Communication Norms Research Articles

The impact of eye gaze on social interactions of females in virtual reality: The mediating role of the uncanniness of avatars and the moderating role of task type

The introduction of the Metaverse and the rise of social virtual reality platforms such as VRChat has led to increased communication and collaboration in virtual reality. As interactions in social virtual reality take place through avatars, the behaviour, and in particular the eye gaze of an avatar can have an impact on the user experience. However, it is still unclear which features of the user experience are most influenced. Therefore, this study used data from 44 female participants to investigate how avatar gaze behaviour (static eyes vs. real-time tracked eyes) affects their perceived quality of communication and the amount of one-sided eye contact participants make during a communicative or collaborative task in virtual reality. In addition, the study investigated the mediating role of perceived avatar “uncanniness” (i.e., the finding that humanoid objects that imperfectly resemble real people evoke feelings of discomfort) in this relationship and the moderation effect of two multi-user scenarios (collaboration vs. communication). The results showed that uncanniness directly affected the perceived quality of communication. However, it did not significantly mediate the relationship between avatar eye gaze behaviour and the quality of communication or the amount of one-sided eye contact. Finally, there were no significant differences in user experience between the two scenarios. From this, we can conclude that the uncanniness of an avatar being interacted with in VR is not enough to hinder communication and collaboration in an immersive medium. And even if an avatar is perceived as uncanny, normative communication cues such as eye contact are still present. Notably, due to sample availability, the results of this study are based on a female-only sample. Thus, future research can benefit from exploring the outlined effects in a more gender-balanced sample.

Teacher-student interactions in emergency remote teaching contexts: Navigating uncharted waters?

Although employed in various emergency contexts globally (e.g., wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, snow days, epidemics, military conflict), emergency remote teaching (ERT) continues to be an under-researched mode, or type, of instruction. Through a mixed-methods design, involving a teacher questionnaire and follow-up interviews, this study sought to develop a more in-depth understanding of ERT by examining how it manifested itself during the COVID-19 school closures. The investigation focused specifically on the aspect of the pedagogical process that was probably most saliently affected by the sudden shift from in-person to remote teaching, namely, teacher-student communication. It identified some of the emergency communication practices observed during ERT and, using Grice's Cooperative Principle, explored their effectiveness and possible implications for student learning. More importantly, it illuminated the distinctive nature of communication in ERT settings, exposing the “communication norm vacuum” in which teachers and students had to operate when teaching moved online. As argued in the paper, the novelty of the communication context and teachers' and students' inability to draw upon well-established communication routines to navigate it, compromised communication and may be responsible for some of the learning loss observed during school closures.

Использование элементов традиционной культуры в работе с конфликтностью в поликультурной студенческой группе

The current political situation emphasizes the necessity to maintain the image of the country, Russian culture and language, Russian-language education in the world. In the conditions of the educational process of the university, the problem of maintaining motivation to study among students of the international faculty, which directly depends on the atmosphere in the student group, is topical. The article reflects the results of the research aimed at approbation of the program of work with students of international faculty based on the application of elements of traditional cultures (traditional and folk games, communicative norms and traditions, elements of folk folklore, etc.) as a tool to overcome tension and conflict in student groups studying Russian as a foreign language. The method of questionnaire survey, psychological testing, and expert evaluations were used to assess conflict and distance. Conclusions: the organization of work with students of the international faculty within the framework of the psychological service of the university has its own specificity, different from the work with Russian-speaking students; the use of elements of traditional culture (traditional and folk games, communicative norms and traditions, elements of folk folklore, etc.) is appropriate for solving the problems of psychological support of foreign students during the period of study.

Communication Culture as a Key Professional Skill

The article reflects the culture of communication as effective communication skills in professional activities in the contemporary world. The aim of the article is to study the role of language clichés in professional communication, to determine the role of professional communication in the educational process and to present the structure of business communications and ways to increase their efficiency. The article provides the results of a study on speech interaction in the professional sphere. The authors of the article describe such phenomena inherent in the communication of employees of the penitentiary system, as compliance with the rules of official communication, the rules of language etiquette of teachers, methods of evaluative expressions. Particular attention in the characterization of evaluative expressions is paid to the ways of expressing criticism and praise in professional communication. The article considers language aggression as an unacceptable form of communication. The author identifies ways to combat language aggression. Such aspects of language communication as observance of norms of official communication, rules of language etiquette, and methods of evaluative expressions play an important role in professional activity. Language etiquette is a verbal formula for expressing polite attitudes to people in society. Therefore, learning to follow it is an extremely important task in today’s world for the effectiveness of dialogue and business understanding.

