Abstract This article discusses emergent empirical data about the Mandarin Chinese collective suffix ‑men, in that it is able to mark a zero anaphor. This is a marked zero pronoun, a covert element (a zero anaphor) marked by an overt element (‑men). The licensing of this anaphoric element has yet to be captured, which is approached using the revised neo-Gricean pragmatic theory of anaphora, as Chinese anaphoric system is pragmatically regulated. The synchronic evidence is carefully reviewed obtained from a variety of genres, and cross-linguistic evidence is brought to the fore from the Korean stranded plural suffix ‑tul, and case stranding in Japanese, suggesting a wider distribution across discourse pro-drop languages. The focus then shifts to how to account for this theoretically by comparing a linguistic pragmatic approach to a syntactic approach, arguing that pragmatics utilizing topic-chains straightforwardly accounts for this new type of zero anaphor.
Abstract The present study aims at showcasing how media construe the Russian-Ukrainian 2022 conflict as potentially impactful to geographically and culturally diversified audiences. The theoretical framework employed is Proximization Theory. The study comprises a comparative qualitative analysis of news texts collected from the websites of six leading news television channels (two Polish, two Romanian, a British and an American one). The analysis is structured along the three coordinates of the proximization model. Our findings show that there is correlation between the geographical distance from the conflict zone and the media construal of the deictic center, namely, the closer the conflict, the more fine-grained the construal of the deictic center. This translates into the type and extent of proximization strategies employed, that is, spatial and temporal proximization predominates in media geographically closer to the conflict (Poland, Romania) while axiological proximization prevails in media more remote from the conflict zone ( UK , US ).
Abstract As a new form of public signs, car stickers have already been approaching our daily life with the popularization of (private) cars we live by. The paper studies China’s car stickers of gentle and abusive violence in light of the “Harmo-ecosophy” with its “One Assumption/Guideline” and “Four Principles”, which is applicable for the analysis of ecolinguistics or language-scape. The Guideline of Man-orientedness requires car stickers to put mankind’s life and safety before anything else. Consciousness Principle demands basic values and benevolence. Proximity Principle implies, in cases of car stickers, hierarchy of importance or priority of consideration. Regulation Principle has all drivers and their car stickers socially regulated or pragma-rhetorically constrained. Finally Harmo-conformity Principle lays down eight maxims for good and acceptable ecolinguistic contribution or “beneficial discourse”. It is pointed out that unmarked car stickers (should) use non-violent, beneficial safety reminders, whilst marked ones mistakenly cash in on gentle- or abusive-violence means (destructive discourse), hence less tolerability or acceptability.
Abstract In this paper, I consider and discuss derogatory nicknames and I distinguish them from abbreviated forms and from eulogical nicknames. Often, the interpretation of the descriptive part of the nickname is related to the person in question (the person referred to) through pragmatic inference. The descriptive part of the nickname, however, does not act like a definite description in restricting the reference, given that the nickname used is directly referential and rigid in interpretation. Nicknames that are inherited clearly show that this is the case, as the description need not be satisfied by the referent (Sandru Scarparu may simply refer to the son of ‘U scarparu’). I make the case that there can be eulogical uses and these can be cases of ironic interpretation (so we can distinguish between a eulogical use of an expression and a eulogical speech act). I distinguish derogatory nicknames from quasi-proper names and proper names. I argue that nicknames cannot be used to address or call a person, as the person in question may not have knowledge of her own nickname. I also argue that derogatory nicknames are even more efficient than proper-names in individuating a referent. They are like quasi-proper names in this respect, but they differ from them in that quasi-proper names can be used to address or call someone, while derogatory nicknames cannot.
Abstract This book presents an innovative idea of how language is used to convey emotions. The monograph begins with the assumption that the emotional side plays a central role in human communication which any pragmatic theory needs to account for. There are altogether 8 chapters in this book, successively, they are Introduction, Pragmatics and Emotion: The Challenges, What Is Emotion?, From Proto-pragmatics to Pragmatics, Relevance Theory, Non-propositional Content and Ineffability, Beyond Propositions, Emotion and Evolution, and Pragmatics and Emotion: The Challenges Revisited. Through these chapters, the authors address the central argument that pragmatics is closely intertwined with emotion, and that emotion is an indispensable part of pragmatics.
