Before we can talk about how we learn, use, and lose language, we need to define what it is, and what it isn’t. Over the centuries, many people have attempted to describe language. In this chapter was ask: what is language? This is a simple enough question although the answer is much more complicated, and intriguing, than it seems at first. The question of “what is language?” isn’t something we can just sum up in a single pithy sentence. Language is a system of communication, but it’s so much more than that. Language is multi-faceted. It involves signs and symbols, smaller and bigger segments, dialects and accents, and also writing and signing. This chapter serves as a primer to introduce us to the basic underlying principles of language sceince, so we can now talk the talk.

An introduction to the general properties of communication and the differences between language and communcation. Includes discussion of medium of communication, purpose, arbitrariness, discreteness, displacement, etc.

The forces of history have weighed on the Framers’ constitutional design. Their extended republic has grown geographically but shrunk in terms of transportation and communication. Representation as a filter of popular passions and the extended republic as a protection against majority faction have been less effective than the Framers anticipated. Significant changes to the Framers’ design by amendment, interpretation, and practice have also created openings for the influence of political factions.

This chapter explores environmental communication in more detail, with a particular focus on communication and linguistics aspects. It argues that successful environmental communication is not simply about transmitting facts but about fostering understanding, engagement and enabling informed decisions that can drive positive change. The chapter starts by discussing the communication process, highlighting key components and the roles of various constituent parts in this process. It also takes a critical look at traditional communication models and their applicability in an era of extensive digital communication. The chapter then discusses the significance of metaphors and frames in shaping perceptions and fostering understanding of complex environmental issues. Within this context, cultural differences in metaphor use are also examined. This is followed by a discussion of the concepts of symbolic competence and symbolic capital and their relevance to decoding and creating effective environmental messages. The final section introduces the role of visual elements, such as infographics and data visualisation, and their impact on audience perception and engagement.

Intonation units (IUs) are a fundamental prosodic unit of all known human languages, and as such they likely constitute an absolute universal property of language. IUs are chunks defined by a specific pattern of syllable delivery, together with resets in pitch and articulatory force. In this chapter we discuss IUs from four different perspectives and introduce them within the context of rhythms of speech, language, and the brain. First, we provide a detailed description of how IUs are defined. Second, we review linguistic research on the roles of IUs in communication, including their cross-linguistic applicability. This body of research suggests that IUs provide a universal structural cue for the cognitive dynamics of speech production and comprehension at a timescale of ~1 Hz. Third, we synthesize the linguistic perspective with findings from the study of brain rhythms and cognition. Finally, we review the existing algorithmic tools for IU identification from speech acoustics, to facilitate the incorporation of IUs in experimental and quantitative research.

The goal of this chapter is to provide the reader with broad guidance on the many points of intersection between child abuse, diagnostic imaging, the legal system and the radiologist.

The radiologist’s involvement begins before the report in setting up department protocols and supervising the acquisition of images. Communication of important and unexpected findings should occur before finalization of a report. The radiology report is a medicolegal document – the report should be correct, complete, conclusive, cogent and clean. Issues related to reporting are addressed in detail.

Radiologists have a duty to educate other members of the healthcare team and trainees about the diagnostic imaging of child abuse and its differential diagnoses.

Child abuse cases produce an uncomfortable intersection of medicine and the law for the involved radiologist. This chapter provides guidance on all aspects of preparation for possible court testimony. The importance of preparation cannot be understated. In court, the role of testifying radiologists is to provide reputable information and to educate the court.

Talking with women in the pre-conception or perinatal periods about psychotropic medication is an essential, sometimes difficult, part of the work of the perinatal psychiatrist. Understanding the current evidence base; knowing how and when to acknowledge the uncertainty inherent in current knowledge and how that translates to the individual woman; balancing risks of medication with risks of not treating and benefits of treating; sharing decision-making while not putting all of the responsibility on the woman; communicating with the woman, her partner, other professionals, services and agencies; and knowing when and how to seek further help or advice, are all essential components of good practice when prescribing in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

This clinical vignette guides learners through the emotionally complex task of delivering bad news in the emergency department. After stabilizing a critically ill patient with a life-threatening variceal GI bleed, the physician must update the patient’s spouse with honesty, empathy, and professionalism. This case models how to initiate these conversations using the SPIKES framework and demonstrates the importance of setting, pacing, and word choice when conveying grave prognoses. Learners are introduced to the emotional “residue” left behind by such encounters and are encouraged to process it using Dr. Cline’s DR5 model for reflective practice. By observing and emulating this structured, compassionate approach, trainees develop the communication tools necessary to lead with clarity and kindness; skills that define maturity in emergency medicine and build trust in times of crisis.

This contribution to understanding friendship as a distinct social relationship examines the distinction between friendship dyads and groups of friends by focusing on the communicative dynamics of intimacy and discretion. Drawing on the work of Simmel and Luhmann, I argue that dyadic friendship supports intimate communication characterized by immediacy, mutual disclosure, and the suspension of self-consciousness. The addition of a third party, however, shifts interaction into public mode, requiring increased discretion and greater communicative management. I offer a formal account of how the number of participants alters the quality of interaction and suggest that while intimacy is not a constant feature of friendship, it nevertheless remains a constitutive potential. To conclude, I argue that groups of friends can be intimate social formations only insofar as endogenous, “private” dyadic bonds are formed.

Relationship satisfaction has major implications on individuals’ health and subjective well-being, and prominent theories in relationship research have assigned relationship satisfaction an important role. In this Handbook chapter, we first introduce conceptual perspectives on relationship satisfaction, showing that relationship satisfaction is a characteristic of both the individual and the relationship. We then provide an overview of the measurement of relationship satisfaction and discuss common affordances in its assessment. Next, we report empirical evidence on how relationship satisfaction evolves over time, showing that relationship satisfaction changes both normatively and depending on the eventual outcome of the relationship. We then report how relationship satisfaction is associated with different relationship-specific facets, such as perceptions, emotion regulations strategies, and communication styles. To conclude, we discuss a series of unresolved issues in the area of relationship satisfaction research and propose an agenda for future research, such as the usage of modern technologies.

This scenario is based on the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption that occurred on December 9, 2019, in New Zealand. The eruption, classified as a Stage III burn disaster, overwhelmed local and regional medical systems, necessitating a national and international response. The scenario focuses on the initial receiving hospital’s experience and the on-shift medical staff’s challenges. It aims to provide a realistic training module for healthcare professionals in volcanic regions, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and skill practice. The scenario includes a fictional patient case with severe burns and other injuries, requiring comprehensive emergency care, including decontamination, airway management, fluid resuscitation, and wound care. The scenario also highlights the critical role of teamwork, communication, and resource management in handling mass casualty incidents. By reflecting on the Whakaari disaster, this scenario serves as a tribute to the victims, their families, and the responders, offering valuable insights for future emergency preparedness and response efforts.