scholarly journals Rare and uncommon vocabulary as a pragmatic tool of modern French political discourse

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 92-107
Author(s):  
Evgeniya A. Solovyeva
Keyword(s):  
Political Discourse ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Cultural Communication ◽  
Discursive Analysis ◽  
Google Books ◽  
Discourse Studies ◽  
Performance Capture ◽  
Pragmatic Motivation

The article deals with the rare and uncommon vocabulary used in contemporary French political discourse. Nowadays discourse studies are becoming increasingly complex and multidimensional. Political discourse is an essential component of everyday political life. The choice of research question is determined by its contribution to cross-cultural communication, as well as by the lack of discursive explorations regarding the rare and uncommon vocabulary. Our hypothesis is that this type of lexis would have some pragmatic motivation and may serve to realize a certain number of communication tasks. Thus, our research aims to describe the collected samples and reveal their pragmatic potential. Discursive analysis coupled with frequency evaluation shapes a methodological framework for our study. The total number of lexical samples is 32 units coming from public speeches, debates and interviews of contemporary French politicians. We have checked the frequency profile of all collected observations on the Google Books French Corpus Ngram Viewer. In order to test the relevance of the corpus and optimize the interpretation of results, we have also introduced a «control group», which contain 31 lexical units expectedly present in political lexicon. Our analysis shows that the rare and uncommon vocabulary serves various pragmatic goals, such as demonstrating the speaker’s performance, capture the audience's attention, achieving a euphemistic effect and some others. Our research gives us ground to affirm that the pragmatic effects of this type of lexical phenomena are due to its ability to break the functional isomorphism of discourse space. The arising disharmony may be caused by temporary disparity (obsolete words), topical mismatch (special vocabulary) or cultural variance (book words with complex semantics, little-known words or constructions, regional and foreign language borrowings). In general, our research leads us to conclude that the rare and uncommon vocabulary possess diverse pragmatic functions, which present an undoubted interest in further research.

scholarly journals CHARISMA-KORRELATE IN SPRACHE UND DISKURS: KANN EIN IDEALTYP EIN OBJEKT DER EXPERIMENTAL-PHONETISCHEN FORSCHUNG SEIN?

2018 ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Natalja Petljutschenko
Keyword(s):  
Political Communication ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
The Body ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Comparative Linguistics ◽  
Acoustic Effect ◽  
Parts Of Speech ◽  
Political Communications ◽  
Members Of Parliament ◽  
Discourse Studies

The paper presents an analysis of charisma-correlates in the language of political leaders in modern German and Ukrainian political discourse and answers the question of whether an ideal type can be an object of multimodal phonetical research. The discursive description of charismatic leaders in German and Ukrainian political discourse and the discovery of their contrastive features relies on biological, social, psychological and linguistic parameters forming their charismatic discourse portraits. Of decisive importance in this context, is the rhetoric of public appearance, expressive combative position, hortatority, timbral, prosodic and gesture-mimic characteristics further perceived and attributed to its carriers as charisma. Charismatic politicians have always been characterised by sharp statements, categorical views and mobilising speech. Inspirited or pep rhetoric is inherent in politicians whose position is contrary to the majority of the public, the opinion of their political allies, members of Parliament, etc. We can observe its manifestations in moments of acute crisis in political life. The prosodic specifics of charismatical discourse are characterised by intensification of all its dynamic, tonal, and temporal components. In phonetical studies, this acoustic effect is referred to as prosodic intensity understanding it as abrupt changes in pitch, loudness, tempo variations, and pauses in important utterances containing addresses, appeals and concepts with positive semantics. Charismatic rhetoric is also formed by the kinetic (gesture and mimic) component that is functionally related the prosodic representation of speech making communication more effective. A gesture is the action or movement of the body through which one individual signals another individual about his presence, his intentions regarding objects. Charismatic political communications are characterised primarily by accentuating or co-speech gestures that represent movements of the body, especially the arms/hands, by which the speaker explains, complements his words, highlights the key points, emphasises or amplifies a verbal utterance. A gesture is perceived by the addressee as a kinematic form of verbal charisma-appeal through which he exercises his influence on his followers and/or opponents encouraging them to commit actions aimed at achieving a particular goal. Charismatic rhetoric originates in political communication in times of crisis and is characteristic of politicians whose stand is not consistent with the majority position. Charismatic enthusiasm and inspiration are ethnically coloured (German rapsodicity, Ukrainian monotony) and are reflected in prosodic and gesture emphasis accompanying both independent and dependent parts of speech indicating the autonomy of charismatic rhetoric as a model. The results of this study can be applied in discourse studies, applied phonetics, comparative linguistics, and political communication.

