Prescription and practice

2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen Cotter
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Using Data

The use of sentence-initial connectives (and, but) in written discourse historically has been disfavored, including by newspaper copy editors who delete them. This article describes changes in the frequency and use of sentence-initial connectives in news stories over the course of the twentieth century, from their relative absence to a semi-conventionalized frequency of use. Connectives have both referential (or semantic) meaning and functional (or pragmatic) meaning, the latter especially associated with spoken discourse. Using data from one community, I show how connectives in sentence-initial position have come to be used by reporters to meet profession-specific communicative functions that override other prescriptive considerations. These functions are mostly pragmatic, rather than semantic, and include goals that are both interactional (managing the interlocutorial distance between reporter and reader, by invoking spoken discourse norms) and structural (delimiting text categories or genres of journalism, and creating coherence in news narratives).

A minor issue?

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dulcie M. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Essential Elements ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Sentence Structure ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Subject Noun ◽  
French Grammar ◽  
The Many ◽  
A Minor

‘Minor sentences’ is one of the many terms used in the literature to refer to a phenomenon usually relegated to an obscure paragraph of the grammar book, or treated principally as a spoken discourse feature. These forms are also referred to as sentence fragments, incomplete sentences, verbless sentences, and nominal sentences, to name but a few of the terms found. Despite the marginal status attributed to the forms, more detailed study is warranted. Minor sentences occur frequently in the written language, and perform important communicative functions in a range of contexts. The term is used to refer to apparently complete phrases which do not conform to canonical sentence structure. Typically, they lack a subject noun phrase, or a finite verb, i.e. one of the two ‘essential’ elements of the sentence. In this paper, we begin with an overview of English and French grammar book and discourse analysis approaches. We then discuss previous studies of minor sentence contexts, French recipes and newspaper headlines, before turning to a corpus consisting of public signs and notices, headlines, advertising slogans, and crossword clues, in an effort to determine whether certain minor sentence types can be associated with particular (written) discourse functions.

scholarly journals The Use of the Thai Final Particle Na by Japanese Learners of Thai

MANUSYA ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-54
Author(s):  
Sumintra Maklai ◽  
Theeraporn Ratitamkul ◽  
Thanasak Sirikanerat
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
First Language ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Final Particle ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Linguistic Input ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Japanese Learners ◽  
National Corpus

This research aims to analyze communicative functions of the Thai final particle na and to explore the use of na by Japanese learners of Thai, comparing to that of native speakers. The study consisted of two parts. The first part involved an analysis of na using data from the Thai National Corpus (TNC). The findings showed that na had three main communicative functions. It was used to soften the tone of an utterance, to emphasize an utterance, and to mark a topic of an utterance. The second part of this research concerned conversational data in a pair discussion task of 10 Japanese learners of Thai and 10 native Thai speakers. The results showed that, when different functions and contexts were considered, the use of the Thai final particle na by the Japanese learners was similar to that of the native Thai speakers. That is, both groups used na most frequently to emphasize an utterance and least often to mark a topic of an utterance. This could result from a positive transfer from the learners’ first language. However, it was found that the Japanese learners showed significantly fewer instances of na as a topic marker than the native Thai speakers. It is possible that its marked position and low frequency in the learners’ linguistic input as suggested by the corpus data made na in this function difficult to acquire. This research also pointed to the importance of proficiency in a second language as a factor affecting learners’ use of final particles in conversation.

The effect of language skills on dementia in a Swedish longitudinal cohort

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 190-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica K. Ljungberg ◽  
Patrik Hansson ◽  
Rolf Adolfsson ◽  
Lars-Göran Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
Proportional Hazards Regression ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Incident Dementia ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Longitudinal Effects ◽  
E4 Allele ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Recent findings indicate that bilingualism delay the onset of dementia. Using data from the Betula longitudinal cohort study on memory, health and aging (www.betula.su.se) the issue of a possible protective effect of bilingualism was addressed. Monolingual (n = 736) and bilingual (n = 82) participants (≥ 60 years) without dementia at inclusion were followed for incident dementia over a time-period up to 10 years. In total, 112 participants developed dementia. Analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for age, sex, and presence/absence of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele, with dementia outcome as the dependent variable. Results showed no delayed onset of dementia in bilinguals compared to monolinguals. However, because of the findings from a study using participants from the same population showing beneficial longitudinal effects of bilingualism on episodic memory; we argue that our results may depend on the frequency of use of the second language after retirement.

