Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1188

Phonological variation and linguistic diversity in Bangladeshi dialects: An exploration of sound patterns and sociolinguistic significance

by Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman, Binoy Barman, Liza Sharmin, Md. Rafiz Uddin, Sakiba Binte Yusuf, Ushba Rasool

Forum for Linguistic Studies (Transferred), Vol.6, No.2, 2024; 321 Views, 158 PDF Downloads

This paper explores how people in different parts of Bangladesh talk differently from each other. The study pays special attention to the unique sounds in their dialects compared to the standard Bangla language. The main goal of the research is to understand why these sounds change from one dialect to another. The researchers collected data from 70 participants coming from 20 regions of Bangladesh, who were fluent in their regional dialects and studied it carefully. By employing semi-structured interviews, IPA transcription, and thorough verification processes, this study ensures the accuracy and reliability of its findings and discussion, contributing valuable insights into the phonological diversity of Bangladeshi dialects and their socio-linguistic significance. The authors found 13 phonological variations or patterns among the dialects of different regions of Bangladesh. Each type of change is explained with clear examples to make it easier to understand. The research contributes significantly to the understanding of socio-linguistic diversity in Bangladesh by providing experimental evidence of phonological variation and its determinants. It also lays the groundwork for future research on dialects and their relationship with the standard language. This study will bring up a greater appreciation for Bangladesh’s linguistic diversity and encourage further research into language variation and change.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1183

University students’ perspectives on online English language learning: Implications for Ecuadorian educators

by Jardel Coutinho Santos, Badie Anneriz Cerezo-Segovia, Gabriel Brito Amorim, María Lorena Estupiñán Lince, Gustavo Vinicio Monge García, Cristopher David Herrera Navas, Oswaldo Paul Vera Mendoza

Forum for Linguistic Studies (Transferred), Vol.6, No.2, 2024; 253 Views, 121 PDF Downloads

Online education has mainly been at the core of discussions after Latin America’s Covid-19 sanitary crisis started in March 2020. Teachers and institutions have explored different ways to face what is now called “the new normal”. This study aims to identify the perspectives of Ecuadorian university students on online English language learning in order to inform the design of strategies that allow improvements in the teaching process. This quantitative study was carried out at a university in Ecuador and encompassed 4.936 participants from different majors. An online questionnaire was administered for data collection and analyzed through the application of neural networks. The results showed that students perceive learning English online positively and that their greatest strengths are in listening and writing, while their difficulties lie in developing their reading and speaking abilities. This suggests that more attention should be given to the development of reading and speaking strategies in an attempt to fill the gap that students indicated while answering the questionnaire. Some directions in that regard are given in the conclusion.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1168

The strategies of using Chinese language in cosmetic advertising through the Taobao online marketplace

by Chatuwit Keawsuwan, Benjamaporn Ruechai, Pantipa Chanpeng

Forum for Linguistic Studies (Transferred), Vol.6, No.2, 2024; 203 Views, 108 PDF Downloads

This study aimed to 1) analyze the information structure of texts concerning facial beauty in Chinese cosmetics advertisements, and 2) examine linguistic strategies employed within the advertisements. Language strategies in 150 Chinese cosmetic product advertisements from Taobao were analyzed, employing critical discourse analysis concepts as proposed by Norman Fairclough and Teun Adrianus van Dijk. By exploring the advertising language, the study offered valuable insights into the persuasive techniques used in the cosmetics industry. It categorized the strategies into semantic and discourse-pragmatic. Semantic strategies involved descriptive verbs, intensifiers, negation, and word formation through pinyin transliteration. Discourse-pragmatic strategies included presuppositions, figures of speech, claims, and rhetorical questions. These strategies mirrored beauty values in Chinese society, implying beauty was achievable through the products advertised. The study highlighted the significant impact of language strategies in forming beauty ideals, influencing consumer beliefs, and motivating the pursuit of beauty standards. This analysis of cosmetic advertising in China showcased the influential role of language in shaping societal views and consumer behavior.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1189

