SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
This article examined the intersection and interaction among positioning, communication modes, and culture by taking positioning theory as a theoretical framework. Data were collected from a WeChat discussion group where three Chinese international students engaged in a community of English as a second language (L2) literacies. A multimodal discourse analysis reveals that three WeChat group members creatively, freely, and deliberately used verbal language and graphicons along with their cultural beliefs and situational contexts to construct, negotiate, and sometimes reject positions. Findings also show that three types of self-other positioning were frequently constructed and negotiated through their discussions, such as the “Self-Agreed-to-Other,” “Self-Opposed-to-Other,” and “Self-Complained-to-Other” positioning. The “Self-Agreed-with-Other” positioning was explicitly conveyed, but the “Self-Opposed-to-Other” positioning was implicitly expressed, which can be attributed to one of the Chinese cultural values: face (mianzi). In addition, graphicons, such as emojis and stickers, were used to challenge first-order positioning and negotiate second-order positioning. Also, the semiotic sign @ used to specify WeChat message recipients performed illocutionary acts as including someone or excluding them from the discussion based on a specific interactional discourse. Graphicons, collectively and sometimes independently, were utilized to contribute to positions that not only provided or limited opportunities for L2 literacies practice but also invited or sometimes rejected community memberships. Future research on the incongruent verbal and nonverbal expression for different types of positioning is needed, especially when verbal language and graphicons are used collaboratively to design meaning.
Category Archives: SAGE Open
L2 Proficiency Level Influences Loanword Adaptation: Variable Adaptation of English Co-occurrence of Low Vowel and Nasal Into Mandarin
SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
As the most commonly established and attested language contact phenomenon, loanwords, also known as lexical borrowings, may undergo transformations when borrowed from the source language (SL) to the borrowing language (BL). Previous studies have separately illustrated the role of perception and phonology in the borrowing process. However, the speech perception or phonology contributes more to the adaptation pattern in some cases than others. Few studies attempt to explain this phenomenon. To fill in the gap, the present study hypothesizes that differences in borrowers’ L2 proficiency level of the SL are the potential source. To examine this hypothesis, an online adaptation experiment was designed and conducted. The experiment examines how Mandarin Chinese native speakers adapt the English non-words ended in the combination of low vowel and nasal coda. The results suggest that BL monolinguals and less proficient L2 learners of the SL tend to use a phonetic mapping strategy guided by the backness of vowels, while advanced learners of the SL are more likely to adopt a phonological mapping strategy based on coda nasal place. This paper concludes by proposing that borrowers’ L2 proficiency level has an effect on the certain randomized variations in the process of loanword adaptation.
As the most commonly established and attested language contact phenomenon, loanwords, also known as lexical borrowings, may undergo transformations when borrowed from the source language (SL) to the borrowing language (BL). Previous studies have separately illustrated the role of perception and phonology in the borrowing process. However, the speech perception or phonology contributes more to the adaptation pattern in some cases than others. Few studies attempt to explain this phenomenon. To fill in the gap, the present study hypothesizes that differences in borrowers’ L2 proficiency level of the SL are the potential source. To examine this hypothesis, an online adaptation experiment was designed and conducted. The experiment examines how Mandarin Chinese native speakers adapt the English non-words ended in the combination of low vowel and nasal coda. The results suggest that BL monolinguals and less proficient L2 learners of the SL tend to use a phonetic mapping strategy guided by the backness of vowels, while advanced learners of the SL are more likely to adopt a phonological mapping strategy based on coda nasal place. This paper concludes by proposing that borrowers’ L2 proficiency level has an effect on the certain randomized variations in the process of loanword adaptation.
Relationship Between Interest Rate and Risk of P2P Lending in China Based on the Skew-Normal Panel Data Model
SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
This study examines the relationship between interest rate and defunct platform risk of China’s peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms. P2P lending provides an alternative funding source for individuals and micro-enterprises and offers a new investment tool for households. But the frequent collapses of many platforms were huge losses to market participants and even led to a decline in China’s P2P lending industry. In this study, weekly data of 76 platforms from December 3, 2017, to October 6, 2019, are employed, and empirical research based on the normal and skew-normal panel data model respectively is conducted. Statistical indicators prove that the skew-normal panel data model is preferable to another one in modeling the data set of interest rates. The empirical results show that China’s P2P market is efficient overall. But the positive correlation between the interest rate and risk is not significant for platforms with excessively high interest rates, whose interest rates are more determined by the types of ownership. The findings and implications are provided in the end.
