I denna studie tittar jag på vilka filmiska särdrag som förekommer i konstnärlig teckenspråkstext, Visual Vernacular, ur en kognitiv beskrivningsmodell för teckenspråk (Liddell 2003) som utgångspunkt för att öka förståelsen om Visual Vernaculars unika uppbyggnad. Tre Visual Vernacular-texter, från Amerika, Italien och Polen tas med till denna studies analysarbete vilket skett via annotering och ett urval av Visual Vernacular-segment för att finna kopplingar till filmiska uttrycksmedel. Sedan delades arbetet upp i händelsebaserade Visual Vernacular-segment som grundar sig på att tecknarens händer antingen representeras av substitutor och/eller avbildas av manipulator, och beskrivningsbaserade Visual Vernacular-segment som representeras av deskriptor. Därefter presenteras resultatet av vilka real space blend de olika Visual Vernacular-segmenten innehåller samt hur kopplingarna med de filmiska uttrycksmedlen ser ut. Det framgår att Visual Vernacular utmärker sig genom användningen av förstapersonsperspektiv (Point of View) det vill säga, att tecknaren skapar en surrogatblend med eller utan avbildande tecken. Tecknaren kan skapa avbildande blend tillsammans med surrogatblend och använda uppdelade zoner samt onomatopoetiska eller adverbiella munrörelser för att uppge flera real space blend simultant i estetiskt syfte. De filmiska uttrycksmedel som förekommer i Visual Vernacular består av bildutsnitt såsom helbild, halvbild och närbild, fast de kan spelas upp som flera bildlager samtidigt för att skapa en händelse. Det innebär att tecknaren i en Visual Vernacular-text kan personifiera vilken karaktär som helst och framföra innehållet i olika skala med eller utan zoom men i samma händelse. Genom att försöka finna kopplingar till filmiska uttrycksmedel är resultatet från denna studie att det förekommer uttryckssätt som hör ihop med teckenspråk, exempelvis visuell komprimering som inte går att jämföra med film. Resultatet visar även att antalet real space blend i en Visual Vernacular-text kan uppgå till 40 blend per minut vilket är dubbelt så många jämfört med en narrativ teckenspråkstext. Avslutningsvis visar det att Visual Vernacular är en unik berättelsekonst på teckenspråk som har möjlighet att förstås av teckenspråkiga från hela världen. / In this study, I look at the cinematic features that appear in artistic sign language texts, Visual Vernacular from a cognitive description model for sign language (Liddell 2003) as a starting point to increase understanding of the unique structure of Visual Vernacular. Three Visual Vernacular texts, from America, Italy and Poland, are included in the analysis of this study, which is done through annotation and a selection of Visual Vernacular-segments to find a connection to cinematic features. The work is then divided into action-based Visual Vernacular which is based on the signer’s hand either being represented by substitutor and/or depicted by a manipulator, and description-based Visual Verrnacular represented by a descriptor. After that, the results are presented of which real space blend these Visual Vernacular segments contain and what connections with cinematic features look like. It appears that Visual Vernacular is distinguished by the use of a first-person perspective (Point of View), that is, that the signer creates a surrogat blend with or without depicting signs. The signer can create a depicting blend together with a surrogat blend and use partitioning zones as well as onomatopoeic or adverbial mouth movements to indicate several real space blends simultaneously for aesthetic purposes. The cinematic features that occur in Visual Vernacular consist of cinematography such as long shot, medium shot and close-up but they are played as several cinematography layers simultaneously to create an event. This means that the signer in a Visual Vernacular-text can personify himself in any character and present the content on different scales with or without zoom but in the same event. By trying to find connections to cinematic features, the results from this study lead to the assumption that there are features that are related to sign language, for example, visual compression that cannot be compared with film. The results show that the number of real space blends in a Visual Vernacular text can amount to 40 blends per minute, which is twice as much in relation to a narrative sign language text. In conclusion, it shows that Visual Vernacular is a unique storytelling art in sign language that has the opportunity to be understood by sign language users from all over the world.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Pressure garment therapy (PGT) forms a significant part of burn rehabilitation. It is most commonly used to treat hypertrophic scars but the benefits of this intervention remain questionable. Adherence with this intervention also presents several challenges for the patient and clinician. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of adult burn survivors who participated in PGT during 2006 - 2010 at Tygerberg Academic Hospital (TAH). Methods: A phenomenological study design using qualitative research methods was implemented. