Floyd Knight | Independent Researcher (original) (raw)

Papers by Floyd Knight

Boston Free Press, 1987

The terms "intersection and intersectional" were commonly used for several decades in religious s... more The terms "intersection and intersectional" were commonly used for several decades in religious studies and anthropology before making their way into legal studies and before Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality" (Coasten, 2019). This lead editorial article, "Intersection," in the Boston Free Press dates to January 1987 (composed in 1986), several years before Crenshaw supposedly "coined" intersectionality and its use outside of the legal field. All of the articles deal with how religion intersects with other social institutions as they act upon each other and affect individuals' understanding and viewpoints on public topics and political issues..

While researchers have identified (a) innate cognitive and (b) implicit culturally mediated biase... more While researchers have identified (a) innate cognitive and (b) implicit culturally mediated biases in all human beings and while medical, legal, and science educators have sought to mitigate such biases to increase better outcomes and decrease economic cost, cognitive debiasing reduction (CDR) strategies and research at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary general education levels is still in its infancy. This study is a result of a literature review and inquiry into bias mitigation in educational research, pedagogy, and andragogy. Having made a preliminary search of Psychinfo, PsycArticles, and ERIC, the author found no studies dedicated to examining cognitive biases for those levels of education. The author suggests adopting and adapting a medical, educational CDR for implementation and application.

Journal of Beliefs & Values-studies in Religion & Education, Nov 17, 2022

International journal of translation, interpretation, and applied linguistics, Aug 11, 2022

English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and... more English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and proper-name uses.” Such changes or transformations are sometimes misanalyzed by researchers and are often hard for ELL and L2 ESL researchers to detect. In this article, the author will analyze and tag the use of the Lemma MASTER (Massa/Maussa/Marsta/Marster/Master) as both a proper name and as a common noun in the John and Massa tales from three corpora as well as provide a procedure for doing mixed method research to adjudicate differences in the analysis offered by various scholars. The author will also discuss the need to add a fourth condition to Kripke's definition of proper names and why undertaking pragmatic and contextual analysis is warranted. My paper was written to bring machine learning and analysis one small step forward.

Now that the Open AI systems are online, more people will see that AI is not able to analyze audio recordings of speakers and determine whether a common noun is being used as a proper noun or name.

User to ChatGPT
Can AI take voice recordings and assign or tag whether a common noun title is used as a proper name without knowing whether the noun is capitalized?

ChatGPT
Analyzing voice recordings to determine whether a common noun is being used as a proper noun can be a challenging task for artificial intelligence. While AI systems can be trained to recognize patterns and context in speech, accurately identifying whether a common noun is being used as a proper noun often requires a deep understanding of the specific context, background knowledge, and even cultural nuances.

Voice recognition technology can transcribe spoken words, but determining the grammatical function and semantic meaning of each word in a sentence is more complex. The decision of whether a common noun is functioning as a proper noun depends on the surrounding words, the overall context of the conversation, and sometimes even the speaker's intent.

Developing a system that accurately distinguishes between common and proper nouns in spoken language would likely involve training a model on a large dataset of diverse spoken language samples. The model would need to learn not only the syntactic rules of language but also be sensitive to the subtleties of how people use common and proper nouns in various contexts.

While progress has been made in natural language processing and voice recognition, this specific task might still pose challenges due to the complexity of language use and the need for nuanced understanding. As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, the capabilities of AI technologies may have evolved, so it's advisable to check for the latest advancements in natural language processing and voice recognition technologies.

Journal of Beliefs and Values: Studies in Religion and Education, 2022

Disciplinary Literacy (DL) is a pedagogical-and andragogic-centered academic discipline that has ... more Disciplinary Literacy (DL) is a pedagogical-and andragogic-centered academic discipline that has entered its third decade. DL seeks to observe and describe how scholars in a particular field cognitively approach and process what they do while those scholars read primary and secondary literary texts, examine material culture, perform experiments, read and write scholarly articles, and teach and evaluate students. Such observations and descriptions are then used to reverse engineer and backward design the curriculum, assessment tools, and strategies to increase students' success, retention, and graduation rates. Our article seeks to introduce (1) Biblical, Religious, and Theological Studies (BRATS) faculty to DL and (2) DL, post-secondary General Education, and secondary education faculty to BRATS. We will summarize (a) what DL is as opposed to (b) what the disciplines of general academic, developmental, and critical literacies are, (c) why they differ, and (d) what pedagogical and andragogic benefits DL offers. BRATS and General Education faculty can use DL to provide explicit, scaffolded instructional practices to help general education undergraduates interpret the Bible and other ancient, foreign literature critically, rhetorically, and historically more like BRATS faculty do. DL and BRATS faculty would then use the above to reverse engineer and backward design curriculum and strategies for secondary educators to adopt and implement. Suggestions for future research and for overcoming structural obstacles will be presented.

