abstract: This study described the multimodal communication patterns of college students and their parents, and examined how face-to-face and mediated communication frequencies relate to parental idealization and relational quality. Undergraduate students (N = 678) completed an online survey that assessed indicators of idealization (idealistic distortion and positive affect thinking), relational quality (relational/communication satisfaction, and relational closeness), and the frequency of face-to-face and mediated parental communication. Results indicated that average college students communicate with their primary parent 23 times per week, mostly via phone calls, text messaging, and face-to-face interaction. The frequency of mediated communication was positively related to both indicators of idealization and both indicators of relational quality. Moreover, idealization partially mediated the relationship between mediated communication frequency and relational quality. The frequency of face-to-face communication was inversely related to positive affect thinking. Indirect effects were also detected, such that face-to-face communication was negatively related to both indicators of relational quality as a function of positive affect thinking. Finally, this study examined whether students experience different levels of parental idealization and relational quality depending on whether their parent is geographically close or geographically distant, and whether they reside with their parent. Results indicated that students who live geographically distant from their parent experienced greater levels of idealization and relational quality than did student who live geographically close to yet separate from their parent, who reported greater levels of idealization and relational quality than students who live with their parent. These results were interpreted using concepts from interpersonal, family, and computer-mediated communication. Limitations and directions for future research were discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Communication 2012

My Bachelor's thesis aimed at a standard lexical analysis carried out by the means of Del Hymes model. The MMORPG platform of the game Lord of the Rings Online served as a linguistic data collection point. Therefore, the analysis was one of mediated communication. The presented Master's thesis directly resumes the previous one. Mediated communication is even three years later still a widely discussed topic. Its understanding is deepening and its perception is continuously being refined. Nowadays, an analytical description of a linguistic phenomenon cannot be sufficient for an up-to-date thesis. Owing to recent research and new models of enquiry a deeper insight into the text is possible as well as message and communication analysis at a strictly quantitative level. Thanks to the work of people such as Joseph B. Walther, Daantje Derks or Victor Savicky one can immerse in a research reaching far beyond the linguistic element of the communication, and therefore start to examine the alluring paralingual depths inside the communication mediated via computers. Such a depth approach opens up a lot of questions. What exactly is hidden in the text? What information can be acquired through the text which is not communicated in primary code? This thesis formulates several research questions which crystalised out of my long-lasting experience with the game and the MESSAGE produced there. These questions are supplied with lingustic evidence available to the author. The presented thesis does not aim only at providing a handbook for using a specific type of communication. The aim comprises of a depth insight into the message and of finding proofs the message exhibits such traits which reveal its author. This thesis strives to prove that the product of mediated communication is capable of completing the notion of the communicating person at least as efficiently, though by different means, as the paraverbal means in face-to-face communication.

A homossexualidade feminina tem, na atualidade, maior visibilidade nos espaços midiáticos num processo indicativo de mudanças acerca do tema que emerge da intimidade para o debate na esfera pública. Esse processo mobiliza questionamentos na sociedade sobre normalidade e anormalidade das orientações sexuais bem como de suas representações sociais. Verificar, compreender e examinar como as lésbicas utilizam a comunicação mediada por computador é o objetivo deste trabalho que se detém na análise das narrativas para avaliar a interação comunicacional, as redes de socialidade e solidariedade e a afirmação identitária. Neste percurso são vistos a atuação individual e do movimento lésbico por mudanças nos direitos de cidadania dentro da esfera pública virtual: o ciberespaço. / The visibility of woman homossexuality on media space indicates a changing process about this theme on public shpere. This fact sets questions about normality and abnormality of sexual orientations and also about the lesbians' social representations. Verifying ,understanding and examine how those women use the computer-mediated communication is the purpose of this study. Narrative analyses are the method used to evaluate the communicational interaction, the lesbian identity and the lesbian movement actions in the changing process citizenship in the virtual public shpere: the cyberspace.

x, 89 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether the use of textual Synchronous Computer Mediated Communication (SCMC) can help students improve oral language proficiency when compared with a group of students who engage in face-to-face oral and written practice. A second objective is to investigate how the use of synchronous computer mediated written practice motivates and enhances the students' learning of the language. The participants ( N =56) were 9 th and 10 th grade English-speaking students enrolled in a beginning Spanish class. A paired sample t test was conducted to evaluate whether SCM written exchanges or face-to-face written practice influence language production. The results indicated that the mean language production for CMC written exchanges ( M = 1.79, SD = .833) was significantly greater than the mean language production for face-to-face written exchanges ( M = 1.11, SD = .737, p = .002). Qualitative results suggests that engaging learners in authentic interaction with other students of slightly higher language proficiency through the use of textual synchronous technology enhances their language skills as well as their overall learning experience. / Committee in charge: Kathleen Scalise, Chairperson, Educational Leadership; Philip McCullum, Member, Educational Leadership; Paul Yovanoff, Member, Educational Leadership; Robert Davis, Outside Member, Romance Languages

