Context is Key: Situational Rhetoric and its Impact in the Consultation Room

This paper argues that by requiring communication consultants to begin all consultations by asking about Lloyd Bitzer’s components of situational rhetoric, consultants will have a better understanding of what topics to focus on in a consultation so that the speaker can receive the most beneficial advice possible.

Ethical Business Practice, Accountability, and Quality Assurance: Primary Drivers for Sustainable Tourism Development in Iceland

The tourism industry in Iceland has grown exponentially in the last decade, causing changes to the natural landscape and drastically shifting revenue streams in the economy. This rapid growth coupled with the recent development of Iceland’s tourism industry makes it the perfect case study for how to effectively mitigate tourism influxes. This unprecedented rate of growth impels the creation of sustainability measures within this industry in order to ensure a lasting vision of Icelandic tourism in the future. Both the government and private sector have already begun to institute sustainability measures in society and in business. The primary aim of this study is to create a macroscopic picture of what drives sustainable tourism in Iceland by determining what has shaped the industry thus far. Interviews were conducted with a government official, the leader of a privately-funded tourism organization, and employees in tourist companies in order to gain insight into the industry. Various secondary sources such as economic reports from the Icelandic government and tourism anthropology papers provided a basis for analyzing the interview data. The overwhelming conclusion from this research was that the creation of sustainable tourism relies on accountability and quality assurance, transparency of shared knowledge, and most profoundly, a commitment to ethical business practice. This research reflects that business guided by ethics was the primary factor motivating people within the tourism sector to institute sustainability measures. Testimonies from both government officials and employees in the private sector reflects that the success Iceland has had so far in mitigating the tourist influx has been reliant on their singular mission of sustainability. Looking forward, maintaining sustainability within the industry will rely on continued partnership and commitment to ethical business

Does the community really matter? : civic environmentalism in brownfield redevelopment

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2006.Includes bibliographical references.This paper analyzes the process of civic environmentalism in brownfield redevelopment. A single "best case" scenario, the Empire Laundry project in Lynn, Massachusetts, illustrates key features of a citizen-led cleanup and redevelopment effort. The in-depth analysis traces key events and milestones of the community-based process and evaluates the important decisions that led to a successful result: the development of five single-family houses. This research revealed two main factors that were important in creating a successful outcome: strong civic leaders and neighborhood stability. These two factors were pivotal in fostering community involvement, but raise important questions regarding the balancing of community desires with environmental protection.by Abigail Harrison Emison.M.C.P

Exploring partner communication and patterns of sexual networking: qualitative research to improve management of sexually transmitted diseases

This ethnographic research among rural South African men and women seeking care for STDs explores constraints to communication among partners and defines predominant patterns of sexual networking. A series of fifteen open-ended interviews explored topics related to sexual networking and partner communication. Patterns of sexual networking showed clear gender variation, with men more likely to discuss multiple partners. Both men and women believed they should tell one partner about their STD, most often a steady partner. Strong distinctions were made between regular and casual partners, with an emphasis on the role of trust in a steady relationship. Men and women expressed anxiety about telling their partners of their illness, but women more often expressed fear whereas men felt embarrassed. Multi-partnered sexuality is common and is widely accepted for men. While the importance of regular partnerships is clear for both men and women, sexual relationships appear to be highly unstable. Communication among partners could be facilitated by stronger health promotion messages, such as the importance of telling a partner about an STD. Prevailing patterns of communication and sexual networking have profound implications for the STD epidemic

Reported light in the sleep environment: enhancement of the sleep diary.

