Socio-cognitive Approach Research Articles

‘Trapping my way up’: a corpus-assisted discourse analysis of Black Sherif’s songs

ABSTRACT Taking cognisance of the social and linguistic power of trap music and its song lyrics as crucial avenues for language use in society, this study set out to conduct a corpus-assisted discourse analysis of selected song lyrics of Black Sherif. The study synergised Wmatrix and a socio-cognitive approach to CDA to interpret the song lyrics. The analyses revealed three linguistic strategies: (a) pronouns; (b) Ghanaian Student Pidgin; and (c) metaphors in the song lyrics that served as a means of empowering the youth to survive and strive for success despite social and psychological aggressions in life. Also, the individualistic self-representation in the song lyrics included plural identities of people who share a common experience of struggle, pain, survival, and self-empowerment. Finally, the study highlighted crucial societal issues, such as economic hardship and social injustice, that may otherwise be overlooked or underrepresented in mainstream media or academia. Based on these findings, the study provides recommendations for practice and further research.

Beyond learning opportunities: focused encounters in a sociocognitive approach to second language acquisition and teaching

Abstract This paper introduces the sociological concept of focused encounters (FEs) as a tool for researching interaction in second language acquisition and teaching. FEs are face-to-face interactions affording joint attention, intersubjectivity, interaffectivity, and interactional alignment, considered key contributors to learning in some SLA/T approaches. First, we introduce the FE concept. Second, we situate FEs within a sociocognitive approach to SLA/T. Third, we apply the FE concept in investigating interaction in an Australian English as a second language classroom. Fourth and finally, we discuss our analysis’s wider implications for learning and teaching: Studying interaction in FEs from a sociocognitive perspective enables investigation not just of language learning opportunities but of moment-by-moment learning processes.

Yes(Rom.Da). Usages and functions in L2 proficiency examinations

AbstractThe article analyses a Romanian corpus of intercultural dialogues recorded in natural settings during language proficiency examinations and discusses the usages of the frequently occurring wordyes(Rom.da). The framework is provided by the Mixed Game Model (Weigand 2009,2010,2017,2018, among others) intersected with the socio-cognitive approach to intercultural communication (Kecskes 2007,2008,2010,2013, among others). Beyond the analysis of a single lexical unit in a limited collection of texts, the author aims to demonstrate how a particular word of the lexicon becomes a culturally-socially-cognitively-discursively-rhetorically situated utterance that acquires specific functions when it is used by interlocutors who negotiate their communicative agendas to come not only to mutual understanding but also to achieve their convergent-divergent institutional purposes.

Growing Up, Learning Race: An Integration of Research on Cognitive Mechanisms and Socialization in Context

In the United States, race is a critical factor in determining how children experience and navigate their social worlds. Developmental scientists have examined the complexities and nuances of how children develop an understanding of what race means for them and others as well as their attitudes toward people of other racial groups. We provide an overview of the literature on two approaches to understanding children's racial learning—sociocognitive approaches, which focus on various aspects of children's understanding of, beliefs about, and attitudes toward race and racial groups, and socialization perspectives, which examine the messages that socialization agents transmit to children about race. Throughout, we highlight the ways in which the persistence of structural and interpersonal racism in the United States forms the background context for children's racial learning.

Digital resistance: Discursive construction of polarization and otherness in Oduduwa secessionists’ social media discourse

This paper investigates the discursive strategies employed by Oduduwa secessionists to construct polarization and otherness on Twitter. Using the socio-cognitive approach to CDA combined with social media CDA, the study illustrates how socio-cultural and spatiotemporal contexts are embedded in digital performances of resistance. Findings show that the secessionists employ four main discursive strategies, namely: (1) vitriolic socio-cognitive labels and coinages; (2) generalization and ethnocentrism; (3) language of threat; and (4) use of Yoruba language to legitimize their resistance, accentuate their ideological stances, construct polarization and otherness, and do social mobilization. These strategies are achieved via discursive, linguistic, and stylo-orthographic resources made available by digital technology. The paper concludes that the discursive strategies employed by the secessionists do not directly reflect polarization but are simply constitutive of it.

