Deconstructing innercirclism: a critical exploration of multimodal discourse in an English as a foreign language textbook

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Christopher Smith
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Multimodal Discourse ◽  
Critical Exploration

Multimodal Humor in Plenary Lectures in English and in Spanish

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada Fortanet-Gómez ◽  
Noelia Ruiz-Madrid
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Academic Discourse ◽  
Plenary Lecture ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Multimodal Discourse Analysis ◽  
Multimodal Discourse ◽  
Semiotic Resources

AbstractHumor is present in most instances of human to human interaction and has often been studied by discourse analysis (Long and Graesser 2009). These studies have taken several perspectives but have often ignored the multimodal aspect of humor even more if the genres selected have been in oral academic discourse. In this paper we focus on a genre that has rarely been studied, the conference plenary lecture. Taking as a theoretical model Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) we look at the semiotic resources employed by two senior researchers: one Spanish, Dr. Jose Manuel Blecua and one British, Dr David Crystal. They were plenary speakers in two different conferences. In their speeches Dr. Blecua dealt with Spanish as a Foreign language and Dr. Crystal with English as a Foreign language. Although there does not seem to have been any point of contact between them, their lectures show a number of similarities especially with regard to the semiotic resources they use in order to produce humor.

scholarly journals Applications of multimodal concordances

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (41) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Anthony Baldry ◽  
Paul J. Thibault
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Multimodal Literacy ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Multimodal Discourse ◽  
Language Tests ◽  
Multimodal Corpora ◽  
Multimodal Corpus ◽  
Textual Organization

Multimodal corpus linguistics has so far been a theoretical rather than an applicative discipline. This paper sketches out proposals that attempt to bridge between these two perspectives. It does so with particular reference to the development of the conceptual and software tools required to create and concordance multimodal corpora from the applicative standpoint and as such is designed to underpin the study of texts at universities in foreign-language teaching and testing cycles. One branch of this work relates to multimedia language tests which, as illustrated in Section 2, use concordancing techniques to analyze multimodal texts in relation to students’ understanding of oral and written forms of discourse in English. Another branch is the exploration of multimodal tests concerned with the explicit assessment of students’ knowledge of the principles and/or models of textual organization of multimodal texts. The two types of test are not mutually exclusive. A third branch of research thus relates to the development of hybrid tests which, for example, combine a capacity to analyze multimodal texts with an assessment of students’ language skills, such as fluency in speaking and writing in English or which ascertain the multimodal literacy competencies of students and the differing orientations to meaning-making styles that individuals manifest. The paper considers these different applicative perspectives by describing the different categories of concordance achievable with the MCA online concordancer (Section 2) and by defining their relevance to multimodal discourse analysis (Section 3). It also illustrates the use of meaning-oriented multimodal concordances in the creation and implementation of multimodal tests (Sections 4). It concludes by suggesting that the re-interpretation of the nature and functions of concordances is long overdue and that the exploration of new types of concordance is salutary for linguistics and semiotics in general.

Mapping reflexivity in situ: A multimodal exploration of negotiated textbook discourses in Korean university EFL classrooms

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110249
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Multimodal Interaction ◽  
Critical Studies ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Multimodal Discourse ◽  
University Classrooms ◽  
Scholarly Attention

The present study identifies and maps the reflexive praxis of two experienced English as a foreign language (EFL) instructors as they reconstruct and negotiate textbook material in situ. An abundance of critical studies underscoring social injustices in the contents of globally published EFL textbooks do not sufficiently address the negotiation of their multimodal discourses during class time. Although reflexive teaching practice in language learning classrooms has a robust pool of research, limited scholarly attention has been given to the active negotiation of a textbook’s multimodal discourse in Korean university classrooms. The present study asks: (1) How do two instructors at different Korean universities negotiate the contents of an EFL textbook with their students during class? (2) How do the students react to the multimodal discourse negotiated in their textbooks? (3) What pedagogical implications do the findings lend to EFL textbook instruction in Korean university contexts? Using Norris’ (2004) framework for video transcription of multimodal interaction in two Korean university English communication classes, the findings reveal that reflexive negotiation between students and instructors is a kind of rhetorical accomplishment that lessens the potential for cultural marginalization in the multimodal discourse of EFL textbooks. Implications suggest that textbook reflexivity in situ raises the value of student EFL learning investments.

