Verbal Irony in the Czech Discourse and its Perception Mgr. Dominika Rýparová Abstract This thesis sets the verbal irony into a broader context of human communication and supports the tendency to understand the irony as a communication strategy - not only as a speech figure or a tool to make our way of speaking more attractive. The aim of this work is to remind that irony is an integral part of our everyday communication, and a prerequisite for its use and understanding is built on the particular language experience. The experiment was examining the function of the four forms of irony, which differed in the degree of engaged humour or, conversely, expressed criticism. During the research one was able to get answers from a total of 3,167 respondents. Their analysis revealed that the major motivation for use of the selected types of irony is the humour, but the more humorous the statement is, the more the speaker takes a risk of not being completely understood, because he/she plays with reality too much. Further the results showed that the perception of irony-related emotions is influenced by our age. Younger people are more sensitive to the humorous points of irony, while the older are more tolerant of its critical part. The evaluation of irony is also affected by the communication role of the respondent...

This is the story of a project to connect the resources of a university to the struggles of a group of Congolese asylum seekers in the city of Derby. It represents a case study of a whole process: this includes a specific project established to explore how a university might fulfil its stated goals of being closely anchored in the local and regional community; and how it might engage and marshal its resources to provide educational and maybe research opportunities, while giving priority to community-based projects that tackle social disadvantage. The thesis is made up of a number of overlapping elements: there is the story of the project itself, of why the University became involved, and the nature of the interaction with a particular community, as seen through the eyes of some of the Congolese and me the project coordinator/researcher. It includes my struggles to establish a steering committee with the Congolese and the creation of a range of educational/recreational resources to help members of a community manage the difficult, stressful and even traumatic processes of asylum. The project led to the establishment of a community association and various initiatives to dialogically engage with the community and gather diverse narratives. Finally it led to various outcomes leading to what might be a ‘Reconnecting the hearts and minds’ project, that created spaces for story telling for a number of women and men migrants. The project also included an evaluation, which developed at its core, into a collection of narratives chronicling the difficult processes of forced migration, where people experience the pain of family separation, the dislocation of landing in a foreign country. A country whose language was different, whose customs were strange and where the processes of claiming asylum could be alienating, and where racism is experienced. We can call this project and its evaluation a piece of action research with a series of narratives at its heart. The project and evaluation together raise questions about the role of creative activity and narrative in managing painful transitions. There is another story within the bigger one, however, a story of a project coordinator and his relationship with the community and the University of Derby ... of initial enthusiasm followed by marginalisation and the closure of a supportive community development unit in the University; and of the placement of this role, for want of a better home, in the marketing department. This is also a narrative of registering for a doctorate, of being rejected, and of seeking to think through, with the help of others, what a good enough doctorate might entail. The end product has become a process of auto/biographical narrative reflexive research in which the narratives of the migrants intertwine with the researcher’s own; around the themes of dislocation, and of the struggles for voice and agency. The basic threads of the study are of a dislocating experience, and of how resources of hope can be found in creative activity – whether a sewing class, telling stories, fashion shows or engaging in auto/biographical narrative reflexivity. The basic argument has to do with tokenism and the disrespect that can surround university civic engagement as well as how asylum seekers are treated callously more generally; but also how resources of hope can make a difference. There is also the troubling issue of voice in research and whose story really counts; of a white, middle class male engaging with distressed women migrants, and of what might have been a silencing of the women concerned. But through values of commitment, and of learning to listen, the project became more dialogical, as evidenced in the women’s stories.