A critical analysis of horn of Africa’s drought-related metaphors: A socio-cognitive approach

The paper regulates a corpus-based analysis of Horn of Africa’s drought-related metaphorical schemas presented in 17 selected reports and appeals published in the official homepages of UNICEF and OCHA in the time span (2021-2023). The study follows Hart’s (2008 & 2010) theoretical framework of socio-cognitive critical metaphor analysis (SCCMT) which connects blending integration theory (BT) and the critical, social and ideological tenets of critical discourse analysis (CDA). The findings of the study show three recurrent metaphorical integration networks in the selected corpus and they are: DROUGHT is A KILLING MONESTER, DROUGHT is WAR/STRUGGLE and UNICEF/OCHA are BUILDERS/ANIMATE AGENTS. Consequently, some emergent scenarios are activated such as: fear, instability, blame, hope and ideological distinction of US and THEM, THE POOR and THE RICH, AFRICA and AMERICA & EUROPE. Moreover, four topoi are motivated: “topos of danger”, “topos of displacement”, “topos of number” and” topos of hope”. These topoi are entrenched in the selected corpus, thus explicating the conventionality of metaphor.

Deictic Strategies in KamaNu and Karimi’s Kimeru Song and Dance Lyrics

Purpose: This paper examined the deictic strategies in the Kimeru song and dance lyrics by KamaNu and Karimi by assessing how the deictic properties of these song and dance lyrics express the main issues. The study utilized the aspects of Van Dijk’s (2008) ideological square as a component of his socio-cognitive approach to critical discourse analysis (CDA).
 Methodology: The study adopted a qualitative approach using descriptive research design in particular a case study. Research was carried out in Meru and Nairobi counties in Kenya. The target population consisted of native Meru artists and their fans. Two native Meru artists, a male and a female, namely: KamaNu and Karimi were purposively sampled as a corporate item. Twelve songs six from each of the artists were picked on popularity basis and that they had a traditional tinge and contained deictic content that were relevant to the study. Data was collected through six video recordings, semi-structured interviews and note taking of the actual live performances in social functions; three for each artist to enable the researcher get verbatim data and songs without any alterations, as well as save time.
 Findings: The study established that Kimeru song and dance lyrics by KamaNu and Karimi, through polarization of Us and Them, employ a cocktail of both simple and complex strategies to cater for people of all ages for purposes of understanding the intended meaning, while saving one’s face and as such smoothly transmits the societal ideals.
 Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The study recommends that listeners pay more attention to these diectic strategies for an appropriate interpretation of the intended meaning as they enable the speaker identify with the situation making listeners incline towards the music since it elevates the speaker on a pedestal of the informer and all knowing (Atoh, 2017). Secondly, the audience should discern the meaning of these expressions in accordance to the context under which they are used. There is therefore need for the policy makers to incorporate song and dance lyrics in the school curriculum as a technique of language teaching as well as preserve our cultural heritage through documentation for posterity

Socio-cognitive Approach to the Analysis of Selected American (Athletes) Celebrity Speeches

The pervasiveness of celebrity figures in contemporary media and the effect they have on the minds of the public made investigating their discourse and exhibiting the way they think a worthy topic to study closely. Celebrities, as a social group, use language as a means of inspiration, encouragement, and empowerment. In this regard, they become exemplary and inspirational to the public by conveying their opinion, attitude, ideas, and knowledge. It is worth saying, most celebrities are simultaneously influential, especially entertainers like sports stars. Their discourse is usually imbued with and drenched in feelings, qualities, morals, and values that attract people to follow them, share characteristics with them and watch them. Accordingly, the researchers of the current study selected three American athlete celebrities' speeches to analyze and investigate the type of language used and the kind of ideology imbued within the speeches. Van Dijk’s model (1995a, 2016) of the socio-cognitive approach, mainly the discourse-cognition-society paradigm, is applied to analyze the speeches. The main aim is to show how discourse, social and cognitive structures are used to convey ideologies and what types of ideologies are instilled in the (selected) athlete celebrities’ speeches. After conducting the analysis, the study ends with the conclusion that some profile athletes are key influencers as spokespersons in society at large and they mainly depict themselves in a positive bright way that assists in spreading their mindsets and ideologies.

Pro-Syrian Regime Versus Anti Regime Outlets: A Comparative Critical Discourse Analysis

The Syrian conflict that erupted in 2011 became a global crisis and attracted the international social media attention, leading to the engagement of international superpowers. Based on the assumption that social media discourse is not neutral and impacted by social, political, and economic contexts [1], this paper employs van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach to investigate the role of social media discourse in protracting the Syrian conflict. It analyzes two main local, anti-, and pro-regime, social media outlets’ posts, and tweets to expose their discursive strategies and embedded ideologies. This article exposes the manipulation practices on the discoursal and linguistic level. It conducts a complex analysis to uncover hidden messages and manipulation techniques that has been delivered and utilized by conflicting parties in Syria, influencing people’s minds, increasing their polarity, altering the Syrian revolution’s conception, and protracting the tragedy. The findings indicate that social media discourse vis-à-vis the Syrian context is biased. Syrian conflicting parties, especially pro-regimes outlets, manipulate discourse with the aim of influencing people’s understandings and beliefs and hence actions. Anti-government actors are always stereotyped as foreign backed, extremists, and terrorists. International outlets, impacted by the local outlets, have contributed to altering the perception of the Syrian conflict, from a popular social movement to a violent civil war.

