Dr. R. Joseph Ponniah

Professor|HSS Department

 

Contact: Phone: 9487368155; 0431-3695 | Office: #307, Lyceum Building | Email: josephponniahr@gmail.com;  joseph@nitt.edu 

Profile:   Scopus | Web of Science | Google scholar

 

Dr. R Joseph Ponniah is a Professor of English in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. His research concentrates on the interface between language, cognition and gene in the context of reading and language acquisition.  He has authored more than forty research articles. Most of the published journal articles are indexed in Scopus/SCI/ESCI and ten of his papers appeared in Q1 journals. He has co-edited a book titled ‘The Idea and Practice of Reading’ published by the Springer international.

He served as a member of the senate at Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Tiruchirappalli between 2017 and 2020. He was the Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2017 to 2019 at the National institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. He is a Board of Studies member of different colleges and universities including Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. He served in different Faculty Selection Committees and Academic Audit Committees of premier institutions. He served as an Executive Board Member of Women's Christian College, Chennai between 2021-2023. 

He has organized workshops and Faculty Development Programmes for teachers and researchers and the programme Text and Context in Translation was in collaboration with National Translation Mission, Mysuru and Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation. He delivered plenaries, keynotes in different conferences in addition to his presentations in more than 25 conferences including conferences in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Philippines.

 

Research Interests

English Language Teaching; Second Language Acquisition; Reading, Biolinguistics; genetic and neuroscience of language

 

Research Overview

Research so far has attributed learning difficulties to reading problems but little research has discussed the psychological and biological aspects of reading. Specifically, my research examines the biological basis of L2 reading/learning, and learning capacity of individuals in addition to exploring language problems. I have also discussed in my articles the need for holistic teaching methods that address linguistic, genetic, cognitive, psychological and behavioral problems to promote learning.

 

Book/Book Chapters

  • Edited  the book "The idea and practice of reading". by  Springer (with Sathyaraj)
  • R. Joseph Ponniah. (2018).  First-Language reading promotes Second-Language reading and acquisition: Towards a biolinguistics approach. In Ponniah. R. J. & Venkatasan. S (Eds.), The idea and practice of reading. Singapore: Springer (pp. 113-124)
  • Sriganesh. R., Rahul. D. R & R. Joseph Ponniah. (2018). Genetics of reading ability and its role in solving reading difficulties. In Ponniah. R. J. & Venkatasan. S (Eds.), The idea and practice of reading. Singapore: Springer (pp. 125-140)
  • M. Jennifer & R. Joseph Ponniah. (2018). Acquisition of writing by reading and its impact on cognition. In Ponniah. R. J. & Venkatasan. S (Eds.), The idea and practice of reading. Singapore: Springer (pp. 41-56)

 

Lectures

https://www.youtube.com/c/ProfRJosephPonniah/videos

 

 