scholarly journals EXPLORING TEXT-IMAGE RELATIONS IN ENGLISH COMICS FOR CHILDREN: THE CASE OF “LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD”

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ton Nu My Nhat ◽  
Nguyen Thi Mi Pha
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Multimodal Discourse Analysis ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Multimodal Discourse ◽  
Little Red Riding Hood ◽  
Practical Implications

The present panorama of communication features the co-employment of language and other semiotic resources. This paper addresses this fledging field, multimodal discourse analysis, by investigating a genre targeted at children. Specifically, it studies how meanings in comics for children are constructed both verbally and visually. The data for the study is one comic - Little Red Riding Hood, which is presented via colored images and verbal texts in English. The analysis was based on Unsworth’s (2006) framework to explore the interplay of the two semiotics in the construction of the ideational contents. The results reveal that this comic displays both Expansion and Projection relations with nearly equal occurrence frequencies; however, within each type, the subtypes are vastly different with Verbal being the most predominant, which can be deemed as one of the typical features of the genre in focus. Regarding Expansion, Concurrence and Complementarity have nearly the same high percentage while Enhancement has a lower proportion. Theoretically, the findings concerning a complete full-length comic contribute to the literature on multimodal texts for young learners. The findings also have practical implications for the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language as to how to exploit the free online kid-targeted multimodal resources to engage the young learners in literary works in general and to develop their English proficiency in particular.    

Employing Latino Value Orientations to Facilitate Success in Stuttering Treatment

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Lourdes Ramos-Heinrichs ◽  
Lynn Hansberry Mayo ◽  
Sandra Garzon
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Therapeutic Relationship ◽  
Service Provider ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Collaborative Partnership ◽  
The Family ◽  
Therapy Services ◽  
Cultural Connections

Abstract Providing adequate speech therapy services to Latinos who stutter can present challenges that are not obvious to the practicing clinician. This article addresses cultural, religious, and foreign language concerns to the therapeutic relationship between the Latino client and the clinician. Suggestions are made for building cross-cultural connections with clients and incorporating the family into a collaborative partnership with the service provider.

Eye Movements of Children and Adults While Reading Television Subtitles

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Géry d'Ydewalle ◽  
Wim De Bruycker
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Native Language ◽  
Verbal Information ◽  
Single Text ◽  
Grade 5 ◽  
Reading Patterns ◽  
Attentional System

Abstract. Eye movements of children (Grade 5-6) and adults were monitored while they were watching a foreign language movie with either standard (foreign language soundtrack and native language subtitling) or reversed (foreign language subtitles and native language soundtrack) subtitling. With standard subtitling, reading behavior in the subtitle was observed, but there was a difference between one- and two-line subtitles. As two lines of text contain verbal information that cannot easily be inferred from the pictures on the screen, more regular reading occurred; a single text line is often redundant to the information in the picture, and accordingly less reading of one-line text was apparent. Reversed subtitling showed even more irregular reading patterns (e.g., more subtitles skipped, fewer fixations, longer latencies). No substantial age differences emerged, except that children took longer to shift attention to the subtitle at its onset, and showed longer fixations and shorter saccades in the text. On the whole, the results demonstrated the flexibility of the attentional system and its tuning to the several information sources available (image, soundtrack, and subtitles).

Use of the TOEFL as a Standard for University Admission: A Position Statement by the Canadian Psychological Association

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marvin L. Simner
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
Considerable Evidence ◽  
Canadian Universities ◽  
Weak Relationship ◽  
University Admission ◽  
Canadian Psychological Association

Nearly all Canadian universities employ, as a standard for university admission, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In light of considerable evidence indicating only a weak relationship between TOEFL scores and academic achievement, the Canadian Psychological Association recently issued a report containing a position statement that called upon Canadian universities to refrain from employing the TOEFL in this manner. Because the concerns raised in the report are likely to apply to many universities outside Canada, the entire report is reproduced in this article.

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