Showing papers on "Connotation published in 2017"

Connotation Frames of Power and Agency in Modern Films

Abstract: The framing of an action influences how we perceive its actor We introduce connotation frames of power and agency, a pragmatic formalism organized using frame semantic representations, to model how different levels of power and agency are implicitly projected on actors through their actions We use the new power and agency frames to measure the subtle, but prevalent, gender bias in the portrayal of modern film characters and provide insights that deviate from the well-known Bechdel test Our contributions include an extended lexicon of connotation frames along with a web interface that provides a comprehensive analysis through the lens of connotation frames

The Ethiopic Script: Linguistic Features and Socio-cultural Connotations

Abstract: During the last two millennia, a large corpus of texts were produced in the Ethiopic script. This ancient African writing system is peculiar to the Ethio-Eritrean region at the Horn of Africa, particularly to the Ethiosemitic language Gǝʿǝz. The present paper is concerned with the origin, linguistic modification and spread of the Ethiopic script, as well as its socio-cultural connotation vis-a-vis other scripts in the region. For this purpose, previous studies related to these topics have been assessed and summarised in a comprehensive description.

Unveiling the subject behind diversity: Exploring the micro-politics of representation in ethnic minority creatives’ identity work:

Abstract: Much literature on the cultural industries celebrates ethnicity as a source of creativity. Despite its positive connotation, this discourse reduces ethnic minority creatives to manifestations of a ...

Multilingual Connotation Frames: A Case Study on Social Media for Targeted Sentiment Analysis and Forecast

Abstract: People around the globe respond to major real world events through social media. To study targeted public sentiments across many languages and geographic locations, we introduce multilingual connotation frames: an extension from English connotation frames of Rashkin et al. (2016) with 10 additional European languages, focusing on the implied sentiments among event participants engaged in a frame. As a case study, we present large scale analysis on targeted public sentiments toward salient events and entities using 1.2 million multilingual connotation frames extracted from Twitter.

Culture, technology and local networks: towards a sociology of ‘making’ in education

Abstract: This article is about ‘making’ in education. Often associated with software programming (as in ‘digital making’), making can also involve creating or modifying physical technological artefacts. In this paper, making is examined as a phenomenon that occurs at the intersection of culture, the economy, technology and education. The focus is not on the effects on cognitive gains or motivations, but on locating making in a social, historical and economic context. Making is also described as a form of ‘material connotation’, where connotation refers to the process through which the technical structure of artefacts is altered by culture and society. In the second part of the paper, the theoretical discussion is complemented by a case study in which making is described as a networked phenomenon where technology companies, consultants, volunteers, schools, and students were all implicated in turning a nebulous set of practices and discourses into an educational reality.

On the Teaching Innovation of Business English Teaching: A study on Multimodal Communicative Competence of Ethnic Universities

Abstract: Business English teaching is attracting more and more attention and is showing unprecedented strength. But Business English teaching in colleges for nationalities is still facing many problems, which greatly hinders the improvement of Business English teaching quality and the development of Business English. Starting from the connotation of Business English, this paper reveals the common problems existing in Business English teaching, analyzes the causes and puts forward some reform measures, thus cultivating comprehensive Business English graduates for the society.

AL-ATTAS’ PHILOSOPHY OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION

Abstract: Education in contemporary Islam has suffered degradation, not only on curriculum, teaching content, and teacher, but especially on philosophy as basis of its. This degradation mainly affected by colonialism. After reached independency, Muslim countries adopting Western education system. Western/modern Education has their own philosophy based on secular worldview and values. Western emphasize education to educate student to get competencies on academic and skill. Student is prepared to ready working, get income and contribute to develop country in achieving material prosperity. Those are not in line with Islamic principles of education. Islamic education is developed based on Tawhidic worldview and values. Its aims to educate student in all aspects integrally, including moral and spiritual. To solve the problem, al-Attas has proposed philosophy of Islamic education based on Ta’dib concept, not Tarbiyah. According al-Attas, Tarbiyah term not sufficient to represent education concept in Islam. It has similarity with term of Western education that derived from Latin term ‘educere’ which has physical and material things connotation. Ta’dib has not only physical and material things but moral and spiritual connotation all together. Islamic education will produce a good man. It is a man of adab, or the man who has incalculated by ta’dib.

