Linguistics Initiative

Making a Case for New Directions in English Language Research at University of Cape Coast (UCC)

Harry Ato Insaidoo, Joseph Benjamin Archibald Afful, Lucy Amoah Abedu — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Drawing insights from existing studies on research synthesize (e.g. Farsani & Babaii, 2018/2020; Plonsky & Oswald, 2015), this study engages in a meta-analysis of MPhil theses from the Department of English, University of Cape Coast (UCC), in order to make a case for new directions for language research in the department. A critical content analytical approach was adopted to analyse eighteen (18) theses purposively sampled from the University of Cape Coast Institutional Theses Repository. The analysis focused on the research topics/domains, theoretical frameworks adopted, and research methods used. The study revealed following: (a) most of the studies were conducted in the domain of the media; (b) while most of the studies employed the qualitative research paradigm, very few adopted the mixed method approach and no study employed the quantitative approach; and (c) most of the studies were underpinned by the Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) theory while few employed the Theory of Nativization and Genre Theory. The study contends that there should be a shift in the focus of MPhil thesis to make it possible for the adoption of the mixed method and quantitative approaches as well as theories such as pragmatics, language variation, generative linguistics and corpus stylistics.

Using Podcast Material to Modify Foreign Words and Expressions to Improve EFL Learners’ Speaking Abilities

Edy Suseno — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

It is problematic to present concepts from freshmen. In the stuck, they are frequently trapped. Ten people enrolled in the therapy to address these issues. When it comes to conducting the teaching and learning process, technology and a reliable internet connection are keys as a class communication tool, the teacher employed a WhatsApp group. The teacher displayed URLs on the screen to get things started. He challenged the students to pick up new vocabulary. After finishing it, the teacher displayed a Google Meet URL for the students to click. The students joined in and shared their personal experiences with the subject matter they had just learned. They must use the stuff they have learned in order to perform such delivery. The teacher gave the feedback in order to fulfill the students' growth. The information gathered throughout the teaching and learning process was qualitatively examined. It is concluded that manipulating the strange words and sentences in the podcast material improves the students' capacity to communicate their ideas. Teachers can use this kind of discovery in the classroom to cover relevant topics. It also encourages additional investigation by other researchers.

An Analysis of Taboo on Netizen’s Comments on the Cambodia SEA Games 2023’s Instagram Account

Rosita Ambarwati, Sofie Rizky Mahirawati — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Indonesian people are currently overjoyed by the upcoming 2023 SEA Games, which held in Cambodia. Instead of being proud and moved, netizens shouted insults in the comments section of the official SEA Games Cambodia Instagram account. The committee made a mistake during the opening ceremony of the SEA Games, causing widespread outrage and disappointment among Indonesian citizens. This study is a descriptive qualitative method with a sociolinguistics approach. The technique of collecting the data by using the documentation technique. The goal of this study is to discover the types and functions of taboo words in netizens’ comments about the Cambodia_2023 Instagram account. The theories of Timothy Jay (1992) and Raymond D Liedlich (1973) are applied to analyze the types and functions of taboo words. The results of the types of taboos are: (1) Epithets 41,8%, (2) Vulgarity 13,6%, (3) Cursing 7,6%, (4) Scatology 28,3%, and slang 8,7%. The functions are: (1) Discredit, (2) Creating, (3) Endearment, (4) Creating strong personal.

Linguistic Challenges of Courtroom Interpretation in Ghana

Comfort Anafo, Kenneth Bodua-Mango, Prosper Teye Akortia — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper presents the results of a survey on the linguistic challenges of courtroom interpretation in Ghana. It is part of a larger study on the challenges of courtroom interpreters. Specifically, the paper discusses the everyday linguistic challenges faced by courtroom interpreters, and the coping mechanisms deployed. Additionally, the paper makes proposals on ways that these challenges encountered by courtroom interpreters can be mitigated. In terms of findings, the paper shows that the main linguistic challenges include insufficient bilingual skills, terminological issues relating to legal jargon (legal terminology), terminology in specialized areas such as medical science, finance, economics, etc., measurement and quantities terms (e.g., money, fines, land, time, etc.), descriptive terms like color, height, etc., kinship terminology as well as speakers’ uses idiomatic expressions you are not familiar with. The paper notes that interpreters often use creative strategies like codemixing, omission of details, approximating color, and kinship terms, and seeking clarification through intervention to overcome these challenges. By way of recommendation, we propose the creation of glossaries in indigenous languages, collaboration with communities to identify and develop appropriate kinship terminology, the development of context-specific terminology, simplification of language, pre-session preparation, and continuous training and professional development.

