Texte remanié de: Diss. Ph. D.--Linguistics--Athens, Ga.--Graduate faculty of the university of Georgia, 1991.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Moving to a new country often involves exposing oneself to new languages and cultures. Many individuals who move to another country and acquire a new language are sometimes at risk of losing the language of their country of origin. Studies in first language (L1) loss aim to describe what happens in an individual’s L1 when he/she moves away or disconnects from its source as well as to explain which linguistic aspects change and why. The aim of this research paper is to investigate lexical proficiency in L1 German bilingual speakers residing in the Western Cape. Lexical data were elicited through a Verbal Fluency Task (VFT) and a Picture Naming Task (PNT). Particularly, the paper assesses the extent to which degree of German L1 contact influences lexical development, alongside other background factors (age of reduced L1 contact, length of residence in the L2, education level) and sociolinguistic factors (attitude towards the L1, language use and contact). Correlational analyses revealed that two types of contact factors were crucial for maintaining L1 lexical proficiency: 1) intense receptive input such as reading German books and other German visual media, and 2) exposure to German as a medium of instruction within an educational setting. Neither of these factors allow nor permit any code-switching or code-mixing and are considered to be a form of German monolingual input, thus cementing L1 knowledge and skills and proving to be beneficial for long-term language development and maintenance. Conclusions drawn from the results of the study are discussed in the final chapter and suggestions for future research are presented. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verhuising na ‘n nuwe land sluit gewoonlik blootstelling van menself aan nuwe tale en kulture in. Baie individue wat na ‘n ander land verhuis en ‘n nuwe taal aanleer, loop soms die risiko om die taal van hulle land van herkoms, te verloor. Studies in eerste taal (L1) verlies het ten doel om te beskryf wat in ‘n individu se L1 gebeur wanneer hy of sy verhuis of wegbreek van die bron asook om te verduidelik watter linguistiese aspekte verander of aanpas en waarom. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om leksikale bevoegdheid in L1 Duitse tweetalige sprekers in die Wes-Kaap, te ondersoek. Leksikale data is deur ‘n Verbale Vlotheid Taak (VFT) en ‘n Prentjie Benaaming Taak (PNT) versamel. Meer spesifiek, assesseer die navorsing die mate van die graad waartoe Duitse L1 kontak leksikale ontwikkeling beïnvloed tesame met ander agtergrondfaktore (ouderdom van verminderde L1 kontak, lengte van verblyf in die L2, onderrigvlak). Korrelatiewe analises dui daarop dat twee tipes kontakfaktore van uiterste belang was vir L1 leksikale bevoegdheid: 1) intense vatbare insette soos die lees van Duitse boeke en ander Duitse visuele media, en 2) blootsteling aan Duits as ‘n medium van instruksie in ‘n onderrigopset. Nie een van hierdie twee faktore laat enige kode-wisseling of kode-vermenging toe nie en is oorwegend ‘n vorm van Duitse eentalige tevoer, dus word L1-kennis en-vaardighede vasgelê en bewys dat dit voordelig is vir langtermyn taalontwikeling en instandhouding. Gevolgtrekkings wat van die resultate van die studie gemaak is, word in die finale hoofstuk bespreek en voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing word aangedui.

