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The article offers information related to elevation of a text-centric approach to statutory interpretation within the federal judiciary that created a receptive environment for legal doctrines concerned with sentence and word level inference. Topic discussed includes legal theorists within the textualist movement that helped to reconceive interpretive canons & "modern" textualists that incorporated insights from philosophers of language and linguists concerning language's practical character.

Purpose: Consonant repetitions within words are a wellattested speech error pattern in children's early speech acquisition. We investigated the role of intervening vowel context in understanding speech forms containing consonant repetitions in early words. Intrasyllabic consonant--vowel (CV) sequences within consonant--vowel--consonant (CVC) and consonant--vowel--consonant--vowel (CVCV) forms containing consonant repetitions were analyzed to evaluate whether children's lack of independent movement control for the tongue in word-level sequences might contribute to these observed speech patterns. Method: Spontaneous speech data produced by 10 typically developing children learning American English were analyzed longitudinally from the onset of word use to 36 months. Overall patterns and word shape effects for nine CV combinations occurring in their CVC and CVCV word shapes that contained repeated nonadjacent consonants and the intervening vowel were analyzed. Results: Three CV combinations--coronal-front vowel, labial-central vowel, and dorsal-back vowel--occurred at above-chance levels. Preference for these CV patterns was strong in CVCV but not in CVC word shapes. These CV combinations occurred frequently at all time periods analyzed for CVCV's while decreasing across time for CVC's. Conclusions: Analysis of intrasyllabic patterns within word forms containing consonant repetitions revealed that consonant repetitions in many early words occurred at above-chance levels in the context of articulatorily compatible vowels. Results suggest that children's production system capacities are an important contributing principle accounting for vowel context effects within word forms containing consonant repetitions during earliest speech acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the class of N-words in the Aromanian dialect of Romanian. Being a cross-linguistically central topic in the typological study of negation, the semantic status of the N-words remains a controversial subject. While the Standard Romanian N-words have benefited from various interpretations in the literature (as existential quantifiers under negation, universal quantifiers above negation, free choice items, negative polarity items or negative quantifiers), the N-word paradigms in the South- Danube dialects of Romanian have not been studied yet. This paper offers an analysis and a classification of the Aromanian N-words (or Negative Concord Items), serving also as a typological characterization of the negation system in this dialect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the use of the o'er and ore wordplay in William Shakespeare's drama, `Cymbeline.' How to appreciate the wordplay; Analysis of the play's characters; Meanings generated by Shakespeare's repeated punning upon the word o'er and ore.

