scholarly journals But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Meaning construction in medical encounters

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-60
Author(s):  
Eszter Kárpáti ◽  
Judit Kleiber
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Meaning Construction ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Medical Context ◽  
The Given

This paper investigates interpretation in medical context. Our question is how institutional context influences the utterance meaning: if it is really triple layered (literal, utterance-type or pragmatic, Levinson 2000), or rather a continuum (Wilson 2016). Even idiomatic language use (Kecskes 2017) can induce uncertainty and obscurity, which can be and has to be solved in the given dialogue or discourse context (Wilson and Kolaiti 2017). The paper analyzes various medical encounters in a formal pragmasemantic model called ÂeALIS (Alberti and Kleiber 2014). The benefit of applying this system is that it represents the interlocutors’ mental states (beliefs, desires, and intentions) supplemented by the parameter of authority, by which the occurring mismatches can be captured formally. We have found that two main types of mismatch can be differentiated, and both of them can be originated from the fact that the context is not the same for the participants. Our findings support the view that meaning construction is rather flexible and context-sensitive: it can be considered as wandering along the meaning continuum without any clues.

Discourse, Context, and Coherence

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Una Stojnić
Keyword(s):  
Prima Facie ◽  
Context Sensitivity ◽  
Linguistic Meaning ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Linguistic Feature ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Pure Indexicals

On the received view, the resolution of context-sensitivity is at least partly determined by non-linguistic features of utterance situation. If I say ‘He’s happy’, what ‘he’ picks out is underspecified by its linguistic meaning, and is only fixed through extra-linguistic supplementation: the speaker’s intention, and/or some objective, non-linguistic feature of the utterance situation. This underspecification is exhibited by most context-sensitive expressions, with the exception of pure indexicals, like ‘I.’ While this received view is prima facie appealing, I argue it is deeply mistaken. I defend an account according to which context-sensitivity resolution is governed by linguistic mechanisms determining prominence of candidate resolutions of context-sensitive items. Thus, on this account, the linguistic meaning of a context-sensitive expression fully specifies its resolution in a context, automatically selecting the resolution antecedently set by the prominence-governing linguistic mechanisms.

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.

scholarly journals Conceptual integration theory and British humour: an analysis of the sitcom Miranda

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Jabłońska-Hood
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Meaning Construction ◽  
Integration Theory ◽  
Conceptual Blending ◽  
Conceptual Integration ◽  
Mental Space ◽  
Mental Spaces ◽  
Emergent Structure ◽  
Conceptual Integration Theory ◽  
Different Levels

Conceptual integration theory (henceforth CIT), aka conceptual blending, was devised by Fauconnier and Turner (2002) as a model for meaning construction and interpretation. It is based on the notion of a mental space, which originated in Fauconnier's early research (1998). Mental spaces are structures that constitute information pertaining to a particular concept (Fauconnier and Turner 2002: 40). Interestingly, mental spaces can be linked together and blended so as to produce a novel quality not previously present. In this manner, conceptual integration serves the purpose of a theoretical model which throws light on creativity in language use. In my paper, I will apply CIT to British humour in order to use its multiway blending together with its dynamic, online running of the blended contents for the purpose of comedy elucidation. It is crucial to observe that British humour is a complex phenomenon which pertains to many different levels of interpretation, i.e. a linguistic, cultural or a discourse one. CIT possesses a well suited cognitive apparatus which can encompass the complexity of British humour with all its layers. The primary goal of the article is to analyse a selected scene from a sitcom entitled Miranda in order to show the validity of the theory in respect of humour studies. In particular, I will undertake to demonstrate that CIT, with a special emphasis on its principles such as compression and the emergent structure of the blend can deal with many processes that accumulate within British humour and result in laughter. Simultaneously, I will try to demonstrate that frame-shifting, as proposed by Coulson (2015: pp. 167-190), can be of help to CIT in humour explanation.

scholarly journals Phraseological units as means of expressing the emotivity in the Tatar language

