This paper presents a study which investigates the reading strategies employed by Slovenian EFL students whose classroom context is influenced by a high-stakes, curriculum-aligned national examination. The findings show that there are only minor differences between strong and weak students in their use of reading strategies. The results are discussed in light of the washback effect and the development of the reading skill/strategies in the classroom. The discussion suggests that educators should be aware of the limitations of high-stakes examinations, and introduce reading tasks not directly linked to such examinations, in order to minimise their potential negative effect in the classroom.
COBISS.SI-ID: 66099042
The paper deals with the question of dictionary descriptions in an age which can be considered as post-normative, since the extended use of authentic-text corpora is bringing about radical changes in the relationship between language and its use. Dictionaries are becoming less normative and increasingly more desciptive tools, which often leaves their users perplexed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 64671586
Hittite conditionals exhibit some morphosyntactic peculiarities which are not yet fully understood, such as the conditional conjunction takku derived from a demonstrative plus “and”, some unexpected alternations from past to present and the irrealis particle (-)man used in hypothetical, potential and contrary-to-fact conditionals. Cross-linguistically these features are not frequent, and inheritance from Proto-Indo-European cannot be claimed. A close look into the syntax and semantics of (Peripheral) Akkadian and Sumerian reveals that they may be innovations due to language contact between Hittite and Semitic languages. This fact deserves appropriate consideration in the reconstruction of Proto-Anatolian and Proto-Indo-European.
COBISS.SI-ID: 65661026
This paper explores the possibility of identifying lexicographical needs of language users by analysing user-generated content in digital media, and presents an analysis of more than 1,000 language-related questions and comments posted on Slovene language advice sites, Facebook groups, and news forums. The questions stem from authentic situations of language disruptions that can be taken into account when improving the organisation of dictionary information in the digital environment. The comments show mistrust in institutions involved in dictionary projects, which indicates that more effort should be put into promoting lexicographical projects and their benefit to society. If properly adapted, the proposed method could also be used for other languages, as a complement to the existing methods of lexicographical user research.
COBISS.SI-ID: 60439138
The article discusses linguistic features of two Slovene translations of Machiavelli's Prince, an older one by A. Prepelih and a more recent one by N. Košir. The radical linguistic differences between the two texts are interpreted in light of the divergent goals pursued by the two translators.
COBISS.SI-ID: 65416290