A Genre Analysis of Minutes of Academic Meetings

Emmanuel Botchwey, Edward Owusu — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Genre analysis has received much attention in the recent few decades, in which different genres have been analyzed for their rhetorical features for academic and pedagogical purposes. One genre that has received very little attention in Ghanaian scholarship is meeting minutes. Meeting minutes are a cross-disciplinary genre and play crucial roles in organizations such as academic institutions, including serving as official records of all formal meeting proceedings and resolutions. From the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) tradition, this study explores the communicative events described in minutes of meetings. Using Swales' (1990) moves and steps genre analysis framework, a corpus of twenty-four minutes of meetings was collected from Sunyani Technical University and analyzed for their rhetorical structures as well as grammatical features that characterize these rhetorical events. The results show that the communicative events of the minutes are composed of a six-move structure: heading (Move 1), auxiliary information (Move 2), opening (Move 3), reference to previous minutes (Move 4), the content of the meeting (Move 5), and closing (Move 6). The prominent grammatical features that characterize these moves are tense (89.3% past and 10.7% present), voice (67.9% active and 32.1% passive), and sentence structure (48.8% simple, 29.8% complex, and 21.4% compound). These results have implications for the existing scholarship on meeting minutes, professional development (i.e. developing courses for secretarial students), and further research. It is expected that the knowledge of moves and grammatical features can help the students and novice secretaries practice writing minutes of meetings effectively.

Code-Switching and Slang: An Analysis of Language Dynamics in the Everyday Lives of Generation Z

Vinka Ganita Puspita, Ardik Ardianto — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the dynamics of code-switching used in Generation Z’s (Gen-Z) communication practices, revealing it as a dynamic and adaptive strategy employed in diverse social contexts. Gen-Z exhibits context-specific types of code-switching, utilizing informal and casual forms, such as slang and non-formal language, in peer interactions. Within familial settings, a seamless transition between formal and informal language aligns with established family norms, while professional environments witness the use of formal and professional language. The strategic use of code-switching and slang by Gen-Z serves as a nuanced communication approach, catering to specific social scenarios. In informal peer contexts, the incorporation of slang fosters a sense of camaraderie, while code-switching acts as a tool for expressing emotions and personal identity, reflecting individuals’ comfort in conveying specific feelings or ideas in a chosen language. This research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of Gen-Z’s language practices, showcasing their adeptness in navigating diverse linguistic landscapes, expressing identity, and adapting to social expectations. Such insights are pivotal for fostering effective intergenerational and cross-cultural communication, bridging understanding between different linguistic and cultural groups.

On-Air, Off-Balance: Detecting and Examining Media Biases in Filipino Sportscasting

Joram Kim Corcuera, Alejandro S. Bernardo — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With sports gaining global acclaim and recognition, media outlets have extensively covered a myriad of sporting events with a particular emphasis on international tournaments. In the digital age, media is crucial for disseminating news and shaping audience perspectives especially in sportscasting where local sportscasters tend to show affection and allegiance to their home nation by providing more airtime and positive commentaries to athletes representing their country. Such an approach shortchanges the viewers’ right to unbiased and diverse perspectives. Hence, it is imperative for media outlets, particularly during live sports broadcasts, to adeptly navigate and manage biases, given the significant impact of nationalistic positioning on sports media. In this study, the researchers analyzed the language employed by sportscasters in the local media coverage of the games of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Team, also known as Gilas Pilipinas, during the FIBA World Cup 2023. Following a mixed-method approach, the study sought to understand how sportscasters detect and manage media biases through corpus analysis. The investigation involved identifying prevalent forms of media biases within the study corpus, focusing on lexico-semantic, discourse, and pragmatic constructions that serve as indicators of these biases. The study findings indicated that all the analyzed sports broadcasts contained evident manifestations of media biases. Moreover, it was revealed that Filipino sportscasters exhibited a range of media biases favoring Gilas Pilipinas, and that the media biases in their utterances were affected by the phenomenon of nationalistic positioning that raises concerns about fairness and impartiality. Consequently, the frequency of these biased expressions in sportscasters' utterances was found to be contingent upon the specific context, varying with the situation. Furthermore, these biases can be identified through specific linguistic cues and features. This paper underscores the importance of fostering a more equitable sportscasting environment while simultaneously fortifying language and media education initiatives.

