Applied Linguistics Commons^™

The Negotiated Identities Of Refugee-Background Women During Resettlement, Iuliia Fakhrutdinova

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Refugee-background women experience unique challenges while resettling in the U.S. as they navigate complicated transnational gender roles, education gaps, migration trauma, learning a new language, and literacy in the adaptation process during resettlement, which can derail the productive paths they are on. Therefore, ignoring refugee-background women’s unique experiences and failing to understand their identities prevents our society from doing social justice and creating a space for a smooth adaptation to the new context. Language plays a paramount role in identity formation, as it moves away from the belief that identity is an essential concept. For refugee-background women during resettlement, their …

Nice White Ladies: Exorcising The Ghost Of Lady Bountiful, Renee Lynch

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This article explores how individuals with racial privilege can both acknowledge and start to move beyond the ways they are implicated in systemic injustices in internationalization through collaboration. The study examines how the author acted in complicity with colonial power in an international collaborative research project in English language education at a university in Tanzania. Critical ethnographic data was analyzed using positioning theory and applying the archetype of Lady Bountiful - a “nice white lady” who graciously participates in the civilizing work of colonization. This construct illuminates how the author perpetuated colonialism at the intersection of whiteness and femininity while …

You Can't Teach Kids From A Book: Language, Authority And Revitalization In Jicarilla Apache Life, Mariann Skahan

Anthropology ETDs

This dissertation examines how Jicarilla Apache is learned, taught, and used across community life, with particular attention to contemporary language revitalization. Based on ethnographic research with elders, educators, language workers, families, and community institutions, it follows language practices across classrooms, culture camps, homes, ceremonial settings, and collaborative archival projects. I show that linguistic knowledge does not carry the same authority or consequences in every setting. Words may be recognized without being taken up, speakers may possess linguistic knowledge without being authorized to teach or correct, and archival texts may preserve linguistic forms without preserving the relations needed to interpret and …

Sexuality-Related Lexical (In)Visibility In Asian Englishes: A Corpus-Based Study Using The International Corpus Of English (Ice), Jess V. Mendoza, April N. Salvador, Teri An Joy G. Magpale

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study examines the visibility and invisibility of sexuality-related terms in four Asian Englishes using data from the International Corpus of English (ICE). Drawing on Wilkinson’s (2022) sexuality-related lexical set and informed by scholarship on heteronormativity, the study analyzes the proportional visibility of 19 target lexemes across Englishes in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, and India. The findings show that only a small subset of terms (gay, lesbian, same sex, sexual preference, bisexual, and sexual orientation) appear in the corpora, and even these occur at low frequencies. Among these, gay emerges as the most recurrent. The remaining terms are not …

Framing China In Conflict Reporting: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Transitivity In Chinese And Western Media, Tingting Geng, Hongmei Tang

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study employs a corpus-based critical discourse analysis (CDA) grounded in Halliday’s transitivity framework to investigate how China’s diplomatic stance is discursively constructed within conflict reporting. Focusing on media coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian War and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (2023), the study investigates how Chinese and Western mainstream media depict China’s stance. Based on a self-built corpus of 153 news reports and analyzed via AntConc, the study quantitatively and qualitatively identifies distinct patterns in the use of transitivity processes across the two corpora. The research reveals that Chinese media highlight the outlook for future peace-building initiatives, portraying China as a country …

Creative Constructions In Asian And World Englishes - And What They Teach Us, Edgar W. Schneider

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

"Creative constructions" are defined as patterns which deviate slightly but noticeably from grammatical, fully licensed structures in English (and are therefore sometimes branded as "wrong"), inviting specific cognitive associations to make sense of them. It is argued that such structures offer a window into the nature of the cognitive manipulation of linguistic innovations and change. The concept is related to creativity in literature and lingua franca English, and it is surveyed theoretically by asking how established grammatical theories (like traditional grammar, structuralism or generativism) or more recent approaches to the nature of grammar (usage-based linguistics, construction grammar, and complex systems …

Trauma-Informed Esl Ecology: Centering Teacher Well-Being, Equity, And Structural Responsibility In Adult Esl Classrooms, Ghenwa Nasreddine, Heejin Song

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

Government-funded adult English as a second language (ESL) programs in Anglophone countries increasingly encounter students with histories of trauma, displacement, and structural adversity due to existing and emerging geopolitical conflicts and unsettling sociopolitical realities. These conditions shaping English language teaching (ELT) inevitably influence learners’ cognitive and emotional engagement in language learning, as well as their relationships with teachers and peers. Despite burgeoning literature on trauma-informed practice in ELT, significant gaps remain regarding teacher preparedness, professional development, and institutional support structures to enact trauma-informed pedagogies in linguistically and culturally diverse adult ESL classrooms. Drawing on a critical review of recent scholarship …

