Abstract: In this thesis, the general use and specific instances of F-words in modern music lyrics have been studied based on the corpora extracted from songs in Billboard year-end charts from 2013 to 2022, which represented the most popular songs in English-speaking countries. By screening the actual meaning and contexts of those F-words in the lyrics, I extracted those special instances in which F-words were used to express rebellious feelings to challenge social norms and fight against authority powers. The theme of those rebellious F-words was first studied by the quantitative analysis by years, which shows a clear time dependence associated with the social and political environments. Notably, there was a significant increase in the use of rebellious F-words in lyrics during the intense social and political crises of 2019-2020. A comparative investigation was then carried out across four distinct music genres: rap, rock, R&B, and pop. Among these, rap music stood out with a higher prevalence of rebellious F-words. However, the impact of these words was diminished due to their frequent occurrence, resulting in a reduced level of audience reaction and shock value. The following textual analysis of grammatical features and literary devices associated with those F-words provided evidence that more assertive and aggressive expressions, such as imperative sentences, were favored when incorporating rebellious F-words in the lyrics. This study provides a comprehensive overview of how modern pop music expresses and conveys rebellious power through the use of profanity.

This dissertation proposes a new method of studying pragmatic language use in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The existing research into pragmatic language use in ASD has predominantly used interviews and experiments in clinical environments to gather data from participants with ASD. These research methods focus heavily on comprehension, on comparing the performance of the participant with ASD to their non-autistic interlocutor. The methodology proposed in this thesis involves using observation and a naturalistic environment to gather conversational data that can be used to fill several gaps in the current research on pragmatic language use in ASD. In this study, people with ASD interacted with either non-autistic people or other people with ASD in triadic conversation sessions. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analysed for various pragmatic uses of language that previous research had observed were impaired, such as types of non-literal language and conversational turn taking. The pragmatic language use of three participants with ASD, representing three different levels of language ability, was analysed. The results showed that some participants used types of pragmatic language differently based on with whom they were communicating and also that some purported pragmatic impairments in ASD may not be as ‘impaired’ as they seemed based on previous research. For example, while all participants in this study used more interruptions when interacting with others with ASD compared to when interacting with non- autistic people, the rates of interruption were far less than what has been observed between non-autistic speakers (Hancock & Rubin, 2014), even though people with ASD have been described in the research literature as interrupting frequently (Ochs, Kremer-Sadlik, Sirota, & Solomon, 2004). The research presented in this dissertation has implications for future clinical research into pragmatic language impairments in any speech community and provides an additional methodology that can be used, expanding on the types of research questions that can be investigated in this area. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis proposes a new method of studying pragmatic language use in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This methodology involves using observation and the data that can be gathered using it can fill several gaps in the current research on pragmatic language use in ASD. In this study, people with ASD interacted with either non-autistic people or other people with ASD in triadic conversation sessions. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analysed for various aspects of pragmatic uses of language. The pragmatic language use of three participants with ASD, representing three different levels of language ability, was analysed. The results showed that some participants used types of pragmatic language differently based on with whom they were communicating and also that some purported pragmatic impairments in ASD may not be as ‘impaired’ as they seemed based on previous research.

