Signal Words Research Articles

Early Childhood Practitioners' Use of Language Facilitation Strategies During Informational Book Reading: Relation to Language Skills of Children With Developmental Language Disorder.

The primary aim of the study was to examine the association between early childhood practitioners' use of language facilitation strategies during interactive book reading of informational texts related to science and the language skills of preschool children with developmental language disorder (DLD). Twenty-four practitioners (12 early childhood special education teachers and 12 speech-language pathologists) and 33 preschoolers with DLD participated. Practitioners received training and implemented an informational book-reading intervention for 19 weeks. Practitioners' use of language facilitation strategies (i.e., activating thinking by setting the informational text structure, asking target questions, asking inferential questions, and providing support) was coded using an observational tool. Children with DLD were assessed with a battery of language assessments at pre- and post-intervention. Providing support significantly predicted the receptive academic vocabulary and receptive understanding of signal words of preschoolers with DLD. Practitioners asking target questions (direct questions related to targeted academic vocabulary and signal words) significantly predicted the receptive academic vocabulary of preschoolers with DLD. By contrast, these two types of language facilitation strategies were not related to expressive academic vocabulary or signal words. The other language facilitation strategies (i.e., activating thinking by setting the informational text structure and asking inferential questions) did not contribute to receptive or expressive academic vocabulary or signal words. Our findings suggest that asking direct questions and providing support may be effective mechanisms for supporting children's understanding of academic vocabulary and signal words during interactive book reading of informational texts.

Design Of Safety Signs Using Ergonomic Function Deployment Method At PT.XYZ

PT. XYZ is a company engaged in manufacturing by processing raw materials into semi-finishedgoods or finished goods. Because the company routinely produces these products and involvesmachinery, it will allow small to serious work accidents to occur. Based on the hazard event dataowned by the company, there are 5 very diverse events that will be analyzed in the risk controlhierarchy to minimize hazard events. The results of the risk control hierarchy analysis have two hazardevents that have safety sign design criteria. Therefore, research was conducted to design safety signsin the area of explosive materials and loading progress in minimizing hazard events using safety signsassessment and Ergonomic Function Deployment approaches. The data needed in the design areanthropometric data, layout data, customer statements and level questionnaires interest andsatisfaction. From the results of the safe sign assessment, the signal word is obtained, determining thelocation, height, model, and material of the safety signs. The results of the safety signs assessmentwill be used for the Ergonomic Function Deployment approach. From the results of the ErgonomicFunction Deployment, the results obtained are the size of safety signs, safe reading distance, type oflayout, use of language and font size on safety signs. There are two types of designs, namely explosivematerial and loading progress safety signs. The design of safety signs refers to the ANSI Z535standard so that the design of safety signs has detailed signal words, symbols, signs, and wordmessages.

Improving consumer understanding of pesticide toxicity labels: experimental evidence

Consumers often inadvertently misperceive the health hazards associated with over-the-counter pesticides under the current textual labeling policy, potentially leading to improper use. We conducted an incentivized framed field experiment with eye tracking to evaluate the effectiveness of the current pesticide labels that convey risk using signal words (Caution, Warning, Danger) compared to two visually focused label alternatives: traffic light colors and skull intensity symbols. A total of 166 participants were randomly assigned to one of three label formats and asked to rank toxicity levels and make purchasing decisions within multiple price lists. Results show that signal words fail to adequately communicate toxicity levels. Specifically, participants’ correct assessment of toxicity level dramatically improves from 54% under the existing signal word label to 95% under the traffic light and 83% under the skull intensity symbol labels. We also find that participants are more likely to choose the less toxic alternatives under the new labels, suggesting the current labeling system may affect choice and have unintended adverse effects on human health.

Exploring Perception of Warning Labels: Insights from Color, Signal Words, and Symbol Evaluation

