Schedule and Abstracts

With a growing demand for the expansion of adult English education in the United States, ESL practitioners need to be well-prepared and equipped to develop ESL programs or courses that are specially designed for their current community. Using the presenter’s small business, Tea-Cup Cafe as a case study, ESL practitioners will be introduced to a five-step plan on how to create new language learning spaces. Implementing an innovative space for learning will provide additional ESL support in local communities which can transform the lives of adult learners.

In the Chinese EFL context, the lack of focus on learners’ speaking skills and low Willingness to Communicate (WTC) greatly hinders the development of communicative competence.  Because Gaokao, the college entrance examination in China, does not have a speaking test, oral skills are not emphasized in Chinese high schools. According to researchers, ESL/EFL learners’ Willingness to Communicate is conceptualized as both a personality trait  and a situational construct. The current presentation discusses how to enhance Chinese learners’ WTC via a student-centered Game-Based Learning (GBL) classroom.

How does our understanding of physical space influence our perception of time? Drawing on theories of metaphorical structuring, which suggest abstract concepts like time are grounded in concrete experiences such as space, this study examines how spatial positioning shapes our perception of time and the language we use to describe it. Using large language models, I explore how AI systems interpret temporal language when primed with spatial prompts. Understanding these spatial-temporal dynamics could lead to more intuitive AI interactions, refining AI’s ability to emulate human-like reasoning while clarifying its cognitive limitations.

The study of compounding is complex and spans nearly every subfield of linguistics. While there is no consensus on how best to interpret compound terms, linguists are nonetheless able to make observations about how compounds interact with other aspects of language. As in all sciences, observation leads to theory. In this light, it is important to proceed carefully as we cultivate theories and frameworks, such as The Compounding Parameter (TCP), that use compounds as a basis to make broader linguistic implications. With this in mind, I leverage data from English and Spanish to examine TCP diachronically and reanalyze its basic assumptions about compounds and language typology. Even as languages change over the course of time, linguistic theory should remain as sound and stable as possible.

It is commonly believed that words do not have innate meaning. Sound symbolism is a controversial feature of many languages that may suggest a connection between sound and semantic content. Sound symbolism in Japanese is well-documented in certain onomatopoeia-like adjectives, but research into other forms is less frequent. This presentation explores the current state of cognitive and NLP approaches to sound symbolism research in general and in Japanese. I also present a design for an NLP approach to identifying sound symbolism in Japanese, as well as the challenges posed by the Japanese language to this and other NLP applications.

Chicano English, a variety of American English, commonly spoken in Southwestern United States by predominantly Mexican-American communities, has been an understudied ethnolect. I investigate two variables from Chicano English to provide a comprehensive understanding of systematic phonetic and phonological differences between Texas Chicano English and mainstream American English. Chicano English is an emerging variety of English influenced by contact with the Spanish language and American English. 

English language education is directly influenced by the larger sociopolitical environments learning happens in. Understanding how these elements affect the motivations of these learners can also offer instructors with better insight as to how to better instruct them. This presentation explores how neoliberal ideologies shape the motivations to learn English in the Korean educational context. The commodification of English under this social framework has influenced EFL learner motivations, having them be greatly centered around future economic success, effectively shifting English language instruction from holistically focused on all aspects of English to centering those that are more easily quantified, such as reading and writing skills. The presentation concludes by offering ideological and practical suggestions for instructors to consider when teaching in these contexts.

Phrasal verbs are typically categorized as being compositional (e.g. tip over), where the contribution of both the particle and base verb is clear, or idiomatic (e.g. polish off), where they are not. To challenge this assumption, I analyze common phrasal verbs that use the particles on, off, in, and out. In this presentation I show how conceptual frameworks determine the logic behind these particles’ meanings within phrasal verbs and demonstrate that idiomatic phrasal verbs are no less systematic or compositional than the rest. This research helps elucidate unconventional and abstract uses of spatial terms in a diverse array of languages.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Wordtune have become popular among college students. AI tools can be used in the revision process, specifically to give feedback in First-Year Composition (FYC) classes. These tools are based on automated, immediate responses. This presentation touches on how AI is viewed in First Year Composition writing classes and what challenges students might face using AI tools, such as limitations in feedback. The existence of AI affects the role of teachers in FYC and forces them to consider if and how AI should be introduced.