Listening for Culture

There is an inextricable link between humans and their cultural environments, as each reciprocally creates and is created by the other. This chapter discusses interviewing as a critical methodological tool for understanding culture as intricately intertwined with subjective meaning making and identity processes. We start from the premise that the stories gathered through research-based interviews serve as repositories of shared cultural knowledge as experienced and interpreted by individuals. After briefly examining the historical position of interviewing in the field of psychology, the chapter will draw on examples from the authors’ own research in the United States and Germany to offer guidance on (a) designing interview protocols that allow for cultural analysis, and (b) conducting analysis to see culture through interview data. Empirically guided suggestions for fostering researcher reflexivity, acknowledging power, and dismantling hierarchies are provided throughout the chapter, all in service of truly “hearing” culture in the stories participants tell.

How to theorize about subjective language: a lesson from ‘de re’

Subjective language has attracted substantial attention in the recent literature in formal semantics and philosophy of language (see overviews in MacFarlane in Assessment sensitivity: relative truth and its applications, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014; van Wijnbergen-Huitink, in Meier, and van Wijnbergen-Huitink (eds) Subjective meaning: alternatives to relativism, De Gruyter, Berlin, pp 1–19, 2016; Lasersohn in Subjectivity and perspective in truth-theoretic semantics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2017; Vardomskaya in Sources of subjectivity, Ph.D. thesis, University of Chicago, IL, 2018; Zakkou in Faultless disagreement: a defense of contextualism in the realm of personal taste, Vittorio Klostermann, Frankfurt a. M., 2019b). Most current theories argue that Subjective Predicates (SPs), which express matters of opinion, semantically differ from ordinary predicates, which express matters of fact. We will call this view “SP exceptionalism”. This paper addresses SP exceptionalism by scrutinizing the behavior of SPs in attitude reports, which, as we will argue, significantly constrains the space of analytical options and rules out some of the existing theories. As first noticed by Stephenson (Linguist Philos 30(4):487–525, 2007a; Towards a theory of subjective meaning, Ph.D. thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2007b), the most prominent reading of embedded SPs is one where they talk about the attitude holder’s subjective judgment. As is remarked sometimes (Sæbø in Linguist Philos 32(4):327–352, 2009; Pearson in J Semant 30(1):103–154, 2013a), this reading is not the only one: embedded SPs may also talk about someone else’s, non-local, judgment. We concentrate specifically on such cases and show that non-local judgment is possible if and only if SPs are used within a DP that is outside main predicate position and that entire DP is read de re. We demonstrate that the behavior of SPs in attitude reports does not differ from that of ordinary predicates: it follows from general constraints on intersective modification and intensional quantification (Farkas in Szabolcsi (ed) Ways of scope taking, Springer, Dordrecht, pp 183–215, 1997; Musan in On the temporal interpretation of noun phrases, Garland, New York, 1997; Percus in Nat Lang Semant 8(3):173–229, 2000; Keshet in Good intensions: paving two roads to a theory of the de re/de dicto distinction, Ph.D. thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2008). We argue that this unexceptional behavior of SPs in fact has unexpected consequences for SP exceptionalism. Precisely because SPs have been argued to be semantically different from ordinary predicates, not all theories correctly predict these less-studied data: some overgenerate (e.g. Stephenson 2007a, b; Stojanovic in Linguist Philos 30(6):691–706, 2007; Sæbø 2009) and some undergenerate (e.g. McCready in McNally, and Puig-Waldmüller (ed) Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung, vol 11, pp 433–447, 2007; Pearson 2013a). Out of the currently available theories, only relativist accounts (Lasersohn in Linguist Philos 28(6):643–686, 2005; MacFarlane 2014; Bylinina in J Semant 34(2), 291–331, 2017; Coppock in Linguist Philos 41(2):125–164, 2018) predict the right interpretation, and only that interpretation. We thus present a novel empirical argument for relativism, and, more generally, formulate a constraint that has to be taken into consideration by any view that advocates SP exceptionalism.

