scholarly journals ‘To imagine a language means to imagine a form of life?’

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Christiane Luck
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Narrative Research ◽  
Linguistic Change ◽  
Reader Responses ◽  
Form Of Life ◽  
Inclusive Language ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
German Reader

Despite several decades of linguistic research and activism, neutral/inclusive language use is far from the norm in English and German. In this article I explore whether the encounter with neutral terminology in June Arnold’s novel The Cook and the Carpenter can prompt readers to question dominant practices and consider alternatives. Based on narrative research, my premise is that fiction can create familiarity with new terms and thereby support linguistic change. I frame my investigation with Wittgenstein’s notion that ‘to imagine a language means to imagine a form of life’, and put it to the test with a discourse analysis of English and German reader responses. The results of my study show that Arnold’s novel stimulates fruitful debate of the issue of gender and language. Based on my findings, I propose the text’s integration into linguistics education in order to further promote neutral/inclusive language use.

scholarly journals Perfecting the Theory of Meaning: The Story of Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. p50
Author(s):  
Hosni M. El-Dali
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Common Sense ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Making Meaning ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Deep Survey ◽  
The Common

The common sense view of what language is for is that language is used for communication. However, some of the most prominent linguists in the field reject this view. In other words, the majority of professional linguists used to adopt a view of language which is at odds with the view held by non-linguists. The phenomenon of communication has often been thought of as peripheral in linguistic research. This view is a result of the strong hold the abstract objectivist language conception has had on modern linguistic thought. Communication has been reduced to a subordinate place amongst the possible functions of language. This low status attributed to communication is challenged by different pragmatic approaches to language. On the other hand, the content and use of the term “communication” is even by humanistic standards extremely ambiguous, and it has, therefore, often been difficult to use in practical, empirical work. This study is primarily a deep survey of the major contributions of both “discourse analysis” and “pragmatics” in an attempt to clarify the problem of understanding meaning in language use. In addition, it attempts to show how language is used, as a persuasive tool, in political discourse.The present study demonstrates that it would be a mistake to adopt an approach to pragmatics and discourse analysis which focuses on linguistic factors alone, or social factors alone, to the exclusion of cognitive factors. Also, it would be a mistake to adopt an approach which is exclusively speaker-oriented or exclusively hearer-oriented. The process of making meaning is a joint accomplishment between speaker and hearer; between writer and reader. In addition, the present study shows that both disciplines “pragmatics” and “discourse analysis” are hybrid fields of inquiry; and their common themes are “language”, “language users”, “communication”, and “meaning in interaction”. Both disciplines have borrowed their theoretical and methodological orientations from almost the same social and human disciplines. Accordingly, the terms “pragmatics” and “discourse analysis” can be used interchangeably. Finally, the present study shows that political speech is one of the main persuasive tools used by politicians to present their political persons and to further their political agendas.

Attitudinal stance towards the anti-extradition bill movement in China Daily and South China Morning Post

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuling Cao ◽  
Danqi Zhang ◽  
Qianjun Luo
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
South China ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
South China Morning ◽  
China Daily

Abstract Based on Appraisal Theory and critical discourse analysis, this corpus-assisted study examines how China Daily (CD) and South China Morning Post (SCMP) used appraisal resources to express their respective stances towards the anti-extradition bill movement. The results show that both newspapers employed negative resources of Judgement and the predication strategy to convey their stance, but SCMP seemed more refrained in the use of appraisal resources. CD openly stated that any illegal actions should be punished, and SCMP also criticised these actions. Besides, CD emphasized the consequences brought by violence and attributed the breakout of the protests to the opposition camp’s political intention for their own benefit, whereas SCMP highlighted Hong Kongers’ widespread opposition to the bill. These differences in language use and stance might be explained by the different press systems they respectively belong to and related to their respective historical and socio-political contexts.

scholarly journals The Influence of Family Language Policy and Social Networks on Language Attitudes and Language Use of Russian-Language Youth

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-124
Author(s):  
Skirmantė Kubiliūtė
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Language Attitudes ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Language Policies ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Main Language ◽  
Linguistic Attitudes

Summary An individual’s linguistic attitudes and language repertoire are influenced by a variety of environmental factors. Linguistic research has shown that language use is highly influenced by language policies and social networks. This article seeks to analyze how certain language policies and social relationships affect one’s linguistic behavior. The aim of this study is to investigate the linguistic attitudes and language-use tendencies of Russian youth in Lithuanian cities. The participants of this study were Russians and Russian-speakers based in the three largest cities of Lithuania. Their ages ranged from 15 to 29 y.o. A total of 128 respondents participated in the survey. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to obtain the necessary data. The study revealed the main tendencies of language use of Russian youth, as well as the most distinct language attitudes in different cities. The results showed that the Russian community in Vilnius and Klaipeda is quite strong. The young generation tend to have stronger ties with other members of the group comparing to the Russian community in Kaunas. Russian remains the main language of communication in Russian families in Klaipėda and Vilnius. Meanwhile, in Kaunas, the Lithuanian language became the main language in both the public and private sectors. According to the collected data, school is one of the biggest influences in the formation of linguistic repertoire. A social network created in an educational institution might have even greater impact on a young person’s linguistic attitudes than family and its language policies. Other studies also showed that young individuals want to fit in, so they usually choose the language their peers use (Vilkienė, 2011; Geben, 2013 and others). Further linguistic research could examine larger groups, different ethnic minorities, observe the development of language use tendencies. Also, the information has to be updated periodically.

