Key Concepts in Human Language and Communication

Extraterrestrial message construction

Language Invention in Linguistics Pedagogy ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198829874.003.0014 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 239-250

Author(s):

Sheri Wells-Jensen ◽

Kimberly Spallinger

Keyword(s):

Pattern Recognition ◽

The Other ◽

Academic Disciplines ◽

Human Language ◽

Basic Pattern ◽

Language Of Instruction ◽

Key Concepts ◽

Different Levels

This chapter presents a set of exercises ready for use in the classroom, in which students use basic pattern recognition skills to solve an “alien” message that includes both numbers and other elements. The other elements define relations among the numbers, and students determine how those relations can be mapped to words in a human language—whatever the language of instruction. Rationale for the utility of this approach is discussed, as are ways to modify the instructions to present the exercises to student populations with different levels of sophistication in math and computation, and different levels of linguistic training. The exercise and rationale exemplify one way in which constructed languages can be used to introduce key concepts in linguistics for students from a variety of academic disciplines.

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Why Technical Writers? A Case for Training Technologists to Speak for Themselves

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication ◽

10.2190/gnq2-vu8h-ha2m-6hb4 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 149-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carol J. Steiner

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Real World ◽

Technical Communication ◽

The Real ◽

Active Involvement ◽

Technical Writers ◽

The World ◽

Key Concepts ◽

Technology Practice ◽

Language And Communication

Why are technical writers needed to “translate” the work of technologists into accessible communication? This article looks briefly at the situation that creates the need for technical writers and then argues for a change in that situation so technologists can communicate for themselves. The argument is based on Martin Heidegger's philosophy of meaning, language, and communication. It recommends greater, active involvement of technologists with the “real world” in which their technology will be used, including involvement with people with whom and for whom the technology is being developed. Key concepts presented are that meaning lies in socially-agreed relations among things in the world, not in words or in the relations between words and things; that language actually manifests rather than represents reality; and that technical writers are incapable of fully appreciating and communicating the meaning of what technologists do because they come from a different discipline which constructs meaning differently. It argues that a change in technology practice will engender a new attitude and approach to technical communication that can make technical writers unnecessary except as communication teachers who help develop the communication skills of technologists.

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Ethnogeriatrics: Development and Application of the Cohort Analysis Tool

Perspectives on Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations ◽

10.1044/cds21.2.37 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 37-52

Author(s):

Melen McBride

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Cohort Analysis ◽

Analysis Tool ◽

Speech Language Pathology ◽

Clinical Tool ◽

Research Activities ◽

Key Concepts ◽

Practice Teaching ◽

Language Pathology ◽

Significant Factors

Ethnogeriatrics is an evolving specialty in geriatric care that focuses on the health and aging issues in the context of culture for older adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds. This article is an introduction to ethnogeriatrics for healthcare professionals including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). This article focuses on significant factors that contributed to the development of ethnogeriatrics, definitions of some key concepts in ethnogeriatrics, introduces cohort analysis as a teaching and clinical tool, and presents applications for speech-language pathology with recommendations for use of cohort analysis in practice, teaching, and research activities.

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