Pronominal anaphora resolution in Polish: Investigating online sentence interpretation using eye-tracking

The mechanism of anaphora resolution is subject to large cross-linguistic differences. The most likely reason for this is the different sensitivity of pronouns to the range of factors that determine their reference. In the current study, we explored the mechanism of anaphora resolution in Polish. First, we explored preferences in the interpretation of null and overt pronouns in ambiguous sentences. More specifically, we investigated whether Polish speakers prefer to relate overt pronouns to subject or object antecedents. Subsequently, we tested the consequences of violating this bias when tracing the online sentence-interpretation process using eye-tracking. Our results show that Polish speakers have a strong preference for interpreting null pronouns as referring to subject antecedents and interpreting overt pronouns as referring to object antecedents. However, in online sentence interpretation, only overt pronouns showed sensitivity to a violation of the speaker’s preference for a pronoun-antecedent match. This suggests that null pronoun resolution is more flexible than overt pronoun resolution. Our results indicate that it is much easier for Polish speakers to shift the reference of a null pronoun than an overt one whenever a pronoun is forced to refer to a less-preferred antecedent. These results are supported by naturalness ratings, which showed that null pronouns are considered equally natural regardless of their reference, while overt pronouns referring to subject antecedents are rated as considerably less natural than those referring to object antecedents. To explain this effect, we propose that the interpretation of null and overt pronouns is sensitive to different factors which determine their reference.

Identifying humor in stand-up comedy: A preliminary study

This paper describes a preliminary study examining how the audience of stand-up comedy approach humor analysis. By expanding the scope of the General Theory of Verbal Humor (Attardo 2001), it was possible to use the framework to aid and systematize the interpretation process, resulting in shifting the theory’s focus from humor production to humor perception. The first part of the paper introduces the main premise of stand-up comedy. The second part is devoted to the theoretical aspects, namely the theory of humor. The third part discusses the methodology of the preliminary study: a two-step interpretation task done by four audience members. The fourth and the fifth sections present the results of the study and discuss the implications. The outcome of the analysis gives an understanding as to what the audience may focus on during the interpretation process, which allows for identification of differences in humor perception.

Leitura: o papel da memória de longo termo (MLT) no processo de interpretação

Este artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa sobre Dificuldades de leitura entre acadêmicos de Letras, a partir da análise das paráfrases por eles produzidas, após a leitura silenciosa de uma crônica. O objetivo foi avaliar a interpretação leitora dos estudantes da amostra considerada. A análise embasou-se no Modelo Pragmático Integrado de interpretação/compreensão (DASCAL, 2006) e os resultados da investigação desenvolvida entre o 2º semestre de 2015 e o 1º de 2016 evidenciaram dificuldade de articulação entre texto e contexto, como também a necessidade de investigar mais detidamente os vínculos entre memória de longo termo (MLT) e o processo de interpretação leitora, uma vez que o maior problema detectado concerniu à falta de mobilização do conhecimento prévio (extralinguístico e metalinguístico). As demais dificuldades foram o léxico pouco desenvolvido e a falta de nexos textuais ou seu emprego inadequado. Por fim, embora a pesquisa tenha sido exploratória e seus resultados não possam ser generalizados sem investigações adicionais, constatamos haver estreita relação entre dificuldades de interpretação leitora e produção de paráfrases reprodutoras.This article presents the results of an investigation on Reading Difficulties among students of Letters based on the paraphrases produced by them after the silent reading of a chronicle. The objective was to evaluate the students’ process of reading interpretation. The analysis was based in the Pragmatic Model of Integrated interpretation/understanding (DASCAL, 2006) and the results of the research developed in 2015/2016 showed difficulty of articulation between text and context, as well as the need to investigate the links between long term memory (MLT) and the interpretation process, since the biggest problem detected was concerned to the difficulty to mobilize previous knowledge (extralinguistic and metalinguistic).Other difficulties highlighted were the lexicon little developed and the lack of nexus or its inadequate use between sentences and paragraphs. Finally, although the study was exploratory and their results cannot be generalized without further investigations, we conclude that there was a close relationship between reading interpretation difficulties and poor paraphrases.Keywords: reading, memory, interpretation, paraphrase.

Objective Domain Boundaries Detection in New Caledonian Nickel Laterite from Spectra Using Quadrant Scan

Modelling of 3D domain boundaries using information from drill holes is a standard procedure in mineral exploration and mining. Manual logging of drill holes can be difficult to exploit as the results may not be comparable between holes due to the subjective nature of geological logging. Exploration and mining companies commonly collect geochemical or mineralogical data from diamond drill core or drill chips; however, manual interpretation of multivariate data can be slow and challenging; therefore, automation of any of the steps in the interpretation process would be valuable. Hyperspectral analysis of drill chips provides a relatively inexpensive method of collecting very detailed information rapidly and consistently. However, the challenge of such data is the high dimensionality of the data’s variables in comparison to the number of samples. Hyperspectral data is usually processed to produce mineral abundances generally involving a range of assumptions. This paper presents the results of testing a new fast and objective methodology to identify the lithological boundaries from high dimensional hyperspectral data. This method applies a quadrant scan analysis to recurrence plots. The results, applied to nickel laterite deposits from New Caledonia, demonstrate that this method can identify transitions in the downhole data. These are interpreted as reflecting mineralogical changes that can be used as an aid in geological logging to improve boundary detection.