Lengua, Conocimiento Y Continuidad Cultural: Contextos De La Educación Avanzada Del Maya Kaqchikel, José Israel Herrera

Journal of Maya Heritage

Resumen. La revitalización de las lenguas indígenas ha dejado de concebirse exclusivamente como una estrategia de preservación lingüística para convertirse en un campo de reflexión sobre la continuidad de los sistemas de conocimiento, las pedagogías comunitarias y la diversidad epistémica. En este contexto, el presente ensayo analiza Kik'aslemal ri Kaqchikela': An Advanced Kaqchikel Maya Language Textbook como una propuesta educativa que trasciende la enseñanza avanzada del idioma kaqchikel para constituirse en un modelo de producción comunitaria del conocimiento. A partir del diálogo con la literatura sobre epistemologías indígenas, antropología lingüística y revitalización lingüística, se sostiene que la organización temática …

Language, Life, And Indigenous Knowledge: Cultural Contexts In Advanced Kaqchikel Maya Language Education Approaches To Indigenous Language Revitalization In Kik'aslemal Ri Kaqchikela': An Advanced Kaqchikel Maya Language Textbook, José Israel Herrera

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract. This article examines the relationship between Indigenous language revitalization and the continuity of socially embedded systems of knowledge through the case of advanced Kaqchikel Maya language education. Drawing upon scholarship on Indigenous pedagogies, linguistic anthropology, and Indigenous epistemologies, the article explores how culturally grounded approaches to language learning contribute not only to the development of linguistic competence but also to the reproduction of memories, values, and intellectual traditions. Particular attention is devoted to Kik'aslemal ri Kaqchikela': An Advanced Kaqchikel Maya Language Textbook, whose thematic organization and collaborative development illustrate broader processes of knowledge production and cultural continuity. Rather than …

Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence (Icc) At The Afl Novice Level: Teachers’ Practices And Constraints, Nancy Fahmy

Theses and Dissertations

Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) is widely recognized as a core objective in language education; however, its implementation in novice-level Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) classroom remains insufficiently examined. This study explores what strategies do AFL teachers use to integrate ICC principles at the beginner level (A1–A2), the constraints that shape classroom practice, teachers’ assessment approaches, and perceived professional development needs.

Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected through a bilingual (Arabic–English) online survey completed by 54 AFL teachers working across instructional contexts in Egypt, Jordan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Qualitative data were subsequently gathered …

“The Influence Of Utilizing Ai-Powered Tools (Chatgpt-5) On Afl Speaking Fluency And Learners’ Willingness To Communicate (Wtc)”, Manar Shabayek

Theses and Dissertations

The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has expanded opportunities for interactive, technology-mediated language learning. This study investigates the influence of AI-mediated speaking practice using ChatGPT-5 on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) speaking fluency and willingness to communicate (WTC) among beginner Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) learners (A1–A2). It also examines the linguistic and technical challenges learners encounter during AI-supported speaking interaction. Using a mixed-method case study design, the study involves five beginner AFL learners. Data are collected through pre- and post-speaking tests, a modified online WTC questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and systematic classroom observation. Speaking fluency is analyzed …

La Conceptualisation Du Temps À Travers Les Métaphores Dans Le Parler De Zayan : Approche Cognitive, Amenzou El Mostafa, Brahim Oumeraouch

Journal of Amazigh Studies

L'analyse des expressions métaphoriques du temps dans le parler des Zayan révèle une utilisation récurrente de métaphores conceptuelles qui reflètent la perception du temps dans cette culture. Les expressions métaphoriques telles que « le temps coule » sont largement utilisées pour décrire la continuité et l'irréversibilité du temps, tandis que celles comme « ne gaspille pas l’argent » soulignent sa valeur et sa gestion. En examinant ces expressions à travers les postulats de la théorie de Lakoff (1980), nous observons que les schémas conceptuels associés au temps reflètent deux visions distinctes : une conception dynamique, où le temps est vu …

The Tagamo3 Accent: Linguistic Stylization, Enregisterment, And Social Meaning In Egyptian Digital Discourse, Jannah M. Abdelaziz

