EcoLinguistic Insights in Nias Village Name: Unravelling the Dynamic Bond Between Language and Environment

Ecological structures hold profound significance in the identification and naming of localities within Nias villages. This significance underscores the dynamic bond between language and the environment, forming a foundational aspect of the local ethnicity. This study endeavors to delve into the ecological significance that underpins the naming of Nias villages, elucidating the intricate connection between language and the environment upon which village names are founded. In pursuit of this objective, the research engages with a purposive sample of 20 informants, representing 151 localities within Nias. Through in-depth interviews, valuable insights are gathered and transcribed to constitute the research data. Employing a descriptive qualitative design, the study leverages a semantic representation protocol to categorize data according to the ecological units embedded in the village names. The investigation's findings reveal that the Nias villages predominantly employ the Nias language lexicon. Notably, 55 villages incorporate the lexicon "hili" denoting 'hill or mountain,' such as "Hilimbana" ('hill-kapuk tree') and "Hiliweto Gela" ('hill-bees'). Additionally, the names incorporate ecological elements such as vegetation, rivers, animals, equipment, events, supernatural objects, and numbers. These names reflect the deep integration of ecological elements into the local community's cultural identity and highlight the rich ecological diversity of the region. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and ecological connections in village names for the preservation of Nias Regency's heritage and the promotion of ecological awareness. Further research avenues include exploring the socio-cultural significance of village names and investigating the impact of language on environmental conservation efforts. Understanding the intricate relationship between language, culture, and the environment is crucial for sustainable development and the preservation of cultural and ecological heritage in Nias Regency

Preservation of Scientific and Cultural Heritage in Balkan Countries

The peoples living in the Balkan Peninsula over centuries have created a very rich cultural heritage and the constant political upheavals in the region have affected the development and preservation of their cultures. This paper aims to review the internet infrastructure and networked readiness levels of the Balkan countries, which are conducive to scientific co-operation and preservation of digitised cultural heritage. It also explores the destructive effects of wars on the cultural riches of the region. The internet facilities and the scientific production of the Balkan countries were identified using published sources and Thomson’s Web of Science database. A game-theoretic approach was used to expound the consequences of wars and the adverse effects of the nation-building process on cultural heritage artefacts. Balkan countries lack sound internet infrastructures, hindering their contributions to the world of science and stifling scientific co-operation among themselves in terms of joint papers. The coordinated efforts have yet to exist to streamline the digital preservation of the unique cultural heritage of the Balkan countries. This paper discusses the impact of the nation-building process on cultural and scientific heritage artefacts using the concepts of the “game theory”. It reinforces the fact that destroying the cultural heritage artefacts during wars is not a “zero-sum game” in which the dominant culture wins and the “other” culture loses. It is not even a “lose-lose game” in which both parties lose. Rather, humanity loses part of its whole cultural heritage forever

Towards effective management and preservation of digital cultural heritage resources: an exploration of contextual factors in Ghana

In today’s world of digital technologies, cultural heritage institutions, particularly in developed countries, are seeking ways to create national digital memories for the future of the citizenry. However, rapidly developing technologies and their concomitant technological obsolescence put future memories at risk. The challenge is enormous in developing countries that, when compared to their developed counterparts, lack adequate resources and technologies for effective digital resources management and preservation. As a developing country, Ghana appears ready to face the challenges of effective digital resources management. The country has developed programmes and a national policy on information and communication technologies (ICTs) for accelerated development. However, Ghana does not appear to be effective in managing or preserving digital cultural heritage resources. An interpretive case research design involving 27 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from 23 institutions was used to explore the various contextual factors influencing the management and preservation of digital cultural heritage resources (or DPM). Rogers’ (2003) “diffusion of innovation” (DOI) theory and Davies’ (2000) “policy, strategy and resources” (PSR) troika model provided a basis for a preliminary model of factors to guide the research. Although the DPM innovation was not fully diffused in Ghana, related activities at the base, middle and higher levels of the Ghanaian social system were unintentionally fostering the adoption process. Four main clusters of contextual factors that were influencing the DPM adoption process in Ghana were identified: attitudinal, resources-related, policy-related, and managerial factors. Key stakeholders perceived the design of appropriate strategies, adequate resource allocation, and proper implementation of policies as key enabling factors for effective adoption of DPM in Ghana. However, a general lack of interest in cultural institutions (libraries, archives and museums) and in information management on the part of decision makers and the Ghanaian stakeholders as a whole was found to hinder DPM adoption. This study extends Information Systems (IS) research involving DOI theory and the PSR troika model into a developing country context. Attitudinal-based complexities involving misunderstandings among various tribal groups in Ghana, and resources-based complexities surrounding technology access and use, were found from the interview data and were added to the initial model which was expanded to aid in understanding the various contextual factors that influence DPM adoption in Ghana. In addition to the study contributing to theoretical understandings in IS research, it provides Ghanaian policy developers with an empirical base for accelerating adoption of DPM in Ghana. It also provides New Zealand and other digital preservation advanced countries with a deeper understanding from which to provide contextually designed advisory services to other developing countries (particularly in the Pacific Island regions) as it enables the contextual understanding of the factors from Ghana