scholarly journals Identifying discourse patterns in online comments on "politically correct" language

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Major Goal ◽  
Online Comments ◽  
Discourse Patterns ◽  
German Newspaper ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

This paper presents an analysis of online comments on German newspaper articles dealing with non-discriminating language use. Combining bottom-up quantitative methods with qualitative analyses allows for identifying recurrent discourse patterns as well as typical narratives that play a role in this debate. I argue that if a major goal of critical cognitive linguistics is to reach out to the general public, understanding the appeal of such narratives (which are, obviously, often factually wrong) is just as important as identifying and refuting them.

Identifying discourse patterns in social media comments on “politically correct” language

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-44
Author(s):  
Stefan Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Major Goal ◽  
Online Comments ◽  
Discourse Patterns ◽  
German Newspaper ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

AbstractThis paper presents an analysis of online comments on German newspaper articles dealing with non-discriminating language use. Combining bottom-up quantitative methods with qualitative analyses allows for identifying recurrent discourse patterns as well as typical narratives that play a role in this debate. I argue that if a major goal of critical cognitive linguistics is to reach out to the general public, understanding the appeal of such narratives (which are, obviously, often factually wrong) is just as important as identifying and refuting them.

An historical analysis of species references in American English

Corpora ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-349
Author(s):  
Craig Frayne
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
American English ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
The Past ◽  
Corpus Studies ◽  
Google Books

This study uses the two largest available American English language corpora, Google Books and the Corpus of Historical American English (coha), to investigate relations between ecology and language. The paper introduces ecolinguistics as a promising theme for corpus research. While some previous ecolinguistic research has used corpus approaches, there is a case to be made for quantitative methods that draw on larger datasets. Building on other corpus studies that have made connections between language use and environmental change, this paper investigates whether linguistic references to other species have changed in the past two centuries and, if so, how. The methodology consists of two main parts: an examination of the frequency of common names of species followed by aspect-level sentiment analysis of concordance lines. Results point to both opportunities and challenges associated with applying corpus methods to ecolinguistc research.

What Time Does in Language: a Cross-Linguistic Cognitive Study of Source Related Variation in Verbal Time Metaphors in American English, Finnish and Hungarian

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-238
Author(s):  
Zsuzsa Máthé
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
American English ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Conceptual Metaphors ◽  
Source Domain ◽  
Metaphorical Language ◽  
Related Variation ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Cognitive Study

"What Time Does in Language: a Cross-Linguistic Cognitive Study of Source Related Variation in Verbal Time Metaphors in American English, Finnish and Hungarian. Such a universal yet abstract concept as time shows variation in metaphorical language. This research focuses on metaphorical language within the framework of the cognitive metaphor theory, investigating time through a contrastive cross-linguistic approach in three satellite-framed languages. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, this study attempts to identify what time does in language in a metaphorical context, with a focus on verbs in causative constructions (e.g. time heals) as well as manner of motion verbs (e.g. time rushes), through an empirical corpus-based study complemented by the lexical approach. The two main conceptual metaphors that are investigated in this study are TIME IS A CHANGER and TIME IS A MOVING ENTITY. While these two conceptual metaphors are expected to be frequent in all three languages, differences such as negative/positive asymmetry or preference of a type of motion over another are expected to be found. The primary objective is to explore such differences and see how they manifest and why. The hypothesis is that variations among the three languages related to the source domain (CHANGER and MOVING ENTITY), are more likely to be internal and not external. The purpose is to investigate these variations and to determine what cognitive underpinnings they can be traced back to, with a focus on image schemas. The study reveals that source internal variation does prevail over source external variation. The results show that cross-linguistic differences of such a relevant concept as time do exist but more often through unique characteristics of the same source domain rather than new, distinctive domains. Keywords: cognitive linguistics, corpus linguistics, conceptual metaphor theory, metaphorical entailments, source domain "

scholarly journals Metonymy in Mind, Language, and Communication

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Xitao Fu
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Word Meaning ◽  
Specific Aspect ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Dialogic Discourse ◽  
Cognitive Mechanism ◽  
Domain Mapping

