The aim of this study is to analyse the problems met when translating culture-specific items in a text about Australian and New Zealand colonial and post-colonial children’s literature into Swedish. The analysis quantifies and describes the different translation procedures used, and contrasts different strategies when there was more than one possible choice. It also outlines the reasons for the choices made when creating a text adapted for a Swedish audience. The translation methods applied are dynamic equivalence and domestication. As for the categorization of the material, the theories of Newmark (1988) have primarily been followed. The study shows that the frequency of each translation procedure depends on the type of culture-specific item, and the chosen translation method. It is argued that transference is the most commonly used procedure, and recognized translations are not as frequent as could have been expected with the choice of domestication. This is the case for proper nouns and references to literary works, where transference and dynamic equivalence has been given priority over domestication whenever the factual content was considered to be the most important aspect to follow. As for culture-specific items of the category social culture, neutralisation is the most commonly used procedure. In such cases the domestication method was more influential than dynamic equivalence as the consideration of ethics as well as avoidance of cultural taboos in the target culture were considered to be more important than content.

This study analyses the translation of pragmatic markers from English into Swedish. The source text that was translated and used as a basis for the study is an article called “Black Books”, which was published in the British music magazine Prog in January 2013. The study is limited to question tags, general extenders and single-word pragmatic markers. It aims to investigate how these types of pragmatic markers can be translated in a dynamic and natural way, as well as how a careful analysis can facilitate the search for appropriate translation equivalents. Previous research and theories were used to determine the functions of the pragmatic markers in the source text, and the translation choices made on the basis of these findings were supported by corpus searches in the English-Swedish Parallel Corpus and Korp. The study revealed that because of the different ways in which pragmatic functions are expressed in English and Swedish, almost none of the pragmatic markers in the source text could be translated directly into Swedish. Formally equivalent solutions such as tja as a translation of well were generally considered too unnatural. While the study is too small to provide any general guidelines, it shows how a careful analysis may help the translator find more dynamically equivalent and natural solutions in the form of, for instance, other Swedish pragmatic markers, modal particles, adverbs and conjunctions.

It is known to most of us that in order to succeed with a translation you need good language skills, both in the source language and in the target language. But in the work of translating a text in a specific field, the translator also needs certain knowledge of that specific domain. In this essay, I analyze to what extent one needs that knowledge, and to what extent dictionaries, secondary literature and research on the Internet can help during the translation process.   The main subject for this essay is however an analysis of the translation of astrological terms, taken from a French book on medical astrology from which I have translated three whole chapters. The target language is Swedish. These two languages have separate origins, and therefore the terminologies could differ a lot. But, since the subject – astrology – comes from Ancient Greece and doesn’t depend on neither the French nor the Swedish culture, it is more likely that the astrological technolect looks partly the same in both languages: the terminology should presumably have been borrowed from the language of the ancient Greeks.   The seven translation strategies suggested by Jean-Paul Vinay and Jean Darbelnet in Stylistique comparée du français et de l’anglais, written in the 1950’s, helped me analyze the translation. With their method, I could for example see if the translation was mostly literal or oblique, and what kind of strategy is preferable in the translation of technolects.

