Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks

This paper investigates the use of figurative language as one of the main features of TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Talks,a new science popularising genre. Drawing upon Wikberg’s (2008) similes classification,which analyses the patternsas ADJ/ADV as, is like N, is like V-ing N, and V...

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Main Author: Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina
Format: Article
Language:en
Published: Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, FSSK, UKM 2014
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7734/1/6784-18840-1-PB.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7734/
http://ejournal.ukm.my/3l/index
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author Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina
author_facet Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina
author_sort Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina
building Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description This paper investigates the use of figurative language as one of the main features of TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Talks,a new science popularising genre. Drawing upon Wikberg’s (2008) similes classification,which analyses the patternsas ADJ/ADV as, is like N, is like V-ing N, and V like N,the paper examines the use of similes as an explanatory strategy for knowledge dissemination. Focussing on a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the TED talks held between 2006 and 2012,the study shows how TEDsters use similes to compare complex scientific concepts to everyday life experiences;to breach the expert/non expert barrier so that non-experts can participate in the scientific findings;and to look at science as ideas to be discussed rather than information to be passively received. The study also reveals that rather than focussing on culture-bound similes, these audience-oriented talks tend to avoid local cultural references that would not be understood abroad.
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institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
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publishDate 2014
publisher Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, FSSK, UKM
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spelling my-ukm.journal-77342016-12-14T06:45:01Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7734/ Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina This paper investigates the use of figurative language as one of the main features of TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Talks,a new science popularising genre. Drawing upon Wikberg’s (2008) similes classification,which analyses the patternsas ADJ/ADV as, is like N, is like V-ing N, and V like N,the paper examines the use of similes as an explanatory strategy for knowledge dissemination. Focussing on a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the TED talks held between 2006 and 2012,the study shows how TEDsters use similes to compare complex scientific concepts to everyday life experiences;to breach the expert/non expert barrier so that non-experts can participate in the scientific findings;and to look at science as ideas to be discussed rather than information to be passively received. The study also reveals that rather than focussing on culture-bound similes, these audience-oriented talks tend to avoid local cultural references that would not be understood abroad. Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, FSSK, UKM 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7734/1/6784-18840-1-PB.pdf Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina (2014) Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks. 3L; Language,Linguistics and Literature,The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies., 20 (3). pp. 1-16. ISSN 0128-5157 http://ejournal.ukm.my/3l/index
spellingShingle Scotto di Carlo, Giuseppina
Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks
title Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks
title_full Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks
title_fullStr Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks
title_full_unstemmed Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks
title_short Figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in TED talks
title_sort figurative language in science popularisation:similes as an explanatory strategy in ted talks
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7734/1/6784-18840-1-PB.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7734/
http://ejournal.ukm.my/3l/index
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/