Thesis (Ph.D.)--Georgetown University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2009. / Directed by Nancy Myers; submitted to the Dept. of English. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 7, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-185).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 274-285).

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on aspects of linguistic communication, specifically in campus media discourse, where portrayals of minority groups, such as African foreigners, affect the attitudes of readers and shape public ideology regarding these minority groups. The research examines published items in two Western Cape campus newspapers that topicalise Africa or African foreigners in South Africa. These items, which were published over a three year period from 2007 to 2009, are critically analysed, in order to evaluate the way in which Africa and Africans, specifically Africans in South Africa, are represented, to determine whether such representations make use of xenophobic language, and to gauge the potential effects on the attitudes of student readers with regards to foreign Africans living and studying in South Africa. The aim of this thesis is to examine the possible (re)enforcement of xenophobic attitudes in the campus news media by analysing how Africa/foreign Africans are portrayed in South Africa's campus press against the background of the current xenophobic situation in South Africa. This is accomplished by making use of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), specifically the theoretical frameworks of van Dijk (1991) and Fairclough (1995; 1998), which allow for critical analysis on multiple levels of discourse. While the results of the media analysis illustrate a difference in coverage between the two campus newspapers, the overall impression is that campus press does indeed influence the attitudes of readers, more often than not, to the detriment of oppressed minority groups. Coverage of Africa/Africans in South Africa in the two campus publications indicated a slight growth in empathy towards the plight of Africa/African foreigners over the three year study period. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op aspekte van kommunikasie, veral binne kampusmedia-diskoers, waar die uitbeelding van minderheidsgroepe, soos buitelanders vanuit Afrika, 'n invloed uitoefen op die houdings van lesers en die vorming van openbare ideologieë ten opsigte van hierdie minderheidsgroepe. Dié navorsing ondersoek gepubliseerde items in twee Wes-Kaapse kampuskoerante wat handel oor Afrika of buitelanders vanuit Afrika wat in Suid-Afrika woon. Hierdie items, wat oor 'n tydperk van drie jaar (2007-2009) gepubliseer is, is krities ontleed ten einde te evalueer hoe Afrika en Afrikane, veral buitelanders in Suid-Afrika, uitgebeeld word, om te bepaal of sodanige uitbeeldings gebruik maak van xenofobiese taal en om die moontlike gevolge hiervan op die houdings van die studentelesers met betrekking tot buitelandse Afrikane wat in Suid-Afrika woon, te bestudeer en te meet. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die moontlike afdwinging van xenofobiese houdings in die kampus-nuusmedia/kampusnuusmedia te ondersoek deur die ontleding van hoe Afrika / buitelandse Afrikane in Suid-Afrika se kampuspers uitgebeeld word teen die agtergrond van die huidige xenofobiese situasie in Suid-Afrika. Dit word bereik deur gebruik te maak van Kritiese Diskoersanalise ("Critical Discourse Analysis"; CDA), spesifiek die teoretiese raamwerke van van Dijk (1991) en Fairclough (1995, 1998), wat ruimte laat vir 'n kritiese analise op verskeie vlakke van diskoers. Terwyl die resultate van die media-analise 'n verskil in dekking tussen die twee kampuskoerante illustreer, is die algehele indruk dat die kampuspers wel die houdings van die lesers beïnvloed, en in die reël tot nadeel van onderdrukte minderheidsgroepe. Mediadekking van Afrika / Afrikane in Suid-Afrika in die twee kampuspublikasies toon 'n effense groei in empatie teenoor die lot van Afrika / buitelandse Afrikane oor die drie jaar studietydperk.