Language Violence and Nonviolence

Abstract: Violence is a subject we all like to think is not a huge issue but know in the back of our minds that it is prevalent throughout the world for various reasons. However, what we do not often consider is how our word choices perpetuate violence within our culture and society. Elizabeth Howe opens our eyes to how our language affects this issue. During her undergraduate years, Howe was invited to work with Dr. Paul Heilker's Nonviolence in Communication Research Group. When asked about her work, Howe answered, “the research group was such a great project in that all eight of [the students involved] were able to adapt the topic to fit our specific interests, and the research we produced varied across all fields of the humanities.” Howe’s project within the group was influenced by her experiences as a military child, an ROTC cadet, and an aspiring journalist. Her work in military journalism “drew [her] attention to the relationship between the military, mainstream media, and the masses” and the conflicts that arise from these relations. She states that “certain euphemisms, enthymemes, and logical fallacies are enlisted to partially obscure truths or convey strategically constructed messages,” and this is the main idea that she draws from in her research paper. In her paper Howe explains each side of the argument: whether violence was being inflicted through skewed communications (language) or the public was being sheltered from violence in this way. The culmination of a semester's work with Dr. Heilker, her paper takes an objective stance toward her thesis, explaining the issues while simultaneously anticipating the counter argument. Howe first draws from everyday speech and common phrases that have an underlying connotation of destruction or violence. This example clearly explains to the reader that this is not only a problem in military communications, while also giving a simpler example to start off with. She then goes on to elaborate on euphemisms used in military communications, making examples of contemporary issues such as American operations against forces in Iraq and speeches made by former President George W. Bush. Not only does Howe bring contemporary issues into the spotlight, she turns back to America’s past to display that this is not a newly-learned habit in our military communications. She asserts the euphemisms that are currently used were part of a generation-to-generation inheritance of common language, resulting in the current issue. Howe also offers criticism to this idea of institutionalized concealment in our language and as result, our media. She shows that language can deceive or reveal what is truly happening in our world. If we choose to use words that deliberately change the connotation of our communications, are we protecting our citizens or keeping them in the dark? It ultimately comes down to whether the public should know the movements and operations of our nation’s military to its fullest extent. This subject is clearly open to further debate, but Elizabeth Howe offers a truly stellar piece of research to the table.

Understanding ethnic visibility through language use: the case of Taiwan Hakka

Abstract: This study investigates how the ethnic visibility of Taiwan Hakka is improved through language use. The usage of a unique Hakka symbolic code is focused on. Based on data from the four Taiwan major newspapers, an analysis with text techniques shows that the code emerges along with social-political developments in Taiwan, with its meaning turning from negative to positive connotation. Its frequency is highly correlated with major political events in Taiwan, with peaks during the two or three years before presidential elections. It illustrates semiotic innovation, extending from Hakka to Hakka non-human, to non-Hakka, and to non-Hakka non-human frames. The salient image it creates increases Hakka ethnic visibility and enhances their ethnic identity. A significant implication is that minority ethnic groups can employ a unique symbolic code, empowering it with positive connotation. Through extensive language use, its representation can raise their ethnic visibility and enhance their et...

The Combinational Connotation of Contract Strategy in Chinese Public Construction Projects: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract: Contractual and relationship governance mechanisms are complementary, so contract strategy in public construction projects is multi-dimensional and involves interaction between both mechanisms. The connotation and formation of contract strategy for public construction projects in China remain unclear. Based on field interviews of participants in such projects, and using grounded theory for interview report encoding, this paper builds three dimensions of contract strategy in such projects: contractor selection, contract strategy focus, and problem prevention methods. Eight contract strategies are identified through theoretical screening and further analysis for different project phrases and relationship types. Through theoretical analysis and literature review, this paper identifies two paths for optimizing contract strategy. First, contract theory can be extended to incorporate cooperation and coordination functions. Second, contract planning in the early stage of public construction projects in China can encourage public clients to view a contract as more than just a means of control, enhancing trust and cooperation, and achieving contract management of partnerships.

Reflections on and Practices of Peking University Fulfilling Social Responsibility

Abstract: This paper attempts to explain the meaning and connotation of Social Responsibility of Chinese Universities from the functional perspectives of university education, scientific research, social service and cultural inheritance. It presents a combination of three different ways through which a university can achieve social responsibility in modern times, in order to present information regarding Peking University’s performance of social duties. Examples used include the cultivation of students’ sense of social responsibility, localized poverty alleviation in Midu County in Yunnan Province, and advancing cooperation between school and enterprise.