<p>The typical view considers metonymy as an intra-domain mapping which involves the source providing mental access to the target within the domain, with PART-WHOLE as the prototypical relation. This commonly held view of metonymy in Cognitive Linguistics pays attention to what happens after the domain, or rather, the WHOLE, has been established. How the WHOLE is formed seems to be missing. Based on the research results of cognitive science, especially in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and neuroscience, metonymy is tentatively argued to be an innate cognitive mechanism involving PART-WHOLE FORMING, PART-WHOLE/PART RELATING processes. The PART-WHOLE FORMING process establishes the WHOLE from the PART: It picks up some prominent element(s) in an interactive process to form a patterned experience, and the PART-WHOLE/PART RELATING process relates PART to PART, relating PART to the WHOLE and vice versa. The PART-WHOLE/PART RELATING process is made possible by the PART-WHOLE FORMING process. Metonymic operations usually precede metaphoric operation. Metaphor is essentially grounded on metonymy. Metonymy as a cognitive mechanism is most noticeably realized in language. It operates in various aspects of language and language use. The experience pattern (i.e. the WHOLE) formulated through the PART-WHOLE FORMING process is found to underpin the process of grammaticalization, the development of meaning prototype, and to motivate such daily language use as football nicknaming and to bring in certain cognitive and communicative functions. In the light of this view of metonymy, grammaticalization is considered from the conceptual perspective as a process from the general/global to the specific/local, or from focus on one specific aspect to focus on another particular aspect within the global WHOLE, rather than the usually held concrete-to-abstract process. This also applies to word meaning prototypes. Word meaning develops due to the dynamic of meaning prototypes. When considered from the conceptual perspective, meaning prototypes generally develop from the general/global to the specific/local with the change and specification of contextual situations. The cognitive analysis of football nicknames also suggests that metonymy is overwhelming and provides the requisite basis for metaphor. The PART-WHOLE FORMING and the PART-WHOLE/PART RELATING processes of metonymy as an inherent cognitive mechanism often interact in the mind, which is evidenced in language and may be best illustrated through analysis of interactive communication in general, and dialogic discourse in particular. Metonymy in interaction is embodied in its functions and operations in dialogue and its contribution to the dialogue as a discourse entity. Metonymy operates in dialogic discourse in various patterns of GENERAL-SPECIFIC scheme. It operates in the development of dialogue and helps structure the dialogic discourse, making it a coherent discourse entity; it makes meaning out of the local utterance and relates it to the whole dialogue; it underlies the decision-making process, helping make a final decision among alternatives. It also motivates the problem-solving process, helping formulate and organise replies to the questions posed by the counterpart in dialogic discourse, and facilitating the solution of daily problems.</p>

scholarly journals Hyperbolic markers in modeling hyperbole: a scenario-based account

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 61-71
Author(s):  
Carla Ovejas Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Meaning Construction ◽  
The Other ◽  
Target Domain ◽  
Real Situation ◽  
Source Domain ◽  
The Real ◽  
Theoretical Context ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario

This article discusses hyperbolic markers in modeling hyperbole from the perspective of a scenario-based account of language use within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics. In this view, hyperbole is seen as a mapping across two conceptual domains (Peña y Ruiz de Mendoza, 2017), a source domain, here relabeled as the magnified scenario, which contains a hypothetical unrealistic situation based on exaggeration, and a target domain or observable scenario which depicts the real situation addressed by the hyperbolic expression. Since the hypothetical scenario is a magnified version of the observable scenario, the mapping contains source-target matches in varying degrees of resemblance. Within this theoretical context, the article explores resources available to speakers for the construction of magnified scenarios leading to hyperbolic interpretation. Among such resources, we find hyperbole markers and the setting up of domains of reference. Finally, the article also discusses hyperbole blockers, which cancel out the activity of the other hyperbolic meaning construction mechanisms.