Protecting people from the risks associated with products is a critical concern in today’s economy. Pakistan, being the world’s fifth most populous country, lacks the framework of warning labels and therefore faces a significant gap in product warning labels. Pakistan is a representative of a number of countries that export a variety of products to Pakistan; however, warning labels on these goods are typically in English, which might mislead people of Pakistan in perceiving the hazard level. It is therefore imperative to conduct research into the non-textual and cross-cultural understanding of labels from the perspective of Pakistan. This study examined the applicability of ANSI Z535.4 in the context of Pakistan. A total of 66 (34 male and 32 female) undergraduate students with a mean age of 20.5 participated in this study. A meticulous experiment was designed using a nine-point rating scale with anchors on both sides, where one represented ‘not at all hazardous’ and nine represented ‘extremely hazardous’. Participants rated each component of warning labels, i.e., color, symbol, signal words, and their complex configurations. The results showed alignment with the ANSI Z535.4 standards for some components (i.e., colors, symbols, and signal words) and complex configurations, whereas no significant difference was found in perceived hazard levels between green (M = 3.167), blue (M = 3.591, and yellow (M = 3.652) colors, with a p-value greater than 0.05. Participants did not differentiate significantly between signal words, i.e., caution (M = 5.182) and warning (M = 5.879). Participants also did not differentiate significantly between complex configurations, i.e., safety alert–caution–yellow (M = 5.076) and safety alert–warning–orange (M = 5.197), with p-values greater than 0.05. These results state that discrepancies in the perception of warning labels exist. This study is the first of its kind conducted in the context of Pakistan, which will help policy makers to consider the findings before implementing a policy. In fact, differences in perception could result in failure to take appropriate precautions. Nonetheless, these nuances can be overcome with proper awareness through training for the people.

In-depth analysis of ChatGPT’s performance based on specific signaling words and phrases in the question stem of 2377 USMLE step 1 style questions

ChatGPT has garnered attention as a multifaceted AI chatbot with potential applications in medicine. Despite intriguing preliminary findings in areas such as clinical management and patient education, there remains a substantial knowledge gap in comprehensively understanding the chances and limitations of ChatGPT’s capabilities, especially in medical test-taking and education. A total of n = 2,729 USMLE Step 1 practice questions were extracted from the Amboss question bank. After excluding 352 image-based questions, a total of 2,377 text-based questions were further categorized and entered manually into ChatGPT, and its responses were recorded. ChatGPT’s overall performance was analyzed based on question difficulty, category, and content with regards to specific signal words and phrases. ChatGPT achieved an overall accuracy rate of 55.8% in a total number of n = 2,377 USMLE Step 1 preparation questions obtained from the Amboss online question bank. It demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between question difficulty and performance with rs = -0.306; p < 0.001, maintaining comparable accuracy to the human user peer group across different levels of question difficulty. Notably, ChatGPT outperformed in serology-related questions (61.1% vs. 53.8%; p = 0.005) but struggled with ECG-related content (42.9% vs. 55.6%; p = 0.021). ChatGPT achieved statistically significant worse performances in pathophysiology-related question stems. (Signal phrase = “what is the most likely/probable cause”). ChatGPT performed consistent across various question categories and difficulty levels. These findings emphasize the need for further investigations to explore the potential and limitations of ChatGPT in medical examination and education.

The Factors of the Distribution of Grammatical Categories and Phenomena in Contemporary Czech

As to the application of the grammar within communication, we distinguish between two contingencies: a) grammatical categories which attach to the objective reality (verbal tenses, number, gender etc.), b) those which do not (in Czech for example the category of case). The relation between grammar and objective reality is not naturally rectilinear and troublefree. It could be complicated by various factors - not only the different type of language but also actualization which we comprehend as the unusual application of a grammatical form (often in order to gain more expressive term) - for example the sentence in the future tense Budeš psát (You will write) functions as that in the stressed imperative mood. To speakers with the advanced knowledge of Czech it is possible to present also special unmarked grammatical categories where a respective grammatical form can have more than one meaning. In the sentence Studuje český a německý jazyk (He studies Czech and German languages) the word jazyk (language) has the form of singular but the meaning of plural. There are many factors which influence the adequate choice of a grammatical category. In this respect the semantics are applied to a large extend and in various ways. The important role can be also played by number and so-called signal words which need the usage of a concrete morphological category (for example after the adverb včera (yesterday) must the preterite tense follow). From the linguo-didactic point of view this theme is very important and it is necessary to go on working it out.

A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Exploration of EFL Learners’ Perceptions of What Contributes to the Readability of Model Paragraphs

This study investigated what features undergraduate EFL learners perceive as affecting the difficulty of model paragraphs. Four hundred and seventy-five Vietnamese undergraduates participated in a partial least squares structural equation model design. They ranked five paragraphs from easiest to most difficult and responded to a 10-point Likert questionnaire regarding 11 features (titles, paragraph length, vocabulary, vocabulary in context, rhetorical organization, paragraph structure, sentence length, punctuation, signal words, interest, background knowledge). The results showed that eight variables (titles, vocabulary, vocabulary in context, sentence length, rhetorical organization, paragraph structure, interest, background knowledge) had a significant direct effect and four variables (vocabulary, sentence length, rhetorical organization, background knowledge) had mediating effects. The model accounted for 0.508 R2 of students’ perceptions, with a moderate to high predictive relevance ( Q2 = 0.35). The paper also discusses the results’ implications for those in writing studies and the publishing industry. Suggestions for future study are also presented.

