The Theme-topic Interface


Book Description

The Theme-Topic Interface (TTI) gives a useful catalogue of approaches to the concept Theme in the analysis of Natural Language. The book is written with both theoretical and descriptive goals and aims to synthesize and revise current approaches to pragmatic functions. In addition, TTI explains that different thematic constructions in natural language reveal different discourse strategies related to point of view and speaker subjectivity, which shows the mutually supportive role of form and discourse function vis-á-vis each other. The book's value is enhanced by the use of natural language corpora, the Lancaster IBM Spoken English Corpus (LIBMSEC), and by running multivariate statistical tests, taking into account both segmental and suprasegmental features. The bibliography lists more than 600 publications providing ample material for further research into an integrated theory of language and its use. The indexes provide easy access to most authors mentioned and to the major concepts covered.




Interfaces in Language


Book Description

This volume resulted from the first Interfaces in Language conference held at the University of Kent, England, as a result of the need perceived for the orthodox distinctions made between the various perceived divisions in language study, e.g. syntax vs. semantics vs. pragmatics vs. phonology vs. morphology, to be expanded into a wider concept of linguistic interfaces, for example language and music, language and politics, languages in mutual contact, languages in mutual conflict, and language and literature. Potential contributors at the conference were encouraged to define and explore the particular interfaces which interested them, to see where there was common ground, where distinctions were to be made and where grey areas invite further investigation. The results were startling: contributors responded from America, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Poland, Spain and Switzerland as well as the UK, with themes ultimately grouped under three headings which have been roughly retained in this volume. Many of the wide range of resultant perspectives are represented here, as well as those treated by colleagues prevented at the last moment from attending the conference. Categories and Orthodoxies addresses some of the most traditional interfaces, whilst Contact and Conflict examines clashes and coalescences between languages, languages and politics, the mutual interaction of variants of a language and the imposition or choice of a non-native language over its native counterparts; and Language and Cognition sees language behaviour as partly at least influenced by factors other than those formally identified as strictly linguistic.




Interfaces in Functional Discourse Grammar


Book Description

In grammar design, a basic distinction is made between derivational and modular architectures. This raises the question of which organization of grammar can deal with linguistic phenomena more appropriately. The studies contained in the present volume explore the interface relations between different levels of linguistic representation in Functional Discourse Grammar as presented in Hengeveld and Mackenzie (2008) and Keizer (2015). This theory analyses linguistic expressions at four linguistic levels: interpersonal, representational, morphosyntactic and phonological. The articles address issues such as the possible correspondences and mismatches between those levels as well as the conditions which constrain the combinations of levels in well-formed expressions. Additionally, the theory is tested by examining various grammatical phenomena with a focus both on the English language and on typological adequacy: anaphora, raising, phonological reduction, noun incorporation, reflexives and reciprocals, serial verbs, the passive voice, time measurement constructions, coordination, nominal modification, and connectives. Overall, the volume provides both theoretical and descriptive insights which are of relevance to linguistics in general.




Discourse Topics


Book Description

Discourse topics are a frequently mentioned but rarely operationalised concept in linguistics. Taking a text linguistic approach and defining discourse topics as clusterings of concepts, this book examines and compares methods for investigating topic boundaries, topic identification and topic development. The first book to be devoted to topics in extended discourse, Discourse Topics examines topics in several genres and generates new insights into the nature of discourse topics that challenge the status quo. It is essential reading for researchers in linguistics, discourse analysis, natural language processing and psychology whose work concerns topics.




Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference on Languages and Arts (ICLA 2022)


Book Description

This is an open access book.Industrial Revolution 4.0. is a global acceleration era in creating a masterpiece to accelerate economic achievement in a country. This era is a challenge for all of us particularly in the field of language, literature, arts and education. In order to respond this challenge, creative industry should take and play important role to bring benefit for our country. For this purpose the 11th International Conference on Language and Arts (ICLA-11) invites researchers, teachers/lecturers, and students to come as presenters or participants. This year theme is “Current Issues in Collaborative Learning and Digital Technology in Languages and Arts”.




