Sound Instruction Volume V is the result of professional cooperation and common goals among researchers, scholars and practitioners across the world, eager to share their research and experience on multiple issues concerning Language in Society and Professional Domains. This collection of works reflects a community of practice truly scattered across the globe as a number of the authors are located outside the USA, countries represented being Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden and the UK. The collection of papers targets the four key domains of society, technology, education and the profession, in each of which linguistic and educational issues are addressed through a multi-faceted repertoire of resources and ideas, reflecting the central role of language use related to these domains. The range of topics tackled is meant to stimulate researchers, scholars, practitioners and stakeholders alike worldwide to tailor these within their own professional fields of practice. The 22 contributions included cover significant issues, which will hopefully meet the needs of a wide readership in furthering professional development. The first chapter in the volume focuses on language in the sociocultural domain with the purpose of encouraging the reader to reflect on key language issues within our contemporary society. A total of eleven articles have been selected for inclusion in this chapter to encompass significant current social phenomena. From a top-down perspective, the chapter opens with the important and timely issues of educational systems, language policies and migration. These topics give rise to other important issues, including the role of translation in Second Language Acquisition and Language Education in general, L1 interference in language acquisition processes and major issues of literacy. While these topics mostly refer to the English language, we felt that including three final contributions related to other languages, such as Spanish and Chinese, would provide additional value to the diverse sociocultural aspects of language. The second chapter deals with language in technological and professional environments. The eleven articles in the chapter introduce a range of eclectic approaches to language both in the technological and professional domains. In the former, where language can be used for both specific and general purposes of communication, the contributions show how reflection, awareness and skills can be enhanced through the use of cutting-edge tools, which can also foster the development of digital literacy skills; in the latter domain, several contributors focus on qualifying language learners for their near future professions in the currently evolving occupational scenario, touching on a variety of related linguistic and educational issues. Two main professions, namely, language teachers and translators, are also investigated both in terms of professional development and lifelong learning. As in chapter one, we again felt that adding two final contributions related to other languages, in this case Arabic and Japanese, would further explore linguistic aspects in a broader frame of training for future social purposes. It is no wonder that Sound Instruction Volume V ends with this focus, which creates an ongoing loop with the initial sociocultural domain, showing how language use is not clear-cut, but rather intertwined and further expandable. It is in this perspective that both the editors and all the authors have contributed in their own and diversely rich ways to emphasising the increased importance of language at all levels and in all realms of life. It is the editors’ hope that the reader will find the repertoire of research papers, projects and case studies presented in this volume interesting and thought-provoking. In the perspective presented, language in the different domains considered does not have clear-cut boundaries; therefore, contributions in one chapter may overlap with those in the other. The editors’ effort has been targeted to the guidance the book may hopefully provide to a wider readership as a resource for language policy makers, sociologists interested in the social use of language, research scholars in all areas of applied linguistics, educational technologists, language educators and practitioners, teacher trainers and, last but not least, undergraduate and postgraduate students with various interests in the fields of language and sound instruction. The editors would like to take the opportunity to thank all contributors for their much appreciated work. This volume could not have been published without their dedicated research and eagerness to share results, ideas and advice.
Language in Society and Professional Domains: Linguistic and Educational Issues
DI MARTINO, Emilia;Di Sabato B;
2015-01-01
Abstract
Sound Instruction Volume V is the result of professional cooperation and common goals among researchers, scholars and practitioners across the world, eager to share their research and experience on multiple issues concerning Language in Society and Professional Domains. This collection of works reflects a community of practice truly scattered across the globe as a number of the authors are located outside the USA, countries represented being Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden and the UK. The collection of papers targets the four key domains of society, technology, education and the profession, in each of which linguistic and educational issues are addressed through a multi-faceted repertoire of resources and ideas, reflecting the central role of language use related to these domains. The range of topics tackled is meant to stimulate researchers, scholars, practitioners and stakeholders alike worldwide to tailor these within their own professional fields of practice. The 22 contributions included cover significant issues, which will hopefully meet the needs of a wide readership in furthering professional development. The first chapter in the volume focuses on language in the sociocultural domain with the purpose of encouraging the reader to reflect on key language issues within our contemporary society. A total of eleven articles have been selected for inclusion in this chapter to encompass significant current social phenomena. From a top-down perspective, the chapter opens with the important and timely issues of educational systems, language policies and migration. These topics give rise to other important issues, including the role of translation in Second Language Acquisition and Language Education in general, L1 interference in language acquisition processes and major issues of literacy. While these topics mostly refer to the English language, we felt that including three final contributions related to other languages, such as Spanish and Chinese, would provide additional value to the diverse sociocultural aspects of language. The second chapter deals with language in technological and professional environments. The eleven articles in the chapter introduce a range of eclectic approaches to language both in the technological and professional domains. In the former, where language can be used for both specific and general purposes of communication, the contributions show how reflection, awareness and skills can be enhanced through the use of cutting-edge tools, which can also foster the development of digital literacy skills; in the latter domain, several contributors focus on qualifying language learners for their near future professions in the currently evolving occupational scenario, touching on a variety of related linguistic and educational issues. Two main professions, namely, language teachers and translators, are also investigated both in terms of professional development and lifelong learning. As in chapter one, we again felt that adding two final contributions related to other languages, in this case Arabic and Japanese, would further explore linguistic aspects in a broader frame of training for future social purposes. It is no wonder that Sound Instruction Volume V ends with this focus, which creates an ongoing loop with the initial sociocultural domain, showing how language use is not clear-cut, but rather intertwined and further expandable. It is in this perspective that both the editors and all the authors have contributed in their own and diversely rich ways to emphasising the increased importance of language at all levels and in all realms of life. It is the editors’ hope that the reader will find the repertoire of research papers, projects and case studies presented in this volume interesting and thought-provoking. In the perspective presented, language in the different domains considered does not have clear-cut boundaries; therefore, contributions in one chapter may overlap with those in the other. The editors’ effort has been targeted to the guidance the book may hopefully provide to a wider readership as a resource for language policy makers, sociologists interested in the social use of language, research scholars in all areas of applied linguistics, educational technologists, language educators and practitioners, teacher trainers and, last but not least, undergraduate and postgraduate students with various interests in the fields of language and sound instruction. The editors would like to take the opportunity to thank all contributors for their much appreciated work. This volume could not have been published without their dedicated research and eagerness to share results, ideas and advice.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
