Metapragmatic First-Order Politeness in Peninsular Spanish

Research on Spanish politeness has developed dramatically in the past decade. One of the most influential theses regarding Spanish politeness was posited by Hickey (1991), who, in comparing Spanish to English, concluded that Peninsular Spanish has a positive politeness model. Subsequently, a number of linguists have further compared politeness in Spain to politeness in Britain. In analysing countless samples of expressive politeness (i.e. requests, apologies, terms of address, etc.), these authors have come to the conclusion that positive politeness predominates in Spain. However, such critical tendencies ignore the latest trends in politeness studies: one year after the publication of Hickey´s (1991) essay, Watts et al. (1992) vindicated the need to discern first-order politeness from second-order politeness, and put forward the relevance of metapragmatic discussions of politeness. Descriptivist assessments of Spanish politeness prevent linguists from attempting a metapragmatic methodology that help to determine where Spanish speakers stand in the politeness-impoliteness continuum. Nonetheless, current research on general politeness studies clearly envisages that this is a task that Spanish linguistics will need to fulfil in the long run. This paper offers a metapragmatic examination of linguistic politeness in Spain, based on the data obtained from 100 informants in Extremadura, aged 14 to 20. The information drawn from the survey indicates that, whilst the informants are fully aware of the politeness norms they have been taught by their parents and teachers, their linguistic performance seldom abides by such parameters

Probing the Circumnuclear Stellar Populations of Starburst Galaxies in the Near-infrared

We employ the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility's near-infrared spectrograph SpeX at 0.8-2.4$\mu$m to investigate the spatial distribution of the stellar populations (SPs) in four well known Starburst galaxies: NGC34, NGC1614, NGC3310 and NGC7714. We use the STARLIGHT code updated with the synthetic simple stellar populations models computed by Maraston (2005, M05). Our main results are that the NIR light in the nuclear surroundings of the galaxies is dominated by young/intermediate age SPs ($t \leq 2\times10^9$yr), summing from $\sim$40\% up to 100\% of the light contribution. In the nuclear aperture of two sources (NGC1614 and NGC3310) we detected a predominant old SP component ($t > 2\times10^9$yr), while for NGC34 and NGC7714 the younger component prevails. Furthermore, we found evidence of a circumnuclear star formation ring-like structure and a secondary nucleus in NGC1614, in agreement with previous studies. We also suggest that the merger/interaction experienced by three of the galaxies studied, NGC1614, NGC3310 and NGC7714 can explain the lower metallicity values derived for the young SP component of these sources. In this scenario the fresh unprocessed metal poorer gas from the destroyed/interacting companion galaxy is driven to the centre of the galaxies and mixed with the central region gas, before star formation takes place. In order to deepen our analysis, we performed the same procedure of SP synthesis using Maraston (2011, M11) EPS models. Our results show that the newer and higher resolution M11 models tend to enhance the old/intermediate age SP contribution over the younger ages

Analyzing a Bose polaron across resonant interactions

Recently, two independent experiments reported the observation of long-lived polarons in a Bose-Einstein condensate, providing an excellent setting to study the generic scenario of a mobile impurity interacting with a quantum reservoir. Here, we expand the experimental analysis by disentangling the effects of trap inhomogeneities and the many-body continuum in one of these experiments. This makes it possible to extract the energy of the polaron at a well-defined density as a function of the interaction strength. Comparisons with quantum Monte-Carlo as well as diagrammatic calculations show good agreement, and provide a more detailed picture of the polaron properties at stronger interactions than previously possible. Moreover, we develop a semi-classical theory for the motional dynamics and three-body loss of the polarons, which partly explains a previously unresolved discrepancy between theory and experimental observations for repulsive interactions. Finally, we utilize quantum Monte-Carlo calculations to demonstrate that the findings reported in the two experiments are consistent with each other

La peculiaridad psicológica del español según Maeztu

In Don Quijote, Don Juan y La Celestina, Maeztu underwent an in-depth analysis of the psychological characteristics of Spaniards —under the Generation of 98's bias. In addition to suggesting that Maeztu's viewpoint analogises those of Unamuno and Ganivet, this article seeks to prove that the author believed these three Spanish master pieces contain and comprise in their personae the characteristics of Spaniards as a people: Don Quixote —compared to Hamlet— portrays irrational thinking, and the saddening reality of Spanish society; Don Juan, in his ruthless demeanour, is the exemplar cannon for his country-mates; Celestinas behaviour conveys the Renaissance penchant for material richness, and Calisto and Melibea are representative of the Spanish spoilt youth.En Don Quijote, Don Juan y La Celestina, Maeztu llevó a cabo un extenso análisis, de evidente impronta noventaiochista, en torno a la peculiaridad psicológica del español. Además de apuntar sus coincidencias con las percepciones de Unamuno y Ganivet, este artículo muestra cómo, en los protagonistas de estas tres obras de la literatura española, el autor vislumbra las características fundamentales que definen al pueblo español: en Don Quijote —y en contraposición a Hamlet—, ve el exceso de acción y la realidad de España; en Don Juan, el ideal de los españoles; en Celestina, el mercantilismo renacentista expulsado por semita y en Calisto y Melibea, a la caprichosa juventud española

La influencia de la narrativa del Siglo de Oro en la novela británica del XVIII

In the 1990s, considerable research has further denounced to what extent Spanish Golden Age narratives were influential upon eighteenth-century English novel. The aim of this essay is: (1) to signal the literary conditions which triggered the Spanish influence upon the fathers of the English novel; (2) to clarify the actual magnitude of this influence —already suggested by former research—, and (3) to discuss the semantics of the terms quixotic fiction and picaresque fiction.Durante la pasada década, la investigación en torno al influjo hispánico, en particular de la narrativa del Siglo de Oro, en la novela inglesa del siglo XVIII ha producido un interesante número de contribuciones que demuestran las dimensiones de la misma. En este breve ensayo se pretende: (1) señalar los factores literarios e históricos que propiciaron el influjo hispánico en los padres de la novela británica, (2) deslindar las verdaderas dimensiones de dicha influencia —que ya ha desvelado una parte de la crítica— y (3) discutir la semántica de los términos quixotic fiction y picaresque fiction

Las adaptaciones teatrales del Quijote en Inglaterra (del siglo XVII al XIX)

As soon as it struck a cord on readers, Don Quixote was staged by several playwrights. These theatrical adaptations flourished in several countries and across the centuries. Thus far, only seven adaptations by English playwrights were known —in addition to another one by Harriet Stewart discovered earlier this year. This paper presents the hitherto unknown Quixote plays by Fitzball (1834), Wills (1895) and Tenniel (1895?); it also sheds new light on the controversial identity of the author of Alonzo Quixano (1895), and on Harriet Stewart. Not only does this paper offer a more accurate picture of the reception of Cervantes in England, but it also highlights the immense devotion of the English for Don Quixote.La extraordinaria fama del Quijote propició que los autores teatrales lo adaptaran a la escena. Estas adaptaciones se han prodigado en varios países y a lo largo de los siglos. Hasta la fecha se conocían siete adaptaciones inglesas, además de la de Harriet Stewart (1834) sacada a la luz este mismo año en otro lugar. Se presentan aquí las adaptaciones de Fitzball (1834), Wills (1895) y Tenniel (1895?), se esclarece la identidad del autor de Alonzo Quijano (1895) y se contextualiza a Harriet Stewart. De esta suerte se muestra una panorámica más completa de la historia de la recepción del Quijote en Inglaterra y se pone más de manifiesto la extraordinaria querencia que en Inglaterra suscitó el Quijote