The Role of Dialect Words in Children’s Social Decisions

Recent research suggests that young children are capable of distinguishing between phonetically dissimilar spoken accents, yet have difficulty distinguishing between phonetically similar accents (Wagner, Clopper, & Pate, 2013). The present study aimed to determine whether the presence of dialect-specific vocabulary enhances young children’s ability to categorize speakers. Participants completed four training trials in which they were familiarized with photos of two children: one of whom used American English labels for test objects and one of whom used British English labels. After training trials, participants completed eight test trials in which they were asked to infer which target child would use either British or American English labels to describe novel test objects. After all test trials were completed, participants were asked to select which target child they would prefer to ask for the name of an unfamiliar object. Participants were also asked to select which target child they would rather play a game with. Participants of all ages were significantly able to correctly categorize speakers based on whether they used dialect specific vocabulary that was familiar or unfamiliar to the participant. Participants showed a significant preference for the target child who used American dialect words. Participants also significantly trusted the American English-speaking target child over the British English-speaking target child to have the correct name for the unknown object. Neither categorization success, preference, nor selective trust differed significantly by age. These interesting results suggest that, when accent differences are too subtle for children to categorize speakers, dialect-specific vocabulary may enhance young children’s ability to categorize a speaker. The results of the preference and selective trust questions suggest that children as young as four years use their knowledge of a speaker’s vocabulary to guide their preferred social interactions, choosing to interact with others who speak similarly to them

Considering Kingsolver’s “Great Barrier” for Beyond the Pastoral

Looking at stories, we can begin imagining processes of reworlding, processes that involve un-learning and re-learning our relationships with the environment in a more-than-human world, and I wonder, too, if poetry can lead us to a similar place, poetry offering an approach toward a collaboration with the nonhuman in a more than human world. Barbara Kingsolver's poem, "Great Barrier," generally and broadly responds to climate change and the anxiety surrounding our limited amount of time to dramatically address climate change. I argue that she allows the potential for completely reimagining new practices and processes toward approaching the Anthropocene through the genre of poetry that does not return to something familiar

Children’s Social Judgments of Others on the Basis of Dialect-Specific Vocabulary

Many studies suggest that young children prefer speakers who speak similarly to them. Children demonstrate social preferences for speakers of their own native language over speakers of a non-native language as well as for speakers of a familiar accent over speakers of an unfamiliar accent. Recent research suggests that young children will similarly show preference for speakers who use familiar dialect-specific vocabulary over speakers who use vocabulary specific to an unfamiliar dialect. The current study investigated potential motivations behind young children’s preferences for familiar dialect-specific vocabulary. Fifty participants ages fifty-one months to ninety-five months (Mage =72.6 months) viewed an animated video featuring two children. One child used American dialect labels for items displayed, and the other child used British dialect labels. Participants indicated which child they would rather play a game with (social preference), which child they would rather ask if they didn’t know the name of a novel object (selective trust), and rated each child on a three-point scale in domains of likability, niceness, intelligence, and helpfulness. Participants demonstrated social preference and selective trust for American dialect users over British dialect users. Participants rated American dialect users significantly more favorably in domains of likability, intelligence, and helpfulness. Interestingly, participant rating did not differ in the domain of niceness. Participants rated American dialect users more favorably than a midpoint value on all four domains; however, participants also rated British dialect users more favorably than a midpoint value in domains of likability, niceness, and intelligence, but not helpfulness. This evidence suggests that a halo effect may motivate preference for familiar dialects

Murine obscurin and Obsl1 have functionally redundant roles in sarcolemmal integrity, sarcoplasmic reticulum organization, and muscle metabolism.

