scholarly journals Reports in Discourse

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Formal Semantics ◽  
Discourse Structure ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Embedded Clause ◽  
Preceding Discourse ◽  
Speech Reports ◽  
Discourse Interactions

Attitude or speech reports in English with a non-parenthetical syntax sometimes give rise to interpretations in which the embedded clause, e.g., "John was out of town" in the report "Jill said that John was out of town", seems to convey the main point of the utterance while the attribution predicate, e.g., "Jillsaid that", merely plays an evidential or source-providing role (Urmson, 1952). Simons (2007) posits that parenthetical readings arise from the interaction between the report and the preceding discourse context, rather than from the syntax or semantics of the reports involved. However, no account of these discourse interactions has been developed in formal semantics. Research on parenthetical reports within frameworks of rhetorical structure has yielded hypotheses about the discourse interactions of parenthetical reports, but these hypotheses are not semantically sound. The goal of this paper is to unify and extend work in semantics and discourse structure to develop a formal, discourse-based account of parenthetical reports that does not suffer the pitfalls faced by current proposals in rhetorical frameworks.

scholarly journals On the different interpretations of sentence-initial ainsi ‘so’ and the competition between three types of Verb–Subject order

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Lena Karssenberg ◽  
Karen Lahousse
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Study ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Manner Adverb ◽  
Preceding Discourse

Abstract This article is about different types of Subject–Verb inversion (nominal, pronominal, and complex inversion) in sentences introduced by ainsi ‘so, in this way’. We first make a distinction between four main interpretations: manner adverb ainsi, quotative ainsi, consecutive ainsi (expressing either an intentional or an unintentional consequence), and illustrative ainsi. On the basis of a corpus study, we show that nominal inversion often (but not always) combines with the manner interpretation, whereas the predominant function of ainsi + pronominal/complex inversion is to introduce an example or a consequence of the preceding discourse context. The data also contribute to the debate about the grammaticalization path of ainsi. Firstly, the unintentional consequence interpretation is argued to be a “bridging context” between manner and unintentional consequence. Secondly, given the preponderance of the illustrative interpretation, we argue that this under-researched interpretation be taken up in future diachronic and synchronic analyses of ainsi and its cross-linguistic counterparts.

The functions of rhetorical structure: A study of Central Alaskan Yupik Eskimo discourse

1985 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Woodbury
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Discourse Structure ◽  
General Notion ◽  
Native America ◽  
Oral Literature ◽  
Verbal Art ◽  
Affective Meaning ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Dialogic Interaction

AbstractDiscourse structure in Central Alaskan Yupik Eskimo (CAY) narrative and conversation is examined, and a general notion of rhetorical structure is proposed, growing out of recent work in the poetics of Native American oral literature. Rhetorical structure in a given language would consist of prosodically and intonationally signaled phonological phrasing along with whatever other significant formal features consistently pattern or interact with it (minimally surface syntactic constituency, typically also the system of sentence adverbs and conjunctions, further intonational features, and patterns of parallelism and repetition). Findings for CAY as well as other works in the literature indicate at least four important communicative functions for rhetorical structure in addition to its role in verbal art: organization of information, expression of affective meaning, indexing of genre, and regulation of dialogic interaction. (Discourse, syntax–phonology–discourse interaction, ethnopoetics; Native America, Alaska, Yupik Eskimo)

scholarly journals WACANA RISALAH DAN PUTUSAN PERADILAN MAHKAMAH KONSTITUSI REPUBLIK INDONESIA

LITERA ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Triwati Rahayu
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Discourse Structure ◽  
Analysis Approach ◽  
Legal Language ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Government ◽  
Structural Aspects

This study aims to describe discourse structure aspects, discourse-makingcomponents, and discourse context of judicial minutes and verdicts by Mahkamah Konstitusi Republik Indonesia. The focus was on the discourse of judicial minutes and verdicts by Mahkamah Konstitusi Republik Indonesia regarding the test of the substance by DPD on Keppres No. 185/M/2004. The study was conducted by employing the discourse analysis approach, in terms of the micro-structural and macro-structural aspects. The conclusions are as follows. First, the structure of theminutes consists of the cover, information, and content, while that of the verdicts consists of the title and number, heading, inquirer and responder data, problems, responses, problem focuses, judge verdicts, different opinions, and signatures. Second, the discourse-making components in the judicial minutes and verdicts by MKRI comprise long sentences, legal language registers, parallelisms, honorifics, repetitions, and conjunctions. Third, the discourse context consists of the history of the existing conflicts among DPD, the government, and DPR, and the context of the minutes and verdicts based on the social context.