This study examines the relationship between interest rate and defunct platform risk of China’s peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms. P2P lending provides an alternative funding source for individuals and micro-enterprises and offers a new investment tool for households. But the frequent collapses of many platforms were huge losses to market participants and even led to a decline in China’s P2P lending industry. In this study, weekly data of 76 platforms from December 3, 2017, to October 6, 2019, are employed, and empirical research based on the normal and skew-normal panel data model respectively is conducted. Statistical indicators prove that the skew-normal panel data model is preferable to another one in modeling the data set of interest rates. The empirical results show that China’s P2P market is efficient overall. But the positive correlation between the interest rate and risk is not significant for platforms with excessively high interest rates, whose interest rates are more determined by the types of ownership. The findings and implications are provided in the end.
The Happiness-Economic Well-Being Nexus: New Insights From Global Panel Data
SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
This paper explores whether happiness-led growth policies implemented in some countries are viable for achieving better economic well-being proxied by GDP per capita using a panel dataset covering 104 countries from 2006 to 2018. While past studies showed that economic growth promotes happiness, this paper applied the panel Granger causality test to show that GDP per capita is also determined by happiness. Accordingly, the pooled ordinary least squares, random-effects model, fixed-effects model, and two-step generalized method of moments were employed to estimate the effect of changes in happiness on economic growth. The empirical results suggest that economic growth of 1% to 3% can be obtained by increasing happiness. The positive effect of happiness is about four times greater in developed countries than in developing countries. This paper reveals that happiness should be included in conventional economic growth models to achieve a holistic approach in designing development policies.
This paper explores whether happiness-led growth policies implemented in some countries are viable for achieving better economic well-being proxied by GDP per capita using a panel dataset covering 104 countries from 2006 to 2018. While past studies showed that economic growth promotes happiness, this paper applied the panel Granger causality test to show that GDP per capita is also determined by happiness. Accordingly, the pooled ordinary least squares, random-effects model, fixed-effects model, and two-step generalized method of moments were employed to estimate the effect of changes in happiness on economic growth. The empirical results suggest that economic growth of 1% to 3% can be obtained by increasing happiness. The positive effect of happiness is about four times greater in developed countries than in developing countries. This paper reveals that happiness should be included in conventional economic growth models to achieve a holistic approach in designing development policies.
Dispositional Malicious Envy and Workplace Deviance: Divergent Thinking as a Mediator
SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
In the extant scholarship, researchers have claimed that malicious envy has a significant relationship with workplace deviance. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of scholarship detailing how employees can display workplace deviance in an organizational context without being caught. This study aims to examine an association between dispositional malicious envy and workplace deviance, mediated by divergent thinking through the lens of social comparison theory. Data was collected via a cross-sectional survey from employees (N = 363) working in Pakistan’s banking and telecom sector. The study results reveal that dispositional malicious envy can lead to workplace deviance via the divergent thinking mediation effect. This study adds to the limited scholarship about how dispositional malicious envy relates to workplace deviance in the organizational setting, particularly when employees make lateral comparisons.
In the extant scholarship, researchers have claimed that malicious envy has a significant relationship with workplace deviance. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of scholarship detailing how employees can display workplace deviance in an organizational context without being caught. This study aims to examine an association between dispositional malicious envy and workplace deviance, mediated by divergent thinking through the lens of social comparison theory. Data was collected via a cross-sectional survey from employees (N = 363) working in Pakistan’s banking and telecom sector. The study results reveal that dispositional malicious envy can lead to workplace deviance via the divergent thinking mediation effect. This study adds to the limited scholarship about how dispositional malicious envy relates to workplace deviance in the organizational setting, particularly when employees make lateral comparisons.
