How to explain diachronic variation of politeness. The example of German pronouns of address

This contribution looks at diachronic developments in the forms and uses of German address pronouns and treats them as one example of politeness change. The discussion shows that the historical analysis of the pronouns is very precise in the description of their developments, but fails to explain how and why address forms change. In order to facilitate an explanatory approach, the concept of politeness needs to be addressed too. The article proposes a contemporary concept of politeness as relational work that can contribute to accounting for these diachronic processes, and that can also be used to explain politeness change as an example of an invisible-hand process

Strontium disodium hexa­thio­diphosphate(IV) octa­hydrate

The crystal structure of SrNa2(P2S6)·8H2O is isotypic with that of its calcium analogue. The asymmetric unit consists of one Sr2+ cation (2 symmetry), two Na+ cations (2 and symmetry, respectively), one-half of a centrosymmetric (P2S6)4− anion with a staggered confirmation and four water mol­ecules. The crystal structure is built up from layers of cations and anions extending parallel to (101). Each SrO8 polyhedron is connected via edge-sharing to two NaO4S2 octa­hedra and to one NaO2S4 octa­hedron. The NaO4S2 octa­edra are, in turn, connected with two (P2S6)4− anions through common corners. Adjacent layers are held together by several O—H⋯S hydrogen-bonding inter­actions

Rezension: Fleischer, Wolfgang, Gerhard Helbig & Gotthard Lerchner (Hrsg.) 2001, Kleine Enzyklopädie - Deutsche Sprache

Eine Enzyklopädie ist laut Duden (Deutsches Universal Wörterbuch) ein "Nachschlagewerk, in dem der gesamte Wissensstoff aller Disziplinen od. nur eines Fachgebiets in alphabetischer od. systematischer Anordnung dargestellt ist." Der Titel des vorliegenden Buches ist also ein anspruchsvolles Programm. Auch wenn dem Namen "Enzyklopädie" das Attribut "klein" beigefügt wird, signalisieren die Verfasser und Herausgeber schon durch den Titel, dass sie sich sehr viel vorgenommen haben. Das Unternehmen, einen Überblick über den gesamten Wissensbestand in Bezug auf die deutsche Sprache zu geben, muss angesichts der Tatsache, dass unter Experten schon die Auffassungen über den Gegenstand des Buches divergieren, angesichts der unterschiedlichen Forschungsansätze und nicht zuletzt auch der Komplexität des Gegenstandes selber als ausgesprochen gewagt bezeichnet werden. Man kann hier schon vorwegnehmen, dass es den Verfassern der Kleinen Enzyklopädie tatsächlich gelungen ist, dem durch die Titelwahl erhobenen Anspruch gerecht zu werden

Criteria for the earliest possible opening to traffic of asphalt paving

Zur Bestimmung des frühestmöglichen Zeitpunktes der Verkehrsfreigabe von Asphaltbefestigungen ist die Entwicklung des Verformungswiderstandes während der Abkühlung maßgeblich. Dabei ist der Verformungswiderstand von Asphalt vornehmlich von der Temperatur und der Zeit abhängig. Die sich bei Beanspruchung einstellenden bleibenden Verformungen sind die Grundlage zur Beurteilung der Asphalteigenschaft Verformungswiderstand. In der Abkühlphase verringert sich die Gefahr, daß bleibende Verformungen durch Beanspruchung erzeugt werden. Anstatt überwiegend viskosen Stoffverhaltens tritt bei fortschreitender Abkühlung vornehmlich viskoelastisches in den Vordergrund. Die Anforderungen an ein einfaches und zerstörungsfreies Prüfverfahren, mit dem die Entwicklung des Verformungswiderstandes während der Abkühlung meßtechnisch erfaßt und beurteilt werden kann, erfüllt der dynamische Plattendruckversuch mit dem Leichten Fallgewichtsgerät. Mit der Meßgröße Gesamteindringtiefe wird dabei die Gesamtverformung und mit der bleibenden Eindringtiefe die bleibende Verformung meßtechnisch erfaßt. Damit kann anhand der Gesamteindringtiefe und insbesondere der bleibenden Eindringtiefe die Entwicklung des Verformungswiderstandes frisch eingebauter Asphaltschichten in der Abkühlphase beurteilt werden. Darüber hinaus kann für frisch eingebaute Asphaltschichten hinsichtlich des frühestmöglichen Zeitpunktes der Verkehrsfreigabe ein Anforderungskriterium formuliert werden: Sind die bleibenden Eindringtiefen Null, dann stellt dieses den Übergang von überwiegend viskosem Stoffverhalten in überwiegend elastisches dar. Bei den dann noch feststellbaren Gesamteindringtiefen handelt es sich um vornehmlich elastische Restverformungen. Diese sind reversibel und führen nicht zu bleibenden Verformungen. Allgemein kann davon ausgegangen werden, daß dann der Zuwachs an Verformungswiderstand durch den Abkühlungsprozeß und damit verbundener Strukturbildungsprozesse im Bitumen nahezu abgeschlossen ist. Es ist kein weiterer signifikanter Zuwachs an Verformungswiderstand wahrscheinlich. Die Verkehrsfreigabe kann erfolgen. Für die beiden untersuchten Asphaltsorten Splittmastixasphalt 0/11 S und Asphaltbeton 0/11 S wurden unter den vorherrschenden Abkühlbedingungen das Anforderungskriterium zur Verkehrsfreigabe ca. 9,0 Stunden nach Abschluß des Einbauvorgangs erfüllt.The development of the deformation resistance during the cooling-off period is decisive for determinating the earliest possible time for the opening to traffic of asphalt paving. The deformation resistance of asphalt is dependent on temperature and time. The permanent deformations, which occur under heavy strain, are the basis for evaluating the deformation resistance. During cooling-off the risk of permanent deformations under heavy strain is reducing. Instead of a prevailing viscous material reaction there is a mainly viscoelastic reaction under progressive cooling-off. The dynamic plate bearing test with the light falling weight deflectometer (LFGG) meets the demands on a simple and non-destructive method of testing. With this method it is possible to record and evaluate the development of the deformation resistance during the cooling-off period. The total deformation is measured with the total penetration depth as measurand, the permanent deformation is measured with the permanent penetration depth. Thus the development of the deformation resistance of newly installed asphalt coatings during cooling-off can be evaluated with the total penetration depth and, especially, with the permanent penetration depth as measurand. Moreover, concerning the earliest possible time for the opening to traffic, the following criterion can be formulated for newly installed asphalt coatings: As soon as the permanent penetration depths are zero, this represents the passing point of a mainly viscous material reaction into a mainly elastic one. The total penetration depths, which can still be measured at that point in time, are mainly elastic residual deformations. They are reversible and do not lead to permanent deformations. In general it can be assumed that, at that point in time, the increase in deformation resistance has nearly been finished by the cooling-off process, accompanied by structural forming processes in the asphalt. A further significant increase in deformation resistance is not probable. The opening to traffic can take place. Under the prevailing cooling conditions the criterion for the opening to traffic for splittmastix asphalt 0/11 S and asphalt concrete 0/11 S, which have both been analysed, was met about 9.0 hours after finishing the pavement

