The notion of personal identity is a topic that is widely discussed in all philosophical traditions-western, African, Asian, and Caribbean. The thread that runs through the different conceptions of personal identity i...The notion of personal identity is a topic that is widely discussed in all philosophical traditions-western, African, Asian, and Caribbean. The thread that runs through the different conceptions of personal identity is that the notion is linked with self-consciousness, whether in the metaphysical, epistemological, religious, or social contexts. In this paper, I shall focus attention on Hume＇s conception of personal identity drawing from it, and certain implications for affective communal life in Africana societies. It is a common knowledge among philosophers that Hume denies the ontological and independent existence of the self. For Hume, the self is a bundle of perception. However, in another section of the Treatise of Human Nature, Hume examines the development of what could be considered as self, placing it in a broad social context in which mirroring fellow minds have a critical role. What is significant in Hume＇s conception of personal identity is that the self is the locus of multifarious experiences and the social context in which it is placed enables us to relate the self to affective and relational construction of identity. It is then argued that this conception of identity can be used to stress the need for affection, love, compassion, sympathy, and empathy among persons, which in turn can promote societal transformation in Africana societies.展开更多
An English-Chinese Dictionary （ 咭唎国译语, Ying Ji Li Guo Yi Yii） and A Portuguese-Chinese Dictionary （播时都噶礼雅话, Bo Lti Duo Ga Li Ya Hua） are reckoned as the coUative dictionaries compiled by the Office of ...An English-Chinese Dictionary （ 咭唎国译语, Ying Ji Li Guo Yi Yii） and A Portuguese-Chinese Dictionary （播时都噶礼雅话, Bo Lti Duo Ga Li Ya Hua） are reckoned as the coUative dictionaries compiled by the Office of Interpreters and Translators （会同四译馆, Hui Tong Si Yi Guan） in Qianlong time （1748）, Qing dynasty. There is only one original manuscript of these books gathered and preserved by the Palace Museum. In the present paper, we intent to introduce the significant value and detailed information of these two official collative dictionaries from social background, process of compilation, and stylistic basis of the book. Meanwhile, we will primarily work out the phonetic principles between Canton dialect and foreign languages also indicate the dialect characteristics after clarifying the faults and errors. The present paper may supply with a rudimentary knowing and resource to the realm of ＂Canton English＂ and ＂Canton Portuguese＂, even to the social status and Chinese dialect in Canton area for certain period. Detailed and specific research, especially for A Portuguese-Chinese Dictionary, still lies for future discovery.展开更多
Language learning is a complex process for many reasons. First, it is closely related to linguistics. Second, language is social as it occurs within certain social contexts. And finally, it is individual. Personal cha...Language learning is a complex process for many reasons. First, it is closely related to linguistics. Second, language is social as it occurs within certain social contexts. And finally, it is individual. Personal characteristics such as experience, gender and age, attitude and aptitude, motivation, beliefs, self-confidence, and anxiety greatly influence language learning. Among these variables, motivation is considered to be one of the most important factors affecting the success of second or foreign language learning. However, the relationship between motivation and educational achievement is not quite clear. In the current literature, motivation is regarded as socially constructed, therefore as dynamic rather than static. Little research has been conducted on the motivation of Vietnamese students studying English as a compulsory curriculum component rather than as a major from a socio-cultural perspective. Understanding the relationship between student motivation and academic achievement as well as the socio-cultural factors that affect students＇ motivation will be an important contribution to motivation theory. Therefore, the situation requires longitudinal and in-depth research into student motivation, the factors affecting it during the learning process, and the relationship between student motivation and academic achievement. A mixed method approach has been chosen to meet the needs of the study. It is believed that insights in these areas will help address the issue of motivation at the Police University.展开更多
This paper aims to discuss differences between human resource management （HRM） and strategic human resource management （SHRM）, and aims to discuss convergence or divergence between American and European HRM. There...This paper aims to discuss differences between human resource management （HRM） and strategic human resource management （SHRM）, and aims to discuss convergence or divergence between American and European HRM. Therefore, research question is what the similarities and differences are between European and American HRM. Research methodology is based on critical review of HRM literature. Therefore, this study aims to increase conceptual ability of human resource （HR） professionals. Major result is that HRM is related with employee performance, and SHRM is related with firm performance. Secondly, European HRM is becoming similar to American HRM. The difference between European and American HRM is social context and social partners. European HRM considers social partners in management of HR.展开更多