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:34:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FabioHVR_DISSERT.pdf: 1736315 bytes, checksum: 4dc3a2eac30fed1c52fec8dc075fa7d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-11 / Analyzes the development experience in the Territories of Mato Grande and Sert?o do Apodi in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, evaluating the actions of the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture, specifically the line of infrastructure (PRONAF-INFRA), and the National Program for Sustainable Development of Rural Territories (PRONAT) in these territories. Summarizes the various rural development approaches and takes the theoretical assumptions of territorial development, the concept of constructed territory and market-plan territory, further the cycle model to analyze public policies selected these experiences. Thus, we propose to test the hypothesis that most of the actions implemented would lead to the formation of market-plan territories, in other words, perceived only as a platform for the presentation of projects. The literature and documents, combined with case studies, interviews and direct observation of the meetings of committees, showed that, despite two boards are under the same laws, rules and formal regulations, have clear differences when considering the theory and concepts that were used as reference. The Apodi s territory is closer to a constructed space thus the search for a broader agenda, more autonomous and more appropriate to the reality experienced by local actors. On other hand the Territory of Mato Grande had the characteristics of a market-plan territory more present. As the result, the territory of Sert?o do Apodi accesses not only as part of a greater number of policies and funding sources, ensuring a greater and more diverse investment volume than the territory of Mato Grande. Despite these differences, studies have shown that territorial boards surveyed are still far from becoming the main forum for managing the development from conception planning socially constructed. Showed, finally, that territorial development strategy is relevant, but requires a long walk and a deep and continuous learning process to be successfully implemented in rural areas of Northeast Brazil / Analisa a experi?ncia de desenvolvimento nos Territ?rios do Mato Grande e Sert?o do Apodi, no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, e avalia as a??es do Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar Linha Infraestrutura (PRONAF-INFRA) e Programa Nacional de Desenvolvimento Sustent?vel dos Territ?rios Rurais (PRONAT) nesses territ?rios. Apresenta uma s?ntese das diversas abordagens desenvolvimento rural e toma os pressupostos te?ricos do desenvolvimento territorial, o conceito de territ?rio constru?do e territ?rio mercadejado, e o modelo do ciclo de pol?ticas p?blicas para analisar as experi?ncias selecionadas. Deste modo, prop?e testar a hip?tese de que a maior parte das a??es implementadas levariam ? constitui??o de territ?rios mercadejados, ou seja, percebidos apenas como plataformas para apresenta??o de projetos. As pesquisas bibliogr?fica e documental, combinadas com estudos de caso, entrevistas e observa??o direta das reuni?es dos colegiados, evidenciaram que, apesar dos dois colegiados estarem regidos pelas mesmas legisla??es, normas e regulamentos formais, possuem claras diferen?as quando se considera os pressupostos te?ricos e os conceitos que foram tomados como refer?ncia. O Territ?rio do Apodi est? mais pr?ximo de um espa?o constru?do e da busca de uma agenda mais ampla, mais aut?noma e mais adequada a realidade vivenciada pelos atores locais, do que o Territ?rio do Mato Grande, onde as caracter?sticas de um territ?rio mercadejado est?o mais presentes. Como consequ?ncia o Sert?o do Apodi n?o s? acessa como integra um maior n?mero de pol?ticas e de fontes de financiamento, garantindo um maior e mais diversificado volume de investimento do que o Mato Grande. Apesar dessas diferen?as, os estudos realizados mostraram que os colegiados territoriais pesquisados ainda est?o longe de se transformarem em f?runs privilegiados que gerem o desenvolvimento a partir da concep??o do territ?rio constru?do socialmente. Mostraram, finalmente, que estrat?gia de desenvolvimento territorial ? relevante, mas requer uma longa caminhada e um profundo e cont?nuo processo de aprendizagem para ser implementada com sucesso nos territ?rios rurais do Nordeste brasileiro

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-06-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:39:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_wj_me_fran.pdf: 877940 bytes, checksum: 5f218ad11883396e150ed9df3f9dd5f2 (MD5) / Na produção social do espaço capitalista, O Estado e o próprio capital são elementos fundamentais desse processo. A acumulação de capital na atividade de produção do etanol tem ligação direta com as transformações no cenário social e espacial. Na cidade de Delta- MG , habita uma parcela da população de trabalhadores temporários e outra que depende da atividade desenvolvida nas lavouras de cana-de-açúcar. Essa dependência causa uma mudança em toda a estrutura do município em especial no serviço público. O trabalho tem como fundamento a questão do impacto social, a desconstrução dos direitos sociais e sua inefetividade mediante a implementação do mercado de etanol no município de Delta-MG a partir da atividade canavieira. A desigualdade social no município pesquisado é flagrante. O cultivo de cana de açúcar possibilita ganhos efetivos aos detentores dos meios de produção e um empobrecimento diário daqueles que contribuem para o aumento das cifras econômicas do mercado de etanol no Brasil e no mundo. Os direitos sociais não existem nem mesmo no papel. Ele é idealizado por parte da população daquele município Assim constata-se que o Estado não está presente na promoção dos direitos fundamentais sociais, caros ao homem do Século XXI / Dans la production sociale de l'espace capitaliste, L'État et le capital lui-même sont des éléments clés de ce processus. L'accumulation de capital dans l'activité de production d'éthanol est directement liée aux transformations dans l'établissement social et spatial. Dans la ville de Delta-MG, habitant une partie de la population des travailleurs temporaires et un autre qui dépend de l'activité développée dans les domaines de la canne à sucre. Cette dépendance entraîne une modification de la structure entiÉre de la ville en particulier dans la fonction publique. Le travail est basé sur la question de