Multimodality and construction grammar

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Zima ◽  
Alexander Bergs
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Cognitive Organization ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Multimodal Language ◽  
Tone Of Voice ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Head Gestures

AbstractThe meaning-making process in face-to-face interaction relies on the integration of meaningful information being conveyed by speech as well as the tone of voice, facial expressions, hand and head gestures, body postures and movements (McNeill 1992; Kendon 2004). Hence, it is inherently multimodal. Usage-based linguistics attributes language use a fundamental role in linguistic theorizing by positing that the language system is grounded in and abstracted from (multimodal) language use. However, despite this inherent epistemological link, usage-based linguists have hitherto conceptualized language as a system of interconnected verbal, i. e. monomodal units, leaving nonverbal usage aspects and the question of their potential entrenchment as part of language largely out of the picture.This is – at least at first sight – surprising because the usage-based model of Construction Grammar (C × G) seems particularly well-equipped to unite the natural interest of linguists in the units that define language systems with the multimodality of language use. Constructions are conceptualized as holistic “conventionalized clusters of features (syntactic, prosodic, pragmatic, semantic, textual, etc.) that recur as further indivisible associations between form and meaning” (Fried 2015: 974). Given its conceptual openess to all levels of usage features, several studies have recently argued for the need to open up the current focus of C × G towards kinesic recurrences (Günthner & Imo 2006; Deppermann 2011; Deppermann & Proske 2015; Andrén 2010; Schoonjans 2014; Schoonjans et al. 2015; Steen & Turner 2013; Zima 2014a; Zima 2014b, in press; Cienki 2012; Cienki 2015; Mittelberg 2014; Müller & Bressem 2014; Bergs 2015; Valenzuela 2015). Departing from the usage-based foundation of C × G which takes “grammar to be the cognitive organization of one’s experience with language” (Bybee 2006: 219), these studies suggest that the basic units of language, i. e. constructions, may be multimodal in nature.This paper presents some of the current issues for a Multimodal Construction Grammar. The aim is to frame the debate and to briefly summarize some of the discussion’s key issues. The individual papers in the special issue elaborate in more detail on particular points of discussion and/or present empirical case studies.

Monkey on My Back. An Autoethnographic Narrative of a Therapeutic Experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Wiesner
Keyword(s):  
Personal Experience ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
The Self ◽  
Symbolic Language ◽  
Discursive Practices ◽  
Therapeutic Experience ◽  
Postmodern Philosophy ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Global Uncertainty

With a conscious attempt to contribute to contemporary discussions in mad/trans/queer/monster studies, the monograph approaches complex postmodern theories and contextualizes them from an autoethnographic methodological perspective. As the self-explanatory subtitle reads, the book introduces several topics as revelatory fields for the author’s self-exploration at the moment of an intense epistemological and ontological crisis. Reflexively written, it does not solely focus on a personal experience, as it also aims at bridging the gap between the individual and the collective in times of global uncertainty. There are no solid outcomes defined; nevertheless, the narrative points to a certain—more fluid—way out. Through introducing alternative ways of hermeneutics and meaning-making, the book offers a synthesis of postmodern philosophy and therapy, evolutionary astrology as a symbolic language, embodied inquiry, and Buddhist thought that together represent a critical attempt to challenge the pathologizing discursive practices of modern disciplines during the neoliberal capitalist era.

scholarly journals Eye contact effect: The role of vagal regulation and reactivity, and self-regulation of attention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Niedźwiecka
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Autonomic Regulation ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Contact Effect ◽  
The Individual

AbstractEye contact is a crucial aspect of social interactions that may enhance an individual’s cognitive performance (i.e. the eye contact effect) or hinder it (i.e. face-to-face interference effect). In this paper, I focus on the influence of eye contact on cognitive performance in tasks engaging executive functions. I present a hypothesis as to why some individuals benefit from eye contact while others do not. I propose that the relations between eye contact and executive functioning are modulated by an individual’s autonomic regulation and reactivity and self-regulation of attention. In particular, I propose that individuals with more optimal autonomic regulation and reactivity, and more effective self-regulation of attention benefit from eye contact. Individuals who are less well regulated and over- or under-reactive and who do not employ effective strategies of self-regulation of attention may not benefit from eye contact and may perform better when eye contact is absent. I present some studies that justify the proposed hypothesis and point to a method that could be employed to test them. This approach could help to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying the individual differences in participant’s cognitive performance during tasks engaging executive functions.

scholarly journals Speakers exhibit a multimodal Lombard effect in noise

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Trujillo ◽  
Asli Özyürek ◽  
Judith Holler ◽  
Linda Drijvers
Keyword(s):  
Motion Capture ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Visual Channel ◽  
Lombard Effect ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Acoustic Analyses ◽  
Acoustic Modulation ◽  
Action Verbs

AbstractIn everyday conversation, we are often challenged with communicating in non-ideal settings, such as in noise. Increased speech intensity and larger mouth movements are used to overcome noise in constrained settings (the Lombard effect). How we adapt to noise in face-to-face interaction, the natural environment of human language use, where manual gestures are ubiquitous, is currently unknown. We asked Dutch adults to wear headphones with varying levels of multi-talker babble while attempting to communicate action verbs to one another. Using quantitative motion capture and acoustic analyses, we found that (1) noise is associated with increased speech intensity and enhanced gesture kinematics and mouth movements, and (2) acoustic modulation only occurs when gestures are not present, while kinematic modulation occurs regardless of co-occurring speech. Thus, in face-to-face encounters the Lombard effect is not constrained to speech but is a multimodal phenomenon where the visual channel carries most of the communicative burden.

