Análisis del discurso

This approach extends beyond traditional textual analysis to consider various modes of communication, such as visual elements, gestures, and spatial arrangements, alongside language. ..............................recognizes that meaning is constructed through a combination of different semiotic resources, not just written or spoken language. Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA). Positive Discourse Analysis (PDA). Critical Discourse Analysis.

Odd one out. In MDA language is not considered the only mediational means. In MDA anguage, as well as non-verbal communication and physical objects used by an agent in carrying out an action, are considered to be mediational means. According to MDA language is the only mediational means. MDA is an interdisciplinary approach to DA.

Mediational Means in Mediated Discourse Analysis. Mediational means refer to the tools, artifacts, and resources that mediate or facilitate human interaction and communication. These include: Language: Spoken and written text. Visual Artifacts: Images, symbols, charts, and diagrams. Technological Tools: Computers, smartphones, software applications. Cultural Artefacts: Books, educational materials, institutional documents. Social Practices: Norms and routines that shape how mediational means are used. In essence, mediational means are the various resources that people use to accomplish social activities, convey meaning, and interact with others. MDA focus on discourse and human action in social change. Ron Scollon coined the term MDA. All.

Example of Scollon's MDA analysis Scollon examines the practice of tourists taking photographs at a popular scenic spot. This activity involves a variety of mediational means, such as cameras, the scenic environment, and the social interactions between tourists and their surroundings. Technological Tools: The primary mediational means used to capture images. Physical Setting: Landmarks, natural beauty, and architectural features that serve as the subject of the photographs. Tourist Behavior: How tourists position themselves, pose, and interact with each other while taking photographs. Guides and Locals: People who might assist in taking photographs or provide information about the best photo spots. Etiquette and Rules: Social norms and regulations governing behavior at the tourist site (e.g., no flash photography, staying within designated areas). The interaction between technological tools (cameras) and social practices (posing, guiding) is examined to understand how tourists create meaningful photographs. For example, how a tourist might ask another person to take their picture, involving communication and social interaction mediated by the camera. All. This example of taking a photograph in a tourist setting demonstrates how Mediated Discourse Analysis (MDA) can be applied to everyday practices. By examining the interplay of various mediational means, such as cameras, the physical environment, and social interactions, Scollon provides insights into how discourse is mediated in tourism activities. This approach reveals the complexity of mediated interactions and highlights the cultural and social dimensions of seemingly mundane practices, showing how they contribute to the construction of meaning and experience in social life.