Cross-domain online vigilance, boundary management and stress among knowledge workers

Purpose: High levels of online media use and permanent connectedness are common features of contemporary life in the developed world. In recent studies, the concept of online vigilance has been adopted to describe individuals’ chronic attentional orientation towards and engagement with their online spheres. The present study extends this notion by investigating its role in relation to stress and boundary management.Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 299 knowledge workers completed an online survey concerning the role of cross-domain online vigilance in the blurring of work-personal boundaries and the potential impact this may have on perceived stress.Findings/results: Contrary to extant evidence, the findings of this study indicate that cross-domain online vigilance does not predict stress, neither on its own nor when interacting with individuals’ domain segmentation preferences. However, the findings indicate that younger knowledge workers, more than their older colleagues, have trouble disconnecting from their personal online spheres while working.Practical implications: Work communication policies and norms should enable workers to psychologically disconnect from work during non-working hours and should be sensitive to the differences in personal preferences for boundary segmentation. Constant psychological connection to personal online communication may impact performance among younger knowledge workers.Originality/value: The present study is the first to consider the notion of online vigilance in relation to boundary management and stress among knowledge workers. The findings are particularly relevant given the increased blurring of work-personal boundaries that results from organisations adopting work-from-anywhere policies following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes in Communication Patterns in the Digital Age

This study discusses changes in communication patterns in the digital era with a focus on the influence of social media on social interaction. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze how social media has influenced the way humans interact in social contexts. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach through literature studies that collected and analyzed articles, journals, and reliable sources related to changes in communication behavior and social interaction due to the use of social media. The results of the research show that social media has changed traditional communication patterns and formed new ways of social interaction. It found that the use of social media can result in increased global connectivity but also presents challenges related to privacy, changing communication norms, and new forms of nonverbal communication. Keywords: communication change, digital era, social media, social interaction, literature study, media influence.

No norm for (off the record) implicatures

ABSTRACT It is widely held that there is a distinctive norm of assertion. A plausible idea is that there is an analogous, perhaps weaker, norm for indirect communication via implicatures. I argue against this type of proposal. My claim is that the norm of assertion is a social norm governing public updates to the conversational record. Off the record implicatures are not subject to social norms of this type. I grant that, as happens in general with intentional actions, off the record communicative acts may be subject to normative assessments on different levels (for instance, regarding their moral or prudential appropriateness). However, such assessments do not generate distinctive norms that apply to all cases of implicature.

Performance Appraisal of Women Self-Help Groups in Rolpa District of Lumbini Province, Nepal

The present study was conducted in the Rolpa district of Nepal. For the purpose of the study, primary data has been collected using purposive cum multistage sampling technique. Rolpa district was selected purposively due to there was no such study conducted previously on performance appraisal of SHGs. A sample size of 150 self help group members was selected through multistage random sampling technique from two municipalities. The interview schedule was developed on the basis of objective and variables for data collection. The data was analyzed by using following statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, percentage and correlation. This study revealed that, majority of the respondents observed under high category for the variables group cohesiveness(64 percent), collective action (65.33 percent), effective leadership (55.33 percent) group communication (50.67 percent) and group norms (76. 67 percent). The study depicts that majority of the SHGs had medium level of overall performance. It had reported most of the members had medium level of economic achievement after joining of SHGs. The variable like localite sources as information seeking behavior was found negative significant correlation whereas other independent variables exert positively with economic development of Self Help Groups.

