“It’s like herding butterflies”

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-80
Author(s):  
Joanna Marhula
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Rhetorical Figures ◽  
Complementary Role ◽  
Global Discourse ◽  
Academic Lectures ◽  
Real Language ◽  
Discourse Functions ◽  
Dialogic Interaction ◽  
Communicative Discourse

Abstract This study focuses on simile in real language use. More specifically, it examines the explanatory power of similes in dialogic interaction where speakers are trying to bring their intimate experiences closer to others. The material under analysis comes from BBC Radio 4 “Woman’s Hour” programmes and is characterized by a relatively high simile frequency compared with other spoken genres, for example, academic lectures (Low, 2010). In view of this fact, the study aims to explore the discourse functions of similes in radio talk: are they one-off rhetorical figures which cater for local discourse needs only, or do they also form extensive explanations with more global discourse functions? Apart from examining how simile-type comparisons are employed in radio conversations, the study also explores the interplay between similes and metaphors as well as their complementary role in realizing communicative discourse goals.

Portfolio investment outflow and the complementary role of direct investment

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Noman ◽  
Mohammad Nakibur Rahman ◽  
Atsuyuki Naka
Keyword(s):  
Direct Investment ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Portfolio Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Portfolio Investment ◽  
Complementary Role

Purpose – This paper aims to uncover potential contemporaneous relationship between foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and another popular type of cross-border investment outflow, namely, foreign direct investment (FDI). Design/methodology/approach – The relationship between FPI and FDI are modeled using simultaneous equations approach to take potential endogeneity in to account. In a panel of 45 countries over the period of 2001-2009, FPI and FDI are found to be strategically complimentary to each other. Findings – The two-stage least square estimates suggest existence of both statistically and economically significant relationship between these two types of outflows. In particular, the FDI outflow has empirically significant predictive power in explaining the FPI outflow. Similarly, the FPI outflow also has significant explanatory power for the observed level of FDI outflow. Second, the FPI has greater explanatory power for FDI outflow than the FDI for the FPI outflow. Originality/value – The authors believe that the paper would contribute to the relevant literature in terms of its originality and scope. The empirical findings of the paper have valuable policy implications.

scholarly journals Discovering Language Properties through Corpus-Based Dictionary Data Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Paul Lyddon ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Language Use ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
Linguistic Data ◽  
Large Samples ◽  
Widespread Availability ◽  
Real Language

To reveal underlying patterns in real language use, linguists have increasingly come to rely on corpus analyses, involving the evaluation of statistical frequencies in generally sizable bodies of natural linguistic data. However, accessing and analyzing large samples of raw language is neither always practical nor even truly necessary, especially in cases pertaining to structural characteristics. In fact, the requisite data can oftentimes be gleaned from a state-of-the-art (i.e., corpus-based) dictionary. Moreover, given the widespread availability of easily searchable electronic dictionaries nowadays, almost any language teacher or learner can use one to answer a number of these types of queries. This paper illustrates this claim with a step-by-step analysis of corpus-based dictionary data for the purpose of formulating the sound-symbol relations in English words with vowels preceding –gh.

Do we teach the real language?

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-241
Author(s):  
Yevgen Matusevych ◽  
Ad Backus ◽  
Martin Reynaert
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Real Language ◽  
Recurrent Patterns

This article is about the type of language that is offered to learners in textbooks, using the example of Russian. Many modern textbooks of Russian as a foreign language aim at efficient development of oral communication skills. However, some expressions used in the textbooks are not typical for everyday language. We claim that textbooks’ content should be reassessed based on actual language use, following theoretical and methodological models of cognitive and corpus linguistics. We extracted language patterns from three textbooks, and compared them with alternative patterns that carry similar meaning by (1) calculating the frequency of occurrence of each pattern in a corpus of spoken language, and (2) using Russian native speakers’ intuitions about what is more common. The results demonstrated that for 39 to 53 percent of all the recurrent patterns in the textbooks better alternatives could be found. We further investigated the typical shortcomings of the extracted patterns.

scholarly journals Coatsandbrasandjeans– andclothes, too: lexical contrast between hyperonyms and hyponyms

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-499
Author(s):  
ANU KOSKELA
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Prototype Structure ◽  
Real Language ◽  
Special Case ◽  
Category Prototype

A special case of lexical contrast involves contrasting a hyperonym and a hyponym (as inclothes and socks), leading to the narrowing of the hyperonym's sense. However, not all hyperonym/hyponym pairs are amenable to contrast (e.g.?animals and cats). While category prototype structure forms a strong motivating and constraining factor for hyperonym/hyponym contrast (e.g. Lehrer 1990), what is lacking in previous work is a systematic consideration of the co-hyponyms in real language use. To that end, data from the GloWbE corpus (Davies 2013) were used to investigate which terms for items of clothing (e.g.coat,bra,jeans) can be contrasted with their hyperonym (eitherclothesorclothing). While marginal members of theitem of clothingcategory (e.g.belt,hat) have a stronger potential for contrasting with the hyperonym, even prototypical hyponyms (e.g.shirt,jeans) contrasted withclothes/clothingin at least some contexts. Language users can therefore manipulate category boundaries to meet their discourse needs, exploiting a range of dimensions of difference to create contrast. Many clothing terms were also found to contrast more readily withclothesthan withclothing, suggesting that the meaning ofclothesis generally narrower than that of its near-synonymclothing.