Analysis on the Value Composition and Epochal Connotation of Sports Culture

Abstract: Along with our country society's unceasing development, our country national's living standard obtains the enhancement gradually. But inherited and brings honor to the sports culture also to become our country to develop the sports enterprise the most important, the sports culture impels also strengthened our country's promotion of cultural and ethical progress, improved national's physical quality and the thought idea, to carried forward the sports spirit and the enhancement nationality sentiment has the vital role. Moreover, the sports culture inheritance and the development also promoted our country's sports enterprise development. This article discusses our country sports culture value with emphasis the construction and the time connotation.

Calling: A Literature Review and Prospect

Abstract: The word “calling” comes from the west culture, originated from religion—means “The call of God”, while with the development of the times, has experienced a changing process from the sacred to the secular, becomes a concept across subjects of religious studies, sociology & organizational behavior. Especially in Chinese culture, its connotation has many features of its own. In this paper, this paper first systematically sorted out the existing research on calling, examining its concept and definition, measurement methods, antecedent variables and outcome variables. Then it analyzed its current problems and indicated the direction for future research.

iWordNet: A New Approach to Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract: One of the main challenges in artificial intelligence or computational linguistics is understanding the meaning of a word or concept. We argue that the connotation of the term “understanding,” or the meaning of the word “meaning,” is merely a word mapping game due to unavoidable circular definitions. These circular definitions arise when an individual defines a concept, the concepts in its definition, and so on, eventually forming a personalized network of concepts, which we call an iWordNet. Such an iWordNet serves as an external representation of an individual’s knowledge and state of mind at the time of the network construction. As a result, “understanding” and knowledge can be regarded as a calculable statistical property of iWordNet topology. We will discuss the construction and analysis of the iWordNet, as well as the proposed “Path of Understanding” in an iWordNet that characterizes an individual’s understanding of a complex concept such as a written passage. In our pilot study of 20 subjects we used a regression model to demonstrate that the topological properties of an individual’s iWordNet are related to his IQ score, a relationship that suggests iWordNets as a potential new methodology to studying cognitive science and artificial intelligence.

North-east and Chinky: Countenances of Racism in India

Abstract: The issue of discrimination and violence experienced by the people from the so called North-East India recently had a brief rendezvous with major Indian media. However, beside few articles in journals and national papers, the issue again failed to engender rigorous theoretical discourses amongst academics. It is observed that without undoing the colonial and consequently the racial connotation of the concept North-East there is a proliferation of academic centres taking the name North-East. This article analyses theoretically the concepts North-East and chinky and brings out their racial characteristics. The growth of the concept North-East from the colonial administrative usage to its contemporary racial nature is captured in the paper.

Exploration on the Cultural Connotation of English and Chinese Numerical Digits

Abstract: Initially, the numerical digits are the special symbols used to indicate quantity and size and to calculate. Different races of different countries and regions give special associative meaning to the numbers; as a result, the popular numbers have the characteristics beyond language, reflecting the different and colorful culture. Obvious cultural differences exist between Chinese and English numerical digits due to the differences in cultural psychology, way of thinking and religion. This paper intends to compare the numerical digits in different cultural contexts and to trace back the roots of cultural differences in the two kinds of numerical digits. The comparison of differences in Chinese and English numerical culture will help us to understand the numerical culture connotation of the two people, to reduce misunderstanding and conflicts in crosscultural communication and to ensure smooth progress of cross-

The Connotation of Kidney Stores Essence Theory and Kidney Endocrine Substance

Abstract: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a traditional healing system with unique theo‐ retical system. The Zang‐Fu theory is the closest mapping to body's physiological and pathological changes. Kidney is the most vital Zang organ in TCM system. However, the material basis of kidney essence is still undefined. In this chapter, we propose the idea that kidney endocrine substances, such as renin, kallikrein, erythropoietin (EPO), calcitriol, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐7, and klotho, are potential candidates of the material basis of kidney essence. In addition, kidney‐nourishing therapy and related Chinese medicinal herbs are also introduced.