Abstract This article examines the linguistic change undergone by the verb valer , which gave rise to the pragmatic marker vale (‘ok’). On the one hand, it seeks to identify the context(s) in which the construction was coopted and explore the relational links (Traugott & Trousdale, 2013). On the other, it aims to clarify the process of grammaticalization, with particular emphasis on frequency of use, functional expansion, positions and contexts. The theoretical framework draws on cooptation and subsequent grammaticalization (Kaltenböck et al., 2011; Heine, 2013), as well as the notion of networks from constructionalization (Traugott, 2018). Methodologically, the study combines real-time metalinguistic evidence with both qualitative and statistical analysis of corpus data. The results show that the pragmatic markers vale and ¿vale? derive from the same meaning, yet each was co-opted independently and reanalysed to fulfil a specific function. The evolution of vale reveals contextual expansion through the acquisition of new interactive and textual functions, in line with inheritance links among pragmatic markers of agreement.
Abstract The Malay suffix ‑ an plays a central role in the language’s system of derivational morphology, and we argue that its role extends far beyond simple nominalization. This paper examines the semantic range of ‑ an and its metaphorical and relational networks based on previous linguistic research and semantic analysis. Although some words with and without ‑ an may appear similar in meaning, their coexistence is not redundant. The addition of ‑ an introduces specific semantic functions that create meaningful distinctions. The analysis identifies four major semantic extensions associated with ‑ an : product of action , measurement , locative , and plurality . Each extension reflects metaphorical and conceptual expansion: in product of action , ‑ an profiles the outcome or resultant entity of an action; in measurement , it may signal magnification; in locative , it shifts reference from an entity to a spatial domain; and in plurality , it contributes a collective or taxonomic interpretation rather than simple numerical plurality. The suffix interacts with discourse context and allows speakers to move between literal and abstract meanings while marking differences in quantity, scope, and spatial perspective. The study shows that ‑ an exhibits semantic flexibility and structural complexity. It participates in a broader system of meaning construction in Malay. It also carries pragmatic force and guides interpretation in context, with effects on how speakers construe meaning in interaction. This reflects the language’s capacity to express subtle conceptual distinctions through morphology.
Abstract In this study, we propose an analysis of the Spanish nonphoric third-person plural based on cognitive prototype theory, which identifies the prototypical construction and five periphericals according to the gradual defocusing of the agent. This is determined by the presence of agreement morphemes or clitics and the temporal aspect of the verb. The paper focuses on the social distribution of nonphoric third-person variants across diverse kinds of texts, participants and their sex/gender. The conclusions indicate that the prototypical variant is primarily used in written texts, especially in those where the pragmatic effect of a non-existing participant is beneficial. As constructions move further away from the prototype, their use increases in interational texts, such as social media. The prototypical structure is commonly used by journalists, but it is also employed by particular speakers, especially those involved in social media and Internet-based texts, like blogs. Regarding sex/gender, it proves to be a determinant factor to some extent.
Disinformation discourse consists in the deliberate practice of disseminating false information with the intention to deceive. Originating from random fake news spread online by individuals, nowadays it comprises all kinds of content of public interest, importance or urgency, from healthcare to environment to war, communicated by organized groups and, often enough, populist political parties. Using sophisticated techniques of propaganda and threat generation, disinformation discourse is difficult to counter, as it draws upon the current construction of societies, their anxieties and fears, craftily exploiting cases of public distrust in officially circulated information. The aim of this paper is to show that threat-building and fear generation in disinformation discourse often involve the activation of general cognitive schemata that can trigger bipolar conceptualizations, typically the schemata of metaphorization and proximization. I argue that metaphoric as well as proximization based conceptualizations serve to enact virtual US vs. THEM distinctions and make credible and appealing the essentially artificial political differences, divisions and potential antagonisms. The paper investigates the power of such conceptualizations in the discourse of Confederation , a nationalist, radical-right political party in Poland, whose popularity has been on the rise in the past year. It demonstrates how metaphor and proximization are exploited in the disinformation discourse of Confederation aiming at the suspension of support for the war-torn state of Ukraine, on account of its ‘excessive and eventually threatening’ social and (geo)political costs to Poland.
The present paper seeks to examine the metaphorical structures that conceptualise people and their status and role in the discourse of the Iranian Supreme Leader. Drawing upon critical cognitive metaphor analysis (Charteris-Black, 2004) and the theory of agency in language (Duranti, 2004), we approached 300 speeches of the Iranian Supreme Leader from 1997 to 2023 to figure out how the agency of people in different areas is controlled and constricted by the conceptual properties of the target domains such as war, fight, and prevention. We indicated that the metaphor of fight is employed to conceptualise the ideological and political activism of people and developmental programmes. The metaphor of prevention renders knowledge and consciousness as influential instruments in insulating the IRI from the threats of the enemies. We also found that the metaphor of controllable objects confiscates people’s controlled and constricted agency and conceptualises them as objects of control.