l'impact social, la déconstruction des droits sociaux et leur inefficacité à travers la mise en oeuvre du marché de l'éthanol dans la municipalité de Delta-MG à partir de la production de canne à sucre. Les inégalités sociales dans la ville étudiée est flagrante. La culture de la canne à sucre permet partie efficace des gains aux détenteurs des moyens de production et un appauvrissement de ceux qui contribuent quotidiennement à l'augmentation des chiffres économiques du marché de l'éthanol au Brésil et dans le monde. Les droits sociaux n'existent pas encore sur papier. Il est idéalisé par la population de ce comté ainsi, il apparaît que l'Etat n'est pas présent dans la promotion des droits sociaux fondamentaux, aux hommes du XXIe siécle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Este estudo analisa a formaÃÃo de um ânovo espaÃo produtivoâ, localizado na regiÃo do Cariri, no interior do estado do CearÃ, definido como um arranjo produtivo local. No ano de 1996, uma grande unidade industrial, juntamente com outros setores da cadeia produtiva calÃadista instalaram - se no local. Essa iniciativa fez parte da polÃtica industrial do programa de sucessivos governos do Estado do CearÃ, que atrai empreendimentos industriais por meio de incentivos fiscais e aproveitamento de espaÃos regionais. Na definiÃÃo do arranjo produtivo local aqui empreendida, buscou-se compreender como as influÃncias da nova ordem produtiva se fundem nas teias de relaÃÃes jà estabelecidas, suas implicaÃÃes e os processos sociais daà decorrentes. Referida definiÃÃo se baseia na argumentaÃÃo de que esse novo espaÃo produtivo nÃo à o resultado da simples invasÃo de empresas. O arranjo tem marcas e caracterÃsticas de uma produÃÃo constituÃda historicamente â e nÃo de uma experiÃncia brusca â decorrente de inÃmeras tramas derivadas do entrelaÃamento de antigas vivÃncias locais com novas influÃncias globais. O viÃs das redes sociais permitiu compreender a construÃÃo social do arranjo, perceber como as relaÃÃes sociais entre os atores e a vida econÃmica se entrelaÃam no ambiente produtivo, mediando as trocas. Este apresenta uma capacitaÃÃo local incorporada nos indivÃduos, fruto de uma difusÃo por meio de relaÃÃes pessoais e familiares. Essa prÃtica urdiu um ambiente sÃcio-produtivo que sustenta um conhecimento tÃcito no lugar. Observa-se que as articulaÃÃes estabelecidas pelos produtores locais sÃo decisivas para a visibilidade e dinamismo do arranjo, embora a entrada das empresas de fora tenha sido um fator importante pelo crescimento do nÃmero da produÃÃo e entrada de novas tecnologias. Os recursos culturais e simbÃlicos, assim como as formas encontradas de inserÃÃo na nova economia mediante a ampliaÃÃo do cÃrculo de relaÃÃes no Ãmbito polÃtico, econÃmico e social, engendraram o processo produtivo atual no lugar. As mudanÃas ocorreram num jogo de forÃas fundadas em mudanÃas e permanÃncias, nas tramas da tradiÃÃo e da modernizaÃÃo, na imbricaÃÃo da preservaÃÃo e reinvenÃÃo. / This study evaluates how a ânew productive spaceâ was formed in the Cariri region in the hinterlands of the State do Ceara defined as a Local Productive Arrangement. In 1996 a huge industrial entrepreneur along with other investors installed themselves in the place. This enterprise is part of a political initiative directed towards industry as followed by several state governments that has been attracting industrial investments due to tax reductions and use of undeveloped local areas. Within the context of local productive arrangement here defined I tried to understand the effects of a new productive order as they mingle with the web of existing relations, and the implications and social processes that ensue from them. The afore-mentioned definition is based upon the argument that this new productive space is not the upshot of the investorsâ invasion only. The Arrangement has characteristics of a production that shaped itself within a historical framework â not a brusque experience issuing from several relations that sprout from the interlacement of old local experience with new global influences. The winding course of social paths leads to unveiling the arrangementâs social build-up and perception of how the social relations among individuals and economic life interlace with the productive environment, mediating exchanges. This environment is characterized by local skills that have been incorporated to individuals as a result of a diffusion among them and their relatives. This practice created a clear social-productive environment in the area. I verified that the articulations established by local producers are decisive to the visibility and dynamics of the Arrangement, although the influx of outside investors was also an important factor due to the increase in production numbers and arrival of new technologies. Cultural and symbolic resources as well as forms of insertion in the new economy by means of expanding the circle of political, economic and social relations created the present productive process in the place. Changes occurred according to the engagement of forces that based themselves in change and permanence, tradition and modernization, preservation and reinvention.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the cross-country relationship between income inequality and selected socioeconomic variables reflecting the level of economic development. The first chapter introduces some theoretical approaches to income distribution and poses problems regarding income inequalities across countries. The second chapter surveys cross-country studies of income inequalities conducted by previous researchers. The third chapter covers statistical methodology. Chapter four analyzes statistical results of multiple regression. The final chapter is intended for summary, conclusion, and recommendations.

