Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 1998." Also available in print.

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, May 14, 1999." Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 1, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions, Columbia, S.C., 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-154).

Misunderstanding refers to an erroneous interpretation of the meaning of an utterance – a failure to understand. The instructional context relies almost exclusively on oral communication. The instructional message can be hampered, no less by the teacher as prime interlocutor whose utterances may result in misunderstandings. To answer the question: "To what extent are misunderstandings the result of English second language speakers' oral proficiency?" misunderstandings were identified in the instructional settings of 26 pre-service teachers who used English as the medium of instruction. This qualitative research drew from ethnographic and case study designs. Speech Act Theory and theories on misunderstandings and instructional communication underpinned the study. Data collection was based on video recordings of the student teachers’ authentic lesson presentations during their internship. Misunderstandings were identified and described in terms of their occurrence, nature, frequency and consequence, e.g. whether they were the result of grammatical clumsiness, cross-cultural transfer problems, or lean vocabulary. These students were not mother tongue speakers of English and the International English Language Testing Score was used to rate their oral proficiency in this language. Focus group interviews were conducted with the student teachers to gauge their awareness of and response to the occurrence of misunderstandings. They also completed a questionnaire in order to establish their awareness of misunderstandings. This small-scale survey also served to provide clarification of information gathered from the interviews. Several iterations of data combing were executed and coding and categorising were done concurrently within each data set. Findings corroborated the initial proposition that misunderstandings in the instructional context occur as a result of poor oral proficiency and inadequate speech act realization patterns. Underdeveloped communication skills included verbosity, unclear enunciation, non-standard pronunciation and inadequate rate of speech. However, what had not been anticipated was that the oral proficiency and speech act realization patterns of the student teachers were considerably weaker than had been expected. Furthermore, methodological factors and inadequate instructional skills similarly compounded the classroom communication. Participants displayed difficulty in formulating effective questions, explaining new concepts, giving instructions and designing well-structured lessons. Their inadequate content knowledge caused erroneous explanations, and poorly structured delivery resulted in instructional dissonance. The overarching theme of failure emerged, namely, inadequate pragmatic competence, underdeveloped content knowledge and scant methodological skills. Recommendations for policy and practice serve to highlight the importance of teachers’ proficiency in the medium of instruction. Coupled with a sound knowledge of the subject field and the prerequisite of well-developed methodological skills, the student teacher will be equipped to teach effectively. Several research topics relating to classroom communication, such as pre-service teacher development courses and cross-cultural and cross-linguistic competence, have been suggested for further exploration. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Humanities Education / unrestricted

Over the past five decades, scholars of intercultural communication have attempted to define, describe, and otherwise operationalize the concept of competency in an intercultural interaction. This study constructed a comprehensive theory of intercultural communication competence (ICC) grounded in the extant literature and the practical or everyday understanding of the concept. Using classroom data that was validated by a metasynthesis of existing qualitative or ethnographic studies describing ICC, the academic definitions and lay descriptions were each explored and then compared to find points of convergence and points of divergence. The comparative analysis provided the foundation for the development of tenets: ICC is an outcome; ICC is externally perceived and measured; and ICC is bound by the cultural context in which it takes place, conditions regarding interaction goals and power roles of the interactants, and culture specific elements for the holistic ICC theory proposed by this study. An examination of the implications of the newly constructed ICC theory and its future application and implications were explored.

Early detection of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is crucial to optimizing child and family outcomes. Most research on the early diagnostic features of ASD has been done in the clinic environment; therefore there is a need for research on diagnostic features displayed in a natural environment. Observation of behaviors of young children in their home environment is a possible way to assist in earlier diagnosis in a less time consuming, less stressful, and more cost-effective manner for families. The primary purpose of this study was to explore and quantify red flags for ASD in the behaviors of young children between 17 and 36 months of age (N = 60) demonstrated in the home environment. Measures on the Systematic Observation of Red Flags for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children at Home (SORF-Home; Wetherby & Woods, 2009) were coded from video recorded home observation samples of the child interacting with a parent or caregiver during everyday activities. Overall, the results of this study demonstrated that early red flags of ASD were evident in the home environment. Seven of the red flags identified by previous researchers to be evident in the clinic environment (lack of warm, joyful expression with directed gaze, lack of coordination of gaze, facial expression, gestures and sounds, lack of response to name, lack of communicative vocalizations with consonants, inappropriate eye gaze, lack of response to contextual cues, and lack of sharing interest or enjoyment) were also found to be demonstrated by a majority of children during the home observations. Examination of the relationship between the early red flags and developmental level revealed no significant correlations between the red flags and nonverbal cognitive developmental level and medium to large negative significant correlations between some red flags and verbal developmental level. Significant correlations were observed between many of the early red flags and ASD symptom severity on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS; Lord, Rutter, DiLavore, & Risi, 2002). No significant correlations were observed between measures of parent report of red flags and the early red flags measured in the home environment. The results of this exploratory study extend knowledge on the nature of red flags for ASD in young children to the home environment which adds valuable information for both practicing clinicians and families. The findings also provide promising information on the utility of the SORF-Home as an interactive screening measure for ASD and offer important implications for early identification of ASD. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication Science and Disorders in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2009. / August 17, 2009. / Autism, Early Red Flags, Communication Disorders / Includes bibliographical references. / Amy M. Wetherby, Professor Directing Dissertation; Ann Mullis, Outside Committee Member; Juliann Woods, Committee Member; Carla Wood Jackson, Committee Member.

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