FORMULAIC EXPRESSIONS FOUND IN THE “ALLY MCBEAL” MOVIE SERIAL

The objectives of this research are to investigate the formulaic expressions. It is supposed to be very important to have more progress of the capability of English speaking. It is therefore necessary to have the formulaic expressions as a cover term which is typically used to refer to “multi-word collocations” which are stored and retrieved holistically and with conventionalized forms and meanings.This study, using English corpora as data, explores the nature of formulaic expressions by systematically examining its composition patterns. Formulaic expressions are a fix expressions used in conversation and the convention of turn taking varies between cultures and languages; therefore, learners of a foreign language may find it difficult to say in their expression naturally. A movie film, Ally McBeal, is chosen as material because it allows constant reference to the context; however, it is suggested that a film should be carefully chosen according to the aim of teaching.The main question of this study is: what kinds of formulaic expressions are found in Ally McBeal movie serial? This study also tries to find how these functions are realizedAfter analyzing the data, it is was found that there are 11 formulaic expressions. They are: greeting-greeting, statement-apologizing, statement- thanking, promises/threats-response, controlling-response, request-response, preclosing/closing-response, interruption-response, compliment-response, advice- response, and offer-responseThe results summarized above have some important implications for strategy instruction in the area of formulaic expressions usage. Learners need to distinguish the formulaic expression indicate the same context. Cognitive strategies involving the practice of formulaic expressions forms need to be incorporated.

Variability in competitive decision-making speed and quality against exploiting and exploitative opponents

A presumption in previous work has been that sub-optimality in competitive performance following loss is the result of a reduction in decision-making time (i.e., post-error speeding). The main goal of this paper is to test the relationship between decision-making speed and quality, with the hypothesis that slowing down decision-making should increase the likelihood of successful performance in cases where a model of opponent domination can be implemented. Across Experiments 1–3, the speed and quality of competitive decision-making was examined in a zero-sum game as a function of the nature of the opponent (unexploitable, exploiting, exploitable). Performance was also examined against the nature of a credit (or token) system used as a within-experimental manipulation (no credit, fixed credit, variable credit). To compliment reaction time variation as a function of outcome, both the fixed credit and variable credit conditions were designed to slow down decision-making, relative to a no credit condition where the game could be played in quick succession and without interruption. The data confirmed that (a) self-imposed reductions in processing time following losses (post-error speeding) were causal factors in determining poorer-quality behaviour, (b) the expression of lose-shift was less flexible than the expression of win-stay, and, (c) the use of a variable credit system may enhance the perceived control participants have against exploitable opponents. Future work should seek to disentangle temporal delay and response interruption as determinants of decision-making quality against numerous styles of opponency.

Variability in decision-making speed and quality against exploiting and exploitative opponents as a function of trial outcome and credit interruption

A presumption in previous work has been that sub-optimality in competitive performance following loss is the result of a reduction in decision-making time (i.e., post-error speeding). Decision-making time can also be modulated via the use of a credit system, where sufficient credit must be present for the participant to continue playing. Across three experiments, the speed and quality of competitive decision-making was examined in a zero-sum game as a function of the nature of the opponent (unexploitable, Experiment 1; exploiting, Experiment 2; exploitable, Experiment 3) and the nature of the credit system (no credit, fixed credit, variable credit). The data a) identify the use of a variable credit system as enhancing the perceived control participants have against exploitable opponents, b) reinforce the inflexibility of lose-shift as a decision-making heuristic in competitive contexts, and, c) confirm that self-imposed reductions in processing time following losses (post-error speeding) are causal factors in determining poorer-quality behaviour. Since slowing down decision-making following loss increases the likelihood of future successful performance, future work should seek not only to disentangle the two features of any putative credit system (temporal lag and response interruption), but also explore the possibility that mandatory pauses introduce slower cycles of performance and hence could improve the quality of competitive decision-making in the long run.