Thesis (DAppLing)--Macquarie University, Division of Linguistics and Psychology, Dept. of Linguistics, 2009. / "September 2008". Bibliography: p. 189-196.

O tema da presente tese é o estudo do uso do artigo neutro "lo" por aprendizes universitários de espanhol como língua estrangeira, abordado em duas perspectivas de análise: como estrutura gramatical e como objeto léxico-semântico de leitura. Como objetivo geral, a pesquisa propôs-se a analisar, descrever e explicar o uso do artigo neutro no texto escrito e na leitura, levando em conta a compreensão que os estudantes universitários dele possuem. No desenvolvimento do tema, o quadro teórico que sustenta a investigação inicia com a discussão de conceitos como aquisição e aprendizagem, bem como os de língua materna e língua estrangeira, com suas variantes terminológicas, e passa por alguns conceitos de leitura em L1 e L2 considerados relevantes. Aborda-se, com a abrangência necessária, a Linguística Contrastiva em seus três modelos teórico-práticos, quais sejam, a Análise Contrastiva, a Análise de Erros e a Análise de Interlíngua. Confrontam-se estruturas linguísticas, identificam-se equivalências e contrastes e analisam-se processos que levam à produção de erros e acertos, os quais podem ser compreendidos como uma marca interlinguística dos aprendizes. Quanto ao método, utilizou-se a análise descritiva, que, além de examinar e descrever conceitos importantes, procura explicá-los, compara teorias, descreve e analisa dados levantados por meio de instrumentos de pesquisa. Assim, após a análise dos dados, chegou-se a algumas conclusões: a maioria dos erros produzidos com o uso dos artigos ocorreu em relação ao neutro, seja utilizando-o em situações nas quais deveria ter sido usada a forma masculina, seja empregando o masculino quando deveria ser usada a forma neutra; em determinadas situações, o artigo neutro ocupa o espaço do artigo masculino, motivado pelo processo de hipercorreção; a classe gramatical da palavra que acompanha o artigo neutro é fator determinante para que ele seja usado corretamente; o neutro "lo", classificado como artigo pelas gramáticas da língua espanhola, comporta-se, em algumas situações, como pronome, pois pode ser substituído pelo pronome demonstrativo neutro; também na língua portuguesa existe um "o" neutro, embora nesta língua ele seja classificado como pronome demonstrativo, e não como artigo; apesar de o uso do artigo "lo" ser tratado comumente como fenômeno gramatical, a análise empreendida nesta tese comprova que utilizá-lo corretamente depende não só do conhecimento gramatical da língua espanhola, mas também da capacidade de leitura em L2, isto é, de o aprendiz de espanhol utilizar estratégias de leitura adequadas e realizar as devidas inferências durante o processo de leitura. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-02-09T11:22:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Kleber Eckert.pdf: 1917131 bytes, checksum: 755e665fcade334c1a1f34ba4e7be3a5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-09T11:23:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Kleber Eckert.pdf: 1917131 bytes, checksum: 755e665fcade334c1a1f34ba4e7be3a5 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis is the study of the use of the neutral article "lo" by undergraduate Spanish learners as a foreign language, approached in two perspectives of analysis: as a grammatical structure and as a lexical-semantic object of reading. As a general objective, the research proposes to analyze, describe and explain the use of the neutral article in written texts and in readings, taking into account the comprehension that undergraduates have of them. In the development of the theme, the theoretical framework that supports the investigation starts with the discussion of concepts such as acquisition and learning, as well as the native language and foreign language, with their terminological variants, and undergoes some reading concepts in L1 and L2, considered relevant. The Contrastive Linguistics is approached with the necessary scope in three theoretical and practical models, which are, Contrastive Analysis, Error Analysis and Interlanguage Analysis. Linguistic structures are confronted, equivalences and contrasts are identified, and the processes that lead to the production of errors and rightness, which can be understood as an interlinguistic mark of the learners. As for the method, the descriptive analysis was used that, besides examining and describing important concepts, tries to explain them, compares theories, describes and analyses data collected through survey instruments. Thus, after analyzing the data, we came up to some conclusions: most of the errors produced with the use of the articles occurred in relation to the neutral, using it in situations where the masculine gender should have been used, or using the masculine gender when the neutral should be used; in certain situations, the neutral article takes up the space of the masculine article, motivated by the process of hypercorrection, the grammatical class of the word that follows the neutral article is the determinant factor for it to be used accurately; the neutral "lo", classified as an article by the grammar of the Spanish language, behaves, in some situations, as a pronoun, because it can be replaced by the neutral demonstrative pronoun; there is also a neutral "o" in the Portuguese language, although in this language it is classified as a demonstrative pronoun, and not as an article; despite the use of the article "lo" be commonly treated as a grammatical phenomenon, the analysis undertaken in this thesis proves that using it accurately depends not only on the knowledge of Spanish grammar, but also on the capability of reading in L2, i.e., that the Spanish learner using appropriate learning strategies and perform the proper inferences during the reading process.

