Complex illocutive units in language into act theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Valentina Saccone ◽  
Marcelo Vieira ◽  
Alessandro Panunzi
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Pause Duration ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
List Type ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Stressed Syllable ◽  
Variation Rate ◽  
Compositional Information

This work presents a preliminary analysis for a prosodic description of two different spoken structures in spoken language within the theoretical framework of the Language into Act Theory (L-AcT): (i) chains of two or more Bound Comments (COB) that do not form a compositional informative and prosodic unit; (ii) compositional Information Units formed by two or more Multiple Comments (CMM) of the List type, linked together by a conventional prosodic model that implements a specific meta-illocutive structure . The goal of this study is to underline specific features of the COB units and the List-type CMM units, detecting prosodic properties of Italian and Brazilian Portuguese spoken language. Through a specific script for Praat software, different parameters are automatically calculated: f0 reset, slope and variation rate, pause duration, spectral emphasis. Our results highlighted a common prosodic behavior in COB-units in terms of f0 movement (rising in the stressed syllable before the break and falling in the unstressed one just before the break), and high similarity between the two COBs and Lists, but also the need to distinguish the effects connected to the position of the stress from the specific features of the unit as detectable Textual Unit.

scholarly journals Designing and building SCoPE²: A spoken corpus of Brazilian Portuguese and L2-English

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 49-64
Author(s):  
Giovani Santos
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Corpus Pragmatics ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Gathering Data ◽  
Selection Of

This paper presents the process of designing and building a bilingual spoken corpus in order to pragmatically analyse oral L2-English discourse produced by a group of Brazilian university students living in Ireland. It discusses some of the decisions made, challenges faced, and considerations taken while designing a do-it-yourself corpus with a theoretical framework grounded in Corpus Pragmatics. The main objective is to share the lessons learned by examining the steps of designing and building SCoPE², a bilingual spoken corpus, including the selection of participants, gathering data, and challenges in transcribing and coding spoken language with pragmatics in mind.

scholarly journals Frequent birth-and-death events throughout perforin-1 evolution

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Araujo-Voces ◽  
Victor Quesada
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Coding Sequences ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Multiple Species

Abstract Background Through its ability to open pores in cell membranes, perforin-1 plays a key role in the immune system. Consistent with this role, the gene encoding perforin shows hallmarks of complex evolutionary events, including amplification and pseudogenization, in multiple species. A large proportion of these events occurred in phyla for which scarce genomic data were available. However, recent large-scale genomics projects have added a wealth of information on those phyla. Using this input, we annotated perforin-1 homologs in more than eighty species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fishes. Results We have annotated more than 400 perforin genes in all groups studied. Most mammalian species only have one perforin locus, which may contain a related pseudogene. However, we found four independent small expansions in unrelated members of this class. We could reconstruct the full-length coding sequences of only a few avian perforin genes, although we found incomplete and truncated forms of these gene in other birds. In the rest of reptilia, perforin-like genes can be found in at least three different loci containing up to twelve copies. Notably, mammals, non-avian reptiles, amphibians, and possibly teleosts share at least one perforin-1 locus as assessed by flanking genes. Finally, fish genomes contain multiple perforin loci with varying copy numbers and diverse exon/intron patterns. We have also found evidence for shorter genes with high similarity to the C2 domain of perforin in several teleosts. A preliminary analysis suggests that these genes arose at least twice during evolution from perforin-1 homologs. Conclusions The assisted annotation of new genomic assemblies shows complex patterns of birth-and-death events in the evolution of perforin. These events include duplication/pseudogenization in mammals, multiple amplifications and losses in reptiles and fishes and at least one case of partial duplication with a novel start codon in fishes.

scholarly journals Frequent birth-and-death events throughout perforin-1 evolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Araujo-Voces ◽  
Víctor Quesada
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Coding Sequences ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Multiple Species