Prior knowledge benefits older adults' tonal consolidation through talker generalization

Recent research indicated that post-training sleep facilitates memory consolidation and talker generalization in young adults' tone learning. For instance, a nap study showed the newly learned tonal contrast that relates to prior knowledge consolidated more rapidly than that does not after daytime naps. Notably, older adults' declarative memory consolidation is impaired with age-related changes in sleep architecture. The current study examines whether prior (contour-tone) knowledge benefits Mandarin-speaking older adults' Cantonese tone learning. Mandarin employs pitch contours (falling versus rising) to cue tones in signaling word identity. Besides pitch contours, Cantonese also utilizes pitch heights (higher versus lower) in level tones to encode word meanings. In the pilot phase (60 Mandarin-speaking older adults will be recruited with data collection ongoing), participants were trained to learn Cantonese contour-level and level-level contrasts in the evening or the morning. A novel word-object identification task was used in the training, followed by three tone identification tasks: a posttest immediately after training, a 12-h delayed posttest (a trained talker), and another delayed posttest (a novel talker). Aligned with the nap study, preliminary results suggested overnight sleep might enhance seniors' tone-related memory by promoting generalization across talkers in learning contour-level contrast owing to their prior contour-tone knowledge.

Automatic Word Length Selection with Boundary Conditions for HIL of Power Converters

Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) is a common technique used for testing in power electronics. It draws upon FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) because they allow for reaching real-time simulation for mid-high switching frequencies. FPGA area and delay are keys to reaching a compromise between performance and accuracy. To minimize area and delay, signal word length (WL) is critical. Furthermore, the input and output’s WL should be carefully chosen because these signals come from ADCs (analog-to-digital converters) or go to DACs (digital-to-analog converters). In other words, the role of ADCs and DACs is the boundary condition when assigning all the signal WLs in an HIL model. This research presents an automatic method for computing the signal WLs in the corresponding model by considering input/output boundary conditions. This automatic method needs a single simulation to decide both the integer and fractional width of every signal. Our method accelerates the process, showing an advantage over manual methods and those requiring multiple simulations. The proposed method is applied to create all the WL assignments to the signals involved in a fixed-point coded buck converter model, which shows its feasibility.

Natural language processing for automated triage and prioritization of individual case safety reports for case-by-case assessment

Objective: To improve a previously developed prediction model that could assist in the triage of individual case safety reports using the addition of features designed from free text fields using natural language processing.Methods: Structured features and natural language processing (NLP) features were used to train a bagging classifier model. NLP features were extracted from free text fields. A bag-of-words model was applied. Stop words were deleted and words that were significantly differently distributed among the case and non-case reports were used for the training data. Besides NLP features from free-text fields, the data also consisted of a list of signal words deemed important by expert report assessors. Lastly, variables with multiple categories were transformed to numerical variables using the weight of evidence method.Results: the model, a bagging classifier of decision trees had an AUC of 0.921 (95% CI = 0.918–0.925). Generic drug name, info text length, ATC code, BMI and patient age. were most important features in classification.Conclusion: this predictive model using Natural Language Processing could be used to assist assessors in prioritizing which future ICSRs to assess first, based on the probability that it is a case which requires clinical review.

The Borderlands

The Borderlands

Teaching Expository Text Management and Proficiency Skills for Comprehension for Students With Language/Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this registered report study was to determine the effects of explicit text structure instruction on the expository text comprehension of students with language and learning disabilities (LLD) using a multiple baseline design across conditions (e.g., compare–contrast and cause–effect) and participants. Participants included four children enrolled in the fifth grade with previous diagnoses of language impairment and reading comprehension deficits. Text structure instruction was provided during the intervention phases using a researcher-designed intervention program called TEXT-MAPS. The dependent variables included text structure and signal word identification and percentage of idea units recalled from expository text. All participants showed improved recall of idea units for compare–contrast and cause–effect texts with maintained performance 1-month post-intervention. The program also had notable effects on participants’ identification of signal words and text structures in compare–contrast and cause–effect texts. The magnitude of the Tau- U effect sizes was in the large, medium, and small range, and varied across participants. The results indicate that short-term, explicit text structure instruction can be effective for children with LLD with deficits in expository reading comprehension. Considerations for further research and practical implications are presented.