A DISCURSIVE STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN THE CULTURAL ISLAM-POLITICAL ISLAM POWER RELATION IN INDONESIA IN TRIWIKROMO’S “LENGTU LENGMUA” (2012)

This study aims to reveal the discursive play of the short story “Lengtu Lengmua” (2012) by Triyanto Triwikromo in maintaining the unequal power relation in Indonesia. The study is carried out on the basis of Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis that elaborates intertextuality theory and social theory of discourse. The research questions are what discourses influence “Lengtu Lengmua”’s celeng construction? and what political interests are supported and legitimized by “Lengtu Lengmua”’s celeng construction? It is a descriptive qualitative study for which data were collected using a note-taking technique. The relationships between data are elucidated by describing how the text of the short story, its production and the interpretation process are connected to the prevailing social conditions in Indonesia. The results show that: (1) “Lengtu Lengmua” represents, manipulates, negates, and transcends the discourse that sees that “celeng is a despicable animal” from the texts of Berburu Celeng (1998), Celeng Dhegleng (1998), and Tak Enteni Keplokmu (2000); and (2) to generate a notion of celeng as a noble animal, “Lengtu Lengmua” also configures the existing discourse conventions, namely conventions that are related to magical realism, Javanese society, children, Islamic shari’ah, and Islamic makrifat. These two results indicate that “Lengtu Lengmua” gives a new meaning to celeng and recontextualizes the celeng, which in previous texts is associated with human greed (i.e. capitalistic and corrupt), in religious issues especially those related to the contradiction between political Islam and cultural Islam. In turn, this discursive play has contributed to the formation of political Islam-cultural Islam power relation in recent years in Indonesia where cultural Islam occupies a dominant position. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap permainan diskursif cerpen “Lengtu Lengmua” (2012) karya Triyanto Triwikromo dalam pemertahanan relasi kuasa yang tidak setara di Indonesia. Kajian dalam penelitian ini mengacu pada Analisis Wacana Kritis dari Norman Fairclough yang mengelaborasi teori intertekstualitas dan teori sosial wacana. Pertanyaan yang ingin dijawab dalam penelitian ini adalah wacana apa yang memengaruhi konstruksi celeng “Lengtu Lengmua” dan kepentingan politik apa yang didukung dan dilegitimasi oleh konstruksi celeng “Lengtu Lengmua”. Kajian ini menggunakan metode penjabaran deskriptif kualitatif dan teknik pengumpulan data simak-catat. Hubungan antardata dikaji melalui deskripsi atau penjelasan bagaimana teks cerpen, proses produksi dan interpretasinya berkaitan dengan kondisi sosial yang melatar belakangi cerita dalam cerpen. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa (1) “Lengtu Lengmua” merepresentasikan, memanipulasi, menegasikan, dan melampaui wacana “celeng adalah hewan hina” dari teks Berburu Celeng (1998), Celeng Dhegleng (1998), dan Tak Enteni Keplokmu (2000); (2) “Lengtu Lengmua” juga mengonfigurasikan konvensi-konvensi wacana yang ada untuk menghasilkan konstruksi celeng sebagai hewan mulia, yaitu konvensi wacana realisme magis, masyarakat Jawa, anak-anak, Islam syariat, dan Islam makrifat. Kedua hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa “Lengtu Lengmua” memberikan makna baru atas celeng dan membawa representasi celeng, yang pada teks-teks sebelumnya diidentikkan dengan kerakusan manusia yang kapitalistik dan korup, ke dalam konteks persoalan keagamaan khususnya yang terkait dengan pertentangan antara Islam politik dan Islam kultural. Pada gilirannya, permainan diskursif ini berkontribusi pada pembentukan relasi kuasa Islam politik-Islam kultural pada tahun-tahun terakhir di Indonesia di mana Islam kultural menduduki posisi yang dominan.

Ada Aksara di Antara Angka dan Bulatan Itu: Sakala Dihyang dan Upaya Penafsirannya

Sakala Dihyang is a kind of chronogram that considered as puzzle in the Merapi-Merbabu manuscript collection. This article purposes to discuss the issue about how to interpret this kinds, especially through the list of the numbers, alphabets, and circles combination that found in the manuscript 6 L 107 (folio 25r) and ms. 14 L 290 (folio 16v). The amalgamation of numbers and circles in sakala dihyang constructs the series of—preciselly four—disyllabic words, arranged in aṅkānāṃ vāmato gatiḥ principles, the writing moves from right to left, and every disyllabic words represents a specific number. Sakala Dihyangis similar to sakala milir (in Javanese: sěngkalan lamba), a kind of chronogram used bhūtasaṃkhya system, but it uses the implicit expression. The interpretation to sakal dihyang can assisted by other chorongram (mělok, milir, dan koci) that are used in the same discourse simultaneouslly. The kakawin contains the list of words used in chronogram, i.e. Candrabhūmi, is also functioned in the interpretation process. The arranging pattern of disyllabic word structureused in sakala dihyang is also become obstruction in its interpretation process—especially when it compares to Candrabhūmi. Because of disyllabic structure is the necessity in sakala dihyang composition, conversely the words in candrabhūmi list do not always shave disyllabic structure, and so its modification pattern is also discussed in this article.

