Definition and Examples of Indexicality

Definition and Examples of Indexicality In pragmatics (and other branches of linguistics and philosophy), indexicality encompasses the features of a language that refer directly to the circumstances or context in which an utterance takes place. All language has the capacity for indexical function, but some expressions and communicative events suggest more indexicality than do others. (Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods, 2008). An indexical expression (such as today, that, here, utterance, and you) is a word or phrase that is associated with different meanings (or referents) on different occasions. In conversation, interpretation of indexical expressions may in part depend on a variety of paralinguistic and non-linguistic features, such as hand gestures and the shared experiences of the participants. Examples and Observations of Indexicality Among philosophers and linguists, the term indexicality typically is used to distinguish those classes of expressions, like this and that, here and now, I and you, whose meaning is conditional on the situation of their use, from those such as, for example, noun phrases that refer to a class of objects, whose meaning is claimed to be specifiable in objective, or context-free terms. But in an important sense, namely a communicative one, the significance of a linguistic expression is always contingent on the circumstances of its use. In this sense, deictic expressions, place and time adverbs, and pronouns are just particularly clear illustrations of a general fact about situated language.(Lucy A. Suchman, What Is Human-Machine Interaction? Cognition, Computing, and Cooperation, ed. by Scott P. Robertson, Wayne Zachary, and John B. Black. Ablex, 1990)Direct Indexicality, DudeDirect indexicality is a meaning  relationship that holds directly between language and the stance, act, activit y, or identity indexed. . .An illustration of this process can be seen in the American-English address term dude (Kiesling, 2004). Dude is used most frequently  by young white men and indexes a stance of casual solidarity: a friendly, but crucially not intimate, relationship with the addressee. This stance of casual solidarity is a stance habitually taken more by young white American men than other identity groups. Dude thus indirectly indexes  young, white  masculinity as well.Such descriptions of indexicality are abstract, however, and do not take into account the actual context of speaking, such as the speech event and the identities of the speakers determined through other perceptual modes, such as vision. (S. Kiesling, Identity in Sociocultural Anthropology and Language.  Concise Encyclopedia of Pragmatics, ed. by J.L. Mey. Elsevier, 2009) Indexical Expressions- The success of a deictic act of reference to a given book by means of an indexical expression like This book, for instance, requires the presence of the book within the visual field shared by the interlocutors, just like its gestural indication. But indexical expressions are not necessarily put to deictic use. Definite noun phrases and third person pronouns allow for anaphoric and cataphoric use. During anaphoric indication, the expression remains the same, but the field undergoes a change. The expression does not typically refer to an individual physically given in the perceptual field, but necessarily refers to an entity previously or subsequently named within the same discourse or text: Im reading a paper on cataphora. I find it (this paper) interesting.(Michele Prandi, The Building Blocks of Meaning: Ideas for a Philosophical Grammar. John Benjamins, 2004)- The most frequently noted indexicals  are personal pronouns (I, we, you, etc.), demonstratives (thi s, that), deictics (here, there, now), and tense and other forms of time positioning (smiles, smiled, will smile). Our understanding of both spoken utterances and written texts must be anchored in the material world. To understand a sentence such as, Would you take this over there, we need a provisional location for myself (the speaker- a meaning for here), for you (my addressee), for the object (this), and for the goal intended (there). (Ronald Scollon and Suzanne B. K. Scollon, Discourses in Place: Language in the Material World.  Routledge, 2003)

