Metapragmatic comments in web-based intercultural peer evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Xiaoye You
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Peer Evaluation ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Web Based ◽  
American University ◽  
Online Exchange

Abstract Peer evaluation (PE) of student writings is increasingly conducted online these days, creating unique opportunities for intercultural communication. Adopting a socio-cognitive approach and drawing on data from an online exchange program between Chinese and American university students, the study examines how revision-oriented metapragmatic comments (MPCs) are used to adjust the salience of specific contextual factors in three dimensions: information (including socio-cultural, language, and writing knowledge), situational context, and interpersonal relations. The MPCs are found to have substantiated a host of pragmatic strategies, such as patterned moves, foregrounding or backgrounding information, evidentiality markers, dispreferred second turns, and highlighting group identity. Enhancing or degrading the salience of contextual factors, the MPCs facilitate the construction of a common ground between the Chinese and American students in terms of knowledge and personal affiliation. The use of revision-oriented MPCs in PE manifests the collaborative, mutually supportive nature of web-based intercultural communication.

The roles of revision-oriented peer evaluation as pragmatic intervention in web-based ELF communication

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-99
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Huiying Liu
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Peer Evaluation ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Web Based ◽  
American University ◽  
Thematic Content ◽  
Rapport Management ◽  
Online Exchange

Peer evaluation (PE) in web-based English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) communication demonstrates certain uniqueness in moderating, transforming, or reinforcing linguistic and intercultural competence development. Within the framework of Spencer-Oatey’s (2000, 2008) rapport management framework, this article focuses on the use of revision-oriented peer evaluation (RPE) as a pragmatic intervention, drawing on data from the Cross-Pacific Exchange, an online exchange program between Chinese and American university students. Three types of RPE are identified based on its thematic content: knowledge-sharing, relationship-oriented, and disclaiming. The thematic content analysis hence reveals three major concerns in PE: the knowledge gap between ELF users, interpersonal care, and self-awareness. RPE, as a pragmatic intervention, mainly addresses these three concerns. The frequency and functional analysis of each type of RPE shows that Chinese and American students demonstrate a similar tendency, though their specific ways of intervening are not the same. Their top priorities are to scaffold common-ground construction and attend to interpersonal relationships; their least concern is to protect self/group face and identity, indicating the cooperative, mutually supportive feature of web-based ELF communication.

The cognitive saliency of word associations of verbs of speech in English as a Lingua Franca interactions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-443
Author(s):  
Yang Pang
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Word Associations ◽  
Similar Word ◽  
Speech Communities

AbstractBuilding on the theoretical insights into the socio-cognitive approach to the study of interactions in which English is used as a lingua franca (ELF)), this paper reports on the idiosyncratic phenomenon that ELF speakers do not adhere to the norms of native speakers, but instead create their own particular word associations during the course of the interaction. Taking the verbs of speech talk, say, speak, and tell as examples, this study compares word associations from three corpora of native and non-native speakers. The findings of this study reveal that similar word associative patterns are produced and shared by ELF speech communities from different sociocultural backgrounds, and these differ substantially from those used by native English speakers. Idiom-like constructions such as say like, how to say, and speakin are developed and utilized by Asian and European ELF speakers. Based on these findings, this paper concludes that ELF speakers use the prefabricated expressions in the target language system only as references, and try to develop their own word associative patterns in ELF interactions. Moreover, the analysis of the non-literalness/metaphorical word associations of the verbs of speech in the Asian ELF corpus suggests that ELF speakers dynamically co-construct their shared common ground to derive non-literal/metaphorical meaning in actual situational context.

scholarly journals Territorial cohesion through cross-border landscape policy? The European case of the Three Countries Park (BE-NL-DE)

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Brüll ◽  
Timo Matti Wirth ◽  
Frank Lohrberg ◽  
Annet Kempenaar ◽  
Marlies Brinkhuijsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Policy Coordination ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Adaptive Landscape ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Constant Change ◽  
Territorial Cohesion ◽  
The Eu

AbstractLandscapes can be understood as socialecological systems under constant change. In Europe various territorial dynamics pose persistent challenges to maintaining diverse landscapes both as European heritage and in their capacity to provide vital functions and services. Concurrently, under the competence of cohesion policy, the EU is attempting to improve policy making by better policy coordination and respecting regional specifics. This paper explores the question how a policy dedicated to landscape can help to handle territorial change and support territorial cohesion. It presents results and performances of the ESPON applied research study LP3LP: (1) a common landscape policy for the Three Countries Park, across the Dutch, German and Belgium borders, including a spatial landscape vision, a governance proposal of adaptive landscape management, and thematic strategies dealing with green infrastructure, cultural heritage, complementary biomass and quality production; (2) recommendations at the EU level. In discussing the significance of a landscape approach for EU policy,three dimensions of landscape are linked withimportant aspects of territorial cohesion: ‘landscape as asset’ addressing natural-cultural territorial capital as an indigenous base forsmart, sustainable, and inclusivedevelopment;‘landscape as place’ stressing the relevance of landscape for place-based policies; and ‘landscape as common ground’ highlighting its potential for horizontal, vertical, and territorial integration.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Simulation: An Innovative Teaching Tool for Dietetics Experiential Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Davis
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Virtual Reality Simulation ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Educational Benefits ◽  
Web Technologies ◽  
Dietetics Education ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Visualization Of Data