Коммуникативно-прагматический аспект передачи неполноэквивалентной лексики в переводе

In the process of communication, we do not exchange words, but meanings. On the one hand, meaning, as a communicative category, is not limited to a single language and can be conveyed in translation by various linguistic means. On the other hand, when it comes to translation meaning losses are still unavoidable because most words of any natural language are bound to the culture behind them. The aim of this article is to analyze the ways to compensate in translation the communicative and pragmatic effect of culture-bound elements of literary text, termed within the scope of Russian translation studies as ‘associative realities’. The research is based on the novel Homo Zapiens (Penguin Books Ph, 2002) / Babylon (Faber Ph, 2001) by V. Pelevin and its translation into English, performed by A. Bromfield. The focus of the study is to analyze the functioning of English-language loanwords in the novel, which lose their nominative value and obtain a certain symbolic meaning. Serving as specific signal words emphasizing the changes in the society when the Russian people in the 1990’s found themselves disoriented and trapped between a discredited Soviet past and a banal, Westernized future, they acquire the features of culture bound elements typical for the Russian culture rather than for their source culture. The research identifies several strategies to compensate the communicative and pragmatic effects of multilingual puns in translation. The study allows us to expand our understanding of the functions of foreign loanwords in the text of a work of fiction, as well as to identify the main principles and ways of transmitting the bilingual nature of the text in translation.

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Reading: In Mathematics, Remedial Reading, and Biblical Exegesis

This paper studies reading comprehension in three distinct disciplinary settings: Mathematics verbal problems, remedial reading, and biblical exegesis. This transdisciplinary approach enriches our understanding of reading, enabling focus on key methods of improving reading. The transdisciplinary approach also affords us new insights into addressing equity issues. The paper's approach is influenced by Meyer's seminal work on textual organizational structure as a key method to achieve reading comprehension. Consistent with this approach, the paper advocates using signal words or keywords, as well as listing and teaching organizational structures as a means to improving literacy in reading, mathematics, and biblical exegesis. The paper recommends that these techniques should be a primary method of approaching math and biblical fluency.

Investigating the effects of signal words on the readability of writing centre self-access library materials

ABSTRACT The idea that reading model essays facilitates better writing is generally accepted in second language writing literature. As such, anthologies of model essays are often selected for inclusion in writing centre self-access library shelves. When selecting these texts, readability is often considered via the application of quantitative readability formulae (e.g. the Lexile Readability Formula). Unfortunately, such formulae only measure two (i.e. semantic, syntactic) of the many features that impact readability, leaving other features that require qualitative consideration (e.g. signal words, SWs) unexplored. To address this, this article reports the findings of a sequential, mixed-methods study conducted in a Taiwanese university writing centre context that explored how SWs affect post-secondary English language learners' perceptions of ease and difficulty when reading model essays excerpted from anthologies. The inferential statistics showed that the informants (students who visited the writing centre) ranked the essays’ ease and difficulty significantly differently than the Lexile Formula. The qualitative exploration found that SWs (e.g. students’ awareness of SWs) contributed to this ranking. The study also suggests that writing studies professionals (teachers, writing centre staff) and the publishing industry include signal words as part of a hybrid (quantitative-qualitative) exploration when considering the difficulty of model essays in anthologies.

Communicating COVID-19 risk changes: Signalling with words, phrases, and messages

During COVID-19, governments issued messages to trigger action, encourage sustained behaviours (e.g., social distancing, hand hygiene), and manage system wide risk. This study examines messages issued across two stages established by the World Health Organization (WHO): (a) pre-pandemic early intervention stage and (b) within-pandemic escalation stage. In April 2020, approximately one month after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, an experiment using a sample of 769 Australian participants was conducted. Using a between-subject design, participants assessed the way messages (curated and then expertly attributed to the two stages) were perceived and influenced behaviours. Next, it examined the power of words and phrases, selected from the same messages, for (a) their potential to signal risk, warning, and behavioural response and (b) the extent to which they reflected pandemic stages.Results showed that between the two stages, messages were differentiated by negative affect, assertiveness, and risk. Subsequently, increased negative affect, assertiveness, and risk indication increased adaptive behavioural intentions. However, increased assertiveness also increased non-adaptive behavioural intentions, though increased risk indication reduced non-adaptive behavioural intentions. Signal words and phrases, which hold potential as iconic features for biological hazard messages, showed varying performance across message stages, indicating an opportunity to improve them. Taken together, the findings contribute to academic and policy approaches for adapting communication to changing risk.