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight burn survivors. The participants were chosen using purposive sampling methods. Thematic analysis was conducted using pre-determined themes from the literature as a starting point. Data was coded and categorised according to themes that emerged during data analysis. Results: The findings of the study revealed that several factors impacted on the participant’s experiences of pressure garment therapy. Factors related to the consequences of the burn injury included the participant’s loss of function, loss of participation, loss of self-confidence, financial dependence, emotional impact and impact on relationships. Factors related to pressure garment usage included physical effects, socio-emotional effects and the wearing schedule (which included maintenance and effort, adherence and time). Factors that contributed to adherence included support, inner strengths, knowledge, seeing a difference, seeing others, enablers to accessing the service and satisfaction with the service. Factors that contributed to non-adherence included lack of support, emotional turmoil and barriers to accessing the service. Participants made recommendations to improve the overall burn service at TAH. Conclusion: The findings of the study show that participants experienced PGT as a beneficial intervention. There were several complex factors that impacted the participants’ experiences of PGT. The most significant benefit as described by the participants was the improvements noted in scar appearance, whilst the main barrier was that the garments were cosmetically displeasing due to their colour.Recommendations: To adopt a person-centred approach to burn management, recommendations made include improvements needed within the occupational therapy service such as changing the colour of the garment material, the standardisation of the PGT treatment protocols and improving staff attitudes. Other recommendations include establishing a network for counselling services as well as an information pack for patients admitted to the burns unit. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Drukklereterapie vorm ʼn belangrike deel van die rehabilitasie van brandwonde. Dit is die mees algemene behandeling vir hipertrofiese littekens, maar daar bestaan steeds twyfel aangaande die voordele van hierdie intervensie. Daar bestaan heelwat uitdagings, vir beide die terapeut en die pasiënt, om die behandelingsriglyne na te volg. Doel van die studie: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ervarings van volwasse brandwond oorlewendes wat vanaf 2006 tot 2010 drukklereterapie by Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal ontvang het, te ondersoek. Metode: ʼn Fenomenologiese studie ontwerp is geimplïmenteer deur middel van kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met agt brandwond oorlewendes gevoer. Die deelnemers is gekies deur doelgerigte steekproefneming metodes. Tematiese analise is uitgevoer met behulp van voorafbepaalde temas wat as beginpunt uit die literatuur geneem is. Data is gekodeer en gekategoriseer volgens temas wat na vore gekom het tydens data analise. Resultate: Die bevindings van die studie het aangedui dat verskeie faktore die deelnemers se ervarings van drukklereterapie beïnvloed het. Faktore wat met die gevolge van die brand beserings verband hou het die volgende ingesluit: verlies aan funksie, verlies aan deelname, verlies aan selfvertroue, finansiële afhanklikheid, emosionele impak en die impak op verhoudings. Die volgende faktore het verband gehou met die gebruik van drukklere: fisiese faktore, sosio-emosionele faktore en die dra skedule (dit sluit in onderhoud van die drukklere, moeite, volg van die dra skedule en tyd). Faktore wat bygedra het tot die navolging van die skedule het die volgende ingesluit: ondersteuning, innerlike krag, kennis, die sien van ʼn verskil, sien van ander, toegang tot die diens en tevredenheid met die diens. Die volgende faktore het bygedra tot nie-navolging: gebrek aan ondersteunning, emosionele verwarring en hindernisse tot toegang tot die diens. Deelnemers het aanbevelings gemaak om die brandwonde diens te verbeter. Slot: Die bevindings van die studie dui daarop dat die deelnemers drukklereterapie as ʼn voordelige intervensie ervaar het. Daar was verskeie komplekse faktore wat ʼn impak op drukklereterapie gehad het. Die grootste voordeel, soos beskryf deur deelnemers, was die verbetering in litteken voorkoms; terwyl die hoof hindernis was dat die drukklere kosmeties onaanvaarbaar was as gevolg van die kleur. Aanbevelings: Die volgende aanbevelings is gemaak om ʼn persoon-gesentreerde benadering tot brandwond behandeling te verseker: verbeterings benodig binne die arbeidsterapie diens, soos die verandering van die kleur van drukkleremateriaal, die standaardisering van drukklereterapie protokolle en die verbetering van personeel houdings. Ander aanbevelings sluit in ʼn netwerk vir beradingsdienste, sowel as ʼn inligtingspakket vir pasiente wat tot die brandwondeenheid toegelaat word.