The goal of this research is to analyze and discuss the origin of Qipao as women's fashionable wear in the early Republic Period (1911-1949).The origin of Qipao fashion will be discussed in three aspects:1) discus...The goal of this research is to analyze and discuss the origin of Qipao as women's fashionable wear in the early Republic Period (1911-1949).The origin of Qipao fashion will be discussed in three aspects:1) discussion of the original time,place and consumer group of Qipao fashion;2) analysis of initial style and wear combination of Qipao,3) deduction of the origin of the name Qipao.Besides,the analysis will also be given about Qipao's aesthetic characters,its production,consumption guarantee as well as its social backgrounds.The research will be made on the basis of the principles and methods of history,social psychology of clothing and design,and will use many materials especially historical writings and publications to give a more detailed discussion.Here are some tentative conclusions. Firstly, Qipao as a kind of one-piece dress was not inherited directly from the robe of Banner Style. It was a new fashion in the 1920s, which combined the elements of long vest called Qipao Majia, Wenming Xin Zhuang and the Western dress. Secondly, the Shanghai female students were the pioneering group wearing Qipao in 1925. Thirdly, the gradual acceptance of Qipao was mainly due to its aesthetic characters, production, consumption as well as social backgrounds at that time. And it was the kind of daily wear of many Chinese women after 1927. Fourthly, since Qipao represents the special clothing which integrated Chinese traditional style and the Western fashion in the early Republic Period, Qipao is advised to be taken as a special term to take the place of the previous ones like Mandarin Dress, Chipau and Cheongsam and so on.展开更多
Regarded as one of the masterpieces of Western literature and a ＂human comedy＂, The Decameron （1955） is a mirror to the world and the people of his time. Thus, Giovanni Boccaccio （1313-1375） took his place with ...Regarded as one of the masterpieces of Western literature and a ＂human comedy＂, The Decameron （1955） is a mirror to the world and the people of his time. Thus, Giovanni Boccaccio （1313-1375） took his place with Dante, Chaucer, and Shakespeare in Western literature, and many writers both at home and abroad are in debt to Boccaccio Voluminous of criticism has been done for The Deeameron as well Boccaccio. Based on the social background and life experience of Boccaccio as well as the text of The Decarneron, this paper analyzes Boccaccio＇s positive and sympathetic attitude toward women mainly from four aspects so that to have a better understanding of this literature giant and his great work.展开更多
Taiwan government has been executing the educational reform programs for more than two decades. However, the so-called between-class ability grouping which is prohibited by Taiwan government is still found in many pla...Taiwan government has been executing the educational reform programs for more than two decades. However, the so-called between-class ability grouping which is prohibited by Taiwan government is still found in many places; and Taiwan＇s cram schools are even more popular and diversified than before. The authors argue that, in addition to individual＇s socio-economic background, regional characteristics and school attributes also play important roles. Bringing these two factors back in, the causal relationships among ability grouping, cram schooling, and student academic achievement can be analyzed more accurately. Using data from Taiwan Education Panel Survey, the authors＇ empirical results show that, first of all, in more urbanized area, between-class ability grouping is less popular but cram school participation is wider spread these years. Secondly, the effects of family backgrounds on students＇ cram school participation are not as critical as they were before. Thirdly, between-class ability grouping and students＇ performance are positively associated but the internal mechanism still needs further investigation.展开更多
Given that preaching is the primary mode of public theological discourse for most Christian ministers, an intellectual virtue of verbal restraint is required when practicing public theology and it is wise to address t...Given that preaching is the primary mode of public theological discourse for most Christian ministers, an intellectual virtue of verbal restraint is required when practicing public theology and it is wise to address the ways that homilies can shepherd public discourse practices. A theology of rhetoric includes the homilist＇s moral purpose. Homilies either enhance public discourse or pervert it. This essay sketches a pattern of sermon movement that respects the logic operative in public theology, given the social context of America. Homilies can help cultivate the pastoral care of public rhetoric by modeling discourse that nurtures the politics of accountability. While many call for a public ethos where divergent moral voices engage each other in highly contested arenas, a precondition to practicing effective public theology requires that one exercises discourse in a way that respects the social limits on the free exercise of religion. It is important that a public theology of rhetoric clarifies the original social agreement for acceptable religious discourse in the public arena. Homiletics, as a dimension of practical theology, can teach preachers methods of pastoral care for public discourse. The social agreement in liberal democracies to contain the combative nature of religious discourse assumes a logic that is circumscribed by commitments to （1） religious pluralism, （2） theological agnosticism, and （3） epistemological pragmatism. Here we propose that a sermon＇s form, which implicitly touches upon these commitments, can tap into the basic modes of persuasion in secular liberal societies. This respects the moral purposes previously agreed upon and expected of partisans during highly contestable times. This calls for incarnational humility on the part of the Christian public theologian and it guides her/his practice.展开更多