In early 1971, a year before he abandoned the art world, the American art dealer and independent curator Seth Siegelaub (1941-2013) published The Artist’s Reserved Rights Transfer and Sale Agreement (ARRTSA) in New York. Its stated aim was to change the power relations on the art market more in favor of the artists. This study departs from the observation that despite being a seemingly ideal way to assert artist’s rights, ARRTSA has only been used by a few artists. While the reason for this reluctance has not been sufficiently researched, my study also shows that there is a lack of academic work that considers this area of research in art history. In order to shed light on this field I am using Fairclough’s theory and by applying his dialectical method of Critical Discourse Analysis, I examine the discourses in which ARRTSA is included as a particular discourse and event. The analysis of Siegelaub’s practice and position in combination with a close linguistic analysis of his introductory text highlights aspects and dimensions that have been previously occluded or under- acknowledged. The result of the analysis shows that the discourse stresses solidarity, insistence and consistency for artists and makes a moral appeal to collectors, but the text also reproduces the idiosyncratic energy and ambiguities that was surrounding his driven persona. I argue that despite all the purported benefits of ARRTSA, artists are instilled with a sense of uncertainty and risk, because it becomes apparent how informal and unregulated the art world is and how the art market-logic yields more power than the artist. Hence, the idea of pursuing artist’s rights through the use of written agreements remains largely unexplored.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:31:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luzia Rita.pdf: 2820684 bytes, checksum: 4f71c26fd126b0e340c3c0f2097ba0e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-30 / This work aims to discuss about some epistemological conceptions fiom researchers on language: the object of study of Linguistics. On this dissertaiion, a brief retrospect of language conceptions ira the 70 and 80, as well as the influence of more recent theories such as Textual Linguistics, Sociolinguistics and Speech Analysis on the performance of Portuguese Language teachers are found. The comprehensions of the text are a social-interaction approach in which all knowledge is socially buit in the relationship field a theory that is proposed by Vigotsky. The ideas are also based on Bakhtín, for whom the true substance of language is constituted by the social phenomenon of verbal interaction, conducted by enunciation or enunciations. It also presents the analysis of surveys and interviews in relation to the practices of language developed by Portuguese Language teachers, in the axis of reading, writing and linguistic analysis in the Elementary School(5 to 8 grade) in Public Schools of Ponta Grossa. / O trabalho objetiva refletir sobre algumas concepções epistemológicas de estudiosos sobre a linguagem: objeto de estudo da Lingüistica. Consta nesta dissertação um breve retrospecto das concepções de linguagem nas décadas de 70 e 80 e a influência das teorias mais recentes como a Linguistica Textual, a Sociolingüística e a Analise do Discurso, na atuação dos professores de Língua Portuguesa. As depreensões do texto coflguram uma abordagem sociointeracionista em que todo conhecimento é construído socialmente, no âmbito das relações, teoria postulada por Vigotsky. As idéias também são fundamentadas em Bakhtin, para quem a verdadeira substância da linguagem é constituída pelo fenomeno social de interação verbal, realizada pela enunciação ou enunciações.Também apresenta á analise dos questionários e das entrevistas com relação às práticas de linguagem desenvolvidas por professores de Lingua Portuguesa, nos eixos da leitura, escrita e análise lingüistica, no Ensino Fundamental (5 a 8 série), em Escolas Estaduais de Ponta Grossa.

Les grammairiens considèrent que l’impératif est le moyen normal pour formuler une injonction. Cependant d’autres moyens tels que l’assertion, l’interrogation, les expressions averbales sont possibles. Notre thèse se propose d’étudier les caractéristiques syntaxiques, sémantiques et pragmatiques ainsi que la répartition de ces moyens en fonction des activités linguistiques pratiquées par les locuteurs. Nous avons retenu cinq situations (entretien, petit commerce, didactique – institutionnelle et didactique – amicale).Après avoir défini sur une base pragmatique, nous avons essayé de dégager les configurations très fréquentes et celles qui restent exceptionnelles, de voir comment les compétences linguistiques sont mobilisées par les locuteurs pour satisfaire les attentes normatives dans les différentes situations sociales qui constituent notre corpus. / The grammar considers that the imperative form is the normal means to formulate imperative utterances. However, other means like assertives, interrogatives and non-verbal expressions are possible. Our thesis studies the syntactical, semantic and pragmatic caracteristics of these structures and their distributions according to the linguistic activities. We have taken five situations (interview, small commerce, didactical – institutionnal, didactical – friendly).Adopting a pragmatic definition of the imperative, we tryed to figure out the frequent and exeptionnel configurations, to see how linguistic skills are mobilized by speakers to satisfy the normative expectations in these different social situations.