O tema da presente tese é o estudo do uso do artigo neutro "lo" por aprendizes universitários de espanhol como língua estrangeira, abordado em duas perspectivas de análise: como estrutura gramatical e como objeto léxico-semântico de leitura. Como objetivo geral, a pesquisa propôs-se a analisar, descrever e explicar o uso do artigo neutro no texto escrito e na leitura, levando em conta a compreensão que os estudantes universitários dele possuem. No desenvolvimento do tema, o quadro teórico que sustenta a investigação inicia com a discussão de conceitos como aquisição e aprendizagem, bem como os de língua materna e língua estrangeira, com suas variantes terminológicas, e passa por alguns conceitos de leitura em L1 e L2 considerados relevantes. Aborda-se, com a abrangência necessária, a Linguística Contrastiva em seus três modelos teórico-práticos, quais sejam, a Análise Contrastiva, a Análise de Erros e a Análise de Interlíngua. Confrontam-se estruturas linguísticas, identificam-se equivalências e contrastes e analisam-se processos que levam à produção de erros e acertos, os quais podem ser compreendidos como uma marca interlinguística dos aprendizes. Quanto ao método, utilizou-se a análise descritiva, que, além de examinar e descrever conceitos importantes, procura explicá-los, compara teorias, descreve e analisa dados levantados por meio de instrumentos de pesquisa. Assim, após a análise dos dados, chegou-se a algumas conclusões: a maioria dos erros produzidos com o uso dos artigos ocorreu em relação ao neutro, seja utilizando-o em situações nas quais deveria ter sido usada a forma masculina, seja empregando o masculino quando deveria ser usada a forma neutra; em determinadas situações, o artigo neutro ocupa o espaço do artigo masculino, motivado pelo processo de hipercorreção; a classe gramatical da palavra que acompanha o artigo neutro é fator determinante para que ele seja usado corretamente; o neutro "lo", classificado como artigo pelas gramáticas da língua espanhola, comporta-se, em algumas situações, como pronome, pois pode ser substituído pelo pronome demonstrativo neutro; também na língua portuguesa existe um "o" neutro, embora nesta língua ele seja classificado como pronome demonstrativo, e não como artigo; apesar de o uso do artigo "lo" ser tratado comumente como fenômeno gramatical, a análise empreendida nesta tese comprova que utilizá-lo corretamente depende não só do conhecimento gramatical da língua espanhola, mas também da capacidade de leitura em L2, isto é, de o aprendiz de espanhol utilizar estratégias de leitura adequadas e realizar as devidas inferências durante o processo de leitura. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis is the study of the use of the neutral article "lo" by undergraduate Spanish learners as a foreign language, approached in two perspectives of analysis: as a grammatical structure and as a lexical-semantic object of reading. As a general objective, the research proposes to analyze, describe and explain the use of the neutral article in written texts and in readings, taking into account the comprehension that undergraduates have of them. In the development of the theme, the theoretical framework that supports the investigation starts with the discussion of concepts such as acquisition and learning, as well as the native language and foreign language, with their terminological variants, and undergoes some reading concepts in L1 and L2, considered relevant. The Contrastive Linguistics is approached with the necessary scope in three theoretical and practical models, which are, Contrastive Analysis, Error Analysis and Interlanguage Analysis. Linguistic structures are confronted, equivalences and contrasts are identified, and the processes that lead to the production of errors and rightness, which can be understood as an interlinguistic mark of the learners. As for the method, the descriptive analysis was used that, besides examining and describing important concepts, tries to explain them, compares theories, describes and analyses data collected through survey instruments. Thus, after analyzing the data, we came up to some conclusions: most of the errors produced with the use of the articles occurred in relation to the neutral, using it in situations where the masculine gender should have been used, or using the masculine gender when the neutral should be used; in certain situations, the neutral article takes up the space of the masculine article, motivated by the process of hypercorrection, the grammatical class of the word that follows the neutral article is the determinant factor for it to be used accurately; the neutral "lo", classified as an article by the grammar of the Spanish language, behaves, in some situations, as a pronoun, because it can be replaced by the neutral demonstrative pronoun; there is also a neutral "o" in the Portuguese language, although in this language it is classified as a demonstrative pronoun, and not as an article; despite the use of the article "lo" be commonly treated as a grammatical phenomenon, the analysis undertaken in this thesis proves that using it accurately depends not only on the knowledge of Spanish grammar, but also on the capability of reading in L2, i.e., that the Spanish learner using appropriate learning strategies and perform the proper inferences during the reading process.

