As áreas de livre comércio – ALC – são zonas de benefícios tributários cujo principal objetivo é a promoção do desenvolvimento de regiões mais carentes. A área de livre comércio de Boa Vista, juntamente com a de Bonfim, foi a última a ser implantada, no ano de 2008, e seus impactos são analisados por meio de questionário aplicado a empresas de Boa Vista, com o objetivo de compreender seu grau de satisfação, os entraves e perspectivas da ALC-BV. Para tanto, foram entrevistadas 53 empresas, que representam 3,22% do universo de empresas de Boa Vista cadastradas e habilitadas na SUFRAMA, situação necessária para que as empresas tenham acesso aos benefícios da ALC. A análise da amostra apresenta que 69,81% dos entrevistados afirmam ter benefícios da ALC para sua empresa. Desses, a avaliação acerca dos incentivos mais significativos para a empresa, em ordem decrescente foi: PIS/COFINS, ICMS, IPI e Imposto de Importação. Dentre os principais entraves, os entrevistados destacaram: poucos incentivos da prefeitura e do governo; custo de transporte elevado; escassez de mão de obra especializada; ausência de porto alfandegado, dificuldade de desembaraço da fronteira com o estado do Amazonas, dentre outros. Acerca do grau de satisfação, a maioria indicou Média Satisfação (39,62%). Apesar disso, uma quantidade significativa dos entrevistados (28,30%) afirmou não ter obtido qualquer redução de preços dos produtos adquiridos. A resposta seguinte mais selecionada foi a de que os preços dos produtos adquiridos reduziram de 10,01 a 15% (26,42% das respostas). A pesquisa também indicou que grande parcela dos empresários não conhece os benéficos da ALC voltados à importação (45,28%) e desconhece benefícios a indústria (83,02%). Haja vista a perspectiva de crescimento e desenvolvimento, esses conceitos, bem como aspectos sobre impactos de desoneração fiscal, desigualdade regional no processo de desenvolvimento e dos ganhos do comércio internacional, dentre outros, são abordados nesse estudo. / The free trade areas are tax benefits institutes whose main objective is to promote the poor regions‟ development. The free trade area of Boa Vista, along with the Bonfim‟s, was the last to be deployed, in 2008, and its impacts are assessed through a questionnaire applied to companies of Boa Vista, in order to understand the satisfaction degree of businesses, barriers and perspectives of ALC of Boa Vista. For these reasons, we interviewed 53 companies, which represent 3.22% of the universe of companies registered and entitled Boa Vista in SUFRAMA, a situation necessary for companies to have access to the benefits of the ALC. The sample analysis shows that 69.81% of respondents say that their companies do have ALC‟s benefits. From this number, the assessment about the most significant incentives for the company, in descending order was: PIS/COFINS, ICMS, IPI and Import Tax. Among the main obstacles, respondents highlighted: few incentives for municipal and government; high shipping cost, shortage of skilled labor, lack of bonded port, difficulty in clearing the border with the state of Amazonas, among others. About the degree of satisfaction, the majority indicated satisfaction Average (39.62%). Nevertheless, most respondents (28.30%) said they had not obtained any reduction in prices of products purchased. The next most selected response was that the prices of purchased products reduced from 10.01 to 15% (26.42% of responses). The survey also indicated that a significant number of entrepreneurs do not know the benefits of targeted ALC imports (45.28%) and unknown benefits to industry (83.02%). Taking into account the perspective of growth and development, these concepts, as well as aspects of impacts of tax relief, regional disparities in development and the gains from international trade, among others, are addressed in this study.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Helton Carlos Praia de Lima.pdf: 1190072 bytes, checksum: 3292ec72411e59f3bab20504e1eeac2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-08 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The work is to identify and evaluate the generation and distribution of wealth of food products in the states of northern Brazil industries for the years 2006 to 2012 and, alternatively, contrast the results with the doctoral dissertation of Bispo (2009) of industries in the Manaus Free Zone (ZFM) distribute the greatest amount of wealth for government and employee. We used the Value Added Statement (DVA) to assess the generation and distribution of wealth of the surveyed industries. For this, we prepared DVA based on information and aggregate data in the Information Statement Income Tax Return (DIPJ) and National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE). Thus, it was defined as specific objectives: a) to evaluate the generation and distribution of wealth of food products in the states of northern Brazil industries for the years 2006 to 2012; b) to compare the items related to the generation and distribution of wealth of food products in the states of northern Brazil for the years 2006-2012 industries; c) compare the results found in the doctoral thesis of Bispo (2009) in the distribution of wealth of industries ZFM for government and employee with the results found in the distribution of wealth of food of northern Brazil industries for the years 2006 to 2012. methodology used was the literature, documentary, exploratory, descriptive, empiricalanalytic and qualitative research. Data and information were collected from the IBGE, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service of Brazil (SRF), Suframa and SUDAM. The final results of the survey reported that the DVA was effective to assess and compare the generation of wealth distribution of the surveyed industries and how completion of the proposed contrast, the results for the food industries of northern Brazil followed the same trend found the doctoral thesis of Bispo for companies of ZFM, less wealth to distribute to staff /employee and more to the government. / O trabalho consiste em identificar e avaliar a geração e distribuição de riqueza das indústrias de produtos alimentícios dos estados da região norte do Brasil para os anos de 2006 a 2012 e, subsidiariamente, contrastar os resultados com a tese de doutorado de Bispo (2009) de que as indústrias da Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) distribuem a maior quantidade de riqueza para governo e empregado. Utilizou-se a Demonstração do Valor Adicionado (DVA) para avaliar a geração e distribuição de riqueza das indústrias pesquisadas. Para isso, elaborou-se a DVA com base nas informações e dados agregados constantes da Declaração de Informações Econômico-Fiscais da Pessoa Jurídica (DIPJ) e Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas (CNAE). Desse modo, definiu-se como objetivos específicos: a) avaliar a geração e distribuição de riqueza das indústrias de produtos alimentícios dos estados da região norte do Brasil para os anos de 2006 a 2012; b) comparar os itens relacionados à geração e distribuição de riqueza das indústrias de produtos alimentícios dos estados da região norte do Brasil para os anos de 2006 a 2012; e c) contrastar os resultados encontrados na tese de doutorado de Bispo (2009) na distribuição de riqueza das indústrias da ZFM para governo e empregado com os resultados encontrados na distribuição de riqueza das indústrias de alimentos da região norte do Brasil para os anos de 2006 a 2012. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa bibliográfica, documental, exploratória, descritiva, empírico-analítica e qualitativa. Os dados e informações foram coletados do IBGE, Secretaria da Receita Federal do Brasil (SRF), Suframa e SUDAM. Os resultados finais da pesquisa registraram que a DVA foi instrumento eficaz para avaliar e comparar a geração de distribuição de riqueza das indústrias pesquisadas e como conclusão do contraste proposto, os resultados encontrados para as indústrias de alimentos da região norte do Brasil seguiram a mesma tendência encontrada pela tese de doutorado de Bispo para as empresas da ZFM, de distribuir menos riqueza a pessoal/empregado e mais para o governo.

