Second Language Development and Cognitive Mediation
L2 Development and Mediation of Psychological Activity
One of the most interesting questions in SCT (Sociocultural Theory) research on L2 development is whether individuals who learn a new language as late adolescents or adults can use this language to mediate their psychological activity. Ushakova argued that although L2 speakers can use their new language for social communication, they cannot use it as a psychological artifact to mediate their thinking.
Early research, however, does not support
Read MoreFundamentals of Communication and Linguistic Concepts
Understanding Communication
Communication is the exchange of knowledge and experiences between people, facilitated through different languages.
Elements of Communication
Communication is studied as a process that necessarily involves the following elements:
- Sender (or Transmitter): The entity that encodes and delivers the message.
- Receiver: The recipient of the message, who decodes and interprets it.
- Message: The information transmitted, the specific language that reaches the receiver.
- Channel: The physical
Foundations of Pragmatics: Language, Context, and Communication
This document delves into the core concepts and theories of pragmatics, the branch of linguistics that studies meaning in context and language use in real-world situations. It covers key definitions, influential schools of thought, and major theories such as Speech Act Theory, Reference and Deixis, (Im)politeness, and Relevance Theory.
Defining Pragmatics: Cognition, Context, and Culture
What is Pragmatics?
- Definition: A branch of linguistics that studies meaning in context and language use in real
Understanding Expository Text: Definition, Types, and Structure
Expository Text: Definition and Characteristics
The expository text aims to inform and expand knowledge on a specific topic. Its primary intention is didactic: to facilitate understanding of an idea or concept and to broaden the reader’s knowledge. An expository text should present information in an orderly, clear, and objective manner, emphasizing the referential function. The author assumes the reader has some prior knowledge of the subject matter.
Examples of expository texts include specialized
Read MoreUnderstanding Relevance Theory: Visual Metaphors & Communication
Relevance Theory and Communication
1) Steps and Comprehension According to Relevance Theory
Relevance Theory is a pragmatic theory within cognitive pragmatics. Its main objective is to identify the underlying mechanisms in human psychology that explain how humans communicate. Comprehension, according to Relevance Theory, involves answering three key questions to identify the speaker’s meanings:
- What was the intended explicit context?
- What was the intended implicit context?
- What was the intended context
Pragmatics: Illocutionary Acts, Implicature, and Politeness
Direct vs. Indirect Illocutions
The direct illocution of an utterance is indicated by a literal reading of its grammatical form and vocabulary. The indirect illocution is any further illocution or meaning the utterance may have beyond the literal interpretation.
Searle’s Five Categories of Illocutionary Acts
Searle categorized illocutionary acts into five types:
- Assertives: Speech acts that commit a speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition (e.g., stating, asserting).
- Directives: Speech acts