This article makes an investigation of 114 English majors＇ level of a particular communicative performance and the general ability to perform in small-group conversations in their conversation class, and thereafter e...This article makes an investigation of 114 English majors＇ level of a particular communicative performance and the general ability to perform in small-group conversations in their conversation class, and thereafter explores the reasons for their current level with the aid of questionnaire based on a rating scale, together with observation and interviews. Some countermeasures are provided to call for teachers＇ attention in their teaching practice.展开更多
All of us make conversations with others in a certain social context every day, though the mode to start them is various from different persons, occasions and circumstances. This paper is an attempt to analyze the var...All of us make conversations with others in a certain social context every day, though the mode to start them is various from different persons, occasions and circumstances. This paper is an attempt to analyze the variety of modes to open a conversation in different situations from the viewpoint of discourse analysis.展开更多
This study examines the nature of the social discourse of advertising used as a brand positioning discourse. The focus is on consumer advertising, which is directed toward the promotion of some product or service to t...This study examines the nature of the social discourse of advertising used as a brand positioning discourse. The focus is on consumer advertising, which is directed toward the promotion of some product or service to the general public. This paper aimed at analyzing some different commercial advertisements [product/non-product ads] to investigate the intentions and techniques of consumer product companies to reach more consumers and sell more products. Norman Fairclough＇s 3-D model and Kress and Van Leeuwen＇s grammar of visual design were used to analyze the data for professionals, but we are pointed on using stereotypes. When we consider gender stereotypes, we look at notions about the supposedly traditional behaviors of men and women and the characteristics and standards of these behaviors, as grounded in our culture and society. In addition, this study provides analyses of some ads, using different ways of interpretations. All materials are taken from Latvian media.展开更多
This paper presents a new approach of conducting group discussions in oral communication classes by teaching students to follow the IRE (Initiation-Reply-Evaluation) discourse pattern and speak like a teacher. This ap...This paper presents a new approach of conducting group discussions in oral communication classes by teaching students to follow the IRE (Initiation-Reply-Evaluation) discourse pattern and speak like a teacher. This approach emphasizes the use of specific conversational skills to accomplish the process of meaning negotiation in discussions and has obtained satisfactory classroom results.展开更多
This paper reports on a case study which explored Chinese L2 learners＇ conversational involvement in NS-NNS interaction in a study-abroad context. In particular, the study investigated the possible link between topic...This paper reports on a case study which explored Chinese L2 learners＇ conversational involvement in NS-NNS interaction in a study-abroad context. In particular, the study investigated the possible link between topic initiation and conversational involvement examined under the commonly identified topic genres in casual conversations, including ＂observation＂, ＂opinion seeking/providing＂, ＂story-telling＂, ＂chat＂ topics and ＂gossip＂. The findings show differences in the choices of topic initiation between the NS English group and the NNS Chinese group. Further analysis found that the participants＇ topic initiations did not necessarily lead to their active conversational involvement and suggests that the mere fact of getting involved in a topic does not always produce a sense of shared common ground between/among the conversationalists. The positive link between topic initiation and conversational involvement （such as in ＂observation＂）, and its impact upon L2 learners are also discussed in this study, confirming the social constructionist view that social roles and interpersonal relations are created and recreated at a micro-level in everyday discourse.展开更多
文摘This article makes an investigation of 114 English majors＇ level of a particular communicative performance and the general ability to perform in small-group conversations in their conversation class, and thereafter explores the reasons for their current level with the aid of questionnaire based on a rating scale, together with observation and interviews. Some countermeasures are provided to call for teachers＇ attention in their teaching practice.
文摘All of us make conversations with others in a certain social context every day, though the mode to start them is various from different persons, occasions and circumstances. This paper is an attempt to analyze the variety of modes to open a conversation in different situations from the viewpoint of discourse analysis.
文摘This study examines the nature of the social discourse of advertising used as a brand positioning discourse. The focus is on consumer advertising, which is directed toward the promotion of some product or service to the general public. This paper aimed at analyzing some different commercial advertisements [product/non-product ads] to investigate the intentions and techniques of consumer product companies to reach more consumers and sell more products. Norman Fairclough＇s 3-D model and Kress and Van Leeuwen＇s grammar of visual design were used to analyze the data for professionals, but we are pointed on using stereotypes. When we consider gender stereotypes, we look at notions about the supposedly traditional behaviors of men and women and the characteristics and standards of these behaviors, as grounded in our culture and society. In addition, this study provides analyses of some ads, using different ways of interpretations. All materials are taken from Latvian media.
文摘This paper presents a new approach of conducting group discussions in oral communication classes by teaching students to follow the IRE (Initiation-Reply-Evaluation) discourse pattern and speak like a teacher. This approach emphasizes the use of specific conversational skills to accomplish the process of meaning negotiation in discussions and has obtained satisfactory classroom results.
文摘This paper reports on a case study which explored Chinese L2 learners＇ conversational involvement in NS-NNS interaction in a study-abroad context. In particular, the study investigated the possible link between topic initiation and conversational involvement examined under the commonly identified topic genres in casual conversations, including ＂observation＂, ＂opinion seeking/providing＂, ＂story-telling＂, ＂chat＂ topics and ＂gossip＂. The findings show differences in the choices of topic initiation between the NS English group and the NNS Chinese group. Further analysis found that the participants＇ topic initiations did not necessarily lead to their active conversational involvement and suggests that the mere fact of getting involved in a topic does not always produce a sense of shared common ground between/among the conversationalists. The positive link between topic initiation and conversational involvement （such as in ＂observation＂）, and its impact upon L2 learners are also discussed in this study, confirming the social constructionist view that social roles and interpersonal relations are created and recreated at a micro-level in everyday discourse.
