Current Issue

MILENA HELMOVÁ, KATARÍNA SERESOVÁ – INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE: IMPORTANT ASSUMPTION OF SUCCESSFUL CROSS-BORDER COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION

Abstract: The cultural aspect influences communication to such an extent that, despite linguistic correctness, misunderstandings occur. In order for intercultural communication to be effective, it is desirable further develop intercultural competence. The article seeks answers to two questions: What is intercultural competence? What is the significance of intercultural learning in its acquisition? The text is based on two hypotheses, one of which assumes that an interculturally competent individual has a greater chance of personal and professional success in encountering a foreign culture, and thus can prevent problems. The second hypothesis implies the assumption that intercultural learning decisively contributes to a better personal and work readiness of the individual for the foreign host environment as well as to the readiness of the host culture for a foreign culture. Methodologically, the paper is based on the analysis of primary scientific literature based on citations of authors and the results of their research. Secondly, the article has the ambition to engage in scientific discourse on a given topic.

Keywords: Intercultural communication, Intercultural competence, Intercultural learning.

pp. 9 – 19

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ANDREJ KINER – SPANISH CULTURE DIFFUSION – CULURAL DIPLOMACY IN THE CONTEXT OF SLOVAKIA

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine the spread of awareness of the Spanish language and culture in correlation with the cultural diplomacy of Spain in Slovakia. Cultural diplomacy is carried out through various types of actors. The most important can generally be considered not only diplomatic missions, but also cultural institutes, which may be non-diplomatic in nature. Our intention is to analyse the cultural diplomacy of Spain and, based on our research, to identify selected elements of cultural diplomacy in the Slovak environment. We found that in Slovakia, the main actors in the promotion of Spanish culture are the Cervantes Institute and the Ministry of Education in collaboration with domestic as well as local institutions. In addition, domestic institutions that are not under Spanish administration also play an important role.

Keywords: cultural diplomacy, Spain, Slovakia, culture, language.

pp. 20 – 26

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JANA LAUKOVÁ – INTRA-URBAN SPACE IN THE CITY OF BANSKÁ BYSTRICA IN THE FOCUS OF LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE RESEARCH: EXAMPLE OF STEFAN MOYZES SQUARE

Abstract: The paper is focused on the synchronic research of the well-known term Linguistic Landscape (LL) in a specifically defined public space in the city of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. The LL is perceived as a set of public signs with inscriptions, or linguistic means, such as traffic signs, advertising billboards, street names, commercial signs of shop names and state buildings, etc. The aim of the partial research is to focus on the public space in the centre of the city, to bring an overview, also brief descriptions of this space and to find out the context of multilingualism.  

Keywords: intra-urban space, linguistic landscape, city of Banska Bystrica, Stefan Moyzes Square, multilingualism.

pp. 27 – 35

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EVA MAIEROVÁ – THE GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF NUMBER IN ENGLISH AND SLOVAK

Abstract: The article introduces the theoretical aspects of the grammatical category of number on the semantic, morphological, and lexical levels. Particular attention is paid to the specific group of pluralia tantum, comparing their usage in the English language with Slovak. The paper points out possible negative language transfer from the native tongue to the foreign language in this area, which should be taken into account in the process of teaching English for specific purposes.

Keywords: grammatical category, number, pluralia tantum, singularia tantum, morphology.

pp. 36 – 42

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ŽELMÍRA PAVLIKOVÁ – METAPHORS RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN SPANISH ECONOMIC LANGUAGE

Abstract: In contemporary linguistics, metaphor is understood not only as a language phenomenon, but also as a phenomenon of thinking and acting. It is not just a simple transfer of a name from one object to another, but a complex process of conceptualizing reality through experience and knowledge. It is based on the assumption that human thinking is essentially metaphorical, a fact which is adequately reflected in language. The paper investigates metaphors associated with the coronavirus crisis in economic Spanish. The study aims to analyze metaphors related to the coronavirus pandemic selected from the periodical El País and, throughout to semantic analysis, to classify them according to their meaning.

Keywords: metaphor, crisis, coronavirus, pandemic, professional language, economic language.

pp. 43 – 52

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KATARÍNA SERESOVÁ – VERB-NOMINAL COLLOCATIONS IN THE GERMAN LANGUAGES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR CATEGORIZATION

Abstract: Among the phenomena that have once again come to the forefront of linguists' interest are collocations, consisting of the noun component as the main bearer of the semantic meaning of the whole collocation and a functional, semantically weak verb. The main purpose of this paper is to explain on what basis these collocations work and to provide their classification from the point of view of different linguists as well as from the point of view of different criteria. These criteria include the aspect of the syntactic structure of collocations, the aspect of the morphological environment of a functional verb, the aspect of the verbal form or the aspect of the course of a verbal action. Methodologically, the paper is based on an analysis of the work of many German and Slovak linguists as well as an analysis of German texts.