Central concepts in MDA-Scolon. -----Mediated action -----refers to any human action that is carried out using some form of mediational means, such as language, tools, technologies, or other artifacts. It highlights the interplay between the actor (the person performing the action) and the mediational means (the tools and artifacts used). It provides a comprehensive lens for analyzing how human actions are facilitated and constrained by various tools and artifacts. A patient visits a doctor for a routine check-up. This example of a doctor’s visit at a medical clinic demonstrates Ron Scollon's concept of mediated action by illustrating how social actions are mediated by various tools and artifacts. By focusing on the interplay between the actor (doctor and patient), mediational means (language, medical instruments, technology), and social practices (medical protocols), Mediated Discourse Analysis provides insights into the complexities of everyday professional interactions. An underground station where thousands of people come and go every day-The person in the moment of taking action, what they perform. ---Site of engagement: the social space where mediated action occurs. The interpretation of a mediated action is located within the social practices which are related in that unique place and moment. It refers to the specific social and physical context where mediated actions take place.A site of engagement is a specific location or setting where social actions and interactions occur, mediated by tools, artefacts, and semiotic resources. Site of Engagement in a Coffee Shop Site of Engagement in a Coffee Shop Layout: The arrangement of tables, chairs, counters, and the placement of the coffee machines and cash register. Objects: Menus, coffee cups, laptops, smartphones, newspapers, and signage. Visuals: Posters advertising new drinks, a chalkboard with the daily specials, and decor that sets the ambiance. Social Context Roles: Customers, baristas, and managers. Norms: Expected behaviors such as waiting in line, placing orders, tipping, and using the space for work or socialization. Interactions: Conversations between customers and baristas, social interactions among customers, and individual activities like reading or working on laptops. ----Mediational means: the material means (e.g. the body, dress and movements of the material actors) through which mediated action is carried out, which are in dialectical interaction with structures of the habitus. Mediational means are multiple in a single action, and they are inherently polyvocal (multiple voices), intertextual and interdiscursive. They inevitably carry histories and social structures with them.mediational means" refer to the tools, artifacts, and semiotic resources that mediate human actions. These means are central to understanding how people interact with the world and each other within specific contexts. -----Practice: MDA takes as a premise that mediated action is only interpretatable within practices. Thus, having lunch at a restaurant, for instance, is interpreted as a different action from having lunch at home, the difference lying both in the practice (for example, who prepares the coffee) and in the mediational means (the decoration of the room, the type of kitchen, etc.). It refers to the regular, habitual actions and interactions that individuals engage in within specific contexts. These practices are shaped by the mediational means available, the social and cultural norms of the setting, and the historical context. Regular, routine actions that individuals perform as part of their daily activities. A community health clinic provides primary care services to patients. The clinic involves various practices related to patient care, administrative tasks, and team collaboration, Habitual Actions: Patients check in at the front desk, fill out medical forms, and provide their insurance information,Habitual Actions: The doctor reviews the patient’s medical history, conducts an examination, discusses symptoms, and prescribes treatment. By focusing on the habitual actions, mediational means, and social interactions involved in patient care and clinic operations, MDA provides insights into how people engage in and shape social actions. Nexus practice. Language and action are intimately related.The different types of practices (discursive and non-discursive) are interrelated and linked to form nexus of practice. So, for instance, an Italian restaurant nexus of practice would include different things such as ordering practices (e.g. we have to be able to distinguish between different types of pizza and pasta), eating practices (e.g. alone or with friends), discursive practices (e.g. being able to pronounce and understand some Italian terms), physical spacing practices (e.g. there is a place for the customers and a place for the restaurant staff), and so on. The concept of the nexus of practice in MDA provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the complex interplay of social actions, mediational means, and social practices within a specific context. By examining how these elements are interconnected and influenced by broader contextual factors, MDA offers a nuanced understanding of how people engage in and shape social actions and interactions. An elementary school classroom where students, teachers, and educational materials interact to facilitate learning. Teacher's Actions: Preparing lessons, delivering instructions, managing classroom behavior, assessing student progress. Students' Actions: Participating in lessons, completing assignments, interacting with peers, following instructions. Parents' Actions: Supporting homework, communicating with the teacher, reinforcing learning at home. Textbooks, whiteboards, computers, worksheets, educational posters.Quizzes, tests, homework assignments, feedback sessions.By focusing on the interrelated social actions, mediational means, and contextual factors, we gain a clear understanding of how teaching, learning, and assessment practices are interconnected. All.

Central concepts in MDA-Odd one out. Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

Language, gestures, digital devices, and educational materials like textbooks. Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

A classroom during a lesson, a kitchen while cooking, or a courtroom during a trial. Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

In a hospital, .................... includes medical procedures, patient care, administrative tasks, and communication between healthcare professionals. Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

Writing a letter using a pen and paper is a ....The person or persons in the moment of taking an action. Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

Language, gestures, digital devices, educational materials like textbooks a pen and paper serve as .... Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

Teaching, cooking, driving, or shopping. Regular, routinised actions that are part of larger social activities. Mediated Action. Mediational Means (Cultural Tools). Sites of Engagement. Nexus of Practice. Practice. Ideology.

Odd one out. The single most important principle in MDA theory is the principle of social action, for discourse is not conceived as a system of representation, thought or values, but as a matter of social actions. All social action is based on tacit, normally unconscious actions which form the different practices. An individual’s accumulated experience of social actions is what we call the habitus (Bourdieu) or the historical-body (Nishida) An individual’s accumulated experience of social actions is what we call the habitus or the historical-body. Habitus represents the internalization of historical and social conditions. It is formed through the individual's early experiences, primarily within the family, and later through education and social interactions.A person's taste in art, music, or food often reflects their habitus. For instance, someone raised in an environment where classical music is valued may develop a taste for and appreciation of classical music, while someone from a different background might prefer popular or folk music. Kitaro Nishida's concept of the historical body is a profound exploration of how individual and collective histories are embodied in human existence. It highlights the dynamic, interconnected nature of self and world, emphasizing that our experiences, knowledge, and identities are deeply rooted in our embodied histories. Simple daily activities, such as cooking or walking, are shaped by the historical body. The techniques and preferences in these actions reflect an individual's history of learning and cultural influence. According to MDA language is the only mediational means.