English is used worldwide as a native, second and foreign language and as a language of international communication. The uses and status of English in Sweden have been discussed in terms of its influence and ubiquity, with its presence in daily life leading some to consider English could be better described as a second, rather than foreign, language in the country. This study analyses how English is presented in the Swedish educational television series Pick a colour and considers how this can be related to the status of English as a global language and specifically the use of English in Sweden. This paper uses an approach drawing on nexus analysis, together with content analysis, to trace the key language ideologies surrounding English presented in Pick a colour and its surrounding texts, and to locate them within the context of the existing discourses in place. Analysis reveals that the series and related documents make attempts to move away from traditional native speaker British English and American English models of the language, and towards a “Global English” not linked to any specific geographical region and with a focus on communicative competence. However, as British English and American English and native-speaker models of the language are not directly challenged in the documents, and are given the greatest prominence in the series, it seems moving away from the status quo is still difficult in practice. The Swedish settings shown in the series, and emphases on the use of English in pupils’ daily lives allude to English being approached in a way more similar to a second, rather than foreign language in Sweden.

The study examines the role of social networks’ in collaborative group working within a blended setting. Lingua Franca, Pakistan, an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) training institute, has been investigated as a case study for the aforementioned research question. Focus groups consisting of the institute’s students and training staff were solicited for primary data collection. Theories of learning, social comparison, social exchange and connectivism theory provided the theoretical understanding for the study along with relevant extant literature. Content analysis has been used to analyze and interpret the data. The findings shed light on the myriad yet significant role social networks play in enhancing collaborative group work through their inherent interactive and dynamic features, which unlocks opportunities for self-validation, self-improvement and self-development. The study thus opens new avenues of research into this less studied area of social networks and collaborative group working with respect to learning

This thesis argues against the claim of linguistic and cultural homogenization widely believed to be induced by the spread of English worldwide by looking at how native and non-native speakers alike re-appropriate the perceived model of 'Standard English' to fit the frames of their own culture and to express their own identity. The hypothesis that this thesis builds on is that the language each of us speaks reflects one's own individual background, the communities that one belongs to, and the identity that one wants to convey. As English is assimilated by the people of the world, their cultural diversity is re-expressed through the common language. By looking at the ways in which English is used in a multicultural setting and at the speakers' attitudes towards it, this paper makes a claim for an alternative to the current educational paradigm in refocusing English teaching on its potential for intercultural communication rather than on specific knowledge of Anglo-American cultures. In order to identify the cultural factors that are involved in the production of one's speech in English as a lingua franca situations, the Vienna-Oxford International Corpus of English (VOICE) – a collection of naturally occurring spoken interactions in English – will be used. Close attention will be paid to the communicative strategies that the participants use, to the way their identities are expressed in their speech, to instances of code-switching or to neologisms that they may use, and to the ways in which they accommodate each other whenever communication is not clear.

