Referential Component Research Articles

Grammatically relevant aspects of meaning and verbal polysemy

AbstractThe debate over the relation between grammatically relevant (specifically, what we termevent referential) and idiosyncratic aspects of verb meaning has produced a considerable literature. Some authors, such as Levin and Rappaport Hovav, have appealed to figurative uses of verbs as a source of data when the analysis of their literal uses has been controversial, a move that has sometimes been criticized. However, the question of whether figurative uses of verbs preserve the event referential properties of their literal counterparts and are therefore a valid source of data has not, to our knowledge, been systematically explored. We offer two detailed cross-linguistic case studies of Spanish and English verbs to provide an argument that figurative verb uses indeed are a reliable source of evidence for identifying event referential components of meaning: In each case study we find clear evidence for the preservation of these components across uses, indicating that these aspects of meaning both constrain and facilitate figurative uses of verbs.

Ultralow Volume Change of P2-Type Layered Oxide Cathode for Na-Ion Batteries with Controlled Phase Transition by Regulating Distribution of Na.

Most P2-type layered oxides exhibit a large volume change when they are charged into high voltage, and it further leads to bad structural stability. In fact, high voltage is not the reason which causes the irreversible phase transition. There are two internal factors which affect structural evolution: the amount and distribution of Na ions retained in the lattice. Hereon, a series of layered oxides Na2/3 Mnx Nix-1/3 Co4/3-2x O2 (1/3≤x≤2/3) were synthesized. It is observed that different components have different structural evolutions during the charge/discharge processes, and further researches find that the distribution of Na ions in layers is the main factor. By controlling the distribution of Na ions, the phase transition process can be well controlled. As the referential component, P2-Na2/3 Mn1/2 Ni1/6 Co1/3 O2 cathode with uniform distribution of Na ions is cycled at the voltage window of 1.5-4.5 V, which exhibits a volume change as low as 1.9 %. Such a low strain is beneficial for cycling stability. The current work provides a new and effective route to regulate the structural evolution of the promising P2-type layered cathode for sodium ion batteries.

Ultralow Volume Change of P2‐Type Layered Oxide Cathode for Na‐Ion Batteries with Controlled Phase Transition by Regulating Distribution of Na+

AbstractMost P2‐type layered oxides exhibit a large volume change when they are charged into high voltage, and it further leads to bad structural stability. In fact, high voltage is not the reason which causes the irreversible phase transition. There are two internal factors which affect structural evolution: the amount and distribution of Na ions retained in the lattice. Hereon, a series of layered oxides Na2/3MnxNix−1/3Co4/3−2xO2 (1/3≤x≤2/3) were synthesized. It is observed that different components have different structural evolutions during the charge/discharge processes, and further researches find that the distribution of Na ions in layers is the main factor. By controlling the distribution of Na ions, the phase transition process can be well controlled. As the referential component, P2‐Na2/3Mn1/2Ni1/6Co1/3O2 cathode with uniform distribution of Na ions is cycled at the voltage window of 1.5–4.5 V, which exhibits a volume change as low as 1.9 %. Such a low strain is beneficial for cycling stability. The current work provides a new and effective route to regulate the structural evolution of the promising P2‐type layered cathode for sodium ion batteries.

The Impoliteness of Slurs and Other Pejoratives in Reported Speech

Some linguistic expressions do not have only a referential component, through which they refer to something in the world, but also (or exclusively) a connotative component, through which they express a speaker’s attitudes or feelings toward that which the expressions refer. Pejoratives are connoted expressions through which speakers express a negative attitude toward a person, a class of persons, or a state of affairs. Slurs, in particular, are pejoratives that express negative attitudes toward a class of people sharing the same race, sexual orientation, religion, health status, etc. The use of pejoratives and slurs is often impolite and offensive, but it is not clear to which degree their use in reported speech may also be offensive. On one hand, the reporter does not seem to express contempt toward the target by merely reporting what others have said. On the other hand, reporting a pejorative seems a form of association with the original speaker’s opinion anyway. Different theories on the status of the connotative component of slurs make different predictions about their offensiveness in reported speech. To investigate the matter, a questionnaire was designed with the aim of comparing the offensiveness of slurs and pejoratives directly addressed to their target with their offensiveness when they are used in reported speech. The findings collected through our questionnaire suggest that some of the theories on the connotation of slurs do not account for speakers’ intuitive judgments on the offensiveness of slurs in reported speech.

Thoughts on the origin, progress, and pronominal status of reciprocal forms in Germanic, occasioned by those of Bavarian

AbstractGrammaticalised reciprocal markers in Germanic derive from combinations of a quantifier and the alterity word ‘other’, elaborating on a minimalist strategy of identical NP repetition suggesting rather than expressing reciprocity (‘earl[s] hated earl[s]’). Subserved by quantifier floating, they develop fromfree to tighter syntactic combinations and eventually intomorphological units, tending towards complete inflectional deactivation. Sooner or later in all Germanic languages, the quantifier part of the reciprocal gets inside prepositional phrases (‘earls fought each/one with other’> ‘earls fought with each/one other’). German continues this fusional theme by combining the reciprocal with prepositions in compounds; and in Bavarian it eventually gets reduced further to a bound stem limited to (partly lexicalised) combinations with a preposition, thus being barred from the direct object relation, unlike the reflexive. In tracing this overall diachronic scenario, the question is raised of the pronominality (or pro-NP-hood) of reciprocals in Germanic. It is argued that, regardless of their nominal and referential source, reciprocals here strongly incline towards becoming adverbs of attenuated, situational rather than personal reference, highlighting the relational (role reversal) rather than the (co-)referential component of reciprocity, as is common also elsewhere.

