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This paper aims to identify and define the different linguistic functions that emoji can carry in French and English computer-mediated discourse (CMD). Emoji are graphical icons, representing attitudes or concepts, that can be used on any smartphone or computer with a variety of communicative roles inside a conversation. Using a multimodal corpus containing 1200 emoji and the messages in which they were used, we tested an initial typology of emoji functions inspired by previous frameworks. The quantitative analysis of the data, along with the detailed examination of specific examples, led to the construction of a new, more refined typology consisting of three primary functions (expressive, interpretative and referential) and five secondary functions (relational, politeness, emphatic, structural and aesthetic).

In this paper, we present a contrastive survey of a morpheme originally meaning ‘giant’ in German and Swedish. In both languages, this morpheme has developed into a prefixoid with simile or intensifying meaning. More recently, these prefixoids have been shown to occur as free morphemes as well, and it is the purpose of this paper to explore whether a quantitative analysis of synchronic corpus data can be used to determine whether the free forms are spelling variants, or whether they are truly new constructions that are the result of debonding. Drawing data from the COW corpus of contemporary web text, we compare bound and free forms on the levels of R1 collocations, semantic bleaching, and productivity. Our analysis suggests that the German prefixoid has undergone debonding, whereas the Swedish free forms are mere spelling variants.

While morphemes are theoretically defined as linguistic units linking form and meaning, semantic effects in morphological processing are not reported consistently in the literature on derived and compound words. The lack of consistency in this line of research has often been attributed to methodological differences between studies or contextual effects. In this paper, we advance a different proposal where semantic effects emerge quite consistently if semantics is defined in a dynamic and flexible way, relying on distributional semantics approaches. In this light, we revisit morphological processing, taking a markedly cognitive perspective, as allowed by models that focus on morphology as systematic meaning transformation or that focus on the mapping between the orthographic form of words and their meanings.

This paper analyzes different manifestations of the medical record in order to demonstrate how and why some discourse creates greater organizational reach. In doing so, the paper presents four arguments. First, that types of discourse research that analyze organization from the perspective of regularized practices on the one hand, and those which frame organization as narrative and story-telling unfoldings on the other, are to be complemented with discourse research that considers the inherent characteristics of discourse and its relationship to and relevance for organizational process. Second, that organizing discourse is discourse that mediates between specifying and dedifferentiating moments of representation, by interposing standardizing categories, inscriptions and material appearances; only in this way is discourse able to connect the specific and the personalized with the general, abstract, and depersonalized. Third, the paper argues that the paperbased medical record largely absolves clinicians from âorganizingâ clinical care as it is defined in this paper: its discourse (content, visual appearance, rules governing authorship) remains âun-organizingâ. Finally, it is argued that the electronic PCIS is being framed in discourse that standardizes how clinical care is informated, and potentially even intervenes in the substance of that care; and while at greater risk of bringing about âbad recordsâ (Garfinkel 1967), such âorganizing discourseâ ultimately achieves âlines of forceâ across and beyond the clinic.

This paper analyzes different manifestations of the medical record in order to demonstrate how and why some discourse creates greater organizational reach. In doing so, the paper presents four arguments. First, that types of discourse research that analyze organization from the perspective of regularized practices on the one hand, and those which frame organization as narrative and story-telling unfoldings on the other, are to be complemented with discourse research that considers the inherent characteristics of discourse and its relationship to and relevance for organizational process. Second, that organizing discourse is discourse that mediates between specifying and dedifferentiating moments of representation, by interposing standardizing categories, inscriptions and material appearances; only in this way is discourse able to connect the specific and the personalized with the general, abstract, and depersonalized. Third, the paper argues that the paperbased medical record largely absolves clinicians from âorganizingâ clinical care as it is defined in this paper: its discourse (content, visual appearance, rules governing authorship) remains âun-organizingâ. Finally, it is argued that the electronic PCIS is being framed in discourse that standardizes how clinical care is informated, and potentially even intervenes in the substance of that care; and while at greater risk of bringing about âbad recordsâ (Garfinkel 1967), such âorganizing discourseâ ultimately achieves âlines of forceâ across and beyond the clinic.

