Core Meaning Research Articles

Objectivity, value-free science, and inductive risk

In this paper I shall defend the idea that there is an abstract and general core meaning of objectivity, and what is seen as a variety of concepts or conceptions of objectivity are in fact criteria of, or means to achieve, objectivity. I shall then discuss the ideal of value-free science and its relation to the objectivity of science; its status can be at best a criterion of, or means for, objectivity. Given this analysis, we can then turn to the problem of inductive risk. Do the value judgements regarding inductive risk really pose a threat to the objectivity of science? I claim that this is not the case because they do not lower the thresholds scientifically postulated for objectivity. I shall conclude the paper with a discussion of under-appreciated influences of values on science, which indeed pose a serious threat to the objectivity of some scientific disciplines.

Research on the Operation Mode of Community Group Purchase in the Context of New Retail

As one of the manifestations of new retail, community group purchase fully embodies the core meaning of the integrated development of the new retail model "online + offline" - users place orders online and pick up goods offline the next day, providing users with a convenient and fast shopping experience under the new scenario of "people and goods yard". Especially during the epidemic, residents are limited to go out, and community group purchase plays an important role in ensuring people's basic life. Based on this, this paper preliminarily explores the operation mode of community group purchase, analyzes its basic form characteristics, advantages and existing problems, and puts forward countermeasures and suggestions.

‘I feel like I was born for something that my body can’t do’: a qualitative study on women’s bodies within medicalized infertility in Italy

Objective In the context of infertility, women’s bodies have a central physical, psychological, and social role. Medically assisted reproduction (MAR) treatment includes highly intrusive procedures targeting women’s bodies. This study aimed to develop a preliminary understanding of women’s core meanings around their bodies within their experiences of medicalized infertility in Italy. Design 104 Italian women dealing with infertility and MAR treatments answered open-ended questions, which were part of a broader online survey. A reflexive thematic analysis was performed. Results Three themes were identified: (a) the paradox of the body: ‘I feel like I was born for something that my body can’t do’; (b) ‘Something only mothers can do’: meanings attributed to the physical body; (c) Internalized ‘clinical gaze’: medicalized body representations. Conclusions This work provides insights into the meanings assigned to their bodies by Italian women dealing with MAR. This study outlined women’s ambivalence towards their bodies, describing them as ‘fragmented’ into parts and as ‘deposits’ of their reproductive hopes. Results suggest that Italian pronatalist culture may have potential fallouts for women’s gendered sense of self and the integration between their biological and psychosocial body experiences. Study limitations, future research directions, and clinical implications are presented.

Brain evolution and the meaning of catatonia - An update

Back in 2004, in a chapter titled “Brain Evolution and the Meaning of Catatonia”, a case was made that the syndrome's core meaning is embedded in millions of years of vertebrate brain evolution. (Fricchione, 2004) In this update, advances over the last almost 20 years, in catatonia theory and research in particular, and pertinent neuropsychiatry in general, will be applied to this question of meaning. The approach will rely heavily on a number of thought leaders, including Nicos Tinbergen, Paul MacLean, John Bowlby, M. Marsel Mesulam, Bruce McEwen and Karl Friston. Their guidance will be supplemented with a selected survey of 21sty century neuropsychiatry, neurophysiology, molecular biology, neuroimaging and neurotherapeutics as applied to the catatonic syndrome.In an attempt to address the question of the meaning of the catatonic syndrome in human life, we will employ two conceptual networks representing the intersubjectivity of the quantitative conceptual network of physical terms and the subjectivity of the qualitative conceptual network of mental and spiritual terms. In the process, a common referent providing extensional identity may emerge (Goodman, 1991).The goal of this exercise is to enhance our attunement with the experience of patients suffering with catatonia. A deeper understanding of catatonia's origins in brain evolution and of the challenges of individual epigenetic development in the setting of environmental events coupled with appreciation of what has been described as the most painful mammalian condition, that of separation, has the potential to foster greater efforts on the part of clinicians to diagnose and treat patients who present with catatonia. In addition, in this ancient and extreme tactic, evolved to provide safety from extreme survival threat, one can speculate what is at the core of human fear and the challenge it presents to all of us. And when the biology, psychology and sociology of catatonia are examined, the nature of solutions to the challenge may emerge.