The article discusses the role of food as an instrument of identity and a channel of contact through cultures. This is discussed drawing from three cases of Italian food culture hybridization spanning from the early 2...The article discusses the role of food as an instrument of identity and a channel of contact through cultures. This is discussed drawing from three cases of Italian food culture hybridization spanning from the early 20th century to the first decade of the 2000s： the role of Italian food in Italian-American identity as depicted in Leonardo Coviello＇s work, the meeting of Southern and Northern food cultures following the Italian internal migrations in the 50s and 60s, the food practices of international migrants in the context of the global flows of people and commodities in present day Italy. In this regard, food plays an essential role in the rebuilding of a familiar context in which migrants can feel temporarily ＂at home＂. At the same time, food is an important form of communication and contact between different cultures and social contexts. In this process of exchange both migrants＇ and hosts＇ food habits and diets are modified as they incorporate elements and ingredients from each other, making boundaries more porous.展开更多
This article, which utilizes the quantitative social-background approach, sets as its objective to empirically discern correlations between the behavior of the Jewish political elite, embodied in the Jewish Agency for...This article, which utilizes the quantitative social-background approach, sets as its objective to empirically discern correlations between the behavior of the Jewish political elite, embodied in the Jewish Agency for Palestine in the period from 1921 to 1948, and the following social-background variables： age, foreign travel, occupation as a path to political power, regional affiliation, ideology, and political opportunity, of the JAE membership. Diversity of the social-background variables and, particularly, the multitude of languages they knew, explain, to a considerable extent, firstly, the wide variety of their social, political and economic views, and, secondly, the elite＇s resort to direct contact with Western governments and peoples in communicating and promoting their political ideology, thus facilitating the realization of the Zionist project.展开更多
Malaysia is a multicultural, multireligious, and multiethnic country that is located in Southeast Asia. The social background of Malaysia as a multicultural state calls for the adoption of an alternative method to res...Malaysia is a multicultural, multireligious, and multiethnic country that is located in Southeast Asia. The social background of Malaysia as a multicultural state calls for the adoption of an alternative method to resolve community dispute which would offer solution and simultaneously promote harmonization in the society. Community mediation may be one of such alternative, if not the best method for interethnic relations. The government of Malaysia has introduced community mediation in Malaysia by providing training for community mediators through a pilot program, known as Rukun Tetangga （Peaceful Neighbor）. The purpose of this program is to promote unity among the multi-races and multiethnic citizens. This paper will refer to the current practice of community mediation in Malaysia as provided by the National Unity Department in Peninsula Malaysia and the practice of community mediation in Singapore. It is hoped that by comparing the practices in both countries, suggestions and recommendations could be made to improve the practice of community mediation in Malaysia.展开更多
In my paper, “Sublimated Colonialism： The Persistence of Actually Existing Settler-Colonialism,” I interrogate the remaining settler-colonialisms that refused to disappear during the epoch of decolonization. I am m...In my paper, “Sublimated Colonialism： The Persistence of Actually Existing Settler-Colonialism,” I interrogate the remaining settler-colonialisms that refused to disappear during the epoch of decolonization. I am most concerned with those settler-colonialisms that persist at the centers of world capitalism, and examine bow this social context often produces an ideology that relegates the concrete reality of settler-colonialism to the past, pushing its existence under supposedly “modem” social relations. Since Frantz Fanon＇s analysis of settler-colonialism, and the class contradiction between colonizer and colonized, was developed in an era where settler-colonialism was partially defined by the relationship between motherland and colony, some often imagine that the era of settler-colonialism is over. Clearly settler-colonialism did not vanish along with this distinction; internal colonies are retained in North America, for example, and the state of Israel is perhaps the most recent historical of this type of colonialism since it was settled and established in the 20th century. Moreover, there is often talk of a “world-wide indigenous movement” which claims to represent a global anti-colonialist front. The point of my paper, therefore, is to examine how settler-colonialism functions and persists when the settler-colony has become synonymous with the motherland. In this social context, colonizers often imagine themselves as the native inhabitants, while those who remain colonized are pushed even further out of history than they were during the previous era of settler-colonialism.展开更多
Researchers in the field of Second Language Acquisition （SLA） have been taking different routes. Some researchers make linguistic-cognitive issues their inquire object and pursue objectivity with quantitative resear...Researchers in the field of Second Language Acquisition （SLA） have been taking different routes. Some researchers make linguistic-cognitive issues their inquire object and pursue objectivity with quantitative research methods. Other researchers regard the social context of activity as an essential characteristic of learning and teaching. These groups of researchers make use of qualitative research methods like case study, grounded theory, narrative inquiry, and ethnography. There are many other routes that SLA researchers have taken, but the two just mentioned are perhaps the most predominant ones and the ones that are most easily contrasted. The present paper explores the disparity between the different research paths from the perspective of philosophy of science echoing the notion of incommensurability. In this paper the author argues that the differences between different SLA perspectives are not only commensurable but wholesome for the development of SLA.展开更多
