Non-native Species and Their Role in the Environment
Non-native Species and Their Role in the Environment

Author: Radu Cornel Guiaşu

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2016-08-01

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 9047426134

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The young field of invasion biology - initially a branch of ecology and conservation biology - has greatly expanded, particularly in the last two and a half decades or so. As a result, the potential negative effects of introduced species have been widely advertised and sometimes, perhaps, overemphasized. This book attempts to restore some balance to the current debate over the role of non-native species, by offering a broader perspective, and taking a longer term, evolutionary look at these species and their impact in their new environments. The relatively arbitrary nature of terms such as "native" and "non-native", and the rather inconsistent ways in which such terms are applied to biological species, as well as the subjective boundaries of so-called "native ranges" are analyzed. The role of non-native species in their new environments can be considerably more complex than the anti-introduced species information would often suggest. Thus, the more positive and nuanced perspective on introduced species and their impact offered in this book is much needed and long overdue.

English Language and Literature
English Language and Literature

Author: Modupe Moyosore Alimi

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2020-11-09

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 152756178X

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English Language and Literature: Cross Cultural Currents is a collection of essays that interrogate the precarious positions of English and African languages in an era in which English is increasingly becoming the dominant language in Africa while at the same time there is a growing resistance against it. Though many Africans take pride in their own cultural heritage that is expressed by their African languages, they require the economic and social benefits of English. The book presents a language dilemma in which both African languages and English enhance, inhibit, and influence each other. The data used by the authors spans a broad spectrum of sources including: fiction, courts, parliamentary Hansards, House of Chiefs, classrooms, internet, roads and bus ranks. Thus, it is reflective of the most and least educated, the most and least influential Africans. The presentations provide broad insights about African symbols, metaphors, imagery and folklores representing undocumented literature that challenge scientific imperialism and deficit theories. The diversity and freshness of the ideas in the book stem from the unique blend of the background of the contributors: English language and literature teachers, teachers of African languages, educationalists, sociologists, historians and politicians. Thus the book is a valuable asset to scholars in linguistics, anthropology and language policy makers.

Non-native Educators in English Language Teaching
Non-native Educators in English Language Teaching

Author: George Braine

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-10-08

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1135461864

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The place of native and non-native speakers in the role of English teachers has probably been an issue ever since English was taught internationally. Although ESL and EFL literature is awash, in fact dependent upon, the scrutiny of non-native learners, interest in non-native academics and teachers is fairly new. Until recently, the voices of non-native speakers articulating their own concerns have been even rarer. This book is a response to this notable vacuum in the ELT literature, providing a forum for language educators from diverse geographical origins and language backgrounds. In addition to presenting autobiographical narratives, these authors argue sociopolitical issues and discuss implications for teacher education, all relating to the theme of non-native educators in ETL. All of the authors are non-native speakers of English. Some are long established professionals, whereas others are more recent initiates to the field. All but one received part of the higher education in North America, and all except two of the chapters are at least partially contextualized in North America. Particularly relevant for non-native speakers who aspire to enter the profession, graduate students in TESOL programs, and teacher educators, the unique nature of this book's contributors and its contents will interest researchers and professionals in applied linguistics generally and in ELT, and all those who are concerned with the role of non-native speakers in English-language teaching.

Learning a non-native language in a naturalistic environment: Insights from behavioural and neuroimaging research
Learning a non-native language in a naturalistic environment: Insights from behavioural and neuroimaging research

Author: Christos Pliatsikas

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2015-09-02

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13: 2889196399

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It is largely accepted in the relevant literature that successful learning of one or more non-native languages is affected by a number of factors that are independent of the target language(s) per se; these factors include the age of acquisition (AoA) of the target language(s), the type and amount of formal instruction the learners have received, as well as the amount of language use that the learners demonstrate. Recent experimental evidence suggests that one crucial factor for efficient native-like performance in the non-native language is the amount of naturalistic exposure, or immersion, that the learners receive to that language. This can be broadly defined as the degree to which language learners use their non-native language outside the classroom and for their day-to-day activities, and usually presupposes that the learners live in an environment where their non-native language is exclusively or mostly used. Existing literature has suggested that linguistic immersion can be beneficial for lexical and semantic acquisition in a non-native language, as well as for non-native morphological and syntactic processing. More recent evidence has also suggested that naturalistic learning of a non-native language can also have an impact on the patterns of brain activity underlying language processing, as well as on the structure of brain regions that are involved, expressed as changes in the grey matter structure. This Research Topic brings together studies on the effects of learning and speaking a non-native language in a naturalistic environment. These include more efficient or “native-like” processing in behavioural tasks tapping on language (lexicon, morphology, syntax), as well as changes in the brain structure and function, as revealed by neuroimaging studies.

