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1 – 10 of over 21000Describes intuitively the fact that four types of formal languages can be generated by four types of grammars or can be recognized by four types of automata. Gives the…
Abstract
Describes intuitively the fact that four types of formal languages can be generated by four types of grammars or can be recognized by four types of automata. Gives the relationships between context‐sensitive languages and computer programming languages. Defines and investigates parallel productions, parallel grammars, and context‐free parallel grammars. Shows that context‐sensitive languages exist which can be generated by context‐free parallel grammars. In addition, states the advantages of context‐free parallel grammars. Also shows that context‐free languages (CFL) are a proper subset of context‐free parallel languages (CFPL). Furthermore, CFPL is a more effective tool for modelling computer programming languages than CFL, especially for parallel computer programming languages, for example, the ADA programming language. Also illustrates context‐sensitive property of recognizing hand‐written characters. The results may have useful applications in artificial intelligence, model parallel computer programming languages, software engineering, expert systems and robotics.
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Riikka Fredriksson, Wilhelm Barner‐Rasmussen and Rebecca Piekkari
This paper seeks to explore the use of common corporate language(s) in multinational corporations (MNCs). These organizations are usually multilingual and characterized by high…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to explore the use of common corporate language(s) in multinational corporations (MNCs). These organizations are usually multilingual and characterized by high language diversity. Parallel streams of literature in international management and international business communications are built upon to problematize the notion of a common corporate language.
Design/methodology/approach
Information gathered from 36 personal interviews of the German‐based multinational Siemens is the primary source of data for this case study. The interviews were conducted in three different languages in three different organizational units of Siemens AG in Finland and Germany.
Findings
It was possible to identify powerful interplay between two languages – German and English – and to uncover discrepancies between company policy and employee practices with regard to language use. On the basis of these findings, the challenges of managing language in multinationals are discussed.
Originality/value
Argues that a common corporate language may not be as widely shared within the firm as the term suggests, given the multilingual nature of most multinationals, variation in the language proficiency of their employees, and the level of analysis used in previous research.
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This chapter explores how critical language theory could be applied to the language dynamics in higher education that is created by internationalization and university's…
Abstract
This chapter explores how critical language theory could be applied to the language dynamics in higher education that is created by internationalization and university's traditional role in maintaining national languages. Language policy is an instrument of governance that is increasingly used to regulate the linguistic situation at the university, so it is at the center of my analysis. As a broad concept, language policy is not limited to the formulations of the policy text but includes interactions of different actors and addresses instruments mediating the university's linguistic situation. A critical approach highlights that language policy is permeated with power, which is unequally distributed between different actors. I suggest further conceptualization of the language dynamics of the internationalized university created by national language protection and internationalization through three layers of analysis. The first layer derives from the Bourdieu's approach to language in society focusing on the societal hierarchies that are underpinned by language use. It also includes a discussion about structure versus agency, and a conversation about the navigational capacities of individuals to challenge preestablished social structures. The second layer discusses dialogue as a theoretical approach to the process of negotiating language policy. This is where agency is being realized, depending on the relative power of different actors in the particular social context. The third layer explores the conception of language, how different ways to understand what language is are turned into policy principles.
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Omar Khan, Fiaz Khan, Carlo Ragusa and Bartolomeo Montrucchio
Rapid advancements in computer technologies over the past decade have recorded significant growth in the area of computational micromagnetics. As a result, current micromagnetic…
Abstract
Purpose
Rapid advancements in computer technologies over the past decade have recorded significant growth in the area of computational micromagnetics. As a result, current micromagnetic codes exploit the scalability offered by parallel and distributed computer architectures to deliver maximum performance. The purpose of this paper is to present a review, which explores various aspects of this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors arrange the theme for this paper around the micromagnetic code development process. The review involves a discussion of the micromagnetic model, some new parallel architectures, and computational aspects based on different numerical methods.
Findings
As current micromagnetic code is not readily portable to different architectures, most of the development effort goes towards this area, with a focus on writing/rewriting code for streaming hardware (particularly graphic cards).
Originality/value
The paper identifies key challenges and avenues for further research on computational aspects of micromagnetic modelling and suggests recommendations based on the review.