BackgroundLight is the primary synchronizing cue for the circadian timing system, capable of exerting robust physiological effects, even with very dim and/or brief photic exposure. Mammals, including humans, are particularly susceptible to light at night. As such, measures of light in the sleeping environment are critical for evaluating sleep health. Sleep diaries provide inexpensive measures of sleep, but do not typically include light information.MethodsFour questions probing visual perception of light in the bedtime and waking environments were added to the Consensus Sleep Diary for Morning administration. As part of a lighting intervention study, 18 hospital Labor and Delivery Department personnel completed the sleep diary for 1 week in each of two experimental conditions while wearing Actiwatch devices equipped with photosensors. Diary responses were evaluated against photosensor values from the beginning and end of each rest interval (n=194 rest intervals), as well as against sleep measures, utilizing linear mixed models.ResultsResponses to light questions were related to actual light measures at bedtime, controlling for shift type and experimental condition. In addition, subjective light information at bedtime and waking was related to both objective and subjective sleep parameters, with data generally indicating poorer sleep with light in the sleeping environment.ConclusionQuestions addressing perception of light in the sleeping environment may provide a crude yet affordable metric of relative photic intensity. Further, as responses relate to sleep outcomes, subjective light information may yield valuable insights regarding mechanisms and outcomes of clinical significance in sleep and circadian research

LANGUAGE AS A WEAPON: How Linguistic Choices in Popular Culture Could Trigger Social Change

The manner in which language is purposefully used in popular culture has the potential to influence large numbers of viewers. Research has demonstrated that audiences often mirror their favourite characters’ language practices in their everyday linguistic choices and behaviours (Gocen and Okur, 2012). This study first explores the types of linguistic devices (i.e. communicative practices that go beyond mere speech) that might be used by fictional characters in an effort to resist power. It then explores the implications of such purposeful use for viewers. The study employs thematic analysis of language extracts produced by two main characters of the Netflix-based cultural phenomenon One Piece. Focusing on humour, sarcasm, threats, warnings, lies, deception, insults, and politeness, the ways in which language can be weaponised are demonstrated via the language choices of Monkey D. Luffy (played by Iñaki Godoy) and Roronoa Zoro (played by Mackenyu). Drawing on critical applied linguistics, the ideologies and power struggles revealed within the transcribed extracts are considered alongside social context and contextual meaning. This study concludes by arguing that wielding language as a weapon of rebellion through popular culture has the potential to inspire generations to create positive change through verbal acts of rebellion similar to those displayed by fictional characters

Concert recording 2022-04-30a

[Track 1]. Concert horn. I. Allegro / Reinhold Gilere -- [Track 2]. Three songs for horn and piano. I. Song for the lonely ; II. If you should go ; III. Bayou home / William Grant Still -- [Track 3]. Works for solo horn. I. Old song ; II. Vocalise ; III. Action / Povilas Syrrist-Gelota -- [Track 4]. Sonata for horn and piano. I. Allegro moderato ; II. Melodie ; III. Rondo / Gina Gillie -- [Track 5]. Danzon no. 1 for wind quintet / Derrick Rassinier

Concert recording 2022-04-30a

[Track 1]. Concert horn. I. Allegro / Reinhold Gilere -- [Track 2]. Three songs for horn and piano. I. Song for the lonely ; II. If you should go ; III. Bayou home / William Grant Still -- [Track 3]. Works for solo horn. I. Old song ; II. Vocalise ; III. Action / Povilas Syrrist-Gelota -- [Track 4]. Sonata for horn and piano. I. Allegro moderato ; II. Melodie ; III. Rondo / Gina Gillie -- [Track 5]. Danzon no. 1 for wind quintet / Derrick Rassinier

Social Media’s Integration into Communication Centers: A UNC-Greensboro Case Study

The UNC-Greensboro Speaking Center (SC) acknowledges the growing impact of social media as a means of sharing information, connecting with stakeholders, and fostering a community of practice. In this study, we review the history of social media integration into our center. After securing a presence primarily on multiple platforms, we shifted our focus away from using social media solely for information dissemination to promote social connections and relationships. In our latest digital project during the summer of 2019, we launched a new social media campaign with the goal of promoting our center to incoming freshmen. Through acknowledging our progress, our center plans to continue increasing our social media presence as we believe these platforms remain prospective interpersonal resources.