Mediated Discourse Analysis (MDA), developed by Ron Scollon, focuses on how human actions are mediated by cultural tools and artifacts within specific social practices. It involves analyzing how various forms of mediation (both material and symbolic) shape and are shaped by social interactions and contexts. Methods used in MDA: Ethnography of communication surveys of key situations and participants: These surveys differ from the original surveys in the Ethnography of communication in that they are more concerned with problems of social change and thus focus on social issues. The aim of mediated discourse analysts is to enter into the lifeworlds of the group in order to learn which mediated actions in which sites of engagement are crucial in producing social identities and social changes for that group.This method allows for the collection of detailed, contextual data about how mediated actions and practices occur in their natural environment. Issue-based surveys of public discourse: These provide an independent analysis of the significance of topics, mediational means, and mediated actions to cross-check against the ethnography of communication surveys. An issue-based survey in MDA looks at how people talk about and understand a specific topic or issue in public discussions. It’s like studying how a particular subject is talked about in different places and media. Public opinion and focus group surveys of issues and situations--- These provide information about the means of determining the social-political issues that are central across the public at large. All.

According to Scollon, each type of data obtained in MDA research can be seen from different perspectives. Members’ generalisations --- Statements about a group that is true for most of the group's members. Individual experience: Members of a social group typically make sweeping generalizations about their group but, if given the chance, they make a disclaimer about these generalizations by stating that they do not do everything their group does because they are different. MDA understands that, even in rather homologous groups, the habitus of individuals may vary widely, and thus it is important to study the range delimited by both individual and group actions. ---All elderly people are bad with technology. This sweeping statement overlooks the many older individuals who are tech-savvy and actively use modern technology. ---"Women are not good at math." This generalization is based on outdated stereotypes and ignores the many women who excel in mathematics and related fields. Neutral’/‘objective’ data: MDA is generally skeptical of objectivized data which eliminates the particularistic characteristics of individual actions. However, introducing a third point of view –that of a distant observer- provides important information for the analysis. For this reason, MDA includes an examination of the position of the analyst and takes recording devices such as cameras, tape recorders and the like as examples of mediational means which can help to complete the information provided by the other two types of group-internal data (members generalizations and individual experience). Playback responses: A method used in interactional sociolinguistics and other fields by means of which close attention is paid to the linguistic details of social interactions. It can also be used to check transcriptions for accuracy. Playback provides the original participants in a scene with an ‘objective’ record of their actions, as well as with the analysis developed by an external observer. To examine how past discourses or media are referenced or engaged with in current discussions. All.

Scollon, all discourse is mediated and all mediations are discursive. Odd one out. Every piece of communication or "discourse" is shaped by various influences and tools, and it's never entirely "pure" or direct. The difference between MDA approach and any other approach to discourse lies in the focus of attention, which for MDA is placed on “the actions of social actors in using the texts of communication. Every way in which communication is influenced or shaped (mediation) is also a form of discourse. This means that the tools and processes that shape communication are themselves part of communication. Communication is always influenced by various factors and that these influences are themselves forms of communication. MDA includes multiple methods, from ethnographic participantobservation, interviews and questionnaire surveys, to focus groups or the collection of texts and images. The main aim is the identification and analysis of key mediated actions. MDA is distinct from traditional discourse analysis, which may focus more on the structure and function of language within texts or conversations, often without as much emphasis on the mediating tools and contexts.

Odd one out. MDA is an interdisciplinary approach to discourse. The origen of MDA can be found in the abstract Saussurian system of representation. The origen of MDA can be found in the Boasian system of representation.