Feelings of Quarantine: Allegories for the Lockdown

This case study shows how allegories are a means to express the inexpressible and how Allegory Analysis can be a method to reveal it and bring out the subjective meaning making, life script ideology, and capability to deal with the ambivalent in critical life situations. From a cultural psychological perspective, the research is based on feelings during the quasi-quarantine period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study tries to understand the coping strategies with which people deal with a psychological crisis in general concerning for the COVID-19 lockdown. It discusses further ways to deal with the ambivalences and subjective meaning making arousing through such a crisis. The case study analysis of Miss K. not only showed her meaning making processes and attitude of life but also showed how to deal with the uncertainty during the critical lockdown period. Through her allegories, she utters her current life script ideology that living nowadays means to function like a machine while being creative, self-reflective at the same time. Her meaning making process counterbalanced between the voice of being delivered to withdrawal or depression versus the voice of being able to learn, connect, and relax. Her coping strategy was bearing the ambivalence in a psychological crisis with faith.

Listening for culture: Using interviews to understand identity in context

There is an inextricable link between humans and their cultural environments, as each reciprocally creates and is created by the other. This chapter discusses interviewing as a critical methodological tool for understanding culture as intricately intertwined with subjective meaning-making and identity processes. We start from the premise that the stories gathered through research-based interviews serve as repositories of shared cultural knowledge as experienced and interpreted by individuals. After briefly examining the historical position of interviewing in the field of psychology, the chapter will draw on examples from the authors’ own research in the United States and Germany to offer guidance on (1) designing interview protocols that allow for cultural analysis, and (2) conducting analysis to see culture through interview data. Empirically-guided suggestions for fostering researcher reflexivity, acknowledging power, and dismantling hierarchies are provided throughout the chapter, all in service of truly “hearing” culture in the stories participants tell

CONTAMINATION AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE LUDIC WORD CREATION IN THE DISCOURSE ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (BASED ON THE MATERIAL OF THE NEW GERMAN WORDS)

В статье рассматриваются новые контаминированные лексические единицы немецкого языка, возникшие в период пандемии коронавируса 2020 года. Выявляются особенности контаминации как способа образования новых слов, описываются формально-структурные и семантические типы контаминантов немецкого языка. Показано, что в анализируемом языковом материале преобладают фонетические фузионные контаминанты. Обосновывается понимание контаминации как особой игровой словотворческой стратегии, направленной на преодоление психологического дискомфорта в период пандемии коронавируса. Использование контаминации при образовании «коронеологизмов» определяется также стремлением к компрессии информации и реализации образно-выразительного потенциала контаминированных новообразований, возникающих благодаря установлению особых ассоциативных связей между синтаксически обособленными словами и привнесению элементов субъективного смысла. Путем анализа мотивационных основ и семантики новых контаминантов делается вывод о том, что языковые игры с контаминированными словами пользуются особой популярностью в «пандемическом» дискурсе за счет их коннотативного эмоционально-оценочного потенциала. Появление подобных в структурном и семантическом отношении контаминантов периода пандемии 2020 года в различных языках можно рассматривать двояко: с одной стороны, можно предположить заимствование уже готовых контаминированных единиц из английского языка, с другой стороны, речь может идти либо о неологическом полигенезисе (параллельном возникновении аналогичных новых слов в разных языках), либо об усилении уже имеющейся в немецком языке тенденции лексического развития под влиянием английского языка. В целом новая «коронавирусная» лексика, образованная путем контаминации, подтверждает тенденцию к лексической глобализации (прежде всего, под влиянием английского языка). The article deals with the new German contaminated lexical units that appeared during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020. The features of contamination as a way of coining new words are identified, and the formal-structural and semantic types of German contaminants are described. It is shown that the phonetic fusion contaminants predominate in the analyzed material. The article substantiates the understanding of contamination as a ludic word-creating strategy aimed at overcoming psychological discomfort during the pandemic. The use of contamination in the coining of "coroneologisms" is also determined by the wish to compress the information and to realize the figurative and expressive potential of contaminated words, which occurs due to the special associative links between syntactically separate words and the introduction of elements of subjective meaning. By analyzing the motivational basis and semantics of the new contaminants, it is concluded that language games with contaminated words are particularly popular in the "pandemic" discourse due to their connotative emotional and evaluative potential. The appearance of similar structural and semantic contaminants of the 2020 pandemic period in different languages can be considered in two ways: on the one hand, we can assume the borrowing of ready-made contaminated units from the English language, on the other hand, we can talk either about neological polygenesis (parallel emergence of similar new words in different languages), or about the strengthening of the lexical development trend already existing in German under the influence of English. In general, the new "coronavirus" vocabulary formed by contamination confirms the trend towards lexical globalization (primarily under the influence of the English language)

