The Prefix Na- in Bulgarian Verbs: a Cognitive Linguistic Approach

Author(s): Svetlana Nedelcheva / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2019

This study analyses the cognitive semantics of the Bulgarian verbal prefix na- ‘on, onto’ and aims to reveal its core meaning. Using a comprehensive inventory of corpora examples, the analysis distinguishes a few subgroups of na-verbs pointing out how apparently distinct meanings correspond to the central spatial meaning in the semantic network of the spatial particle na(-) and how the different meanings of the prefix na- relate to each other. The focus is particularly on the relation between spatial and non-spatial meanings, and on the application of conceptual metaphors that contribute to a consistent and motivated meaning network of na-.

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Teacher's Perceptions and Use of Mobile Devices and Applications

Author(s): Elias Bensalem / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

This paper reports on a study of how a group of tertiary level EFL teachers perceived and used mobile devices in their teaching and personal learning. One hundred and fifty teachers (66 female, 84 male) from public universities in Saudi Arabia completed an online questionnaire. Results showed that the majority of participants used mobile devices and applications in their teaching and learning. Survey data showed that the vast majority of teachers had positively perceived and frequently used mobile technologies in their teaching and personal learning. In addition, there was a correlation between teachers’ use of mobile technologies in their teaching and their use in learning. There was also a correlation between how teachers perceived the value of mobile technologies in learning, and how they use them in their teaching.

Morocco e-Readiness Assessment: University Contribution

Author(s): Abdelmajid Bouziane,Rachid Elaasri / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

The main purpose of this study is to explore the critical issues that impede an effective implementation of information communication technology (ICT) as related to higher education (HE) in Morocco. An e-readiness survey based on Harvard e-readiness assessment framework is administered in order to check the role of university in getting Morocco e-ready. First, a diagnosis is done at the level of preparedness of Moroccan institutions in networked areas of access, society, economy and policy. The data was collected from the annual reports of Moroccan Telecommunications regulations agency (ANRT), reports from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Global Information Technology Report (NRI), quantitative and qualitative surveys from previous research studies, and statistical websites. The findings reveal that Morocco has, apart from networked economy and local digital content, a fairly advanced e-readiness status in other indicators in the model of Harvard Centre of International Development. Ironically, such findings show that it is the Moroccan university that needs to catch up with society.

Активный русско-болгарский словарь сочетаемости

Author(s): Nadezhda Deleva / Language(s): Russian Issue: 1/2020

The article examines pairs of Russian-Bulgarian lexical units characterized by a high degree of formal and semantic similarity. Specific examples confirm the thesis that the dictionary article is a comprehensive and illustrative form for presenting the results of a comparative study. The dictionary articles are developed in accordance with the principles of active lexicography. The different meanings of lexical units are differentiated and detailed, and a much larger amount of information about their compatibility, their pragmatic and cultural features is provided. This model can also be applied in teaching the Russian language to Bulgarians.

Словакистиката в чужбина и лекторатите по словашки език и култура по света

Author(s): Miloslav Vojtech / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

The paper discusses Slovak studies abroad focusing on lectorates of Slovak language and culture worldwide. It describes a current form of their functioning based on international bilateral contracts and contracts between universities, as well as the position of Slovak studies in the frame of philological and Slavic education at foreign universities, and current dynamics reflected in numbers of lectors (since some lectorates abroad were closed whereas others were established). The paper also mentions criteria for lectors of Slovak language and culture abroad, namely qualification requirements, selection process, models of financing lectorates as well as issues related to the labour code and legal issues. The paper also describes forms of the methodical support for lectors in the area of Slovak as a foreign language, namely preparing and distributing didactic materials, textbooks and methodical guidelines, seminars, summer schools, scholarships, mobilities, as well as accredited programmes of further professional preparation of lectors

A Semantic Description of the Combinability between Verbs and Nouns (on Material from Bulgarian and English)

Author(s): Svetlozara Leseva,Ivelina Stoyanova,Maria Todorova,Hristina Kukova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

This paper represents a methodology for defining restrictions on the semantic combinability between different semantic classes of verbs and the sets of nouns corresponding to the elements of their conceptual frame (i.e. the major participants in the situation described). Our observations focus on verb synsets from WordNet and their assigned FrameNet frames which mutually inform each other. We analyse the semantic information typical for each of the studied verb classes and define semantic restrictions on the nouns they combine with. The theoretical and empirical value of the provided semantic representations and restrictions lies in the enhanced modelling of verb-noun combinability which is universal enough to be applicable not only to the languages exemplified (English and Bulgarian), but (with possible modifications) to various other languages for which wordnets are available.