The integration of many disciplines, however, brings about crucial problems which, according to Scollon are the following: ---Representation and action: There is a tension between the study of abstract systems of representation and the study of social actors living in real time. MDA uses concepts and theoretical assumptions from neo-Vigotskian sociocultural psychology (such as mediated action or activity theory) in order to solve this issue. Thus, mediated discourse analysts consider that the habitus of social actors carries with it the life history of the person. Embedded in the mediational means are the histories and the social structures of the world in which they were created. ------Neo-Vygotskian theory emphasizes that cognitive processes are mediated by cultural tools and symbols. These tools include language, signs, and other symbolic systems that help individuals make sense of their experiences. ----Linguistic relativity: There is a tension between the Saussurian assertion about the total arbitrariness of the symbol and the Boasian assertion that symbolic systems embed the histories of mental categorizations of their users. Here MDA turns to the Ethnography of Communication for help, by placing all studies of practice within a broader study of the place of the practice in the whole ecology of the social actor or the social group. ---Units of analysis: Mediated action (i.e. the social actor acting in real time using some mediational means) is taken as the unit of analysis. But using this unit brings about certain problems, such as the question of whether language is a unique mediational means or whether there are other innate cognitive structures underlying other semiotic systems. And there is also the issue around the obvious fact that “all or some mediational means are actually used in very partial representations as social actors take action”. -----Methodology: the nature of MDA calls for methods which are most commonly found in Interactional Sociolinguistics (such as tape-recording, transcription and playback). However, this methodology focuses more on linguistic data than on the mediated action and the social actors, which, according to mediated discourse analysts, may lead to errors of interpretation or analysis. The solution to this problem is then found in ethnographic studies and hence the mediated actions are positioned within a larger sphere of social activity.--The study of people in their own environment (children playing, medical personnel at work, high class room observation) etc. ----The psychology of the social actor: Mediated discourse analysts believe that much of what we do as social actors has no connection to our capacity to articulate our intentions or goals in acting. Thus the analyst faces the problem of not having a well-grounded analytical basis for attributing a given action to a particular social actor. As Scollon notes, the question for MDA to resolve at this point is to what extent it is necessary to enter into the psychology of the social actor to produce a mediated discourse analysis.-- Social actors are individuals or groups participating in communication. Their psychological states, including beliefs, emotions, and identities, play a crucial role in shaping how they engage with and produce discourse.Example: Analyzing how a politician’s personal beliefs about a policy influence their speeches and public statements. All.

Example - having a cup of coffee with friends. Scollon’s (2001) analysis of the social action of having a cup of coffee with friends. This author does not see this situation as the simple action of drinking a coffee, but as a very complex and nested set of actions (lining up, ordering, paying, looking for a table, etc.). Likewise, the discourse of the conversation among friends is not the only discourse in the action; there are others implied, such as the discourse of service encounters, or that of the international marketing of coffee (he places his actors at a Starbucks® café).Scollon points out that “the cup itself (with its protective sleeve) is an impressive semiotic complex” where at least seven different discourses can be found: 1) The discourse of commercial branding (a recognizable logo appears twice on the cup and once on the sleeve). 2) Legal discourse (the logo is marked as a registered property ® and the sleeve has a copyright © mark). 3) E-commerce discourse (the website of the company is indicated). 4) Consumer correctness discourse (a text indicates that the company cares for those who grow its coffee and gives a telephone number where consumers can call and make a donation to them). 5) Environmental correctness discourse (there is a statement about the sleeve being made of 60% recycled fiber). 6) Service information discourse (there is a printed list of possibilities, such as Decaf, Shots, Milk, etc., and a handwritten ‘L’ (for latte)). 7) Manufacturing information discourse (there is also information about the cup itself, such as the size or product labelling and number). All. Scollon remarks that, in this particular case, MDA should try to work out a way to understand the relationships among the actions and the different discourses involved in drinking a cup of coffee----The discourse tries to link commercial branding to the act of drinking coffe.

Examine the following photograph. From the Mediated Discourse Analysis approach, a) analyze the type(s) of discourse found in it. b) analyze the visual and the place semiotics of the symbols. c) identify and explain the icons, indexes and symbols, and indicate if there are cases of co-occurrence of two or three types of signs. a) types of discourse: written discourse in this case. There is no oral discourse. • Discourse of Health by manufacturer: the cigarette manufacturer says that their cigarettes are healthy • Discourse of Health by the Surgeon General of the US Government, warning that smoking damages your health. • Discourse of reason, facts and data: smokers who are analytical, should only smoke Fact cigarettes. MORE than discourse of reason, this is an example of the discourse of persuasion, by an appeal to reason • Discourse of legal issues (regarding the patent). b) visual and place semiotics • Visual: o clear type of font/letter. Formal and serious appearance. o Large print with the most important message. • Place: this ad could be placed in many different locations (a magazine, a newspaper, a billboard, etc.). c) signs: • Icons: o maybe the shape of a cigarette box??? It includes the name of the brand (Fact), but otherwise, it is easily recognizable as any other cigarette box. o The cigarettes that come out of the box. o Would the bottom right part be considered a combination of an icon plus symbols??? (“theCHIVE.com”). This sign could be easily recognizable for people who are aware of this website • Indexes: I cannot identify any. O.K. • Symbols: written words and numbers O.K. All.