Монгол солонгос хэлний үйл үгийн язгуур бүтээврийн зэрэгцүүлэл

The following study aims to study the structure of the Mongolian and Korean languages’ verbs only on the basis of their root formations to provide adequate explanations in terms of linguistics by discovering their differences and similarities. As a result, the following conclusions have been drawn: First, Mongolian and Korean verbs have the structure of root + base + suffix + condition, and the verbs must always include a vowel. Second, the root of the verbs in both languages, technically, contains the core meaning of the Third, the sound elements created by the root of a verb has the following 5 identical forms “1. V 2.VC- 3. VCC- 4. CVC- 5. VEVE-“ Fourth, Mongolian active root is somewhat similar to Korean grammatical Fifth, the passive root of a Mongolian verb and the irregular root of a Korean verb are similar in a way that the verb condition cannot be added directly. Sixth, Korean word formation of adding some of the prefixes before roots is found unusual in Mongolian. Seventh, In Mongolian, the root of a verb usually begins with a vowel, whereas in Korean, the root of a verb usually begins with a consonant.Therefore, further research is needed.

Quranic Lexical Semantics of Izutsu and ʻAllāmah Ṭabātabāʼī: a Comparative Appraisal

This study evaluates the principles and methods of Izutsu and ʻAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʼī in the semantics of Quranic concepts, using a comparative analysis. Looking at his semantic principles, it becomes clear that ʻAllāmah believed in more flexibility for the meaning of each word in the text, and this flexibility could bring him closer to the various messages incorporated into the text by the words used by the author, although he did not make full use of this capacity in practice. In contrast, Izutsu emphasized the principle that the meanings of words change in relation to individuals’ changing worldview. Although this principle facilitated better semantics of the Quranic concepts, it also abandoned the basic core meaning of words, replacing them with alternative, false meanings. Additional-ly, it did not specify the principles of sentence semantics and had an ineffective method of analyzing conflicts in the meanings of a word in the text, especially in a religious text. The semantic principle used by Allāmah appears to be more efficient in understanding the real message of the text. Therefore, a fusion of his method with Izutsu’s ‘semantic fields’ would be a big step towards achieving a correct understanding of the meanings of Quranic words.

Analysis of Environmental Sustainability in the Holy Quran: Maqasid Framework

The current global challenges of climate change and sustainable development is rendering the world helpless with numerous failed attempts at addressing these critical issues. Exploring the Islamic worldview of environmental sustainability and conservation therefore is even more vital in these momentous times. This worldview features a purpose-spirited focus by exploring the higher objectives behind environmental sustainability as extrapolated from the Revelation. There are four main themes that are highlighted in the Quran in relation to the environment, including the concepts of corrupting (ifsaad) and bettering (islaah) earth, along with the key objectives of being custodians and inheritors of earth (istikhlaf/ isti’mar/ wirathah). The concept of utilization (taskheer) is coupled with the ‘communities like you (umam) that share the planet and resources with us. Derivatives of the term (fa sa da) have been mentioned 50 times in the Quran, 36 of which reference earth. Custodianship is highlighted in the Quran more than 30 times, with direct reference to earth mentioned 17 times. Facilitation includes many groups such as the sun and the moon, which was emphasized nine times, as well as stars, sea and cattle, each emphasized three times in conjunction with the facilitation theme. Stipulated values include the value of knowledge, respect, preservation, humbleness and responsibility. The collection of verses have been compiled, coupled with references from the Sunnah and Islamic jurisprudence, and analyzed in light of the maqasid methodology. Similarly, human groups can be classified further to reformers, corrupters, believers, non-believers, wrongdoers and hypocrites, while other communities such as animals, plants, mountains and other species fall under groups. Environmental sustainability from an Islamic worldview is defined in a distinctive and holistic manner which combines spiritual, social, economic, moral, honest, intellectual, and religious aspects into one core meaning. Although some creatures are facilitated for humans on Earth, they are communities like human kind which emphasizes that bettering and preserving the balance of Earth is the humans unique responsibility.

Sintaktički, značenjski i uporabni status složenog veznika kao i

This paper examines coordinated structures introduced by means of the multi-word linker kao i, which can link syntactic units ranging from phrases, clause constituents and clauses to sentences and parts of discourse. We first discuss the coordinating properties of the linker – structural independence, order of conjoining, concord – as well as its usage and interchangeability with other single and multi-word linkers and correlatives. Together with the structural properties, different meanings of the linker are discussed, namely, its core meaning of addition, complemented by the meanings of comparison or gradation. When used in its comparative meaning, the linker kao i links units in parenthetic coordination and is interchangeable with the preposition poput, while its usage in the meaning of gradation is similar to the usage of the correlative coordinator ne samo... nego/već. Although most of its syntactic properties would place the linker kao i in the category of coordinators with additive meaning, its meaning does not fully correspond with the meanings of single-word coordinators i and te, multi-word coordinators a i and ali i or the correlative i... i, with which it generally bears most resemblance and is largely interchangeable. The difference is that kao i exhibits some properties typical of either subordinated or juxtaposed structures, for example, a lower degree of conceptual distance and instability in terms of concord. To further investigate these findings, we compared the multi-word linker kao i to its corresponding linker in English, as well as, and concluded that in both languages these linkers are less prototypical additive coordinators that frequently express parenthetic (additional information) coordination of comparative or gradational nature.