This paper aims to discuss how the shaping of a city, Juiz de Fora, in Brazil, has resulted from the power of location of some social agents and from their disputes on the production of space. First, it introduces the...This paper aims to discuss how the shaping of a city, Juiz de Fora, in Brazil, has resulted from the power of location of some social agents and from their disputes on the production of space. First, it introduces the concept of social production of space, emphasizing the role of social agents in urban processes. Then, it presents specific aspects of the history of Juiz de Fora＂ its origins and how social agents and forces have played a significant role in shaping the built environment of the city--specially represented by main streets of the city. The paper studies how the social agents, with their different visions and goals, have influenced the process of formation and development of the city. This demonstrates the complexity of the existing relationships between the built environment and the social context that is specific to the city. Different urban forces fight for city spaces, construct and modify its territory so that their needs are fulfilled. Their strength, their experiences and efforts, and their ideas of a city are inscribed in urban landscapes; in similar ways, these are revealed by the city paths we follow here.展开更多
Education has enormous influence on individual prospects for a flourishing life, thus, the justice of an education system is a key indicator of the justice in a society. Normally, the debate over educational justice r...Education has enormous influence on individual prospects for a flourishing life, thus, the justice of an education system is a key indicator of the justice in a society. Normally, the debate over educational justice refers to two fundamental questions： the conception of justice and the aims and purposes of education. We may agree about the meaning of justice, but disagree about the aim of education, and vice versa, and thus come to very different perspective about what educational policies should entail. However, what does justice look like when it comes to the distribution of educational goods？ Should we ensure that all children have equal educational resources and opportunities or should we rather concentrate on equal educational attachment？ Recently, there is a debate on educational justice which mainly focuses on the status and role of comparatively considerations within a just distribution of educational benefits. According to the adequacy approach, the state is required to ensure all children have enough or adequate education. Once the adequate threshold of educational resources is obtained, there is no injustice in the fact that some children have better education than others. In contrast with adequacy approach, proponents of what can be called educational equality approach have instead argued that justice requires prospects for educational achievement to be dependent upon a child＇s ability and willingness to learn, and not on factors outside of her control. Therefore, the state is required to ensure that an individual＇s prospects for educational achievement should be a function only of that individual＇s effort and talent, not of his or her social class background or other factors outside of her control. It seems that the debate between proponents of adequacy and proponents of equality in educational opportunity reflects very different ways to think about just educational policy and practice. This paper is trying to address this debate. It proceeds as follows. In the next section, I will outline the Equality vs. Adequacy debate. Then, in section III, I would like to take issue with these approaches. I will argue that both approaches have negative effects on equality and justice in education. Finally, inspired by Harvard political philosopher Danielle Allen＇s work on education and equality, I will propose an alternative conception of educational equality. I believe it is a better way of understanding the meaning of educational justice for a democratic society.展开更多
The recent establishment of a digital culture and society, together with current financial crisis and urgent energetic and climatic needs, has radically changed the architectural scene from the optimism of some years ...The recent establishment of a digital culture and society, together with current financial crisis and urgent energetic and climatic needs, has radically changed the architectural scene from the optimism of some years ago to a situation of uncertainty and huge social demands and challenges. In this context, it is suggested to rethink the role of structure in architecture, such as an enabler, a guide and a catalyst. The purpose of this paper is to present the economic, cultural and social context in which architecture develops nowadays. The method, to suggest a discussion on which role the structure may adopt in the architecture to come. The achievement, to highlight its potential to face current requirements and challenges.展开更多