Examine the following photograph. From the Mediated Discourse Analysis approach, a) analyze the type(s) of discourse found in it. b) analyze the visual and the place semiotics of the symbols. c) identify and explain the icons, indexes and symbols, and indicate if there are cases of co-occurrence of two or three types of signs. The ad about encouraging women to gain some weight so as to look better in a bikini swimsuit (yeast -levadura de cerveza). a) types of discourse: written discourse in this case. There is no oral discourse. There are also images, so there's visual discourse as well.ED • Discourse of visual culture (implying that being skinny is not visually attractive, and that gaining weight and thus having natural sex-appealing curves will make you feel better) • Discourse of health (implying that being skinny is not healthy) • Discourse of persuasion (to make you buy the product to get fatter). b) visual and place semiotics • Visual: o very simple font/letters. Mostly in capital letters, so that it is very easily understandable. o The women on the left (with less sex-appeal, according to the ad) is not smiling, while the woman on the right (with more sex-appeal, according to the ad) is smiling. • Place: this ad could be placds in many different locations (a magazine, a newspaper, a billboard, etc.). c) signs: • Icons: the shape of the bikini swimsuit could be considered an icon (we find it in whatsapp, for example…). • Indexes: I cannot identify any. We can say here that a skinny body in a woman is an index of lack of sex-appeal, while the curvy one is an index of sex-appeal and health • Symbols: written words and numbers. All.

ANALYSIS: EXAMINE this photograph showing a fragment of a wall in a London Underground station. From the MDA approach to DA, a) ANALYZE the type(s) of discourse found in it. b) ANALYZE the visual and place semiotics of the symbols. c) IDENTIFY and explain the icons, indexes and symbols, and INDICATE if there are cases of co- occurrence of two or three types of signs. As we have seen, within MDA language is not considered the only mediational means. Non-verbal communication and physical objects are taken as mediational means as well. In this particular picture, we see two signs which operate as mediational means within a specific site of engagement: an underground station where thousands of people come and go every day (mediated action) and, in their rush, they need to be informed and oriented as to the stations the tube takes them to, as well as the directions they have to follow in order to get to their final places of destination, once in the station. The two signs on this wall of the Baker Street station in London are indexical of the site of engagement, the part of the material world where the action is taking place. Even when these signs are not part of the possible conversations the people in the station might be holding, they are part of the total discursive situation and they help the analyst by giving the necessary background information in order to understand it. The first sign (to the left) is an icon which is indexical of the most important attraction for tourists on Baker Street: the SherIock Holmes Museum, at 221 b Baker Street, where, according to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous fictional characters of Detective Sherlock Holmes and Or. John Watson lived in Victorian times. On the second sign (to the right) we find a combination of icon and symbols, for the typical icon used in London for the underground stations has the name (in written language symbols) corresponding to this particular station on the horizontal bar that cuts the circle of the icon in two semicircles. As regards the type(s) of discourse, it can be said that in this picture we mainly find the graphic discourse of directions in public places (which in this case informs the people as to where they are and what they will find once they get out of the station), but we should also remark that there is a kind of cultural/intellectual graphic discourse, manifested on the icon in the shape of SherIock Holmes' head, which cannot be understood or interpreted by people from foreign cultures who are not acquainted with the literary works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All.

ANALYSIS: ANALYZE the type(s) of discourse found in the different signs on this road in France. IDENTIFY the icons, indexes and symbols, and indicate if there are cases of co-occurrence of two or three types of signs. All the signs in the picture show the discourse of public transport regulation, which in turn also includes the discourse of the municipal authority of this particular place in France. The meaning of these signs depends upon different forms of indexicality which locate language and discourse in the physical world. We find the three different types of signs:. Icons- the plane which signals the way to the airport, the drawing of a port, which accompanies the words "Le port Monaco"· Indexes-all the arrows in the different signs · Symbols-all the words and numbers. All.

ANALYSIS: IDENTIFY the different discourses found on this inscription in a street of London. ANALYZE the visual and place semiotics of the symbols. We find the following types of discourse on the inscription: · Historical information discourse (designer, time and circumstances in which it was built). · Architectural discourse (there is also information about how it was constructed and about its structure). · Discourse related to general information about The Monument given to visitors (opening and closing hours, admission fees). · Discourse of street directions (directions are given as to how to get to St. Magnus the Martyr). Visual semiotics: the inscription is placed on The Monument, and therefore the reader understands that the information given refers to it. The fact that this inscription is in this particular place of London (The City) also adds extra information to the whole image, which would be understood differently if it were in a different location. The inscription has a sober type of letter -no colors and no icons-, which gives it a 'formal' and serious appearance, in accordance to the seriousness of the monument and the respect expected to be felt for it and for its history. Place semiotics: The inscription is placed at the base of The Monument, and the rest of the monument speaks for itself, without the need for any other symbols or signs. The architectural style of The Monument is in fact a sign which provides a lot of meaning. together with the place where it is located (The City of London, where the Great Fire occurred in 1666. The Monument was built to commemorate this fire). Also, the inscription is placed at a height which is accessible to the human eye, this fact being a sign that there is an intention and expectation of interaction with all visitors and passersby. All.

