Is there structure at the ellipsis site? evidence from Saudi Arabic sluicing

This thesis reports on the results of eight acceptability judgment experiments on Saudi Arabic elliptical questions (sluicing). These results are presented in two sections. The first section reports on the results of four experiments on sluicing with prepositional phrases in Saudi Arabic. I show that, in standard cases of merger-type sluicing and contrastive sluicing, where the antecedent is a PP, there is no penalty for leaving out the preposition in the wh-remnant. I refer to such examples as OPUS. The findings reveal that the status of the examples depends on the status of the most acceptable synonymous source within the ellipsis site; in particular, when neither a cleft structure nor a resumptive structure is grammatically available at the ellipsis site, the acceptability of OPUS decays. I interpret this as evidence that there is syntactic structure at the ellipsis site and that the wh-remnant in these elliptical questions can – and sometimes must – relate to a resumptive pronoun at the ellipsis site. The second section reports on the results of four experiments on sluicing with degree phrases in Saudi Arabic. I show that, in standard cases of merger-type sluicing, there is a penalty for the lack of a syntactically isomorphic structure within the ellipsis site. The findings reveal that the status of examples depends on the availability of a syntactically isomorphic structure at the ellipsis site; in particular, when only a semantically identical structure is acceptable in Saudi Arabic, the acceptability of sluicing decays. Overall, the results of the eight experiments suggest that sluicing in Saudi Arabic presents evidence that there is a silent structure at the ellipsis site, which is syntactically isomorphic to the antecedent. In cases in which no syntactically isomorphic pre-sluice is grammatical in Saudi Arabic, the acceptability of sluicing decays

Resumption as a sluicing source in Saudi Arabic: Evidence from sluicing with prepositional phrases

This paper reports the results of three acceptability judgment experiments on Saudi Arabic elliptical questions (sluicing) with prepositional phrases. We show that in standard cases of merger type sluicing and contrastive sluicing there is no penalty for leaving out the preposition. Under an analysis of sluicing with syntactic identity between antecedent and ellipsis site, such examples require preposition stranding in the ellipsis site. We call this pattern OPUS, which the reader is invited to interpret as an abbreviation, depending on their theoretical predilections, as Ostensible P-stranding Under Sluicing or as Omission of Preposition Under Sluicing. Our findings show that Saudi Arabic violates Merchant’s (2001) second form identity generalization. Further experiments reveal that the status of the examples depends on the status of the most acceptable synonymous source within the ellipsis site; in particular, when neither a cleft structure nor a resumptive structure are grammatically available in the ellipsis site, the acceptability of OPUS decays. We interpret this as evidence that there is syntactic structure at the ellipsis site and that the wh-remnant in these elliptical questions can – and sometimes must – relate to a resumptive pronoun in the ellipsis site

“I Sounded An American to a Native Speaker, so Wow”: Saudi Women’s Attitudes and Motivation in Learning English

In second language (L2) learning, a range of complex affective factors come into play such as attitudes towards the L2, L2 speakers and first language (L1) group affiliation (Gardner, 1985; Gatbonton, Trofimovich, & Magid, 2005; Polat & Schallert, 2013). The various positions that learners take when facing such elements influence—directly or indirectly—their L2 learning behavior and ultimately their L2 acquisition (Gardner, 2001). Such issues would be interesting to investigate in a monolingual context such as Saudi Arabia (SA), where there is not only no contact with a salient L2 group but also high national pride in a language that is considered sacred because of its bond with Islam (Alrahaili, 2013). However, learning English in SA is gaining importance for social standing, spreading religion across cultures, and career-related purposes (Aljuaid, 2015). Therefore, as more Saudis understand the significance of English language for education, career advancement, and personal gain, this research will explore the forces that are necessary to generate motivation for L2. Interestingly, Saudi women are shown to have more positive attitudes towards learning English than their male peers, warranting further investigation into the relationship of attitude and motivation with features such as L2 pronunciation, as the latter can be a strong linguistic marker for sociocultural identification (Labov, 1972)

Do as I do and as I say : social influences on moral judgment

The main goal of this PhD research was to investigate social influences on moral judgment and factors that might moderate these effects. Specifically, this research explored (1) whether adults conform with others’ moral opinions; (2) whether there are domain differences in moral conformity; (3) whether culture and gender moderate the effects of social influences on moral judgment; (4) whether normative and informational influences affect moral conformity; and (5) how others’ moral reasons affect individuals’ own moral judgments. These questions were examined in four empirical studies. Chapter 2 reports on two studies that combined theories of moral judgment and social conformity. Chapter 3 reports on two studies investigating whether there are differences in UK and Kuwaiti adults when making ethical risky decisions and decisions in other risk domains (i.e., the health/safety, social, and recreational risk domains). The study reported in Chapter 4 investigated the role of normative and informational influences on moral conformity across five moral foundations (i.e., the harm, justice, ingroup, authority, and purity foundations). While the previous studies assessed whether simply being presented with others’ opinions affected more judgment, the study reported in Chapter 5 investigated how others’ moral reasons influenced individuals’ moral judgments. Overall, the findings of this research show that others’ opinions do influence adults’ moral judgments across domains, cultures, genders and when different conformity tasks are used. Others’ moral reasons and moral emotions, however, exert a weaker influence on individuals’ moral judgments. Social influences, and particularly moral conformity, should be considered in further detail to strengthen theories of moral decision-making and moral intervention programmes