Language change across space and time is one of the main concerns in historical linguistics. In this article, we develop tools to assist researchers and domain experts in the study of language evolution. First, we introduce a method to automatically determine whether two words are cognates. We propose an algorithm for extracting cognates from electronic dictionaries that contain etymological information. Having built a data set of related words, we further develop machine learning methods based on orthographic alignment for identifying cognates. We use aligned subsequences as features for classification algorithms in order to infer rules for linguistic changes undergone by words when entering new languages and to discriminate between cognates and non-cognates. Second, we extend the method to a finer-grained level, to identify the type of relationship between words. Discriminating between cognates and borrowings provides a deeper insight into the history of a language and allows a better characterization of language relatedness. We show that orthographic features have discriminative power and we analyze the underlying linguistic factors that prove relevant in the classification task. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt of this kind. Third, we develop a machine learning method for automatically producing related words. We focus on reconstructing proto-words, but we also address two related sub-problems, producing modern word forms and producing cognates. The task of reconstructing proto-words consists of recreating the words in an ancient language from its modern daughter languages. Having modern word forms in multiple Romance languages, we infer the form of their common Latin ancestors. Our approach relies on the regularities that occurred when words entered the modern languages. We leverage information from several modern languages, building an ensemble system for reconstructing proto-words. We apply our method to multiple data sets, showing that our approach improves on previous results, also having the advantage of requiring less input data, which is essential in historical linguistics, where resources are generally scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores embodied word searching sequences in paired L2 speaking tests in a national test in basic Swedish for adult migrants in Sweden. A particular focus is given to sequences where the speaker invites the interlocutor to participate in the search and to extended word searches where co-participation is negotiated in different ways. Drawing on an embodied interactional analysis of 27 video recorded paired speaking tests, this study shows how embodied semiotic resources are used both to negotiate participation in the word searching sequences and to display an avoidance to participate in the word search even when being invited to do so. Overall, the participants prioritize the progressivity of talk rather than pursuing lexical precision. This study argues that the test takers' awareness of being assessed can have an impact on how they perform the word searches. Finally, the study makes the case that even though word search behavior is similar across languages, it remains important to treat word searching as a contextualized interactional practice. • Word searching sequences as a visible embodied interactional practice • Paired speaking tests are staged institutionalized performances which have consequences for how the word searches are accomplished • Displayed embodied avoidance to participate in the word search • Overall, the test takers prioritize the progressivity of talk rather than pursuing lexical precision • Word searching sequences as a potentially critical interactional moment in speaking tests [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Linguistica Asiatica is the property of Acta Linguistica Asiatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In 2010 Durda, Caron, and Buchanan published a paper in INFOR: Information systems and Operational Research, entitled: An application of operational research to computational linguistics: Word ambiguity. In this article the authors developed "a new measure of word ambiguity (e.g., homonymy and polysemy) for use in psycholinguistic research". In our work we propose some modification of their algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution focuses on phrasemes with an intensification function. The emphasis is laid on phrasemes with the so-called base word cert 'devil', krai 'king', and drak 'dragon'. We will attempt to show that the bearer of an intensification function is in some phrasemes the base word itself and in other cases the whole proposition. On several illustrative examples we will prove different formal types of phraseological units which perform an intensification function with the given base words. Furthermore, we will attempt to show that an identical or similar form of phraseological units differing only in the base word (although from one thematic unit) need not have an identical or similar semantic-functional structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen a resurgence of word‐based models of grammatical description in which implicational relations that exist between fully‐inflected wordforms can be exploited by speakers in the production of novel forms. Generally, word‐based models such as 'Word and Paradigm' (WP) have focused on describing the inflexional patterns exhibited by languages with more fusional structure, such as Latin, since they diverge most drastically from the 'morphemic ideal' in which meaning and form are in a one‐to‐one correspondence. However, consideration of the illative in Veps suggests that languages with more agglutinative inflexional structure (where sub‐word units which 'encode' particular functions can usually be clearly identified) are also consistent with a WP, rather than a morphemic or constructive, point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confucius emphasises the importance of humaneness (ren 仁) and rites (li 禮). Socrates, on the other hand, is often interpreted as a person who places far more importance on rational thinking, even to the exclusion of natural human feelings, especially on the ground of his attitude towards the sorrow of his wife and friends on his last day as described in Plato's Phaedo. Through clarifying two long-time riddles in this dialogue—namely, "What did Socrates mean by his last words, requesting Crito to offer a cock to Asclepius?" and "Was Plato really absent from the prison on Socrates' last day, due to illness, as is mentioned by Phaedo?"—this paper argues that Socrates kept in mind the best interest of his wife and friends even at the moment of his death, and that his humane attitude is expressed in his last words, which were not only an expression of gratitude for Plato's recovery from a critical illness but also an exhortation to his friends to continue their care of the soul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a new approach for study of variation. It notes that languages ​​use variation and freezing to create lexical specifics. It adds that variation has always been a central issue in the study of languages. It adds that the term variation was born in the years 1950-1960 and stay one concepts major in the field of sociolinguistics. It states that the approach common for study of variation diatopic uses the standard variants of a language.

The article examines how to express, understand and interpret legal language. It adds that the communication aims to address one of most important issues for Albania, a country that has undertaken a series of reforms over the past three decades in the justice system which requires interventions of important legal and institutional matters. It states that they must be able to understand conscientiously and interpret it correctly.

The article reports that the publication of a dictionary is a major event in terms of linguistic and cultural events, which marks the whole language society in question. It notes that the nomenclature of a work lexicographic, is a significant parameter in general, which will deny the fact that the pocket dictionary and the general dictionary of language are incomparable from this point of view.