BETH ANN FARAGHER, PETITIONER v. CITY OF BOCA RATON Case Study

BETH ANN FARAGHER, PETITIONER v. CITY OF BOCA RATON - Case Study Example This therefore puts them in a position that they can abuse by practising acts that can be termed as abusive and therefore call for legal intervention. In our case the city is claimed to be unaware of the actions of two of its employees-Terry and Silverman who were sued for subjecting the petitioner-Faragher and other female lifeguards to the unwelcome and uninvited touches and abusive language that they were using. Among the allegations, Terry had said that he would never promote a woman to the rank of a Lieutenant and in another occasion, Silverman had warned Faragher that she should date him or she would clean the toilets for a year (Legal Information Institute). Silverman being in a position to allocate duties to the lifeguards, had the power to execute that threat. This therefore calls for the intervention of the law as the powers he uses are bestowed to him by the agency that has hired him and set him to the rank that he is in. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida handled the case where Faragher had sued the city. It established that during the time that that Faragher was working with the city, Terry was serving as the Chief of the Marine Safety division and he had authority to supervise all aspects of the life guards’ assignments, engage in counselling and deliver oral reprimands while putting into record such an occurrence. At that moment, Silverman was serving in the position of marine safety lieutenant. The city had a sexual harassment policy that was drafted on February 1986. This was revised in 1990 and a restatement reissued. However, Terry, Silverman and Gordon were unaware of it. This put the responsibility of their actions at an individual level as the city had already drafted a policy in regard to sexual harassment. The court made a conclusion that the conduct of Terry and Silverman could be cause a hostile working environment for Faragher. The court therefore

Disaster Relief Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Disaster Relief Assessment - Essay Example Natural disasters include earthquakes, floods, volcanic activities, tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons and severe storms. There should be the proper planning of the goals and the communication facility must be improved greatly. Proper task forces should always be ready who can tackle the situation in their own innovative way. Steps should be taken so that there can be proper thought about the situation by which it will be much easier to represent things that can be done. Theoretical approach can help to take a bigger step when the problem arises. The insurance and healthcare services should be improved so that the emergency situations can be responded effectively (Eisenman et. al. 2007). Disaster relief assessment also includes the development in the telecommunication facilities. The officials should be trained virtually so that they can be able to do things in a proper way and will have the ability to face all types of disasters. Educational programs can be undertaken so that the people can be alert about the various types of diseases and then they can take some minimum steps when they face such situations (Forgette, et. al., 2009).

Introduction to Environmental Science Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Environmental Science Essay Be able to define an environmental factor. There are two types (condition and resource). What is the difference between a condition and a resource? Be able to categorize particular environmental factors as conditions OR resources (for example, temperature is a condition and not a resource). Be able to rank from smallest to largest: ecosystem, landscape, biome, biosphere Be able to rank from smallest to largest (in terms of numbers and diversity of life): species, population, biota and biosphere. Also, what is the difference between a population of a species and a species overall? Make sure you can explain the Law of Limiting Factors. What is the difference between the optimum conditions, the zones of tolerance and the zones of stress? Can life exist outside of the zones of tolerance? Outside of the zones of stress? Be able to list the primary atoms in organic compounds. What is the difference between a producer and a consumer? Be able to classify life as one or the other. Make sure you know the products and reactants for photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In each of the following cycles, be able to identify the primary source for each atom (atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere): Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle, Phosphorous cycle. Be able to categorize an environmental resistance factor as population density-dependent or density-independent. Some examples may include food availability, water availability, disease, temperature, wind and available space/shelter. What are biotic potential and environmental resistance, and how are they related? Be able to define critical number (what this means for a species survival), threatened and endangered. Make sure you can list characteristics of a K-strategist versus an r-strategist. Is an elephant a K- or r-strategist? What about a fly? Be able to describe, and identify, the following community interactions: predation, competition, mutualism, commensalism, amensalism. What is an adaptation? Be able to identify common types of adaptations of organisms (camouflage, prickles on cactus, ability to store water in the desert, hibernation in cold climates, long necks to reach food, etc. see table in your Power Point and textbook). See more: introduction paragraph example How does the process of selective pressure influence the processes of evolution and speciation? What IS the process of speciation? What is time frame for evolution and/or speciation of complex species (i.e., not single-celled organisms like bacteria)? Can species that evolve from other species still mate with the species from which they evolved? How are the Theories of Evolution and Continental Drift complimentary? Be able to identify the exponential growth rate equation and the logistic growth rate equation. What are the differences between the two? (For example, carrying capacity is only in logistic growth, the shapes of the curves are different.) Be able to describe how (in what way) each of the four human population revolutions impacted the carrying capacity for humans on Earth. Make sure you can tell me what each of the letters stands for in this equation, I = (P x A x T)/S, and how increasing and decreasing each will change environmental impact (I). Make sure you know what each of these trophic categories or food web terms are: Autotrophs, Heterotrophs (includes decomposers, consumers), Producers, Consumers (first-order, second-order, third-order). Where do herbivores, carnivores and omnivores fit into the consumer classes? Be able to list the 6 major biomes, and compare them in terms of precipitation and temperature (precipitation is the primary factor that determines biomes, and temperature is the second most important factor). What are common values that humans place on biodiversity? What was the goal of the Endangered Species Act? Does it protect the organism only, or also its habitat?