The Analysis of Lyrics in Indonesian Folksong as Local Traditional Music

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Indonesia is a country with thousands of cultures. The cultural enrichment in Indonesia was caused by this country's diversity, including various ethnic groups, languages, dialects, traditions, religions, local dances, and local music. Folksong is one of the cultural varieties in Indonesia, especially from a music perspective. In Indonesia, almost every region has its folksong, and every folksong has its different language, which can be distinguished from one another because its nature that every folksong is unique. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the lyrics in Indonesian folksong and the recognition of Indonesian traditional music, specifically folksong. The effort in this research is shown as the writer's dedication to searching the material resources through journals, books, and other reading media as this research adopts the narrative review approach. The result shows the philosophical and cultural comprehension or understanding regarding the lyrics of Indonesian folksong.

Pharmacological Onomastics: The Case of Herbal Drugs in Ghana

Douglas Adade, Stephen Kwaku Duah, Emmanuel Botchwey, Kwasi Opoku — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study is an exploration of the naming system in herbal medicines within the linguistic landscape in Ghana. Brand names are more than just labels. A lot of considerations go into choosing a name for a product brand. This study takes a walk into the world of pharmaceutical onomastics with 105 herbal medicines taken from the Ghanaian market. We examine the names from the perspectives of pharmacology, branding, and the interplay of marketing, socio-cultural as well as linguistic factors. The analysis revealed, first, that most of the brands deployed bilingual names, with just a few utilising monolingual names. Closely allied to this finding is the trend of encompassing the drug indications and compositions in the name. The practice of naming the drug after people, especially manufacturers, is also observed. These key findings have implications for the scholarship in onomastics, pharmacology, sociolinguistics, and further research.

Switching the Script: Unveiling the Linguistic Dance of Code-Switching in Nigerian Online Skits

Olajide Iyanuoluwa, Adebayo Olajumoke Oyinlade — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This journal article presents an in-depth investigation into the intricate phenomenon of code-switching in Nigerian online comic skits, a burgeoning genre of digital entertainment. Within Nigeria, a nation characterized by linguistic and cultural diversity, online comic skits have emerged as a potent medium for creative expression, social commentary, and cultural representation. This research delves into the analysis of the different roles and types of code-switching employed by content creators in these skits, elucidating their linguistic, sociocultural, and comedic dimensions. Conducting a descriptive qualitative analysis, Poplack's (1980) Model of Types of Code-Switching and a functional model adapted from Hoffmann (1991) and Appel and Muysken (2005) were applied. Five skits, selected based on substantial viewership and the popularity of content creators, formed the core of this study. Our findings indicate that all three types of code-switching are prevalent in the skits, with inter-sentential switching being the most frequent. Additionally, the seven functions of code-switching manifest in the skits, with the referential function emerging as the most frequent. The primary use of code-switching in these skits revolves around fostering humor, expressing strong emotions, and portraying the educational status of the characters.

What Do Students' Need in Learning English for Constitutional Law?

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research aims to determine the need for English in the Constitutional Law class and the students’ problems in learning English. The writers applied a narrative qualitative research method. The participants of this research were the Constitutional Law Study Program students at the State Islamic Institute of Palopo in the 2022/2023 academic year. Ninety-five students (35 males and 60 females) were involved in this research. The data collection method was the survey by distributing a questionnaire through Google Forms. The questionnaires consisted of 26 statements with choices the participants had to select. The writers used a Likert Scale. The results of data analysis were presented using quantitative and qualitative methods. The research findings identified speaking and listening as the two most crucial English skills; 35 students were at an intermediate level, and 43.5% of students struggled to construct sentences in English correctly. 71.6% of students struggled to understand the text because of the lack of vocabulary. The students answered about learning materials they need to learn. 48% of students chose the topic of introduction to Constitutional Law. They (34.7%) find it difficult to use punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. In the setting aspect, the students answered their favourite places for learning English. Most students (44.2%) like studying in the classroom.