Journal of Beliefs and Values, 2023

This is the complete database for mean time to graduation for my published paper "Using Disciplin... more This is the complete database for mean time to graduation for my published paper "Using Disciplinary Literacy in Biblical, Religious, and Theological Studies" in the Journal of Beliefs & Values.

Publication List, 2020

This is a list of my academic, non-academic, and music publications.

This is a revised and updated proposal from 2004 utilizing 2016 financial data and based on the 2... more This is a revised and updated proposal from 2004 utilizing 2016 financial data and based on the 2010 restructuring of the Obra Hispana's and NAPAD's constitution and by-laws, respectively (and the subsequent revision of the Design in 2010). In the original paper, I demonstrated how the result of the 1969 merger and subsequent restructuring had left the African-American Disciples community without any democratically elected, general staff persons to represent the direct interest of the African American community. I argued that all current staff persons in 2004 were accountable to an executive or board of a general unit or to the General Minister and President. Consequently, the National Convocation did not emerge as a full partner in the 1968-1969 restructuring. The institutional power dynamics regarding the nominations of directors and trustees of various boards of general unit entities; the control over the hiring and firing of Black Executives in those same general units; and the loss of direct representation at the general and regional levels of the denomination have left the Ethnic-minority communities without any real and independent power vis-à-vis the dominate majority group. In 2004, the NCCC and other ethnic-minority constituent organizations, therefore, had no direct voice or representation in the main organizations for which their members and churches support with their contributions to the wider church through Basic Mission Finance. I proposed two solutions to fix this imbalance and injustice in 2004. I left unanswered the intent and aim of the Design and the original designers of the merger; instead, I have focused on the effects of the said merger and the resulting polity structure. As the famous proverb states, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Good intentions do not innoculate one from bad or unintended consequences and offer no excuses.
With the 2010 revision in the Design occasioned by the restructuring of Hispanic Bilingual Fellowship (now Obra Hispana) and NAPAD, these two organizations and the Convocation now directly select one representation to the General Board of the General Assembly. While progress has been made, the executive minister of the Convocation is still financially and structurally under the control of the GMP and not the Board of the Convocation. What Obra Hispana and NAPAD accomplished for their executives was not extended to African Americans and the National Convocation. Second, there are still two other glaring injustices that have not been structurally addressed regarding the power dynamics between DHM, DOM, and Regional Ministries. I am proposing in 2020 additional solutions.

International Journal of Translation, Interpretation, and Applied Linguistics (IJTIAL) 1(2), 2019

English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and... more English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and proper-name uses” (Mufwene, Rickford, Bailey, & Baugh, 1998, pp. 72-73). Such changes or transformations are sometimes misanalysed by researchers and are often hard for ELL and L2 ESL researchers to detect. In this paper, I will analyze and tag the use of the Lemma MASTER (Massa/Maussa/Marsta/Marster/Master) as both a proper-name and as a common noun in the John and Massa tales from three corpora (Hurston 2008; Dorson 1967; Joyner 1984) as well as provide a procedure for doing mixed method research to adjudicate differences in analysis offered by various scholars. I will also discusse the need to add a fourth condition to Kripke’s definition for proper names and why undertaking pragmatic and contextual analysis is warranted.

Keywords: Ole Massa; Massa; Master; Marster; Proper-Name; Proper Name Definition; Gricean Maxims; Mixed Research Methods, Salikoko Mufwene; Z. Hurston; R. Dorson; C. Joyner; Trickster; Massa Tales; High John Tales.

International Journal of Translation, Interpretation, and Applied Linguistics (IJTIAL) 1(2), 2019

English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and... more English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and proper-name uses” (Mufwene, Rickford, Bailey, & Baugh, 1998, pp. 72-73). Such changes or transformations are sometimes misanalysed by researchers and are often hard for ELL and L2 ESL researchers to detect. In this paper, I will analyze and tag the use of the Lemma MASTER (Massa/Maussa/Marsta/Marster/Master) as both a proper-name and as a common noun in the John and Massa tales from three corpora (Hurston 2008; Dorson 1967; Joyner 1984) as well as provide a procedure for doing mixed method research to adjudicate differences in analysis offered by various scholars. I will also discusse the need to add a fourth condition to Kripke’s definition for proper names and why undertaking pragmatic and contextual analysis is warranted.

International Journal of Translation, Interpretation, and Applied Linguistics (IJTIAL) 1(2), 2019

English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and... more English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and proper-name uses” (Mufwene, Rickford, Bailey, & Baugh, 1998, pp. 72-73). Such changes or transformations are sometimes misanalysed by researchers and are often hard for ELL and L2 ESL researchers to detect. In this paper, I will analyze and tag the use of the Lemma MASTER (Massa/Maussa/Marsta/Marster/Master) as both a proper-name and as a common noun in the John and Massa tales from three corpora (Hurston 2008; Dorson 1967; Joyner 1984) as well as provide a procedure for doing mixed method research to adjudicate differences in analysis offered by various scholars. I will also discusse the need to add a fourth condition to Kripke’s definition for proper names and why undertaking pragmatic and contextual analysis is warranted.