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper was to investigate the language used in communicating with South Africans born in Zambia and Tanzania during the years of "the struggle" and now repatriated – the returnees. From 1991 the children of the freedom fighters that migrated into exile in the 1960s to avoid the apartheid rule, returned. Some settled with their children in Khayelitsha near Cape Town, but they have found it difficult to fit in. The surge of foreign nationals from Africa who subsequently encountered xenophobic attitudes and allegations of corruption, drug smuggling, contributing to unemployment of South African born citizens and being carriers of HIV/AIDS has contributed to the returnees "new struggle" for integration and adaption as they often share common ancestry, linguistic and physical attributes with foreign nationals. They are denigrated as "amakwerekwere", "my friendoh" or "amagweja". This has happened despite them learning the local indigenous language, isiXhosa. Since the study is phenomenological, a qualitative research was appropriate. In data-collection, interviews were arranged with the returnees in their homes. Critical Discourse Analysis, sociological and historical accounts and sociolinguistic research revealed complex socio-cultural issues of the Xhosa world, which may have complicated the returnees‘ integration experience. The returnees seem to be leading a secluded solitary life as if exiled at home. The study found that in exile the returnees were at times tagged as outsiders, as "wakimbizi", "the Mandelas", "amagorila". On arriving home in the country of their exiled parents, they were again, painfully and unjustifiably, subjected to discrimination and marginalisation. The Xhosa speakers who form the majority of those formerly disenfranchised and marginalised in the Western Cape, and who were expected to be the hosts if not guardians of the returnees, seem not to understand and appreciate the role of the newcomers. That they were instrumental in the mobilisation of objections worldwide against apartheid, racism and human injustice seems to be forgotten. Rather than using their power and heritage to end xenophobia and ensure returnees are part of the future South African social fabric, they are found to be hostile and discriminatory. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die taal wat gebruik word in kommunikasie met Suid-Afrikaners wat tydens die jare van die vryheidstryd in Zambie and Tanzanie gebore is en nou gerepatrieer is, te ondersoek. Vanaf 1991 het die kinders van persone wat in die 1960s geemigreer het om aan vervolging van die Apartheidsregering te ontsnap, teruggekeer na Suid Afrika. Party het hulle met hul kinders in Khayalitsha naby Kaapstad gevestig, maar hulle vind dit moeilik om in te pas. Die vloedgolf vreemde burgers van Afrika het uiteindelik in sekere omgewings xenofobiese vervolging beleef met verwyte van korrupsie, dwelmsmokkelary, besetting van skaars arbeidsplekke ten koste van Suid Afrikaaners, en verspreiding van HIV/VIGS. Dit het bygedra tot die teruggekeerdes se nuwe stryd om integrasie wat nie noodwendig makliker gemaak is deur kwessies soos gemeenskaplike herkoms met die plaaslike bevolking nie, en ook nie deur ongewone talige en fisiese eienskappe wat die gevolg is van die jare van bannelingskap nie. Die nuwe inkomelinge word beskryf as "amakwerekwere", "my friendoh" of "amagweja". Hierdie soort distansiëring vind plaas ten spyte van die feit dat hulle die plaaslike inheemse taal, isiXhosa, aangeleer het. Aangesien die studie fenomenologies is, is kwalitatiewe navorsing as die gepaste benadering gekies. Data-insameling is gedoen dmv onderhoude met die teruggekeerdes in hul huise. Kritiese Diskoers Analiese, sosiologiese en geskiedkundige verhale en sosiolinguistiese navorsing het getoon dat komplekse, sosio-kulturele kwessies van die Xhosagemeenskap waarskynlik die terggekeerdes se integrasie-ervaring gekleur het. Dit lyk asof die teruggekeerdes ‘n afgesonderde lewe lei, asof hulle bannelinge in hulle eie land is. Die studie het getoon dat die teruggekeerdes tevore ook dikwels as buitestaanders geidentifiseer is terwyl hulle buite Suid-afrika gewoon het, en toe ook geïsoleer is met skeldname soos "wakimbizi", "the Mandelas', "amagorila". Met hulle tuiskoms in die land van hul banneling ouers is kinders wat in die buiteland gebore is weer op dikwels pynlike wyse onregverdelik blootgestel aan diskriminasie en marginalisering. Xhosasprekendes het getel onder die meerderheid van dié wat voorheen in die Weskaap van die stemreg ontneem is, en die verwagting was dat hulle gashere, indien nie die bewaarders van hierdie bannelinge sou wees nie. Dit blyk uit die studie dat hulle nie die rol van die nuwelinge verstaan of ondersteun nie. Dit blyk verder dat plaaslikes intussen vergeet het dat die uitgewekenes destyds instrumenteel was in die mobilisering van wêreldwye protes teen apartheid, rasisme en sosiale onreg. Eerder as om hul mag en erfenis te gebuik om xenofobie te beeindig en om te verseker dat die bannelinge deel van die toekoms van Suid Afrika is, word gevind dat hulle vyandiggesind en diskriminerend is.