Discordia Concors. Immersion and Artifice in the Lyric

AbstractDescriptions of the lyric have been stressing its artificial, self-referential character, constructing it as an intrinsically a-temporal, non-kinetic, non-mimetic and anti-illusionist mode. While the lyric certainly derives much of its effect from its horizontally superimposed patterns of formal equivalence, our pleasure as readers does not solely derive from the physical re-enactment of a poem’s sound patterns or the cognitive appreciation of its formal mastery. Many lyric texts are immersive; they project a fictional universe and prompt readers to emulate a speaker’s strongly perspectivized vision and subjective vantage point. This paper examines the lyric’s world building potential. It investigates the conditioning factors and referential components of lyric illusion, reviewing in particular the genre’s alleged inability to produce narrative sequence, embodiment and experientiality (Fludernik). Conceiving of the lyric speaker as an innovative cognitive blend (Turner/Fauconnier) provides a possible alternative to biographical constructions of the lyric self. Possible worlds theory (Ryan) is used as a way to approach the genre’s marked tendency towards cognitive mapping and conceptual innovation, towards foregrounding the human endeavour of mentally grasping and representing the world.

The role of the referential component in teaching Russian as a foreign language (intermediary language)

The article discusses the role of referential component in teaching of Russian as a foreign language (intermediary language). It is set based on theoretical and empirical analysis. Conscious use of referential component in teaching Russian as a foreign language improves mastering and presentation of didactic material. Application of the results: education system

THE ROLE OF REFERENTIAL COMPONENT IN THE PROCESS OF FOREIGN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Purpose: to identify the role of referential component in the process of foreign Russian language teaching. Methodology: theoretical analysis, practical studies in foreign Russian language teaching. Results: on the basis of the theoretical analysis and practical employment the role of referential component in the process of foreign Russian language teaching is proved. The conscious use of the referential component in the process of foreign Russian language teaching improves learning and presentation of training material. Practical implication: the system of education.

The evolution of functionally referential meaning in a structured world

Animal communication systems serve to transfer both motivational information—about the intentions or emotional state of the signaler—and referential information—about external objects. Although most animal calls seem to deal primarily with motivational information, those with a substantial referential component are particularly interesting because they invite comparison with words in human language. We present a game-theoretic model of the evolution of communication in a “structured world”, where some situations may be more similar to one another than others, and therefore require similar responses. We find that breaking the symmetry in this way creates the possibility for a diverse array of evolutionarily stable communication systems. When the number of signals is limited, as in alarm calling, the system tends to evolve to group together situations which require similar responses. We use this observation to make some predictions about the situations in which primarily motivational or referential communication systems will evolve.

Referential Components Analysis and Translational Equivalence

This paper attempts to establish a methodological approach by which accurate bilingual equivalence can be achieved. This approach views the meaning of the lexical item as an extra-linguistic (or real world) reference, composed of various referential components. The process by which bilingual equivalence of this reference can be achieved is called the Referential Components Analysis Method (RCAM). The prospective gains in applying this method consist in enhancing the quality of translation, in relation to accuracy and speed, and in facilitating grounds for the compilation of a comprehensive translator based dictionary..

Subcortical correlates of the P300 potential complex in man to auditory stimuli

Bipolar and referential responses correlated to the surface P300 auditory potential complex (components N2, P3 and N4) were studied in different subcortical structures of parkinsonian and epileptic patients with implanted electrodes used as an electrophysiological procedure for surgical treatment. 1. (1) Bipolar and referential subcortical responses were recorded from a wide subcortical region which included subthalamo-thalamic (Sth-Th), dorsothalamic (DTh), orbifronto-hippocampal (OFH) and striatal (STR) structures. They were formed by 3 consecutive components C, D and E correlated to components N2,P and N4 of the surface responses. Component D correlated to surface P3 was either absent or very small in all subcortical bipolar responses and in referential responses recorded from OFH structures. 2. (2) Polarity of bipolar component C was inverted between DTh and OFH while that of bipolar component E was inverted between Sth-Th and DTh, between OFH and STR and between DTh-Th and STR. Polarity of the referential component C was inverted between STh-Th and DTh and between OFH and STR while that of referential components D and E remained unchanged along all subcortical structures. 3. (3) Referential components C-E and D attained maximal amplitudes and minimal latencies at the subthalamic and at the medial geniculate thalamic nucleus regions respectively. From here, their amplitudes decreased and latencies increased with distance in other structures rostrally and caudally located, with the exception of those at the orbitofrontal (components C-E) and dorsal thalamic and striatal regions (component D) where no amplitude-latency gradients were observed.

The episodic structure of maternal speech to young children.

ABSTRACTAn investigation was made of the episodic structure of maternal speech to young children during a free-play session. The findings indicate that maternal speech was organized so as to provide a high degree of redundancy with regard to the referential component of speech. The beginning of episodes, in which the same object was repeatedly referred to, was clearly marked; furthermore speech inside episodes with a common referent was highly repetitive. All this suggests that maternal speech is organized in a way that increases the predictability in the child's language environment.