Coherence relations: Towards a general specification

Brain basis of communicative actions in language

Although language is a key tool for communication in social interaction, most studies in the neuroscience of language have focused on language structures such as words and sentences. Here, the neural correlates of speech acts, that is, the actions performed by using language, were investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants were shown videos, in which the same critical utterances were used in different communicative contexts, to Name objects, or to Request them from communication partners. Understanding of critical utterances as Requests was accompanied by activation in bilateral premotor, left inferior frontal and temporo-parietal cortical areas known to support action-related and social interactive knowledge. Naming, however, activated the left angular gyrus implicated in linking information about word forms and related reference objects mentioned in critical utterances. These findings show that understanding of utterances as different communicative actions is reflected in distinct brain activation patterns, and thus suggest different neural substrates for different speech act types.

Neural dynamics of speech act comprehension: an MEG study of naming and requesting

The neurobiological basis and temporal dynamics of communicative language processing pose important yet unresolved questions. It has previously been suggested that comprehension of the communicative function of an utterance, i.e. the so-called speech act, is supported by an ensemble of neural networks, comprising lexico-semantic, action and mirror neuron as well as theory of mind circuits, all activated in concert. It has also been demonstrated that recognition of the speech act type occurs extremely rapidly. These findings however, were obtained in experiments with insufficient spatio-temporal resolution, thus possibly concealing important facets of the neural dynamics of the speech act comprehension process. Here, we used magnetoencephalography to investigate the comprehension of Naming and Request actions performed with utterances controlled for physical features, psycholinguistic properties and the probability of occurrence in variable contexts. The results show that different communicative actions are underpinned by a dynamic neural network, which differentiates between speech act types very early after the speech act onset. Within 50–90 ms, Requests engaged mirror-neuron action-comprehension systems in sensorimotor cortex, possibly for processing action knowledge and intentions. Still, within the first 200 ms of stimulus onset (100–150 ms), Naming activated brain areas involved in referential semantic retrieval. Subsequently (200–300 ms), theory of mind and mentalising circuits were activated in medial prefrontal and temporo-parietal areas, possibly indexing processing of intentions and assumptions of both communication partners. This cascade of stages of processing information about actions and intentions, referential semantics, and theory of mind may underlie dynamic and interactive speech act comprehension.

Managers and Eldercare: Three Critical, Language-Based Approaches

Une approche analytique et critique fondée sur le langage constitue un outil d'exploration de l'utilisation du langage dans la construction d'identités, de rôles et de relations servant à représenter la réalité et à défier ou appuyer l'ordre social en place. Dans ce document, nous utilisons ce type d'analyse pour examiner la question du travail et du soin des aîné(e)s. Nous relevons l'épistémologie, les mécanismes et la lucidité de trois approches fondées sur le langage: la grammaire fonctionnelle, l'analyse du discours et la déconstruction. Les textes analysés sont extraits d'interviews en profondeur d'hommes et de femmes cadres qui habitent le Sud de l'Ontario et qui fournissent des soins à des parents âgés. Les analyses ciblent la réaction des gestionnaires au terme «soins des aîné(e)s» en plus d'examiner de quelle façon les gestionnaires créent l'équilibre entre leurs engagements professionnels et leurs responsabilités de soignants. Nous nous sommes penchés sur les gestionnaires parce que leur rôle sur le plan des soins aux aîné(e)s n'a reçu que peu d'attention dans la documentation de l'organisation ou de la gérontologie. On croit pourtant qu'ils pourraient être en position d'influencer le changement institutionnel.