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Hydraulic fracturing is a geo-engineering procedure designed to extract shale gas from below the earth’s surface. Shale gas is often considered a natural, alternative source of energy that has the potential to increase global energy supplies but the scientific literature is not unanimous regarding the implications that hydraulic fracturing may have, and whether it should continue (Vermeulen 2012). Given the contentious nature of hydraulic fracturing, this study investigates the ways in which hydraulic fracturing is represented in South African media texts. The study draws on Gee’s (1996) model of critical discourse analysis (CDA), which views discourse as a means to represent and reproduce social practices. Thus, the study conceptualises hydraulic fracturing as a social practice with an affiliated discourse or discourses, which represent or construct the process of hydraulic fracturing, as well as the participants involved and context in which it takes place. Furthermore, these discourses are also presumed to have the power to legitimise, and thus perpetuate hydraulic fracturing, or to critique it. Subsequent to an examination of 32 South African news articles, and a close and critical analysis of four of them, this study reveals that hydraulic fracturing is presented in both positive and negative ways. Where positive constructions prevail, writers draw on the perspectives of those working in multinational corporations (MNCs) to construct shale gas as a way to increase energy supplies and achieve economic prosperity. Where negative constructions prevail, writers draw on the perspectives of environmentalists to construct hydraulic fracturing as an environmentally-harmful activity that depletes natural resources. In doing so, the study not only highlights the media’s role in perpetuating confusion about hydraulic fracturing, but highlights dominant ideologies that give rise to common representations of hydraulic fracturing in media texts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hidrobreking is ’n geo-ingenieursprosedure waardeur ondergrondse skaliegas ontgin word. Skaliegas word dikwels beskou as ’n natuurlike, alternatiewe energiebron met die potensiaal om die wêreld-energievoorraad te verhoog, maar die wetenskaplike literatuur is verdeeld oor die effek van hidrobreking en die voortsetting van hierdie praktyk (Vermeulen 2012). Gegee die netelige aard van die onderwerp, word daar in hierdie studie ondersoek gedoen na die wyses waarop hidrobreking voorgestel word in Suid-Afrikaanse mediatekste. Die analise word gerig deur Gee (1996) se model van kritiese diskoersanalise waarvolgens diskoers dien as instrument in die voorstelling en voortsetting van sosiale praktyke. As sodanig word hidrobreking in hierdie studie gekonsepsualiseer as ’n sosiale praktyk met een of meer gepaardgaande diskoerse wat die proses van hidrobreking, die deelnmers in hierdie proses asook die konteks waarin hierdie proses plaasvind, voorstel of konstrueer. Verder word daar veronderstel dat hierdie diskoerse die krag het om hidrobreking te regverdig en sodoende voor te sit, of om dit te kritiseer. Op grond van die bestudering van 34 Suid-Afrikaanse nuusberigte en ’n kritiese ontleding van vier daarvan, word daar bevind dat hidrobreking op beide positiewe en negatiewe wyses voorgestel word. In die geval van positiewe konstruksies steun skrywers op die uitgangspunte van persone in multinasionale korporasies om skaliegas te konstrueer as ’n manier om energievoorrade te verhoog en ekonomiese vooruitgang te bevorder. In die geval van negatiewe konstruksies steun skrywers op die uitgangspunte van omgewingsdeskundiges om hidrobreking te konstrueer as ’n omgewingskadelike aktiwiteit wat natuurlike hulpbronne uitput. Hierdie bevindinge beklemtoon die rol van die media in die voortgesette verwarring aangaande hidrobreking, asook die dominante ideologieë wat aanleiding gee tot algemene voorstellings van hidrobreking in mediatekste.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:01:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 357932 bytes, checksum: 1491fef7c4db350acf36305238a0782c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In contemporary times, despite all the changes in mental health care in the last decades, it is observed that people diagnosed with schizophrenia are often labeled as being pathologically ill and suffered from social exclusion. Religiosity and sexuality are significant spheres of the human experience. They play an important role in the discursive practices of people experiencing psychological distress, tending to lead professionals and family in a negative way. Based on the theoretical-methodological framework of Critical Discourse Analysis, I interviewed seven patients, five women and two men, from an outpatient psychosocial