Le lambda-calcul est un formalisation de la notion de calcul. Dans cette thèse nous nous intéresserons à certaines variantes non déterministes, et nous nous pencherons plus particulièrement sur le cas probabiliste.L'étude du lambda-calcul probabiliste n'est pas nouvelle, mais les travaux précédents considéraient le comportement probabiliste comme un effet de bord. Notre objectif est de présenter ce calcul d'une manière plus équationnelle, en intégrant le comportement probabiliste à la réduction.Tout d'abord nous définissons une sémantique opérationnelle déterministe et contextuelle pour le lambda-calcul probabiliste en appel par nom. Afin de traduire la signification de la somme nous définissons une équivalence syntaxique dans notre calcul, dont nous démontrons qu'il ne déforme pas la réduction: considérer une réduction modulo équivalence revient à considérer simplement le résultat du calcul modulo équivalence. Nous prouvons également un résultat de standardisation.Dans ce cadre nous définissons une notion de théorie équationnelle pour le lambda-calcul probabiliste. Nous étendons certaines notions usuelles, et en particulier celle de bon sens. Cette dernière se formalise facilement dans un cadre déterministe mais est bien plus complexe dans le cas probabiliste.Pour finir nous prouvons une correspondance entre l'équivalence observationnelle, l'égalité des arbres de Böhm et la théorie cohérente sensée maximale. Nous définissons une notion d'arbres de Böhm probabilistes dont nous prouvons qu'elle forme un modèle. Nous démontrons ensuite un résultat de séparabilité disant que deux termes avec des arbres de Böhm distincts ne sont pas observationnellement équivalents. / The lambda-calculus is a way to formalize the notion of computation. In this thesis we will be interested in some of these variants introducing non deterministim, and we will focus mostly on a probabilistic calculus.The probabilistic lambda-calculus has been studied for some time, but the probabilistic behaviour has always been treated as a side effect. Our purpose is to give a more equational representation of this calculus, by handling the probabilities inside the reduction rather than as a side effect.To begin with we give a deterministic and contextual operational semantics for the call-by-name probabilistic lambda-calculus. To express the probabilistic behaviour of the sum we introduce a syntactic equivalence in our calculus, and we show it has little consequence on the calculus: reducing modulo equivalence amount to reducing and then looking at the result modulo equivalence. We also prove a standardization theorem.Then using this operational semantics we define a notion of equational theories for the probabilistic lambda-calculus. We extend some usual notions to this setting, and in particular the sensibility of a theory. This notion is quite simple in a deterministic setting but becomes more complicated when we have a probabilistic computation.Finally we prove a generalization of the equality between the observational equivalence, the Böhm tree equality and the maximal coherent sensible lambda-theory. We give a notion of probabilistic Böhm trees, and prove that this forms a model of the probabilistic lambda-calculus. Then we prove a separability result stating that two terms with different Böhm trees are separable, i.e. are not observationally equivalent.

Magister Artium - MA / In the majority of the schools in South Africa (SA), learners commence education in English. This English milieu poses a considerable challenge for English second-language speakers. In an attempt to bridge the gap between English as the main medium of instruction and the nine indigenous languages of the country and assist with the implementation of mother-tongue based bilingual education, this study focuses on the cross-validation of a monolingual English test used in the assessment of multilingual or bilingual learners in the South African context. This test, namely the Woodcock Muñoz Language Survey (WMLS), is extensively used in the United States in Additive Bilingual Education in the country. The present study is a substudy of a broader study, in which the original WMLS (American-English version) was adapted into SA English and Xhosa. For this specific sub-study, the researcher was interested in investigating the scalar equivalence of the adapted English version of the Verbal Analogies (VA) subscale of the WMLS across English first-language speakers and Xhosa first-language speakers. This was achieved by utilising differential item functioning (DIF) and construct bias statistical techniques. The Mantel-Haenszel DIF detection method was employed to detect DIF, while construct equivalence was examined by means of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) utilising an a priori two-factor structure. The Tucker's phi coefficient was used to assess the congruence of the construct across the two language groups / South Africa

