The Argument of Hebrews

This is a commentary on the book of Hebrew

Native Language (L1) Transfer in Second Language Learning: From Form to Concept, the Implications

The influence that a student’s first language (L1) can have on their acquisition of a second language (L2) has been frequently noted by language teachers (Swan, 1997; Jarvis, 2007) and documented in the literature for decades. However, thinking has gradually evolved in terms of the form that influence could take. Early research work focussed on transfer of syntax or form, but recently the role that L1 conceptual information plays in transfer has come to the fore. The 1960s saw a plethora of contrastive studies inspired by the work of Robert Lado (1957), where languages were analysed using the prevailing structuralist approaches to language description. These contrastive studies were conceived with the view to predicting the types of errors speakers of one language would make while learning another, and this became known as the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis (CAH) (Lado, 1957). This view was based in the behaviourist paradigm of the time which saw language learning as habit formation. This implied that learning a new language meant the transfer of elements and features from the first language to the target language, and that old ‘habits’ may interfere with second language acquisition (Aarts, 1982). Pairs of languages were compared in terms of their similarities and differences looking at linguistic units in relation to the overarching system to which they belonged (see Vinay & Darbelnet, 1960; Agard & Di Pietro, 1965, for examples). However, the CAH was severely criticised in the late 1960s, as it did not seem to be able to predict any classroom errors that language teachers had not already noticed, and was not able to offer any solutions with regard to how to deal with these errors (Corder, 1967).peer-reviewe

The social construction of risk by young people

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of a widely accepted risk discourse. This discussion presents a range of data which aims to highlight weaknesses in the widespread application of the 'risk society' thesis (Beck 1992). This paper uses the lives of young people as a context specific example. This selection of quantitative and qualitative data, taken from a school-based case study, is juxtaposed against theoretical reasoning throughout this paper. Three main assumptions made by the 'risk society' thesis are critiqued using this empirical data: (1) risk is a negative concept, (2) risk is aligned with uncertainty and worry, and (3) those living in the 'risk society' have become sceptical of expert opinions. The conclusion suggests that by using pockets of mixed methodology the extensive acceptance of the 'risk society' thesis can be critiqued. By stimulating this debate it becomes clear that each of the individual criticisms need further research. This paper provides a platform for future empirical work which would look to strengthen the social constructionist framework involved in an appreciation of risk, moving away from the recent trend in grand risk theorising, to context specific data collection and explanation

How God is Using the Murder of Nine People to Bring Racial Reconciliation to All People

Race related violence is not a thing of the past. It rears its ugly head in Ferguson, in Chicago, and recently at Mother Emmanuel Church in Charleston South Carolina. Learn how the Church has used the murder of nine members to progress the process of racial reconciliation in the U.S., and how you can help

Bentkowska-Kafel, A., Denard, H. and Drew, B. 'Paradata and Transparency in Virtual Heritage', Farnham: Ashgate. 2012. 336p, ISBN-10: 0754675831 ISBN-13: 978-0754675839. £54

This latest volume in the Digital Research in the Arts and Humanities series will be essential reading for anyone who creates, consumes, or curates 'computer generated imagery'. Arranged in three sections 'Conventions and emerging standards', 'Data interpretation: methods, and tools', and 'Data management and communication', this wide-ranging text covers areas as diverse as 'Walking with dragons: CGI in wildlife documentaries' through 'Lies, damned lies and visualizations', to 'Transparency for empirical data'