Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons^™

Oral Fluency Through Writing, Janae Campbell, Stephen J. Moody

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Learning a second language is difficult. While learning, writing and speaking are treated as though they are two totally separate things. It is evident that people do not speak the same way they write, but that does not mean that speaking and writing should be divided. What if it was possible to create written assignments that would help increase the oral fluency of the learner? This would make home-work assignments more efficient by optimizing how students use their time studying at home. It would take away the pressure of having to learn all verbal communications within the confines of the …

Using Technology To Enhance Second Language Literacy, Emily Adriana Pace, R. Kirk Belnap

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project is the beginning of a revision of a previous research project of the BYU Arabic department known as RAFT (Readable Article Finding Tool). This tool aims to assist learners of second languages with suitable reading material by using a list of vocabulary known by the user and providing the user with a set of articles that contain a high percentage of those known words.

Social Stratification And Inequality In Premodern Korean Literature: A Qualitative Research On Slavery And Its Impact On Korean Society, Moeun Jeong, Mark Peterson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction This project seeks to explore the social stratification and inequality by examining the premodern Korean literature, in order to determine the meaning and significance of the cultural and social roles the slaves played in the premodern era (i.e. before 1900s) in Korea.

Through preliminary research, the research team has found that slaves play a vital role (such as an important communication mode between characters) in premodern Korean literature. The research team examined the works in order to find specific examples and recognize how significant the slaves were.

There is a big hole to fill to educate the students in …

Study Of Dialect Contact And Formation: A Case Study Of Glottal-Initial Verbs In Amman, Jordan, Chase Adams, Kirk Belnap

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In tandem with Al-Wer’s ongoing Amman Project which discusses the dialect contact and potential for dialect formation in Amman, Jordan, this study seeks to understand the variance of conjugation patterns of the glottal-initial verbs ‘akal ‘to eat’ and ‘axad ‘to take’ based on the ethnic background and generational identity of the individual speaker. This study seeks to isolate a pattern of linguistic focusing and identity formation in third-generation Ammani youth vis-à-vis the phonetic shape (±Yod; /a:/, /o:/) in glottal-initial verbs which could corroborate Al-Wehr’s assertion that there is a new emerging vernacular as opposed to stable variation.

Joseph Smith As A Student Of Languages, Stephen Owen Smoot, Dr. Stephen D. Ricks

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During his prophetic career, Joseph Smith spent considerable time and effort towards the study of both modern and ancient languages. Historical evidence indicates that Joseph studied, or at least expressed interest in studying, Hebrew, Greek, Egyptian, Latin, and German. Although his study of these languages was evidently limited, and although he never became proficient in these languages, Joseph Smith nevertheless employed his understanding of these languages in his doctrinal discourses that in many instances led him to formulate creative theological innovations. Although he wasn’t a skilled linguist, and his understanding of some of these languages (particularly Hebrew and Egyptian) was …

Isaiah’S Use Of The Second Person Feminine Pronoun And Verb Form In The Hebrew Text, Lisa Steinmetz, Dr. Donald W. Parry

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My research on Isaiah is still an ongoing project that I have been working on since January 1999. As of August 1999, I have identified all Hebrew passages in the Masoretic text of Isaiah in which the second person pronoun or verb form varies in gender from the simple English “you” that one reads in the Holy Bible. I accomplished this by systematically reviewing the Hebrew text of Isaiah and documenting any gender changes in the second person pronoun or verb form. I plan to compile my work into a simple, organized format that is easy to read so that …

Newspaper Readership And Education Level In Egypt, Colin Harlow, Dr. R. Kirk Belnap

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Egypt has produced some of the greatest literature in the world and is quite known for its magnificent language, Arabic. Arabic is a symbol itself of the Arab’s society and has always been considered more than a form of communication, that is the writing itself is a form of art and Arabs learn from the beginning to write this language in a celebrated prose form that can be seen in the Qur’an and most serious works of literature. This form of writing, called Classical Arabic, or fuSHa, is, in itself, different than the colloquial spoken Arabic that differs according to …

The Aesthetic Of Loneliness In Japanese Art & Literature, Jack Stoneman, Dr. Van C. Gessel

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Though we know Japan today for its herd mentality and uncanny ability to squash individuality, at times in its history, this homogeneous country has produced lonely aesthetes who created a world apart from what we would call mainstream culture. I have looked at three such expressions in Japanese art and literature:

1. Kamo no Ch©mei’s thirteenth-century diary H©j©ki, 2. Muromachi period (1336-1603) scholarly scroll painting, 3. Momoyama period (late sixteenth century) Raku tea ware.

Retelling Obasuteyama: The Value Of Alternative Medical Institutions In Japan, Benjamin E. Mizukawa, Dr. Leslie Williams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My original proposal suggested alternative medical institutions appearing in response to Japan’s swelling elderly population provide a desirable option to both the elderly and their families in a society where multi-generation households are common yet strained. Rather than being a repository for useless old people, like the “Obasute” mountain in the Japanese folk tale, such institutions provide the elderly with meaningful socialization and activity while easing tension between them and the family that tends them at home. Accomplishing this simultaneously with regular supervision of health and chronic pain demonstrates an intact value towards respecting and caring for the elderly. Accordingly, …

Syrian Arabic Synonyms, Jeremy Leland Palmer, Dr. Dil Parkinson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In Arabic there is a fundamental schism between the formal standard language and the scores of dialects spoken throughout Middle Eastern countries. Nearly all newspapers, magazines and television programs throughout the Middle East exclusively utilize the formal standard language. In contrast, the spoken dialects are rarely recorded in a written or audio format, even though they are what the people of the Middle East actually use in daily communication. Unfortunately, most grammar books and dictionaries are only available in the formal variant. The dearth of colloquial language-learning materials causes extreme difficulty for students who want to become more familiar with …