2021 ◽  
pp. 154-161
Author(s):  
Gulshat Raisovna Galiullina ◽  
Gulfiya Kamilovna Khadieva ◽  
Zilya Mullakhmetovna Mukhametgalieva ◽  
Margarita Emilievna Dubrovina
Keyword(s):  
Emotional State ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Scientific Field ◽  
Wilhelm Von Humboldt ◽  
Emotional Environment ◽  
Field Linguistics ◽  
Inner World ◽  
The Given ◽  
Negative Connotation

Systematization and description of the arsenal of linguistic means of expressing emotions represent one of the major tasks for linguistics that returns nowadays to the theory of Wilhelm von Humboldt, which in the early XIXth century appealed to study the language in close connection with individual speakers. A logical interest of the researchers to the processes of manifestation of emotions in the language has resulted in the formation of a new scientific field – linguistics of emotions aimed at the emotional environment of the language. In the Tatar language human emotions are verbalized mostly by the phraseological units representing various mental states of a person, one’s inner world. Studying means of expressing emotive vocabulary illustrated by the phraseological units provides an opportunity to present the whole complex of means of the language and the speech, as well as contribute to understanding the mentality and psychology of a Tatar language person. This article covers the Tatar phraseological units expressing negative connotation. The theme group “anger” represents the object of research. The authors have studied the emotional and appraisal semantics of the given group of phraseological units and attempted the revealing the specificity of the way of thinking and the worldview of the Tatar people. The analysis revealed that the phraseological units of the studied group are characterized by a great diversity of lexical, semantic, emotional and appraisal aspects. The emotional and appraisal volume of the phraseological units varies depending on the emotional state of the speaker and on his attitude to the addressee. Cultural and connotative semantics of the phraseological units is closely connected to the Tatar people’s worldview which has formed and has been enriched throughout the life experience.

scholarly journals Doing and rethinking. Building resilience with men

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Robinson ◽  
Steve Robertson ◽  
Mary Steen ◽  
Gary Raine ◽  
Rhiannon Day
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Resilience Intervention ◽  
And Coping

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings from an evaluation of a mental health resilience intervention for unemployed men aged 45-60. The focus is on examining the place of activities within a multi-dimensional men’s mental health programme, and exploring interactions between social context factors and models of change. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on before and after survey data and qualitative interviews, to report results concerning effectiveness in changing men’s perceived resilience, to consider project processes concerning activities, social support and coping strategies, and to situate these within wider environments. Findings – The programme significantly raised the perceived resilience of participants. Activities were engaging for men, while the complex intersection between activities, social networking, and coping strategies course provided opportunities for men to develop resilience in contexts resonant with their male identities. Research limitations/implications – A limitation is that the evaluation could not measure longer term impacts. Practical implications – The paper discusses emerging considerations for resilience building, focusing on gender-sensitive approaches which can engage and retain men by focusing on doing and talking, in the contexts of men’s life-course, highlighting embodied (male) identities not disembodied “mental states”, and facilitating social support. There are challenges to recruit men despite stigma, support men to speak of feelings, and facilitate progression. Social implications – Potential exists for gender-aware programmes to sustain salutogenic change, co-producing social assets of peer support, male-friendly activities, and context sensitive course provision. Originality/value – The paper adds fresh evidence of gendered intervention approaches, including effects on male resilience. Application of a context-sensitive change model leads to multi-component findings for transferring and sustaining programme gains.