Research into English research articles (RAs) has largely been focused on articles produced by native English writers. This thesis aims to investigate the textual structure of research articles written by non-native English writers, which may contribute to their acceptance for international publication. A comparison is made between RAs written by native English speakers, Indonesian writers writing in English, and Indonesian writers writing in Indonesian, all in the field of Language and Language Teaching. It explores the relation of text's generic structure, context and linguistic realization. The thesis develops a framework for the generic structure analysis based on Swales' CARS model of moves. A complementary analysis using Systemic-Functional Linguistics' (SFL) approach to texture, namely, text's method of development and structure of information, is conducted to further reveal the textual strategies of the different groups. The findings indicate significant differences in both forms and functions of textual strategies between the native and non-native texts. The differences may partly be due to the influence of writing practices in the non-native writers' first language and partly to the writer's attempt to find an appropriate format in the absence of well-established research writing conventions in the first language. Consequently, non-native English texts may show textual features and organising strategies unfamiliar to both the native English and native Indonesian texts. Findings from the research highlight two issues. First, formal and functional differences of generic structure elements and their realizations between the native and non-native English texts may disadvantage the non-native writers, particularly with regards to employment of unfamiliar organizational strategies. Second, besides knowledge of formal generic structure, more importantly, non-native English writers need to acquire the knowledge of the nature of scientific writing in English in order to achieve full control of the writing process and thus produce successful writing. The implications for further research and the teaching of academic writing are discussed.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of English

The Authorities attitudes towards Gypsies have been characterized by prejudice for a long time. This has lead to the relief actions of the Authorities being formed by discriminating acts. In purpose of eliminating the discrimination of the Gypsies, the Delegation for Gypsy matters formulated a strategy for solving this problem in the report “Gypsy rights – a strategy for Gypsies in Sweden”. Despite the goodwill of the Authorities this report has been criticized by Gypsies in Sweden.   In the investigation of the derivation of this criticism the aim of this essay is to look at how the Authorities attitude towards Gypsies is shown in this report and how it affects the creation of their ethos. This analysis is made with a Critical Linguistic Analysis and the Stasis Theory.    The result showed that the Delegation for Gypsy matters dissociate themselves from the former attitudes that characterized the Authorities view of Gypsies. Through this move they try to show solidarity with them. Despite this equality aim it is possible to make note of an authoritative touch that imply a view of a society where the power is distributed from the top to the bottom. Even the picture of the Gypsies as a weak group can be noted. / Myndigheters attityder har länge varit präglade av fördomar när det gäller romer. Detta har medfört att deras hjälpinsatser för att förbättra romernas situation har präglats av diskriminerande åtgärder. I syfte att komma bort från den diskriminerande behandlingen av romerna utformade Delegationen för romska frågor en strategi för hur detta problem kunde lösas. Detta nya betänkande har dock fått kritik från romer i Sverige. För att undersöka vad denna kritik beror på är syftet med den här uppsatsen att undersöka hur myndigheters attityder gentemot romer kommer till uttryck i betänkandet samt hur detta påverkar skapandet av myndigheternas ethos. Detta görs genom en kritisk lingvistisk analys av textens verbprocesser, negationer och passivkonstruktioner. Detta resultat kopplas sedan till statusläran. Resultatet som framkommit ur analyserna är att Delegationen för romska frågor tydligt tar avstånd från myndigheternas tidigare attityder och förhållningssätt. Genom detta försöker de istället solidarisera sig med romerna. Trots denna strävan efter jämlikhet går det att uttyda auktoritära drag som antyder en samhällssyn där styrandet sker uppifrån och ned. Även drag av romer som en svag grupp går att utläsa.