Critical discourse Analysis of Torturing Male Prisoners in Abu Ghraib in The Independent's Political reports

The present study under the title "Critical discourse Analysis of Torturing Male Prisoners in Abu Ghraib in The Independent's Political reports" is interested in revealing issues of power, dominance and ideologies in the political reports which talk about violence against men in Abu Ghraib. Revealing these issues in the report will be according to the use of CDA approach depending on the two scholars who are interested in this approach, Tuen Van Dijk, Norman Fairclough. In this study, there is a use of language as a tool to express dominance, power and ideology. With these linguistic elements, the previous issues are exploited indirectly by the American forces. 
 We aim in this study to identify all the linguistic elements which symbolize violence in the selected report. Then, we will explain its function in this report which is used pragmatically. After that, we explain the issues of power, dominance and ideologies and check whether they are used in these reports implicitly or explicitly.
 We selected one report to be analyzed in this paper. This report was taken from the British Newspaper "The Independent". Selecting these Extracts was based on the use of many linguistic elements which refer to violence in Abu Ghraib.
 We used the qualitative approach in analyzing the data, because we deal with behavioral study, and it is the preferable approach in analyzing studies like these. In this method, we depend on the narrative way in the analysis rather than using numbers or statistics. The model adopted in this study will be an eclectic one depending on Fairclough's three-dimensional approach and Van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach. These models are interested in the texts with their social and cultural function.
 The findings have included the use of linguistic elements of violence in these reports in many lines. The function of these linguistic elements was used indirectly in a hidden way. The study also revealed that issues of power, dominance and ideologies were exploited pragmatically in the American speeches. Our aims and Hypothesis have been achieved in the findings and conclusions. In the last lines of chapter five, we gave some recommendations and suggestions for further studies.

Uncovering the Underlying Messages in National Political Songs under the Nasery Regime

This study is a Critical study that applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) principles on a group of national songs. The selected songs are by AbdelHalim Hafez due to the fact that he was known to be ‘the voice of the 1952 revolution’. Narrative analysis and features of involvement analysis are conducted on the selected songs.
 This study attempts to clarify how ‘the self’ is presented against ‘the other’ in national songs under the Nasery regime, the thesis defines who the self is and who the other is. Moreover, it shows the functions of national songs under the Nasery regime as a method of communicating ideologies to the public. This study, also, traces evolution of CDA theory by reviewing the works of Norman Fairclaugh (1989) and Van Dijk (1994, 1999 a. 1999 b, 2001, and 2006). The discursive recourses of manipulation in national songs are uncovered by applying van Dijk’s (1994) ‘Socio-Cognitive Approach’. The study analyzes the narrative structure that is used in national songs under the Nasery regime, and uncovers the ideologies embedded within. On the subsequent section, features of involvement are analyzed; the social implications of these structures and the ideologies they entail are elucidated. The thesis concludes with the findings of the study and recommendations for further research

Analysis of Character Education Values on the Learning Achievement of Elementary School Teacher Candidates

An elementary school teacher should have good character first to be able to educate the character of his students. The education curriculum for prospective Indonesian elementary school teachers in Indonesia should include character education in order to produce character-educated graduates. The Association of Lecturers of Education for prospective Indonesian Elementary School Teachers has formulated learning outcomes according to the current curriculum. It is necessary to evaluate the formulation of Learning Outcomes adopted by all prospective Indonesian Elementary School Teacher Education study programs. The purpose of this study is to reveal the content of character values ​​in the formulation of learning outcomes for Indonesian elementary school teacher candidates in Indonesia, their suitability with the cognitive approach in character education, and suitability with the socio-cognitive approach in character education. This research is a content analysis research with a qualitative approach through four stages, namely data acquisition, data reduction, inference, and data analysis. The object of this research is the educational learning achievement formula book for prospective Indonesian elementary school teachers published in 2015. The unit of analysis is the character values contained in the educational learning achievement formula book for prospective Indonesian elementary school teachers. The results showed that there were 11 values ​​out of a total of 16 target values ​​in character building at the tertiary level, namely obedience to worship, responsibility, discipline, work ethic, independence, synergy, justice, critical, creative and innovative, compassion and concern, and nationalism, apart from that the formulation of learning outcomes is also in accordance with the cognitive approach in character education which has been listed on the general skills aspect which corresponds to Level 6 of moral development (Kohlberg's cognitive approach), besides that the formulation of learning achievements is in accordance with the approach socio-cognitive in character education has been listed on the affective aspect.