Mechanisms of semantic change

This paper examines the mechanisms of semantic change in the creation of ten Cantonese slang words. It demonstrates with synchronic evidence that metaphorization, metonymization and (inter)subjectification are three principal driving forces behind the shift in meaning. It is argued that Traugott and Dasher’s (2002) Invited Inferencing Theory of Semantic Change (IITSC), initially proposed for and widely used in the context of grammaticalization, is equally useful for the study of neologisms – in this case, the relatively recent slang expressions in Cantonese. These monosyllabic lexemes are shown to have followed the same unidirectional pathway of semantic change – that is, the shift from non-subjective meaning to encoded (inter)subjective meaning – outlined in their model of semantic change.

REFLEKSI ANOMALI MAKNA PERILAKU MEROKOK DI KALANGAN DOSEN UNIVERSITAS ISLAM RIAU

<p align="center"><strong><em>ABSTRACT</em></strong></p><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p><em>This study aims to determine the meaning of smoking behavior. Symbolic interaction theory explains subjective meaning as the basis for action. The symbolic interaction perspective contains the same thoughts as social action theory about the subjective meaning of human behavior, social processes and pragmatism. This means that humans (in smoking behavior) act based on the meaning they understand. This study uses symbolic interaction theory which explains the behavior of the meaning understood by smokers as seen from the aspects of mind, self, and society. This study uses qualitative methods by using a constructivism approach. In-depth interviews data collection technique used to get information from lecturer’s smokers at Islamic University of Riau which was determined by purposive sampling technique. The data analysis technique used is qualitative data analysis. The results of this study show that the anomaly meaning in smoking behavior is reflected based on the meaning that understood by smokers about smoking behavior. The meaning of smoking based on “Mind” is a negative activity, positive life habits, entertainment, symbol of creativity, hard work, symbol of friendship and an economic symbol. The meaning of smoking based on “Self” means dependence, self-confidence, and economic stability. While, based on the concept of society, smoking is a behavior caused by the social interaction of the smoker with the community in the smoker's environment in the family, general public, work environment, and past experiences.</em></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><strong><em>:</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>anomaly</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>m</em></strong><strong><em>eaning, </em></strong><strong><em>lecturer, s</em></strong><strong><em>moking</em></strong><strong><em> behavior</em></strong><strong><em>, </em></strong><strong><em>s</em></strong><strong><em>ymbolic </em></strong><strong><em>i</em></strong><strong><em>nteractionism</em></strong></p><p> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><strong>ABSTRAK</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui makna perilaku merokok. Teori interaksi simbolik menjelaskan makna subjektif sebagai dasar tindakan. Perspektif interaksi simbolik mengandung pemikiran yang sama dengan teori tindakan sosial tentang makna subjektif dari perilaku manusia, proses sosial dan pragmatismenya. Artinya manusia (dalam perilaku merokok) bertindak berdasarkan makna yang dipahami dalam diri mereka. Penelitian ini menggunakan teori interaksi simbolik yang menjelaskan perilaku dari makna yang dipahami oleh perokok yang dilihat dari aspek mind, self, dan sosiety. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan konstruktivis. Teknik pengumpulan data yang dilakukan adalah wawancara mendalam kepada informan penelitian dosen perokok di lingkungan Universitas Islam Riau yang ditentukan dengan Teknik <em>purposive sampling</em>. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah analisis data kualitatif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat anomali makna dalam perilaku merokok yang direfleksikan berdasarkan makna yang dipahami oleh para perokok tentang perilaku merokok itu sendiri. Makna merokok berdasarkan <em>Mind</em> merupakan aktivitas negatif, kebiasan Positif, sarana hiburan, simbol kreativitas kerja keras, simbol pergaulan dan simbol ekonomi. Kemudian makna merokok berdasarkan <em>Self</em> bermakna ketergantungan, percaya diri, dan kemapanan ekonomi. Selanjutnya berdasarkan konsep <em>society</em> merokok adalah perilaku yang disebabkan oleh interaksi sosial perokok dengan masyarakat yang ada di lingkungan perokok. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa interaksi sosial perokok yang membentuk makna merokok terjadi di lingkungan keluarga, masyarakat umum, lingkungan kerja, dan pengalaman masa lalu.</p><strong>Kata Kunci: anomali makna, dosen, perilaku merokok, interaksi simbolik</strong>