care center, CAPS, located in Recife / PE. The aim of the research was to understand the discursive practices of the participants about the themes of sexuality and religion, also their articulation and perceptions of the differences of women and men s speech on the subject. In the group interviews, the discussion of the topic was generated from stimulus, using words related to sexuality and religion. In the Critical Discourse Analysis, the analytical framework used for the interpretation of the material produced during the interviews, the researcher s position clearly recognizes the power abuse experienced by the research subjects. The research practice may encourage the articulation of discursive practices as an alternative to the hegemonic discourses of "normality." In accordance to the Queer theories, this research has identify in the subject s statements a deconstruction of values, reproduced in preconceived terms in relation to sex, gender, normality and mental illness. The Christian tradition tends to shape the discursive practices of sexuality, even for those who are not particularly religious. This impact of Christian tradition is felt not only upon people diagnosed with schizophrenia. According to the literature review, the impact of Christian tradition extends upon most of the population, with a Christian heritage. The men interviewed in this research have illustrated their religious practices in a more institutionalized term in comparison to the women. In the feminine perspective, religion is experienced in a more personal terms. Violence against women is present, but considering an intersectional glance, a schizophrenic woman is more vulnerable to this type of aggression. The research concludes that the discursive practices of the participants interviewed have an emancipatory potential. They may produce counterdiscourses, the deconstruction and negotiation of the hegemonic power that tends to influence religion and biomedical practices. This may leads to the re-construction, redefinition of their identity positions in society. / Na contemporaneidade, a despeito de todas as mudanças ocorridas na assistência em saúde mental nas últimas décadas, observa-se que as pessoas diagnosticadas como esquizofrênicas são estigmatizadas com rótulos patologizantes e excludentes. A religiosidade e a sexualidade são esferas significativas da experiência humana, e nas práticas discursivas de pessoas em sofrimento psíquico ocupam um lugar de destaque mobilizando, geralmente, profissionais e familiares de maneira negativa. Tendo como referencial teórico-metodológico os Estudos Críticos do Discurso entrevistei sete usuários/as, cinco mulheres e dois homens, de um centro de atenção psicossocial, CAPS, localizado na cidade de Recife/Pe, com o objetivo de conhecer as práticas discursivas dos/as participantes sobre os temas sexualidade e religiosidade, suas articulações e possíveis diferenças nos discursos das mulheres e homens sobre essa temática. Nas entrevistas de grupo, a discussão acerca dos temas foi gerada a partir de palavras- estímulo, relacionadas à sexualidade e religiosidade. Nos Estudos Críticos do Discurso, aporte analítico do material produzido nas entrevistas, o posicionamento da/o pesquisador/a é explícito em relação ao abuso de poder sofrido pelos sujeitos da pesquisa, aqui compreendido no sentido de intervir para favorecer a emergência de práticas discursivas alternativas aos discursos hegemônicos de normalidade . Numa perspectiva Queer, é possível interpretar nas falas dos sujeitos a desconstrução de valores tidos como naturalizados em relação ao sexo, ao gênero, à normalidade e à doença mental. Verificou-se um forte apelo e penetração das religiões de tradição cristã modelando as práticas discursivas sobre a sexualidade, mesmo para aquelas/es que alegaram não possuir uma prática religiosa. Tal fato não é exclusividade das pessoas com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia e, segundo a literatura especializada, se estende à maior parte da população brasileira, onde o discurso cristão tem forte ascendência. Os homens entrevistados têm uma prática religiosa mais dependente da instituição do que as mulheres, a religiosidade sendo para elas uma vivência mais pessoal. A violência contra a mulher é presente, todavia a mulher esquizofrênica, numa mirada interseccional, está mais vulnerável a este tipo de agressão. O estudo permite concluir que as práticas discursivas das/os entrevistadas/os são potencialmente emancipatórias, pois produzem contra-discursos capazes de desconstruir e negociar com instâncias hegemônicas, como a religião e o modelo biomédico, propondo a ressignificação das suas posições identitárias na sociedade.

