Studying language:English in action

This book introduces key ideas and current critical debates about how English functions within its social and cultural contexts, and provides practical examples and guidance on how to approach further work in these areas. It introduces core topics of language study; language variation, pragmatics, stylistics, critical discourse analysis, language and gender and language and education. Each chapter includes case studies providing worked analysis of sample texts, suggestions for further project work and an annotated further reading section.

A strategy-as-practice approach to strategy research and education

This conclusion to the Dialog proposes a strategy-as-practice based approach to bringing strategy research and education closer to practice. Strategy-as-practice rejects the choice, proposed in the previous articles, between theory and practice. The authors argue for strategy research based rigorously on sociological theories of practice. Such research complements the parsimony and generalizability of economics-driven theory, extending strategy research to incorporate the messy realities of doing strategy in practice, with a view to developing theory that is high in accuracy. The authors suggest that practice-based research can also inform strategy teaching by providing students with rich case studies of strategy work as actually practiced, analyzed through such sociological lenses as ethnomethodology, dramaturgy, and institutional theory. Strategy-as-practice research does not aim to give students parsimonious models for analysis or expose them to cases of best practice but rather to help them develop practical wisdom through a better understanding of strategy in practice.

'I felt that I do live in the UK now':international students' self-reports of their English language speaking experiences on a pre-sessional programme

This article focuses on the English language experiences of a group of pre-sessional students, an under-represented group in the literature on language and education. In particular, it investigates the opportunities that such students have to use English outside the classroom, shown to be a key factor in student satisfaction with their study abroad experience. Drawing on data from questionnaires, interviews and on-line diaries, we show that students have a variety of opportunities to use English; however, these opportunities may require students to engage in complex negotiations right from the beginning of their sojourn in the UK. Micro-analysis of the data shows that agency is a key construct in understanding students' representations of their English encounters as they begin their lives in the UK. The article concludes with some suggestions as to how pre-sessional courses may develop students' linguistic and socio-cultural skills in order that they may interact successfully in English outside the classroom. © 2011 Taylor &Francis.

Language and peace

This work's central thesis is that language, as historically used, has been a significant factor in creating political oppression, and economic and social discrimination. The editors argue that the challenge for the next century is to begin using language to inspire inclusion rather than exclusion.

The language of female leadership

Could language be a reason why women are under-representedat senior level in the business world? The Language of Female Leadership investigates how female leaders actually use language to achieve their business and relational goals. The author proposes that the language of women leaders is shaped by the type of corporation they work for. Based on the latest research, three types of ‘gendered corporation’ appear to affect the way women interact with colleagues: the male-dominated,the gender-divided and the gender-multiple. This book shows that senior women have to carry out extra ‘linguistic work’ to make their mark in the boardroom. In male-dominated and gender-divided corporations, women must develop an extraordinarylinguistic expertise just to survive. In gender-multiple corporations, this linguistic expertise helps them to be highly regarded and effective leaders.Judith Baxter lectures in Applied Linguistics at the University of Aston. She has written and edited many publications in the field of language and gender, language and education and the language of leadership. She won a government award to conduct a major research study in the language of female leadership.

Language and identity in englishes

Key features include: • Discussion of language in relation to various aspects of identity, such as those connected with nation and region, as well as in relation to social aspects such as social class and race. • A chapter on undertaking research that will equip students with appropriate research methods for their own projects. • An analysis of language and identity within the context of written as well as spoken texts. Language and Identity in Englishes examines the core issues and debates surrounding the relationship between English, language and identity. Drawing on a range of international examples from the UK, US, China and India, Clark uses both cutting-edge fieldwork and her own original research to give a comprehensive account of the study of language and identity. With its accessible structure, international scope and the inclusion of leading research in the area, this book is ideal for any student taking modules in language and identity or sociolinguistics.

Selection and education of patients for inhaled insulin

Inhaled insulin is a recent advance in insulin delivery that promises to be an effective alternative to subcutaneous insulin. Several insulin delivery systems are currently in development and the first of these has been approved for clinical use. Inhaled insulin offers greater flexibility and convenience for patients with diabetes and may be particularly useful in those who are reluctant to initiate or intensify insulin treatment. Although promising, potential concerns remain regarding its long-term effects on lungs. Also, excluding certain groups of patients such as smokers and those with respiratory illnesses will restrict its use at present. Lack of familiarity with the technology, especially relating to dose adjustments and inhaler device, is also likely to present fresh challenges. But, careful selection of patients, education, and continued support from health professionals is vital to ensure success with this new technology.

Bridging the Gap Between Human Language and Computer-Oriented Representations

Information can be expressed in many ways according to the different capacities of humans to perceive it. Current systems deals with multimedia, multiformat and multiplatform systems but another « multi » is still pending to guarantee global access to information, that is, multilinguality. Different languages imply different replications of the systems according to the language in question. No solutions appear to represent the bridge between the human representation (natural language) and a system-oriented representation. The United Nations University defined in 1997 a language to be the support of effective multilinguism in Internet. In this paper, we describe this language and its possible applications beyond multilingual services as the possible future standard for different language independent applications.

Software and Services − Research and Education in Bulgaria

Доклад по покана, поместен в сборника на Националната конференция "Образованието в информационното общество", Пловдив, май, 2010 г.