Violence against women in the media during the Covid-19 pandemic.

To describe situations of violence against women in the Covid-19 pandemic reported in the media. Documentary, qualitative research, in a virtual environment, carried out with 39 reports published in the newspaper O Globo and the Universo On-line portal, between March 2020 and July 2021, in Salvador - BA. Data organization followed the steps of content analysis, with a discussion based on the scientific literature. In the analysis process, four core meanings were organized: social isolation denounces situations of domestic violence; Economic crisis and closed doors: justify more violence?; Tools available for ending violence against women: what changes with the pandemic?; The gender and color of violence in the pandemic. The media released alarming data on the intensification and susceptibility of women to different types and situations of violence, especially during social isolation, in the Covid-19 pandemic.

A saúde de mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais: experiências das profissionais de saúde no município de Belford Roxo/RJ

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand the perception of healthcare professionals regarding the care of lesbian and bisexual women. This qualitative research project involves 12 professionals from several fields and Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, healthcare facilities. Regarding the results, we underscore two main themes with their respective core meanings: 1) Care provided to Lesbians and Bisexuals in Healthcare Facilities; 2) Facilitators and barriers for Lesbians and Bisexuals to accessing services. Despite the recognition that diversity in women’s healthcare is part of the daily routine of the interviewed professionals, the health needs and specificities of lesbian and bisexual women are still undervalued in care practices, preserving heteronormative protocols. Dialogue on female diversity, knowledge, and the materialized LGBT policy is essential for professionals and managers, enabling changes in this setting and minimizing access difficulties. Finally, we should discuss how LGBTQIA+ health policy is being addressed in curricula and is on municipal management commitments’ agenda to guarantee this population’s rights in health services.

Measuring Mas: A Metaphysical-Bakhtinian Perspective on the Trinidadian Carnivalesque

Carnival is a space of play where you are at once earthly and divine. We are born to this culture, writing our narratives in song, dress, tradition and spirit. As Trinidadians, we embed our lives, our creativity, and our souls into this sacrament. And every year it blesses our people with inspiration, solace and liberation. The theoretical premise of this paper combines social constructivism and Mikhail Bakhtin’s dialogism, heteroglossia, and chronotope to investigate aesthetic architecture within the Trinidadian carnivalesque (mas). A series of narrative interviews were conducted with Carnival band leader Valmiki Maharaj and visual artist Jackie Hinkson, gathering core meanings, intentions, and processes of creation attached to the Trinidadian brand of Carnival. This work highlights the aesthetic manifestations of reflection, creation, and connection as represented in murals, costuming, and carnival accoutrements, whilst acknowledging the cultural and historical frameworks that support these structures.

The Map as a Conceit for the Mother Land and Its Tragic History in Joy Harjo’s “A Map to the Next World”

This research paper examines the interconnectedness of the land and history of the Native Americans as delineated in the poem “A Map to the Next World” (2000) by Joy Harjo (1951-) The poem skillfully comes in the form of an extended metaphor “conceit” as the poet elaborates in describing a map, she plans to draw for the mother land of her nation, the Creek tribe which is one of the main tribes of the indigenous people of America, along with their devastating history. The poem is fertile with signs, symbols, images and metaphors that intensify the deep historical and cultural connotations. Furthermore, this research paper endeavors to answer significant questions like; how does Harjo employs the figure of speech “conceit” in her poem to communicate meanings related to the Native American tragic history and their deep connection to their land. Other important questions, the research paper, seeks to find answers to is how does the poet delineate the devastating impact of modern urban life on the rich heritage of the Creek tribes, and to which extent the poet is successful in adopting the myths of the Native Americans to communicate the core meaning of the poem which is the deep connection between the Native Americans and their mother land.
 
 The methodological approach utilized in this research is an in-depth literary analysis. This method dexterously employs close reading strategies of certain lines and stanzas in this poem to probe through their rhetorical aspects and to simultaneously, carefully examine the explicit and implicit historical and cultural references of the poem.