Practitioner Review: Continuity and Change: The Fair Work Act in Aviation

2011 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Bussell ◽  
John Farrow
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Continuity And Change ◽  
National Debate ◽  
New Development ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

This article begins by discussing the specific industrial relations challenges of the highly competitive aviation industry. It then reflects on the outcome of the recent intense national debate over industrial relations, exploring the consequences of that debate for practice and policy, and discusses some key issues that remain in play. Although the Fair Work Act 2009 may have come about as a reaction to what many perceive as the ‘excesses’ of Work Choices, the new Act does not so much ‘wind back the clock’ as represent a significant new development in Australia’s long and unique industrial relations history. This article will discuss the impact of the changes, to date, made by the Fair Work Act on one organization, including the expansion of the ‘safety net’, and how the new compromise between the role of the ‘collective’ and the role of the ‘individual’ struck by the Act has the potential to fundamentally change the nature and structure of bargaining. We offer these comments as practitioners who have worked under successive industrial relations regimes since the early 1980s.

scholarly journals Language Use in a Multilingual Class: a Study of the Relation Between Bilingual Students’ Languages and Their Meaning-Making in Science

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Ünsal ◽  
Britt Jakobson ◽  
Bengt-Olov Molander ◽  
Per-Olof Wickman
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Bilingual Students ◽  
Class A

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the Nutritional App “MyNutriCart” on Food Choices Related to Purchase and Dietary Behavior: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Palacios ◽  
Michelle Torres ◽  
Desiree López ◽  
Maria Trak-Fellermeier ◽  
Catherine Coccia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Baseline Body Mass Index ◽  
Traditional Group ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Cured Meats ◽  
Food Recalls ◽  
The Individual

Objective: To pilot test the effectiveness of “MyNutriCart”, a smartphone application (app) that generates healthy grocery lists, on diet and weight. Methods: A pilot randomized trial was conducted to test the efficacy of using the “MyNutriCart” app compared to one face-to-face counseling session (Traditional group) in Hispanic overweight and obese adults. Household food purchasing behavior, three 24-h food recalls, Tucker’s semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and weight were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. Statistical analyses included t tests, a Poisson regression model, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using STATA. Results: 24 participants in the Traditional group and 27 in the App group completed the study. Most participants were women (>88%), with a mean age of 35.3 years, more than a high school education (>80%), a family composition of at least three members, and a mean baseline body mass index (BMI) of 34.5 kg/m2. There were significant improvements in household purchasing of vegetables and whole grains, in individual intakes of refined grains, healthy proteins, whole-fat dairies, legumes, 100% fruit juices, and sweets and snacks; and in the individual frequency of intake of fruits and cold cuts/cured meats within the intervention group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between groups. No changes were detected in weight. Conclusions: “MyNutriCart” app use led to significant improvements in food-related behaviors compared to baseline, with no significant differences when compared to the Traditional group. Cost and resource savings of using the app compared to face-to-face counseling may make it a good option for interventionists.

scholarly journals Face to face with the suicidal

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 188-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gethin Morgan ◽  
Carole Buckley ◽  
Mike Nowers
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Near Future

The clinical assessment and management of suicide risk depends primarily on face to face contact with the individual who presents the risk, and aims to predict behaviour in the very near future. Whether or not clinical intervention prevents suicide depends a great deal on the clinician's skill in reaching out to the individual patient. This poses a dilemma, because much of what has been written about predicting suicide has been based on averaged data concerning long-term outcome in large cohorts of patients.

scholarly journals “Swinging Pendulum”: Lives of Family Members Caring for A Dying Relative

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Sumaguingsing ◽  
Rudolf Cymorr Kirby Palogan Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Spiritual Support ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Interpretive Phenomenology ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Van Manen ◽  
Informal Carers ◽  
The Individual