Arabic language ideology that views the colloquial as a threat to the standard language and fears a public role for the colloquial register remained prevalent throughout much of the twentieth century. Yet, in late nineteenth-century Egypt, the Nahda project of disseminating knowledge to ‘the masses’ gave rise to several journals that found a public role for Ammiyya, introducing it into the realm of written knowledge. This study analyzes the processes of introducing Ammiyya into the written realm and the subsequent attempt at reeling the register back in from the public sphere. Through a framework of the sociolinguistic analysis of style and the process of iconization, Part I analyzes Abdallah al-Nadim’s use of language variation in his journal, al-Ustaadh, and how it aided in sorting out contradiction between ideology that hailed the standard as the suitable public register and practice that conceded a role to the colloquial. This study argues that even as his journal published didactic dialogues in Ammiyya, Nadim’s language practice chipped away at the prospect of a sustained literary role for the colloquial through the use of ‘styles’ that aligned the standard with authority and a keen understanding of the modernity project and through indexing the colloquial with the backward realm of uneducated women. Through the framework of the process of ‘erasure', Part II analyzes linguistic practices aimed at reeling the colloquial back in from the realm of written knowledge. It demonstrates Nadim’s efforts - near the end of the publication of his journal - to erase the notion that an educated Egyptian would have any use for the register. Nadim removed the salient features of Ammiyya from his dialogues and scolded his interlocutors who displayed their backwardness through the continued use of the features. Late nineteenth- century works, such as Hasan Tawfiq’s Usuul al-Kalimaat al-Ammiyya, represent a continuation of the ideology-practice dialectic from Nadim’s attempted erasure of the colloquial. However, whereas Nadim erased salient features of the colloquial from his writings, these works attempted to trace Ammiyya terms back to their assumed Fusha origins, with the aim of unifying the language by erasing the register. / text

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts

Des nombreux utilisateurs des systèmes multi-agents (SMA) sont très souvent découragés de modéliser et simuler dans les plates-formes actuelles SMA. Plus précisément, modéliser la dynamique d'un système (en particulier les comportements de l'agent) est très souvent vu comme un défi pour les utilisateurs de SMA. Dans le domaine des systèmes socio-écologiques (SES), cet inconvénient est plus souvent observé une fois que les experts de domaine en SES sont rarement des programmeurs. De plus, la majorité des plateformes SMA n'a pas été conçue en prenant en considérant le fait que les experts de domaines ne sont pas des programmeurs. On constate que la majeure partie des outils MAS ne sont pas dédiés à SES, ou qu'ils ne possèdent pas un formalisme compréhensible pour représenter les comportements de SMA. En outre, comme ces outils sont dépendant des plateformes, un modèle réalisé dans une plateforme SMA ne peut pas être correctement utilisé dans une autre plate-forme en raison de l'incompatibilité entre ces plateformes SMA. Afin de surpasser ces limitations, nous proposons un langage dédié au domaine SES pour décrire les comportements des agents réactifs, quelle que soit la plate-forme utilisée pour la simulation des SMA. Pour ce faire, nous avons appliqué l’approche de l’ingénierie dirigée par les modèles (IDM), une approche qui fournit des outils pour développer des langages dédiés à partir d'un méta-modèle (syntaxe abstraite), des éditeurs textuels avec coloration syntaxique (pour la syntaxe concrète) et des outils des générateurs de code (pour la génération de source code à partir d'un modèle). En conséquence, nous avons mis en œuvre un langage et un éditeur de texte qui permet à des experts du domaine SES de décrire les comportements de trois manières différentes qui sont fermées à leur expression naturelle : sous forme d'équations quand ils sont familiers avec celles-ci, en tant que séquence d'activités proche du langage naturel ou comme un diagramme d'activité pour représenter les décisions et une séquence de comportements en utilisant un formalisme graphique. Pour montrer la généralité, nous avons également développé des générateurs de code ciblant deux plates-formes différentes SMA (Cormas et Netlogo). Nous avons testé les générateurs de code en mettant en œuvre deux modèles SES avec le langage dédié développé. Le code généré obtenu a été généré pour les deux plates-formes SMA Cormas et NetLogo, et simulé avec succès dans un des deux plateformes. Nous avons conclu que l'approche IDM fournit des outils adéquats à développer des langages dédiés et des générateurs de code pour faciliter la modélisation et la simulation SMA par des non-programmeurs. En ce qui concerne le langage développé, bien que l’aspect comportemental de la simulation MAS fasse partie de la complexité de la modélisation en SMA, il y a encore d'autres aspects essentiels du modèle et de la simulation de SMA qui sont encore à être explorés, tels que l'initialisation et les points de vue sur un le monde simulé d’un modèle. / Many users of multi-agent systems (MAS) are