Climate & Language: An Entangled Crisis

Abstract Rising ocean levels threaten entire communities with relocation. The continued erosion of Arctic coastlines due to melting ice sheets and thawing permafrost has forced Inuit communities to move to more secure locations. Each move dislodges Indigenous peoples and their languages from ancestral landscapes and ways of knowing, obligating communities to adopt colonial or majority languages. Scholars and activists have documented the intersections of climate change and language endangerment, with special focus paid to their compounding consequences. We consider the relationship between language and environmental ideologies, synthesizing previous research on how metaphors and communicative norms in Indigenous and colonial languages and cultures influence environmental beliefs and actions. We note that these academic discourses-as well as similar discourses in nonprofit and policy-making spheres-rightly acknowledge the importance of Indigenous thought to environmental and climate action. Sadly, they often fall short of acknowledging both the colonial drivers of Indigenous language “loss” and Indigenous ownership of Indigenous language and environmental knowledge. We propose alternative framings that emphasize colonial responsibility and Indigenous sovereignty. Finally, we reflect on emergent vitalities and radical hope in Indigenous language movements and climate justice movements.

Research Informed Guidelines for Couple and Relationship Education Programs with Arab American Immigrant Couples

In this paper, we review the characteristics of Arab immigrants and propose guidelines for couple and relationship education (CRE) programs with Arab immigrant couples. Arab immigrants are a heterogeneous group, yet they share common cultural characteristics and family values that are essential to understand when working with them. Generally, CRE programs with immigrated Arabs should be mindful of (1) strongly valued religious beliefs, (2) extended family as a primary source of support and marital problem-solving, (3) the tendency to follow gender-based roles and responsibilities, and (4) Arabic language and communication norms. Family educators and practitioners who work with recently immigrated Arab couples should familiarize themselves with these characteristics to better serve them.

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on computer communication: delayed consequences and new behavioral standards

The relevance of this study is revealed in a selection of online communication tools with the forced consequences of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the world, revealing the effectiveness of distance learning. Objective: to trace the transformation of the speech and behavioral standard depending on the internal understanding of their own knowledge about computer-mediated communication in comparison with traditional methods of communication; to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual communication based on the analysis of the needs of communicants in the process of online communication. The presented analysis of the form of communication demonstrates the processes of transformation of the speech and behavioral profile of communicants, which allows for additional research for a wide range of readers who practice online interaction on an observable basis. The material was data from an online questionnaire in which 261 respondents from Kazakhstan took part. The methodology is based on the psychological verbal-communicative method of anonymous online questioning using Google Forms via social networks. Results: online communicants identified the ZOOM platform as an important tool for online communication as an important factor in maintaining stable interaction in a professional environment, training and social communication. Effective computer communication poses the problem of compliance with the norms of online communication for successful interaction. Further study of qualitative and quantitative indicators of various online software tools is of interest for improving the linguistic modeling of educational online discourse with the prediction of the result.

Анализ рисков возникновения коммуникативных девиаций у будущих педагогов

The aim of the study is to analyze the risks of occurrence of communicative deviations in students of pedagogi-cal universities for their further prevention and leveling. Based on the methodology of the competence ap-proach, the author’s definition of professional communicative deviations of teaching staff is given. The risks of occurrence of this type of deviations in future teachers are theoretically substantiated. Empirical research with the participation of students of pedagogical university verified the hypothesis about the presence of threats. Among the most common prerequisites for the emergence of professional communicative deviations in future teachers are identified: the lack of a critical position regarding their contact with schoolchildren; lack of under-standing of what this contact should be (perhaps some respondents had a traumatic experience of communi-cation with teachers or learned distorted norms of communication); psychological defense mechanisms of the psyche. This prospect is complemented by consideration of the results of the study and recommendations for the prevention of deviant speech behavior of pedagogical university students.

Populist disruption and the fourth age of political communication

This paper argues that understanding populism as a communicative process and contextualising its modern forms in relation to our current political communication environment improves our understanding of how it grips citizens. The paper identifies the disruptive communicative practices of modern populist politicians as characteristic of a digital media-dominated fourth age of political communication in extension of Blumler's account. It explores the reaction of the current wave of populism against institutional norms of political communication and its recognition and construction of a perceived disconnect between public representatives and citizens. The paper identifies three aspects of modern populist communication that, through this oppositional positioning, erode institutional communication in the fourth age: a populist pragmatics of disruptive symbolic action, an ontology that sees directness as the only means of breaching the divide between appearance and reality in politics, and an epistemological stance that replaces expertise with authenticity. These constitute an injection of grassroots communicative forms into institutional politics. The result is the exposition but also deepening of the lopsided efficacy of the fourth age whereby citizens feel inefficacious in relation to institutional politics but increasingly able to participate at a grassroots level.