The Space Race during the Cold War Essays -- Essays Papers

The Space Race during the Cold War During the Cold War, the United States and Russia had a severe space race between one another. Every time one country would be a step ahead of the other, and somehow one of the countries would catch up to the more advanced country at the time. During the early years of the space race, success was measured by what nation did what first: To the alarm of the United States, each of the early adventures were achieved by the Soviet Union. And all of those events triggered the United States to drive and catch up with to surpass the Soviet Union. This sort of see-saw method happen throughout the space race. Throughout this paper, there will be a discussion on the space race between the United Stated and Russia, but the discussion will be told from the Russia point of view. First, it started with a space scientist named Sergei Pavlovich Korolyev. His major contributions were the rocket technology and spacecraft design. These two aspects of the space race were pivotal to this race throughout the 1950s and1960s. This gentleman was responsible for rocket systems that helped launch Russia’s first intercontinental missiles and spacecraft during this time period. Korolyev was responsible for many introductory programs in space exploration, including Sputnik 1. Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, and was the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth (1). This was what started the space race between the United States and Russia. This event startled the world by giving the impression that America was behind the Soviets in science and technology. The Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs would follow in rapid sequences as the American space program raced to catch up with the Soviets. In 1969, the race essenti... ...with the proper equipment and there are other planets outside the earth and what their atmospheres consist of. The Soviet Union learned that it is possible for the sun to power an object (solar power) and the missiles that help launch the satellites can be used as military weapons that can be guided. These two ideas and many more definitely helped the Soviet Union to become a more technologically respected nation with all of its advancements and achievements. Works Cited 1. "Space Race", Micrsoft(r) Encarta(r) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 2. Young Students Learning Library. Weekly Readers Books., s.v. "space race". 3. "The USSR's Manned Space Flights" Space Encyclopedia <http://spaceboy.nasada.go.jp/Note/yujin/E/Yujol_e.html 4. The Space Race <httl:library.advanced.org/10826/spacerac.htm