Connectives in Free Indirect Style: Continuity or Shift?

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violeta Sotirova
Keyword(s):  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Critical Comment ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Free Indirect Style ◽  
The Way

This article re-examines the role of connectives in free indirect style. Connectives in sentence-initial position have been singled out as a marker of the style because of their frequency in spoken discourse (Fludernik, 1993). They have also been analysed as continuative devices which help the reader to sustain an already established interpretation of perspective across sentences of free indirect style (Ehrlich, 1990). My concern here is with a newly exemplified role of connectives to shift perspective and I have selected passages from D. H. Lawrence which have elicited critical comment in relation to point of view (Adamson, 1995; Baron, 1998). I turn to the contribution of conversation analysis and correlate the uses of connectives turn-initially with their use at points of perspectival shifts. My main conclusion is that connectives also relate viewpoints to each other much in the way that they relate utterances in conversation. Finally, this correlation between the interactive role of connectives and their shifting role in point of view presentation bears on the theories of free indirect style more generally. It strongly supports Bakhtin’s dialogical model.

scholarly journals Creating a small corpus to inform materials design in an ongoing English for Specialist Purposes (ESP) course for Orthodontists and Orthodontic Assistants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Jones
Keyword(s):  
Search Engine ◽  
Materials Design ◽  
Mental Processes ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Teacher Researcher ◽  
Third Person ◽  
Adjectival Modification

In order to inform materials design for an ESP course for orthodontists and orthodontic assistants, the teacher-researcher assembled a small corpus of practitioner-to-patient written texts by using a search engine and copying websites using ICEWeb software (Weisser 2014-2016), cleaning the text manually and then analyzing the text with AntConc software (Anthony, 2014).Findings include a balance between nominal and adjectival modification, tendency toward attributive processes in first and second person while third-person singular verbs have attributive and also material and mental processes. In addition, collocations of ‘bite’, ‘teeth’ and ‘braces’ are detailed.Throughout the article, the role of corpus compiler-as-researcher (Koester, 2010) is discussed as an advantage in understanding the corpus by locating findings within a deeper contextual use. Limitations are discussed regarding software use, cleaning and use of written discourse to inform spoken discourse.

scholarly journals Discourse Relational Devices of Contrast in Lithuanian and English

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Jolita Šliogerienė ◽  
Giedrė Valūnaitė Oleškevičienė ◽  
Vilma Asijavičiūtė
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Discourse Relations

When conjunctions are employed to link sentences, they become discourse relational devices The purpose of this study is to analyse if the semantic meaning of Lithuanian contrastive conjunctions o (but/when/whereas/while) and bet (but) coincides with the pragmatic meaning and to draw some parallels with their English counterparts. A corpus-based approach is employed to make generalizations on the use of Lithuanian conjunctions and their English counterparts, whereas discourse analysis provides a theoretical framework to analyse the conjunctions in spoken language and distinguish their peculiarities typical of this social context. The research reveals that Lithuanian conjunction bet and its English counterpart but demonstrate similar pragmatic behavior. On pragmatic level both conjunctions bet and but serve to object indirectly, to deny interlocutor’s ideas by first agreeing to them and then contradicting. Lithuanian conjunction o does not have a direct English counterpart. Lithuanian conjunction o, mainly contrastive in its semantic meaning, has manifold pragmatic meanings, therefore, it can be translated to English not only by but and and but also by any other English utterance introducer depending on the context. The focus of the research is spoken discourse which naturally implies certain limitations as it is not so much organized and more open to the recipient’s intervention. Knowledge of semantic meaning and pragmatic functions provides easily identifiable advice on how conjunctions could be used and translated. The object of the research is comparatively new in Lithuania and adds to the research field related to discourse relations studies.

scholarly journals الصورة الذهنية للمرأة في المثل الشعبي: معالجة دلالية ومقاربة تداولية / The mental image of woman in Arabic folklore proverbs: A semantic and pragmatic approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinan Al-Tamimi
Keyword(s):  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Mental Image ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Pragmatic Approach ◽  
Mental Images ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Pragmatic Analysis ◽  
Pragmatic Function ◽  
The Common

