linguistics, paragraphs are treated as indicators of the macro-structure of
a text (see scheme). They group sentences which belong together, generally
those which deal with the same topic. A new paragraph thus indicates a
change in topic or sub-topic.
see also discourse analysis
paragraph outlinen
see outline
paralinguistic featuresn
see paralinguistics
paralinguisticsnparalinguisticadj
the study or use of non-vocal phenomena such as facial expressions, head
or eye movements, and gestures, which may add support, emphasis, or
particular shades of meaning to what people are saying. These phenomena
are known as paralinguistic features.
For example, in English turning the head from side to side can be used
to show disagreement (equivalent to “no”), whereas in Lebanese Arabic
the same meaning can be signalled by raising the chin and producing an
ingressive dental affricate. The use of paralinguistic features in this sense
is also called kinesics.
For some linguists, paralinguistic features would also include those vocal
characteristics such as tone of voice which may express the speaker’s
attitude to what he or she is saying.
see alsoproxemics
parallel constructionn
a sentence containing words, phrases, clauses or structures which are
repeated.
For example:
Michael smiled at the baby, touched her arm, then winkedat her.
parallel distributed processing (PDP)n
see connectionism
parallel-form reliabilityn
see alternate form reliability
parallel formsn
see alternate forms
parallel forms