The PPACA in Wonderland

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 269-287
Author(s):  
Gary Lawson ◽  
David B. Kopel
Keyword(s):  
Supreme Court ◽  
Affordable Care Act ◽  
General Public ◽  
Supreme Court Decision ◽  
Court Decision ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Patient Protection ◽  
Speaker Of The House ◽  
Roe V Wade ◽  
Federal Judges

On August 22, 2009, when then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was asked by a reporter whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was constitutional, she answered: “Are you serious? Are you serious?” Two years later, many federal judges, more than half of the States, and a flood of distinguished constitutional scholars have examined the PPACA and found at least part of it to be unconstitutional. The question was indeed serious.It remains serious today, as a Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the PPACA is expected in June 2012. Because the legality of the PPACA has emerged as perhaps the most publicly visible constitutional question since Roe v. Wade, clarity is vital not only for the PPACA itself, but also for general public understanding of the Constitution. Accordingly, our goals in this Article are to provide an opinionated but hopefully fair-minded guide to the constitutional issues of the PPACA and to clarify some misunderstandings that plague both popular and professional discussions of the issues.

Temporal-magnitudinal construal coding

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-151
Author(s):  
Mikołaj Deckert ◽  
Marek Molenda
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Meaning Construction ◽  
Major Objective ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Coding Variants ◽  
Linguistic Coding ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract This article looks into the interface of temporality and quantification. Drawing on the principles of Cognitive Linguistics, we use experimental as well as corpus methods to provide evidence on how the conceptual organisation and linguistic coding of content can play a role in meaning construction. With that broad agenda in mind, a major objective is to shed light on the construct of conventionalisation. For that purpose, construal coding variants are examined with a focus on nominal phrases that express time quantities. The examination involves two construal types (termed “cumulative” and “fractional”) that differ primarily in their prominence configurations, across three granularity levels of time conceptualisation. Our main finding – that the fractional and cumulative constructions are asymmetrically conventionalised – is contextualised through a qualitative analysis of naturally-occurring data to identify additional language use patterns and offer explanatory hypotheses.

scholarly journals 124 Creating Greater Public Understanding of Dementia: Findings on the Impact of a Coalition-led National Awareness Programme

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Fiona Foley ◽  
Roisin Guiry
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
General Public ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Campaign Evaluation ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tv Commercials ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Dementia Understand Together is a public support, awareness and stigma reduction campaign aimed at inspiring people from all sections of society to stand together with the 55,000 Irish people living with dementia. Led by the HSE working with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Genio it is supported by over 40 partner organisations and 230+ community champions, who are creating communities that actively embrace and include those living with dementia and their families. Methods The campaign uses personal testimonial TV commercials, radio advertising, social media and national and local news stories to build understanding among the general public about dementia. At a local level the campaign is growing a movement of people who are taking action to creative inclusive communities across Ireland. Extensive research using national biennial public surveys (2016 and 2018) (N=1003) and campaign evaluation tools has and continues to inform the development and progression of the campaign. Results 33% of respondents described themselves as knowing a lot about dementia, up from 24% in January 2016. There was a significant difference in attitudes between those who were aware of the campaign and those who were not. Dementia risk reduction is a key message of the national campaign and 52% of respondents were aware that there are things they can do to potentially reduce their risk – up from 46% in 2016. 59% who saw the TV campaign said they were impacted in some way as a result of the personal stories featured and stated that they took some action, such as calling into a friend. Conclusion The development and implementation of the campaign is a partnership approach between the leading organisations working in the area of dementia. Findings show that the campaign is creating better understanding of dementia among the general public, increasing awareness of the condition and risk reduction, and is inspiring people to take actions.

Typology and the future of Cognitive Linguistics

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Croft
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Historical Linguistics ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Individual Speaker

AbstractThe relationship between typology and Cognitive Linguistics was first posed in the 1980s, in terms of the relationship between Greenbergian universals and the knowledge of the individual speaker. An answer to this question emerges from understanding the role of linguistic variation in language, from occasions of language use to typological diversity. This in turn requires the contribution of discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and evolutionary historical linguistics as well as typology and Cognitive Linguistics. While Cognitive Linguistics is part of this enterprise, a theory of language that integrates all of these approaches is necessary.

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