Impoliteness in Power-imbalance and Power-neutral Relational Contexts: Evidence from a Persian TV Drama

 This study investigated impoliteness in relational contexts. Interlocutors analyzed the data from a Persian TV drama from two perspectives: intentionality and perception of impoliteness. Two relational contexts were identified: power-imbalance and power-neutral, each comprising two types of impoliteness: reciprocal and non-reciprocal. Reciprocal impoliteness occurred in hostile and conflictual situations where impoliteness was both intended by the speaker and perceived by the recipient as a direct face-attack. In non-reciprocal impoliteness, however, when power imbalance was due to family hierarchy, the recipient of impoliteness remained silent; in other situations, the intentional face-attack was tolerated, unless the recipient’s social identity face was directly attacked. In power-neutral situations, impoliteness was not reciprocated when intimacy existed between the interactants. It was neither intended nor perceived as face-threatening; however, direct face-attack was reciprocal in hostile situations. The findings of the present study point to the significant role of the relational context in the interpretation of impoliteness

AN INVESTIGATION INTO PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS OF HAUSA-SPEAKING LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

AbstractThere is no dearth of publication on pronunciation problems of different L1-bacground learners in EFL contexts; however, research in ESL situations (where English is spoken outside the classroom) in general, and in the Nigerian context, in particular, is scarce. Accordingly, to fill this research gap the present study set out to investigate the pronunciation problems of Hausa speakers of English in Nigeria. To achieve the goals of the research, 60 native speakers of Hausa studying at three universities in Northern Cyprus participated in the study. The participants’ pronunciation problems of English were elicited by mean of a pronunciation test that consisted of a word list, a short paragraph, and 15 individual sentences. Moreover, 15 pictures were shown to the participants to name while being audio-recorded. All the test items contained English consonants and vowels with potential pronunciation difficulties for Hausa speakers of English.  The collected data were then transcribed and analyzed, and percentages and frequencies of pronunciation errors were computed. The results revealed that native speakers of Hausa face problems in pronouncing certain English vowels (i.e., /ᴧ/, /ᴐ:/ and /з:/) and consonants (/f/, /v/, /θ/ and /ð/). Theoretically, the findings lend support to the notion of negative transfer as all of the errors were the result of mother tongue interference. The findings are interpreted to have pedagogical implications for ESL teachers and syllabus designers in general and in Hausa-speaking communities, in particular.Keywords: Pronunciation problems, segmental phonemes, negative transfer, Hausa speakers of English

Pragmatic Features of the Speech Act of Compliment in a Turkish TV Drama

Research on the speech act of compliment is abundant; however, studies on the characteristics of compliments in Turkish, in general, and in Turkish TV dramas, in particular, are scarce. Therefore, to fill this research gap, the present study set out to investigate the use of compliments in a popular Turkish soap opera. To achieve the purposes of this research, thirty-two episodes of a TV drama called Sahra were selected at random to be viewed and analyzed while focusing on the topics, functions, and characteristics of compliments with reference to the role of gender. Four main topics and functions, and two major characteristics of Turkish compliments emerged from the analysis of the data. Similarities and differences were also found in the use of compliments in Turkish and other languages. The findings may have implications for research on speech acts, in general, and complimenting behavior in TV dramas, in particular.Keywords: Turkish compliments; TV drama; elaboration; exaggeration; gende

Planning of Sustainable Development Based on Civil Rights in Torkaman Port

Undoubtedly, discussion about stability and sustainable development is meaningless without paying attention to cities and urbanization. Cities are considered as major factors of creating instability in the world. Therefore, according to inherent complexity of cities and various dimensions of their effectiveness, recognition of major and key factors for the sake of achieving to stability of cities seems necessary. The purpose of research is to acquire relatively exact description of condition of urban sustainable development from citizens’ rights point of view. This research is practical from the viewpoint of purpose and descriptive-measurable from the viewpoint of type, which has been done by scope method. Statistical society is all citizens of Torkaman city (48736) that used urban spaces which are effective on stability and instability of city. Sample volume is 381 individuals according to Cochran formula that are selected and studied accidentally. Findings of research show that civil rights identifiers with effectiveness of 0.62 and political identifiers with effectiveness of 0.18 had the most and the least effect on sustainable development of Torkaman port city

Planning of Sustainable Development Based on Civil Rights in Torkaman Port

Undoubtedly, discussion about stability and sustainable development is meaningless without paying attention to cities and urbanization. Cities are considered as major factors of creating instability in the world. Therefore, according to inherent complexity of cities and various dimensions of their effectiveness, recognition of major and key factors for the sake of achieving to stability of cities seems necessary. The purpose of research is to acquire relatively exact description of condition of urban sustainable development from citizens’ rights point of view. This research is practical from the viewpoint of purpose and descriptive-measurable from the viewpoint of type, which has been done by scope method. Statistical society is all citizens of Torkaman city (48736) that used urban spaces which are effective on stability and instability of city. Sample volume is 381 individuals according to Cochran formula that are selected and studied accidentally. Findings of research show that civil rights identifiers with effectiveness of 0.62 and political identifiers with effectiveness of 0.18 had the most and the least effect on sustainable development of Torkaman port city