ملخص البحث:  تتناول هذه الدراسة ضمن الدراسات اللسانية التي تُعنى بتحليل الخطاب الشفاهي والبحث في خصائصه، بالاستعانة بأدوات التداولية لتأويل العملية التبليغية. وهدف البحث الأساسي هو البحث عن المعنى باستخدام الوسائل الممكنة كافة في التحليل الدلالي والتداولي، وتهدف الدراسة إلى إبراز العلل الفكرية أو العنصرية ضد المرأة في ضوء مقاربات تطبيقية لبعض الأمثال الشعبية المتداولة في المجتمع العربي وتحديداً في شبه الجزيرة العربية، والتي اعتمدت في أكثرها على ما جمعه عبد الكريم الجهيمان في كتابه الأمثال في جزيرة العرب، وعلى بعض الأمثال الشفوية التي جمعتُها من كلامنا المتداول شفهياً أو كتابياً. وتوصلت الدراسة إلى أن تفاوت صيغة المثل من عبارات تحتوي على صيغة الأمر والنهي والعبارات الشرطية والنفي المركب، وأن التصور التداولي يختلف عن المعنى الدلالي الذي ارتبط بحكاية إنتاج المثل لأول مرة، وأن الأمثال الشعبية قد تُستخدم في سياق مؤيد لها وقد تُساق للاعتراض عل محتواها والسخرية منها؛ لأنها تناقض المبادئ الحضارية والإنسانية.   الكلمات المفتاحية: المثل الشعبي- الخصائص - الدلالة- التداولية- الصورة الذهنية.   Abstract: This study is within the framework of linguistics that attempts to analyze spoken discourse and discuss its characteristics through pragmatic tools to interpret the process of communication. The study primarily aims to seek the meaning through semantic and pragmatic analysis to uncover negative or chauvinistic implications about women in some similes taken from the spoken folklore discourse in the Arab society in particular in the Arabian Peninsula. The samples were taken primarily from the collection of Dr. ’Abdel Karīm al-Jumaiḥan entitled al-Amthal fī Jazīrati al-’Arab (Proverbs in the Arabian Peninsula). This is in addition to what the researcher collected from the common spoken or written proverbs in the Arab folklore. The study concluded that proverb had various expressions that consist of imperative, prohibitive, conditional and compound negative construction. Semantic meaning is different from pragmatic function that is related to the background story of the proverb used to support; object of ridicule the context if it is violates the human civilizational norms. Keywords: Folklore proverbs- characteristics- Semantic- Pragmatic-Mental images.   Abstrak: Kajian ini dijalankan dalam kerangka pengkajian linguistik yang cuba menganalisa wacana pertuturan serta ciri-cirinya melalui instrument pragmatik bertujuan untuk menginteprasi proses komunikasi. Kajian ini secara amnya cuba untuk meninjau aspek makna melalui analisa pragmatik dan semantic untuk menyingkap implikasi negatif atau cauvinistik tentang imej wanita  di dalam beberapa bidalan yang diambil daripada wacana pertuturan rakyat di dalam masyarakat Arab terutamanya di Semenanjung Tanah Arab. Sampel kajian diambil kebanyakannya daripada koleksi yang dikumpulkan oleh Dr. ‘Abdel Karīm al-Jumaiḥan yang diperoleh daripada buku beliau bertajuk ‘Al-amthal fī Jazīrati al-‘Arab. (Kata bidalan di Semenanjung Tanah Arab) Ini adalah disamping beberapa koleksi bidalan tambahan yang dikutip daripada wacana bertulis dan pertuturan di dalam tradisi rakyat Arab. Kajian ini merumuskan yang kata bidalan mempunyai bentuk pernyataan yang mengandungi makna suruhan, larangan, syarat dan bentuk penafian. Makna semantik didapati berbeza daripada fungsi pragmatik yang terkait dengan latar cerita kata bidalan yang berkenaan yang bertujuan samada untuk menyokong cerita tersebut, menyanggah atau menyindir konteks penceritaan itu sekiranya ia menyimpang daripada norma ketamadunan manusia.   Kata kunci: Kata bidalan rakyat- ciri-ciri – semantik – pragmatic – bayangan mental.

scholarly journals HEDGES USED BY INDONESIAN ELT STUDENTS IN WRITTEN AND SPOKEN DISCOURSES