Biological roles of obscurin and its close homolog Obsl1 (obscurin-like 1) have been enigmatic. While obscurin is highly expressed in striated muscles, Obsl1 is found ubiquitously. Accordingly, obscurin mutations have been linked to myopathies, whereas mutations in Obsl1 result in 3M-growth syndrome. To further study unique and redundant functions of these closely related proteins, we generated and characterized Obsl1 knockouts. Global Obsl1 knockouts are embryonically lethal. In contrast, skeletal muscle-specific Obsl1 knockouts show a benign phenotype similar to obscurin knockouts. Only deletion of both proteins and removal of their functional redundancy revealed their roles for sarcolemmal stability and sarcoplasmic reticulum organization. To gain unbiased insights into changes to the muscle proteome, we analyzed tibialis anterior and soleus muscles by mass spectrometry, uncovering additional changes to the muscle metabolism. Our analyses suggest that all obscurin protein family members play functions for muscle membrane systems

The Grizzly, October 4, 2018

We Ought to Listen : Professors Gather with Students to Watch Kavanaugh-Ford Hearings • Where\u27s the Money?: Students Reflect on Their Unpaid and Paid Summer Internship Experiences • How Students Feel About Tuition Increases (Badly): Paying for School can be Stressful • Where Does Your Tuition Go? • Students Investing Real Money • Opinions: A Look Back at the 2008 Financial Crisis; Real Cost of Applying to Medical Schools; Division I Athletes Should Not be Paid • Hunter Tabbed for Associate ADhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1603/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 5, 2017

The Fringe Festival Returns to Ursinus • U-Imagine Hosts Marketing Contest • UCARE Holds Voter Registration Drive and Local Election Panel • Q&A with Aneesah Smith: Ally Training Facilitator • Breaking Through the Haze • Perspective from the Past • Opinions: NFL Players Take a Knee to Stand up Against Injustice; Recent Natural Disasters Demand More Human Decency • Moving the Chains: Inside Look at the UC Chain Gang • UC Swimming Dives in for Midnight Madnesshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1627/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 11, 2018

Student Athletes Distressed by Possible NCAA Violations • Clinica de Migrantes Screens on Campus • Externship Deadline is Rapidly Approaching • Ursinus\u27 Website Receives a New Makeover • Sigma Rho Lambda: Past, Present, Future • Finding Truth: 12 Angry Jurors • Opinions: Juuls Shouldn\u27t be Marketed to Teenagers; Family Separations a Lingering Problem • Ursinus Mourns Loss of Coach Racich • Men\u27s Golf Flourishes in its Opening Matcheshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1604/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 25, 2019

Coffee Shop and Brew Pub Aims to Open Second Location Near UC • In Memory of Dorinda Ma, 1993-2018 • New History Professor Makes Her Mark • Ursinus Student\u27s Internship Takes Her to Yellowstone • Sesquicentennial Celebration Continues with Minerva Term • Ursinus\u27 First Pride Festival • Opinions: Restructuring the Tax Process Might Benefit Americans; Notre Dame Tragedy Speaks to the Necessity of Historical Preservation • UC Golf Ready to Make Noise in CC • The History! With an Exclamation Point! Award: Alex Mumme • Baker and Lyons Reflect on UC Careershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1620/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 7, 2019

Chair of History Department Featured in Forbes • David Perry Shines Spotlight on College Problems • Book Club Brings Students and Faculty Together • Ariana Brown Reads at Ursinus • Student Worker Profile: Wismer Workers • Senior Feature: Paul Cottam • Opinions: America Could use a Universal Basic Income; New Housing Process Could be a New Mess • The That was the Coolest Lax Goal I\u27ve Ever Seen Award: Bobby McClure • Athlete Spotlight: Peter DeSimone • UC Swim Teams Complete Outstanding Seasons; Women Win 6th Straight Championshiphttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1615/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 20, 2018

Changes to Faculty Parking Disgruntle Students • Berman Opens Two New Exhibits for the Fall Semester • Inclusive Community Fellowships and Grants • Healing Hurt People at the Parlee Center • Two-Legged Dog Runs Away Then Finally Finds Forever Home: Meet Deuce, Professor Scudera\u27s Newest Dog • Help Wanted: UCARE Fall Volunteering Opportunities • Opinions: Greek Life at Ursinus is Dying; Anonymous New York Times Op-Ed is Cowardly • Football Dominates in First Three Games • UC Gymnastics has New Coach in Valentihttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1602/thumbnail.jp