Why it is hard to explain Chinese face?—FACE measurement models and its influence on ecological product preference

Abstract: Face in China is a well-known word but still lacks a precise and authoritative definition. Other than the counterpart connotation of social norms in western culture, Chinese face is also a cultural construct strongly connected with situational context. In order to explore the general context and the specific connotation of Chinese face, this paper focuses on comparing the difference between reflective model and formative model when measuring the construct of Chinese face. We find that RM is more reliable and stable than FM in terms of face measurement, but is inferior to FM in explaining the connotations of Chinese face. Moreover, we also explore the effects of different dimensions of Chinese face on consumer preference for ecological products. This study not only enriches the existing research on Chinese face, but also exploratively answers a controversial problem in this area. Furthermore, the findings in this study also provide theoretical support for building an environmentally-friendly society in China.

Shaping Music Consumption in China’s New Media Era: Use, Exchange, and Identity

Abstract: Two questions must be clarified before approaching the key issues of this chapter. The first question is: What is cultural consumption, or music consumption, to be more specific? McCracken (J Consum Res 13: 71–84, 1986) has noted that the essence of cultural consumption lies in the “cultural connotation in the choice, the use, and the semantic and symbolic meaning of any commodified production” (Guerzoni and Nuccio in J Cult Econ 38:145–171, 2014: 149). The cultural connotation in this process differentiates the consumption of culture from that of other commodities, though culture is also commodified in the process. Nonetheless, Adorno and Horkheimer refer to the commodification and consumption of cultural goods or services as cultural industry, criticizing the same stamp impressed on culture (Adorno and Horkheimer in Ann Am Acad Polit Soc Sci 619(1):223–237, 1944, 1972: 120). In terms of music, their accusation is mainly targeted at popular music. The accusation towards popular music might have made sense in previous decades when the production and consumption of popular music were very limited. However, the statement is not entirely true in contemporary society. Music, unlike other cultural products or services, should be experienced and assessed after consumption (Nelson in J Polit Econ 78(2):311–329, 1970). Of course, consumption is not confined to monetary spending; it also includes the time and energy spent to obtain products, services, or experiences. The emerging new media era has also brought greater variety to music production and consumption, turning “falling prey” into “active participants.” This argument points to the next question: What does new media have to do with music consumption?

Connotation and Evaluation of Quality of Higher Education

Abstract: Quality is the degree of a set of inherent characteristics to satisfy requirements. The quality of higher education means that whether the property of higher education can satisfy the requirements of higher education subjects and the satisfaction degree. From the external view, it is a value judgment that can be accepted by the public; from the internal view, it is also a result reached by internal attributes of the higher education. For the satisfaction of higher education to requirements of users, because users are different, requirements are various and the requirements have variability, the satisfaction of requirements is highly subjective, which make it difficult to make a unified quantitative standard for quality, especially the development of nonintellectual factors like consciousness and emotions, is lack of ‘standard’ and it is hard to be exactly measured or expressed; while the mastering of some professional knowledge and application skills can be directly or indirectly measured or judged. Students’ engagement into study should highly be focused on when measuring the quality of higher education. “Quality of education is the essential question of development of higher education” [1] . With the gradual establishment of the socialist market economy system of China, new requirements were put forward to higher education and the quality of education also further draws the wide attentions of all sectors of the society. Some scholars indicated long ago that, “It is still the central issue of the reform and development of current higher education institutions to continually improve the education quality of HEIs adapting to the development of socialist market economy.” [2]

Татарские фразеологизмы с религиозной семантикой

Abstract: Елезарова Юлиана Николаевна ТАТАРСКИЕ ФРАЗЕОЛОГИЗМЫ С РЕЛИГИОЗНОЙ СЕМАНТИКОЙ На современном этапе развития языкознания вопрос отражения особенностей культуры народа в языковом материале является одним из актуальных. Данная статья посвящается изучению фразеологических единиц татарского языка с религиозным содержанием. В качестве исследовательской задачи авторами была определена попытка отобрать методом сплошной выборки фразеологические единицы татарского языка с религиозным содержанием, дать семантическую характеристику и тематическую классификацию рассматриваемых единиц. Объектом исследования послужили фразеологические единицы, отобранные из фразеологических словарей татарского языка. В ходе работы определены особенности употребления данных единиц в современном татарском языке. Адрес статьи: www.gramota.net/materials/2/2017/9-1/48.html

A rhetorical approach to translation: The Chinese “Report on the Work of the Government” as a case study