Building Text Summary Generation System Using Universal Networking Language, Rhetorical Structure Theory, Sangatis and Sutra

2020 ◽  
pp. 87-108
Author(s):  
Subalalitha C. N.
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Representation ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
Discourse Structure ◽  
Structure Theory ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Universal Networking Language ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level ◽  
Indexing Technique ◽  
Representation Techniques

This chapter discusses how text summaries could be generated by using a high-level semantic representation. The semantic representation is built using the discourse structure which is comprised of three text representation techniques, namely, universal networking language (UNL), rhetorical structure theory (RST), and Saṅgatis. Sangati is an ancient concept that is used in Sanskrit language literature to capture coherence. This discourse structure is indexed using a concept called sūtra which has been used in both Tamil language and Sanskrit literatures. The chapter mainly focusses on how summary could be generated by using this unique discourse structure and the indexing technique concept, sūtra. Forum for information retreival (FIRE) corpus has been used to test the system and a performance comparison has been done with the one of the state-of-art summary generation systems that is built on discourse structure.

NUCLEUS-SATELLITE MODEL OF DISCOURSE IN RHETORICAL STRUCTURE THEORY

2020 ◽  
pp. 104-116
Author(s):  
О.С. Филичева
Keyword(s):  
Structural Organization ◽  
Semantic Relations ◽  
Graphic Representation ◽  
Discourse Structure ◽  
Structure Theory ◽  
Text Generation ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Rhetorical Structure

Постановка задачи. В статье рассматриваются механизмы порождения и понимания текста с опорой на положения теории риторической структуры (ТРС), разработанной У. Манном и С. Томпсон. Данная теория основана на идее структурно-функционального направления в лингвистике о том, что связь между формой и содержанием языковой единицы объясняется структурой зависимостей. Зависимость одной единицы языка от другой в новообразованном единстве трактуется как функция, которую выполняет языковая единица в речи, или дискурсе. ТРС представлена как модель анализа семантических отношений между ядерными (главными) и сателлитовыми (зависимыми) дискурсивными единицами, образующими когерентный текст. Результаты. Описаны разные подходы к определению дискурса и его структурных компонентов. Проанализирована ядерно-сателлитовая модель структуры дискурсивных единиц, предложенная У. Манном и С. Томпсон. Авторы ТРС подчеркивают, что в основе когерентности текста лежат риторические отношения, которые связывают единицы дискурса и способствуют адекватному кодированию и декодированию информации. Это объясняется тем, что ядерно-сателлитовая организация дискурсивных единиц распределяет фон и фокус смыслового восприятия текста адресатом. Выявлены правила графической репрезентации риторических отношений, а также принципы классификации асимметричных и симметричных, моноядерных и многоядерных риторических отношений. Выводы. Ядерность и иерархичность признаются ведущими принципами структурной организации дискурса в ТРС. Иерархичность прослеживается не только в смысловой и интенциональной выделенности ядра по отношению к сателлиту, но и в построении риторических отношений между дискурсивными единицами. Таким образом, ядерно-сателлитовая модель дискурса является эффективным функциональным способом производства и интерпретации текстов, применяемым для решения различных коммуникативных задач. Statement of the problem. The article gives an explanation of the text generation and interpretation according to the Rhetorical structure theory (RST), developed by W. Mann and S. Thompson. This theory is based on structural and functional approaches in linguistics, which present the relations between the form and the content of a language unit as the structure of dependencies. The dependency of one language unit on another in the newly formed unity is understood as a function performed by the language unit in speech or discourse. RST provides as a model for analyzing semantic relations between nucleus (main) and satellite (dependent) discursive units that form the coherence of the text. Results. Different approaches to defining discourse and its structural components are described. The nucleus-satellite model of the discourse structure proposed by W. Mann and S. Thompson is analyzed. The authors of RST emphasize that the coherence of the text is based on rhetorical relations that connect the units of discourse and contribute to the adequate coding and decoding of information. The nucleus-satellite organization of discursive units distributes the addressee`s focus of text perception. The principles of graphic representation of rhetorical relations are revealed, as well as the principles of classification of asymmetrical and symmetrical, mononucleus and multinucleus rhetorical relations. Conclusion. Nuclearity and hierarchy are recognized as the leading ways of discourse structural organization in RST. Hierarchy can be traced not only in the semantic and intentional allocation of the nucleus, but also in the structural organization of rhetorical relations among discursive units. Thus, a nucleus-satellite model of discourse serves as an effective functional principle to generate and interpret texts, which used to solve various communication tasks.