Using first-year, Psychology I examination essays, the role of underpreparedness in the difficulties experienced by English second-language students in academic essay writing was investigated. Essays were selected from each of four performance categories; over 70%, between 650/0 and 50%. between 45% and 35%, and below 30%. A representative sample of English first-language essays were also selected to provide important comparative analyses, in order to clearly delineate the nature of linguistic and cognitive contributions to the phenomenon of underpreparedness. The essays were subjected to three kinds of linguistic analysis. The micro-level analysis consisted of a basic error analysis, which combined a surface strategy taxonomy with a linguistic classification of errors. Second, the essays were analysed using a five-way classification model for difficulties with cohesion. The results for these micro-level analyses indicated that surface-level errors made little difference to the substance of the text (essay) and that markers were tolerant of such errors in their assessment of the essays. Consequently, these taxonomies only pointed to more fundamental linguistic or cognitive problems to explain the mark discrepancies between the different performance groups. A macro-level analysis was conducted to examine the global inter-relationships within the essays. Using a modified form of discourse analysis and a coherence scale analysis, the degree to which students initiated, developed and resolved the central themes/topics of the essay was assessed. The results of the present study suggest that second-language students present with four key features of difficulty in academic essay writing. In particular, the fonn and structure of essay writing, the development of conceptual principles, metacognitive control, and the norms of distanced writing. This study further points to three main areas where mediation and assistance could take place to facilitate underprepared, second-language students, namely developing linguistic competence, explicating the implicit set of conventions particular to academic writing, as well as developing the appropriate epistemic assumptions for university-level textual engagement. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

The crisis on Wall Street. This essay is a comparative study of how two business newspapers report on the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings in September 2008. Seven articles from the Swedish European financial newspaper Affärsvärlden (Business World) and five articles from the Chinese-Asian news agency XINHUA FINANCE are examined. The aim is to analyze, understand and evaluate from a rhetorical perspective. My thesis is that rhetors storytelling can tell us more about how we cope with crisis in the global economic discourse. The texts can portray man as a narrative creature when identification as a rational actor is not enough.  The analytical methods used are linguistic analysis with an emphasis on metaphor analysis, narrative analysis based on pentad - Critical dramatism, and discourse analysis with doxological outlook.  The results show that both newspapers seek to defend the global economic discourse, but they do so in different ways. Affärsvärlden advocates calmness and conveys a cautious attitude. The heart of the crisis, as well as its solution, is on Wall Street. XINHUA advocates control and expresses confidence in authorities and the system. Asia is presented as Wall Street's savior. / Krisen på Wall Street. Uppsatsen är en komparativ studie av hur två affärstidningar berättar om banken Lehman Brothers Holdings konkurs i september 2008. Materialet för undersökningen är sju artiklar från den svenska europeiska finanstidningen Affärsvärlden och fem artiklar från den kinesiska asiatiska nyhetsbyrån ZINHUA FINANCE. Syftet är att analysera, förstå och värdera situationen från ett retoriskt perspektiv. Tesen är att tidningarna (retorerna) kan visa oss, via sina texter, berättelserna om en kris i den globalekonomiska diskursen. Texterna kan visa människan som narrativ varelse där identifikationen som rationell aktör inte räcker till. Analysmetoderna som används är lingvistisk analys med störst vikt vid metaforanalys, narrativ analys utifrån pentaden - kritisk dramatism, samt diskursanalys med doxologisk utblick. Resultatet visar att båda tidningarna strävar efter att försvara den globalekonomiska diskursen, fast de gör det på olika sätt. Affärsvärlden manar till lugn opch visar en avvaktande attityd. Räddningen och krisens centrum finns på Wall Street. XINHUA visar på kontroll och tilltro till auktoriteter och systemet. Asien framställs som räddare åt Wall Street. Nyckelord: Retorik, lingvistisk analys, metaforanalys, Eubanks, narrativ analys, Pentden, Burke, diskurs, doxa, Lehman Brothers konkurs, 17 september 2008, Affärsvärlden, Xinhua Finance.