This paper investigates the role of virtual reality and web technologies in the field of dietetics education. Within this frame, special emphasis is given on the building of web-based virtual learning environments so as to successfully fulfill their educational objectives. In particular, basic pedagogical methods are studied, focusing mainly on the efficient preparation, approach and presentation of learning content, and specific designing rules are presented considering the hypermedia, virtual and educational nature of this kind of applications. The paper also aims to highlight the educational benefits arising from the use of virtual reality technology in dietetics and study the emerging area of web-based dietetic simulations. Virtual reality simulation allows the visualization of data in three dimensions and provides interactive functionalities that reinforce the feeling of immersion into a computer-generated virtual world. Finally, the innovative virtual reality environment for dietetics education pedagogy and development is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Representation of the image of Russia and Central Europe in the British press. The impact of media on intercultural communication in global context

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 10010
Author(s):  
Silvia Polakova ◽  
Jozef Bruk ◽  
Lenka Môcova
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
The Media ◽  
British Press ◽  
The Impact

Research background: Twenty-first century’s sees strong globalization trends in which mass media play crucial role in shaping public opinion which might saliently impact intercultural communication on the international level. Purpose of the article: This paper focuses on the representation of the image of Russia and Central and Eastern Europe in the British press and, besides, it sets out the role of stereotyping in intercultural communication. The article writers assume that the stereotypes play pivotal role in image shaping of a country in the media. Above all, the most efficient way to not stereotype is a straightforward communication of the participants alongside with the knowledge of the participant’s background, i. e. cultural knowledge. Drawing on the information from the British press, Russia, Central as well as Eastern Europe appears not solely as a geographical region. On the contrary, despite the fast economic, social and political development, its image abroad is still predominantly negative. Methods: The paper, in conjunction with the cultural linguistics and cognitive approach, reveals the range of metaphorical expressions, in particular cognitive aspect of metaphors used by British journalists, which, in turn form the image of Russia in the British press. Findings & Value added: The paper suggests that the analysis of the image of country in the mass media might apply to the investigation of images of other countries as well as to comparative studies.

scholarly journals Duration and speed of speech events: A selection of methods

2015 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-83
Author(s):  
Dafydd Gibbon ◽  
Katarzyna Klessa ◽  
Jolanta Bachan
Keyword(s):  
Software Tool ◽  
Worked Examples ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Speech Technology ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Language Typology ◽  
Cart Analysis ◽  
Speech Timing ◽  
Speech Events ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractThe study of speech timing, i.e. the duration and speed or tempo of speech events, has increased in importance over the past twenty years, in particular in connection with increased demands for accuracy, intelligibility and naturalness in speech technology, with applications in language teaching and testing, and with the study of speech timing patterns in language typology. H owever, the methods used in such studies are very diverse, and so far there is no accessible overview of these methods. Since the field is too broad for us to provide an exhaustive account, we have made two choices: first, to provide a framework of paradigmatic (classificatory), syntagmatic (compositional) and functional (discourse-oriented) dimensions for duration analysis; and second, to provide worked examples of a selection of methods associated primarily with these three dimensions. Some of the methods which are covered are established state-of-the-art approaches (e.g. the paradigmatic Classification and Regression Trees, CART , analysis), others are discussed in a critical light (e.g. so-called ‘rhythm metrics’). A set of syntagmatic approaches applies to the tokenisation and tree parsing of duration hierarchies, based on speech annotations, and a functional approach describes duration distributions with sociolinguistic variables. Several of the methods are supported by a new web-based software tool for analysing annotated speech data, the Time Group Analyser.