At the start of his premiership UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, spoke of ensuring that Britain continues with its proud history of multiculturalism by developing programmes to further integrate communities and reduce tensions resulting from immigration. Initially this programme was successful and many hailed the drive of New Labour in its desire to ensure that Britain sold itself as a welcoming place to call home. However, this celebration of success has been called into question over the first two decades of the new millennium following the seemingly steady increase in terrorist attacks and foiled attacks – many of which have been linked to British-born actors or immigrants to Britain. Thus, this study will call into question the extent to which the UKs multiculturalist approach has hit a stumbling block, positing that it is the change in approach to counter-terrorism through its Prevent programme that has led it to unlearn’ lessons from Northern Ireland and actively ensured a backward step through alienating the very communities it is trying to engage. It will examine the extent to which this seemingly more suspicious and divisive government-led approach alienates rather than celebrates cultural diversity, creating an environment ripe for radicalisation, in direct contrast to its aim, using Critical Discourse Analysis to show that the government’s approach from 2005 to the present day become entrenched as a result of the ‘new narrative’ of the ‘new age of terrorism’ and that this has led to a development of an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ approach which is not taking into account the necessary holistic approach to counter-terrorism, instead alienating Muslim communities and creating a hostile environment made worse by the permeation of suspicion from the general public who have bought into the narrative following more than a decade of its telling.

This thesis is directed towards investigating the nature of English language learning in a foundation-year programme in one public university in the United Arab Emirates. The aims of the thesis were based on the need to provide a possible explanation for the significant number of learners achieving low results, or failing their English language courses, in this programme. It was felt that a critical Jungian perspective could help uncover the existence in the Emirati tertiary system of both conscious and unconscious student resistance to English and of, synchronous, discursive forms of linguistic imperialism. This notion was based on findings in the literature, principally in Analytical Psychology, which suggest that the individual psyche is composed of profound and powerful personal and collective unconscious elements as well as critical theory, which maintains that the language classroom cannot be extricated from the influence of surrounding political, or even geopolitical, forces. The thesis sought, through the use of both a critical discourse analysis and critically-oriented case studies, to provide insight into the nature of the dialectical tension believed to exist, in this milieu, between the propagators of the language and those adopting it. The findings provided considerable evidence of a tension operating both at the discursive level and at the psychological level in the use of English in the foundation-year programme. The findings suggested that the discourse presented to learners, from western textbook writers and editors, is heavily Anglo-Saxon in its use of motifs and topics and that there is room, at least on a macrostructural level, to offset this tendency and reconsider the cultural weighting of topical content so as to more appropriately cater to an Arabic and Muslim audience. Also, the primary data revealed that the study’s participants were critical of the use of English as the university’s medium of instruction and there was consensus among them that a significant number of Emirati students, as well as some members of the public, were not receptive to the intrusion of this foreign language into their lives. Critical Discourse Analysis and critical case studies were combined in the shaping of the research methodology and this enabled the researcher to gain an in-depth and qualitative insight into the nature of English propagation and adoption. Key data collected from the research interviews was placed into a Jungian taxonomy and combined with the critical discourse analysis. Upon examination, it provided the researcher with information, supported by relevant literature, that led to a number of recommendations directed, in particular, to language teachers (and publishers) regarding the need to shape discourse to cater to the cultural needs of the learners and to consider the psychological impact that the tertiary English language policy was having on the Arab student body. The thesis strongly maintains that the discursive content of the language materials delivered to such students needs to be more extensively adapted in order to cater to the student body so as to minimize, as much as possible, potential cultural alienation. It also advocates the provision of Jungian psychological counseling in English language programmes because it would encourage policy makers to acknowledge the role of the unconscious in learning as well as provide invaluable support to language learners who are experiencing conscious or unconscious resistance to the English language in such a setting.

The purpose of the present essay is to illuminate to which extent figurations of victims in cases of intimate partner homicide is conditional upon the sexes of these individuals. Furthermore, the aim of this study is to determine whether or not these gendered discrepancies reproduce or transform the existing gender-related social systems? The theoretical as well as methodological basis consists of Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis (CDA), which is combined with Judith Butler’s concept of performative acts. To answer the abovementioned questions I have requested/collected an empirical material consisting of 20 district court judgments (ten for male victims and ten for female victims).The results of this essay indicate, according to my interpretation, that the established figurations of the victims in these cases are determined by the victim’s sex in several but not all discourses. Furthermore, I establish that the demonstrated gender determined discourses contribute to re- produce prevailing standards regarding sex/gender in which male victims are associated with a guilt-burdened role while female victims are considered innocent.