Young University in 2010 and 2012, and to provide some "general thoughts" about the relationship between media, Mormonism, and Mormons. I also will address the topic of Mormon Media Studies as an emerging discipline, and will conclude with some thoughts about Mormons, the media, and the Mormon Moment. My comments are meant only to be conversational in tone. They certainly do not purport to be definitive or comprehensive statements about the topics discussed.

The Data/Information/Knowledge/Wisdom Hierarchy Goes To Seminary, Terry Dwain Robertson

Faculty Publications

In Information Science studies, the Data/Information/Knowledge/Wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy is a conventional construct for making sense of the terms. However, when examined with any rigor, the distinctions become challenged and the hierarchy appears to fail. I suggest that the reason for this is the tacit classification of this hierarchy as a disciplinary ontological narrative. With context-appropriate definitions and delimitations, the DIKW hierarchy can still be useful as a model for specific applications in information literacy pedagogy. This is illustrated in the context of theological education by using the construct to differentiate the identification of primary sources in the Seminary disciplines.

Review: "Of Africa", Aaron Eastley

Faculty Publications

“A truly illuminating exploration of Africa,” suggests Wole Soyinka in the preface of his new book, Of Africa, “has yet to take place.” Soyinka is not writing here of a physical exploration, of course, but of a humanistic or spiritual one. This, at the root, is what the eight essays that comprise Of Africa urge readers to consider: ways in which Africa can lead the world forward into “a deeply craved Age of Universal Understanding.” In Soyinka’s estimation Africa today is very nearly as misapprehended and undervalued by the world at large as ever it was in the past. But …

An Investigation Of The Production Of Ejectives By Native (L1) And Second (L2) Language Speakers Of Q'Eqchi' Mayan, Wendy Baker-Smemoe, Karl Olaw Christian Wagner

Faculty Publications

This study examines the production of voiceless unaspirated stops and ejective stops by native (L1) and second language (L2) speakers of Q'eqchi' to determine (1) whether there were acoustic differences (in voice onset time and burst duration) between voiceless unaspirated stops and ejective stops and (2) whether L2 speakers were more accurate at producing phones that are similar to the native language (voiceless unaspirated stops) than those that are different (ejective stops). Acoustic analyses of the stops produced by the ten L1 and thirteen L2 Q'eqchi' speakers revealed (1) that L1 speakers make a distinction in voice onset time and …

Career Path Trends Of Alumni From A U.S. Tesol Graduate Program, Mark W. Tanner, Eimi Priddis, Lynn E. Henrichsen, Ben Warner, Neil J. Anderson, Dan P. Dewey

Faculty Publications

As English expands across the world, quality English teachers are increasingly needed. However, reports that even degree-holding TESOL professionals have a hard time obtaining stable employment are prevalent. This study sought to provide empirical evidence about career paths in TESOL based on survey responses from 250 alumni of a well-established U.S. university TESOL graduate program who had successfully completed their course of study and had worked during a 35-year period since the program’s inception.

The results indicate that TESOL graduates spend about half of their career time in TESOL-related employment. Most are involved in teaching, but jobs in administration, materials …

Jacob's Textual Legacy, John Hilton Iii

Faculty Publications

Today, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know what texts are considered authoritative—namely, the standard works. As members, we recognize a formal process for canonization; for example, at the Saturday afternoon session of general conference in April 1976, President N. Eldon Tanner announced that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve had approved two revelations for inclusion in the Pearl of Great Price and called for a sustaining vote. This concept of canonization in the restored church has echoes from earlier Christian practices and councils.

The Mormon Influence At Disney, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

“The Mormon Influence at Disney,” provides a history of Mormons—members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)— involved with the Walt Disney Company, including animators, composers, and administrators. Beginning with cartoonist Floyd Gottfredson’s influence on the development of Mickey Mouse, the history continues with the influence of animators like Eric Larson, Les Clark, Judge Whitaker, Scott Whitaker, Don Bluth, and Richard Rich. Beginning as an animator on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Larson went on to become a member of the Disney Studio’s powerful board known as “the nine old men.” Mormon composers covered …

Profiles Of Selected Mormon Actors, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

“Profiles of Selected Mormon Actors” provides brief profiles of over 80 Mormon actors and actresses, including some biographical information and career highlights. This chapter appears in the first volume of Mormons and Popular Culture: The Global Influence of an American Phenomenon (Praeger 2013), a comprehensive treatment of Mormons and popular culture, providing an introduction and wide-ranging overview of the topic.

Maude Adams And The Mormons, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1872. Her mother, Annie Adams, was the daughter of first generation Mormons who trekked across the plains and an actress at the Salt Lake Theatre. Maude Adams began her acting career at the age of five in some of her mother’s plays. She continued to act into her adult years, achieving her greatest success as the character Peter Pan, first playing the role in the 1905 Broadway production. She became the highest-paid performer of her day. Discussed here is Adams’s career and her relationship with her Mormon relatives …

Profiles Of Selected Mormon Athletes In Professional Sports, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

“Profiles of Selected Mormon Athletes in Professional Sports” provides profiles with career highlights of over 200 Mormon athletes in professional sports, including baseball, basketball, bodybuilding, boxing, football, golf, hockey, racing, running, volleyball, and wrestling. This chapter appears in the second volume of Mormons and Popular Culture: The Global Influence of an American Phenomenon (Praeger 2013), a comprehensive treatment of Mormons and popular culture, providing an introduction and wide-ranging overview of the topic.

Mitt Romney’S Paralipsis: (Un)Veiling Jesus In “Faith In America”, Richard Benjamin Crosby

Faculty Publications

Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith has been a topic of suspicion and debate among Christian conservatives. Romney addressed the issue in a 2007 address titled “Faith in America.” This article argues that Romney’s use of paralipsis helps to explain the divergent popular and academic responses to the speech. Paralipsis may be used as more than a mere stylistic device; it may also be employed as a comprehensive rhetorical strategy in an increasingly polarized political culture.

Christ's Crucifixion Reclamation Of The Cross, Gaye Strathearn

Faculty Publications

Twenty-three years ago, I came to BYU as a student. This was a major, life-changing event for me. My mother and grandmother had joined the Church in Australia in 1958, and I spent most of my early life growing up in a very small branch of the Church, small even by Australian standards. You can perhaps imagine my feelings of excitement at the thought of coming to live in the heartland of the Church. It was quite a novel thought that I would be able to go to Church with my roommates.

The Holy Spirit In The Hebrew Scriptures, Jiri Moskala Thd, Phd

Faculty Publications

The Hebrew Scripture contains rich and sometimes even unique material about the Spirit of the Lord, so those specific thoughts are not repeated in the Newer Testament. To summarize the priceless teaching of the Hebrew Bible on the Spirit of God into one article is almost an impossible task. Crucial questions intrude: What can one know about the Holy Spirit on the basis of the Old Testament, from the Bible of Jesus Christ, His Apostles, and the Early Church? Who is the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Lord? In this overview study, a big picture will be …

Considering Levitical Food Laws, Jiri Moskala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Juneau County, Wisconsin Bygdebok: A Genealogy Of The Norwegian Settlers, 1850-1950, Lawrence W. Onsager

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.