Innovating Teaching Practice Through Professional Learning Communities: Determining Knowledge Sharing and Program Value
SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
The Professional Learning Community (PLC) model has been used to help faculty develop innovative teaching practices and diffuse effective strategies and resources throughout K-12 schools. Yet, whether and how PLCs influence research-focused higher education institutions remain unknown. Drawing on existing research on PLCs and the social network theory, this mixed-methods study investigated how participants shared what they learned during their time in the program to build greater capacity and the perceived benefits and weaknesses of the PLC model. We conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 8) and a survey (n = 77) among current PLC fellows and alumni at a large research university. The results based on social network analysis showed that PLC fellows shared knowledge and resources across departments and offices at the university, and these efforts led to additional collaborative research and grant applications. Results also indicate that PLC fellows valued the diversity of the program, developed skills that they used in their courses, gained confidence in their ability to share knowledge and resources, and appreciated the accountability the program provided. Furthermore, respondents rated the program positively and indicated that they were currently using the knowledge and skills gained to further develop innovative teaching practices as well as planning to continue to do so in the future. These findings suggest that the PLC model can be an effective way for universities to empower faculty to develop innovative teaching practices, and, by sharing what they have learned with others, to build capacity for innovative teaching and research practices across the institution.
The Professional Learning Community (PLC) model has been used to help faculty develop innovative teaching practices and diffuse effective strategies and resources throughout K-12 schools. Yet, whether and how PLCs influence research-focused higher education institutions remain unknown. Drawing on existing research on PLCs and the social network theory, this mixed-methods study investigated how participants shared what they learned during their time in the program to build greater capacity and the perceived benefits and weaknesses of the PLC model. We conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 8) and a survey (n = 77) among current PLC fellows and alumni at a large research university. The results based on social network analysis showed that PLC fellows shared knowledge and resources across departments and offices at the university, and these efforts led to additional collaborative research and grant applications. Results also indicate that PLC fellows valued the diversity of the program, developed skills that they used in their courses, gained confidence in their ability to share knowledge and resources, and appreciated the accountability the program provided. Furthermore, respondents rated the program positively and indicated that they were currently using the knowledge and skills gained to further develop innovative teaching practices as well as planning to continue to do so in the future. These findings suggest that the PLC model can be an effective way for universities to empower faculty to develop innovative teaching practices, and, by sharing what they have learned with others, to build capacity for innovative teaching and research practices across the institution.
The Cultural Transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Cerekang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
SAGE Open, Volume 13, Issue 4, October-December 2023.
This article explores how traditional ecological knowledge in Cerekang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, is culturally transmitted as a strategy for cultural survival amidst internal and external challenges such as social, ecological, and political changes. Traditional ecological knowledge of the Cerekang people lies from mythological construction of the La Galigo epic, which contain beliefs, collection of instructions, and rules on conservation and preservation of sacred forest and non-sacred forest. This knowledge are culturally transmitted through oral stories, rituals, daily life, and customary organization. Generally, the transmission takes place vertically, horizontally, and obliquely. The traditional, linear-vertical mode of transmission, which tends to be closed, is the most dominant pattern of cultural transmission among the Cerekang people. This study also finds out another pattern of transmission beyond the framework given, which we call as conformist transformation. However, this cultural transmission is not without bias as the transmitted messages are generic and incomplete. Therefore, a contextual education in both formal and informal settings as another mode of cultural transmission is suggested to respond to current social, political, and environmental changes in Cerekang. In order to sustain the Cerekang’s TEK, the local government policy-maker should further facilitate indigenous activities by supporting capacity building in non-formal setting and signing a decree to include TEK in formal education.
This article explores how traditional ecological knowledge in Cerekang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, is culturally transmitted as a strategy for cultural survival amidst internal and external challenges such as social, ecological, and political changes. Traditional ecological knowledge of the Cerekang people lies from mythological construction of the La Galigo epic, which contain beliefs, collection of instructions, and rules on conservation and preservation of sacred forest and non-sacred forest. This knowledge are culturally transmitted through oral stories, rituals, daily life, and customary organization. Generally, the transmission takes place vertically, horizontally, and obliquely. The traditional, linear-vertical mode of transmission, which tends to be closed, is the most dominant pattern of cultural transmission among the Cerekang people. This study also finds out another pattern of transmission beyond the framework given, which we call as conformist transformation. However, this cultural transmission is not without bias as the transmitted messages are generic and incomplete. Therefore, a contextual education in both formal and informal settings as another mode of cultural transmission is suggested to respond to current social, political, and environmental changes in Cerekang. In order to sustain the Cerekang’s TEK, the local government policy-maker should further facilitate indigenous activities by supporting capacity building in non-formal setting and signing a decree to include TEK in formal education.