Magister Artium - MA / Language diversity continues to create a language barrier to international tourism. Tourists from non-English speaking countries face a language barrier in South Africa and this affects their experiences in the country. Measuring and understanding something of this challenge is the purpose of this study. The focus is on how the tourism industry in Cape Town uses languages to sell and promote the city internationally. The study investigates procedures, strategies, and policies adopted by the tourism industry in Cape Town to cater for tourists from across the world. In addition, the study also investigates how tourists from non-English speaking countries adapt linguistically to cope with their stay in Cape Town. The study targeted both tourism organisations and international tourists who use tourist facilities in most popular tourist areas in Cape Town. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Convenience sampling was used to select both tourism service providers and tourists. To enhance validity, reliability, and accuracy, various tools have been deployed to collect the data. Primary data were collected from both tourism service providers and international tourists using questionnaires, interviews, photographs and observations. Secondary data collection involved observations of public signage as well as analysis of electronic and printed promotional materials such as brochures, guidebooks, menus, newspapers and websites. Collected data were captured in spread sheets to enable descriptive analysis of tourists’ languages and of language use in tourism organisations in different of forms of niche tourism in Cape Town. Survey results reveal that a little more than half of all surveyed tourism organisations in Cape Town sell and promote their products using only South African languages including English whilst a minority sell and promote their products using English coupled with foreign languages. The majority of multilingual staff in those surveyed tourism organisations who have adopted multilingualism are working part-time or employed temporarily. In addition, results also indicate that English dominates other languages in public signs and printed and electronic promotional publications used by surveyed tourism organisations in Cape Town. Foreign languages are used most in tour operations and travel agencies sector whilst South African languages dominate in accommodation and restaurants sectors. On the other hand the research shows that a big proportion of foreign tourists in Cape Town were able to speak English and other foreign languages. The research shows that the majority of tourists from non-English speaking countries are more interested in learning foreign languages compared with their counterparts from English speaking countries. Only less than a quarter of all surveyed tourists from non-English speaking countries in Cape Town are monolingual in their home languages. These tourists struggle to communicate with service providers in Cape Town. Translators and gestures were used by non-English speaking tourists as a way of breaking down communication barriers in Cape Town. Contrarily, a big proportion (two thirds) of all surveyed tourists from English speaking countries in Cape Town does speak only English. Foreign tourists in Cape Town speak tourism service providers’ language rather than tourism service providers speaking tourists’ languages. The majority of tourism service providers in Cape Town are reluctant to learn foreign languages and to employ multilingual staff. This means that most tourism organisations sell and market their product in English only. Other South African languages such as Afrikaans and Xhosa are used frequently in informal communication in the ourism industry in Cape Town. Seemingly, Afrikaans dominates Xhosa in all forms of tourism except in township tourism where the majority of service providers are Xhosa-speakers. To market and promote Cape Town internationally, the tourism industry in Cape Town should employ multilingual staff who can communicate in tourists’ native languages. Multilingualism should be practised in all tourism sectors rather than in one or few sectors because all tourism sectors compliment each other in meeting customer’s satisfaction. Failure in one tourism sector may affect other tourism sectors’ performance. / South Africa

This study is based on data gathered from two corpora. It investigates and analyses the written English of second language users, in this case English used by Swedes, with the English used online in blogs found in the Birmingham Blog Corpus, which includes blogs written in English by authors of various nationalities. The aim is to compare Swedes’ use of English in blogs and the English used in general in blogs. The study focuses on typical features associated with either American English (AmE) or British English (BrE) and investigates which variety is the most prominent online.  The results indicate that features that are generally associated with AmE have a higher frequency in both analysed corpora in this thesis. The conclusion is therefore that AmE tends to dominate both Swedish and international authors’ use of English in blogs.

In today's globalized society, English is one of the main ways of communication. Therefore, teaching students English in such a way that they not only understand the basics, but are confident enough to communicate with an international population of varied ability and linguistic background becomes a high priority in school. In this study we look at the reported communicative confidence level (CCL) of learners at a Swedish upper secondary school. This quantitative study collected data from questionnaires from upper secondary students in the Swedish school. We found that the participants displayed an above average level of perceived communicative confidence; that a higher academic achievement correlated with a higher CCL; that the expected need, the context, and the interlocutors do not correlate with the CCL; and that a higher degree of formality and unfamiliarity of a communication situation seems to correlate with a lower CCL. To be able to make confident generalisations in the future about CCL, we suggest this study be reproduced on a larger set of data and that actual CCL, as opposed to participant perception of CCL, could be observed.

No description available.

No description available.