Comparative assessment of Bing Translator and Youdao Machine Translation Systems in English-to-Chinese literary text translation

by Linli He, Mozhgan Ghassemiazghandi, Ilangko Subramaniam

Forum for Linguistic Studies (Transferred), Vol.6, No.2, 2024; 264 Views, 110 PDF Downloads

This study explores the performance of machine translation of literary texts from English to Chinese. The study compares two machine translation systems, Bing Translator and Youdao Machine Translation, using selected texts from the novel “Nineteen eighty-four” by George Orwell. The data collection includes the original source texts, their machine-generated translations by Bing Translator and Youdao Machine Translation, and comparisons with human reference translations to assess the performance of these systems. The research’s focal point is to evaluate the accuracy, fluency, and appropriateness of translations generated by these two machine translation systems, while also analyzing the post-editing effort required to enhance the quality of the final machine-translated product. The study revealed that despite the presence of flaws in both machine translation systems, Youdao Machine Translation demonstrated superior performance, especially in accurately translating technical terms and idiomatic expressions, making it the more effective option overall. Nevertheless, the translations from Youdao Machine Translation required more substantial post-editing efforts to improve fluency and readability. Conversely, Bing Translator yielded more fluent and natural-sounding translations, albeit with a need for improved accuracy in translating technical terms and idiomatic expressions. The study concludes that while machine translation systems are capable of generating reasonable translations for literary texts, human post-editing remains essential to ensure the final output’s accuracy, fluency, and appropriateness. The study underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate machine translation system based on the nature of the text being translated. It also highlights the critical role of post-editing in refining the quality of machine-translated outputs, suggesting that while machine translation can provide a solid foundation, human intervention is indispensable for achieving optimal accuracy, fluency, and overall readability in literary translations.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1187

Translating metaphors in Chinese satirical literature: A foreignization approach

by Dandan Tian, Muhammad Alif Redzuan bin Abdullah, Ling Yann Wong

Forum for Linguistic Studies (Transferred), Vol.6, No.2, 2024; 138 Views, 135 PDF Downloads

The paper delves into the complexities of translating metaphors in Chinese satirical literature, emphasizing the cultural and linguistic nuances involved. It highlights the importance of metaphors in expressing satire and the challenges posed by cultural differences between Chinese and English. The paper advocates for a foreignization translation approach to preserve the original’s cultural essence and satirical tone, balancing it with explanations to aid understanding in the target language. This method ensures the retention of literary value while facilitating cross-cultural dialogue and appreciation of the source culture’s literary aesthetics.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1192

Development points of the derivation process related to Nakhchivan dialects and accents (based on written and oral literary and artistic examples)

by Zulfiyya Ismayil

Forum for Linguistic Studies (Transferred), Vol.6, No.2, 2024; 169 Views, 71 PDF Downloads

In linguistics, the study of the characteristics of acquisition of dialects is of particular importance. In particular, the study of dialects based on written and oral literary examples plays an important role for research in this field. Until 1920, Azerbaijani dialects played a fundamental role in the development of the literary language of Azerbaijan. The role of dialects in enriching the lexicon of the literary language is irreplaceable. Thus, dialect words have become the source and base of the lexicon of the literary language. Now this process is going in another direction. In other words, the literary language affects dialects and changes them, creates conditions and grounds for the reduction and disappearance of the expressive function of dialect words. But for now, dialects remain as an independent language unit in the national language. As the literary language affects the dialects, their phonetic, grammatical systems and pronunciation rules also change. They lose their unique features and approach the literary language. The research article deals with the creation of words related to dialects in prose. Word formation of both suffixes is proved by selected examples from the literature. In conclusion, let’s note that word-forming affixes have more stylistic features in works written in spoken language, and their study is important from a philological aspect.