“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens

â€Å"A Tale of Two Cities† by Charles Dickens entails eternal themes of transformation and resurrection because nothing is permanent in the world and along with rapid run of life people are constantly changing to respond to emerging goods and evils.This eternal themes are of great value because in such a way the author shows that all people should be provided with a chance to change their lives for better, to strive for better living for themselves and their beloved people.Actually, resurrection of heroes promotes the idea of hope which never dies. Transformation and resurrection are two powerful themes which are seen throughout plot progression. Furthermore, resurrection and transformation are illustrated on both societal and personal levels. It is seen that many characters appear to be involved in themes of redemption, love, and good vs. evil. All these themes are brought together to portray the themes of transformation and resurrection.These themes can be applied to Dr. Ma nette who was taken away from his pregnant wife and unborn child. Dr. Manette was imprisoned for eighteen years and during them he experienced the worst conditions and he even forgot his real name. Dr. Manette is resurrected and his life is transformed for several times throughout the novel.In â€Å"Book the First† French government released him and bring to Monsieur Defarge to be cared. Thus, French government gave him hope for restoring his life, his past and future because Dr. Manette is suddenly â€Å"recalled to life†. (19) Nevertheless, his transformation wasn’t complete till he was reunited with his lost daughter Lucy. It was Lucy’s love that enabled Manette to resurrect spiritually and his daughter reinforced his notion of the rebirth.Then, in â€Å"The Golden Thread† the themes of resurrection and transformation are involved several times. For example, Charles Darnay was put on the trial because of treachery in England. He was considered a spy as he traveled forth and back between England and France. People were sure he had to be found guilty and, therefore, he had to be sentenced to death.However, Sydney Carton saved his live and Dr. Manette was â€Å"recalled to life† (35) for the second time. Nevertheless, then Dickens presents different perspectives on resurrection and transformation themes. For example, he illustrates resurrection with a parody. Jerry Cruncher was a body-snatcher and he considered his night activities as the honest trade. His son was also proud of father’s activities and he desired to follow him: â€Å"Oh, Father, I should so like to be a resurrection-man when I'm quite growed up!† (166)It is necessary to outline that Sydney Carton is one more character who involved the most in the themes of transformation and resurrection. Firstly he was presented as a man with lo self-esteem, though he was provided with tremendous amount of devotion, courage and self-sacrifice. It was Cart on who helped to resurrect Charles Darnay, though it was no the only time he saved human’s life.When he organized the switch, the author emphasized the inner purposes of his actions. Dickens argues that Carton has never achieved the desired outcomes in his life and now the chance is ensured. Carton realized he had to endanger his life as it was a way to redemption.Sydney understood his switch was successfully arranged and he had done a good job. When facing death Carton didn’t back away; instead he embraced it to resurrect later. Till death he was prophetic and peaceful and he even made friends with woman being unjustly sentenced to death. In the final moment before death, Carton was portrayed as a Messiah who was giving his life allowing others to enjoy theirs.Before he was beheaded, he uttered Jesus’ words: â€Å"I am the Resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die†. (366) In such a way the author tends to show that Carton lived till the end of the book when final resurrection took place.Summing up every theme in the book is provided with specific purpose. Eternal themes of redemption, love are included in the transformation and resurrection theme to unite the plot and to add to author’s style of writing.Works CitedDickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens The book is called A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens published by Penguin books in New York first published in 1839. The book’s 449 pages talks mostly about the years leading up to the French Revolution and climaxes in the Reign of Terror perpetrated by the Jacobins.The story is about Charles Darnay, a French Aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, an English barrister. Both fall in love with the same woman, Lucie Manette. Eventually, Sydney is executed. The chapters are almost evenly divided between events in France and Events in England.II. AnalysisThe novel as per Dickens’ conception dealt heavily with themes of ressurection, guilt, hope, shame, redemption, social injustice and patriotism.The novel was a rare example of a Dickens’ novel having a historic theme because it talked about real world events that happened France and England during the years of revolution. His book teaches us about the futility of mob violence and the violence that occurs in relation to the French revolution most especially the excesses of the Jacobins. Finally, the book teaches us about the extreme social inequality that eventually led to the revolution.III. Appraisal.I liked the book because it applied Dickens’ impressive writing skills to the field of history. The normally bland topic is given amusing form and becomes something the youth can enjoy reading about. I would recommend it to other young people as an introduction to history and the social inequalities of Europe that led to the revolutions that swept the continent.   