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / In many countries defined by multilingualism, language has been identified as a great influence during psychological and educational testing. In South Africa (SA), factors such as changes in policies and social inequalities also influence testing. Literature supports the translation and adaptation of tests used in such contexts in order to avoid bias caused by language. Different language versions of tests then need to be evaluated for equivalence, to ensure that scores across the different language versions have the same meaning. Differences in dialects may also impact on the results of such tests.Results of an isiXhosa version of the Woodcock Muñoz Language Survey (WMLS),which is a test used to measure isiXhosa learners’ language proficiency, show significant mean score differences on the test scores across rural and urban firstlanguage speakers of isiXhosa. These results have indicated a possible problem regarding rural and urban dialects during testing. This thesis evaluates the item bias of the subtests in this version of the WMLS across rural and urban isiXhosa learners. This was accomplished by evaluating the reliability and item characteristics for group differences, and by evaluating differential item functioning across these two groups on the subtests of the WMLS. The sample in this thesis comprised of 260 isiXhosa learners from the Eastern Cape Province in grade 6 and grade 7, both males and females. This sample was collected in two phases: (1) secondary data from 49 rural and 133 urban isiXhosa learners was included in the sample; (2) adding to the secondary data, a primary data collection from 78 rural isiXhosa learners was made to equalise the two sample groups. All ethical considerations were included in this thesis. The results were surprising and unexpected. Two of the subtests in the WMLS showed evidence of scalar equivalence as only a few items were identified as problematic. However, two of the subtests demonstrated more problematic items. These results mean that two subtests of the WMLS that demonstrated evidence of scalar equivalence can be used to measure the construct of language proficiency, while the other two sub-tests that showed problematic items need to be further investigated, as the responses given by learners on these items seem to be determined by their group membership and not by their ability.

Speech audiometry is considered an essential tool in the assessment of hearing, not only to validate pure tone measurements, but also to indicate speech perception as a critical communicative function. The use of sentence material in the assessment of speech perception has great value as it simulates – more closely than single words – the type of speech stimuli that listeners are confronted with on a daily basis. In South Africa, speech recognition (reception and discrimination) abilities are most commonly assessed through the use of single words, presented by monitored live voice, a practice sternly criticized in the literature. Furthermore, speech recognition is commonly evaluated in an ideal (quiet) listening environment. This method gives an incomplete impression of a patient’s auditory performance, since everyday listening situations are often characterised by the presence of background noise that influences comprehension of speech. The present study was therefore launched with the aim to develop a reliable measure of speech recognition in noise using Afrikaans sentence material. The development of the test was conducted in three phases. The first phase entailed the compilation of culturally valid, pre-recorded Afrikaans sentence material. During the second phase the uniformity of the recorded sentence collection was improved by determining the intelligibility of each sentence in the presence of noise and eliminating sentences that were not of equivalent difficulty in this regard. The objective of the third phase was to arrange the sentence material into lists using two different methods of list compilation. The first method involved grouping sentences together based solely on their intelligibility in noise (as assessed in the previous phase). The second method was the well-documented method of compiling phonetically balanced lists. The inter-list reliability of both sets of lists was evaluated in both normal hearing listeners and listeners with a simulated high frequency hearing loss. The results provided valuable information on the process of developing a test of speech recognition in noise, especially in terms of options for list compilation. Findings indicated that lists compiled according to intelligibility in noise showed a higher degree of equivalence than phonetically balanced lists when applied to normally hearing listeners. However, when applied to listeners with a simulated loss, phonetically balanced lists displayed greater equivalence. The developed test provides a means of assessing speech recognition in noise in Afrikaans, and shows potential for application in the assessment of hearing impaired populations, individuals with auditory processing difficulties, and the paediatric population. In addition, the methodology described for the development of the test could provide a valuable guideline for future researchers looking to develop similar tests in other languages. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MCommunication Pathology / Unrestricted

Spectral properties of linear operators and operator functions can be used to analyze models in nature. When dispersion and damping are taken into account, the dependence of the spectral parameter is in general non-linear and the operators are not selfadjoint. In this thesis non-selfadjoint operator functions are studied and several methods for obtaining properties of unbounded non-selfadjoint operator functions are presented. Equivalence is used to characterize operator functions since two equivalent operators share many significant characteristics such as the spectrum and closeness. Methods of linearization and other types of equivalences are presented for a class of unbounded operator matrix functions. To study properties of the spectrum for non-selfadjoint operator functions, the numerical range is a powerful tool. The thesis introduces an optimal enclosure of the numerical range of a class of unbounded operator functions. The new enclosure can be computed explicitly, and it is investigated in detail. Many properties of the numerical range such as the number of components can be deduced from the enclosure. Furthermore, it is utilized to prove the existence of an infinite number of eigenvalues accumulating to specific points in the complex plane. Among the results are proofs of accumulation of eigenvalues to the singularities of a class of unbounded rational operator functions. The enclosure of the numerical range is also used to find optimal and computable estimates of the norm of resolvent and a corresponding enclosure of the ε-pseudospectrum.

