The definition of the TOPIC within Language into Act Theory and its identification in spontaneous speech corpora

Revue Romane ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-62
Author(s):  
Emanuela Cresti ◽  
Massimo Moneglia
Keyword(s):  
American English ◽  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Illocutionary Force ◽  
Specific Function ◽  
Information Unit ◽  
Speech Corpora ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Good Percentage

Abstract The paper presents the definition of the TOPIC information unit within the Language into Act Theory (L-AcT) and the prosodic and informational criteria used for its recovery in spontaneous speech corpora: Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and American English. The TOPIC develops the specific function of field of application of the illocutionary force accomplished by the COMMENT unit, it is performed through a prefix prosodic unit and precedes the Comment. The TOPIC must be coherent with the set of requirements determined by the illocutionary force of the Comment and adequate to the speaker-addressee relation. TOPIC mostly correlates in spoken corpora with NP and ADVP and must be functionally distinguished from “postponed Topic” (APPENDIX in the L-ACT framework). However, corpora also show a good percentage of modal expressions filling its prosodic and distributional conditions.

scholarly journals Topic unit detection in spontaneous speech

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 69-106
Author(s):  
Frederico Amorim Cavalcante ◽  
Tommaso Raso ◽  
Giulia Bossaglia ◽  
Maryualê Mittmann ◽  
Bruno Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Kappa Statistic ◽  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Kappa Coefficient ◽  
Rater Agreement ◽  
Substantial Agreement ◽  
Speech Corpus ◽  
Information Unit ◽  
Theoretical Issues

This paper deals with an inter-annotator agreement test involving the identification of the information unit of Topic as defined within the framework of the Language into Act Theory (L-AcT). Fleiss’s kappa statistic was used to measure the agreement among the four annotators who took part in the test. The data used was sampled from C-ORAL-BRASIL II, a spontaneous speech corpus of Brazilian Portuguese. The paper begins by outlining of the theoretical underpinnings of L-AcT, dedicating special attention to aspects directly related to the notion of Topic. Section 2 presents the pilot test and discusses methodological and theoretical issues that were relevant for the design of the protocol that was eventually used in the actual test. Sections 3 and 4 deal with the test, its protocol and results (the kappa coefficient for the general agreement was 0.79, which by usual standards represents a substantial agreement). Section 5 first provides a brief review of a few studies conducted according to other frameworks which have dealt with inter-rater agreement on the annotation of information structure categories. Finally, the errors observed in the test are analyzed qualitatively.

scholarly journals Constraints on the usage of verbal negation in Brazilian portuguese– Evidence from a spoken corpus

Káñina ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Luis Filipe Lima e Silva ◽  
Heliana Mello
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Illocutionary Force ◽  
Speech Corpus ◽  
Free Distribution

The verbal negation system of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) presents three forms: preverbal, double and postverbal negation, as can be seen in the following examples: *MIC: [91] mas / Michael / eunãofalonessesentido // (ii) *DOM: [101] cêsnũlêemissomaisnão // (iii) *RUT: [220] participanão / minhafilha //. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is any kind of prosodic-informational restriction to the distribution and use of the above-mentioned negation forms in BP through the spontaneous speech corpus C-ORAL-BRASIL BRASIL (Raso& Mello, 2012). Through the analysis of the data collected from C-ORAL-BRASIL, we propose that double and postverbal negation can only occur in illocutionary information units (COM, CMM, COB), whereas preverbal negation has free distribution, occurring in both illocutionary and non-illocutionary textual units. This indicates that non-canonical negation forms depend on illocutionary force in order to be fully realized. 

scholarly journals Constraints on the usage of verbal Brazilian portuguese - Evidence from a spoken corpus

Káñina ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Luis Filipe Lima e Silva ◽  
Heliana Mello
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Illocutionary Force ◽  
Speech Corpus ◽  
Free Distribution

The verbal negation system of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) presents three forms: preverbal, double and postverbal negation, as can be seen in following examples: *MIC: [91] mas / Michael / eu não falo nesse sentido // (ii) *DOM: [101] cês nũ lêem isso mais não // (iii) *RUT: [220] participa não / minha filha //. The goal of this paper is to investigate whether there is any kind of prosodic-informational restriction to the distribution and use of the above mentioned negation forms in BP through the spontaneous speech corpus C-ORAL-BRASIL BRASIL (Raso & Mello, 2012). Through the analysis of data from C-ORAL-BRASIL, we propose that double and postverbal negation can only occur in illocutionary information units (COM, CMM, COB); whereas preverbal negation has free distribution, occurring in both illocutionary and non-illocutionary textual units. This indicates that non-canonical negation forms depend on illocutionary force in order to be fully realized. 