very commonly discouraged to model and simulate using current MAS platforms. More specifically, modeling the dynamics of a system (in particular the agent's behaviors) is very often a challenge to users of MAS. That issue is more often observed in the domain of socio-ecological systems (SES), because SES domain experts are rarely programmers. Indeed,the majority of MAS platforms were not conceived taking into consideration domain-experts that are non-programmers. Most of the current MAS tools are not dedicated to SES, or they do not possess an easily understandable formalism to represent behaviors of agents. Moreover, because it is platform-dependent, a model realized in a MAS platform cannot be properly used in another platform due to incompatibility between MAS platforms. To overcome these limitations, we propose a domain-specific language (DSL) to describe the behaviors of reactive agents, regardless of the MAS platform used for simulation. To achieve that, we applied model-driven engineering (MDE), an approach that provides tools to develop DSLs from a meta-model (abstract syntax), textual editors with syntax highlighting (for the concrete syntax) and code generation capabilities (for source-code generation of a model). As a result, we implemented a language and a textual editor that allows SES domain experts to describe behaviors in three different ways that are closed to their natural expression: as equations when they are familiar to those, as a sequence of activities close to natural language or as an activity diagram to represent decisions and a sequence of behaviors using a graphic formalism. To show the generality we also developed code generators targeting two different MAS platforms (Cormas and Netlogo). We tested the code generators by implementing two SES models with the developed DSL. The generated code was targeted for both MAS platforms (Cormas and Netlogo), and successfully simulated in one of them.We conclude that the MDE approach provides adequate tools to develop DSL and code generators to facilitate MAS modeling and simulation by non-programmers. Concerning the developed DSL, although the behavioral aspect of MAS simulation is part of the complexity of modeling in MAS, there are still other essential aspects of model and simulation of MAS that are yet to be explored, such as model's initialization and points of view on the model's simulated world

abstract: ABSTRACT This dissertation addresses the question of how participation in an arts-based sojourn influences university instructors’ perspectives and understanding as related to working with international female Muslim students (FMS). It also addresses what participation in a social justice oriented arts-based inquiry reveals about transformation of perspectives and practices of FMS in instructors’ long-term trajectories. Social justice oriented arts-based inquiry is a powerful tool to unearth issues and challenges associated with creating and sustaining equitable practices in the classroom. This type of inquiry provided instructor-participants with a platform that facilitated their use of “equity lenses” to examine and reflect on external phenomena which may influence their classroom practices as related to FMS. Participation in the art-based sojourn facilitated multiple opportunities for the instructor-participants to reflect critically on their practices, understanding, and perspectives of FMS. This study revealed that the most significant shifts in understanding and perspectives about FMS followed from long-term events and moments in the instructor-participants’ teaching careers. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2017

This study investigates teacher cognition and technology use within a context of teaching Arabic to speakers of other languages. Specifically, teacher cognition is examined in relation to early learning experiences, teacher education, classroom practice, and work environment. Following a case study approach, three in-service teachers have been selected to represent different perspectives on using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in language instruction. Findings suggest that teachers’ cognitions about teaching and learning, and about themselves as Arabic language professionals, shape technology use, determine reactions to perceived challenges, and illuminate differences between practitioners working within the same environment with regard to the integration of ICT into their practice. The research suggests that despite the absence of digital learning opportunities in early schooling and teacher education, these experiences still influence the choice of instructional strategies employed by teachers to support technology use. The study accentuates the role of context as a mediating force, supporting teacher cognition and ICT use, but also creating dissonance between them. Teacher cognition determines the weight that practitioners assign to different contextual factors. While lack of time is identified as the most significant barrier to adoption, peer collaboration is recognized as the most effective enabler for technology integration. Other key factors emerging in this study include institutional philosophy and policy, learning opportunities, and technical support. Conceptual, methodological, and professional contributions are addressed, and potential for further research is identified.