Corpus Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition – the use of ACORN in the teaching of Spanish Grammar

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Ruiz Yepes ◽  
Ramesh Krishnamurthy
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Grammar Teaching ◽  
Real Language ◽  
Authentic Language

AbstractWith increasing demands for the use of authentic language in the teaching of a second language, the potential role of corpora has been an important issue of discussion in the last two decades. Corpora have helped to reveal patterns of real language use and uncovered discrepancies between the language portrayed in textbooks and the language used in real life.This article focuses on corpus-driven as well as corpus-based grammar teaching, summarising the experience of applying ACORN (the Aston Corpus Network) in the teaching of Spanish Grammar to students in the School of Languages and Social Sciences at Aston University. Our main goals were to show the students a large number of examples taken from authentic language texts, in order to support the grammar explained in class, and to provide them with a very useful resource that they can use while writing essays, preparing for exams, etc.

scholarly journals Formulaic sequences signalling discourse organisation in ELF academic lectures: a disciplinary perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Wang
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
The Other ◽  
Formulaic Language ◽  
Formulaic Sequences ◽  
Disciplinary Perspective ◽  
Academic Lectures ◽  
Operational Criteria ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Socially Situated

Abstract Formulaic sequences (e.g. on the other hand, for example, at the same time) are pervasive in natural language use and play an important role in differentiating socially situated practices. This paper examines formulaic sequences signalling discourse organisation in academic ELF lectures from a disciplinary perspective. Most previous studies of this kind employ a frequency-based approach; however, the inherent limitations of the methodology (e.g. arbitrary operational criteria, difficulty in handling discontinuous units) mean that a great deal may have been overlooked. This may be particularly relevant to ELF communication, which involves a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. The present study aims to address this gap by taking a manual approach in the identification of formulaic sequences, continuous or discontinuous, in context. The results provide further evidence for disciplinary differences and variability in the use of formulaic language to signal discourse organisation by lecturers in academic ELF settings.

scholarly journals Sprachgebrauch und Spracheinstellungen in der Deutschschweiz. Pfarrpersonen als sprachbewusste Sprecherinnen und Sprecher im Fokus

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Oberholzer
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Language Attitudes ◽  
Language Awareness ◽  
Specific Group ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Swiss German ◽  
German Dialects ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Real Language ◽  
High Degree

The relation between Swiss German dialects and Standard German has been subject to public and scholarly debates for over 100 years. Among the most frequently discussed points are the appropriateness of spoken Standard German in different contexts and the attitudes of Swiss people towards the two varieties. This paper summarises the results of a completed research project (Oberholzer in Vorb.), which surveyed language use and language attitudes in Swit-zerland for a specific group of speakers: pastors and priests working in German-speaking Switzerland. The paper shows how pastors and priests make use of the diglossic situation and the possibility to code-switch in Sunday services. The use of Standard German emerges as an important communicative resource in German-speaking Switzerland. In addition, real language use and intended language use match to a high degree; this shows the degree of language awareness of this particular group in a diglossic situation. Furthermore, a relatively new approach – the assumption that several mental models of High German coexist – helps to show differentiated language attitudes and to contradict some of the most common stereotypes regarding Standard German in German-speaking Switzerland. The attitudes towards Standard German in this study are significantly more positive than those observed in previous studies.

Maryann Overstreet, Whales, candlelight, and stuff like that: General extenders in English discourse. (Oxford Studies in Sociolinguistics) Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Pp. xii + 171. Hb. $39.95.

2002 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-134
Author(s):  
Catherine N. Ball
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Oxford University ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Discourse Functions

Characterizing the discourse functions of linguistic expressions is surely one of the most difficult tasks in linguistic analysis. The starting point for any study of discourse functions is the examination of naturally occurring data; the limiting factor is the lack of well-developed theoretical frameworks for understanding language use. Still, a good descriptive study has lasting value, and empirical claims invite further analysis. Overstreet's study of the “general extenders” or something, and everything, and other members of this class makes a solid contribution on both fronts.

scholarly journals A pragmatic analysis of humour strategies and functions in 'Jenifa's Diary' and 'Professor JohnBull'

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 20-34
Author(s):  
Adesina B. Sunday ◽  
Ganiu A. Bamgbose
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Situation Comedies ◽  
Stand Up Comedy ◽  
Pragmatic Analysis ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Discourse Functions

Studies on humour in Nigeria have been extensively carried out from the perspectives of stand-up comedy and computer-mediated communication. There is a dearth of scholarly enquiries on humour in situation comedies (sitcoms). This paper investigates humour in the interactions of characters in Jenifa’s Diary and Professor JohnBull, with a view to accounting for the manifestations of humour, the humour strategies deployed and the functions that the humorous utterances serve in the sitcoms. The work is situated in Culpeper’s Impoliteness Theory. Eight excerpts from the sitcoms were subjected to pragmatic analysis. Two discourse functions of amusing and castigating are discovered in the data. The former serves the function of facilitating discourse and changing presumed power and status, while the latter serves the function of maintaining one’s own space and autonomy, and demanding respect. Allusion, parody, retort, tease, banter and putdown are the humour techniques employed in the sitcoms. The study corroborates the claim of earlier studies that humour in every sphere of language use serves certain functions beyond the interactional need to create amusement.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document