Mental health related determinants of parenting stress among urban mothers of young children – results from a birth-cohort study in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

Background There are limited data on the parenting stress (PS) levels in sub-Saharan African mothers and on the association between ante- and postnatal depression and anxiety on PS. Methods A longitudinal birth cohort of 577 women from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire was followed from the 3rd trimester in pregnancy to 2 years postpartum between 2010 and 2013. Depression and anxiety were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) at baseline, 3 month, 12 month and 24 month postpartum. PS was measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) at 3, 12 and 24 month. The mean total PS score and the subscale scores were compared among depressed vs. non-depressed and among anxious vs. non-anxious mothers at 3, 12 and 24 month postpartum. The proportions of clinical PS (PSI-SF raw score > 90) in depressed vs. non-depressed and anxious vs. non-anxious mothers were also compared. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach was used to estimate population-averaged associations between women’s depression/anxiety and PS adjusting for age, child sex, women’s anemia, education, occupation, spouse’s education, and number of sick child visits. Results A total of 577, 531 and 264 women completed the PS assessment at 3 month, 12 month and 24 month postpartum across the two sites and the prevalences of clinical PS at each time point was 33.1%, 24.4% and 14.9% in Ghana and 30.2%, 33.5% and 22.6% in Côte d’Ivoire, respectively. At all three time points, the PS scores were significantly higher among depressed mothers vs. non-depressed mothers. In the multivariate regression analyses, antepartum and postpartum depression were consistently associated with PS after adjusting for other variables. Conclusions Parenting stress is frequent and levels are high compared with previous studies from high-income countries. Antepartum and postpartum depression were both associated with PS, while antepartum and postpartum anxiety were not after adjusting for confounders. More quantitative and qualitative data are needed in sub-Saharan African populations to assess the burden of PS and understand associated mechanisms. Should our findings be replicated, it appears prudent to design and subsequently evaluate intervention strategies

Antepartum depression and anxiety associated with disability in African women : cross-sectional results from the CDS Study in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire

Background: Common mental disorders, particularly unipolar depressive disorders, rank among the top 5 with respect to the global burden of disease. As a major public health concern, antepartum depression and anxiety not only affects the individual woman, but also her offspring. Data on the prevalence of common mental disorders in pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. We provide results from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Methods: We subsequently recruited and screened n=1030 women in the third trimester of their pregnancy for depressed mood, general anxiety, and perceived disability using the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9), the 7-item Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS 2.0, 12-item version). In addition to estimates of means and prevalence, a hierarchical linear regression model was calculated to determine the influence of antepartum depression and anxiety on disability. Results: In Ghana, 26.6% of women showed substantially depressed mood. In Côte d'Ivoire, this figure was even higher (32.9%). Clear indications for a generalized anxiety disorder were observed in 11.4% and 17.4% of pregnant women, respectively. Comorbidity of both conditions was common, affecting about 7.7% of Ghanaian and 12.6% of Ivorian participants. Pregnant women in both countries reported a high degree of disability regarding everyday activity limitations and participation restrictions. Controlled for country and age, depression and anxiety accounted for 33% of variance in the disability score. Conclusions: Antepartum depression and anxiety were highly prevalent in our sample and contributed substantially to perceived disability. These serious threats to health must be further investigated and more data are needed to comprehensively quantify the problem in sub-Saharan Africa.JH Libraries Open Access Fun

Kontrastive Pragmatik. Sezione in: Jahrbuch für Internationale Germanistik Wege der Germanistik in transkultureller Perspektive Akten des XIV. Kongresses der Internationalen Vereinigung für Germanistik (IVG) (Bd. 6)

Die Beiträge in dieser Sektion haben das Ziel, diese Lücke zu füllen und die deutsche Sprache in den Mittelpunkt von kontrastiven, pragmati- schen Überlegungen zu stellen� Kontrastive Pragmatik wird hier als Syn- onym zu cross-cultural pragmatics im Sinne von Kecskes verstanden, also als Auseinandersetzung mit Daten aus unterschiedlichen Sprachen auf der Grundlage pragmatischer Begriffe und Methoden und mit dem Ziel, sprach- spezifische Tendenzen des Sprachgebrauchs zu beschreiben, zu erklären und unter Umständen in einen Zusammenhang mit außersprachlichen kulturellen Gegebenheiten zu setzen