The Passive Voice in Computer Manuals: A New Perspective

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise H. Cornelis
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Passive Voice ◽  
Automatic Computer ◽  
Active Voice ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Cognitive Linguistic ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
User Actions

There is much debate and confusion about the use of the passive voice in texts in general, and in computer manuals in particular. For example, it is often stated that the passive should be avoided, but on the other hand, it may also have a clear function in a text. The aim of this article is to provide clarity by presenting a straightforward principle for the use of the passive voice in computer manuals. This “alternation principle,” in which active voice is used for user actions and the passive voice for automatic computer, is backed by results from recent functional and cognitive linguistic research. It is illustrated by means of fragments from several computer manuals, including some (apparent) counter-examples.

Markedness and Perspective in the Interpretation of the Active and Passive Voice

1974 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Klenbort ◽  
Moshe Anisfeld
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
The Other ◽  
Clear Pattern ◽  
Passive Voice ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Logical Subject ◽  
The Difference

The subjects were presented with active and passive sentences. For each sentence, they had to choose between two alternative implications. The pattern of choices indicates that in the passive the logical subject was interpreted by the subjects as the focal point of the information asserted by the sentence and as the carrier of overall responsibility for the sentential proposition. In contrast to the passive, there was no clear pattern of preferences for the active. The difference between the two voices was attributed to their markedness asymmetry, the passive being marked and the active unmarked. It is concluded that the active offers a neutral structure for conveying information; a structure available for use when one does not want to superimpose on the information content any stylistic or connotational implications. The passive, on the other hand, suggests special connotations in addition to the basic message.

A Medieval Open Work

POETICA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 228-265
Author(s):  
Rafael Simian
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Specific Function ◽  
Umberto Eco ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Avant Garde ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Open Work ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
A Minor

Abstract Guigo II is commonly known and praised among specialists of Western mysticism for his Scala claustralium, a work that presents a spiritual program for cloistered monks. His Meditations, on the other hand, have usually been relegated to the margin of attention. The First Meditation, in particular, is generally regarded as a minor piece. The paper argues, however, that a new approach can make better sense of the First Meditation, while also enabling us to recognize its specific function and value. Seen from this new perspective, Guigo’s purpose with the text is to train and exercise his readers’ minds according to the spiritual program laid out in the Scala. The paper shows that the First Meditation realizes that goal, surprisingly, by having the same essential features that Umberto Eco found in the ‘open works’ of the Western avant-garde.

scholarly journals Does Obesity Shorten Life? Or is it the Soda? On Non-manipulable Causes

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judea Pearl
Keyword(s):  
Causal Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Cost ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
The One

AbstractNon-manipulable factors, such as gender or race have posed conceptual and practical challenges to causal analysts. On the one hand these factors do have consequences, and on the other hand, they do not fit into the experimentalist conception of causation. This paper addresses this challenge in the context of public debates over the health cost of obesity, and offers a new perspective, based on the theory of Structural Causal Models (SCM).

scholarly journals A Cognitive Linguistic Study of Silence/Pause-Based Incongruities in Selected Instances from Mind Your Language's Sitcom Series

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (30) ◽  
pp. 795-829
Author(s):  
Rana H. Al-Bahrani
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Linguistic Study ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Cognitive Linguistic ◽  
Facial Gestures

The present research aims at: First, to examine the reasons behind using silence/pause-based unintentional incongruities in selected instances from the British Sitcom Mind Your Language; second, to explore specifically the types of silence/pause-based unintentional incongruities and the different facial gestures that accompany each of these types. To meet these two objectives, the analysis will be theoretically and conceptually-based, respectively. Conclusions, as far as the first objective is concerned, have shown that silence can be used to reflect: the sense of being inattentive; lack of understanding; being unfamiliar with what one hears; the time needed for thinking and associating, and the act of hiding one's nervousness, etc. As for pause, it is used for reflecting the sense of being confused; indicating that there is an interrupting event; and giving time to oneself to comprehend, re-consider, and correct what one has said, etc. As for the second objective, it has been concluded that silence appears to have the four categories cited by Kostiuk (2012); these included the structural, reflexive, tactical, and ignorant types of silence. Pauses, on the other hand, have only three categories: tactical, structural, and reflexive. Speaking of the reactions and facial expressions that accompany silence when encountering unintentionally incongruous events, they include the following: closing one's eyes, and feeling amazed, proud, shocked, and speechless, etc. whereas those that accompany pause are: feeling confused, asking a question for clarification, and opening one's mouth, etc.  

Frequentie en luie-stoeltaalkunde : Een Friese taalkundige blikt terug op Nederlandse Taalkunde en op zichzelf

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204
Author(s):  
Eric Hoekstra
Keyword(s):  
Generative Grammar ◽  
The Other ◽  
Adequate Treatment ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Look Back ◽  
The One

Abstract Frequency and arm-chair linguistics. A Frisian linguist looks back on Dutch Linguistics and on himselfIn this contribution I focus on a paper written by Maarten Lemmens on progressive constructions, which appeared in Dutch Linguistics (2015). This paper illustrates the usefulness of frequency in linguistic research convincingly. Additionally I discuss the tension within generative grammar between vision on the one hand and a methodologically adequate treatment of data on the other hand. Finally, I look back on my own activities as a linguist, presenting some personal thoughts about the question what the usefulness is of mediocrity.