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Cognition and Cognitive Reserve. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (2024). Springer Journal. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI] https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-024-09821-3 (With Anisha) 
  • Language and Creativity: A Comparative Study of Language used by Chat GPT and Indian ESL Students. The Journal of Asia TEFL (2024). [Q1 Journal - Scopus/ESCI] (Accepted) (With Ambily)
  • The Modularity of Dysgraphia. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research (2023). Springer Journal. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI] https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-023-10029-6 (With Aiswarya) 
  • New frontiers in linguistic research: Eliminating the challenges of understanding the genetics of language through bioinformatics. Digital Scholarship in the Humanities (2023) [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI]. https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqad040 (With Vinoliya)
  • A Slip Between the Brain and the Lip: Working Memory and Cognitive-Communication Disorders. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research (2023). Springer Journal. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI] https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-023-09946-3 (With Anisha)
  • Receive, Retain and Retrieve: Psychological and Neurobiological Perspectives on Memory Retrieval. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (2023). Springer Journal. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI] https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-023-09752-5 (With Anisha)
  • Episodic Events as Spatiotemporal Memory: The Sequence of Information in the Episodic Buffer of Working Memory for Language Comprehension. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. Springer journal. (2023) [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI]  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-022-09710-7 (with Anisha)
  • Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition of Indian ESL Learners through Reading. Journal of Asia TEFL. 19:3, (2022) 1119-1126. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/ESCI]  http://dx.doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2022.19.3.27.1119. (with Rahul).
  • A systematic review of associations between genetic polymorphism and dyslexia in the Indian population. Journal of Biosciences. 47:41 (2022) Inidan Academy of Sciences with Springer. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI] DOI: 10.1007/s12038-022-00276-5. (with Rahul)
  • Inclusive learning strategies to enhance reading skill among the students with reading disability: An Occupation and Participation Approach to Reading Intervention (OPARI) in the rural Indian classroom. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, [ESCI/Scopus] 13:4. (2021) DOI: 10.21659/rupkatha.v13n4.56 (with Annuncy Vinoliya)
  • Educational insights into Dyslexia. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 13:4 (2021) [ESCI/Scopus] DOI: 10.21659/rupkatha.v13n4.35 (with Rahul)
  • The Modularity of Dyslexia. PEDIATRICS and NEONATOLOGY, Elsevier Journal. 62:3, 240-248. (2021). [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI]  DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2021.03.001 (with Rahul)
  • Impact of Reading on the Biological Foundations of Language, Cognition, and Emotion. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities. [ESCI/Scopus] 12:6 (2020). DOI: 10.21659/rupkatha.v12n6.09b (with Sriganesh)
  • Understanding the Robustness of Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition through Reading: Qualitative Insights from Biolinguistics. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities. [ESCI/Scopus] 12:5 (2020) DOI: 10.21659/rupkatha.v12n5.rioc1s23n2 (with Rahul)
  • Improving the Writing Abilities of First Year Undergraduates through Extensive Reading. Journal of Asia TEFL. 16:4 (2019) 1404-1412. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/ESCI] http://dx.doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2019.16.4.24.1404 (With J. Mary Jennifer).
  • Language Impairment in Primary Progressive Aphasia and other Neurodegenerative Diseases. Journal of Genetics. 2019. Inidan Academy of Sciences with Springer. [SCI/Scopus] https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-019-1139-5  (with Rahul). 
  • Decoding the Biology of Language and its Implications in Lanauge Acquisition. Journal of Biosciences. 44:1 (2019) Inidan Academy of Sciences with Springer [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI] https://rdcu.be/blOlQ  (with Rahul).
  • Genetics of Language and its Implications on Language interventions. Journal of Genetics. 97:5 (2018) 1485-1491 Inidan Academy of Sciences with Springer [SCI/Scopus]  https://rdcu.be/9W0Y (with Sriganesh).
  • The Robustness of Incidental Grammar Acquisition through Reading. Journal of Asia TEFL. 15:3 (2018) 557-563. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/ESCI]  http://dx.doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2018.15.3.25.882
  • Investigating the Levels, Types and Causes of Second Language Writing Anxiety among Indian Freshmen. Journal of Asia TEFL. 14:3 (2017) 557-563. [Q1 Journal - Scopus/SCI]  (With J. Mary Jennifer). http://dx.doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2017.14.3.13.557
  • We acquire language by reading: A comparison between avid readers and moderate readers. Language in India. 17:11 (2017) 174 -182. (With Paul Abraham). http://www.languageinindia.com/nov2017/josephavidmoderatereadingfinal.pdf
  • An Exploration into Walker Percy’s Statements on Language Phenomenon Adopting an Explicative Method. International Journal of English Language. 5:11 (2017) With Paul Abraham
  • Educating students through books. The Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics. 9:1 (2017) 44-51. (With J. Mary Jennifer)
  • Pleasure reading cures readicide and facilitates academic reading. Journal on English Language Teaching. 5:4 (2015) 1-5. (With J. Mary Jennifer)
  • Pleasure reading and the acquisition of second language by adult ESL learners. The International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching. 9:1 (2014), 16 - 22. (With J Priya). http://ijflt.com/images/ijflt/jan2014-articles/Ponniah-Priya-Pleasure-reading.pdf
  • Free reading: A powerful tool for acquiring a second language.Journal on English Language Teaching.3:1(2013) 10-14.
  • Incidental acquisition of vocabulary by reading. The Reading Matrix. 11:2 (2011), 135-139.   http://www.readingmatrix.com/articles/april_2011/ponniah.pdf
  • The effectiveness of comprehension hypothesis: A review on the current research on incidental vocabulary acquisition.Journal on English Language Teaching.1:2 (2011), 1 - 4.
  • Insights into second language acquisition theory and different approaches to language teaching. Educational Psychology. 3:4 (2010), 14-18.
  • What do we need to acquire a second language? Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics. 1:3 (2009), 112-121.
  • An experimental inquiry into the application of rules of grammar. Iranian Journal of Language studies. 3:3 (2009), 359-366.
  • The role of grammar: An insight into the skill-building and the output hypotheses. Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics. 1:5 (2009), 275-285.
  • Form-focused instruction and the learning experience of adult ESL students. Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics. 1:6 (2009), 382-391.
  • Getting exposure to input in multimedia language laboratory- A Pleasurable learning experience. Language in India, 9:3 (2009), 120-127.
  • The robustness of free reading in second and foreign language education. Language in India, 9:12 (2009) 21-29. http://www.languageinindia.com/dec2009/josephrobustreading.pdf
  • The expanded output hypothesis. The International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching. 4:2 (2008), 2-3. (with Dr. Stephen Krashen). http://ijflt.com/images/ijflt/IJFLTFall-08.pdf
  • Free voluntary reading and the acquisition of grammar by adult ESL students. The International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching. 4:1 (2008), 20-22. http://ijflt.com/images/ijflt/IJFLTSpring08.pdf
  • Acquisition of grammar through comprehensible input versus explicit instruction. Iranian Journal of Language studies. 2:2 (2008) 249-255.
  • A note on the application of rules of grammar. The International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching. 3:2 (2007) 36-37. http://ijflt.com/images/ijflt/IJFLTFall07.pdf
  • Memorization: A constraint for integrating critical thinking skills into Indian ESL classrooms. Language in India, 7:7 (2007).
  • Biblical myths and humanism in cat’s cradle and Slaughterhouse-five. The Anthropologist. 11:1 (2017) 21-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2009.11891074
  • Machine-made loneliness and mechanization of human life in Player Piano. The Anthropologist. 10:3 (2017) 229-231. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2008.11891053
  • Philosophy of Bokononism and the American-Success: Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. The Atlantic Literary Review. 8:4 (2007) 54-65. 