The Gilded Age The Gilded Age - 915 Words

The Gilded Age, was a brief period in American history, from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, where there was a rapid economic growth as the industry expanded, generating groundbreaking opportunities for individuals. At its triumph peak, society was perceived from the outside that the new era of Americans was prosperous, however, conspicuous consumption and luxury masked corruption and the fact that a majority of people were suffering. Like gilded gold, the outside looks exemplary, but much like the Gilded Age, the inside contrasted dramatically. Besides the wide amount of success in this era, society was unbalanced with hierarchy, with a competition of the common people and successful business, as laborers fought for recognition and†¦show more content†¦There would be meat that had tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt and sawdust† (Sinclaire 21-2). As the twentieth century began, the younger generation was more educated and had increased access to n ews and media, and the middle class had the power to make change. Like many muckrakers like Sinclaire, they processed their research into the news and media to spark reform and call out the disastrous truth under the seemingly great era. Sinclair explains how the meat packaging process was like at the Chicago Packing House, illustrating the unsanitary conditions as well as the â€Å"tricks† workers were told to do in order to sell old meat. Consumers were being sold disease ridden product without knowing, while the business benefited. Without Sinclaire and other authors, no one would know about the corruption of the Gilded Age, but they would only see the prosperity of the business, even when it wasn’t truthful or humane. This business was one of many that was corrupted during the Gilded Era, and through Sinclairs muckraking, he exposed the company, which evidently, contributed to the Pure Food and Drug Act, setting standards for all companies, minimizing misconduct. A nother example of muckraking during the Gilded Age was also in Sinclairs, â€Å"The Jungle†, which also exposed treatment of the laborers by big businesses. Sinclaire not only illustrated the unhygienic acts of the meat packing industry but also statedShow MoreRelatedThe Gilded Age : An Analysis Of The Gilded Age793 Words   |  4 Pages The term Gilded age comes from Twain and Dudleys book named the Gilded Age. The world Gilded itself means something that is covered in gold but actually has nothing of value underneath. The gilded age was an attempt to fix a broken system after reconstruction had finished, but in reality it was just putting a blanket over the real problem. The gilded age was a good time for the higher ups, those who owned business or were in the government, they were able to benefit at the cost of American workersRead MoreThe Gilded Age1785 Words   |  8 PagesThe Unscrupulousness of the Avaricious The Gilded Age was a time in American history, from the 1870s to the 1890s, which ostensibly characterized the country based on its economic and technological advancements. However this era’s development served as a mere facade for the corruption and classism which occurred during the time. From economic manipulation to immorality in politics, the Gilded Age is best characterized by the unscrupulous nature of individuals who sought to attain superficial successRead MoreEntertainment in the Gilded Age1450 Words   |  6 Pagesentrepreneurs and business people of the time, because there was money to be made in this desire for amusement. 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During the Gilded Age, America experienced many economic and technologicalRead MoreThe Gilded Age And The Age Of Information1422 Words   |  6 PagesThe term the â€Å"Gilded Age† was coined by Mark Twain. â€Å"By this, he meant that the period was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath.† With its period of extreme economic growth, there was tremendous wealth, but only for the wealthy. The â€Å"Second Gilded Age,† which some say was brought on as the Information Age, brings a level of inequality to America that has never been seen before. Experts believe that this shift could kill the American dream. The Gilded Age and the Age of Information areRead MoreThe Progressive And Gilded Age914 Words   |  4 PagesThe Progressive and Gilded Age in America The Progressives were a group of reformers such as writers, politicians, and Social welfare advocate, etc. living mainly in cities during the early 20th century and working to change legislative issues, financial aspects, and good society. They accepted that change could originate from inside of man, and along these lines, dismisses the believe of Social Darwinism and regular determination. They were in charge of the section of many laws, including restrictionRead MoreGilded Age Essay872 Words   |  4 Pagestroubles, we shouldnt test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.† When Mark Twain and Charles Dudley coined the phrase ‘gilded age’ to describe what they saw in the late 19th century I’m sure they would agree wholeheartedly with Mr. O’Rourke. What does it mean ‘gilded age’? Gilded means to coat with a thin layer of gold, which I’m sure almost always is covering an inferior product. When one thinks of America one of the first thoughts that pop intoRead MoreAnalysis Of The Gilded Age1348 Words   |  6 PagesNew Spirits is a major text in Gilded Age historiography because Edwards encompasses social, political, and economic history, weaving them together into a cohesive narrative. Critics mention her lack of footnotes (but are quick to point out that her extensive â€Å"for further reading† sections help to balance this) and that her emphasis on cohesion may be overstated. Edward’s thesis is that the Gilded Age was not a patently bad time in American history, but that America underwent tremendous change, usheringRead MoreThe Era Of The Gilded Age1153 Words   |  5 Pagesthis time in history seemed progressive on many fronts, it was known as the â€Å"Gilded Age†. The Gilded Age was a three decade time in America that involved an expanding economy and a useless government. The thought of going to an American city, getting a job, an d getting paid was ideal to most outsiders. The problem was, once they arrived and found a job, it was not as wonderful as it seemed . It was called the Gilded Age because, from the outside, everything looked wonderful, but on the inside itRead MoreGilded Age Dbq Essay1643 Words   |  7 PagesThe Gilded Age was the time of rapid economic growth for the United States. The period where little corporations turned into a millionaire company. The time of one of the most dynamic, contentious, and volatile periods in American history happened. National wealth increased dramatically but their was a problem for the poor and the farmers of the U.S. People may say that the Gilded Age was the era of corruption, harsh labor and brutal industrial competition, but others think that the Gilded Age is