Features of Russian-Turkish and Turkish-Russian simultaneous interpretation

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that nowadays cooperation between countries is constantly developing at different levels, which necessitates the use of simultaneous interpreting services. In order to meet the demands of today's market and above all to live up to the expectations, it is important to understand the special features of Russian-Turkish and Turkish-Russian simultaneous interpretation, regardless of subject matter and degree of complexity. Such interpretation is quite a complex task, since Turkish is a language belonging to the group of languages that is spoken by 83 million people worldwide, mostly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, where it has the status of an official language. In the Russian Federation there is little knowledge of Turkish, which seems to be the main reason for the growing demand for simultaneous interpreting. The purpose of the study is to conduct a linguistic analysis of Russian-Turkish and Turkish-Russian simultaneous interpretation, which will reveal the features of language structures that influence the choice of strategies and actions in the simultaneous interpretation process.

Signaling Information Management in Entrepreneurial Firms’ Financing Acquisition

Research has identified the significant effect of new ventures’ signaling information management on their ability to secure private equity financing. This study adopts an integrated signaling and screening perspective to investigate investors’ differing perceptions of signals from ventures, across early financing stages. It proposes a three-step interpretation process. Based on an inductive multiple case study of signaler‒receiver dyads, it finds that to reach a financing decision, angel investors extract a characteristic signal as the fundamental type, orchestrate an acting signal as a supplementary type, and scrutinize the consistency between both. However, venture capital investors extract an action signal as the fundamental type, orchestrate characteristic and endorsement signals as complementary types, and scrutinize the consistency among all three types.

A Stepwise Data Interpretation Process For Renal Amyloidosis Subtyping by LMD-MS

Backgrounds: Systemic amyloidosis is classified according to the deposited amyloid protein, which determines its best therapeutic scheme. The laser microdissection combined with mass spectrometry (LMD-MS) technique is a promising approach for precise subtyping of amyloidosis, however, is hampered by how to interpret the MS data.Objectives: The objective of the present study is to establish a complete data interpretation procedure for LMD-MS based amyloidosis subtyping.Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from patients with renal amyloidosis were analyzed by LMD-MS for proteome quantification. Forty-two specimens were used for training the data interpretation procedure, which was validated by another 50 validation specimens. Area under receiver operating curve (AUROC) analysis of amyloid accompanying proteins (APOE, APOA4 and SAMP) for discriminating amyloidosis from non-amyloid nephropathies was performed.Results: A stepwise data interpretation procedure that include or exclude the subtypes group by group was established, in which, involvement of non-immunoglobulin amyloid protein is determined by P-score, involvement of immunoglobulin light chain is determined by variable of λ-κ, and immunoglobulin heavy chain’s participation is judged by H-score. This data interpretation method achieved a 88% accuracy in 50 validation specimens. The amyloid accompanying proteins showed significant quantitative differences between amyloidosis specimens and non-amyloid nephropathies. Each of the single accompanying protein had a AUROC value more than 0.9 for diagnosis of amyloidosis from non-amyloid control, and the averaged value of spectral count of the three accompanying proteins showed the highest AUROC (0.966), indicating it might be an alternative indicator for amyloidosis diagnosis.Conclusions: The proteomic data interpretation procedure for amyloidosis subtyping based on LMD-MS was established successfully, which has high clinical application value.

Human-like Decision-Making System for Overtaking Stationary Vehicles Based on Traffic Scene Interpretation

There are multifarious stationary vehicles in urban driving environments. Autonomous vehicles need to make appropriate overtaking maneuver decisions to navigate through the stationary vehicles. In literature, overtaking maneuver decision problems have been addressed in the perspective of either discretionary lane-change or parked vehicle classification. While the former approaches are prone to generating undesired overtaking maneuvers in urban traffic scenarios, the latter approaches induce deadlock situations behind a stationary vehicle which is not distinctly classified as a parked vehicle. To overcome the limitations, we analyzed the significant decision factors in the traffic scenes and designed a Deep Neural Network (DNN) model to make human-like overtaking maneuver decisions. The significant traffic-related and intention-related decision factors were harmoniously extracted in the traffic scene interpretation process and were utilized as the inputs of the model to generate overtaking maneuver decisions in the same manner with the human driver. The overall validation results convinced that the extracted decision factors contributed to increasing the learning performance of the model, and consequently, the proposed decision-making system enabled the autonomous vehicles to generate more human-like overtaking maneuver decisions in various urban traffic scenarios.