Toward an integrative socio-cognitive approach in autism spectrum disorder: NEAR method adaptation-study protocol.

BackgroundThe cognitive impairments exhibited by people with ASD, threaten the development of social skills that are essential for establishing and maintaining harmonious social relationships. Cognitive remediation and social skills training are now considered as crucial therapeutic approaches in the management of these disorders. Several programs have already been validated and have shown improvements in social skills or cognitive performance. However, the effects of these training methods seem to be difficult to generalize to other everyday life. The aim of our study is to alleviate cognitive and social deficiencies by using a socio-cognitive framework to adapt the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) method for adolescents with ASD.Methods/designAdolescents meeting the DSM-5 criteria for ASD, older than 13 years, and following a regular school curriculum will be recruited from clinical population at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Razi University Hospital-Manouba- Tunisia. Our study is an open and non-randomized controlled trial including 30 patients: NEAR group / control group. The NEAR method combines computerized cognitive exercises and bridging groups inspired from cognitive behavioral therapy. NEAR group will be divided into three groups of five patients each. The duration of the sessions will vary according to the capacities of the participants and the exchanges between them (about 60–120 min). In our study, bridging groups will be amended by adding other tasks including planning role plays and scenarios of problematic social situations in autism, taking into account cultural particularities in order to promote social skills. Computerized exercises will be enriched by adding other tasks aiming to improve the recognition and expression of facial emotions by using digital videos and photographs expressing the six basic emotions. The duration of the program will be about 6 months. All selected patients will have an assessment of cognitive function: social cognition, neurocognition and pragmatic skills, social skills, self-esteem and global functioning at baseline, 1 week after the end of the NEAR program and 6 months later.ConclusionThis adaptive program is a promising socio-cognitive intervention that create new perspectives for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Investigating diasporic identities in the Arab-American autobiographies of Leila Ahmed and Edward Said: a Socio-cognitive approach

Investigating diasporic identities in the Arab-American autobiographies of Leila Ahmed and Edward Said: a Socio-cognitive approach

Manipulasi Linguistik sebagai Instrumen Politik dalam Animal Farm: Sebuah Analisis Wacana Kritis

Politics and language are inextricably linked, and the relationship between the two has long been the subject of philosophical and linguistic study. Through critical discourse analysis, the contemporary linguistic practice seeks to examine language as a form of social practice. Thus, political discourse is seen as a discourse oriented towards concealing power for manipulative purposes, legitimizing discourse practices, and imposing ideologies. This study analyzes the use of linguistic manipulation in George Orwell's "Animal Farm" using van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach. The results of the study of the text, context, and social cognition dimensions of "Animal Farm" show that the political elites in this novel successfully use linguistic manipulation as an instrument to influence members of society with lower language skills to realize the elites' goals. Linguistic manipulation is also used as an instrument to exercise and maintain power. As a proponent of socialism, Orwell revealed the use of political manipulation in "Animal Farm" as a satire of the Stalin-led socialists who had perverted the goals of the Russian revolution for personal and group gain.

Misogyny in election discourse: Analysing the 2019 General Elections in India

This article examines misogynist comments on women politicians as part of the campaign discourse for the 2019 General Elections in India. The objective is to understand and critically examine the broad patterns of misogynist discourse during election times and the socio-cognitive interface that enables such misogyny. Using a Critical-Feminist-Socio-Cognitive-Discourse Analysis, which combines Lazar’s Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis and Van Dijk’s Socio-Cognitive Approach, we analyse the explicit stating and implied underpinnings of 22 misogynist comments and identify 4 broad patterns and 8 sub-patterns. We argue that, while sharing similarities with global patterns and stereotypes of misogyny, election misogyny in India originates in socio-cognitive and cultural tropes unique to its patriarchal society. When reproduced in misogynist verbal attacks directed at female politicians, these historically rooted misogynist tropes further reinforce the dominant patriarchal culture and add to the attempts to delegitimize Indian women’s political representation and agency.