Obserwatorium Sztuki dla Dziecka jako kolaż polifonicznych projektów dzieciństwa

The researcher describes her experience of participating in the 22nd Biennale of Art for Children. Discussions conducted as part of the meetings of the Observatory, a group created to observe and talk about events as an integral part of the project, show the polyphony of opinions about who is a child and what art is for a child. As Schütz points out, subjective meaning is an inherent attribute of human activities. People experience phenomena on the basis of their previous experiences. According to the premises of phenomenology, the discussions of people from different socio-biographical locations will provide a variety of visions. The author describes how the experience of people who are involved with art for children but who differ in their social and professional roles influences the planning of events for children.

The subjective concept of morbidity: its assessment and connection with the motivation for treatment in persons who underwent psychosis

Medication compliance and motivation for treatment, as adaptive- compensatory reactions of patients to the awareness of the fact of their own ill- being, are based on subjective perception of the disorder. To date, there is a shortage of objective methods for assessing the subjective concept of morbidity in psychotic patients.160 inpatients with psychosis in anamnesis were examined: nosologically according ICD-10 80%—F2, 11%—F3, 9%—F0. A self-questionnaire was adapted to the Russian language for determining the subjective meaning and significance of psychosis (Susi). The results of its internal and external (when compared with data on the severity of productive and negative symptoms, subjective assessment of the severity of the condition and treatment motivation of patients) validation are presented.Conclusions. The applicability of the concept of subjective morbidity in patients with mental disorders is shown. The role of the subjective attitude to the disease in case of its perception as a destructive life event is associated in patients with a violation of the structure of motivation for treatment. On the contrary, the ability of patients to form a subjective meaning of the disease can be considered as a guarantee of more intense therapeutic motivation.

The meanings of self-harm behavior: internet study results

Self-harming is one of the most acute problems that mental health professionals face in their work. This explains the relevance of developing the most effective ways to work with it. The aim of the work is a study of subjective meaning of self-harm behavior in the sample of internet users. The methods. The materials for the study were the responses of 156 people above 18 years of age received during an online survey. The methods were the questions about subjective meaning of self-harm behavior. The data were processed by the method of calculation of a percentage each of meaning of self-harm behavior in the total sample. The results show heterogeneity of meaning of self-harm behavior. 8.5% of the responses (meaning an alternative to suicide) demonstrate the actual suicidal risk. 25.4% of the responses (meaning confirmation of reality of myself, stop panic attack, episode of anxiety, hysteric, obsession thoughts, filling inner emptiness) show to psychopathological symptoms among respondents. 61.5% of the responses (meanings relief of emotional pain, rest, sedation, stress reduction, cope with aggression, mental strain) demonstrate low tolerance for emotional tension and negative feelings. 5.3% of the responses (meanings revenge, raise awareness to themselves) could be explained by poverty of the communicative skills. Etiology of some meanings is a need to be examined in each specific case The findings indicate an importance of studying the subjective meaning of self-harm behavior. Its allow us to highlight several areas of work. (1) Psychiatric treatment of psychopathological symptoms. (2) Prevention of suicidal risk. (3) Training in emotional self-regulation skills. (4) Depending on the meaning of self-harm behavior, optimal psychotherapeutic approaches will vary.