scholarly journals On the Hungarian Equivalents of the English Passive in Literary Translations A Case Study on the Translations of Two Novels

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-107
Author(s):  
Enikő Tankó
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Passive Voice ◽  
Discourse Function ◽  
Passive Construction ◽  
Other Hand

Abstract This paper investigates the choice of Hungarian equivalents for the English passive construction in translated texts in order to have a glimpse on how translators deal with the English passive. In previous studies (Tankó 2011, 2014), we have looked at the problems encountered by L1 speakers of Hungarian in the acquisition of the English passive voice, having identified different Hungarian equivalents of the English passive that native speakers would resort to when expressing a passive meaning. A special attention has been paid to the Hungarian predicative verbal adverbial construction, which seems to be the closest syntactic equivalent of the English passive, which captures most of its syntactic or discourse function properties. The main question to pursue is whether L1 speakers of Hungarian use the same strategies as shown in previous studies or they choose some other structures to express the passive meaning when it comes to translating literary texts. On the other hand, we would like to analyse Hungarian contexts which require a translation using the passive in English. Thus, our corpus consists of Orwell’s 1984 and Jókai Mór’s Az arany ember, comparing them with their translated versions.

scholarly journals Korean Drama Constructing Multiculturalism among Muslim Women Students

Al-Albab ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Okta Nurul Hidayati ◽  
M. Endy Saputro
Keyword(s):  
Women Students ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Muslim Women ◽  
The Other ◽  
Korean Culture ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
New Form ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
The One ◽  
Unique Relationship

Abstract This paper aims to understand the unique relationship between Korean drama and the formation of multicultural identity among Muslim women students. On the one hand, as a form of racial activity, watching Korean dramas can establish a new form of identity while at the same time enriching a new perspective of building multicultural sense. On the other hand as a part of Muslim, they can control Korean culture that is incompatible with Islamic doctrine. This paper argues that adopting Korean dramas positively supports students in creating multicultural cultures. These findings may contribute to the formation of cultural diversity within the Islamic context.

scholarly journals Het ons kerkwees in strukture gestol?

1986 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Spoelstra
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
People Of God ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
Formal Institution ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Distinct Concept ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Church Structures ◽  
The Church

Does the church freeze in structures? Indications worldwide reveal that no clear and distinct concept of the church prevails today. It is maintained that a dynamic concept of the church and ministerial view on ecclesiastical institutions gave way during the Enlightenment to the concept of the church as a fixed formal institution or a legally defined structure. Even the Reformation wanted to reform papacy and not to establish church structures in opposition to Rome. The structural and denominational view of the church triggered off recurrent church schisms and on the other hand gave birth to an overwhelming urge to unify and form worldwide ecumenical structures, whereby local diversities are even called sin. The question is raised: By retaining the dynamic concept of the church as humans, people of God, wouldn't a new perspective be opened on the problem of diversities?

scholarly journals Evaluation of Innovation Expenditures and Patents in the Polish Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Product Innovation ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
The Other ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Average Productivity ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Rational Management ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Effective Use

The aim of the research has been to identify the elasticity of process and product innovation expenditures, the number of inventions as well as the number of patents in terms of net revenues generated from the sales of new and significantly improved products in the Polish industry over the years 2015-2017. Furthermore, a focus was also placed on the determination of the marginal and average productivity of innovation expenditures, as well as that of inventions and patents as observed in the Polish industry within the above-indicated period. The calculated marginal and average productivity values of independent variables allow for an indication of the areas of their rational management in the Polish industry. The research shows that the elasticity of inventions is greater (0.403) than the process and product innovation expenditures (0.333). On the other hand, the second power regression performed points to the fact that the elasticity of process and product innovation expenditures is higher (0.420) than the patent expenditure (0.251) within the relative increase in net revenues generated from sales of new and significantly improved products in the industry in Poland. A hypothesis has been confirmed claiming that the elasticity of patents – be it at its lowest – does increase the level of flexibility of process and product innovation expenditures in the Polish industry. A quality verification of inventions and their distinction as intellectual and legal property in the category of patents leads to the effective use of process and product innovation outlays within the relative increase in the net revenues obtained from the sale of new and significantly improved products in the industry in Poland. The conducted research reveals a new perspective on inventions and patents. Although the number of patents may show less elasticity, patents were significant in increasing the efficiency of process and product innovation expenditures effectuated within the industry in Poland over the years 2015-2017

scholarly journals Making sense of the anger of the Gilets Jaunes

MaRBLe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Dubuffet
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
The Other ◽  
Complex Combination ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Societal Relevance ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Academic Relevance

While most experts attempt to understand the Gilets Jaunes by establishing the causes of their anger, this paper studies this unprecedented mobilisation by focusing on the anger the protesters express. Their anger is examined by analysing four discursive examples of this feeling through the conceptual framework developed by Koenis. This framework makes a distinction between two types of anger: the anger expressed by the man of ressentiment and the rebel, respectively depicted by Dostoyevsky and Camus. The academic relevance of this paper not only lies in its attempt to bring emotions back into the study of protest but also to reconsider these two ideal frames of anger. The societal relevance, on the other hand, lies in that it depicts the anger of the Gilets Jaunes as being a complex combination of the two frames. This new perspective enables to understand the nuances of anger which drives the protesters rather than just reducing the GJ’s mobilisation as a bare manifestation of this feeling.

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