Among cultures which place emphasis on the centrality of family in ones lives, the care for the dying patient is more often than not delegated on family members. Given this context, it is interesting to note that few research have been done on the experiences of these individuals who provide care to their dying relatives. This research aims to understand the lives of these informal carers as they provide care to their dying relatives. After securing clearance from an IRB, seven (5) informants, deemed as coresearchers, were recruited and agreed to participate in this study. The co-researchers where selected based on a pre-set criteria and the number were reached based on theoretical saturation. Multiple individual in-depth face-to-face interviews were done to create the individual narratives which was later reflectively analysed. Interpretive phenomenology as espoused by van Manen served as the philosophical underpinning of the study. Consequently, the proposed analytic technique of van Manen was utilized as the process of reflective analysis. After the process of reflective analysis, three (3) themes were gathered, namely: Ambivalence in anticipation, Courage in uncertainty, Meaning in suffering. These themes represent for the co-researchers their lives as they care for their dying relatives. Further, these themes reflects for the co-researchers a phenomenon of living moment-to-moment, unsure of what tomorrow will bring, patiently waiting for their relative to cross over. For them, there seems to be a constant struggle of finding a reason for being and a sense of what has happened, what is happening and what could happen to their dying relative and their family after their death. This essence can be symbolically represented by a swinging pendulum, constantly in motion trying to situate ambivalence in their anticipation, looking for courage amidst uncertainty and finding formeaning in their experience of suffering. The insights suggest that there is a need for constant dialogue among family members and health care providers as they assumed the role of primary caregivers. Further continued emotional, moral and spiritual support is implied during this transition as well as follow-ups when the families are at the home setting.

scholarly journals Effect of the Leisure Activities on the Level of Psychological stress among the elderly during the Coronavirus Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78
Author(s):  
Ayed Zureigat ◽  
Osama Abdel Fattah
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Physical Abilities ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: It is well known that advancing age is accompanied by many negative feelings due to the feeling of loneliness and psychological emptiness, which leads to the individual feeling that society does not need him due to his weak physical abilities and thus this, will negatively affect healthy aging. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effect of the leisure activities on the psychological stress among the elderly during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak. Design: To achieve this, we used the quasi-experimental approach on a sample consisting of 54, with the average age of (65.4±2.3) years. Divided into two groups 27 as a control group and 27 as the experimental group and this sample was purposively selected. Because of the home quarantine and to reduce face-to-face interaction, we used a questionnaire to measure the psychological stress level by using the Google form. The study tool consisted of 7 paragraphs associated with depression and 6 paragraphs associated with anxiety, finally 6 paragraphs associated with aggression. Before applying the experiment, the psychological stress was measured among the study sample, and then the leisure activities program was sent to the experimental group by the WhatsApp application. The researchers used means, standard deviations, paired and independent sample t-test by using SPSS version 24 with a confidence level of 95% (p<0.05). Results: The results of the study have shown that the level of the psychological stress among both groups came with a high average in the pre-measurement, as well as the anxiety domain that were the most affected in a positive way through leisure activities practicing. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences between the pre and post measurement among experiment group and favor of the post measurement. Conclusion: the leisure activities practicing among the elderly have contributed positively to reducing the level of psychological stress represented by depression, anxiety.

scholarly journals Addiction service changes due to COVID-19

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S349-S349
Author(s):  
Shumaila Shahbaz ◽  
Zeeshan Hashmani ◽  
Soraya Mayet
Keyword(s):  
Opioid Dependence ◽  
Data Retrieval ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Attendance Rates ◽  
Opioid Substitution Treatment ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Addiction Service ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Opioid Substitution

AimsAddictions services had to respond rapidly to reduce COVID-19 transmission to protect patients and staff. Patients with opioid dependence are particularly vulnerable, with high risks. Our community addiction service changed practice in line with COVID-19 guidelines. For patients with opioid dependence; face-to-face contacts were initially reduce and mainly for new starts, restarts and non-attenders. Prescribing changes were completed on an individually risk assessed basis to reduce attendance at the chemist, specifically to reduce transmission, keep patients in treatment and to ensure chemists could continue to function. We document some of the service changes during the COVID-19 lockdown.MethodService evaluation had approval from Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust. Data retrieved on one Hub of a community addictions service in North England, UK. Patients prescribed opioid substitution treatment for opioid dependence were assessed, with data retrieval through electronic healthcare records. Data were analysed by Microsoft Excel anonymously.ResultIn lockdown (March 2020 to June 2020), we identified 112 patients with opioid dependence prescribed opioid substitution (OST) with methadone or buprenorphine at the Hub. All white British, mean 42 years, most male (75%) and prescribed methadone (78%). Ten were new starts and 8 restarts to OST. Attendance rates did not change: 91% before and 92% during lockdown. Appointment format changed from predominantly face-to-face (92%) to telephone (99%). Most patients (91%;n = 88) were offered take-home naloxone and overdose prevention training of which 14 refused. Supervision days at the chemist for OST reduced significantly from 75% collecting daily at the chemist, reducing to 20% during lockdown. Five patients were shielding and 7 had covid-related symptoms. There was one death during lockdown which was not attributed to covid or overdose.ConclusionThe addictions service continued to be open and work proactively throughout lockdown, seeing new patients and continuing treatment interventions safely. Major changes were made in line with COVID-19 guidelines, to respond to the threat of transmission. Our service was flexible and able to adapt quickly to remote working. We maintained excellent attendance rates despite changes to the format of consultations. There were no related incidents e.g. overdoses linked to prescribed medications, despite a reduction in supervision, and therefore patients having extra medications. This important finding may be related to the individual risk assessments that we conducted before making changing to prescribing. This was supported by most patients were receiving naloxone to prevent overdoses. Some of the changes, such as telephone consultations, may be beneficial to continue post COVID-19.

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