Les convertisseurs à base de Si atteignent leurs limites. Face à ces besoins, le GaN, avec sa vitesse de saturation des électrons et le champ électrique de claquage élevés est candidat idéal pour réaliser des redresseurs, surtout s’il est épitaxié sur substrat à bas cout. Ce travail est dédié au développement des diodes Schottky sur AlGaN/GaN. Une couche de SiNx en faible traction a été obtenue. Un contact ohmique de Ti/Al avec une gravure partiel a donné une Rc de 2.8 Ω.mm avec une résistance Rsh de 480 Ω/□. Des diodes Schottky avec les étapes issues de ces études ont été fabriqué. La diode recuite à 400 °C avec 30 nm de profondeur de gravure a montré une hauteur de barrière de 0,82 eV et un facteur d'idéalité de 1,49. La diode a présenté une très faible densité de courant de fuite de 8.45x10-8 A.mm-1 à -400 V avec une tension de claquage entre 480 V et 750 V. / Si-based devices for power conversion applications are reaching their limits. Wide band gap GaN is particularly interesting due to the high electron saturation velocity and high breakdown electric field, especially when epitaxied on low cost substrates such as Si. This work was dedicated to the development and fabrication of the Schottky diode on AlGaN/GaN on Si. SiNx passivation in very low tensile strain is used. Ti (70 nm)/Al (180 nm) partially recessed ohmic contacts annealed at 800 ºC exhibited a 2.8 Ω.mm Rc with a sheet resistance of 480 Ω/sq. Schottky diodes with the previously cited passivation and ohmic contact were fabricated with a fully recessed Schottky contact annealed at 400 ºC. A Schottky barrier height of 0.82 eV and an ideality factor of 1.49 were obtained. These diodes also exhibited a very low leakage current density (up to -400 V) of 8.45x10-8 A.mm-1. The breakdown voltage varied between 480 V and 750 V.

Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse visent à apporter une aide à la compréhension des mécanismes régissant l'évaporation des films liquides. La physique des problèmes à changement de phase avec ligne de contact est gouvernée par des mécanismes agissant au niveau de ces dernières ainsi qu'au niveau des interfaces gaz-liquide. La description géométrique des interfaces est donc un point clef dans cette étude tant d'un point de vue numérique qu'expérimental. Un outil numérique tridimensionnel de suivi d'interface infiniment fine a été créé afin d'anticiper la simulation numérique de ces problèmes. Cet algorithme repose sur une description quadratique de l'interface qui est une surface du maillage. L’ordre de convergence de cette méthode relatif à différentes caractéristiques (courbure, normale, position) de l'interface ainsi que sa qualité conservative ont été étudiés.Parallèlement à cette approche numérique, une technique expérimentale d'inversion optique a été développée. Celle-ci permet la mesure dynamique du profil d'une interface au voisinage de la ligne de contact dans le cadre de fluide très mouillant. Cette méthode, appliquée dans le cadre d'un problème de film en évaporation quasi axisymétrique a permis, dans le cadre d'une expérience simple, une première quantification des flux de chaleur et de masse échangés au niveau de la ligne de contact. / The tasks fulfilled during this study aim at providing tools for understanding the mechanisms of liquid film evaporation. Evaporation in the presence of a triple lines is ruled by physical mechanisms acting on these singularities as well as on the gas liquid interfaces. Thus, the interface description, under it numerical as experimental aspects, is a key point of this study. A numerical tridimentionnal sharp interface tracking tool has been developed to be used in further numerical simulation of the evaporation problem. In this algorithm, the interface is described as a quadratic grid surface. Its convergence orders relatively to geometrical parameters of the interface (curvature, normal, position) has been studied.In the mean time, an experimental optical inversion technique has been developed and validated. It allows a dynamic measurement of the interface shape in the vicinity of the triple line of highly wetting fluid. This method has been applied to the case of a quasi axisymetric evaporating film and provides a first quantification of the heat and mass transfers generated by the triple line region.