Effect of Pediococcus acidilactici on Fermentation Quality, Aerobic Stability and in Vitro Digestibility of Fodder Pea, Barley, and Mixed Silages

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Pediococcus acidilactici MF098795 strain (1×109 CFU g-1) as a silage inoculant on the fermentation characteristics, microbial population, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of fodder pea (FP), barley (B), and fodder pea-barley mixture (FPB) silages. Six treatment groups were designed: control fodder pea (CFP), control barley (CB), control mixture (CFPB), and inoculated groups FPPA9, BPA9, and FPBPA9. Results indicated that inoculation with P. acidilactici improved the fermentation quality by lowering pH values and increasing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts, while reducing yeast and mold populations, particularly in BPA9 and FPBPA9 groups. Aerobic stability parameters, including pH₂ and CO₂ levels, were significantly reduced in the inoculated silages, suggesting enhanced resistance to aerobic spoilage. In vitro digestibility metrics such as organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy based on gas production (MEGP), and ME based on OMD (MEOMD) were positively influenced by the inoculant. The highest improvements were observed in FPPA9 and BPA9 groups. In conclusion, the application of Pediococcus acidilactici MF098795 strain at 1×109 CFU g-1 effectively enhanced fermentation efficiency, microbial stability, and digestibility of silages, supporting its potential as a promising biological additive in forage preservation

Medical Residents of Family Medicine Management of Depression, Anxiety and Burnout Syndrome in KSA

This study aimed at analyzing the Medical Residents of family medicine management of depression, anxiety and burnout syndrome in Kingdom Saudi Arabia. This study also describes the relationship between wellness behaviors and measures of well-being at the start of family medicine residency in Kingdom Saudi Arabia. The researcher adopted the Methodology of descriptive statistics. And the study concluded that the innovative curriculum and activities that focus on wellness behaviors and healthy lifestyle choices for physicians in training are needed. The ACGME mandate on implementation of duty hours for residents may show a positive effect in future generations of physicians. Family medicine programs can lead in creating additional institutional methodologies to support a culture of wellness for residents, faculty, and staff, thus promoting a lifelong commitment to self-care and an emphasis on prevention and health promotion for our patients.

Soft drink consumption among Saudi women: patterns and influencing factors

ObjectiveSaudi Arabia has one of the highest prevalences of obesity worldwide, and excessive consumption of sweetened soft drinks significantly contributes to this. In this study, we investigated the patterns of soft drink consumption among Saudi women and identified the socio-demographic and attitudinal factors influencing these patterns.DesignWe studied 1,555 Saudi women aged 20–60 years between October 2022 and March 2023. An online questionnaire was used to collect information regarding demographics, consumption patterns, attitudes towards soft drinks, and the factors influencing consumption. Chi-square tests and regression analyses were used to identify significant associations and statistical predictors of consumption frequency.ResultsThe respondents were categorized into infrequent soft drinks consumers (58.9%) and frequent consumers (41.1%). Significant associations of soft drink consumption patterns with age, marital status, educational level, income, and other factors were identified. Relative youth, low educational level, and low income were negatively associated with soft drink consumption, whereas a positive attitude towards soft drinks emerged as a significant predictor of higher frequency of consumption.ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrate the high prevalence of soft drink consumption by Saudi women and the complex interplay of socio-demographic factors and attitudes with consumption patterns. Public health strategies aimed at mitigating the health risks associated with excessive soft drink consumption should focus on education and awareness campaigns tailored to various demographic groups. Although predictors were identified, causal conclusions cannot be drawn due to the cross-sectional nature of the study

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Across the League of Arab States: A Systematic Review

Purpose: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with significant health benefits. However, adherence varies considerably, influenced by sociocultural and geographical factors. This review was designed to synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence of MD adherence in different Arab countries and identify sociodemographic, cultural, and behavioral factors associated with adherence. Methodology: Sixteen databases were searched to identify relevant articles, using MeSH search terms related to MD and its applicable terms, adherence, and the names of the 22 Arab countries. Findings: Out of approximately 2400 articles searched, nine articles were selected, investigating adherence to the MD across Arab League countries and exploring the impact of geographic location on dietary practices. Examined Arab populations showed generally moderate adherence to the MD. Wide variability was observed in adherence levels among the different Arab countries. This variability arises from a complex interplay of factors, including access to specific foods, economic considerations, cultural traditions, and the influence of globalization on dietary habits. Our review highlights the role of these factors in contributing to the observed heterogeneity in MD adherence across the Arab League, examining the prevalence of various MD assessment tools and their respective strengths and limitations within this specific context. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive and geographically tailored strategies that enhance adherence to the MD’s protective effects across all countries in the Arab League