 

Articles in Newspaper

 

 

Best Paper Award

The Paper titled "The more we read the better is our language: A comparison between avid readers and moderate readers" won the best paper award in an IEEE  international conference on Trends and Innovation in Language Teaching organized by the Department of English, Sathyabama University, Chennai  on 14 – 15 November 2014.

 

 

Select Invited Talk/Lecture

  • Delivered a lecture on Biological Basis of Reading at JNTU Hyderabad on 15 November 2023 
  • Lecture on Incidental Acquisition of language by Reading: Towards a Biolinguistic Approach in a "Five-day faculty development programme" on 5th July 2018 at Vellore Institute of Technologhy (VIT), Vellore
  • Panelist in an International Conference on Evolving Strategies to Overcome Continuing Challenges in Second Language Education at the Tertiary Level at Anna University, Chennai on 1-3 March 2018.
  • An expert panel member in an international conference on Empowering the English Language Learners- Material, Methods, and Testing at Anna University, Chennai on 23-25 April 2017.
  • Lecture on Reading- A Tool for the Development of Writing Competency and Fluency in a TEQIP sponsored Faculty Development Programme on “Enhancing Classroom Communication” organized by the Department of English, Bharathidasan Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli on 26 July 2016.
  • Delivered on Theories on Reading and Language Acquisition to the teachers of English in the UGC Refresher course in English at the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Bharathidasan University on 16 November 2015.
  • Guest of honour for English Literary Association of Erode Sengunthar Engineering College, Erode and delivered a lecture on Cognition and Academic Reading on 23rd July 2015.
  • Plenary talk on Reading literature and language acquisition in a seminar on “English Language and Literature: Changing Trends” organized by the Department of English, St. Jerome’s College on 13th March 2015.
  • Delivered a Keynote address on The Power of Reading and chaired sessions in the conference on ‘Reading Skills and Strategies’ organized by the Seshasayee Institute of Technology, Trichirappalli for the teachers of English on 5th October 2013.