Abstract Background Through its ability to open pores in cell membranes, perforin-1 plays a key role in the immune system. Consistent with this role, the gene encoding perforin shows hallmarks of complex evolutionary events, including amplification and pseudogenization, in multiple species. A large proportion of these events occurred in phyla for which scarce genomic data were available. However, recent large-scale genomics projects have added a wealth of information on those phyla. Using this input, we annotated perforin-1 homologs in more than eighty species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fishes. Results We have annotated more than 400 perforin genes in all groups studied. Most mammalian species only have one perforin locus, which may contain a related pseudogene. However, we found four independent small expansions in unrelated members of this class. We could reconstruct the full-length coding sequences of only a few avian perforin genes, although we found incomplete and truncated forms of these gene in other birds. In the rest of reptilia, perforin-like genes can be found in at least three different loci containing up to twelve copies. Notably, mammals, non-avian reptiles, amphibians, and possibly teleosts share at least one perforin-1 locus as assessed by flanking genes. Finally, fish genomes contain multiple perforin loci with varying copy numbers and diverse exon/intron patterns. We have also found evidence for shorter genes with high similarity to the C2 domain of perforin in several teleosts. A preliminary analysis suggests that these genes arose at least twice during evolution from perforin-1 homologs. Conclusions The assisted annotation of new genomic assemblies shows complex patterns of birth-and-death events in the evolution of perforin. These events include duplication/pseudogenization in mammals, multiple amplifications and losses in reptiles and fishes and at least one case of partial duplication with a novel start codon in fishes.

WEAK DEMONSTRATIVES, ARE THERE ANY? A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE DATA

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Miguel Basso ◽  
Diego Rafael Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese

Neste artigo, analisamos a possibilidade de haver interpretações fracas com descrições demonstrativas. Olhando para os dados do português brasileiro, a resposta parece ser negativa. Para saber a razão para tanto, é necessário adotarmos uma teoria sobre definidos fracos. Neste trabalho, adotamos a teoria de Aguilar-Guevara & Zwarts (2010), que propõe que a interpretação fraca envolve referência a espécies. Adotamos também uma teoria sobre demonstrativos segundo a qual eles são um tipo de descrição definida com pressuposições específicas. Com essas teorias, é possível explicar as razões para não termos normalmente uma interpretação fraca com descrições demonstrativas, também é possível encontrar um tipo particular de contexto no qual de fato é possível encontrar interpretações fracas com descrições demonstrativas.

scholarly journals Discourse Relational Devices of Contrast in Lithuanian and English

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Jolita Šliogerienė ◽  
Giedrė Valūnaitė Oleškevičienė ◽  
Vilma Asijavičiūtė
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Spoken Discourse ◽  
Discourse Relations

When conjunctions are employed to link sentences, they become discourse relational devices The purpose of this study is to analyse if the semantic meaning of Lithuanian contrastive conjunctions o (but/when/whereas/while) and bet (but) coincides with the pragmatic meaning and to draw some parallels with their English counterparts. A corpus-based approach is employed to make generalizations on the use of Lithuanian conjunctions and their English counterparts, whereas discourse analysis provides a theoretical framework to analyse the conjunctions in spoken language and distinguish their peculiarities typical of this social context. The research reveals that Lithuanian conjunction bet and its English counterpart but demonstrate similar pragmatic behavior. On pragmatic level both conjunctions bet and but serve to object indirectly, to deny interlocutor’s ideas by first agreeing to them and then contradicting. Lithuanian conjunction o does not have a direct English counterpart. Lithuanian conjunction o, mainly contrastive in its semantic meaning, has manifold pragmatic meanings, therefore, it can be translated to English not only by but and and but also by any other English utterance introducer depending on the context. The focus of the research is spoken discourse which naturally implies certain limitations as it is not so much organized and more open to the recipient’s intervention. Knowledge of semantic meaning and pragmatic functions provides easily identifiable advice on how conjunctions could be used and translated. The object of the research is comparatively new in Lithuania and adds to the research field related to discourse relations studies.