Reconstruction of the figurative component and structure of the concept of fool according to the Proto-Slavic vocabulary

From the point of view of linguistics, reconstruction of the ancient conceptions, depicted in the proto-language, allows us to reveal the evolutionary relationship between language units of a proto-language, certain language family, and certain language. Similar regularities are described by the theory of etymological (or cultural) word memory. The named theory is sufficiently developed and well-known, but until now it has not focused attention on the connection of the first and ancient meanings of the word with conceptual semantics. The author of the article intends to investigate specified relationship and present materials on this issue in a series of publications, the first of which is this article. This determines the novelty of the proposed subject. Its relevance is determined by the original aspect of the description of the concept: the reconstruction of its figurative component and original meanings based on the materials of the Proto-Slavic vocabulary. The purpose of the study is to reconstruct the origins of the modern concept of fool based on the data of the Proto-Slavic vocabulary. For this purpose, the work creates a typology of the meanings of words with the root *-dur-; the structure of the concept of fools is reconstructed and compared based on the material of the Proto-Slavic vocabulary, the vocabulary of the Russian language and dialects; the etymology of the root *-dur- and the "prototypes" associated with its semantics are described; the figurative component of the concept is reproduced. We conclude that the core meanings of the Proto-Slavic and Russian concepts of fools coincide with incompleteness. And "prototypes" that arise as a result of the etymological reconstruction of the root *dur- and the central image of the hypothetical Proto-Slavic concept are correlated, which is evidence of the regularities of meaning formation, described by the theory of the etymological memory of the word, which is revealed in the features of concept formation.

A comment on arguments of mental model theory of causation

ABSTRACT Causation is a complex concept. No single monistic theory of causation is likely to account for it (Wolff, P. (2014). Causal pluralism and force dynamics. In B. Copley, F. Martin, & N. Duffield (Eds.), Forces in grammatical structures: Causation between linguistics and philosophy). Nonetheless, mental model theory (MMT) claims to provide a unified account of causal representation and inference. In MMT, a singular causal claim “A caused B” has a deterministic meaning referring to three temporally ordered possibilities: A and B, not-A and B, not-A and not-B. No internal components such as mechanisms, powers, or dependencies are part of the core meaning of causal claims. It is argued that MMT’s attempts to refute counterexamples to its proposals are manifestly inadequate. Theoretically, the all-encompassing ambition of MMT make it so flexible as to be trivial. Technically, the term “modulation” is an unanalyzed and self-inconsistent concept. Moreover, in many situations, mental models are redundant for causal representation and inference. MMT’s monistic-deterministic view cannot capture the full complexity of causation.

Mandarin de-adjectival degree achievements as inchoative statives

Abstract Mandarin degree adjectives can give rise to a degree achievement reading with the perfective marker le. In this paper, I argue that de-adjectival degree achievements in Mandarin are inchoative statives, whose core meaning component is a reflexive comparative that compares the present state with a previous state in some property of the same individual. My new analysis better captures the facts that de-adjectival degree achievements show variable telicity, that they give rise to stative readings with duration phrases, and that they are compatible with time as a comparative standard. Because the comparison is between two states at different times, a degree-achievement reading can be inferred even though the predicate is stative in semantics.

A Comparative Study on Modality: Relevance Theory versus Possible World Theory in Semantics

Language users use symbolic language expressions to communicate, and the meaning of sentences delivered is analyzed through correspondence with entities that exist in the real world. However, speakers do not always try to communicate based on the one world they belong to, and through a grammatical system called modality, they can communicate not only about the real world but also about the various possible worlds that exist. This means that statements about situations other than facts, i.e., hypothetical situations or states, can be expressed using modality, and the meaning of sentences can be analyzed through a concept of semantics as a possible world, and also through relevance theory in pragmatics. This study investigates the meaning of modal verbs through each of the two theories. First, the meaning of modal verbs is divided into necessity and possibility through existing research on modality. This analysis follows a definition of the core meaning of each modal verb through relevance theory, and evokes derivative meanings according to the context of occurrence. Possible world semantics, on the other hand, logically explains the various meanings of modal verbs by generating the real world and countless possible worlds through close connectivity using formal logical language of semantic representations from a polysemous perspective.