Predicting the Detonation Velocity of CHNO Explosives by a Simple Method

Abstract A simplified method is shown, based on a semi-empirical procedure, to estimate the detonation velocities of CHNO explosives at various loading densities. It is assumed that the product composition consists almost of CO, CO 2 , H 2 O and N 2 for oxygen-rich explosives. In addition solid carbon and H 2 are also counted for an oxygen-lean explosive. The approximate detonation temperature, as a second needed parameter, can be calculated from the total heat capacity of the detonation products and the heat of formation of the explosive by PM3 procedure. The detonation velocities of some well-known CHNO explosives, calculated by the simple procedure, fit well with measured detonation velocities and the results from the well-established BKW-EOS computer code

The association between plant and animal protein intake and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis

BackgroundHemodialysis (HD) patients often experience a significant reduction in quality of life (QOL). The source of dietary protein intake may influence the renal function and complications of HD patients. The present study assessed the relationship between plant and animal protein intake and QOL in HD patients.Methods264 adult patients under dialysis for at least three months were included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were collected using a valid and reliable 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) over the past year. Total, animal, and plant proteins were calculated for each patient. To evaluate QOL, Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1/3) was used. Anthropometric measures were assessed according to standard protocols.ResultsIn this study, the average age of participants was 58.62 ± 15.26 years old; most (73.5%) were men. The mean of total, plant, and animal proteins intake were 66.40 ± 34.29 g/d, 34.60 ± 18.24 g/d, and 31.80 ± 22.21 g/d. Furthermore, the mean score of QOL was 59.29 ± 18.68. After adjustment for potential confounders, a significant positive association was found between total dietary protein intake and QOL (β = 0.12; p = 0.03). Moreover, there was a significant association between plant-based protein intake and QOL (β = 0.26; p < 0.001). However, the association between animal protein intake and QOL was insignificant (β = 0.03; p = 0.60).ConclusionHigher total and plant proteins intake were associated with better QOL in HD patients. Further studies, particularly prospective ones, are needed to corroborate these associations

Gastrointestinal Headache; a Narrative Review

There are studies reporting primary headaches to be associated with gastrointestinal disorders, and some report resolution of headache following the treatment of the associated gastrointestinal disorder. Headache disorders are classified by The International Headache Society as primary or secondary; however, among the secondary headaches, those attributed to gastrointestinal disorders are not appreciated. Therefore, we aimed to review the literature to provide evidence for headaches, which originate from the gastrointestinal system. Gastrointestinal disorders that are reported to be associated with primary headaches include dyspepsia, gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), constipation, functional abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD), celiac disease, and helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection. Some studies have demonstrated remission or improvement of headache following the treatment of the accompanying gastrointestinal disorders. Hypotheses explaining this association are considered to be central sensitization and parasympathetic referred pain, serotonin pathways, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, systemic vasculopathy, and food allergy. Traditional Persian physicians, namely Ebn-e-Sina (Avicenna) and Râzi (Rhazes) believed in a type of headache originating from disorders of the stomach and named it as an individual entity, the "Participatory Headache of Gastric Origin". We suggest providing a unique diagnostic entity for headaches coexisting with any gastrointestinal abnormality that are improved or cured along with the treatment of the gastrointestinal disorder

The Relationship between EQ & Constructive and Non-Constructive Problem Solving Styles among Payame Noor University's students of Abadan in the year 2014

The objective of the present study is considering the relationship between EQ & constructive and non-constructive problem solving styles among students. The applied methodology is cross-correlation method. The statistical population in this study is all the educational sciences' students of Payame Noor university of Abadan in the year 2014 and the sampling is taken totally randomly and voluntary. Two surveys of EQ which proposed by Siryashring (1988) have used in this study that contain 33 questions. This study will measure 5 components of emotional intelligence: Self-awareness, self-control, self-motivation, social awareness and social skills. In addition the problem solving styles' survey that proposed by Velang (1996) has been applied that has made in two stages and has 24 questions, 12 items measure the problem-oriented style and rest of them measure the excitement-orientation. According to Cronbach's alpha the reliability coefficient of EQ is reported about 0.84. The validity of 0.63 is confirmed in Shirng's test of EQ. reliability coefficient of solving problem style is reported about 87%.Either reliability coefficient or factor content are confirmed by the faculty. Data analysis is done in two level of descriptive statistical (frequencies, percentages mean) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, chi-square test). The obtained results of assumptions show that there is no significant relationship between EQ and constructive problem solving; also there is no significant relationship between EQ and non-constructive problem solving. Moreover there is significant relationship between EQ in creative styles, avoidance and style tendencies. Nevertheless there is no relationship between EQ and distress styles. And the confidence style shows an inverse relationship. Keywords: EQ, Constructive problem solving styles, non- constructive problem solving style