Dialect stabilization and speaker awareness in non‐native varieties of English1

Research on indigenized non‐native varieties of English has aimed to distinguish these varieties from individual second language learning in structural and social terms ( B. Kachru 1983 ; Platt, Weber and Ho 1984 ; Cheshire 1991 ) ; however, quantitative evidence of this divergence remains scarce. Through an analysis of a range of Indian English speakers in a contact situation in the United States, this study distinguishes developing dialect features from second language learning features and explores the concomitant emergence of dialect consciousness. First, an implicational analysis shows that some non‐standard variables (past marking, copula use, agreement) exhibit a second language learning cline while others (articles) form a more stable, incipient non‐standard system shared to some extent by all speakers; a multivariate analysis suggests that both sets of variables are governed by proficiency levels. Next, the explanatory scope of proficiency is assessed by examining the use of selected phonological variants (rhoticity, l‐velarization, aspiration). The use of these features resembles native‐like style‐shifting, as it appears to be more sensitive to speakers’ attitudinal stances than to proficiency levels. This points to the importance of understanding emerging speaker awareness and perceptions of stigma, risk, and value in new varieties of English.     

Robustness of complete diallel crossing plans against exchange of one cross

The robustness aspects of block designs for complete diallel crossing plans against the exchange of one cross using connectedness and efficiency criteria have been investigated. The exchanged cross may have either no line in common or one line in common with the original cross. It has been found that randomized complete block (RCB) designs for complete diallel crosses and binary balanced block designs for complete diallel crosses are robust against the exchange of one cross in one observation. The RCB designs for diallel crosses have been shown to be robust against the exchange of one cross with another cross in all the blocks. The non-binary balanced block designs obtainable from Family 5 of Das et al. (1998) have also been found to be robust against the exchange of one cross.     

On the construction of group divisible incomplete block designs

In this paper a method of constructing group-divisible incomplete block designs has been suggested. A series of balanced incomplete block designs has also been obtained.     

The Influence of Stakeholders on the Environmental Strategy of Service Firms: The Moderating Effects of Complexity,Uncertainty and Munificence*

Drawing on the resource‐based view of the firm, we examine how complexity, uncertainty and munificence in the general business environment moderate the association between a firm's stakeholder integration capability and its environmental strategy. Our data were drawn from 134 ski resorts in 12 countries in western Europe and North America. Our study finds that (1) an organizational capability of stakeholder integration is associated with a service firm's adoption of a proactive environmental strategy; (2) an uncertain business environment has a direct positive influence and a complex business environment has a direct negative influence on a firm's environmental strategy; and (3) complexity has a negative moderating influence on the relationship between a firm's stakeholder integration capability and its environmental strategy.     

A New Genre of Social Protection Policy for Older People: A Critical Analysis of Legislative Development in Nepal

This commentary critically discusses recent legislation promulgated in Nepal to safeguard older people's rights and promote their well-being. Using a human-rights–based framework, the legislation is analyzed for its strengths and weaknesses. Emphasis has also been placed on discussing various aspects overlooked by the legislation, such as changing family structure, relations, and social values; the impact of employment structure and migration; and, importantly, maintaining a desired balance between the roles of the state and of the family in providing social security, support, and care to older people. Efforts have been made to reflect the promulgated law in light of the contemporary developments taking place globally, particularly in regions of Asia. Areas for future policy work are also identified in order to make legislation more inclusive and effective.     

Transient analysis of an M/M/c queuing system with balking and retention of reneging customers

In this paper, we study an infinite capacity multi-server Markovian queuing system with balking and retention of reneging customers. The transient analysis of the model is performed. The probability generating function technique along with Bessel function properties is used to derive the time-dependent state probabilities explicitly.     

Interpretive structural modeling-based framework for mass customisation enablers: an Indian footwear case

Abstract

In the epoch of open economy and with the emergence of availability of individualised products over the Internet, Indian manufacturing industries are facing an enormous pressure to become more flexible and responsive, to accomplish customer’s varied and increasing demands. Mass customisation (MC) is about developing a customised product on demand for a particular customer after reception of a real order and producing it with the similar operational efficiency as one would anticipate from a mass-produced product. MC takes into account the merits of both the earlier systems of production, i.e. mass production and craft production. The craft production satisfies the personalised demands of customers and the mass production produces a limited variety of products at lower cost. Industries in developing countries such as India confront pressure from several perspectives to adopt MC. This study has been presented in the context of Indian manufacturing industries, and particularly for footwear industries to examine the enablers of MC. Achieving MC, however, require certain enabling technologies and processes in place. Several such enablers have been identified from the research literature. The objective of this study it to key out significantly important enablers for MC using interpretive structural modelling (ISM), and develop a hierarchy of these enablers for the Indian footwear units. ISM results show that modularity-based practices, digital manufacturing practices and supply chain integration are the most important MC enablers. Enhanced flexibility and responsiveness in the footwear production system can be achieved through modular and reconfigurable production system.     

Making the Human Development Index (HDI) gender-sensitive

The Human Development Index (HDI), introduced in 1990 by the UN Development Program, offers an alternative to the gross national product and consumer utility in its ability to measure relative socioeconomic progress over time and identify priorities for policy intervention. On the other hand, as an overall development index, the HDI is unable to reveal disparities based on gender, race, social class, and region. Its failure to incorporate disaggregated variables has impeded government awareness that particular subgroups experience very different levels of socioeconomic development concealed by the HDI. Only when the HDI is more gender-sensitive will it be an accurate measure of human development. The creators of the HDI are urged to ensure that their data base of critical measures such as employment, income, mortality, education, consumption, and housing are disaggregated by sex. Moreover, models should assign an economic value to women's unpaid domestic labor as well as their underpaid, under-reported work in the formal and informal sectors.     

Poverty and population: a study of reproductive ideals and attitude towards family planning among the rural poor in Uttar Pradesh

Data for this study were obtained between September 1986 and May 1987 from a sample of 506 rural poor male heads of household aged 20-50 years who lived in four developed and four underdeveloped villages in Kanpur and Varanasi districts in Uttar Pradesh, India. Poor households were identified as those headed by adult males with earnings under Rs 55/month and as those with less than 2 acres of land. Only persons who considered themselves poor were included. Findings reveal that over 80% of respondents reported that poverty was due to external factors such as fate. 18.77% attributed poverty to their own actions. 16.80% attributed poverty to personal factors. Reasons did not vary by the development level of villages. Only 12.5% reported living in good living conditions. Ideal family size was stated as 2 sons and 1 daughter. 6.3% indicated disapproval of family planning. About 70% had knowledge of at least one method. Almost all respondents were aware of sterilization, and about 50% knew about condoms. High fertility was attributed by respondents to carelessness, lack of planning, religiosity, illiteracy, ignorance, and lack of knowledge of family planning methods. Family planning acceptance among the study population was low. The interpretation of findings is that the rural poor are insecure and alienated and that the locus of control is external. The suggestion is made that Malthusian pressure from population size and density may be more effective in reducing family size in the future. Poor acceptance of family planning is attributed to a lack of social security.