.................. analysis seeks to understand how the interplay between physical space and signs shapes our understanding and experiences within that space. The study of sign/discourses in place to understand meaning-marking in the physical world. It's an interdisciplinary field that combines geography and semiotics to study how signs and meanings are constructed and understood in spatial contexts. It focuses on the relationship between space, place, and the signs or symbols that are used to represent and communicate meanings within those spaces. This can include the analysis of signage, symbols, and other forms of communication in varying environments, exploring how cultural, social, and spatial factors influence the interpretation of signs. It merges the study of signs with spatial analysis to understand how meanings are constructed and interpreted in specific locations. Examples: -Signs with clear icons of museums and landmarks direct tourists along pedestrian-friendly routes, influencing their movement through the district. -Road signs are practical examples of ............................in action. The design, placement, and type of road signs (such as stop signs, speed limit signs, or directional signs) communicate important information to drivers and pedestrians. For instance, a stop sign at an intersection communicates the need to halt, while its geographic placement (e.g., near a school) may highlight the importance of safety in that particular area, which carries implications for traffic behavior and law enforcement. Geosemiotic. Indexicality. Symbols. Icons.

The capacity of language to point to something without directly referring to it. It is about how some words or signs point to specific things in our context. They don’t have fixed meanings on their own but change depending on the situation. Example--The word "here" points to the place where you are right now. It changes depending on where the speaker is. Indexicality. Geosemiotics. Mediational means.

Odd one out. The primary interest of MDA is not so much the indexicality in language as the indexable world, i.e. the ways in which the sign system of language indexes the other semiotic systems in the world around language. The key to the analysis of any human action is indexicality, i.e., the meaning of signs based on their material location. We signal our meanings by means of icons, indexes and visual semiotics. These three types of signs may co-occur.

We signal our meanings by means of....Odd one out. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object). Social actor: A person who moves and acts in the physical world, and who ‘gives off’ different signals (such as race, sex, age, etc.).

There is no connection between signifier and signified, the connection is culturally learned ie, numbers, alphabet, flags, trafic lights etc. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object). Social actor: A person who moves and acts in the physical world, and who ‘gives off’ different signals (such as race, sex, age, etc.).

They show evidence of what is being represented: -smoke = fire -Dark clouds= rain -Footprints= Man's presence. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object). Social actor: A person who moves and acts in the physical world, and who ‘gives off’ different signals (such as race, sex, age, etc.).

The women’s restroom picture together with an arrow indicating the direction to be followed in order to find the restroom) Odd one out. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

Symbols, icons, and indexes are three different types of signs used in semiotics to convey meaning. - The letters "C-A-T" stand for the animal we call a cat. There is no inherent connection between the letters and the animal; it’s a convention we’ve agreed upon. - Traffic lights - The colors red, yellow, and green symbolize different actions (stop, caution, go) based on established traffic rules. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

Symbols, icons, and indexes are three different types of signs used in semiotics to convey meaning. They resemble or imitate the thing they represent. Their meaning comes from their similarity or resemblance to the actual object or concept. Meaning is based on similarity of appearance. --A picture of a cat - A drawing or photo of a cat directly represents an actual cat by resembling its appearance. -- Icons on a smartphone - The picture of a camera on your phone’s screen represents the camera function because it looks like a camera. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

Symbols, icons, and indexes are three different types of signs used in semiotics to convey meaning. Have a direct, often physical, connection to what they represent. They point to or indicate something about their context or situation. There's a cause-effect relationship -Smoke is an .............. of fire. It indicates that there is a fire even though it doesn’t look like one. -Footprints in the sand are an ............... of someone having walked there. They directly show the presence and movement of a person. -A thermometer shows the temperature. -Parched, cracked earth in a field.Cracked earth indicates a lack of moisture, often a sign of drought or very dry conditions. Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

The three types of signs. a) may not be used together. b) may co-occur. c) are not present in the language system.