Didactics of intercultural communication and business German language

Abstract The didactics of business German language and intercultural communication are closely intertwined. In the field of teaching business German, it is important not only to focus on language skills but also to incorporate intercultural competence into the curriculum. The teaching of business German should include cultural aspects relevant to German-speaking business environments. This involves exploring topics such as business etiquette, negotiation strategies, cultural values, and communication norms. By integrating cultural content into language instruction, learners gain a deeper understanding of the cultural context in which they will be using the language. In the process of learning business German, learners should be made aware of the cultural differences that exist between their own culture and the German-speaking business world. This includes recognizing different communication styles, attitudes towards hierarchy, decision-making processes, and business practices. By understanding these differences, learners can develop strategies to navigate intercultural communication effectively. Main objective of this paper is the correlation of didactics of intercultural communication with business German, not only in the sense of developing linguistic proficiency but also by fostering intercultural communicative competence. This involves developing learners’ ability to understand and interpret cultural cues, adapt their communication style, and effectively interact with German-speaking business partners. Activities such as role-plays, case studies, and simulations can help learners practice intercultural communication skills.

Linguodidactic Representation of the Secondary Linguistic Personality in the Linguoculturological Aspect (Based on the Material of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language)

The article examines the theory of secondary linguistic personality in the prism of the linguoculturological approach as one of the significant aspects of modern foreign language education. In the process of teaching a foreign language, it is not enough to form only a language competence. To understand national thinking, in-depth knowledge of an extralinguistic nature is necessary, related to the peculiarities of the national mentality, its values and linguistic culture, which are reflected in communicative norms and traditions, features of speech etiquette. The paper examines the relevance of integrated learning of a foreign language and national linguoculture. The problem of the content of linguistic and cultural information in textbooks on Russian as a foreign language is analyzed. The paper describes the ways of introducing educational material through national culture in the process of interaction of educational and extracurricular activities. The use of the linguoculturological approach as a model of teaching Russian as a means of intercultural communication makes it possible to form an idea of the national picture of the world among foreign students through the specifics of culture in its verbal embodiment. The ability to perform adequately and successfully communicative activities in a non-native language is the result of the formation of students’ secondary linguistic consciousness.

Армянская диаспора в социальных сетях

Currently, there is a massive involvement of migrants in social networks, in which virtual communication becomes the main form of their social interaction both within their ethnic diaspora and with other diasporic and host online communities. The problematic situation is connected with the fact that social networks have become an almost uncontrolled Internet resource with unlimited possibilities for the dissemination of information and a variety of forms of interaction, including verbal aggression, in- tolerance towards the interlocutor, ignoring ethical norms of communication, etc. The purpose of the scientific article is to identify the predominant type of social interaction of the Armenian diaspora in Russian-speaking social networks with relatively new ethnic diasporas (Tajik and Kyrgyz) and the host community. The analysis is based on the results of a sociological study "Social interaction of Diasporas in social networks" conducted by three methods of collecting empirical information (online questionnaire survey of representatives of the Armenian, Tajik and Kyrgyz diasporas in Russia; in- depth interview with representatives of diasporas; qualitative analysis of information posts of representatives of diasporas in the social network Vkontakte). The study re- vealed that the predominant type of social interaction of representatives of the Arme- nian Diaspora with the diasporas of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as with the host community, is conflict. The main causes of the conflict type of interaction of repre- sentatives of the Armenian Diaspora with representatives of Tajikistan and Kyrgyz- stan, as well as with the host community, were revealed. Acknowledgment: The study was carried out with the financial support of the RFBR for the implementation of the scientific Project №. 20-511-05007 “Socio-economic potential of the Armenian Diaspora in the context of integration processes in the EAEU”. Contract № 20-511-05007/21.