(M. A. (African Languages)) --University of Limpopo, 2015 / Ngudo ino yo sumbedza uri ho shumiswa mirero na maidioma manzhi kha u bvukulula vhuvha na nzulele ya vhafumakadzi kha maṅwalwa a Ṋetshivhuyu, M.J. na Sigogo, N.E. Ngudo yo tumbula uri kanzhi mirero na maidioma zwi shumiswa kha u tsikeledza vhafumakadzi fhethu hunzhi: mishumoni, mbinganoni, lufunoni na kha mavhusele. Tsikeledzo iyi i vha ya muhumbulo khathihi na ya ṋamani. Naho zwo ralo, ngudo yo wana uri hu na huṅwe hu si gathi hune mirero na maidioma zwa ṱuṱuwedza vhutshilo havhuḓi kha vhafumakadzi. Magumoni azwo, ngudo i themendela uri vhafumakadzi vha fanela u farwa zwavhuḓi, nge vha vha vhathu u fana na vhanna.

In a multilingual world, it is common for the English classroom in upper secondary schools in Sweden to be filled with more than second language learners. These multilingual students have the potential to bring their language learning strategies (LLS) to the classroom, as well as their language repertoire, which every student could benefit from. The aim of this degree project is therefore to gain a deeper understanding of the language repertoires and language learning strategies of participating students at upper secondary schools in Sweden. To explore this, a qualitative approach was employed to discover participants’ language repertoires and the LLS participants report to use. Interviews were used to collect data about language use, repertoire and reported strategy use. In addition to the interviews, Oxford’s (1990) Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) was utilized to find out which strategies participants claimed to use in a broader sense. The results show that participant’s multilingualism is not taken advantage of in school, but it blossoms outside of English class where it is used to retain connections to friends and family. The results also show that participants use cognitive, social and compensation strategies the most, by translating, practicing, and asking others for help.

This thesis is a comparative study of Pai and Swati. The Pai language is spoken in the easten1 parts of the Mpumalanga Province of the Republic of South Africa. The study concentrates on the correspondences and differences of the speech sounds of these two languages and reference is also made to the morphology. The previous comprehensive work on Pai was by Ziervogel (1956) where he classified the Pai language as one of the three dialects of Eastern Sotho. He also considered the Swati elements present in Pai to be merely borrowings. The present investigation into the history of the Pai people indicates that Pai may have had links with languages other than those belonging to the Sotho group and, from the evidence, an Nguni connection has become a distinct possibility. The speech sounds of Pai are described in detail in chapter two and corresponding speech sounds in Swati are included. The vowels of both languages receive special attention because Pai apparently has a seven-vowel system and Swati a five-vowel system. The corresponding consonants in these two languages soon points towards a relationship that is based on more than just borrowed items. In chapter three the Ur-Bantu sounds of Meinhof and their reflexes in Swati and Pai are described and compared. The wide variety of attestations in Pai and the instability of some phonemes are indicative of a language that has been subjected to many outside influences and that is at the moment in a state of flux. In chapter four some aspects of the morphology are described in order to highlight the peculiar characteristics of Pai as an individual language. The relationship with Swati is again emphasized by the findings in this chapter. A statistical analysis of the speech sounds of Pai and Swati in chapter five indicates that an Nguni core of sounds exists that is shared by both these languages. A re-classification of Pai within the language context of that area may therefore be necessary. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)