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Asfina Rida ◽  
A. Effendi Kadarisman ◽  
Utari Praba Astuti
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Academic Discourse ◽  
State University ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Study Section ◽  
Considerable Research ◽  
Degree Of Confidence ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

Hedging expression is considered an important interactional metadiscourse device which shows the writer’s/speaker’s degree of confidence in the truth of a proposition and his/her attitude to the readers or listeners in academic discourse. Although considerable research on hedges has been undertaken, there have been virtually no studies on hedges in spoken discourse in educational contexts. To fill this gap, this study aims at describing and comparing the use of hedges by Indonesian ELT students in written and spoken discourses. This study is descriptive qualitative in nature. The research subjects were 20 ELT graduate students registered in 2015 at a state university in East Java, Indonesia. The sources of data were the students’ thesis proposals and thesis proposal presentations, particularly the ‘background of the study’ section. As such, the study used a corpus-based approach which utilized concordance software, i.e. AntConc (3.4.4), to examine the frequency of hedges based on types. The use of hedges was categorized on the basis of hedges taxonomy adapted from Salager-Meyer (1994) and Hyland (2005). The findings of this study revealed that (i) in terms of types and frequency, the patterns of the use of hedges types (from the most to the least frequently used) by ELT students in both corpora were almost similar: WD: S–Ap–Em–Ex–Ch, and SD: S–Ap–Ex–Em–Ch (see Table 2 for legends); (ii) ELT students employed more hedges in written discourse than in spoken discourse; and (iii) approximately 65% of hedges variants provided in the taxonomy were employed by ELT students in written and spoken discourses. On the basis of the results of the study, the discourse mode (written or spoken) can be a factor that affects the use of hedges in academic discourse.

scholarly journals Vernacular style writing

Pragmatics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoko Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Fiction Writers ◽  
Creativity And Innovation ◽  
Final Particles

This paper shows that some Japanese non-fiction writers are using various structural characteristics of spoken discourse in their writing. Their written discourse includes non-canonical word order and long sentences that are produced by combining a series of clauses. Their sentences may lack case or topic marking particles, but they may contain clause-final particles. Their discourse looks like it may have gone through a dynamic, on-going formation process because it includes reformulation and changes in the structure in midstream. It is proposed that writers who adopt such an approach are deliberately blurring the boundary between speech and writing for multiple reasons. They may be exhibiting their creativity and innovation as well as their anti-establishment ideology. Vernacular style writing may also be an attempt to engage, involve, and connect with their readers. Further, they may be reflecting as well as expressing contemporary society in which orality is viewed favorably and as a result, writing in general has become increasingly more casual than before. The phenomenon discussed in this paper may be viewed as a reflection of erosions and shifting of traditional genres.

scholarly journals How Does Personalization in News Stories Influence Intentions to Help With Drought? Assessing the Influence of State Empathy and Its Antecedents

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara M. Wald ◽  
Erik W. Johnston ◽  
Ned Wellman ◽  
John Harlow
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Narrative Engagement ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Prosocial Intentions ◽  
Cognitive Dimensions ◽  
Prosocial Action

Personalized stories are a powerful tool for communicating about science, particularly when a scientific topic is complex or unfamiliar. One example of such a topic is drought, something many regions of the world face regularly. Like other environmental challenges, drought recovery efforts benefit from a mobilized collective response through prosocial action, including volunteering and donations. The objective of this study was to examine how storytelling about drought influences emotional responses and empathic processes that in turn contribute to prosocial action. Using data collected from an online survey (N = 249) with undergraduate students, the current study tests the hypothesis that, relative to non-personalized stories, personalized news stories about drought will increase audiences' cognitive and emotional responses, including perceived suffering, narrative engagement, and state empathy. In addition, this study examines how emotional responses to personalized news stories influence readers' intentions to donate to farmers suffering from drought. Results reveal that personalized news stories are more likely than non-personalized stories to increase readers' state empathy and perceptions of others' suffering. Perceived suffering was directly related to the affective and cognitive dimensions of state empathy. Narrative engagement (i.e., transportation) was also directly related to the affective and cognitive dimensions of state empathy and indirectly associated with intentions to donate to assist those suffering from drought. Affective state empathy was directly associated with donation intentions, suggesting that an emotional response to media portrayals of suffering may promote prosocial intentions. We discuss the potential implications for using personalized news stories about drought and other natural disasters to motivate prosocial action.

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