The article reports that the problem of long-standing paremic statements has given rise to interest linguists. It adds that one keeps repeating that proverb of the source language must be rendered in target language by another proverb while tending to a equivalence both at the semantic level and at the formal and expressive level in order to ensure the same effect on the target reader. It states that the dictionaries both in French and in Albanians offer definitions who are of little help.

The article examines the application lexicographic of a complex linguistic phenomenon. It notes that communication aims to examine the handling of collocations in a corpus of monolingual dictionaries from French in one volume. It adds that the lexicon exceeds vocabulary of basic French while limiting itself to useful words for an advanced player.

Inclusion remains a key political agenda for education internationally and is a matter that teachers across subject communities and phases of education are challenged to respond to. In physical education specifically, research continues to highlight that current practice often reaffirms rather than challenges established inequities. This paper critically explores the understandings of inclusion that contribute to this situation and addresses the challenge of advancing inclusion in physical education from conceptual and pedagogical viewpoints. DeLuca’s [(2013). “Toward an Interdisciplinary Framework for Educational Inclusivity.” Canadian Journal of Education 36 (1): 305-348] conceptualisation of normative, integrative, dialogical and transgressive approaches to inclusion is employed as a basis for critical analysis of current practice and for thinking afresh about inclusive practice in physical education in relation to curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Analysis informs the presentation of a set of principles that are designed to assist teachers and teacher educators to transform inclusive practice in physical education and in doing so, realise visions for physical education that are articulated in international policy guidelines and contemporary curriculum developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines one strategy in the discursive construction of so‐called reverse racism: the slur‐once‐removed, a linguistic construction in the form the X‐word, used to euphemize slurs. Building on structural similarity to the N‐word, the C‐word has emerged as a euphemism for cracker. Using dialogic syntax and stance theory, the article analyzes media debates surrounding the George Zimmerman murder trial to argue that the parallelism of form between the C‐word and the N‐word constructs their referents as similarly harmful. Euphemizing cracker as the C‐word indexes cracker as a racist slur, and by extension discursively constructs the phenomenon of reverse racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficulties in classifying words as to their morphological source cause us to question whether such a classification should be implemented through a linear morphemic or a whole-word approach. The present paper presents an analysis of which of these approaches could be the most viable account for cases in which the derivative form reflects the following: 1) multiplicity of potential bases; 2) semantic / orthographic match with the base; and 3) heterogeneity of form / meaning correspondence. The morphemic approach seems acceptable when morphemes are organised in a linear arrangement, such as демократ /djImɐˈkrat/ ‘democrat (m.)’ > демократка /djImɐˈkratkə/ ‘democrat (f.)’, etc. This facilitates identifying the base form, which is демократ. However, this approach cannot be generalised over other formations that show a mismatch of form and meaning between the derivative elements and their bases as found with, e.g., белый /ˈbjelıj/ ‘white’ > белка /ˈbjelkə/ ‘squirrel’. Hence, we argue that the word-based approach is possibly better utilised in this cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humor ratings are provided for 4,997 English words collected from 821 participants using an online crowd-sourcing platform. Each participant rated 211 words on a scale from 1 (humorless) to 5 (humorous). To provide for comparisons across norms, words were chosen from a set common to a number of previously collected norms (e.g., arousal, valence, dominance, concreteness, age of acquisition, and reaction time). The complete dataset provides researchers with a list of humor ratings and includes information on gender, age, and educational differences. Results of analyses show that the ratings have reliability on a par with previous ratings and are not well predicted by existing norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genoa was involved since the 13th century in the commercial activities in the region around the Black Sea (Caffa, Pera, Kiliya, etc.). Numerous texts of that time written in Latin (especially old notarial records) have survived to our days. As the region was a melting pot of traders and travelers from East and West, the sources also contain some interesting lexical borrowings from Arabic. The present article illustrates this phenomenon on the basis of selected examples from the edition of Gheorghe Ioan Brătianu (Actes des notaires Génois de Péra et de Caffa de la fin du treizième siècle, Bucarest, Cultura naţională, 1927) which so far has not yet been taken into account in linguistic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diacronia is the property of Revista Diacronia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous research has shown that Danish-learning children lag behind in early lexical