scholarly journals A Critical Discourse Analysis of Pakistani Newspapers Editorials in Coronavirus Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-153
Author(s):  
Nayab Waqas Khan ◽  
Mehak Muneer ◽  
Huma Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Linguistic Change ◽  
Local Newspapers ◽  
Rhetorical Questions ◽  
Second Wave

This research explores Pakistani newspapers Editorials’ lexical, morphological, and social aspects of the coronavirus Pandemic in Pakistan under the light of the Critical Discourse Analysis angle. The focal idea is to discover the etymological decision and rhetorical questions utilized in a revealing pandemic, and how did the columnists shape readers' minds and thoughts through their words. The CDA has been used as a theoretical framework for analyzing the data. Information for this examination includes 15 Editorial randomly gathered from 100 newspapers in Pakistan. Results demonstrated the exploitation of terminologies has been shown inconvenience, fear of contagious disease, death, fear of touching, and outbreak among people. The bogus information was additionally found in newspapers. Contradiction among newspapers was found while presenting data. This social change brings ultimately a linguistic change in the world. The English language is the language of overcoming gaps among nations, but this time it had correspondingly ushered in a new vocabulary to the general populace. For instance, new vocabulary, acronyms, synonyms, compounding, etc. Social change is parallel to linguistic change, and it is a paramount theme of lexicography. The local newspapers advocated a massive outbreak of the coronavirus and expected a second wave of this pandemic that was frustrating for the educational sector on top. The newspaper editors manipulate thoughts through forceful lexis usage to influence the thought, and opinions of Pakistani people.

scholarly journals De l’[emoció] a la [contra voluntat]: el procés de gramaticalització de malgrat als segles XII-XVI

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Caterina Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Noun Phrase ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Argumentation Theory ◽  
16Th Century ◽  
Linguistic Change

Resum: L’estudi que presentem se centra en el procés de gramaticalització de malgrat, des del paper com a Sintagma Nominal originari que expressa una [emoció] fins al valor de [contra voluntat] que arribà a assolir com a Sintagma Preposicional. Parem esment especialment en la retracció que experimentà malgrat justament a partir del segle xvi. Examinem l’evolució de malgrat segons les propostes de la Lingüística Cognitiva i, concretament, la Teoria de la Gramaticalització, i les combinem amb els plantejaments de l’Anàlisi del Discurs, la Teoria de l’Argumentació i la Pragmàtica. La defensa del canvi lingüístic arrelat en l’ús, d’acord amb la Teoria de la Intersubjectivació, ens ajuda a revisar les fonts i els valors de malgrat en català.Paraules clau: malgrat, gramaticalització, intersubjectivació, connector parentètic, desgrat, contra voluntat, concessivitat, focalització, retracció.Abstract: The present study focuses on the process of grammaticalization of malgrat, from the paper as an original Noun Phrase expressing an [emotion] to the value of [against will] that it has reached as a Preposition Phrase. We pay special attention to the retraction experienced by malgrat just as from the 16th century. We examine the evolution of malgrat according with the proposals of Cognitive Linguistics and, specially, the Theory of Grammaticalization, and we combine them with the approaches of Discourse Analysis, Argumentation Theory and Pragmatics. The defense of the linguistic change rooted in the use, in accordance with the Theory of Intersubjectivity, helps us to review the sources and the values of malgrat in Catalan.Keywords: malgrat, grammaticalization, intersubjectification, parenthetical connector, displeasure, against will, concessivity, focusing, retraction.

scholarly journals “El criado pesado”: La caracterización en la serie Águila Roja

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Luisa Chierichetti
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Television Series ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Colloquial Language ◽  
Television Audience

This article, based on the most recent studies on telecinematic dialogue, proposes a contribution to linguistic research on television series, one of the most influential popular cultural products in contemporary society. The work is based on the complete scripts of the successful Spanish series Águila Roja, aired on Radio Televisión Española between 2009 and 2016. Combining techniques of corpus linguistics and discourse analysis, this study examines the characterization of Satur, one of the main characters of this fiction, through the co-construction of the meaning, as processed by the television audience. The results suggest that Satur’s discourse is characterized by the use of contemporary colloquial language and by incongruity; such features create humor and familiarity with the audience.

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