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the Tagamo3 Accent (TA), a socially recognizable speech style associated with elite urban Egyptian identity, through a qualitative multimodal discourse analysis of twelve Egyptian TikTok videos, including both naturally occurring lifestyle and influencer content as well as parody and commentary videos that explicitly imitate, discuss, or evaluate the accent. Drawing on theories of enregisterment (Agha, 2003), stylization (Coupland, 2007), and indexicality (Silverstein, 2003; Eckert, 2008), the study examines how TA is linguistically performed, socially recognized, and ideologically circulated within Egyptian digital spaces. The findings suggest that TA does not function as a structurally bounded dialect or geographically …

The Security Of Llm-Generated Code, Christopher Brian Gonzalez Ayala

Student Theses

The rapid adoption of Large Language Models (LLMs) in software development has transformed coding practices by enabling automated code generation, completion, and optimization. Despite these advantages, concerns persist regarding the security and reliability of LLM-generated code. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of both the functional correctness and security of code produced by three prominent LLMs as of early 2026. A total of 4,800 code snippets were generated using 100 security-focused programming prompts derived from the OWASP Top 10:2025, translated across eight natural languages and two phrasing styles (literal and natural developer-oriented prompts). To assess performance, a multi-stage experimental framework …

A Machine Learning Approach To Disentangling Developmental Language Disorder From Typical Development In Russian-Speaking Children, Katsiaryna Aharodnik

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study investigated a machine learning (ML) approach to identifying Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in Russian-speaking children using narrative data. ML methods can capture subtle linguistic patterns that distinguish typical and atypical development, which is especially important in cross-linguistic contexts where morphosyntactic variation affects the manifestation of DLD. Diagnosis remains challenging in less-studied languages due to limited knowledge of language-specific deficits and a lack of validated assessment tools. This study evaluated whether ML algorithms can provide a more efficient alternative to traditional screening methods.

Two binary classification studies were conducted using corpus data: 1) classification of narratives told by Russian …

“The Least You Can Do Is Start A Meeting With A Karakia”: Challenging The Culture Order In A New Zealand Cricket Organisation, Stephanie Foxton, Tame Pere

Journal of Global South Sport Studies

Previously, it was documented that cricket operated as a tool of colonisation, serving to spread British culture and values across the empire, reinforcing British identity and asserting cultural superiority (Baucom, 1999). In places like Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), cricket became a cornerstone of colonial social life, solidifying the dominance of British culture. Employing the Colonial Matrix of Power framework (Mignolo, 2007; Quijano, 2007) alongside the concept of the culture order (Holmes, 2018), this article aims to understand how Aotearoa NZ’s ever-evolving cricket culture sustains, and in some cases challenges, the dominance of Pākehā/British norms. By weaving these theoretical …

Learning Through Reading: Confronting Novel Linguistic Forms In Literature, Quinn Doyle

German Studies Honors Projects

How do readers learn to engage with novel forms of written language that fall outside of their established linguistic repertoire? And how do texts themselves facilitate this process? This thesis looks for answers to these questions in literary theory, multilingualism studies, applied linguistics, and a diverse corpus of literary works. I propose a comprehensive descriptive vocabulary of novel language use in literature, and then observe how these frameworks work in concert in an exemplary text by analyzing Christine Brooke-Rose’s multilingual novel Between. I conclude by discussing how the “exceptional” cases explored in this thesis can change our understanding of …

Learning A Second Language In A Second Language: Bi/Multilingual Students’ Experiences In Stem, Lara L. Spence

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Drawing on qualitative interview data from undergraduate students at a public university in California, this thesis conducts a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the experiences of bilingual and multilingual STEM students as they navigate language barriers in higher education. Specifically, it examines how disciplinary sublanguage, defined as the specialized vocabulary and communication practices unique to an academic field of study, and dominant language ideologies (e.g., monoglossic ideology, the English-only movement, etc.) gatekeep students’ access to knowledge, participation, and academic success. To do so, this thesis employs Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of CDA to connect individual experiences with broader institutional and societal …

English Diphthongs For English Learners: The Same, But Different, Kristin Lems

Faculty Publications

In any language, diphthongs need to be reckoned with, but teaching diphthongs to learners of English as a new language requires greater insight and special skills. In this column, we take a look at English diphthongs, why they matter, and how they might be best handled when teaching English language learners.

The Integration Of Spanglish Throughout Texas, Alexa Garcia, Renata Taboada, Dariela Galindo, Julianne Pena

Posters - 2026

Code switching is the combination of two or more languages spoken due to the proximity of communities (Zentella, 1997). Code switching is very common in areas with a majority Hispanic community (Devan et al., 2024). Although Spanglish is highly controversial, it is widely used through multiple parts of Texas (Stavans, 2008) Spanish in San Antonio is very different than Mexico Spanish according to Mexican-Americans (Gillespie-Duelos, 1975)