Exploring responses to differing message content of pictorial alcohol warning labels

AbstractOne way of tackling hazardous alcohol consumption is introducing warning labels on alcohol products. This research explores three under‐researched message content areas in relation to alcohol warning labels: negative/positive framing of the message; use of signal words and qualifiers and type of information used in the message (qualitative or quantitative), across message themes that depict social or health consequences. A qualitative and exploratory approach was undertaken using five focus groups of UK undergraduate students followed by 15 semi‐structured interviews with UK adults. Discussions centred around responses to the alcohol warning labels that varied in message content characteristics. The students also created their own warning label designs based on what they believed would be useful for encouraging students to keep to low‐risk drinking guidelines. Findings across both samples revealed a preference for negatively (loss) framed health messages that elicit fear and use evidence‐based reasoning and statistics. The avoidance of signal words (e.g. ‘government warning’) and qualifiers (e.g. may cause) would likely make the messages more persuasive. Our findings contribute to understanding the influence of message content on consumer responses to alcohol warning labels. However, such message content characteristics are inherent in the design of many product warnings and our findings may apply to other contexts.

Improving Students’ Reading Ability in Guessing Word Meaning from Context through Guided Discovery Learning: A Classroom Action Research on the Eleventh Grade Students of SMAN 1 Sumpiuh in the Academic Year 2019/2020

This action research aimed to investigate how Guided Discovery Learning can be implemented to improve the students’ ability in guessing word meanings from context as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the method when used in class. The research participants were the students of SMA Negeri 1 Sumpiuh, XI Science 4. The researcher implemented two cycles in this research and four steps for each cycle; planning, action, observation, and reflection. The data were obtained from several techniques, including tests, observation, questionnaires, and interviews. To analyse the quantitative data, the researcher applied descriptive statistics, comprising the following dimensions: highest and lowest scores and means. The researcher analysed the improvement of the students’ ability through interviews and questionnaires to analyse the qualitative data. The research findings show that the student problems related to difficult words could be solved by predicting their meanings from context. This skill could help the students understand and comprehend the text easily without depending on the dictionary or asking the meanings of the unknown words to other people. Therefore, a certain method was needed to develop the students’ skills in guessing word meanings from context, one of which is Guided Discovery Learning (GDL). In conclusion, using GDL allowed the students to discover signal words to determine the meaning of the unknown words. However, GDL has its strengths and weaknesses, although it is recommended for teachers, particularly when teaching reading and vocabulary.

THE EAGLE BASKING IN THE LIGHT OF FAME: THE INDO-EUROPEAN POETIC BACKGROUND OF PINDAR,NEMEAN3.80–4

AbstractThis article contributes to a discussion raised more than forty years ago in this journal by Richard Stoneman on how to interpret the unexpected image of an eagle at Pind.Nem.3.80. Without excluding the possibility of a reference to the poet himself, this article argues, mainly based on a survey on the traditional elements used in that passage, that the eagle also refers—at least partially—to the victorious athlete Aristocleides. This is demonstrated by an internal investigation of the structure of the ode and the use of signal words (–θεν,δέδορκεν,φάος). Moreover, the image of the eagle stands in a series of other ancient and traditional motifs, such as the ‘song of milk and honey’ (77–9) and ‘(far-)shining fame’ (64, 81–4), which can be also found in theRigvedaand therefore can be regarded as an inheritance of the Indo-European (= IE) poetic tradition. Parallels from theRigvedacan be found for the avian imagery too, in which the eagle is compared to someone striving for fame in an athletic contest; this suggests that the image of the eagle is another traditional motif from IE times in Pindar, who uses it as a device to transition from a poetological to a laudatory part of the epinician, perhaps deliberately playing with the ambiguity of the image.

Improving Reading Comprehension for Adolescents With Language and Learning Disorders

The present case study illustrates the use of explicit text structure intervention for expository reading comprehension with three adolescents with language learning disabilities (LLD). We investigated whether it was feasible to provide direct instruction on the identification of signal words that denote compare–contrast relations between concepts, the purpose and nature of expository text structures, and the use of graphic organizers to assist in retell of target passages and compare–contrast text comprehension. The intervention was effective in improving participants’ text structure identification, signal word recognition, and comprehension of compare–contrast text. This preliminary case study demonstrates that a short-term text structure intervention is feasible and can benefit adolescents with LLD who struggle with expository reading comprehension. Implications for clinical and educational services and future directions for research are provided.