Discourse Studies


Book Description

"A landmark in the oeuvre of one of the founding fathers of discourse analysis. Van Dijk has managed to edit a volume of lasting significance, and some of the chapters in this book belong to the most widely read in the field. In its totality, Discourse Studies offers us a 360 degree tour of the field... Nothing in this volume is dated, everything remains mandatory reading for every student and advanced practicioner." - Jan Blommaert, Tilburg University "This very welcome updated second edition will allow Teun van Dijk′s very popular Discourse Studies to consolidate its already strong and central position in the area. Featuring chapters written by so many of the leading scholars it will continue to be a stimulating and wide-ranging introduction to the discipline of discourse studies for new generations of students." - Malcolm Coulthard, University of Birmingham This book is the largest, most complete, most diverse and only multidisciplinary introduction to the field. A combined Second Edition of two seminal texts in the field (the 1997 titles Discourse as Social Interaction and Discourse as Structure and Process) this essential handbook: Is fully updated from start to finish to cover contemporary debates and research literature. Covers everything from grammar, narrative, argumentation, cognition and pragmatics to social, political and critical approaches. Adds two new chapters on ideology and identity. Puts the student at the centre, offering brand new features such as worked examples, sample analyses and recommended further reading. Written and edited by world-class scholars in their fields, it is the essential, one-stop companion for any student of discourse analysis and discourse studies.




Information Structuring of Spoken Language from a Cross-linguistic Perspective


Book Description

Information structure and the organization of oral texts have been rarely studied crosslinguistically. This book contains studies of the grammatical organization of information in languages from different areas (e.g. Amazonian, Finno-Ugric, South-Asian) from a variety of theoretical angles. It will be a valuable resource for researchers investigating the interaction of morphosyntax and discourse in familiar and less familiar languages.




Comparative and Contrastive Studies of Information Structure


Book Description

"The present book contains a selection of articles based on papers presented at the conference on 'Contrastive Information Structure Analysis' organised by Carsten Breul at the University of Wuppertal in March 2008"--Pref.




Languages and Cultures in Contrast and Comparison


Book Description

This volume explores various hitherto under-researched relationships between languages and their discourse-cultural settings. The first two sections analyze the complex interplay between lexico-grammatical organization and communicative contexts. Part I focuses on structural options in syntax, deepening the analysis of information-packaging strategies. Part II turns to lexical studies, covering such matters as human perception and emotion, the psychological understanding of ‘home’ and ‘abroad’, the development of children’s emotional life and the relation between lexical choice and sexual orientation. The final chapters consider how new techniques of contrastive linguistics and pragmatics are contributing to the primary field of application for contrastive analysis, language teaching and learning. The book will be of special interest to scholars and students of linguistics, discourse analysis and cultural studies and to those entrusted with teaching European languages and cultures. The major languages covered are Akan, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish.




The Routledge Handbook of Systemic Functional Linguistics


Book Description

The Routledge Handbook of Systemic Functional Linguistics brings together internationally renowned scholars of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to provide a space for critical examination of the key tenets underpinning SFL theory. Uniquely, it includes description of the three main strands within contemporary SFL scholarship: Halliday’s Introduction to Functional Grammar, Martin’s discourse semantics and Fawcett’s Cardiff Grammar. In five sections and thirty-eight interdisciplinary chapters, this is the first handbook to cover the whole architecture of SFL theory, comprising: the ontology and epistemology of SFL; SFL as a clause grammar; lexicogrammar below the clause, and SFL’s approach to constituency; SFL’s vibrant theory of language above the clause; and SFL as a theory of praxis with real-world applications. With a wide range of language examples, a comprehensive editors’ introduction and a section on further reading, The Routledge Handbook of Systemic Functional Linguistics is an essential resource for all those studying and researching SFL or functional grammar.