Dynamic brand positioning: a firm-customer synergistic strategy of brand meaning cocreation in a hyperconnected world

PurposeThis study aims to explore how cocreated brand meaning builds and affects dynamic brand positioning in a hyperconnected world.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a qualitative study of Casarte, a high-end appliance brand, as an instrumental case for conceptualizing and theorizing. This study constructs a matrix of dynamic brand positioning as the key analysis framework using in-depth interview data, firm materials and user-generated content from online brand communities.FindingsThe matrix of dynamic brand positioning has two dimensions: brand core and peripheral meaning, and firm- and customer-led orientation. The interaction between the firm and its customers strengthens the understanding of a brand’s core meaning and consistency perception, expands the scope of brand peripheral meaning and improves the perception of brand meaning diversity. The mutual transformation of the ambidexterity of core and peripheral meanings facilitates the dynamic positioning of brands.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is a qualitative case study; the relevant conclusions have not been tested empirically. If longitudinal data of actual tracking support the effect of dynamic brand positioning, the theory’s reliability can be more rigorously tested.Practical implicationsIt provides managerial logic and a tool for firms to practice dynamic brand positioning in a hyperconnected world, which contributes to the implementation of the emerging firm-customer synergistic strategy.Originality/valueThis study proposes a construct of dynamic brand positioning supported by qualitative evidence. It disputes the traditional view that brand positioning is determined by the perception of core meaning consistency and creatively puts forward the view that brand positioning evolves dynamically with the mutual transformation of the ambidexterity of brand core meaning and peripheral meaning.

Learning Japanese interactional particles through a usage-based and concept-based language instruction

The purpose of the current study is two-fold. First, this paper aims to uncover the three-year acquisition process of three interactional particles, ne, yo, and yone by three Chinese-speaking learners of Japanese in a corpus. Among the three particles, yone appeared the latest after one year of study abroad, and the learners progressed in their usage by trying to share epistemic stance and assessments by using yone. However, understanding the epistemic stance for the speaker’s world is challenging. Second, this paper supports the integration of usage-based approaches and sociocultural theory. For teaching interactional particles effectively in the classroom, understanding of the role of intersubjectivity in discourse is crucial. This paper proposes three sets of schematic visual representations for core meanings of ne, yo, and yone, which is essential for concept-based language instruction.

Teaching and Learning the Ninth Principle of the ALA Code of Ethics

In 2021 the American Library Association (ALA) Council approved a ninth principle to be added to the ALA Code of Ethics. The principle reads, “We affirm the inherent dignity and rights of every person. We work to recognize and dismantle systemic and individual biases; to confront inequity and oppression; to enhance diversity and inclusion; and to advance racial and social justice in our libraries, communities, profession, and associations through awareness, advocacy, education, collaboration, services, and allocation of resources and spaces.” This principle is in keeping with the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Ethical Guidelines for Library and Information Science Educators: “As LIS educators, we respect and uphold academic freedom and protect the freedom to learn and to teach. We resist censorship and actively promote access to diverse points of view.” In both instances the primary thrust is equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and justice. This panel addresses the ALA Code of Ethics, with special attention to the ninth principle. The panelists will address the core meaning of the principle to determine what it portends for education for library and information professionals. The principle is designed to guide action though praxis. The panelists will examine the degree to which that objective is met by the principle, as well as a set of questions related to the principle: How praxis can address systemic inequity and oppression; how diversity and inclusion manifests itself in praxis; how the advancement of racial and social justice through education can be introduced in the workplace; and how the insertion of these goals can be made into the institutions in which graduates work. The matter of the pressures in which educators work related to racial and social justice work will also be brought up.
 Throughout the investigation of these matters, the overarching concern of the panelists will be the insertion of the matters into the educational milieu. The panelists will bring to the fore their extensive knowledge and experience in their examination. They will not only provide analyses of the elements of the ninth principle, but will raise questions about the implementation of the principle into the education of professionals. The panel presenters and their talk titles are: (1) John Budd, The Ninth Principle and Global Ethics: The Case for Global Ethics; (2) Suliman Hawamdeh and Michele A. L. Villagran, Multiculturalism and the Role of Information Ethics in Dealing with Academic Integrity Issues; and, (3) Bharat Mehra, “White Pricks” (a.k.a. Inoculations Against Racism) to Decenter Shades of White Privilege in a Professional Association’s Leadership Networks of LIS Educators. Facilitated by John Burgess, delegate for Information Ethics SIG convenor Toni Samek, the panelists will engage the audience in a discussion of the meaning of the ninth principle, but will also have the opportunity to compare it with the ALISE guideline and to offer suggestions regarding the implementation of the tenets of the principle into education (including which kinds of curricular elements are best suited to the insertion of the ALA Code of Ethics into instruction and discussion).

Poetic Resistance: Girls’ Autograph Albums during World War II in Norway

Poetic Resistance: Girls’ Autograph Albums during World War II in Norway