Metaphor in Logistics Terminology

Author(s): Galina Velikova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

The purpose of this study is to attempt to present a systematized view on the contemporary understanding of metaphor, its essence, structure and manifestations in the discourse of logistics. Various classifications of metaphor are reviewed, and a new one is offered using the lexico-semantic method as well as based on and supported by the examples excerpted from a large corpus compiled especially for the study. It is worthwhile noting that metaphor can be viewed in many different ways, however, it will be explored here with regard to its manifestations in logistics terminology. The topic is worth discussing as metaphor provides better term recognition and comprehension. The findings can be relevant when teaching English for Logistics.

ON TEMPORALITY

Author(s): Vesselina Laskova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

The present study is concerned with what a unified account of temporality could be based on. The proposal is that a theory that accounts for temporality should be based on some universal expression of this semantic phenomenon. The paper opens with the discussion of some problematic issues the traditional morphologically-based approaches raise. Then it is suggested that a solution could be to build the account taking as a basis the semantic types of the events that could be expressed in a clause. Evidence in favour of the soundness of the proposal comes from a comparative analysis of Bulgarian and Amharic data.

Синтаксис на метаезика

Author(s): Mariana Georgieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2020

The article presents metalanguage as a cognitive phenomenon with its own syntactic paradigm. The paradigm of syntactic bonds of metalanguage is substantiated by the method of cognitive modelling. The analysis is based on the cognitive reading of the definitive sentence characteristics predicative, modality, intonation completeness and grammatical formation. The principle of cognitive integration between concepts, phenomena is applied.

Полонистиката в чуждестранните университети през погледа на лектора по полски език и литература

Author(s): Magdalena Zakrzewska-Verdugo / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2020

The first part of the paper presents a brief glimpse into the history of teaching Polish as a Foreign Language at universities worldwide. Activities of Bristol Association of Polish and Foreign Teachers of Polish Culture and Polish as a Second Language are also mentioned, as well as its role in offering methodological help for teachers and professors of Polish overseas. The paper offers also a presentation of the current model of teaching Polish abroad coordinated since 2017 by the Polish state agency NAWA. The second part of the paper deals with an overview of university centers teaching Polish in Slovakia. The author focuses mainly on the specifics of Polish education program at the Department of Slavonic Languages, Faculty of Arts at the Comenius University in Bratislava, from the synchronic and diachronic point of view. At the end of the paper, some relevant information about teaching Polish at university centers in Bulgaria is mentioned from the comparative, current perspective.

Към историята на предлога Освен

Author(s): Mariyana Tsibranska-Kostova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2020

The article discusses one of the linguo-didactologic goals oriented to the teaching of Old Bulgarian (Slavonic) as the establishing of systematic relations between diachrony and synchrony. Concrete example are the uses of the preposition except in a translated juridical text from 1262, some of which overlap with the contemporary use of the preposition except in complex conjunctions appropriated to the administrative style. The main conclusion concerns the localization character of except in texts and manuscripts of Southern, or Balkan Slavic origin. The Preslav Literary School plays a definitive role for its imposing in the literary language. The unchangeable prepositional functions prove the continuity between the Medieval and the Modern Bulgarian language.

Creating the Authorial Self in Academic Texts: Evidence From the Expert’s Style of Writing

Author(s): Tatiana Szczygłowska / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

This paper reports on an analysis of stance expressions in a 439,490-word corpus of Ken Hyland’s academic prose, encompassing 64 single-authored texts from journals, edited collections and his own monographs. Using WordSmith Tools 6.0, the study aims to find out how this expert academic writer creates his authorial self through stance mechanisms. The results reveal that Hyland’s authorial participation in his discourse is mostly manifested through hedges, somewhat less definitely through boosters, but relatively infrequently by attitude markers and self-mention. The choice of the specific stance devices indicates a preference for detached objectivity when formulating empirically verifiable propositions and a shift towards subjectivity when referring to discourse acts and research methodology. These findings contribute to our understanding of stance-taking expertise in applied linguistics and may thus assist novice writers in the field in a more effective management of their own performance of self inacademic prose.