L’objet de notre étude porte sur la logique et le langage à la transition entre le lycée et l’université dans le contexte camerounais. Au Cameroun, dans l’enseignement secondaire, les concepts de logique sont très peu explicités en classe de mathématiques, du fait que leur enseignement n’est pas prescrit par les nouveaux programmes1 officiels. Ce n’est pas le cas de l’enseignement supérieur où un cours de logique formelle sous forme de rappel, est souvent donné en début d’année. Ce cours n’est pas prescrit par les programmes, mais certains enseignants en voient la nécessité. Les résultats de plusieurs travaux ont montré que certaines des difficultés que les étudiants rencontrent dans la pratique des mathématiques proviennent d’une mauvaise maîtrise des concepts de logique. Nous faisons l’hypothèse qu’ils sont insuffisamment pris en charge pa rles enseignants dans la classe de mathématiques, qui pensent qu’ils sont disponibles chez les étudiants, du fait de leur utilisation dans la vie courante d’une part, et progressivement dans l’activité mathématique. La thèse que nous soutenons est que, pour rendre opératoire les concepts de logique chez lesétudiants nouvellement arrivés à l’université, un minimum d’explicitation de ces concepts en relation avec leur usage dans l’activité mathématique est nécessaire pour les apprentissages en mathématiques à tout le moins dans l’enseignement supérieur. Pour défendre notre thèse, nous avons divisé notre travail en deux parties. Dans la première partie, nous présentons des éléments théoriques et analytiques nécessaires à notre travail, et une revue des travaux antérieurs en relation avec notre problématique. La deuxième partie porte sur les résultats d’une expérimentation que nous avons menée avec des élèves de terminale C d’un lycée de Yaoundé 2, et des étudiants de première année de licence de mathématiques de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure de Yaoundé. Elle s’est déroulée en deux temps : nous avons fait passer un questionnaire portant sur la logique et le langage aux élèves et aux étudiants, et à la suite de ce questionnaire, nous avons organisé un module de suivi avec huit étudiants ayant passé ce questionnaire. Le questionnaire nous a permis de repérer certaines conceptions des élèves et des étudiants concernant les concepts de logique,et le module de suivi a permis de provoquer des débats qui permettaient dans certains cas d’affiner nos analyses et nous donnaient des éléments permettant d’identifier des occasions pour expliciter certaines notions. / Our study focuses on logic and language at the transition between high school and university in the Cameroonian context. In Cameroon secondary education, the concepts of logic are paid little attention in mathematics classes, due to the fact that their teaching is not prescribed in the new official syllabuses3. This is not the case of higher education, where a course on formal logic is oftengiven at the beginning of the year to first year university students, with a refreshing purpose. That course is not required in the syllabus, but some teachers see the need. Several scientific studies have shown that some of the difficulties encountered by studentswhile practicing mathematics come from their poor familiarity with concepts of logic. We assume that these students are insufficiently attended to by their teachers who think that the concepts are at their reach, since they are used in everyday life on the one hand, and they are gradually used in mathematical activities, on the other hand. In this thesis, we stand for the point that, for the concepts of logic to become real operational tools to a student who begins university studies, some teaching of these concepts which should address the connections with mathematical activities is necessary, at least as a starting point in higher education studies. To defend our thesis, we have divided our work into two parts which are as follows : In the first part, we present theoretical material necessary to our work as well as other technical tools that will be needed. We also provide a review of previous studies related to our issue. The second part is on an experiment we carried out with students from the Upper Sixth class - science option - of a high school in Yaoundé (Cameroon), and with first year university students of mathematics of the Yaoundé Higher Teachers’ Training College. This experiment had two stages : Firstly, the high school students and the university students filled out a questionnaire on logic and language. Following this, we organized a follow-up module involving 8 students purposely selected from their answers to the questionnaire. This questionnaire enabled us to detect meaningful points on how high school and university students grasp the concepts of logic, and the module helped to start debates which enabled in some cases to refine our analysis, and also provided us with strategic approaches forexplaining certain concepts of logic.