A critical discourse analysis of selected print media reports on insurgency in Nigerian newspapers

Insufficient studies have considered critical studies to explore diverse discourse patterns that arise from print media reportage of insurgent actions in the country. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine an investigation of the insurgency coverage in Nigerian media through the Critical Discourse Approach with a view to identifying the various ideological roles present in the coverage. van Dijk's (2006) Socio-cognitive approach to Critical Discourse Analysis was adopted as the theoretical framework for this study. The study used a qualitative method to analyse twenty (29) reports purposively. Data were selected from three National newspapers, namely: The Punch, This Day and The Guardian. Findings revealed the presence of six discursive strategies which are labeling, number game, evidentiality, lexicalisation, metaphor and categorisation. These strategies are utilised in news reports to construct polarity as well as social inequality and bias. This paper also revealed that the presupposition of the ideologies found is to increase the information deliveries and acceptance in the written reports of the insurgent actions in Nigeria. Most importantly, the ideologies are used to present two major groups, namely the in-group and the out-group. While the in-group refers to Nigerian citizens who were portrayed as victims and innocent, the out-groups refers to the various insurgency groups who bring about tears, pains and bloodletting among the Nigerian people. The study concludes that newspapers are often bias especially in their reportage of insurgent operations as revealed in the data analysis.

Racism against immigrants in Brazil: a critical analysis of employers' discourse

Objective: This article investigates the discursive representations related to racism of Brazilian employers and human resource managers on hired immigrant workers. Theoretical framework: The socio-cognitive theory proposed by Van Dijk is presented together with studies on discursive representations of immigrants. Methodology: The qualitative research used semi-structured interviews with 12 employers in the cities of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre. Data analysis was based on critical discourse analysis (CDA), on Van Dijk's socio cognitive approach. Results: The research showed that the employers' discourse is based on the assumptions that the immigrant workers: i) are more efficient than Brazilians; ii) subject themselves to any kind of work; iii) are destined for unqualified and hard work; iv) threaten Brazilians (different cultural identities; different community values; may be criminals; are disease spreaders); and v) are an economic burden. The Brazilian employer´s discourse maintains and perpetuates all the characteristics of the racist ideology and makes it difficult for immigrants to enter the Brazilian labour market, forging domination practices that favour social inequality. Originality: This study contributes to broaden the CDA scope of analysis when investigating employers and immigrants. It also dialogues and contributes to the literature in Brazil on CDA by specifically adopting Van Dijk's socio cognitive approach instead of the more adopted Fairclough perspective.

Foreign Students’ Intercultural Adaptation at IIUI: An Intercultural Pragmatic Study

The aim of this research was to examine how foreign students at IIUI adapt to intercultural communication in relation to three key factors: Context, Salience, and Common Ground. To explore the experiences and challenges faced by these students, the study employed Colleen Ward's Cultural Adjustment Process Model and the Socio-cognitive approach, specifically focusing on context, salience, and common background. Data was gathered through a questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and close-ended questions from 18 randomly selected students of IIUI, from various countries. The results suggest that the students rely heavily on their prior experiences and use a combination of these experiences and the emergent situation, salience, and common ground to adjust to intercultural communication.

Violence against Male in Abu Ghraib in The New Yorker's political Reports

The present study under the title " Violence against Male in Abu Ghraib in The New Yorker's political Reports" is interested in revealing issues of power, dominance and ideologies in the political reports which talk about violence against men in Abu Ghraib. Revealing these issues in the report will be according to the use of CDA approach depending on the two scholars who are interested in this approach, Tuen Van Dijk, Norman Fairclough. In this study, there is a use of language as a tool to express the dominance, power and ideology. With these linguistic elements, the previous issues are exploited indirectly by the American forces. 
 We aim in this study to identify all the linguistic elements which symbolize violence in the selected report. Then, we will explain its function in this report which is used pragmatically. After that, we explain the issues of power, dominance and ideologies and check whether they are used in these reports implicitly or explicitly.
 We selected one report to be analysed in this paper. This report was taken from the American weekly magazine "The New Yorker". Selecting these Extracts was based on the using of many linguistic elements which refer to violence in Abu Ghraib. 
 We used the qualitative approach in analyzing the data, because we deal with behavioral study, and it is the preferable approach in analyzing studies like these. In this method, we depend on the narrative way in the analysis rather than using numbers or statistics. The model adopted in this study will be eclectic one depending on Fairclough's three-dimensional approach and Van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach. These models are interested in the texts with their social and cultural function.
 The findings have included the use of linguistic elements of violence in these reports in many lines. The function of these linguistic elements was used indirectly in a hidden way. The study also revealed that issues of power, dominance and ideologies were exploited pragmatically in the American speeches. Our aims and Hypothesis have been achieved in the findings and conclusions. In the last lines of chapter five, we gave some recommendations and suggestions for further studies.