Language teaching is a combination of teaching syntax, content of language in use, and the social background of that language. As the study of the act in speech, speech acts naturally exist in social and interpersonal...Language teaching is a combination of teaching syntax, content of language in use, and the social background of that language. As the study of the act in speech, speech acts naturally exist in social and interpersonal discourses. Thus it is of vital importance to let language learners to acquire its concept and principles. This paper is a brief introduction to the theories and approaches on speech acts as well as its application for ELT pedagogy. The paper is made up of three parts. In the first part, former investigations and theories on speech acts would be introduced and discussed. The second part is a discussion on communicative competence in English language teaching. In the third part, two sample tasks of implicit pedagogy for speech acts would be introduced. A conclusion of teaching speech acts implicitly is given out in the fourth part.展开更多
This paper seeks to exemplify some of the intentional and unintentional nonverbal communication attempts expressea Dy children with Autism Spectrum Disorder （ASD） syndrome. It demonstrates that such interactions wit...This paper seeks to exemplify some of the intentional and unintentional nonverbal communication attempts expressea Dy children with Autism Spectrum Disorder （ASD） syndrome. It demonstrates that such interactions with the rest of the world are trying to establish some semiotic functions, in an effort behaviorally to overcome the children＇s disability. The author＇s aim is to analyze such a paradoxical way of communicational interaction of such a subject vs. a given objectively perceivable reality, thus attempting to reveal paradoxical social contexts. The focus is on interpersonal communication abilities and/or disabilities, thus allowing semiotically distinguishable units as an object of analysis. The problem of mental disorders, such as ASD, requires a multi-dimensional approach--e.g., biological, medical, and other related fields. In conclusion, by applying a semiotic analysis, it becomes necessary to communicate with such children in a whole new way which, by processes of transformation, can bring about a state of awareness of a paradoxical and/or abnormal phenomenon.展开更多
文摘The notion of personal identity is a topic that is widely discussed in all philosophical traditions-western, African, Asian, and Caribbean. The thread that runs through the different conceptions of personal identity is that the notion is linked with self-consciousness, whether in the metaphysical, epistemological, religious, or social contexts. In this paper, I shall focus attention on Hume＇s conception of personal identity drawing from it, and certain implications for affective communal life in Africana societies. It is a common knowledge among philosophers that Hume denies the ontological and independent existence of the self. For Hume, the self is a bundle of perception. However, in another section of the Treatise of Human Nature, Hume examines the development of what could be considered as self, placing it in a broad social context in which mirroring fellow minds have a critical role. What is significant in Hume＇s conception of personal identity is that the self is the locus of multifarious experiences and the social context in which it is placed enables us to relate the self to affective and relational construction of identity. It is then argued that this conception of identity can be used to stress the need for affection, love, compassion, sympathy, and empathy among persons, which in turn can promote societal transformation in Africana societies.
文摘An English-Chinese Dictionary （ 咭唎国译语, Ying Ji Li Guo Yi Yii） and A Portuguese-Chinese Dictionary （播时都噶礼雅话, Bo Lti Duo Ga Li Ya Hua） are reckoned as the coUative dictionaries compiled by the Office of Interpreters and Translators （会同四译馆, Hui Tong Si Yi Guan） in Qianlong time （1748）, Qing dynasty. There is only one original manuscript of these books gathered and preserved by the Palace Museum. In the present paper, we intent to introduce the significant value and detailed information of these two official collative dictionaries from social background, process of compilation, and stylistic basis of the book. Meanwhile, we will primarily work out the phonetic principles between Canton dialect and foreign languages also indicate the dialect characteristics after clarifying the faults and errors. The present paper may supply with a rudimentary knowing and resource to the realm of ＂Canton English＂ and ＂Canton Portuguese＂, even to the social status and Chinese dialect in Canton area for certain period. Detailed and specific research, especially for A Portuguese-Chinese Dictionary, still lies for future discovery.
文摘Language learning is a complex process for many reasons. First, it is closely related to linguistics. Second, language is social as it occurs within certain social contexts. And finally, it is individual. Personal characteristics such as experience, gender and age, attitude and aptitude, motivation, beliefs, self-confidence, and anxiety greatly influence language learning. Among these variables, motivation is considered to be one of the most important factors affecting the success of second or foreign language learning. However, the relationship between motivation and educational achievement is not quite clear. In the current literature, motivation is regarded as socially constructed, therefore as dynamic rather than static. Little research has been conducted on the motivation of Vietnamese students studying English as a compulsory curriculum component rather than as a major from a socio-cultural perspective. Understanding the relationship between student motivation and academic achievement as well as the socio-cultural factors that affect students＇ motivation will be an important contribution to motivation theory. Therefore, the situation requires longitudinal and in-depth research into student motivation, the factors affecting it during the learning process, and the relationship between student motivation and academic achievement. A mixed method approach has been chosen to meet the needs of the study. It is believed that insights in these areas will help address the issue of motivation at the Police University.