Documentation of social impacts resulting from the construction of Lake Ray Roberts is to be incorporated into a two year post-impoundment study. Research objectives are to: 1) locate current residences of landowners and previous landowners who were displaced; 2) determine social impacts resulting from construction of Lake Ray Roberts; 3) document degree of satisfaction with current living conditions; 4) document landowners' degree of satisfaction associated with COE negotiations; 5) document landowners' observations. Landowners were identified by telephone and sent a mail-back questionnaire. Respondents were generally happy with current residences and communities. While courtesy and sufficient information were provided by the COE, respondents would have preferred for property settlements to be more consistent and timely.

This study is centrally concerned with young people's capacity to identify and realise promising educational and occupational pathways. Whilst it is now well established among social scientists that young people have agency, much less is known about what types of agency young people might demonstrate. Based on field research conducted in 2011-2012 with a group of young people studying, working, and living in Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu, the present study scrutinises Western-inspired approaches prevalent in the scholarship on youth which equate agency to resistance and individuality. It does so, by bringing the literature on youth agency into conversation with theoretical work on the concepts of aspiration and mobility. Through an in-depth analysis of young people's time-space-strategies, the thesis contributes to existing literature in three ways: First, it shows that young people may grow in power as they learn to fulfil social obligations and foster stronger relationships with other people. Second, it illustrates that young people's agency may not only take the form of observable practices, but may also reside in young people’s active efforts to think through their options for improving their own and other people's situation. Third, it highlights the importance of young people's spatial mobilities and immobilities in negotiating various social pressures and in developing a sense of themselves as competent, educated, and successful people. The findings of this thesis are, therefore, of relevance to the interdisciplinary field of youth studies as well as to emerging debates in geography about the apparent need to produce 'aspirational citizens' and about the meanings attached to spatial (im)mobility in contemporary societies.

M.A. (Development Studies) / This investigation was conducted in a transitional phase of South Africa's political dispensation. The emphasis on "transformation" in the new dispensation, promises to have far-reaching consequences for the development of people in communities. The achievement of the obj ectives of the community development approach, which is currently being used in South Africa as a development strategy, can lead to a better quality of life for people living in informal settlements (squatter communities) if communi ty development (as a development strategy) is applied succesfully. Against this background, a study was conducted in Finetown (see location map : annexture 1) on which this inquiry is especially focussing. In the second instance, Finetown serves as an example of an informal settlement, in the hope of general ising some of the findings and recommendations. Two readiness models for community development, in particular the model of Levi and Litwin (1986 : 31-35) as well as the model of Conyers and Raul (1990 : 127-138) is used as the study's starting point. The readiness indicators that could be identified from the literature study, was applied on two groups of respondents (namely the facilitators and the members of the Finetown communi ty). The findings of the literature study are thus compared to the investigation in Finetown to firstly, "place" Finetown on a readiness scale and, secondly, expand the available knowledge of a "readiness model" for community facilitating in such communities. This investigation is therefore based on a literature study,questionnaires, informal interviewing and observations in Finetown. These sources of data are used to compare the objectives of the community development strategy with the community's current perceptions of community development. The researcher comes to the conclusion that, allthough both the community facilitators and the community perceive the readiness indicators as relevant for the community's development, the former cherishes higher expectations about the indicators than the latter. The main objective of this study was thus to, firstly, identify indicators for community development and, secondly, test them in Finetown. Thirdly, additional indicators were identified for inclosure with the existing indicators. Hereby a contribution is hopefully made to the eventual development of a model which could be used to evaluate the level of readiness of communities for community development and through which a more effective use of scarce recources for development can be made

Includes bibliographical references. / The purpose of this dissertation is to assess and evaluate various water level management options for the upgrading of Olushandja Dam in northern Namibia within the framework of the environmental impact assessment carried out for the project. This will enable the Namibian Department of Water Affairs (DWA) to improve their management of the dam for the benefit of the local communities and consumers in the Oshana Water Region (Figure 5 . 1). The dam has been in existence since 1975 and is part of the Calueque-Olushandja inter-basin water transfer scheme. A pipeline and a series of canals links Calueque Dam , on the Cunene River in Angola , with Olushandja Dam in Namibia and the urban areas to the east and south. In order to provide for the expected increase in water requirements from agricultural and rural development the scheme is presently being upgraded. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was initiated in 1994 by the DWA as a requirement of the Dutch Government who are funding the project. Biophysical studies were undertaken by staff from the DWA and private consultants from Windhoek. The socio-economic study was carried out by a study team from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, in association with a consultant from the University's Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU). The EEU was appointed to compile a full EIA based on the findings of the specialist reports. This report is expected to be completed by October 1995.