Photographs, Emojis and Maps are..... Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

Traffic signs, national flags and language are...... Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

Smoke, footprints, temperature, a car’s fuel gauge showing empty are...... Icons (signs that resemble the objects being signalled). Indexes (signs which point to or are attached to the object). Symbols (signs which are arbitrarily or conventionally associated with the object).

Central elements in Geosemiotics According to Scollon & Scollon (2003), there are four central elements to be taken into account when doing geosemiotic analysis. Odd one out. 1) Social actor: A person who moves and acts in the physical world, (performing a mediated action) and who ‘gives off’ different signals (such as race,sex, age, etc.). It can act inappropriately for the situation i.e. doing homework at a bar. 2) Interaction order: The set of social relationships we take up and try to maintain with the other people who are in our presence. 3) Visual semiotics: The ‘visual frame’ of the social action. It deals with aspects such as how the interaction order is represented visually and how placement of visual symbols affects their interpretation.-The way that visual images communicate a message i.e. traffic signs, brands, emojis. 4) Place semiotics: Any human action takes place somewhere in the physical universe. Semiotic spaces (i.e. those spaces which provide pictures, discourses, or actions) are taken into account as well as non-semiotic spaces (i.e. spaces where signs are forbidden). The fact that exactly WHERE an action takes place is an important part of its meaning. Indexicality: The meaning of signs based on their material location.

Odd one out. From the point of view of Geosemiotics, everything surrounding us may influence our taking particular actions: from our location in a city or on a farm, close to the ocean or to the mountains, to the people with whom we interact or the signs that form part of the whole picture of our social interactions. MDA looks at how discourse is shaped not only by linguistic elements but also by the physical and social context in which it occurs. Ie. Analyzing how the physical layout of a classroom (e.g., seating arrangement, placement of the teacher’s desk) influences the interaction patterns between students and the teacher. MDA does not take into account the tools and artifacts that mediate communication, such as written texts, digital media, and physical objects. MDA investigates how power dynamics and social hierarchies are reflected and reinforced through discourse. MDA takes a holistic approach to the analysis of discourse. The holistic approach in MDA means that it doesn’t just focus on the linguistic aspects of discourse but also incorporates the broader context, including physical settings, social practices, power dynamics, and multiple modes of communication.

Analyze the social action taking place by exploring the different discourses involved in the action as well as the information regarding its place and time (Geosemiotics). Para empezar el análisis: 1) What is the action going on here? 2) How does discourse figure into the action? Regarding question 1, the action going on is that of a Kindergarten III class at an American school (site of engagement). The teacher (one of the social actors) is pointing to some written symbols listening to and looking at the teacher. The body language (another type of mediational means) of one of them (the boy on the left), however, shows that he is temporarily not paying attention to the teacher because he is probably more interested in someone else or something occurring to the right of the picture. We can identify different discourses which form part of the action and which are interrelated:. 1- Oral discourse (exchange between the teacher and the students): This is one of the last days of the academic course, and so the teacher is asking the students about their favorite part of the course. They all respond to the question, showing different opinions which the teacher tries to summarize by making a diagram on the board. 2- Written discourse: There are different types of written discourse on the different boards and walls of the class: a) Diagramatic discourse: The oral discourse is intertwined with the written discourse on the board, which the teacher has organized in the form of a diagram and which intends to summarize the main points made by the students. We read that some of their favorite activities were the garden hat parade, the museum field trip, the 100th day of school, Pilgrim and Native- American day, St. Patrick’s day, celebration of learning day and the San Isidro Parade. This list of favorite activities not only signals the preferences of the students but also provides a considerable amount of information about the type of school where the action is taking place. Many aspects could be analyzed in this respect, but for the purpose of illustration, we may say that it is evidently an American school (the language used is English and they celebrate Native-Americans day – therefore showing respect for this group), but there is one point that gives us a clue that the action may not be taking place in America: the fact that one of the favorite activities of the students was the “San Isidro Parade”. In effect, this is an American school in Spain, and thus we see that it is a policy of the school to celebrate and show respect not only for American festivities and celebrations, but also for those of the country where the school is located. b) Discourse of rules or regulations: We see a sign on the wall (entitled “K-III Rules”) that constantly reminds the students of the rules to be followed in class and during interaction with teacher and classmates, which are three (1. We do not talk when someone else is talking, 2. We are kind to our friends, and 3. We follow directions). This sign is in turn related to a bigger sign posted on the entrance wall of the classroom (but does not appear in the picture) which reads: “It’s all about respect. c) Poetic discourse: We also see a poster with a nursery rhyme (“With silver bells and cockleshells…”) on the white board behind the teacher, which does not appear to be very related to the action going on at the moment but which nevertheless provides the analyst with some historical information about other actions or activities carried out throughout the school year, which form part of the habitus of the actors in the picture and therefore also contribute to the overall meaning of the social action in question. All.