Drawing upon intergroup contact theory (Allport, 1954; Pettigrew 1998) and the emerging literature on intergroup climate (e.g., Christ et al., 2013, 2014), I utilised various antipathetic intergroup relationships (e.g., Black people vs. White people; non-Muslims vs. Muslims), and various models of contact (e.g., Pettigrew, 1998; Koschate & van Dick, 2011) to test whether the effect of higher quality contact on less prejudice was facilitated by perceptions of a more positive intergroup climate. Results supported Allport’s (1954) classic model of four contact conditions independently predicting prejudice, although the conditions of ‘equal status’, ‘goal interdependence’, and ‘cooperation’ loaded strongly onto a separate factor than did ‘authority support’. Intergroup climate was successfully modelled as perceptions of intergroup norms, ingroup norms, and sociohistoric norms; further, there was some indication that beliefs regarding authority – traditionally considered a contact condition – might also impact intergroup climate in the form of macro authority norms. Results further supported the position that individuals are sensitive to intergroup climate, perceptions of which exhibited a separate – and stronger – effect on outgroup attitudes than did quality of personal contact. Regarding the proposed moderating effect of intergroup climate on contact effects, results were equivocal across studies. Some results supported the prediction of a facilitating effect of warmer ingroup norms on stronger contact effects. However, analyses of cross-sectional data revealed some evidence for an inhibitory effect, such that more negative (vs. positive) perceptions of intergroup climate were associated with a stronger relation between higher quality contact and warmer outgroup attitudes. Therefore, some aspects of intergroup contact might be most effective in negative intergroup climates. Theoretical and practical implications for contact researchers, prejudice researchers, and practitioners, are discussed.

This work is an interdisciplinary exploration of negotiations between the nations that make up Canada. It explores the disparity that remains between Aboriginals and non Aboriginals in Canadian North America at a systemic level. It will show that the postcolonial era is rampant with colonial doctrine and that these principles and policies maintain a dogmatic system that can not allow for the continued existence of Aboriginals as separate and distinct peoples. I will show my understanding and interpretation of an old Indigenous system and suggest ways in which aspects of this ancient system may be valuable in creating a coordination of world views that can allow for both factions to exist and prosper. I will specifically address how the differing world views that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians—and the inequality between these two groups of peoples—has been and remains infused in the negotiation process that these governments attempt to complete. The final aspect of this work will be a theatrical production piece that allows (in some small way) the traditional Indigenous approach to ‘law’ to be given equal weight as the Supreme Court in Delgamuukw suggests. / Law, Faculty of / Graduate

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'investiguer la relation entre l'homologie de contact Legendrienne d'une variété de contact de dimension 3, et l'entropie topologique des flots de Reeb associés à cette variété de contact. Une variété de contact est une variété differentielle M de dimension impaire munie d'un champ d'hyperplan Y maximalement non-intégrable. Les champs de Reeb sont une classe speciale de champs de vecteurs sur M qui sont définis en utilisant la structure de contact; ils préservent la structure de contact et ils préservent aussi une forme de volume sur M.<p><p>L'entropie topologique h est un nombre non-négatif qu'on associe à un système dynamique et qui mesure la complexité de ce système. Si un système dynamique est d'entropie topologique positive, on dit que ce système est chaotique.<p><p>Comme les champs de Reeb sont construits en utilisant la structure de contact Y, il est naturel d'attendre que la topologie de (M,Y) influence la dynamique des champs de Reeb auxquels elle est associée. En particulier, il est naturel de se demander s'il existe des variétés de contact dont tous les champs de Reeb associés ont une entropie topologique positive. Si une varieté de contact a cette propriété, on dira qu'elle est d'entropie positive. <p><p>Macarini et Schlenk ont été les premiers à étudier cette question. Ils ont montré qu'il existe un grand ensemble de variétés différentielles Q, telles que le fibré unitaire T_1 Q muni de sa structure de contact canonique Y_{can} est d'entropie topologique positive. Plus précisement, ils ont utilisé l'homologie de Floer Lagrangienne, qui est un invariant symplectique, pour montrer que si Q est rationnellement hyperbolique alors (T_1 Q,Y_{can}) est d'entropie positive. <p><p>Pour étudier l'entropie topologique dans le cas où M n'est pas un fibré unitaire on substitue à l'homologie de Floer Lagrangienne un invariant plus naturel des variétés de contact: l'homologie de contact Legendrienne à bandes. On demontre dans cette thèse que l'homologie de contact Legendrienne à bandes est bien adaptée pour étudier l'entropie topologique. Plus précisement, on montre que quand l'homologie de contact Legendrienne à bandes est bien définie pour un champ de Reeb associé à (M,Y) et sa croissance est exponentielle, alors (M,Y) est d'entropie positive. <p><p>On utilise ce résultat pour trouver des nouveaux exemples de variétés de contact de dimension 3 qui sont d'entropie positive. On montre même qu'il y a des variétés de dimension 3 qui possèdent une infinité de structures de contact différentes qui sont toutes d'entropie positive. Ces résultats et bien d'autres nous permettent de conjecturer que la ``plupart' des variétés de contact de dimension 3 sont d'entropie positive. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychological Sciences / Mark A. Barnett / In the current study, 141 White third- and fourth-grade children were asked to provide their attitudes, feelings, and behaviors toward White, Black, and Hispanic peers several days before and after being read a personalized or non-personalized storybook that depicted the children, themselves (personalized) or an unfamiliar White character (non-personalized), in a cross- or same-race friendship with a target Black (cross-race) or White (same-race) storybook character. Further, children were asked to provide their attitudes, feelings, and behaviors toward the target Black or White storybook character immediately before and after being read the storybook, and report how much they felt imaginatively transported into the narrative of the story after being read the storybook. In general, and consistent with Harwood’s (2010) two-dimensional framework of contact space, it was predicted that a personalized storybook that depicted the children, themselves, in a cross-race friendship with a Black storybook character would be more effective than a non-personalized version of the storybook at improving their ratings of the Black storybook character as well as their attitudes, feelings, and behaviors toward the Black and Hispanic peers. Although analyses of the data yielded several interesting findings, no support was found for the main predictions involving the potential impact of a personalized storybook on White children's ratings of the Black storybook character, Black peers, and Hispanic peers. In fact, the only significant effect of the personalization of the storybook that merits attention involved the children’s imaginative transportation into the cross-race friendship story. Specifically, and consistent with prediction, children in the cross-race friendship storybook condition reported feeling more imaginatively transported into the narrative of the storybook when it was personalized than when it was not personalized. In sum, although personalization was indeed “powerful” in elevating White children’s imaginative transportation into a storybook that depicted a cross-race friendship, it was not powerful enough to influence their attitudes, feelings, and behaviors toward the Black storybook character, the Black peers, or the Hispanic peers. The implications and limitations of the present study, as well as directions for future research, are addressed.

In recent years the issue of children’s contact with non-resident parents has been increasingly debated. The policy gaze has focused on contested contact when there are allegations of domestic abuse. Some commentators argue that in circumstances of domestic abuse, contact with an abusive father may not be in the ‘best interests’ of the child. To support these claims they point to evidence that domestic abuse adversely affects children, and domestic abuse often continues following separation. Children’s views of contact in circumstances of domestic abuse remain underresearched, as such their views on this issue have been missing from policy debates. The research aims to uncover how children view and experience contact with nonresident fathers when in the context of domestic abuse. A qualitative methodology was developed for the research. In-depth interviews were carried out with both children and their mothers. The findings confirm that conceptualisations of domestic abuse that focus on discrete acts or incidents of violence do not correspond with children’s and mother’s accounts of abuse. Domestic abuse was a constant in the lives of children and mothers. Children were exposed to domestic abuse before and following parental separation. The research uncovers the complex negotiations children make when family relationships are characterised by abuse. Children identified domestic abuse as a core issue when forming views about contact with their fathers. They tried to make sense of and developed their own analysis of their fathers’ abuse and strategies to cope with it. Children also highlighted a range of issues beyond domestic abuse that influenced their views about contact. The role children should have in disputes about contact in is contested. Children may be considered incompetent to form a view or their views are constructed as a product of parental manipulation. The research provides insights into children’s experiences of participating in contact disputes. It points to limitations in current Scottish legal mechanisms that are designed to take children’s views into account and questions the respect afforded to children’s participation in disputes. The thesis concludes by highlighting the theoretical, policy and practice implications that result from this research.