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Ying‐Nan Chen, Li‐Ming Tseng and Yi‐Ming Chen
Presents a framework for deciding on a good execution strategy for a given program based on the available data and task parallelism in the program on PC laboratory clusters…
Abstract
Presents a framework for deciding on a good execution strategy for a given program based on the available data and task parallelism in the program on PC laboratory clusters. Proposes a virtual cluster scheduling scheme to take account of the relationships between tasks for task parallelism, and also processor speed, processor load and network environment to balance load for data parallelism in a PC cluster environment. The approach is very effective in terms of the overall execution time, and demonstrates the feasibility of automatic cluster assignment, processor set selection and data partition functions for data and task parallel programs.
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Guro R. Sanden and Anne Kankaanranta
The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of corporate language policies that are implemented without formal decision-making processes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of corporate language policies that are implemented without formal decision-making processes.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative case study based on three Scandinavian multinational corporations which use English as a common corporate language without formal language policy decisions.
Findings
Non-formalised language policies are found to be clearly distinct from formalised language policies in terms of language policy format, language policy focus, language policy formation, language planning agency and management style. Non-formalised language policies can represent a type of informal control, but the absence of a policy document leaves employees without a common reference point which may cause confusion and inter-collegial conflict.
Originality/value
The study offers a nuanced perspective on the role of language policies in corporate communication by demonstrating that language policies may come in a variety of different forms, also as implicit assumptions about language use. Findings reveal benefits and drawbacks of the different language policy approaches.
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Abstract
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Craig Standing and Geoffrey G. Roy
Developing macro queries in software systems is a complex task for many users. Geographical information systems (GIS) are large software systems that require much effort to…
Abstract
Developing macro queries in software systems is a complex task for many users. Geographical information systems (GIS) are large software systems that require much effort to develop expertise in. A functional programming design approach has a number of distinct strengths that can be represented in a graphical query language interface to aid users in macro query development. A visual functional query language (VFQL) for Geographical Information Systems is presented and its strengths and weaknesses discussed. The system is based on a visual functional programming design approach. This offers a consistent, non‐procedural, strongly typed environment where users can develop their own higher order functions. The approach integrates functional programming, visual programming and knowledge and rules. VFQL’s effectiveness is evaluated compared with a text based command language for GIS macro query development. The results of an experiment indicate that users could develop solutions to simpler tasks more quickly and with fewer errors than a comparative text based command language. On more complex tasks there was no significant difference. From this we deduce that VFQL demonstrates certain design features to help the development of macros or small programs for users but that the complexity of the problem in difficult tasks is likely to be the most important determinant of the error rate and time to complete the task.
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Despite the importance of the first Chinese language movement in the early 1970s that elevated the status of Chinese as an official language in British Hong Kong, the movement and…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the importance of the first Chinese language movement in the early 1970s that elevated the status of Chinese as an official language in British Hong Kong, the movement and the colonial state’s response remained under-explored. Drawing insights primarily from Bourdieu and Phillipson, this study aims to revisit the rationale and process of the colonial state’s incorporation of the Chinese language amid the 1970s.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a historical case study based on published news and declassified governmental documents.
Findings
The central tenet is that the colonial state’s cultural incorporation was the tactics that aimed to undermine the nationalistic appeal in Hong Kong society meanwhile contain the Chinese language movement from turning into political unrest. Incorporating the Chinese language into the official language regime, however, did not alter the pro-English linguistic hierarchy. Symbolic domination still prevailed as English was still considered as the more economically rewarding language comparing with Chinese, yet official recognition of Chinese language created a common linguistic ground amongst the Hong Kong Chinese and fostered a sense of local identity that based upon the use of the mother tongue, Cantonese. From the case of Hong Kong, it suggests that Bourdieu’s conceptualisation of state formation paid insufficient attention to the international context and the non-symbolic process of state-making itself could also shape the degree of the state’s symbolic power.
Originality/value
Extant studies on the Chinese language movement are overwhelmingly movement centred, this paper instead brings the colonial state back in so to re-examine the role of the state in the incorporative process of the Chinese language in Hong Kong.
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