This presentation focuses on the interweaving of constructive praxis with communication in ontogenesis, in phylogenesis and in biocultural niche evolution (ecogenesis), within an EvoDevoSocio framework. I begin by discussing the nature of symbolization, its evolution from communicative signaling and its elaboration into semantic systems. I distinguish between the symbol-ready and the language-ready brain, leading to a discussion of linguistic conceptualization and its dual grounding in organism and language system. There follows an outline account of the interpenetration in the human biocultural niche-complex of semiosphere and technosphere, mediated by the evolution of the niche of infancy. Symbolization (the foundation of the semiosphere) is by definition normative; the normative character of the technosphere is demonstrated by the interrelations in human development between affordance, action schema and canonical functional object schema. A model of the neuro-computational implementation of dual grounding is proposed.
References

Sinha, C. (2018) Praxis, symbol and language: developmental, ecological and linguistic issues. Interaction Studies 19: 1-2 (2018), 239-255. doi: 10.1075/is.17025.sin
Arbib, M.A. & 20 others including C. Sinha (2018). The Comparative Neuroprimatology 2017 (CNP-2017) road map for research on how the brain got language. Interaction Studies 19: 1-2 (2018), 370-387. doi: 10.1075/is.18013.arb

英汉/汉英法律翻译是一项跨法系、跨语际实践。跨语际实践关注的不止是翻译解码，更是语言间接触引发的话语实践。法律翻译者具备的核心素养就在于术语对应能力，是一种能够自由穿梭于两种法系的术语间并将其能够对应起来或区别开来的能力。翻译离不开工具书的使用，离不开检索，在大数据和人工智能技术日益发达的时代，翻译更离不开网络平台检索。检索就意味着选择，意味着排除译名间的冲突。不管是译者、译审，还是译后编辑，选词问题一定无法绕开。这既然是翻译行业问题，就应是法律英语或法律翻译课堂教学应直视的问题。

In light of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, many mainland Chinese universities have been promoting non-English foreign language programs at the undergraduate level. This study explores how the growth of these non-English languages mediates students’ commitment to learning English. To examine these programs we collected a variety of data on curriculum design, teachers and learners through online and physical archive research. Our analysis reveals a significant leap in bilingual education, but many non-English foreign language programs need to cope with challenges related to ‘unrealistic’ curricula, a lack of qualified teachers and low quality program intakes. Without carefully coordinated efforts to address these challenges, the Great Leap Forward in non-English foreign language programs may turn out to be a grand fiasco in the end.

雷蒙·威廉斯（Raymond Williams，1922-1988）通常被认为马克思主义文化研究奠基人，讲座通过总览其著作，如《文化与社会》、《乡村与城市》等，考察马克思主义文化研究的起源。威廉斯最初作为一名文学研究者，逐渐认识到只有将文化作为“一种生活的总体方式”进行研究，才能真正理解文学作品本身。本讲座同时集中探讨威廉斯对文化的唯物主义理解所产生的影响。

国家社科基金项目的申请从选题到论证都需要站在学科发展的前沿，具有较宏大的学术视野，从相关理论视角进行综合论证，凸显问题意识。申请书的写作也需有相应的策略，从理论出发，确定分析的主题及框架。本讲座主要分析国家社科基金项目申请书的选题定位和论证思路，以及相关的写作策略。