Analyze the social action taking place by exploring the different discourses involved in the action as well as the information regarding its place and time (Geosemiotics). CONTINUACIÓN. d) Language-learning discourse: On the whiteboard we can partially see a sentence that is part of a language exercise for completion (…because_____). This exercise (as well as the poem) does not seem to be of great importance at the moment but provides us with some information about previous actions carried out in the class. So in the picture analyzed herein both the discursive and nondiscursive practices are interconnected, and they constitute the nexus of practice of the social action in question. Among the practices observed in the social action taking place we may mention turn-taking practices (the students raise their hands to take part in the conversation), physical spacing practices (the students are sitting on the floor, the teacher is sitting on a chair in front of the class), teaching-learning practices and so on. It is interesting to observe here that both the teacher and the students are wearing pyjamas, which is not a normal or daily practice in school environments. However, this fact is one more clue for the interpretation of the particular action taking place: the picture was taken on “pizza and pyjama day”, and therefore the practice of wearing pyjamas and slippers has to be judged as appropriate and also as explanatory of the relaxed atmosphere that can be observed in the class as a whole. It is also worth noting that all of the signs analyzed are indexes of a larger discourse. For example, the rules posted on the wall index the larger discourse of school policy, or the language used by the teacher indexes the larger discourse of politically correct institutional language. As we see, discourse and action are equally important for the interpretation of the situation under analysis. Both the oral and written discourses, as well as the body language of all the participants, are indexes of the action and practices going on. For instance, the teacher’s body language shows that she is developing an activity with her students (she’s pointing to the board, and her posture indicates that she is ‘in command’). Thus it can be observed here, as in all social actions, that the different mediational means (e.g.: body language, texts, way of dressing, oral discourse) found in this action are polyvocal (there is more than one ‘voice’), intertextual (different kinds of text are interrelated) and interdiscursive (different discourses intertwine). All.

Odd one out. MDA is an approach to the study of discourse which focuses on social action. Language, as well as non-verbal communication and physical objects used by an agent in carrying out an action, are considered to be mediational means. All social action is based on tacit, normally unconscious actions which make up the different practices. An individual’s accumulated experience of social actions is what we call the habitus or the historical-body. There are both discursive and non-discursive practices, which are interconnected and which together constitute the nexus of practice of a given social action. From the point of view of MDA, all discourse is mediated and all mediations are discursive. MDA uses multiple methods to look at data from a single perspective.

Odd one out. Geosemiotics is a broad analytical position taken by MDA, which holds the assumption that a very important aspect of the meaning of all language (whether in a conversation, in a book or on a public traffic sign) is based on the material, concrete, physical placement of that language in the world. The key to the analysis of any human action is indexicality, i.e., the meaning of signs based on their material location. We signal our meanings by means of icons, indexes and symbols. These three types of signs may co-occur. MDA mainly focuses on discourses. Indexicality has to do with the context-dependency of signs. MD takes a holistic approach to DA.

According to MDA…. a) language is the only mediational means. b) verbal communication and physical objects are also mediational means. c) only linguistic behavior can be analyzed.

MDA analysts base their studies on…. a) the sender-receiver model of communication. b) a producer-audience model of communication. c) a social interaction model of communication.

MDA is an approach…. a) which takes ideas and concepts from many other disciplines. b) based on Bloomfield’s studies. c) with no connection to other disciplines.

The unit of analysis used by MDA is…. a) the sentence. b) mediated action. c) the text.

The systematic analysis of how language appears in the material world is called…. a) Semiotics. b) Sociolinguistics. c) Geosemiotics.

In geosemiotic analysis…. a) the material and physical placement of language is of utter importance. b) traffic signs are the main concern. c) conversation is the focus of attention.

Within Geosemiotics, the key to the analysis of human action is…. a) syntax. b) indexicality. c) grammar.

What type of sign is this?. Icon. Index. Symbol.

What type of sign is this?. Icon. Index. Symbol.