Rhetorical moves in political discourse: closing statements by presidential candidates in US primary election debates

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Political Discourse ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Election Campaigns ◽  
Sample Analysis ◽  
Presidential Candidates ◽  
Primary Election ◽  
Presidential Primary ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Discourse Studies ◽  
Political Persuasion

Abstract Presidential primary debates in the USA are commonly concluded by brief closing statements, in which the competitors outline the central messages of their election campaigns. These statements constitute a subgenre characterized by a set of recurring rhetorical moves, which are defined as functional units geared towards the respective communicative objective, in this case political persuasion. Located at the interface of rhetorical move analysis and political discourse studies, this paper demonstrates that moves and embedded steps in closing statements fulfill the persuasive function of legitimizing the respective candidate as the most preferable presidential successor. The study is based on the transcripts of 98 closing statements, which were extracted from eight Democratic and eleven Republican primary debates held between August 2015 and April 2016. Typical moves, such as projecting the speaker’s future political agenda or diagnosing the current situation in America, are presented with the help of illustrative examples, frequencies of occurrence, and a sample analysis of a complete closing statement.

scholarly journals Implementing a Cultural Model to Increase English-Language Proficiency at an International College

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Janice Lee Scarinci ◽  
Edward Howell
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cultural Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
International College ◽  
And Control

Research Question: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of an American Cultural Model to an existing English as a Second Language (ESL) program improved the performance of international students.  Idea: The English language proficiency is essential for students in global emerging economies in order to be competitive, and our study can be generalized to learning other languages within the respective cultural model. Motivation: The results of our study can be applied to higher education worldwide since currently the international business language is English.  Data: The data collected were analyzed and interpreted to determine whether cultural training improved scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  Tools: Two groups of incoming students were compared as the treatment and control groups, using the t-test with appropriate statistical package. Findings: Data analysis showed a statistically significant difference in TOEFL scores between the control group and the experimental group benefiting from the implementation of the Introduction of the American Cultural Model. Contribution: The English language proficiency is essential for students in global emerging economies in order for them to be competitive, and our study can be generalized to learning other languages within a respective cultural model.

scholarly journals The peculiarities of functionality of evaluative lexis in the English-language political discourse (on the text of US mass media)

Litera ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 18-28
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Petrovich Evlasev ◽  
Larisa Alekseevna Sychugova
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
English Language ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Public Figures ◽  
The Us ◽  
Ideological Influence

This article is dedicated to examination of the questions of functionality of evaluative lexis in political discourse of the United States. The relevance of the topic is substantiated by the heightened interests of research towards the peculiarities of expressing evaluative meanings in various types of discourse. In modern linguistics, the analysis of functionality of evaluative lexis in the political discourse is of unequivocal interest, since axiological interpretation significantly affects the life of modern society. Research methodology is comprised of the work of such Russian linguists as I. S. Alekseeva, A. A. Ufimtseva, T. A. Znamenskaya, N. D. Arutyunova, and others. Special attention is given to the method of realization of negative evaluations. The goal of this  article consists in the methods of expression of evaluative meanings s using stylistic means, as the language is an effective weapon in the world of politics. The political texts of US mass media served as the material for this research due to the fact that mass media influence the formation of public opinion, the course of political discussions and referendums, rating of political and public figures, political parties, and public organizations. The conducted analysis demonstrates that the US political discourse includes different lexical and stylistic means applied for exertion of ideological influence, as well as formation of certain attitudes on certain realities of political life among the recipients.