International Journal of Translation, Interpretation, and Applied Linguistics (IJTIAL) 1(2), 2019

English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and... more English nouns have been described as having the ability to “switch easily between common-noun and proper-name uses” (Mufwene, Rickford, Bailey, & Baugh, 1998, pp. 72-73). Such changes or transformations are sometimes misanalysed by researchers and are often hard for ELL and L2 ESL researchers to detect. In this paper, I will analyze and tag the use of the Lemma MASTER (Massa/Maussa/Marsta/Marster/Master) as both a proper-name and as a common noun in the John and Massa tales from three corpora (Hurston 2008; Dorson 1967; Joyner 1984) as well as provide a procedure for doing mixed method research to adjudicate differences in analysis offered by various scholars. I will also discusse the need to add a fourth condition to Kripke’s definition for proper names and why undertaking pragmatic and contextual analysis is warranted.

This is a revised version of a chart I previously labeled as a "Meta-Ethical Comparison Chart of ... more This is a revised version of a chart I previously labeled as a "Meta-Ethical Comparison Chart of Ethical Systems." I used "meta-" in the same sense and meaning that the adjective "meta-linguistic" is used. This was unfortunate as the field of Ethic uses the term meta-ethics to describe the sub-field of ethical inquiry regarding the subject matter of moral philosophy and moral theology dealing with the ontology, epistemology and axiology of ethical choices. My normative ethical theories chart is now more appropriately labelled "Panoramic View of [Normative] Ethical Theories."

In order to enact a permanent solution to "claims" of police brutality, we need a structural solu... more In order to enact a permanent solution to "claims" of police brutality, we need a structural solution that will be open and transparent to all: the police officers, innocent citizens and civilians, and suspects. Protests and rallies are a waste of time because they only provide temporary relief--if any. My structural approach will provide a long-term solution and should save the taxpayers money.

This paper was written for the N.T. doctoral seminar on the Gospels led by Howard Clark Kee at Bo... more This paper was written for the N.T. doctoral seminar on the Gospels led by Howard Clark Kee at Boston University in 1985.

Teaching Documents by Floyd Knight

Unpublished Classroom Heuristic Matrix

The following table represents Genette's typology of the possible structural relationships betwee... more The following table represents Genette's typology of the possible structural relationships between narratives, narrations, and narrators. It was created as a heuristic device for analyzing narratives and creating taxonomic categories. Configuring Genette's model in a taxonomy table allows individuals to visualize, recognize, and analyze better the different combinations of patterns that are possible. Instead of listing all the structural and technical aspects involved in narratology, e.g., (Guillemette and Lévesque 2016), our purpose is to use Genette's structural model of narration and narrative for classification purposes as a taxonomic heuristic like how Aarne-Thompson Uther Tale Type Index is used.

Theories of African Cultural Retention and Orientation , 1989

This is the revised and edited handout from my presentation at the October 2-3, 1989 Steering Com... more This is the revised and edited handout from my presentation at the October 2-3, 1989 Steering Committee Meeting of the Afro-American Network of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The purposes of the presentation were to summarize and introduce (a) these theories, (b) how they predefined the problem(s) and solution(s), (c) how and why they impact and influence Black self-understanding, and (d) why it was important to choose positive, bi-cultural, and strength-resiliency theories for our pedagogical and andragogic endeavors. The Network and its educational mission have been subsumed by the Institute for African American Faith and Life, “an umbrella for the Pre-Convocation Leadership Institute and the [National] Convocation Educational Workshops” of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Drafts by Floyd Knight

While researchers have identified (a) innate cognitive and (b) implicit culturally mediated biase... more While researchers have identified (a) innate cognitive and (b) implicit culturally mediated biases in all human beings and while medical, legal, and science educators have sought to mitigate such biases to increase better outcomes and decrease economic cost, cognitive debiasing reduction (CDR) strategies and research at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary general education levels is still in its infancy. This study is an inquiry into bias mitigation in educational research, pedagogy, and andragogy. Having made a preliminary search of Psychinfo, PsycArticles, and ERIC, the author suggests adopting and adapting a medical, educational CDR for implementation. Strategies for Reducing Biases

Book Reviews by Floyd Knight

Unpublished, 2004

This is a review of the booklet, Listening to the Spirit: A Handbook for Discernment, edited by ... more This is a review of the booklet, Listening to the Spirit: A Handbook for Discernment, edited by William Paulsell. It lists the four major flaws of the book (including its use of the false dilemma fallacy in its rhetorical presentation). I will present several alternative resources for discerning the Biblical position regarding human sexuality and what should be the church's response in a loving, open, welcoming, and transforming perspective. There are choices beyond the "closed and condemning" and "open and affirming" positions offered in "Listening to the Spirit."