A cross-linguistic study of lexical iconicity and its manifestation in bird names

Abstract This dissertation is a cross-linguistic study of lexical iconicity. The study is based on a genealogically stratified sample of 237 languages. The aim is to contribute with an empirical study to the growing dialogue focusing on different forms of lexical iconicity. The conceptual framework of the present study is based on an analysis of types and means of lexical iconicity in the sample languages. Archaeological and cultural evidence are used to tie lexical iconicity to its context. Phenomena related to lexical iconicity are studied both cross-linguistically and language-specifically. The cognitive difference between imitation and symbolism is essential. Lexical iconicity is not only about the iconic relationship between form and referents, but also about how certain iconic properties may become conventional, means used to create sound symbolism. All the sample languages show some evidence of lexical iconicity, demonstrating that it is a universal feature. Nine comparisons of onomatopoeic verbs and nouns, with samples varying between six and 141 languages, show that typologically highly different languages use similar means for creating words based on sound imitation. Two cross-linguistic comparisons of bird names demonstrate that a vast majority of the Eurasian names of the common cuckoo and the world-wide names of crow and raven of the 141 genera are onomatopoeic.

Language in Acquisition : Early Lexical Development and Associations between Lexicon and Grammar Findings from Full-Term and Very-Low-Birth-Weight Finnish Children

The aim was to analyse the growth and compositional development of the receptive and expressive lexicons between the ages 0,9 and 2;0 in the full-term (FT) and the very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) children who are acquiring Finnish. The associations between the expressive lexicon and grammar at 1;6 and 2;0 in the FT children were also studied. In addition, the language skills of the VLBW children at 2;0 were analysed, as well as the predictive value of early lexicon to the later language performance. Four groups took part in the studies: the longitudinal (N = 35) and cross-sectional (N = 146) samples of the FT children, and the longitudinal (N = 32) and cross-sectional (N = 66) samples of VLBW children. The data was gathered by applying of the structured parental rating method (the Finnish version of the Communicative Development Inventory), through analysis of the children´s spontaneous speech and by administering a a formal test (Reynell Developmental Language Scales). The FT children acquired their receptive lexicons earlier, at a faster rate and with larger individual variation than their expressive lexicons. The acquisition rate of the expressive lexicon increased from slow to faster in most children (91%). Highly parallel developmental paths for lexical semantic categories were detected in the receptive and expressive lexicons of the Finnish children when they were analysed in relation to the growth of the lexicon size, as described in the literature for children acquiring other languages. The emergence of grammar was closely associated with expressive lexical growth. The VLBW children acquired their receptive lexicons at a slower rate and had weaker language skills at 2;0 than the full-term children. The compositional development of both lexicons happened at a slower rate in the VLBW children when compared to the FT controls. However, when the compositional development was analysed in relation to the growth of lexicon size, this development occurred qualitatively in a nearly parallel manner in the VLBW children as in the FT children. Early receptive and expressive lexicon sizes were significantly associated with later language skills in both groups. The effect of the background variables (gender, length of the mother s basic education, birth weight) on the language development in the FT and the VLBW children differed. The results provide new information of early language acquisition by the Finnish FT and VLBW children. The results support the view that the early acquisition of the semantic lexical categories is related to lexicon growth. The current findings also propose that the early grammatical acquisition is closely related to the growth of expressive vocabulary size. The language development of the VLBW children should be followed in clinical work.

Kannada WordNet - a lexical database

This paper presents the preliminary analysis of Kannada WordNet and the set of relevant computational tools. Although the design has been inspired by the famous English WordNet, and to certain extent, by the Hindi WordNet, the unique features of Kannada WordNet are graded antonyms and meronymy relationships, nominal as well as verbal compoundings, complex verb constructions and efficient underlying database design (designed to handle storage and display of Kannada unicode characters). Kannada WordNet would not only add to the sparse collection of machine-readable Kannada dictionaries, but also will give new insights into the Kannada vocabulary. It provides sufficient interface for applications involved in Kannada machine translation, spell checker and semantic analyser.

Parlamento aberto : transparência e controle social para um Congresso mais colaborativo

Traz os debates ocorridos durante a 1ª Reunião de Audiência Pública, realizada em abril de 2012, na Câmara dos Deputados, que discutiu o tema "Parlamento Aberto: Transparência e Controle Social para um Congresso mais Colaborativo".

Retroalimentação do controle interno para os órgãos centrais do sistema de planejamento e orçamento federal em questões estruturantes

Analisa o fluxo do processo de retroalimentação da CGU para órgãos centrais do Sistema de Planejamento e Orçamento Federal, bem como as possibilidades de retroalimentação da CGU a esses órgãos. Propõe a previsão na legislação de um Comitê Operacional e de um Comitê Estratégico do Ciclo de Gestão.

Legislação sobre o controle de poluição causada por motocicletas

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XI - Meio Ambiente e Direito Ambiental, Organização Territorial, Desenvolvimento Urbano e Regional.

Democratização e controle externo do Poder Judiciário

Consultoria Legislativa - Área I - Direito Constitucional, Eleitoral, Municipal, Administrativo Processo Legislativo e Poder Judiciário.

Inconstitucionalidade do controle do cumprimento das promessas de campanha eleitoral

Consultoria Legislativa - Área I - Direito Constitucional, Eleitoral, Municipal, Direito Administrativo, Processo Legislativo e Poder Judiciário.

Aplicabilidade da teoria do desvio de poder no controle da constitucionalidade de atos legislativos : contornos, limites e superação pela teoria dos princípios

Consultoria Legislativa - Área VIII - Área de Direito Administrativo e de Administração Pública.

Representação, participação política e controle social : instituições, atores e história

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XIX - Ciência Política, Sociologia Política História, Relações Internacionais.

Controle externo da atividade policial

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XVII - Segurança e Defesa Nacional.

Controle legislativo de constitucionalidade de proposições : recurso contra pareceres da Comissão de Constituição e Justiça e de Redação da Câmara dos Deputados

Aborda o controle de constitucionalidade no processo legislativo, realizado pela Comissão de Constituição e Justiça e de Redação da Câmara dos Deputados. Analisa os seguintes pontos: formas de controle de constitucionalidade no Brasil e no direito comparado; a natureza dos pareceres da CCJR; a necessidade do direito a recurso contra os chamados pareceres terminativos. Propõe mudança no Regimento Interno da Câmara dos Deputados, sugerindo texto de projeto de resolução.

Panorama do controle externo na Câmara dos Deputados : uma visão prática

Analisa os instrumentos práticos de Controle Externo disponíveis à Câmara dos Deputados, tanto no Regimento Interno quanto em legislação esparsa. Discute em que medida a instituição utiliza com eficiência esses instrumentos com vistas a cumprir sua função constitucional de fiscalizadora dos atos do Poder Executivo.

Proposta de fiscalização e controle : um instrumento de controle do Legislativo sobre o Executivo

Discute em que medida as Propostas de Fiscalização e Controle (PFCs) cumprem o seu papel como instrumento de controle do Poder Legislativo sobre o Poder Executivo. Analisa os procedimentos adotados pelas comissões deliberativas da Câmara dos Deputados no tocante ao recebimento e tratamento dispensados a essas propostas, especialmente na Comissão de Fiscalização Financeira e Controle (CFFC). Aborda os seguintes tópicos : papel da CFFC; a colaboração entre o Congresso Nacional e o Tribunal de Contas da União; resultados das PFCs apresentadas nos anos de 1995 a 2006; estudo de sugestões para reformulação de procedimentos referentes às PFCs.