Search

In this paper, we analyse actual causation in terms of production. The latter concept is made precise by a strengthened Ramsey Test semantics of conditionals: A ≫ C iff, after suspending judgement about A and C, C is believed in the course of assuming A. This test allows us to (epistemically) verify or falsify that an event brings about another event. Complementing the concept of production by a weak condition of difference-making gives rise to a full-fledged analysis of causation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the effects of two media (paper vs. computer) on reading comprehension and memorization among students in their third or fourth year of secondary school. To assess comprehension, we constructed and validated a text with a carefully controlled hierarchical structure, accompanied by a questionnaire containing three types of questions (surface, semantic, inference). Memory of the text was assessed with a test based on the Remember-Know (R/K) paradigm. The results of the comprehension and R/K tests indicated that there was no difference between the two media. Regardless of medium, surface comprehension was better than either semantic or inference comprehension. The R/K test indicated that memorization was better for the surface elements of the text (more R than K responses). In conclusion, overall results show that if we fulfil all the conditions of paper-based versus computerized presentation (text structure, presentation on a single page, screen size, several types of questions measuring comprehension and memory performances), reading performances are not significantly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the semantics of two discourse markers, viz. French en fait (“in fact”) and Dutch eigenlijk (“actually”), commonly associated with the expression of “opposition” and “reformulation”. A special focus lies on methodological issues in the description of such markers, since their non-propositional meanings seem to require what is called a ‘combined corpus approach’, including written and spoken comparable data as well as translation corpora. It is argued that eigenlijk and en fait are best described as adversatives, at the intersection of “opposition” and “reformulation” which constitute their basic meanings, and from which other meanings such as “causality”, “counterexpectation”, “enhancement” and “attenuation” can be inferred. Evidence from all sets of corpora moreover suggests that it is the semantic underspecification of en fait and (especially) eigenlijk which ultimately accounts for their high level of polysemy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]