Keywords: verb-nominal collocations, classification typology, morphological environment, verb form, verb process.

pp. 53 – 58

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JANA ŠTEFAŇÁKOVÁ – POLICY FOR GENDER-FAIR LANGUAGE IN GERMAN LANGUAGE ENVIROMENT

Abstract: We study current language policy aimed at applying gender-balanced language in German-language environment in the context of European and international gender policy and gender policy in German-speaking countries. The focus is on an analysis of the policy and legislative framework for gender equality in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, with an emphasis on gender-fair language, and on an analysis of specific strategies for gender-fair forms in German language.

Keywords: gender equality, gender policy, language policy, Gender-fair language, German language, German-speaking countries. 

pp. 59 – 69

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RADOSLAV ŠTEFANČÍK – CURRENT PERSPECTIVES OF POLITICAL LINGUISTICS DEVELOPMENT IN SLOVAKIA

Abstract: Political linguistics does not have a long tradition in Slovakia, but it has already found its representatives among both linguists and political scientists. Although representatives of this scientific discipline usually publish their findings in various domestic and foreign scientific journals, since 2016, an annual conference entitled Language and Politics. Between linguistics and Political Science has been held at the University of Economics in Bratislava. This international scientific conference brings together the leading scientific and academic figures to discuss the relationship between language and politics. The aim of this paper is to identify the basic lines that political linguistics is currently taking in Slovakia. I come to conclusions after the content analysis of the papers from the conference Language and Politics. Between Linguistics and Political Science.

Keywords: political linguistics, politics, linguistics, political science, political language.

pp. 70 – 81

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MARTINA ULIČNÁ – NAMES OF BLUE COLOUR IN SLAVIC LANGUAGES

Abstract: The names of shades of blue colour in Slavic languages differ in their origin, as well as in the structure of the meanings they can express, but also in their occurrence in multiword names. Therefore, differences between the names of these light and dark shades of blue in Russian and Slovak languages can be expected. The study briefly describes the current situation in some West Slavic, South Slavic and East Slavic languages, and this synchronous description is the starting point for a more detailed comparison of the occurrence of the adjectives modrý and belasý in Slovak and синий аnd голубой in Russian.

Keywords: blue colour in Slavic languages, Proto-Slavic origin, names of colours in Slovak and Russian, synchronous Slovak-Russian comparison.

pp. 82 – 92

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DOMINIKA VARGOVÁ – CURRENT CHANGES IN THE LEXIS OF ENGLISH AND SLOVAK LANGUAGE – LANGUAGE OF A PANDEMIC

Abstract: The submitted article provides an overview of the lexis of the English language in the time of coronavirus. It focuses on the most frequent words and neologisms used in the context of the COVID-19 disease, while the author analyses the collected vocabulary in terms of the word-formation processes which were used to create the selected expressions and words. In individual cases, she includes or searches for Slovak equivalents or explains their meaning in detail for the sake of correct interpretation and thus creates a short pandemic dictionary. The structure of this article demonstrates the diversity, with which the language reflects new circumstances and changes in the society in consequence of the pandemic.

Keywords: lexis, vocabulary, coronavirus, pandemic, word-formation processes, analysis, translation.

pp. 93 – 105

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LUDMILA KOLÁČKOVÁ, MÁRIA ŠIKOLOVÁ – VALIDITY OF HIGH-STAKES MILITARY LANGUAGE TESTS FORM TEACHERS’ VIEWPOINT

Abstract: The military personnel in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries is commonly tested by high-stakes standardized language tests in accordance with NATO STANAG (Standardization Agreement) 6001. Since passing or failing at the examination can significantly affect the soldiers’ careers and personal lives, high validity, reliability and accountability has to be guaranteed. As far as the military in the Czech Republic is concerned, the only body responsible for quality assurance in language testing is the Language Centre of the University of Defence. All language specialists at the Centre are fully aware of the responsibility and permanently devote their efforts to set and maintain the measures to guarantee high validity and reliability of the tests and their results. Nevertheless, one gap that needed to be filled was finding out the teachers’ perspective concerning the tests which resulted in launching this survey. The survey was based on a questionnaire distributed to the teachers electronically. The questionnaire covered 11 questions and was answered by 60 respondents. The questions focused on the teachers’ opinions on examination in terms of its difficulty, objectivity, as well as problems connected with the preparation for it. The paper will present main results together with potential issues to discuss.

Keyword: language assessment; standardized examination; teachers’ opinions; questionnaire; data analysis.

pp. 106 – 113

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EVA MOLNÁROVÁ – LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE AND SERVICE LEARNINGIN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING AT UNIVERSITIES

Abstract: The main aim of the paper is to refer to the possibilities of connecting various research activities and to its application in pedagogical practice. As an example, we are laying out the project executed at Departmen of German studies at Faculty of Arts of Matej Bel University. Except for analysis of reached results, we are suggesting also other alternatives of the project execution. 

Keywords: Linguistic Landscape, Service Learning, foreign language teaching, multilingualism, plurilingualism.

pp. 114 – 121

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JÁN MARKECH – GÁBOROVÁ, M. 2019. STOPY SEVERU V NEMECKOJAZYČNEJ TLAČI BRATISLAVY V ROKOCH 1918 – 1929. BRATISLAVA: UNIVERZITA KOMENSKÉHO.

pp. 122 – 124

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