Outcomes for Children With HL: Effects of Age of ID, Sign Support, and Auditory Prosthesis

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Nittrouer
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
List Type ◽  
Auditory Prosthesis ◽  
Language Outcomes ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Language Style ◽  
Language Input ◽  
Outcomes For Children

Abstract The purpose of the project reported here was to examine the effects of three independent variables on developmental outcomes for children with hearing loss (HL): age of identification of hearing loss, whether or not spoken language input was supported with signs and whether children used hearing aids (HAs) or cochlear implants (CI). Children with and without hearing loss were tested multiple times between 12 and 48 months of age, at their 6-month birthdays. Dependent variables were selected to examine all aspects of child development: receptive and expressive language, psychosocial components of personality, deleterious behaviors, adaptive behaviors, parental language style, and levels of parenting stress. Results support several main findings: None of the independent variables had any significant effect on any dependent variable unrelated to language. Mean levels of all language skills were delayed for all groups of children with HL, even those children identified at birth with only moderate losses that could be appropriately aided with HAs. For children with losses identified at birth, the use or nonuse of signs to support spoken language input did not affect language outcomes in the long run. Within the restricted range examined here, age of identification did not affect language outcomes, if children were not getting sign support; children with late-identified hearing loss receiving sign support were more delayed on all language measures than other children with HL. Regarding prosthesis, some experience using HAs was associated with better outcomes, even if children eventually received CIs. A parental language style that involved being very verbally responsive to the child's communicative attempts was strongly associated with positive language outcomes.

Is Mental Disease Just Brain Disease? The Limits to Biological Psychiatry

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mclaren
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Mental Disease ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Biological Psychiatry ◽  
Scientific Methodology ◽  
The Third ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Empirical Field

As a process of rational enquiry into an empirical field, psychiatry must submit itself to the same discipline as other areas of science. Effectively, it must show that its fundamental premises are both internally and externally consistent, and that its methods of investigation satisfy prevailing criteria of scientific methodology. When psychoanalytic psychology (and hence all psychodynamic models) and behaviourism were analysed from these points of view, they were found wanting. To date, there has been little or no meta-analysis of the third great school of psychiatric theorising, biological psychiatry. A preliminary analysis establishes sharp limits to the notion that biological psychiatry is the “wave of the future”. Like psychoanalysis and behaviourism, it cannot form the basis of a general theory of psychiatry. Since it lacks an adequate theoretical framework, the inescapable conclusion is that psychiatry is nothing more than protoscience.

Impact of Cognitive Impairment and Dysarthria on Spoken Language in Multiple Sclerosis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lynda Feenaughty ◽  
Ling-Yu Guo ◽  
Bianca Weinstock-Guttman ◽  
Meredith Ray ◽  
Ralph H.B. Benedict ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Pause Duration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Acoustic Measures ◽  
Perceptual Judgments ◽  
Speech Timing ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of cognitive impairment on spoken language produced by speakers with multiple sclerosis (MS) with and without dysarthria. Method: Sixty speakers comprised operationally defined groups. Speakers produced a spontaneous speech sample to obtain speech timing measures of speech rate, articulation rate, and silent pause frequency and duration. Twenty listeners judged the overall perceptual severity of the samples using a visual analog scale that ranged from no impairment to severe impairment (speech severity). A 2 × 2 factorial design examined main and interaction effects of dysarthria and cognitive impairment on speech timing measures and speech severity in individuals with MS. Each speaker group with MS was further compared to a healthy control group. Exploratory regression analyses examined relationships between cognitive and biopsychosocial variables and speech timing measures and perceptual judgments of speech severity, for speakers with MS. Results: Speech timing was significantly slower for speakers with dysarthria compared to speakers with MS without dysarthria. Silent pause durations also significantly differed for speakers with both dysarthria and cognitive impairment compared to MS speakers without either impairment. Significant interactions between dysarthria and cognitive factors revealed comorbid dysarthria and cognitive impairment contributed to slowed speech rates in MS, whereas dysarthria alone impacted perceptual judgments of speech severity. Speech severity was strongly related to pause duration. Conclusions: The findings suggest the nature in which dysarthria and cognitive symptoms manifest in objective, acoustic measures of speech timing and perceptual judgments of severity is complex.

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