Whole language approach in education

This thesis presents a study of the interlanguage of the speech act of apology by Taiwanese learners of English. It compares the way Taiwanese learners apoologize in English and how they apologize in Mandarin Chinese, as well as how native speakers of American English apologize.

"September 2008". / Thesis (DAppLing)--Macquarie University, Division of Linguistics and Psychology, Dept. of Linguistics, 2009. / Bibliography: p. 189-196. / The purpose of this research was to analyse the pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic development of language groups at different proficiency levels and investigate the relationship between interlanguage pragmatics and grammatical competence. For this study, 36 native Spanish speaking EFL learners at different proficiency levels were asked to respond in English to 24 different situations which called for the speech acts of request and apology. Their English performances were compared to those of 12 American English native speakers in order to provide base-line cultural data. Thirty six Mexican Spanish native speakers also participated as a control group in order to analyse the role of the mother tongue in the performances of the EFL learners. The data, collected using a carton oral production task (COPT), were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results showed three important findings that illuminate the relationship between pragmatic development and grammatical competence and lent support to Kasper and Rose's (2003) claim of a universal pragmatic principle. The first finding suggested that basic adult learners possess a previous pragmatic knowledge in their L1 that allows them to focus on the intended meaning and, in most cases, and to assemble (from the linguistic structures available to them) an utterance that conveys a pragmatic intention and satisfies the communicative demands of a social situation. The second finding revealed that there are two essential conditions to communicate a linguistic action: the knowledge of the relevant linguistic rules and the knowledge of how to use them appropriately and effectively in a specific context. Without an elementary knowledge of the linguistic rules, it is impossible to select the forms to realize a speech act in a target-like manner. The findings further suggested that advanced learners possess the grammatical knowledge to produce an illocutionary act, but they need to learn the specific L2 pragmatic conventions that enable them to know when to use these grammatical forms and under what circumstances. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xi, 238 p. ill

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / La competencia pragmática es un componente de la competencia comunicativa. Para que un hablante sea competente en una lengua, no sólo debe tener el conocimiento lingüístico, sino que, además, debe entender las normas, valores y estructuras sociales de la comunidad de habla. Al aplicar estos conceptos al campo de adquisición de segunda lengua (L2) o de lengua extranjera (LE), nos damos cuenta de que la enseñanza de pragmática de L2 es fundamental para ayudar a que el aprendiz establezca las similitudes y diferencias entre las normas, valores y estructuras sociales de su L1 y las de la lengua en estudio. Como no hay un modelo único a seguir en la enseñanza de pragmática para alcanzar los mejores resultados en cuanto a la adquisición de esta competencia, este estudio describe algunos modelos eficaces de enseñanza de la pragmática en el aula de español como lengua extranjera (ELE), y analiza la manera como los libros de texto examinados incluyen y tratan los temas de la pragmática. Este estudio sobre la adquisición de pragmática en segunda lengua aportará al campo de la enseñanza de pragmática, mediante una unidad didáctica que implementa los hallazgos de varios investigadores en el área de adquisición de segunda lengua, con énfasis en la adquisición de interlengua pragmática, es decir, de pragmática en segunda lengua (L2) o lengua extranjera (LE).