During the last few decades, empirical research on reading has shown increasing interest in syllable units. More recently, stress assignment has become a particular focus of interest. The relation between syllables and stress, however, has yet to be investigated for Italian. In this paper, we describe a new database, STRESYL, that can help researchers to investigate the relation between syllables and stress in Italian. STRESYL offers type and token measures relating stress information to syllable units, both in terms of syllable forms and syllabic structures.

Discourse markers are a crucial component of natural language, which is why a description and account of their diachronic evolution must be part of our linguistic models. However, researchers have different views on whether this evolution should be accounted for in terms of grammaticalization and/or pragmaticalization. In this paper, we provide a structured overview of the accounts given for the diachronic evolution of DMs. It is shown that the different positions encountered in the literature can be brought back to diverging views on the conceptualization of grammar, the categorization of discourse markers, and the weight that is put on specific processes involved in the diachronic change. We provide case studies for each of the positions that we present and discuss.

This paper investigates the role of orthographic representation in the production of the local variant of the STRUT vowel in the speech of Polish migrants living in Manchester. A previous study (Drummond 2013) showed that acquisition of the local variant depended on various social factors, yet this only took into account conversation data, leaving some word list data unexplored. Comparing the two data sets reveals a difference in degree of acquisition, with the word list data producing more of the local vowel. This is explained not as a case of dialect acquisition as such, but more as an effect of orthography triggering a connection to the L1 phonology, the particular nature of which mimics acquisition of the local variant.

This paper investigates the role of orthographic representation in the production of the local variant of the STRUT vowel in the speech of Polish migrants living in Manchester. A previous study (Drummond 2013) showed that acquisition of the local variant depended on various social factors, yet this only took into account conversation data, leaving some word list data unexplored. Comparing the two data sets reveals a difference in degree of acquisition, with the word list data producing more of the local vowel. This is explained not as a case of dialect acquisition as such, but more as an effect of orthography triggering a connection to the L1 phonology, the particular nature of which mimics acquisition of the local variant.

This paper introduces a method (the Family Bias Method) that estimates statistical biases in diachronic developments on the basis of synchronic samples. Estimates of developments are sought from their expected synchronic results: if a structure S outnumbers non-S significantly in a family, a change toward S in this family was more likely than a change away from it – either because S was there in the protolanguage and then hardly ever got lost, or because S was not there and then it was was innovated early or often in the family. If structures are balanced in a family, no signal can be inferred: unless we know the protolanguage, diversification could have proceeded in any direction. Using extrapolation methods, signals for diachronic biases can also be estimated for isolates and small families, which represent over half of the known families. If most families show a bias, but there are as many biases toward S as against S worldwide, this suggests genealogical stability. If most biases are in the same direction, this suggests a diachronic universal or, if they are limited to certain geo-historical regions, areal trends or hotbed effects. Evidence for the theoretical assumptions of the Family Bias Method comes mainly from demonstrating that synchronic distributions in families cannot be successfully explained by alternative approaches, such as those assuming general stability indices.

Given the extensive use of LOL (Laughing Out Loud), MDR (Mort De Rire) and PTDR (PéTé De Rire) in French texting and the inclusion of lol in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011 and in Le Petit Robert in 2013, this paper aims to study the functioning of these three initialisms. Considered mainly as interjections, I hypothesize that lol, mdr, and ptdr could work syntactically (through their non-integration in the syntactic clause and position) and semantically (through their semantic opacity and procedural meaning) as discourse markers. In order to show this discourse marker use, this exploratory study was carried out using a prototypical methodology characterized by an inclusive and gradual approach. Based on syntactic and semantic analysis, a discourse marker ranking was performed, and this resulted in a contextual analysis (co-occurrences, moods and moves). This inclusive and gradual approach allows for doubt and lack of knowledge of the context in the analysis process. More broadly, this work also throws light on texting as a spontaneous computer-mediated communication type with writing constraints imposed by the communication medium and the situation.