The role of cross-linguistic stress pattern frequency and word similarity on the acquisition of English stress pattern by native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Post Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
American English ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Stress Pattern ◽  
Target Language ◽  
English As Second Language ◽  
Word Similarity ◽  
L1 Transfer

This is a preliminary study in which we investigate the acquisition of English as second language (L2[1]) word stress by native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese (BP, L1[2]). In this paper, we show results of a multiple choice forced choice perception test in which native speakers of American English and native speakers of Dutch judged the production of English words bearing pre-final stress that were both cognates and non-cognates with BP words. The tokens were produced by native speakers of American English and by Brazilians that speak English as a second language. The results have shown that American and Dutch listeners were consistent in their judgments on native and non-native stress productions and both speakers' groups produced variation in stress in relation to the canonical pattern. However, the variability found in American English points to the prosodic patterns of English and the variability found in Brazilian English points to the stress patterns of Portuguese. It occurs especially in words whose forms activate neighboring similar words in the L1. Transfer from the L1 appears both at segmental and prosodic levels in BP English. [1] L2 stands for second language, foreign language, target language. [2] L1 stands for first language, mother tongue, source language.

Rapid Collection of Spontaneous Speech Corpora Using Telephonic Community Forums

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agha Ali Raza ◽  
Awais Athar ◽  
Shan Randhawa ◽  
Zain Tariq ◽  
Muhammad Bilal Saleem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Speech Corpora

Translation and Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Scale With Brazilian Women

2021 ◽  
pp. 036168432110134
Author(s):  
Alessandra Costa Pereira Junqueira ◽  
Tracy L. Tylka ◽  
Sebastião de Sousa Almeida ◽  
Telma Maria Braga Costa ◽  
Maria Fernanda Laus
Keyword(s):  
Factor Structure ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Incremental Validity ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Definition Of

In many countries, women are socialized to adopt a narrow definition of beauty. Research has revealed that, in the United States and China, the ability to broadly conceptualize beauty (perceive beauty in diverse body sizes, shapes, and appearances) is linked to women’s lower anti-fat attitudes, higher body appreciation, and higher well-being. In this study, we translated an existing measure of this construct, the Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Scale (BCBS), into Brazilian Portuguese and evaluated the factor structure and reliability and validity of its scores with a diverse sample of 563 Portuguese women. Findings revealed that the Brazilian Portuguese BCBS contains two factors—external/appearance features of beauty (BCBS-E) and internal features of beauty (BCBS-I)—contrary to the unidimensional factor structure found in previous studies. Support for internal consistency and 3-week test–retest reliability was garnered. Total BCBS and BCBS-E scores evidenced convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity, whereas the BCBS-I did not accrue substantial convergent or incremental validity support beyond its inverse bivariate association with anti-fat attitudes. We recommend the use of the Brazilian Portuguese BCBS in body image research programs as well as clinical practice and prevention programs with Brazilian women seeking support for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

Thorikos Mine no. 3: the Mycenaean Pottery

1995 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 195-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Mountjoy
Keyword(s):  
Mining Activity ◽  
Specific Function ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Early Pottery

The Transitional LH III B2/C early pottery from Thorikos mine No. 3 is of particular importance for the definition of this as yet little-known phase. It is also of interest for its context. The assemblage is unusual; its nature implies a specific function rather than the debris of normal settlement. It is suggested that it may have resulted from mining activity.

scholarly journals English and Portuguese consonant clusters: contrasts and challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Madureira
Keyword(s):  
American English ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Consonant Clusters ◽  
Front Vowel ◽  
Vowel Epenthesis ◽  
Speech Learning Model ◽  
Speech Learning

ABSTRACT Consonant clusters occur both in Portuguese and English. However, clusters are more productive in English than in Portuguese and there are sequences which are only found in English.This study focuses on the contrasts between American English and Brazilian Portuguese consonant clusters and on three strategies Brazilian learners tend to apply when producing them: adding the high front vowel (epenthesis) between the consonants in the clusters, discarding consonants, or introducing phonetic changes. The relevance of introducing English clusters to Brazilian learners of English is pointed out and discussed under the framework of the Speech Learning Model (SLM).

scholarly journals CREATIVITY AND TRANSLATOR TRAINING: INVESTIGATING WORDPLAYS IN AMERICAN SITCOM 2 BROKE GIRLS SUBTITLED INTO BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adauri Brezolin ◽  
Tatiane de Paula Bóvis Spinetti
Keyword(s):  
American English ◽  
Free Association ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Linguistic Awareness ◽  
Translator Training ◽  
Pragmatic Aspects

Translating wordplays has been considered a challenging task and an appropriate exercise for building (meta)linguistic awareness in translation students. By comparing wordplays from American sitcom 2 Broke Girls translated from American English into Brazilian Portuguese, we discuss, in this article, the main mechanisms used to generate and translate wordplays. For solutions considered ineffective in the target language, suggestions are offered emphasizing the creative and pragmatic aspects surrounding this linguistic event. Our results show that it is possible to encourage creativity among translation students if suitable techniques, such as free association, are adopted in the classroom. Our discussion can be a useful didactic tool for reflecting on theoretical and practical aspects related to wordplays, (meta)linguistic awareness and creativity. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0847/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

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