How to Exist Politically and Learn from It: Hannah Arendt and the Problem of Democratic Education

2010 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 556-575
Author(s):  
Gert Biesta
Keyword(s):  
Hannah Arendt ◽  
Democratic Education ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Moral Qualities ◽  
Democratic Life ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Background Context

Background/Context In discussions about democratic education, there is a strong tendency to see the role of education as that of the preparation of children and young people for their future participation in democratic life. A major problem with this view is that it relies on the idea that the guarantee for democracy lies in the existence of a properly educated citizenry so that once all citizens have received their education, democracy will simply follow. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study The question that is explored in this article is whether it is possible to think of the relationship between education and democracy differently than in terms of preparation. This is important not only to be able to acknowledge the political nature of democratic education but also to be able to acknowledge the political “foundation” of democratic politics itself. Research Design The argumentation in the article is developed through a critical analysis and discussion of the work of Hannah Arendt, with a specific focus on her ideas about the relationship between education and politics and her views on the role of understanding in politics. Findings/Results Arendt's writings on the relationship between education and politics seem to be informed by a “developmentalistic” perspective in which it is maintained that the child is not yet ready for political life, so education has to be separated from politics and seen as a preparation for future participation in political life. Arendt's writings on politics and the role of understanding in political life point in a different direction. They articulate what it means to exist politically—that is, to exist together in plurality—and highlight that political existence is neither based on, nor can be guaranteed by, moral qualities such as tolerance and respect. Conclusions/Recommendations The main conclusion of the article is that democratic education should not be seen as the preparation of citizens for their future participation in political life. Rather, it should focus on creating opportunities for political existence inside and outside schools. Rather than thinking of democratic education as learning for political existence, it is argued that the focus of our educational endeavours should be on how we can learn from political existence.

First Contact, March–May 1864

2020 ◽  
pp. 247-270
Author(s):  
Brian Holden Reid
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Operational Level ◽  
Political Views ◽  
The Military ◽  
First Contact ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Way

This chapter details how the year 1864 allowed William T. Sherman to operate for the first time not as a subordinate commander but as director of a series of armies in the field. His contribution to overall Union strategy would be significant and thus he began to exercise command at the level military analysts currently refer to as the operational level of war. Such a level links tactics and methods of fighting with strategy, in the overall scheme. It defines the manner in which armies organize in discrete campaigns and seek to fulfill the object of strategy by winning victories. Sherman’s performance overall needs to be considered by taking all aspects into account. As he began to work at the higher levels of the military art, he began to change the way in which people think and talk about war, and he propounded an individual philosophy of war. The higher he progressed, the more Sherman could not avoid confronting the harsh realities of political life, for his campaigns increasingly had an impact not just on American political discourse but indeed in 1864 on the outcome of the presidential election. Sherman expressed clear-cut political views and expounded them perhaps too forcefully. This complex mix worked as a catalyst in developing his ideas about war and his ability to put them into practice.

Welke Leerlingen Leren het Meest Bij Over DNA?

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Van Gorp ◽  
Sven de Maeyer ◽  
Kris Van den Branden
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
School Effectiveness ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Group Design ◽  
Post Test

Educational priority policy schools differ in the learning outcomes they achieve with second language learners. School effectiveness research suggests that teachers can make a difference, but fails to make clear exactly how they can do so. This quasi-experimental study combines a comparison group design with a control group design to answer the research question "How effective are five primary school teachers in creating powerful learning environments for knowledge construction and academic language learning?" This article focuses on which types of students benefit the most from a classroom intervention, called The case DNA. The case DNA is a task-based lesson unit containing eight clear lesson objectives and the necessary lesson materials and learning activities to realize these lesson objectives. The teachers were free to adapt the lesson unit to their own teaching styles. The results of the students on the pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test DNA were analysed using multilevel analysis. Results show that socio-economic status, language proficiency, number of turns, teacher expectations and home language Turkish predict differential learning outcomes.