Text and Context in Multimedia Translation

Multimedia translation refers to the process of translating multimedia content, such as videos, audio, and images, from one language to another. This type of translation is becoming increasingly important as more and more content is being produced and distributed globally. Multimedia translation is a complex field that requires in-depth technical and linguistic expertise and a thorough knowledge of the culture and communication norms of the target language. Plurisemiotic and micro-textual analyses of translations can help to develop an effective translation grid. The aim of this article would be, on one side, to restore certain implicit and explicit parameters of a silent source text so that a multimedia translation faithfully communicates the original and multidimensional meaning of a source text. On the other side, this article will try to demonstrate the usefulness of applying some concepts from a branch of socio-semiotics concerned with the production of multimodal texts that can be easily incorporated into existing methods in translation studies. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect multimedia translation to become even more sophisticated and effective. We will try to show in this article that the real context occupies a large place in which the work of translating audiovisual programs is carried out while presenting the various challenges of audiovisual translation, which is part of an extremely dynamic field that combines theory and practical. The aim of this article is to attempt to provide answers to these questions due to the increasing complexity of textual concepts and text production today. Translation and text production sometimes become almost indistinguishable, which will increase the emphasis on text analysis and different forms of intertextuality rather than on translation in the strictest sense.

Translation in pre-trial phases of the judicial process: developing a norm-based framework to train translators working into Arabic

Abstract The present study examines the implications of judicial translation in the context of international migration and its relationship with the law of the host country. In this context, judicial translation involves highly sensitive documents that can be as varied as family registers and statutory declarations. It also refers to specific legal instances of interaction with judicial authorities in which the observance of certain communication norms is of paramount importance. This is particularly true in the strict setting of a judicial interview. This paper describes how translation is performed in a pre-trial police interview in which the communication of certain basic legal obligations becomes challenging for a migrant person, due to differences in legal backgrounds. In such a situation, the main question is as follows: how can differences in basic legal notions be dealt with in the particularly strict setting of a judicial interview with the assistance of a translator? To answer this question, the study focuses on a threefold challenge for the translator, who must be equipped to handle language, translation and legal/ethical norms. It proposes a translation framework based on these norms and the way in which they are applied in a real interview. It seeks to guide the translation task and serve as a tool for judicial translation training. With regard to the translation norm, the study shows that discursive creation is to be the most relevant technique to represent concepts that do not have counterparts in the target language. Although the foreign element in the new terminology may Ahighlight the boundary between the foreign law and the target legal institution, this technique also leads to the creation of new concepts in the target institution.

Student perceptions: How virtual student-led talking circles promote engagement, social connectedness, and academic benefit

Many expect upward trends in online college course enrollment to continue. Despite perceived improvements in online pedagogical practice and advantages afforded by virtual platforms, most students and professors still perceive social interaction, engagement, and overall learning to be more challenging online than in person. More than 3 in 10 college students are less willing to participate in discussions online compared to in person. More than 7 in 10 professors report needing help with strategies for keeping students engaged online. As such, we must identify strategies that cater to students’ academic, and social-emotional needs in an online environment. Breakout rooms have often been implemented to promote discussion and collaboration, however, when not well-structured, they often increase social discomfort instead. In this mixed methods study, using surveys, interviews and class observations, we examine student-led talking circles in an undergraduate adolescent development course ( N = 61), in which student discussion leaders prepared questions and facilitated small group conversations using structured turn-taking protocols. Nearly 95% of students felt talking circles increased peer connectedness, 92% felt they improved content learning, and 90% felt they increased engagement. Students largely attributed these benefits to specific elements of the talking circle format. Regression results revealed significant associations between peer connectedness and perceived academic benefit, after accounting for demographics, basic psychological needs, dispositional factors, and norms of communication.

ПРАВОВОЙ РЕАЛИЗМ КАК ОСУЩЕСТВЛЯЮЩАЯСЯ НОРМАТИВНАЯ КОММУНИКАЦИЯ ЛЮДЕЙ И РАЗНОВИДНОСТЬ ЮРИДИЧЕСКОГО МЫШЛЕНИЯ. РАЗМЫШЛЕНИЯ О ПРАВОВОЙ РЕАЛЬНОСТИ

The article deals with the generalized concept of legal realism as the normative communication of people being carried out through the variety of normative systems used by them and a kind of legal thinking, understood as summing up practical phenomena under a legal norm, which is one of the variants of the rational understanding of law, not ascending to the comprehension of its essence, stopping at the direct perception of visible normative communication of people as a valid law, the process of formation of which in this case remains unknown. The substantiation of the transition from the positivist interpretation of the concept of legal realism to the philosophical-legal one, made in the doctrine of law by G. Hegel and R. Iering, is given.