文摘This paper aims to discuss differences between human resource management （HRM） and strategic human resource management （SHRM）, and aims to discuss convergence or divergence between American and European HRM. Therefore, research question is what the similarities and differences are between European and American HRM. Research methodology is based on critical review of HRM literature. Therefore, this study aims to increase conceptual ability of human resource （HR） professionals. Major result is that HRM is related with employee performance, and SHRM is related with firm performance. Secondly, European HRM is becoming similar to American HRM. The difference between European and American HRM is social context and social partners. European HRM considers social partners in management of HR.
文摘The goal of this research is to analyze and discuss the origin of Qipao as women's fashionable wear in the early Republic Period (1911-1949).The origin of Qipao fashion will be discussed in three aspects:1) discussion of the original time,place and consumer group of Qipao fashion;2) analysis of initial style and wear combination of Qipao,3) deduction of the origin of the name Qipao.Besides,the analysis will also be given about Qipao's aesthetic characters,its production,consumption guarantee as well as its social backgrounds.The research will be made on the basis of the principles and methods of history,social psychology of clothing and design,and will use many materials especially historical writings and publications to give a more detailed discussion.Here are some tentative conclusions. Firstly, Qipao as a kind of one-piece dress was not inherited directly from the robe of Banner Style. It was a new fashion in the 1920s, which combined the elements of long vest called Qipao Majia, Wenming Xin Zhuang and the Western dress. Secondly, the Shanghai female students were the pioneering group wearing Qipao in 1925. Thirdly, the gradual acceptance of Qipao was mainly due to its aesthetic characters, production, consumption as well as social backgrounds at that time. And it was the kind of daily wear of many Chinese women after 1927. Fourthly, since Qipao represents the special clothing which integrated Chinese traditional style and the Western fashion in the early Republic Period, Qipao is advised to be taken as a special term to take the place of the previous ones like Mandarin Dress, Chipau and Cheongsam and so on.
文摘Regarded as one of the masterpieces of Western literature and a ＂human comedy＂, The Decameron （1955） is a mirror to the world and the people of his time. Thus, Giovanni Boccaccio （1313-1375） took his place with Dante, Chaucer, and Shakespeare in Western literature, and many writers both at home and abroad are in debt to Boccaccio Voluminous of criticism has been done for The Deeameron as well Boccaccio. Based on the social background and life experience of Boccaccio as well as the text of The Decarneron, this paper analyzes Boccaccio＇s positive and sympathetic attitude toward women mainly from four aspects so that to have a better understanding of this literature giant and his great work.
文摘Taiwan government has been executing the educational reform programs for more than two decades. However, the so-called between-class ability grouping which is prohibited by Taiwan government is still found in many places; and Taiwan＇s cram schools are even more popular and diversified than before. The authors argue that, in addition to individual＇s socio-economic background, regional characteristics and school attributes also play important roles. Bringing these two factors back in, the causal relationships among ability grouping, cram schooling, and student academic achievement can be analyzed more accurately. Using data from Taiwan Education Panel Survey, the authors＇ empirical results show that, first of all, in more urbanized area, between-class ability grouping is less popular but cram school participation is wider spread these years. Secondly, the effects of family backgrounds on students＇ cram school participation are not as critical as they were before. Thirdly, between-class ability grouping and students＇ performance are positively associated but the internal mechanism still needs further investigation.
文摘Given that preaching is the primary mode of public theological discourse for most Christian ministers, an intellectual virtue of verbal restraint is required when practicing public theology and it is wise to address the ways that homilies can shepherd public discourse practices. A theology of rhetoric includes the homilist＇s moral purpose. Homilies either enhance public discourse or pervert it. This essay sketches a pattern of sermon movement that respects the logic operative in public theology, given the social context of America. Homilies can help cultivate the pastoral care of public rhetoric by modeling discourse that nurtures the politics of accountability. While many call for a public ethos where divergent moral voices engage each other in highly contested arenas, a precondition to practicing effective public theology requires that one exercises discourse in a way that respects the social limits on the free exercise of religion. It is important that a public theology of rhetoric clarifies the original social agreement for acceptable religious discourse in the public arena. Homiletics, as a dimension of practical theology, can teach preachers methods of pastoral care for public discourse. The social agreement in liberal democracies to contain the combative nature of religious discourse assumes a logic that is circumscribed by commitments to （1） religious pluralism, （2） theological agnosticism, and （3） epistemological pragmatism. Here we propose that a sermon＇s form, which implicitly touches upon these commitments, can tap into the basic modes of persuasion in secular liberal societies. This respects the moral purposes previously agreed upon and expected of partisans during highly contestable times. This calls for incarnational humility on the part of the Christian public theologian and it guides her/his practice.