This paper explores the linguistic and social factors behind the acquisition of glottal variation in English /t/ by native Polish speakers living in Manchester, UK. It investigates the speech of 40 Polish adults of varying levels of English language proficiency, who have been in Manchester for varying lengths of time, in order to establish what might be encouraging or prohibiting the acquisition of this widespread linguistic feature. Using quantitative sociolinguistic methods, factors such as level of English, length of residence, age, gender, motivation and attitude are considered in accounting for the variation in acquisition. Findings suggest that in addition to level of English and length of residence effects there is a fairly robust gender difference, with women tending to use glottal variants more frequently than men. This gender difference is explored in more detail with reference to a gender as practice type approach.

This paper presents an in-depth study of the semantics of the French discourse marker alors ‘at that time, then, so’. Its evolution from temporal adverbial with local anaphoric meaning to polysemous marker including conversation management uses in spoken French is traced through a systematic diachronic corpus analysis. Of particular interest in this perspective is the relationship between the different meanings of alors and the position it occupies in the sentence. Our main hypothesis is that the semantic evolution of alors goes hand in hand with grammatical and functional changes leading to new discourse functions, viz. from sentence adverbial to discourse structuring marker. We show that semantic meaning is driven by syntactic position changes which gradually evolve over time.

This paper explores the linguistic and social factors behind the acquisition of glottal variation in English /t/ by native Polish speakers living in Manchester, UK. It investigates the speech of 40 Polish adults of varying levels of English language proficiency, who have been in Manchester for varying lengths of time, in order to establish what might be encouraging or prohibiting the acquisition of this widespread linguistic feature. Using quantitative sociolinguistic methods, factors such as level of English, length of residence, age, gender, motivation and attitude are considered in accounting for the variation in acquisition. Findings suggest that in addition to level of English and length of residence effects there is a fairly robust gender difference, with women tending to use glottal variants more frequently than men. This gender difference is explored in more detail with reference to a gender as practice type approach.

In this paper, we propose a contrastive corpus study of French car and parce que and Italian ché and perché, meaning "because". Our goal is to assess the importance of subjectivity in grammaticalization in general, and in the renewal of causal conjunctions in particular. The evolution of these two pairs of conjunctions is quite similar: on the one hand, the most grammaticalized items of each pair, car and ché, are also the most intersubjective; they tend not to change meaning and to fall into disuse. On the other, the less grammaticalized items, parce que and perché, are also the less intersubjective, but gradually change meaning, possibly acquiring (more) inter-subjective uses, and seem to have become the default causal conjunctions in Modern French and Italian — more clearly so in the spoken than in the formal, written varieties. There thus seems to be a link between the degree of grammaticalization and that of (inter)subjectification.

This special issue of Lingvisticae Investigationes is a selection of papers presented at The Fifth International Contrastive Linguistics Conference (ICLC5), which was held at the University of Leuven in July 2008

Communication across languages and cultures is a markedly complex issue, and translation is more than just a careful linguistic transfer: it is a purposeful action designed to achieve the most effective result in a target group. Few studies have discussed the role of communicative intent in translation, and this paper is a small step towards filling the gap. The conceptual framework adopted in this study is Skopostheorie (Vermeer, 1989), a functionalist approach with an emphasis on communicative Skopos (purpose or aim), target texts and audiences. Using a method of contrastive comparison among effective, ineffective and controversial brand name translations from English to Mandarin Chinese, a systematic analysis is conducted regarding four translation strategies: phonetic appeal, suitable meaning, socio-cultural adaptation and consumer acceptance.The findings demonstrate that any effective communication strategy needs to be in accordance with the communicative purpose of achieving an optimal impact upon the target group, and a successfully translated brand name should function in a target culture as effectively as the original name in a source culture. They suggest that a function oriented approach, rather than a source-text oriented approach, holds the key for a successful outcome. If the translated name in Chinese achieves the expected effect among the Chinese consumers, then it is unimportant whether the meaning or the sound is sustained. The most important thing is that translated brand names suit the needs of Chinese consumers.This study is significant in that it challenges the traditional sound/meaningbased approach, and provides enriched understanding of the importance of achieving communicative purposes and optimal functional impact in a target group. The insights gained from this study add a vital conceptual dimension to the study of translation, and cross-cultural communication in general. In addition, the findings of this study may also provide practical