Language, Literature and Education in Multicultural Societies
Language, Literature and Education in Multicultural Societies

Author: Kenneth Harrow

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2009-10-02

Total Pages: 390

ISBN-13: 1443814679

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This book presents a vivid overview of linguistic, literary and educational issues in a multicultural context from various perspectives. These range from large-scale surveys to specific analyses on aspects of language, literature and education. Contributions are very original and based on a common denominator: Multiculturalism. Despite the numerical dominance of contributions from Cameroon (one of the most multilingual countries in the world), this book brings together views from specialists in the different domains from several parts of the world (Africa, Europe and the United States of America). These contributions exhibit not theoretical issues that underpin current academic debates in linguistic and literary research, but also empirical and interesting data that can further be exploited to other ends. Critical views on literature and postcolonialism, the fears of language death with the advent of globalisation and the spread of English language, the educational significance or influence of the internet, the wealth of Cameroon/African literature and the education of the Cameroonian/African child, and theoretical issues in language and literary education are themes handled here in an accessible manner to readers without previous knowledge of language science, literature and education.

Native and Non-Native Teachers in English Language Classrooms
Native and Non-Native Teachers in English Language Classrooms

Author: Juan de Dios Martinez Agudo

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2017-05-08

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 1501504142

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Despite being highly debated in applied linguistics and L2 teaching literature, the controversial issue of (non)nativeness still remains unresolved. Contemporary critical research has questioned the theoretical foundations of the nativeness paradigm, which still exerts a strong influence in the language teaching profession. Written by well-known researchers and teacher educators from all over the world, both NSs and NNSs, the selected contributions of this volume cover a great variety of aspects related to the professional role and status of both NS and NNS teachers in terms of both perceived differences and professional concerns and challenges. The strongest aspects of this volume are the global perspectives and the implications for future research and teacher education. It is precisely this international perspective which makes this volume illustrative of different realities with a similar objective in mind: the improvement of second language teaching and teacher education. In today's world, being a NS or NNS should not really matter but rather teachers' professional competences. This publication thus provides a forum of reflection and discussion for all L2 educators who need to be aware of how much they might offer to their future students.

Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World
Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World

Author: Sibonile Edith Ellece

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2010-10-12

Total Pages: 315

ISBN-13: 1443826200

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Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World addresses issues of representations of Africa in the English speaking world. English has become a global language which has turned the world into a global village, and as Graddol (2008) states, it “is now redefining national and individual identities worldwide; shifting political fault lines; creating new global patterns of wealth and social exclusion; and suggesting new notions of human rights and responsibilities of citizenship.” This book grapples with the relationship between Africa and the rest of the English speaking world, and touches on issues of (Euro-American) misrepresentations of the continent in literary works and films, misrepresentations which are nevertheless passed as true and infallible knowledge of Africa, marginalization of Africans, African languages and culture, African scholarship, language policy, language diglossia, African theatre in post colonial Africa, identity negotiations in post colonial Africa, and relations between gender and language, among other issues. These issues are bound to stimulate debates on Africa and its representation(s) in the English speaking world.

The Paradise War
The Paradise War

Author: Stephen Lawhead

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 2010-08-22

Total Pages: 465

ISBN-13: 1418555576

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Experience the dazzling brilliance of a world like ours—yet infinitely bolder and brighter: a place of kings and warriors, bards and battles, feats of glory and honour. It is a place you will forever wish to be. It is Albion. "When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the world I knew." Lewis Gillies is an American graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his life. Yet for some reason, he finds himself speeding north with his roommate Simon on a lark—half-heartedly searching for a long-extinct creature allegedly spotted in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis accidently crosses through a mystical gateway where two worlds meet: into the time-between-times, as the ancient Celts called it. And into the heart of a collision between good and evil that's been raging since long before Lewis was born. First published more than twenty years ago, The Song of Albion Trilogy has become a modern classic that continues to attract passionate new readers. Part of The Song of Albion trilogy: Book One: The Paradise War Book Two: The Silver Hand Book Three: The Endless Knot Epic historical fantasy Book length: 138,000 words Includes additional insights from the author in “Albion Forever!” and an interview