acquisition compared with children learning a number of other languages. This delay has been ascribed to the opaque phonetic structure of Danish, which appears to have fewer reliable segmentation cues than other closely related languages. In support of this hypothesis, recent work has shown that the phonetic properties of Danish negatively affect online language processing in young Danish children. In this study, we used eye-tracking to investigate whether the challenges associated with processing Danish also affect how Danish-learning children between 24 and 35 months of age establish and learn novel label–object mappings. The children were presented with a series of novel mappings, either ostensively (one novel object presented alone on the screen) or ambiguously (one novel object presented together with a familiar one), through carrier phrases with different phonetic structures (more vs less opaque). Our results showed two main trends. First, Danish-learning children performed poorly on the task of mapping novel labels onto novel objects. Second, when learning did occur, accuracy was affected by the phonetic opacity of the speech stimuli. We suggest that this finding results from the interplay of a perceptually challenging speech input and a slower onset of early vocabulary experience, which in turn may delay the onset of word learning skills in Danish-learning children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response time variability and its changes over time have been interpreted as indicative of levels of knowledge automatization. Predominantly, only declines in variability have been examined over the course of practice and growing second language proficiency. We discuss possible scenarios that may involve increasing, rather than declining variability, such as the establishment of new memory representations. We present repeated-measures lexical decision data on novel words encountered incidentally in a lexical decision task, which show increased variability as familiarity increases. Similar patterns were observed in our reanalyses of data from other novel word learning experiments with task demands different from ours: auditory presentation and a posttest after seven days (Brown & Gaskell, 2014), as well as picture-matching and production tests (Bartolotti & Marian, 2014). Jointly, these results suggest that when no prior representation of a word exists, increased variability may index learning during its initial stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning English requires a considerable effort, but the way that vocabulary is introduced in textbooks is not optimized for learning efficiency. With the increasing population of English learners, learning process optimization will have significant impact and improvement towards English learning and teaching. The recent developments of big data analysis and complex network science provide additional opportunities to design and further investigate the strategies in English learning. In this paper, quantitative English learning strategies based on word network and word usage information are proposed. The strategies integrate the words frequency with topological structural information. By analyzing the influence of connected learned words, the learning weights for the unlearned words and dynamically updating of the network are studied and analyzed. The results suggest that quantitative strategies significantly improve learning efficiency while maintaining effectiveness. Especially, the optimized-weight-first strategy and segmented strategies outperform other strategies. The results provide opportunities for researchers and practitioners to reconsider the way of English teaching and designing vocabularies quantitatively by balancing the efficiency and learning costs based on the word network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Word learning involves massive ambiguity, since in a particular encounter with a novel word, there are an unlimited number of potential referents. One proposal for how learners surmount the problem of ambiguity is that learners use cross-situational statistics to constrain the ambiguity: When a word and its referent co-occur across multiple situations, learners will associate the word with the correct referent. Yu and Smith (2007) propose that these co-occurrence statistics are sufficient for word-to-referent mapping. Alternative accounts hold that co-occurrence statistics alone are insufficient to support learning, and that learners are further guided by knowledge that words are referential (e.g., Waxman & Gelman, 2009). However, no behavioral word learning studies we are aware of explicitly manipulate subjects' prior assumptions about the role of the words in the experiments in order to test the influence of these assumptions. In this study, we directly test whether, when faced with referential ambiguity, co-occurrence statistics are sufficient for word-to-referent mappings in adult word-learners. Across a series of cross-situational learning experiments, we varied the degree to which there was support for the notion that the words were referential. At the same time, the statistical information about the words' meanings was held constant. When we overrode support for the notion that words were referential, subjects failed to learn the word-to-referent mappings, but otherwise they succeeded. Thus, cross-situational statistics were useful only when learners had the goal of discovering mappings between words and referents. We discuss the implications of these results for theories of word learning in children's language acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]