A compensação extrapropriedade é uma das alternativas legais para regularização de imóveis rurais com déficit de reserva legal. Com a recente revogação do Código Florestal, as compensações podem envolver imóveis localizados até em distintos Estados, considerando apenas a correspondência entre biomas. Do ponto de vista ambiental, no entanto, as compensações só fazem sentido se ocorrer entre áreas com equivalência ecológica (composição, estrutura e função) e o mais próximas possível entre si. Este estudo buscou contribuir para o aprimoramento do mecanismo de compensação, considerando aspectos da equivalência ecológica (composição), tendo o Estado de São Paulo como área de estudo. Para tanto foram analisadas: (i) se as compensações ocorrem entre áreas com equivalência da vegetação, (ii) e qual seria a distância máxima para que as trocas ocorram entre áreas com maior equivalência. Foram consultados 104 processos de compensação de reserva legal para a coleta de informações sobre os imóveis, como localização. As fitofisionomias de cada área foram identificadas segundo o mapa da vegetação remanescente do Estado. A distância máxima a ser permitida foi estimada comparando-se a similaridade florística de remanescentes de Cerrado e Floresta em relação à distância geográfica por meio do teste de Mantel. Verificou-se que dos 117 casos analisados, 72 não apresentam equivalência no âmbito do bioma (13) ou das fitofisionomias (59). A conservação de florestas ombrófilas próximas ao litoral é priorizada em detrimento das áreas de floresta estacional, de cerrado e ecótono do interior paulista. Estas reservas estão distantes da origem do passivo (200-400 km), reforçando os contrastes na paisagem em termos de vegetação. Não houve correlação entre similaridade florística e distância geográfica, o que não permitiu precisar um limite (em km) para as compensações. Contudo, recomenda-se que estas ocorram entre áreas de grupos de municípios limítrofes, onde é provável que haja maior uniformidade ambiental e, consequentemente, maior similaridade em termos de composição florística. / The mechanism of compensation is one of the legal alternatives to regulate rural properties with deficit of legal reserve. After the recent repeal of the Forest Code, compensation can involve areas of different states, considering only the correspondence of biomes. From the environmental standpoint, however, compensation makes sense only if it occurs between areas with ecological equivalence (in composition, structure and function) and as near as possible to each other. This study aimed at contributing to the improvement of the mechanism of compensation, taking into account aspects of ecological equivalence (composition), considering the state of São Paulo (BRA) as study area. It was analyzed: (i) if compensations occur between areas with equivalence of vegetation and (ii) which would be the maximum distance to allow exchanges between areas of higher equivalence. 104 processes of compensation of legal reserve were consulted to collected information about the properties, such as localization. The phytophysiognomies of each area were identified according to the map of remnant vegetation of the state. The maximum distance to be allowed was estimated by comparing the floristic similarity of the remnants of Cerrado and Forest in relation to the geographical distance by using the Mantel test. 72 of the 117 studied cases have no equivalence considering the biome (13) or the phytophysiognomies (59). Conservation of ombrophylous forests near the coast is prioritized in detriment of seasonal semideciduous forests, cerrado and ecotone of the paulist interior. These reserves are very distant from the origin of the passive (200-400 km), reinforcing contrasts in the landscape. There was no correlation between floristic similarity and geographical distance, which did not allow to determinate a limit (in km) for compensation. However, it is recommended that the compensations occur between neighboring municipalities, which are likely to be more environmentally uniform and, consequently, more similar in terms of floristic composition.