Negotiation of Wit in Facebook Humour

2016 ◽  
pp. 20-37
Author(s):  
Akin Odebunmi ◽  
Simeon Ajiboye
Keyword(s):  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Ground Theory ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Cultural Experiences ◽  
The Common ◽  
Asymmetrical Relationships

This chapter unpacks the humorous contents of selected Facebook-based Akpos jokes which have received inadequate attention in the scholarship with respect to wit negotiation which mostly indexes the jokes. Six out of fifteen sampled jokes have been analysed with the theoretic aid of Istvan Kecskes' Socio-Cognitive Approach (SCA), aspects of the common ground theory, aspects of conversation analysis and elements of selected humour theories. The analysis shows three forms of wit negotiation: negotiation of mis-oriented twists, negotiation of dis-preference and negotiation of un-designed twists. In the respective cases, the talk initiating speakers have their logic flawed by recipient speakers, usually Akpos, and consequently get outsmarted; earlier sequentially dispreferred social choices are re-negotiated as preferred options in the light of new discursive realities; and the interactive designs or expectations of talk initiating participants receive undersigned or unexpected sequential responses in symmetrical or asymmetrical relationships. The paper argues that the joke characters' situationally adaptive orientation to apriori or emergent common ground and intention demonstrates the Akpos jokes' recontextualisation of particular Nigerian social and cultural experiences through the characters' socio-cognitive designs in the mediated encounters. It concludes that while these designs offer the relaxant effects jokes are naturally meant to yield, their negotiation mechanisms provide resources for the application of Kecskes' SCA in Facebook humour and produce sarcasm with a wing of moral lessons.

Improving Knowledge Management by Supporting Asynchronous Communications with a Debate Dashboard

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-44
Author(s):  
Luca Iandoli ◽  
Ivana Quinto ◽  
Anna De Liddo ◽  
Simon Buckingham Shum
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Research Hypothesis ◽  
Argument Mapping ◽  
Asynchronous Communications ◽  
Online Conversation ◽  
Manage Innovation

In today economic environment, innovation is considered the primary source of competitive advantage for companies. The advent of Web 2.0 tools has provided organizations with new models and tools to improve collaboration and co-creation of new knowledge assets. In particular, the shift to Open Innovation models has been recognized as a major change in the way companies create and manage innovation. In this paper the authors focus on a particular kind of web-based platforms known as argument mapping tools. Argument mapping tools have proved to be valuable tools to the organization to support collaborative decision making in distributed environments, but the level of adoption of these technologies in common organizational practices remains quite low. To tackle this problem, the authors propose to augment common argumentation mapping features with a Debate Dashboard. The research hypothesis the authors make is that by providing visual conversational feedback the Debate Dashboard improves common ground and mutual understanding of online conversation thus supporting users adoption of argument mapping tools. Drawing on Grounding cost theory (Clark & Brennan, 1991; Clark, 1996), in this paper the authors describe the main rationale and requirements for a Debate Dashboard and argue that such interface can provide useful users feedback to compensate for the loss of information due to technology mediation, and therefore improve the communication and mediation abilities of argumentation systems. Moreover the authors describe the design and preliminary results of an evaluation study carried out to assess whether the Debate Dashboard can foster more efficient and easier interaction and communication among online users. Initial results appear to support their research hypothesis, at least in terms of users’ involvement and level of participation. Indeed, from the preliminary analysis it emerges that by augmenting online argument mapping tools with visual feedback users’ performances and users engagement improve, in particular by increasing the total number of user contributions and the number of most active users.

Activating, seeking, and creating common ground

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Istvan Kecskes ◽  
Fenghui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Representation ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Emergent Property ◽  
Shared Knowledge ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
The Core ◽  
Communicative Process ◽  
Integrated Concept

This paper argues that current pragmatic theories fail to describe common ground in its complexity because they usually retain a communication-as-transfer-between-minds view of language, and disregard the fact that disagreement and egocentrism of speaker-hearers are as fundamental parts of communication as agreement and cooperation. On the other hand, current cognitive research has overestimated the egocentric behavior of the dyads and argued for the dynamic emergent property of common ground while devaluing the overall significance of cooperation in the process of verbal communication. The paper attempts to eliminate this conflict and proposes to combine the two views into an integrated concept of common ground, in which both core common ground (assumed shared knowledge, a priori mental representation) and emergent common ground (emergent participant resource, a post facto emergence through use) converge to construct a dialectical socio-cultural background for communication.
Both cognitive and pragmatic considerations are central to this issue. While attention (through salience, which is the cause for interlocutors’ egocentrism) explains why emergent property unfolds, intention (through relevance, which is expressed in cooperation) explains why presumed shared knowledge is needed. Based on this, common ground is perceived as an effort to converge the mental representation of shared knowledge present as memory that we can activate, shared knowledge that we can seek, and rapport, as well as knowledge that we can create in the communicative process. The socio-cognitive approach emphasizes that common ground is a dynamic construct that is mutually constructed by interlocutors throughout the communicative process. The core and emergent components join in the construction of common ground in all stages, although they may contribute to the construction process in different ways, to different extents, and in different phases of the communicative process.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document