This study explores the sociolinguistic dynamics of marketplace discourse in Iran, focusing on how vendors employ language as a strategic tool to engage customers and enhance sales. Through field observations and a rigorous two-step transcription process, the research identifies 96 distinct situational discourses, revealing recurrent themes that reflect the cultural idiosyncrasies of Iranian society. The analysis categorizes these discourses into four overarching themes: economic, political, psychological, and social, illustrating how vendors’ language mirrors the complexities of their environment. By employing low-inference descriptors and member checks, the study ensures the credibility of its findings, highlighting the interplay between language and cultural context. The results underscore the role of pragmatic and rhetorical strategies in marketplace interactions, demonstrating how vendors not only sell goods but also construct identities and negotiate social relationships through their discourse. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the linguistic practices in commercial settings and their implications for cultural expression and identity formation.
This study explores the sociolinguistic dynamics of marketplace discourse in Iran, focusing on how vendors employ language as a strategic tool to engage customers and enhance sales. Through field observations and a rigorous two-step transcription process, the research identifies 96 distinct situational discourses, revealing recurrent themes that reflect the cultural idiosyncrasies of Iranian society. The analysis categorizes these discourses into four overarching themes: economic, political, psychological, and social, illustrating how vendors' language mirrors the complexities of their environment. By employing low-inference descriptors and member checks, the study ensures the credibility of its findings, highlighting the interplay between language and cultural context. The results underscore the role of pragmatic and rhetorical strategies in marketplace interactions, demonstrating how vendors not only sell goods but also construct identities and negotiate social relationships through their discourse. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the linguistic practices in commercial settings and their implications for cultural expression and identity formation.
As English-medium instruction (EMI) continues to expand globally, meeting the needs of diverse student cohorts in multilingual and multicultural settings remains a major challenge. This study investigates the inclusivity of EMI at the Faculty of Architec-ture (FoA) at one of Poland's leading public universities. Drawing on interview data from 11 architecture students, we conducted Reflexive Thematic Analysis to explore their experiences and perceptions of lecturers' instructional practices, with particular attention to their alignment with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles-an intersection previously unexplored in EMI research. Three themes were identified: disciplinary knowledge development, language practices, and the social-affective envi-ronment. This article focuses on the first two. Findings reveal that UDL principles are only partially reflected in the EMI programme. Students are rarely offered meaningful choice in content, topics, or tools for assignments and assessment. Instruction remains largely teacher-centred, with limited use of varied presentation modes to accommo-date diverse learning preferences. Major concerns also include poor accessibility of teaching materials and insufficient English proficiency of some lecturers, which hin-ders content comprehension. In addition, the frequent use of Polish-by both staff and local students-leaves international students feeling excluded. These findings under-score the urgent need to adapt instructional and language practices in EMI to better support student diversity and foster more inclusive, universally designed learning envi-ronments, in turn enhancing the overall quality of EMI.
This mixed-method study investigated the attitudes of Myanmar undergraduate students in Thailand towards using English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) to communicate with other non-native English speakers. Fifty students from five Thai public universities responded to a 1-5 Likert scale questionnaire about EFL features, and nine participated in the interview. The findings demonstrated above moderate acceptance of ELF with a mean score of 3.02. First, KMUTT students reported the highest mean acceptance score (3.38) for adopting ELF among the five selected institutions. Second, subject areas also mattered-students enrolled in engineering and information technology courses showed a more substantial acceptance of ELF than those in business and humanities. Finally, the students who had studied for more than two years in Thailand showed better acceptance of ELF than freshmen who had studied for one year or fewer. The study characterises the undergraduates' diverse aspects of ELF acceptance, highlighting further research to examine the reasons behind these variations.
The paper examines the role of language in the process of production of artificial intelligence (AI) assisted discourse within human-computer communication. In this connection, our research question is: can Al function as a communicator and replace human as an equal discourse participant? For this purpose, the paper focuses on the ways of reproduction of natural discourse production by AI. The most challenging issue from a linguistic perspective is how Al deals with various social and individual factors, which heavily influence the process of natural text construction and natural discourse production. Thus, the paper aims to highlight various linguistic challenges, which AI technologies are expected to resolve within human-computer communication.