The evolution of computer networks and the Internet has transformed the world. Digital communication technologies offer exciting options and new challenges for Open and Distance Learning (ODL). This dissertation presents a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) training pilot* in order to investigate and critique the use of Learning Management Systems distance-driven teacher development programmes. Globally, English language learning is in high demand. Conventional contact training is unable to reach sufficient numbers of aspirant teachers to ensure quality and to promote access. The study uses design-based research as a means of unravelling the complex relationships between theory, best practice, and implementation in both ODL and TEFL. It concludes by recommending foundational institutional changes as the most appropriate means to effective distance and computer-assisted education. / English Studies / (M.A. (English))

A homossexualidade feminina tem, na atualidade, maior visibilidade nos espaços midiáticos num processo indicativo de mudanças acerca do tema que emerge da intimidade para o debate na esfera pública. Esse processo mobiliza questionamentos na sociedade sobre normalidade e anormalidade das orientações sexuais bem como de suas representações sociais. Verificar, compreender e examinar como as lésbicas utilizam a comunicação mediada por computador é o objetivo deste trabalho que se detém na análise das narrativas para avaliar a interação comunicacional, as redes de socialidade e solidariedade e a afirmação identitária. Neste percurso são vistos a atuação individual e do movimento lésbico por mudanças nos direitos de cidadania dentro da esfera pública virtual: o ciberespaço. / The visibility of woman homossexuality on media space indicates a changing process about this theme on public shpere. This fact sets questions about normality and abnormality of sexual orientations and also about the lesbians' social representations. Verifying ,understanding and examine how those women use the computer-mediated communication is the purpose of this study. Narrative analyses are the method used to evaluate the communicational interaction, the lesbian identity and the lesbian movement actions in the changing process citizenship in the virtual public shpere: the cyberspace.

abstract: The present study focused on those who had recently been involved in a romantic relationship that ended in a breakup. Data was collected from 326 participants using an online questionnaire. Participants were asked questions about goal linking, rumination, self-efficacy, Facebook ORI behaviors, and emotional response questions. The results indicated that there were two types of Facebook ORI behaviors: explicit and covert. Explicit ORI was predicted by self-efficacy among those whose partner ended the relationship, as well as goal linking when the breakup was self-initiated. Covert ORI was predicted by rumination across all levels of breakup initiator (self, partner, or mutual). Moreover, only general negative emotions predicted Covert ORI, but general negative emotion and positive emotion predicted Explicit ORI. Finally, the results showed that those who were broken up with engaged in more Covert ORI behaviors than those who ended the relationship themselves or who mutually ended the relationship. These results suggest that Relational Goal Pursuit theory, which is commonly used to explain ORI behavior, be reconceptualized. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Communication Studies 2014

The Internet is in many cases our primary source for communication. As more communicative options online are introduced and become a part of our life, the language of the Internet, so called Netspeak, becomes a part of our language. The aim of this paper was to find out whether there is a difference in the use of Netspeak between teenagers and adults. The investigation was based on two message boards, one where the majority is teenagers and one where the majority is adults. Four different features of Netspeak were studied: exaggerated use of punctuation; exaggerated use of capital letters; abbreviations; and emoticons. All features are substitutes for paralanguage. The results show that teenagers are more likely to use features such as exaggerated use of punctuation and capitals, and abbreviations. Adults are, however, more likely to use emoticons than teenagers.

A homossexualidade feminina tem, na atualidade, maior visibilidade nos espaços midiáticos num processo indicativo de mudanças acerca do tema que emerge da intimidade para o debate na esfera pública. Esse processo mobiliza questionamentos na sociedade sobre normalidade e anormalidade das orientações sexuais bem como de suas representações sociais. Verificar, compreender e examinar como as lésbicas utilizam a comunicação mediada por computador é o objetivo deste trabalho que se detém na análise das narrativas para avaliar a interação comunicacional, as redes de socialidade e solidariedade e a afirmação identitária. Neste percurso são vistos a atuação individual e do movimento lésbico por mudanças nos direitos de cidadania dentro da esfera pública virtual: o ciberespaço. / The visibility of woman homossexuality on media space indicates a changing process about this theme on public shpere. This fact sets questions about normality and abnormality of sexual orientations and also about the lesbians' social representations. Verifying ,understanding and examine how those women use the computer-mediated communication is the purpose of this study. Narrative analyses are the method used to evaluate the communicational interaction, the lesbian identity and the lesbian movement actions in the changing process citizenship in the virtual public shpere: the cyberspace.

The aim of this essay was to examine chat communication in the World of Warcraft on-line interactive game in order to place the chat on the formal/informal continuum using speech and writing as extremes, as well as to examine the linguistic context of the chat situation within a broadly Hallidayian perspective and tenor of the participants. A corpus of 3675 words was gathered from the game on the realm or game server of Bloodfeather. The data was analysed by counting the frequency of a few selected linguistic features and compared with examples of speech and writing. The research showed that the chat in World of Warcraft was highly informal and would on the continuum be placed as more informal than the speech extract used for comparison. The results also indicated that context plays a small role in shaping the chat conversation and that tenor have close to no significance at all.