Journal

Volume 15, Issue 4 (December 31, 2014)

4 articles

• A Multidimensional Interdisciplinary Framework for Linguistics: The Lexicon as a Case Study
  by Cedric Boeckx & Constantina Theofanopoulou
  J. CS. 2014, 15(4), 403-420;
  Abstract This paper contrasts the standard modular, uni-dimensional approach of linguistic studies with a more interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional approach, and claims that the latter has a better chance of fulfilling the cognitive objectives of the field. We sketch a research program that is intended to li... [Read more].
  Abstract This paper contrasts the standard modular, uni-dimensional approach of linguistic studies with a more interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional approach, and claims that the latter has a better chance of fulfilling the cognitive objectives of the field. We sketch a research program that is intended to link the levels of the genome, connectome, dynome, cognome, and phenome, and illustrate some of the consequences of this approach by focusing on the nature of the lexicon. The shift of perspective advocated here casts doubt on the sort of primitives routinely entertained in generative circles, and favors approaches of the sort advocated among cognitive linguists. Our discussion also makes clear the need to view the linguistic enterprise as firmly rooted in our knowledge of the brain and its operations (specifically oscillations). [Collapse]
• A Longitudinal Case Study on A Chinese Returnee’s L2-attrition in the Aspect of Oral Fluency
  by Ying Li
  J. CS. 2014, 15(4), 421-440;
  Abstract This study investigated an L1-Mandarin returnee’s attritional performance in the aspect oral fluency in L2-English speaking. The participant went to Ottawa when she was 2 years old, and stayed there till she was 5 years old. A 12-month longitudinal study was carried out to examine her oral fluency o... [Read more].
  Abstract This study investigated an L1-Mandarin returnee’s attritional performance in the aspect oral fluency in L2-English speaking. The participant went to Ottawa when she was 2 years old, and stayed there till she was 5 years old. A 12-month longitudinal study was carried out to examine her oral fluency of L2-English speaking. The results suggest that the participant suffered from significant attrition in oral fluency at the end of the 3 rd month since she left Ottawa. Further attrition was observed with the increase of time that she returned to China. However, at the 6 th month, after staying in Canada for a 20-day summer camp, the participant’s oral fluency displayed some improvement. After that, however, the participant’s oral fluency was observed to suffer from more severe attrition. The duration of time that she returned to China correlated significantly and negatively with her proficiency level of oral fluency. [Collapse]
• New Yoruba Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions: A New Mode of Communicating New Concepts and Ideas on Radio
  by Dayo Akanmu
  J. CS. 2014, 15(4), 441-457;
  Abstract New idioms and idiomatic expressions, which are modern stock expressions, constitute communicative clogs in Yorùbá routine discourses because of their semantic complexity and deviant nature. Existing studies have established their scope of usage in Yorùbá music but have hardly addressed their co... [Read more].
  Abstract New idioms and idiomatic expressions, which are modern stock expressions, constitute communicative clogs in Yorùbá routine discourses because of their semantic complexity and deviant nature. Existing studies have established their scope of usage in Yorùbá music but have hardly addressed their communicative adaptability in Yorùbá programmes on radio. This paper investigated issues expressed with these idioms and the context and strategies for using them in various Yorùbá programmes on radio. This is with a view to establishing their communicative and stylistic relevance in Yorùbá discourses. The paper adopted Mukarousky’s theory of Standard Language because of its capacity to explain the “differential specifica” between the language of everyday interaction and literary language. Six Yorùbá programmes were purposively selected for having sufficient usage of new idioms on these radio stations: 105.6 FM, Lagos; 107.5 FM, Lagos; 92.9 FM, Lagos 92.9 FM, Lagos; 99.2 FM, Ìbàdàn and 10.55 FM Ìbàdàn. Lagos and Ìbàdàn were chosen based on the urbanised nature of the two cities and constant usage of new idioms on the programmes. Data were subjected to pragmatic and stylistic analyses. In all these, certain unique issues were expressed: globalization, politics corruption and entertainment. Globalization, which peculiar to the electronic media, occurred in the context of mobile phoning/internet while politics, corruption and entertainment also appeared in electronic media revealing the contexts of political sloganeering, advertisement, information and fraud respectively. Nominalisation, composition and phonoeasthetic coinages were the linguistic strategies employed for the formation of new idioms in this paper. Nominalization occurred in one station in the contexts of cheating/corruption/choice of item (àgémáwọ/gẹ ́ ranmáwọ), composition occurred virtually in all the stations and was contextualised in advertisement/political sloganeering (jẹun sókè), entertainment/information (GSM lọmọ) and (já sí i). Phonoeasthetic coinages occurred in one station and was contextualised in fraud and information (yàúyàúù). New idioms and idiomatic expressions used to express socioeconomic issues in Yorùbá routine communication occurred in mediated and non-mediated contexts on radio and were conveyed through nominalization, compounding and phonoeasthetic coinages. These idioms reflect dynamism and modernity-constrained stylistic choices in Yorùbá. [Collapse]
• Attention and Rivalry Suppression: Two Sides of the Same Coin
  by Sang Chul Chong, Wonyeong Sohn, & Sang-Ah Yoo
  J. CS. 2014, 15(4), 459-477;
  Abstract The role of attention has been suggested as selecting relevant information to the current objective, thereby enabling the visual system to overcome its limited capacity. On the other hand, there has not been a consensus on the role of rivalry suppression, where one of two different stimuli presented... [Read more].
  Abstract The role of attention has been suggested as selecting relevant information to the current objective, thereby enabling the visual system to overcome its limited capacity. On the other hand, there has not been a consensus on the role of rivalry suppression, where one of two different stimuli presented to different eyes becomes invisible. In the current paper, we propose that rivalry suppression serves the same goal as attention. Specifically, we argue that rivalry suppression helps the visual system to carry potentially necessary information without conscious effort and reduce processing loads. In this paper, we elaborate on several important parallels between attention and suppression. First, attended and suppressed information can be considered as indicating the opposite sides of consciousness. Second, unattended information can be invisible much like suppressed information. Third, the neural mechanisms underlying both attention and rivalry suppression have been suggested to be located in the same area, the frontal-parietal cortex. Fourth, the effects of attention and suppression are manifested more in higher visual processing areas and their effect sizes are similar. Finally, attention can bring suppressed information back to the conscious level, if necessary. We conclude that both attention and rivalry suppression reduce the burden on the visual system but in contrasting ways, one selecting only relevant information to the current goal and the other carrying information without conscious effort. [Collapse]