This article empirically investigates the semantic meaning of 'wh-exclamatives' (e.g., What a view!). Previous literature has identified three distinct meaning components of wh-exclamatives: +mirativity (speaker's surprise), noteworthiness (degree of a ref-erent's characteristic), and valence (speaker's strong positive or negative evaluation of the referent). In Study 1, participants (n = 50) rated the felicity of wh-exclamatives in contexts manipulated by these three meaning components. The findings indicate that noteworthiness and valence, but not mirativity, influence the felicitous use of wh-exclamatives. Study 2 (n = 80) examines the role of wh-exclamatives as lin-guistic valence setters, investigating how the construction interacts with the inherent valence of discourse referents (valence of a referent in isolation) to determine the over-all valence of embedded referents in a valence rating study. The results reveal that wh-exclamatives have a polarity-conforming valence-strengthening function, enhanc-ing the positivity of positive referents and the negativity of negative ones. Neutrally valenced referents are preferentially positivized, indicating a constructional positivity bias.
Disinformation discourse consists in the deliberate practice of disseminating false information with the intention to deceive. Originating from random fake news spread online by individuals, nowadays it comprises all kinds of content of public interest, importance or urgency, from healthcare to environment to war, communicated by orga-nized groups and, often enough, populist political parties. Using sophisticated tech-niques of propaganda and threat generation, disinformation discourse is difficult to counter, as it draws upon the current construction of societies, their anxieties and fears, craftily exploiting cases of public distrust in officially circulated information. The aim of this paper is to show that threat-building and fear generation in disinformation discourse often involve the activation of general cognitive schemata that can trigger bipolar conceptualizations, typically the schemata of metaphorization and proximiza-tion. I argue that metaphoric as well as proximization based conceptualizations serve to enact virtual US vs. THEM distinctions and make credible and appealing the essen-tially artificial political differences, divisions and potential antagonisms. The paper investigates the power of such conceptualizations in the discourse of Confederation, a nationalist, radical-right political party in Poland, whose popularity has been on the rise in the past year. It demonstrates how metaphor and proximization are exploited in the disinformation discourse of Confederation aiming at the suspension of support for the war-torn state of Ukraine, on account of its 'excessive and eventually threatening' social and (geo) political costs to Poland.
As English-medium instruction ( EMI ) continues to expand globally, meeting the needs of diverse student cohorts in multilingual and multicultural settings remains a major challenge. This study investigates the inclusivity of EMI at the Faculty of Architecture (FoA) at one of Poland’s leading public universities. Drawing on interview data from 11 architecture students, we conducted Reflexive Thematic Analysis to explore their experiences and perceptions of lecturers’ instructional practices, with particular attention to their alignment with Universal Design for Learning ( UDL ) principles—an intersection previously unexplored in EMI research. Three themes were identified: disciplinary knowledge development, language practices, and the social-affective environment. This article focuses on the first two. Findings reveal that UDL principles are only partially reflected in the EMI programme. Students are rarely offered meaningful choice in content, topics, or tools for assignments and assessment. Instruction remains largely teacher-centred, with limited use of varied presentation modes to accommodate diverse learning preferences. Major concerns also include poor accessibility of teaching materials and insufficient English proficiency of some lecturers, which hinders content comprehension. In addition, the frequent use of Polish—by both staff and local students—leaves international students feeling excluded. These findings underscore the urgent need to adapt instructional and language practices in EMI to better support student diversity and foster more inclusive, universally designed learning environments, in turn enhancing the overall quality of EMI .
Surprisingly little is known about reviewer comments on journal articles, since article reviews are an occluded genre. Recently, open review journals have made it possible to examine the nature of reviews. In this paper, 12 articles concerning applied linguistics were chosen from Qeios and 284 reviews of these articles collected as data. The reviews were analysed in three main ways: a keyword analysis highlighting words with a proportionately greater frequency in reviews than in articles; a quantitative analysis of reviews in terms of quality ratings, length and the h-index of the reviewer; and a categorisation of reviews into those focusing on the content of the article and those focusing on the form of the article. The findings show that a noticeable proportion of reviewers emphasise following a standard model of the research article over providing feedback on the content raising potential concerns about the quality of some published research.
This study examines the representations of women in two Filipino short stories, The Chieftest Mourner and Talunang Manok, written by Aida Rivera Ford and Marivi Soliven Blanco, respectively. Using feminist stylistics in analysing syntactic prominence in transitivity processes, the study unveils how the authors construct the identities and agency of the female protagonists the wife and the querida. The analysis reveals that the wife is depicted with greater agency through material processes, while the querida is assigned passive roles though behavioural processes. Furthermore, the narratives relegate the female characters to stereotypical and oppressive roles in domestic spaces where their actions are limited to catering to male needs. By foregrounding patriarchal ideology through syntactic patterns, Ford and Blanco challenge the structures that reinforce patriarchal values, propagate gender stereotypes, and place women in adversarial roles, signifying the paradox of female authors navigating male-dominated discourses.