Инфинитивният подлог с неясна референция в съвременния италиански език от гледна точка на текстолингвистичния анализ

Author(s): Maria Ladovinska / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2019

The article presents an empirical study of zero-anaphora in co-referential chains – an inscrutable and opaque phenomenon in modern Italian that takes place when the verb bears no number or gender marking due to its form and there is no indication of its actual subject. Methods from text linguistics are applied to corpora compiled from three novels by modern Italian authors.

Студентски научен семинар „Страници от историята на лингвистиката"

Author(s): Encho Tilev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2020

Отражение на дискурсния подход върху учебна серия по български език (учебници за V – XII клас)

Author(s): Angel Petrov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

In this article are based some thoughts giving a significance to the concept of discourse approach. The purpose is this rationalization to become a base for creation of school content in Bulgarian language for the aims of a course of textbooks designed for the junior high school and the both high school degrees. The special features of the communicatively orientated training in Bulgarian language are presented which needs a new “generation” of textbooks and school aids. They must reflect the characteristics of the discourse approach and be at the most adequate to the requirements of the modern socio-cultural and educational context.

САВРЕМЕНА ПРОУЧАВАЊА ЈЕЗИКА И КЊИЖЕВНОСТИ

Author(s): Milan Todorović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 69/2019

Театърът в образователните програми по английска филология

Author(s): Ivan Lacko / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

The article deals with the extracurricular role of student-operated English-speaking theatre at the Department of British and American Studies at Comenius University in Bratislava. For a decade now, the theatre group has extended and enriched the study programmes in translation, interpreting, and in teacher training. Their activities enhance practical study of language, improve linguistic and cultural awareness, and develop interpretational and aesthetic competences. Students learn to work individually and in teams, are involved in project management and inter-institutional communication (university, NGOs, civic associations, corporations). Using theatre activities aids students in applying their knowledge and skills to a variety of current labour market requirements.

Book review

Author(s): Ibukun Filani / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

УТИЦАЈ СТЕРЕОТИПА НА УЧЕЊЕ ШПАНСКОГ ЈЕЗИКА

Author(s): Sandra Miladinović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 71/2020

Considerando que la enseñanza moderna de lenguas extranjeras presupone que la lengua y la cultura forman una unidad única e inseparable, es necesario que los alumnos desarrollen una opinión positiva hacia la cultura cuya lengua aprenden. No obstante, son numerosas las investigaciones que confirman la existencia de varios estereotipos a la hora de aprender lenguas extranjeras, y que los mismos de cierta manera moldean el proceso de aprendizaje de la lengua misma. Teniendo en cuenta que los mencionados estereotipos pueden aparecer en dos formas, como positivos y como negativos, su influencia en el aprendizaje de las lenguas extranjeres puede tener un doble efecto. A este respecto, es importante la relación que existe entre los estereotipos y la motivación, porque partimos de la hipótesis de que los estereotipos positivos pueden motivar el proceso de aprendizaje de la lengua extranjera, mientras que, por otra parte, los estereotipos negativos pueden ser un motivo de desinterés para los alumnos, y por lo tanto para su éxito. Asimismo, no hay que descuidar la competencia intercultural cuyo desarrollo depende en gran medida del grado de la existencia de los estereotipos entre los alumnos y los estudiantes. Este trabajo tratará la influencia de los estereotipos en el aprendizaje de la lengua española. El objetivo principal es señalar la importancia del estudio de la dicha problemática a través de la revisión de algunos trabajos e investigaciones más relevantes, es decir comprobar en qué medida los estereotipos influyen en el aprendizaje de la lengua española, al igual que señalar las implicaciones pedagógicas que ellos traen consigo. Las investi- gaciones muestran resultados similares en cuanto a la presencia de los estereotipos entre los estudiantes y los alumnos que aprenden español como lengua extranjera. Aparecen tanto los negativos como los positivos, aunque los segundos emergen en mayor medida, lo que está a favor del aprendizaje de la lengua española, así como a favor del crecimento de motivación y desarrollo de la competencia intercultural.

О БОГАТСТВУ СРПСКОГ ЈЕЗИЧКОГ НАСЛЕЂА

Author(s): Aleksandra M. Antić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 71/2020