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 Understanding Contextual and Social Meaning in Typically Developing Finnish-Speaking Four- To Eight-Year-Old Children

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 408-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soile Loukusa ◽  
Leena Mäkinen ◽  
Ilaria Gabbatore ◽  
Päivi Laukkanen-Nevala ◽  
Eeva Leinonen
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Social Meaning ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Mind Reading ◽  
Contextual Processing ◽  
Pragmatic Comprehension

Abstract This study examined the development of social-pragmatic comprehension in 170 Finnish four- to eight-year-old children. The children were asked to respond to socially and contextually demanding questions targeting their social-pragmatic language processing, and to explain their correct answers in order to elicit their awareness of how they had derived the answers from the context. The results showed that the number of correct answers increased especially between the ages of four and seven years. We found that questions demanding contextual processing without mind-reading were the easiest to understand, followed by questions demanding processing of feelings of others and false beliefs. The questions demanding understanding of relevant language use and processing of contextual factors including mental states and intentions were the most challenging for the children. Between four and five years of age there was a remarkable developmental phase in children’s ability to give proper explanations.

On the principled polysemy of -kai in Chinese resultative verbs

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Pin-Yun Wang ◽  
Lily I-wen Su
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Semantic Network ◽  
Conceptual Structure ◽  
Meaning Construction ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Force Dynamics ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Complex Verbs ◽  
Textual Cues

The present study sets out to construct a semantic network for -kai in Chinese resultative verbs based on the framework of Principled Polysemy. Our analysis concerning the cognitive-pragmatic motivations for the meaning extensions of postverbal -kai pinpoints the significance of perspective-taking and real-world force dynamics in the conceptual structure of Chinese resultative verbs. With the aid of corpus data, we further demonstrate how pertinent textual cues help to disambiguate polysemous V-kai complex verbs and evoke metaphorical readings of the gestalt V–V constructions, hinting at the distributed and context-sensitive nature of the meaning construction of Chinese resultative verbs.

scholarly journals Generating Thematic Chinese Poetry using Conditional Variational Autoencoders with Hybrid Decoders

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopeng Yang ◽  
Xiaowen Lin ◽  
Shunda Suo ◽  
Ming Li
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Recurrent Neural Networks ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Chinese Poetry ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Variational Autoencoder ◽  
Symmetry Tests ◽  
The Given

Computer poetry generation is our first step towards computer writing. Writing must have a theme. The current approaches of using sequence-to-sequence models with attention often produce non-thematic poems. We present a novel conditional variational autoencoder with a hybrid decoder adding the deconvolutional neural networks to the general recurrent neural networks to fully learn topic information via latent variables. This approach significantly improves the relevance of the generated poems by representing each line of the poem not only in a context-sensitive manner but also in a holistic way that is highly related to the given keyword and the learned topic. A proposed augmented word2vec model further improves the rhythm and symmetry. Tests show that the generated poems by our approach are mostly satisfying with regulated rules and consistent themes, and 73.42% of them receive an Overall score no less than 3 (the highest score is 5).

scholarly journals Apical amplification—a cellular mechanism of conscious perception?

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Marvan ◽  
Michal Polák ◽  
Talis Bachmann ◽  
William A Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Conscious Experience ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Cellular Mechanism ◽  
Conscious Perception ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Processing Theory ◽  
Transmission Of Information ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Apical Dendrites ◽  
Integrated Information Theory

Abstract We present a theoretical view of the cellular foundations for network-level processes involved in producing our conscious experience. Inputs to apical synapses in layer 1 of a large subset of neocortical cells are summed at an integration zone near the top of their apical trunk. These inputs come from diverse sources and provide a context within which the transmission of information abstracted from sensory input to their basal and perisomatic synapses can be amplified when relevant. We argue that apical amplification enables conscious perceptual experience and makes it more flexible, and thus more adaptive, by being sensitive to context. Apical amplification provides a possible mechanism for recurrent processing theory that avoids strong loops. It makes the broadcasting hypothesized by global neuronal workspace theories feasible while preserving the distinct contributions of the individual cells receiving the broadcast. It also provides mechanisms that contribute to the holistic aspects of integrated information theory. As apical amplification is highly dependent on cholinergic, aminergic, and other neuromodulators, it relates the specific contents of conscious experience to global mental states and to fluctuations in arousal when awake. We conclude that apical dendrites provide a cellular mechanism for the context-sensitive selective amplification that is a cardinal prerequisite of conscious perception.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document