The thesis deals with second language acquisition (SLA) of Czech in Russian and English students. It presents the main theories of SLA (generative and cognitive approaches) and compares them to the results of author's research into L2 acquisition of Czech morphology and syntax in speakers of two typologically and structurally different mothertongues. It shows that language transfer plays an important role in SLA and that some of the generative assumptions about SLA that are claimed to apply universally cannot be proven for Czech.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

PhD (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / The aim of the study was to develop a conceptualized model that will enhance language acquisition of children between 0 and 3 years. Language is a use of words and symbol to convey message, or communication. Generally, from birth to the age of four months children express their needs through crying and are soothed by the sound of voices or by low rhythmic sounds. When adults talk to children, children later imitate adult’s tongue movements and start to make sounds, coos and gurgles. Providing children with developmental stimulation and exposing them to learning opportunities increases their cognitive and social-emotional skills/abilities. Strategies to enhance language development are fundamental in children and can reduce many literacy related problems in later childhood. The objectives of the study are: to describe activities done by caregivers to influence language development; to identify factors that influence language development; to describe the importance of language development and to explain the disorders that are associated with language development. This study was qualitative in nature and it utilised an explorative design. This research design enabled the researcher to investigate the nature of acquisition comprehensively as well as the development of language and other factors that are related to it. The study was conducted at Vhembe District Municipality. Three villages were selected, namely Tshikuwi, Tshirolwe and HaMatsa villages, which are found in Makhado Municipality under Limpopo Province, South Africa. Purposive sampling was used to sample participants for the study. The individuals selected were those judged to have certain special characteristics as well as the ability to provide in-depth information for the purpose of the study. Thirty participants were selected to participate in the study. The semi-structured face to face interview and the interview guide with open-ended questions were used for data collection. Pre-testing of the interview guide was done to check if the guide would produce the expected results, three women from three different villages were selected for pretesting. All questions in the interview guide were addressed during data collection. Collected data were transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis. The study adhered to the following research ethics: informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, voluntary participation, no harm to the participants and dissemination of results. The study revealed that language is an important tool which is used to convey information from one person to the other. The findings indicate that language helps children to communicate and relate with other people. Language was also explained as a tool which is used to educate children, either at school or at home. The study shows that when children are learning language, they will also be stimulating their reasoning, thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition, it was also indicated that cognitive development reduces problems such as poor language development, a low self-esteem and isolation. The findings of this study show that there are a number of activities that can be used by caregivers and parents to foster the development of language in children. Those activities include, communicating with a child, reading of books, watching TV, naming of objects and explaining meaning of words. The study also identified several environmental factors that can be used to foster the development of language in children. The following environmental factors were identified in the study: communication, parental level of education, home socioeconomic status, caregiver’s personality and the availability of other children in the family. Lastly, the findings show that there are many disorders that may affect the development of language in children. The language disorders that the study identified include expressive language disorder, dyslexia, and inability to understand spoken. However, the study also reveals that these disorders may be treated. The findings of this study lead to the development of a conceptualized model to facilitate language acquisition in children between 0 and 3 years was developed. The meaning of one concept, namely reinforcement was explained in detail, in order for users of the model to understand its operational definition in the model. Reinforcement was explained because it has a diversity of meanings. The model enabled the researcher to create a link between research and what is happening in a society. Model validation was done to verify if the developed model relates to practical life, research and language development. The model for this study was validated for its applicability and usability. The drafted model was given to psychologists, speech therapists and parent to determine its usability and applicability. Keywords: language, language acquisition, language development model, language disorders. / NRF