 

Select Conferences/Seminars/Workshops

  • "Acquisition of Vocabulary by Reading".  International Conference on Education and Learning (ICEL 2017) in Tokyo, Japan on 16-18 August 2017.
  • "Pleasure Reading Habit in L1 Promotes L2 Reading Habit: A Case Study". The 6th International Conference on Social Science and Humanities (ICSSH) in Hong Kong on 17-18 October 2016.
  • "Transfer of Pleasure Reading Habit from L1 to L2". International conference on Trends and Innovations in Language Teaching (TILT 2014) organized by the Department of English, Sathyabama University, Chennai in association with IEEE on 14 – 15 November 2014. (Invited Paper)
  • "Pleasure Reading: A Cure for Readicide". International conference on Trends and Innovations in Language Teaching (TILT 2014) organized by the Department of English, Sathyabama University, Chennai in association with IEEE on 14 – 15 November 2014.
  • "Acquired Knowledge of Grammar and its Role in Output Production: An Investigation with Adult ESL Students". International conference on Trends and Innovations in Language Teaching (TILT 2014) organized by the Department of English, Sathyabama University, Chennai in association with IEEE on 14 – 15 November 2014.
  • "First language (L1) pleasure reading habit promotes second language (L2) reading".  International conference on Trends and Innovations in Language Teaching (TILT 2014) organized by the Department of English, Sathyabama University, Chennai in association with IEEE on 14 – 15 November 2014.
  • "Acquisition of Academic Language by Reading" .  The 8th International conference organized by the Department of English and Foreign Languages, SRM University, with ELTAI from 18 – 20 July 2013. (with J. Priya).
  • "The Easiest way of acquiring English as a Second Language: No Grammar and no Drills".  International seminar on Humanistic Language and Literature Teaching organized by the Department of English, Anna University, Chennai on 18-19 February 2013.
  • Presented "The Role of Grammar in English as a Second Language" and chaired a session in the 5th International conference by the Department of English, Anna Adarsh College for Women in association with ELTAI, British Council and RELOAC, New Delhi.
  • "Comprehensible Input as a Crucial Determining Factor for Language Acquisition". Two-day seminar on Teaching of general and Technical English organized by the Department of English, Anna University, Chennai on 5-6 February 2010.
  • "Acquisition of Vocabulary by Reading and Listening".  The 5th National Conference on Enhancement and Excellence in English for Employability and Empowerment organized by Department of English and Foreign Languages, SRM University, Chennai on 24 and 25th March 2010.
  • "Why do We Learn and Teach Conscious Rules of Grammar?". International and 39th Annual ELTAI Conference on Learning to Teach: A Life-long Journey on 8th and 9th February 2008.
  • "Retrieving Resources from the Internet for ELT Classes". Second International and 38th ELTAI annual conference on Learning to Teach: A Life-long Journey on 9th and 10th February 2007.

 

Ph.D Guidance

  • Priya - Academic Reading: A Key Ingredient for the Development of Academic Writing (2016), National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.
  • J Mary Jennifer - Scaffolding Adult ESL Students' Reading and Writing Abilities Through Extensive Reading (2018), National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.
  • M. K. Senthil Babu - Academic Reading: An Influential Factor in Acquiring Academic Language Proficiency, (2018) National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.
  • G. Paul Abraham - A contribution to linguistics: An analysis of Walker Percy’s theory of language, (2018) National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.

 

Workshops/FDP Organized

  • Organized a Two-Week online faculty development programme on 'Continuing Professional Development: Practising, Researching and Publishing' (https://sites.google.com/view/nit-hss-fdp) at National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (12- 23 July 2021)
  • Organized One-day workshop on Writing Research Paper: Theory and Praxis. Department of Humanities, NIT Trichy. 10 May 2014.
  • Organized three-day workshop on Glocal Trends and Issues in English language Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities. Department of Humanities, NIT Trichy. 24 - 26 January 2014.