The Quintessence Of Tian In Classical Chinese Literature, Richard Torgerson, Dr. David Honey

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Tian, commonly translated as Heaven, was the core of religious and political ideology during the beginning of the Zhou dynasty.ⁱ The Zhou dynasty (1027- 221 BC) was a period started and shaped by a belief in Tian, Tianming (the right to rule bestowed by Heaven), and the Tianzi (the emperor – or son of Heaven). But just what, or who, was Tian to the Chinese during the Zhou dynasty? During this study I examined five modern and five ancient scholars’ views concerning Tian. I utilized Classical Chinese texts and numerous translations, with a special focus on the Book of …

The Journals Of Reba Booth, First Lds Sister Missionary To The Middle East, Laura R. Ostler, Dr. James A. Toronto

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Even before September 11, 2001 exploded the region onto global consciousness, the Middle East had a special fascination for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church doctrine ties modern Saints with ancient Israel. The “gathering of Israel” is a topic commonly discussed in formal and informal LDS gatherings. In fact, this interest has existed since the Church began; a Latter-day Saint dedicated the Holy Land only a few years after the Church was officially organized.

Poetic Parallelism Of The Isaiah Scroll And The Book Of Mormon: Contributions To The King James Version, Mindy J. Anderson, Dr. Donald W. Parry

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The aim of this research is to show where the Book of Mormon Isaiah texts and the Isaiah Scroll complete parallelisms in the King James translation of Isaiah. The following represents a summary of my findings.

The Effects Of Modern Standard Arabic Immersion Programs Versus Traditional Preschool Attendance On The Reading And Composition Scores Of Arab Children, Jennifer Eschler, Dr. R. Kirk Belnap

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is used for schooling and for writing in the Arab world, it is not the oral means of communication. Several dialects of Arabic exist. Each of these is related to Modern Standard Arabic, but vocabulary and some basic grammar rules differ according to geographic location. Although primary schools are conducted in MSA, most preschool instruction is in the local dialect or there is a combination of dialect and MSA with the amount of MSA varying according to school and instructor.

Cross-Cultural Acceptance In Post-September 11th America: A Recital Of Middle-Eastern Music, Sarah Mcdonald, Dr. James Toronto

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The attacks of September 11th were designed to strike fear into the hearts of Americans, but the terrorists did not take into account the fact that the blanket term “Americans” includes many of Middle Eastern descent. The aftermath of the hijackings found Muslims, Sikhs, and others of Eastern appearance targeted by unjustly vindictive acts. As a student with many Muslim friends, I wanted to do something to promote cultural acceptance on campus and beyond. My double major in Near Eastern Studies and Vocal Pedagogy prompted the idea of researching authentic classical Middle Eastern music and performing it in recital as …

Creating A Program To Assist Missionaries Understand The Japanese Written World, Daniel Hick, Dr. Masakazu Watanabe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The plight of the non-native missionary in Japan is adverse due to the extreme communication barriers that are encountered in every day life. Japanese is vastly different from Western languages. In the MTC missionaries receive sufficient training in the spoken language but are taught little or nothing about the written language. Therefore, upon entering the field of service, non-native missionaries are confounded by the written world that surrounds them.

Classic Chinese Fiction: Building A 21st Century Bridge For Ancient Chinese Literature, J Michael Isom, Dr. Gary Williams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prior to the European Renaissance, China continually led the world in virtually every conceivable field of thought and technology. Although they have temporarily fallen behind most of the industrialized world due to the lingering effects of several poor political and economic policies from the 19th and early 20th centuries, in many ways this sleeping giant is awaking once again. In fact, experts believe that, if current trends continue, China will even surpass the United States in economic and military prowess by the year 2025.

Arabic Reading Instruction, Joshua Gubler, Steven Robertson, Dr. Kirk Belnap

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The “proficiency movement” of recent years has significantly changed the way Arabic is taught in the United States. No longer can teachers focus solely on reading and grammar in the classroom. They must additionally divide already limited class time between teaching listening and speaking skills. Because of this emphasis on speaking skills, many students, especially those learning less commonly taught or very difficult languages, do not learn to read well. In an effort to solve this problem, many teachers are looking for new ways to help students learn reading, by its nature an essentially personal endeavor, outside the classroom. To …

Timing The Introduction Of Kanji In The Study Of Japanese As A Second Language, Kerilee Grames, Dr. Robert A. Russell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Japanese language has a reputation of being difficult for native English speakers to master as a second language because of kanji, a complex, character alphabet that the Japanese borrowed from China. One of the greatest struggles for teachers of Japanese as a second language (JSL) is knowing when to introduce these foreign characters to their students. As a student who has struggled to learn kanji, and one who intends to also teach it, I proposed to study the research that has already been done in this area, to observe teachers of JSL in both Japan and America, and to …

The Ritual Use Of Music In Ancient Israelite Worship, Mindy J. Anderson, Dr. Stephen D. Ricks

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Music was an important part of the ancient Israelite worship experience. The Hebrew Bible includes multiple references to music, including verses which specifically associate music with prophecy and temple ritual. Within the Israelite religious hierarchy, certain Levites were set apart as musicians to aid worshippers in keeping divine commands to remember and offer thanksgiving to the LORD. A Levitical choir and orchestra, composed of lyres, harps, cymbals, and trumpets accompanied the daily sacrifices at the temple. The psalms accompanied these ritual acts as the Israelites gathered in holy places and invoked the name of the LORD. Israelite worshippers sang songs …