The purpose of this paper is to show the existing relationships between the concept of community and the linguistic forms used to convey or even to manipulate it. First of all, the limits and restrictions of any form of community will be defined. Second, one specific form of community will be selected for analysis. The community chosen will be the Parliamentary community, and the linguistic form singled out for study will be the first person plural pronoun “we”.We will try to discover any type of relationship between (a) the scope of reference of this personal pronoun and (b) the intentions of the person who uttered it. In this way, we can see whether there is any connection between personal identity (in terms of inclusion/exclusion from a group) and pronominal choice. This could also lead us to the discovery of any possible strategic use of this personal pronoun.

The purpose of this paper is to show the existing relationships between the concept of community and the linguistic forms used to convey or even to manipulate it. First of all, the limits and restrictions of any form of community will be defined. Second, one specific form of community will be selected for analysis. The community chosen will be the Parliamentary community, and the linguistic form singled out for study will be the first person plural pronoun “we”.We will try to discover any type of relationship between (a) the scope of reference of this personal pronoun and (b) the intentions of the person who uttered it. In this way, we can see whether there is any connection between personal identity (in terms of inclusion/exclusion from a group) and pronominal choice. This could also lead us to the discovery of any possible strategic use of this personal pronoun.

The purpose of this paper is to show the existing relationships between the concept of community and the linguistic forms used to convey or even to manipulate it. First of all, the limits and restrictions of any form of community will be defined. Second, one specific form of community will be selected for analysis. The community chosen will be the Parliamentary community, and the linguistic form singled out for study will be the first person plural pronoun “we”.We will try to discover any type of relationship between (a) the scope of reference of this personal pronoun and (b) the intentions of the person who uttered it. In this way, we can see whether there is any connection between personal identity (in terms of inclusion/exclusion from a group) and pronominal choice. This could also lead us to the discovery of any possible strategic use of this personal pronoun.

In this paper, the possibility of developing a Heideggerian solution to the Schizophrenia Problem associated with cognitive technologies is investigated. This problem arises as a result of the computer bracketing emotion from cognition during human-computer interaction and results in human psychic self-amputation. It is argued that in order to solve the Schizophrenia Problem, it is necessary to first solve the 'hard problem' of consciousness since emotion is at least partially experiential. Heidegger's thought, particularly as interpreted by Hubert Dreyfus, appears relevant in this regard since it ostensibly provides the basis for solving the 'hard problem' via the construction of artificial systems capable of the emergent generation of conscious experience. However, it will be shown that Heidegger's commitment to a non-experiential conception of nature renders this whole approach problematic, thereby necessitating consideration of alternative, post-Heideggerian approaches to solving the Schizophrenia Problem.

In this paper, the possibility of developing a Heideggerian solution to the Schizophrenia Problem associated with cognitive technologies is investigated. This problem arises as a result of the computer bracketing emotion from cognition during human-computer interaction and results in human psychic self-amputation. It is argued that in order to solve the Schizophrenia Problem, it is necessary to first solve the 'hard problem' of consciousness since emotion is at least partially experiential. Heidegger's thought, particularly as interpreted by Hubert Dreyfus, appears relevant in this regard since it ostensibly provides the basis for solving the 'hard problem' via the construction of artificial systems capable of the emergent generation of conscious experience. However, it will be shown that Heidegger's commitment to a non-experiential conception of nature renders this whole approach problematic, thereby necessitating consideration of alternative, post-Heideggerian approaches to solving the Schizophrenia Problem.