文摘The article discusses the role of food as an instrument of identity and a channel of contact through cultures. This is discussed drawing from three cases of Italian food culture hybridization spanning from the early 20th century to the first decade of the 2000s： the role of Italian food in Italian-American identity as depicted in Leonardo Coviello＇s work, the meeting of Southern and Northern food cultures following the Italian internal migrations in the 50s and 60s, the food practices of international migrants in the context of the global flows of people and commodities in present day Italy. In this regard, food plays an essential role in the rebuilding of a familiar context in which migrants can feel temporarily ＂at home＂. At the same time, food is an important form of communication and contact between different cultures and social contexts. In this process of exchange both migrants＇ and hosts＇ food habits and diets are modified as they incorporate elements and ingredients from each other, making boundaries more porous.
文摘This article, which utilizes the quantitative social-background approach, sets as its objective to empirically discern correlations between the behavior of the Jewish political elite, embodied in the Jewish Agency for Palestine in the period from 1921 to 1948, and the following social-background variables： age, foreign travel, occupation as a path to political power, regional affiliation, ideology, and political opportunity, of the JAE membership. Diversity of the social-background variables and, particularly, the multitude of languages they knew, explain, to a considerable extent, firstly, the wide variety of their social, political and economic views, and, secondly, the elite＇s resort to direct contact with Western governments and peoples in communicating and promoting their political ideology, thus facilitating the realization of the Zionist project.
文摘Malaysia is a multicultural, multireligious, and multiethnic country that is located in Southeast Asia. The social background of Malaysia as a multicultural state calls for the adoption of an alternative method to resolve community dispute which would offer solution and simultaneously promote harmonization in the society. Community mediation may be one of such alternative, if not the best method for interethnic relations. The government of Malaysia has introduced community mediation in Malaysia by providing training for community mediators through a pilot program, known as Rukun Tetangga （Peaceful Neighbor）. The purpose of this program is to promote unity among the multi-races and multiethnic citizens. This paper will refer to the current practice of community mediation in Malaysia as provided by the National Unity Department in Peninsula Malaysia and the practice of community mediation in Singapore. It is hoped that by comparing the practices in both countries, suggestions and recommendations could be made to improve the practice of community mediation in Malaysia.
文摘In my paper, “Sublimated Colonialism： The Persistence of Actually Existing Settler-Colonialism,” I interrogate the remaining settler-colonialisms that refused to disappear during the epoch of decolonization. I am most concerned with those settler-colonialisms that persist at the centers of world capitalism, and examine bow this social context often produces an ideology that relegates the concrete reality of settler-colonialism to the past, pushing its existence under supposedly “modem” social relations. Since Frantz Fanon＇s analysis of settler-colonialism, and the class contradiction between colonizer and colonized, was developed in an era where settler-colonialism was partially defined by the relationship between motherland and colony, some often imagine that the era of settler-colonialism is over. Clearly settler-colonialism did not vanish along with this distinction; internal colonies are retained in North America, for example, and the state of Israel is perhaps the most recent historical of this type of colonialism since it was settled and established in the 20th century. Moreover, there is often talk of a “world-wide indigenous movement” which claims to represent a global anti-colonialist front. The point of my paper, therefore, is to examine how settler-colonialism functions and persists when the settler-colony has become synonymous with the motherland. In this social context, colonizers often imagine themselves as the native inhabitants, while those who remain colonized are pushed even further out of history than they were during the previous era of settler-colonialism.
文摘Researchers in the field of Second Language Acquisition （SLA） have been taking different routes. Some researchers make linguistic-cognitive issues their inquire object and pursue objectivity with quantitative research methods. Other researchers regard the social context of activity as an essential characteristic of learning and teaching. These groups of researchers make use of qualitative research methods like case study, grounded theory, narrative inquiry, and ethnography. There are many other routes that SLA researchers have taken, but the two just mentioned are perhaps the most predominant ones and the ones that are most easily contrasted. The present paper explores the disparity between the different research paths from the perspective of philosophy of science echoing the notion of incommensurability. In this paper the author argues that the differences between different SLA perspectives are not only commensurable but wholesome for the development of SLA.