scholarly journals The role of perceptual availability and discourse context in young children's question answering

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 918-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
DOROTHÉ SALOMO ◽  
EILEEN GRAF ◽  
ELENA LIEVEN ◽  
MICHAEL TOMASELLO
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Question Answering ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Preceding Discourse ◽  
Focus Questions

ABSTRACTThree- and four-year-old children were asked predicate-focus questions (‘What's X doing?’) about a scene in which an agent performed an action on a patient. We varied: (i) whether (or not) the preceding discourse context, which established the patient as given information, was available for the questioner; and (ii) whether (or not) the patient was perceptually available to the questioner when she asked the question. The main finding in our study differs from those of previous studies since it suggests that children are sensitive to the perceptual context at an earlier age than they are to previous discourse context if they need to take the questioner's perspective into account. Our finding indicates that, while children are in principle sensitive to both factors, young children rely on perceptual availability when a conflict arises.

The Effect of Prereading, Rhetorically-Oriented Frameworks on the Recall of Two Structurally Different Expository Texts

1990 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Lee ◽  
Gail L. Riley
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Expository Text ◽  
Second Language Reading ◽  
Discourse Structure ◽  
Expository Texts ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Expository Prose

Research in both first and second language reading has undertaken the study of discourse structure and the influence of the rhetorical organization of the text on readers' passage comprehension. A considerable amount of research has also examined the effect of text adjuncts of various kinds on passage comprehension. The present study explored the effect of providing novice foreign language readers information about the rhetorical structure of an expository text as a text adjunct. Two passages were tested under each of three conditions: no framework, minimal framework, and expanded framework. Results indicate that an expanded framework is an effective text adjunct for the comprehension of expository prose.

Revisiting the Syntax of Monsters in Uyghur

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-42
Author(s):  
Travis Major
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Clause Structure ◽  
Alternative Analysis ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Embedded Clause

This paper is written in response to Shklovsky and Sudo (2014), who propose a syntactic analysis of Uyghur indexical shift, a process by which embedded indexicals, such as "you" and "I" are interpreted relative to the reported context, as opposed to the present discourse context. Based on novel data, I offer an alternative analysis, which argues that there are two distinct types of tensed embedded clause that differ in clause structure, size, and the functional heads present within the structure. I correlate these properties with case, agreement, and indexical shift.

Overriding syntactic islands with prosodically marked wh-scope in South Kyŏngsang Korean and two dialects of Japanese

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Kyung Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Results ◽  
Grammatical Knowledge ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Scope Ambiguity ◽  
Production Study ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Tokyo Japanese ◽  
Syntactic Islands ◽  
Scope Interpretation ◽  
Preceding Discourse

This article explores the effect of discourse context and prosody on the resolution of wh-scope ambiguity in Tokyo Japanese, Fukuoka Japanese, and South Kyŏngsang Korean. It focuses on wh-islands in particular. There is little consensus in the literature as to whether wh-island effects are present in Japanese or Korean (Huang 1982, Nishigauchi 1990, Lee 1982, Suh 1987, among others). A production study, in which a scope-ambiguous wh-interrogative was preceded by a disambiguating discourse context, demonstrates that speakers’ scope interpretation is consistent with the preceding discourse context. An additional comprehension study reveals that prosodic wh-scope marking observed in the languages studied improves the acceptability of the matrix scope readings in violation of wh-islands. The experimental results support the view that wh-island effects can be overridden by plausible discourse contexts as well as the appropriate prosodic marking of wh-scope. These results highlight the interaction of grammatical knowledge, contextual factors, and prosody.

Relevance and early word learning

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAMEERA AKHTAR
Keyword(s):  
Ambiguous Word ◽  
Target Object ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Direct Test ◽  
Discourse Context ◽  
Novel Object ◽  
Relevant Condition ◽  
Comprehension Tests ◽  
Preceding Discourse ◽  
Unusual Shape

Several theorists have proposed that children may interpret an ambiguous word by attending to the dimension that is most relevant in the immediate discourse context. The current study offers a direct test of this hypothesis. Children aged 2;6 and 3;4 (N = 24 in each group) were presented with a novel object with an unusual shape and texture and were told ‘This is a dacky one’. In the Shape-Relevant condition, two other objects' shapes were described before the target object was labelled (‘This is a round one; this is a square one’). In the Texture-Relevant condition, two preceding objects' textures were described (‘This is a smooth one; this is a fuzzy one’). Subsequent comprehension tests indicated that, in extending the novel adjective to other exemplars, children attended to the dimension that was most relevant to the preceding discourse context.

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