Abstract: Over the past three decades, the Chinese government has repeatedly called for the effective transmission of its policies to the West through translation. Yet the effectiveness of translation and its evaluation has remained a ticklish issue, particularly for texts with a political agenda. Fidelity to literal denotative meaning at the grain of words and phrases is generally insufficient for the translation of such texts. Texts in these sensitive domains of the Chinese context call for exacting fidelity in tone, register, genre, stance, connotation, and, overall, rhetoric. The Chinese government, wishing to avoid misinterpretation, is concerned with sharing their policies with foreigners as closely as possible to the way the many authors of these policies understood them from the inside. In this paper, we think of a “rhetoric” of translation holistically as capturing the “inside contours” of words and phrases as understood by a native speaker. For this purpose, we present a rhetorical approach to translation that can help explain the translation standards of Chinese government documents marked for wide-scale distribution abroad. The approach and method can be applicable in the assessment of other translations when rhetoric or the overall effect is the major concern.

The Development of Leisure Sports in Ancient China and Its Contemporary Sports Culture Value

Abstract: The traditional culture not only influences the life of modern people, but also promotes the sports undertakings in China. Influenced by the traditional culture, the development of leisure sports in ancient China has very strong traditional cultural nature and its contemporary value connotation. This paper analyzes and discusses on the development of leisure sports in ancient China and its contemporary sports culture value, aiming at further making the development of leisure sports in ancient China and its cultural value connotation clearly, doing some beneficial researches and making some contributions.

Makna dan Fungsi Sawah Lodok di Kampung Meler Desa Meler Kecamatan Ruteng Kabupaten Manggarai Nusa Tenggara Timur

Abstract: Meler is the name of a village located in the Meler village, district of Ruteng, regency of Manggarai, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara are still maintaining the fields of lodok. There are formulations of the problem in researching, namely: the first one, what types or forms of lodok fields .The second, how the function of lodok fields. The third, what meaning of symbolic of lodok fields in the Meler village. The porpose of this researching are: the first, to know the fields of lodok. The second, to understand the function of lodok fields.And the third, to explain the meaning of symbolic the lodok fields. This searching uses three of theories to peel the problems which studied, namely, the first: theory of meaning denotation and connotation of Roland Barthes, the second, functional theory of Malinowki, and the second, functional theory of Robert K. Marton. The concept used in this researching are the concept of field, symbol, and lingko. The researched method used areetnography research model that include into the qualitative searching, observation, detailed interview, and literature studies. The analysis of data used were descriptive and qualitative analysis. The last result of this researching are function of the lodok fields are social, economy, religion, manifest, and latent. The meaning of lodok fields, are connotation, and denotation. A long with era development, the meaning of the fields experiencing dynamics which influenced by two factors: internal factors and external factors

A Study on Developing Critical Thinking of English Major Students through the Teaching of Comprehensive English

Abstract: This paper reveals the definition, connotation and significance of critical thinking. It further improves and explores approaches to develop students’ critical thinking capability through Comprehensive English teaching and verifies the validity of those approaches through Comprehensive English class implementation and students’ class presentation. However, it also suggests that developing critical thinking of instructors shall be prioritized before cultivating that of students’, which is worth reflecting in the long run.

The Future of National Security and the Role of States

Abstract: The fundamental building blocks of ‘national security’ are the two concepts of ‘the nation state’ and ‘security’. Both are changing in both their denotation and connotation (to use the British philosopher A. J. Ayers’s distinction). The ‘nation state’ idea is displaying centrifugal pressures; ‘nations’ respond differently to economic, ethnic and political pressures; and ‘security’ is experiencing centripetal pressures, as ‘human security’ steadily becomes a core issue in government consideration of citizens’ security.

A Contrastive Study of Conceptual Metaphor in Chinese and American Courtroom Discourse

Abstract: Based on the corpora of 20 Chinese cases from Court Insession and 20 American cases from Famous Trials, the current study aimed to to apply Conceptual Metaphor Theory to carry out a contrastive analysis of the main conceptual metaphors between the two countries’ corpora and further explore the reasons for selecting the same and different conceptual metaphors in the two courtroom discourses. By analyzing the two countries’ corpora, the result showed that life experience and the way of thinking are the main reasons for similarities of the conceptual metaphors between Chinese and American courtroom discourses, while cultural connotation and social environment account for the dissimilarities of the conceptual metaphors in Chinese and American courtroom discourses.