De Rol Van Affectieve Variabelen Bij Begrijpend Lezen in Een Vreemde Taal

1990 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Kees van Esch
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Affective Variables ◽  
The One ◽  
Improve Reliability

In the study of the use of context and reading comprehension in a foreign language by Van Esch (1987) a more explorative research question dealt with the relation between the performances of learners of Spanish in context use and reading comprehension on the one hand and affective variables as the learners' perception of their attitude, their self-confidence and their context use in reading-comprehension on the other. These variables were measured by questionnaires of the Likert-type. To improve reliability and empirical validity, factor-analyses were carried out which yielded three factors: Attitude, Self-Confidence and Context-Use. The learners with better than average results on context-use and reading comprehension (the 'good' context-users) proved to be also more than average in these three factors. After a training programme in context-use, the perceptions of an experimental group of less than average ('poor') context-users were significantly higher in two of the three factors, Attitude and Context-Use, than the perceptions of a control group of poor context-users who did not follow this training programme. The third factor, Self-Confidence yielded contradictory results. Conclusions are drawn from the results of this study, which ends with an examination of the implications for the theory and practice of the teaching of foreign language reading comprehension.

The Impact of Broadband Access on Social and Economic Integration: Results from the RefugeeMobile Pilot

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
William N Evans ◽  
Brendan Perry ◽  
Rachel Factor
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Broadband Access ◽  
Office Visits ◽  
Group Members ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Internet is a ubiquitous feature of everyday life and an important research question is whether improving broadband access for at-risk groups such as refugees enhances social and economic outcomes. The article reports the results of the RefugeeMobile pilot where a sample of refugees to the United States were randomly assigned a smartphone (n = 82) with eight months of free service and pre-loaded apps designed to help them adjust to life in the United States, or not (n = 74). At a one-year follow-up, results indicate that assignment to treatment generates statistically significant increases in smartphone ownership and Internet access, and some measures of social integration. Results for employment and earnings were positive but statistically insignificant. Treatment-group members had fewer interactions with their case worker, a smaller fraction of in-office visits and hence a larger fraction of interactions by phone than control-group members, suggesting the pilot may have increased programme efficiency.

scholarly journals The Therapeutic Effect of Nordic Walking on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Agata Wróblewska ◽  
Agata Gajos ◽  
Urszula Smyczyńska ◽  
Andrzej Bogucki
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Freezing Of Gait ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nordic Walking ◽  
Provocative Test ◽  
Step Initiation

Introduction. The effectiveness of the currently utilized therapies for FoG is limited. Several studies demonstrated a beneficial impact of Nordic walking (NW) on several gait parameters in Parkinson’s disease, but only one paper reported reduction of freezing. Research Question. In the present study, the question is whether NW is an effective therapeutic intervention in FoG. Methods. Twenty PD subjects trained NW for 12 weeks, with a frequency of twice per week. Each session lasted about 60 minutes. Twenty patients in the control group did not use any form of physiotherapy (no-intervention group). Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Provocative Test for Freezing and Motor Blocks (PTFMB) were performed at baseline, immediately after the end of NW program, and three months later. Results. The results of FOGQ, TUG, and total PTFMB revealed significant improvement after completing the exercise program, and this effect persisted at follow-up. The results of the PTFMB subtests showed a different effect of NW on particular subtypes of FoG. Start hesitation, sudden transient blocks that interrupt gait, and blocks on turning improved considerably, while motor blocks, when walking through narrow space and on reaching the target, did not respond to NW training. Significance. The results show, for the first time, that FoG during turning and step initiation, two most common forms of this gait disorder, has been significantly reduced by NW training. Different responses of particular subtypes of FoG to NW probably reflect their different pathophysiologies. Conclusions. The present study showed that NW training had a beneficial effect on FOG in PD and that the achieved improvement is long-lasting. Future research should clarify whether the observed improvement limited to FoG triggered by only some circumstances reflects different pathomechanisms of FoG subtypes.

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