Vol. 12 No. 1 (15) (2016)

Verbal communication is an extremely many-faceted and complex phenomenon, and should be seen as a process which, besides sending and receiving messages about the object world, can also be focused on the use of the code through which the verbal interaction is taking place. Such spheres as teaching, translation, scientific discourse, court procedures, psychological treatment, to say nothing of verbal art, are obviously metalinguistically-oriented. However, in everyday interaction as well the discussion of metalinguistic issues by the interlocutors is almost as common as a talk about extralinguistic reality. The aim of the present study is to examine the interrelation of metalinguistic and pragmatic characteristics of utterances in everyday speech. We will try to show that only if a certain utterance of metalinguistic nature is perceived as such by the speaker and hearer, can communication be pragmatically successful. Conversely, provided that the interlocutors take into account certain pragmatic factors, the utterance can be actualized and realized as a metalinguistic one, the result being the interlocutors’ mutual understanding.

The present paper is a literary stylistic analysis that highlights the imagery, the allegorical significance, linguistic manipulation or abuse of language in the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. Orwell’s sophisticated exposure of political abuse of language is one of the most typical characteristics of Animal Farm and an indispensable part of his imagery. Seemingly a plain story of animals, inwardly this novel is an allegory that refers to power struggle, usurpation, intimidation, exploitation, hypocrisy, corruption, political racket and terror of the ruling classes in whatever form they may appear (human or animal). However serious the theme is, Orwell has made it fictitious and amusing through his vivid imagery and artful use of literary devices. With its clear, deceptively simple, but creatively honed prose style and expressive language, the novel is a source of great aesthetic and intellectual pleasure and political insight.

Nowadays metaphor is not considered to be a solely literary expressive means. The human mind is both rational and emotional. In terms we both think and act, it is fundamentally metaphorical in nature. Today this idea has gained so wide an acknowledgement that it can be the basis of the contemporary approach to metaphor study. The aim of this article is to analyze the role of terminological metaphor in one specialized field of language, in the process of technical term-formation. The focus is on the field of computing and the respective conclusion that metaphorical transfer is a key process in the formation of technical terms in electronics and information teclmologies.

Persuasion is present in all human activities; people persuade each other while learning, working and socializing. Scholars representing different disciplines like communication, psychology and advertising came to a unanimous conclusion that persuasion is the intended human communication which is used to impact the autonomous judgements and actions of other people. The present article focuses on verbal language in persuasion found in a number of sources like the campaign on human rights by Council of Europe, journalistic article in Health Communication and in Federal Express TV commercial.

The present paper aims at elucidating the ethnocultural relevance of sports terms and expressions which tend to penetrate into everyday English speech as well as political discourse. Obvious is the fact that the character and essence of cross-cultural interrelations depends, to a great extent on the participants’ ability to understand each other in order to reach an agreement. It is also well known that mutual understanding is in most cases defined by the ethnic culture of each side and the psychology of the ethnic group. Members of common culture not only share the same information but also the methods of coding, storing and retrieving the information. Rituals, traditions, customs are very closely connected with language and form part and parcel of the linguacultural “realia”. In the present article sports terms and expressions are viewed as realia and social behaviour patterns as each nation has its unique way of understanding and perceiving a game in its own way, thus attaching some symbolic significance to it understandable within the scope of the linguocultural traditions of the country it has originated in.
Our observations show that the wide use of sports terms and expressions in non-sporting situations, particularly in political discourse and everyday speech is to a certain extent conditioned by their sociocultural origin and the new connotational meanings acquired in the course of the language development.

Methodological studies, as well as teaching practice attest to the central role of reflective thinking in class. As a fundamental skill, which once learned is applicable to any domain of knowledge, reflection is the prerequisite of critical thinking – a goal university education pursues too. The paper stresses the importance of practical assignments as part of the course of Text Linguistics and presents an experimental model involving verbalization of graphical texts and meta-cognitive awareness through guiding questions. With a focus on both individual and shared experience, the role of emotional response is viewed as a motivating factor.

At present, when interaction between civilizations turns to be more and more intensive, integration into world life and universal culture becomes essential for the modern competent citizen. As educators we need to make fundamental changes in the educational system which will enhance the students’ mutual understanding and social integration, develop their intercultural competence and tolerance towards other nations, as well as encourage lifelong learning and freedom of movement. For students to be competitive in the local and international labour market, it is necessary to revise various educational issues, such as aims and objectives of teaching, modernisation and improvement of textbooks and curricula making them less theoretical and more practical.
The paper attempts to reveal current crucial problems in the sphere of education and suggests some differentiated approaches to learning.

Listening is the first receptive skill that we develop as human beings, and it helps us improve other skills and gain confidence as language learners. In the English language classroom, learners find listening tasks particularly frustrating and challenging for a range of reasons. The present research addresses ways of developing learners’ top-down processing skills, such as making predictions about the target text, guessing the context and using contextual clues to infer meaning.

This paper considers some features of logical thinking in persuasive essay writing. A solid essay is logically organized and well-developed; it advances consistent arguments supported by strong evidence. At the same time, it demonstrates cogency of reasoning, completeness and unity of thought. All this suggests that the ideas in each paragraph and the overall essay relate to one another, are arranged in a logical sequence and lead to a valid conclusion. Based on scientific approach to logical reasoning, the paper outlines various reasoning techniques that can be employed to produce a forceful essay.

This study investigates the influence of higher education on the integration of Muslim students from migrant background into French, German and Armenian societies. In 1999 many European states signed the Bologna Declaration (also Bologna Process), the goal of which was unification of European higher Education under one umbrella. In line with many aims stated in Bologna Declaration, one of the eye-catching characteristics was the policy’s flexibility, which would allow students enrolled in higher education institutions all over Europe to voice and promote their social, educational, cultural needs and take part in decision-making processes.
To be able to understand whether the Bologna Process plays a role of integrator for Muslim immigrant students as well, the research attempts to reveal how Muslim immigrant students perceive and describe their experiences with European higher education; how they describe their integration into European institutional environment and consequently into European society. For this purpose case study approach has been applied. Individual interviews with student-participants have been conducted.

One of the main reasons why writing is a difficult language skill according to Roger and Robinson is that “the connection between the mind and the verbal system, by which mental processes are made apparent (visible or audible) to oneself and to others, is difficult to capture” (Roger and Robinson 1990:88). However, one can overcome writing difficulties by following certain rules. This paper intends to introduce rules for better writing.

Critics have always been interested in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s literary oeuvre but that interest has varied over different periods of time. Nevertheless, we can claim that his books have always enjoyed a rousing reception. This paper discusses Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous romance The House of the Seven Gables and its reception from the time of its publication, 1851, to the present day. We will focus our attention on the essential features of the book that were commented on and reviewed by the most influential critics who dealt with Hawthorne’s text.

E.T. Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia, found “a perfect solution” to the Armenian question: the perfect race of Armenians need a perfect massacre. In Lawrence’s interview given to Lincoln Steffens (1919), entitled Armenians Are Impossible his intent suddenly becomes explicit at the end of their talk: Armenians are the last word in human impossibility, hence, they should be killed off.
To show what makes Lawrence arrive at such an inhuman idea of annihilating a whole nation, we intend to present the discussion with the help of a certain methodology. Methods of linguo-cultural analysis and purposive sampling, techniques of comparison and contrast, interpretation and representation have been applied to the material of our choice.