文摘This paper aims to discuss how the shaping of a city, Juiz de Fora, in Brazil, has resulted from the power of location of some social agents and from their disputes on the production of space. First, it introduces the concept of social production of space, emphasizing the role of social agents in urban processes. Then, it presents specific aspects of the history of Juiz de Fora＂ its origins and how social agents and forces have played a significant role in shaping the built environment of the city--specially represented by main streets of the city. The paper studies how the social agents, with their different visions and goals, have influenced the process of formation and development of the city. This demonstrates the complexity of the existing relationships between the built environment and the social context that is specific to the city. Different urban forces fight for city spaces, construct and modify its territory so that their needs are fulfilled. Their strength, their experiences and efforts, and their ideas of a city are inscribed in urban landscapes; in similar ways, these are revealed by the city paths we follow here.
文摘Education has enormous influence on individual prospects for a flourishing life, thus, the justice of an education system is a key indicator of the justice in a society. Normally, the debate over educational justice refers to two fundamental questions： the conception of justice and the aims and purposes of education. We may agree about the meaning of justice, but disagree about the aim of education, and vice versa, and thus come to very different perspective about what educational policies should entail. However, what does justice look like when it comes to the distribution of educational goods？ Should we ensure that all children have equal educational resources and opportunities or should we rather concentrate on equal educational attachment？ Recently, there is a debate on educational justice which mainly focuses on the status and role of comparatively considerations within a just distribution of educational benefits. According to the adequacy approach, the state is required to ensure all children have enough or adequate education. Once the adequate threshold of educational resources is obtained, there is no injustice in the fact that some children have better education than others. In contrast with adequacy approach, proponents of what can be called educational equality approach have instead argued that justice requires prospects for educational achievement to be dependent upon a child＇s ability and willingness to learn, and not on factors outside of her control. Therefore, the state is required to ensure that an individual＇s prospects for educational achievement should be a function only of that individual＇s effort and talent, not of his or her social class background or other factors outside of her control. It seems that the debate between proponents of adequacy and proponents of equality in educational opportunity reflects very different ways to think about just educational policy and practice. This paper is trying to address this debate. It proceeds as follows. In the next section, I will outline the Equality vs. Adequacy debate. Then, in section III, I would like to take issue with these approaches. I will argue that both approaches have negative effects on equality and justice in education. Finally, inspired by Harvard political philosopher Danielle Allen＇s work on education and equality, I will propose an alternative conception of educational equality. I believe it is a better way of understanding the meaning of educational justice for a democratic society.
文摘The recent establishment of a digital culture and society, together with current financial crisis and urgent energetic and climatic needs, has radically changed the architectural scene from the optimism of some years ago to a situation of uncertainty and huge social demands and challenges. In this context, it is suggested to rethink the role of structure in architecture, such as an enabler, a guide and a catalyst. The purpose of this paper is to present the economic, cultural and social context in which architecture develops nowadays. The method, to suggest a discussion on which role the structure may adopt in the architecture to come. The achievement, to highlight its potential to face current requirements and challenges.
文摘Language teaching is a combination of teaching syntax, content of language in use, and the social background of that language. As the study of the act in speech, speech acts naturally exist in social and interpersonal discourses. Thus it is of vital importance to let language learners to acquire its concept and principles. This paper is a brief introduction to the theories and approaches on speech acts as well as its application for ELT pedagogy. The paper is made up of three parts. In the first part, former investigations and theories on speech acts would be introduced and discussed. The second part is a discussion on communicative competence in English language teaching. In the third part, two sample tasks of implicit pedagogy for speech acts would be introduced. A conclusion of teaching speech acts implicitly is given out in the fourth part.
文摘This paper seeks to exemplify some of the intentional and unintentional nonverbal communication attempts expressea Dy children with Autism Spectrum Disorder （ASD） syndrome. It demonstrates that such interactions with the rest of the world are trying to establish some semiotic functions, in an effort behaviorally to overcome the children＇s disability. The author＇s aim is to analyze such a paradoxical way of communicational interaction of such a subject vs. a given objectively perceivable reality, thus attempting to reveal paradoxical social contexts. The focus is on interpersonal communication abilities and/or disabilities, thus allowing semiotically distinguishable units as an object of analysis. The problem of mental disorders, such as ASD, requires a multi-dimensional approach--e.g., biological, medical, and other related fields. In conclusion, by applying a semiotic analysis, it becomes necessary to communicate with such children in a whole new way which, by processes of transformation, can bring about a state of awareness of a paradoxical and/or abnormal phenomenon.
