Drawing and coloring have been part of young students text making as  longas the writing system has been used, but with the increased use of digital tools and an enlarged focus on accountability of today there is a reinforced educational interest to understand what constitutes multimodal student texts in the context of classroom practice. This thesis project overall aim is to highlight and discuss the opportunities and difficulties in the assessment of language and knowledge-developing multimodal text work in a multilingual educational context.Conceptually the study is grounded in sociocultural theories, in sociosemiotic theory and in multiliteracies research. The methods used consist of qualitative multimodal text analysis and semi-structured interviews with students and their teacher.The three empirical studies were carried out, each having a different perspective. The first study looks at the text production of students in an integrated work of drawing, coloring and writing. The second study focuses how students reason when they choose to draw, write or both draw and write when they report to their teacher what they have learned. The third study discusses what the teacher highlights when assessing her students’ multimodal text productions. Overall, the results show that the semiotic resources, images and color, dominate students’ text productions and that the teacher attaches great importance to the illustrations, but that she, despite the best intentions, has trouble using multimodal criteria when assessing the students’ different ways of expressions and semiotic resources into a whole. It seems to be problematic for the teacher to allow students to freely interpret and independently design the task while she at the same time intends to make an overall assessment of how the content is presented. The results also indicate that it is difficult  for  the  students  to  verbalize  their  thoughts on the assessment and in practice; the teacher more often is focused on assessing abilities relating to how thoroughly the students carry out the process of documenting rather than encouraging the students to develop and express their knowledge. Finally, the thesis concludes with discussing the content of an ongoing need for research, especially regarding the consequences it may have for younger students, whatever language background they have. / <p>Ytterligare delarbeten</p><p>Borgfeldt, E., &amp; Lyngfelt, A. (2017). ”Jag ritade först sen skrev jag”. Elevperspektiv på multimodal textproduktion i årskurs 3. Forskning om undervisning och lärande 2017: 1 vol. 5, s. 64-88. http://www.forskul.se/tidskrift/nummer18/jag_ritade_forst_sen_skrev_jag_ __elevperspektiv_pa_multimodal_textproduktion_i_arskurs_3Borgfeldt, E. (2017).</p><p>Multimodal textproduktion i årskurs 3 – analys av en lärares bedömning. Educare: 2017: 1, s. 118-151. Malmö: Lärande och samhälle, Malmö högskola. https://www.mah.se/upload/FAKULTETER/LS/Dokument%20LS/Educa re%2017.1%20muep.pdf</p>

The present work examined subjects' performance on eight types of four word analogy problems. Two critical dimensions distinguish among these analogy types: specificity and inclusiveness. Whole-part analogies such as hand : palm as foot : sole (read hand is to palm as foot is to sole) are specific because the association appearing in the two word pairs consist of spatial/functional relationships which are highly similar to each other. In contrast, analogies such as car : wheel as boat : mast are nonspecific because they use whole-part associations which are less similar to each other. Analogies are inclusive if they use relatively direct associations, as in the whole-part association illustrated by car : wheel. In contrast, noninclusive analogies require additional inferences between words, as illustrated in the part-part association bumper: wheel, which requires the object car to be inferred. Responses from undergraduate university subjects show that both inclusive and specific analogy problems were solved more quickly than their noninclusive and nonspecific counterparts, respectively. Experiment 1 illustrated these specificity and inclusiveness effects both in a recognition (multiple choice) paradigm, and a recall paradigm where subjects spoke their own answer choices aloud. Subsequent experiments were performed to examine the role of the association types and the role of word attributes in subjects' processing of these analogy problems. Experiment 2 attempted to prime subjects with the association type used in each block of analogy problems, but showed a very modest effect on solution latencies. In Experiment 3 reordering the words within analogy problems unexpectedly increased the latencies for many problems, apparently because different words appeared in the third word positions within them. Experiments 4 and 5 focussed directly on the study of specificity. Experiment 4 showed that the processing benefit found for specific analogies is due to the close match of word attributes between word pairs, not due to the attributes of the particular words used. Experiment 5 manipulated the taxonomic similarity of the subject matter addressed by the two pairs of words, and found that the use of word pairs from more taxonomically distant subject areas increased solution latencies for some analogy types. Experiment 6 required subjects to group analogy problems into categories they defined. This procedure validated six of the eight analogy types used in this thesis; the specificity distinction was not evident among the groups of problems formed by subjects. The discussion of these results supports a theoretical model of problem solving four word analogies which incorporates a stage-like, componential processing for nonspecific types, and a faster, more automatic processing for specific types. The discussions of empirical and theoretical work in this thesis also focussed more widely on its relevance to more practical uses of analogies in problem solving. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Since Plato's time, there have been attempts to show that the generally altruistic way of life is superior to the totally selfish way of life. Drawing upon the conclusions of philosophers and social psychologists, I argue that it is better to have a fairly moral character than a totally selfish one. I first argue that it is possible to have genuinely altruistic motivations (rather than disguised selfish motivations). I then show that both the altruistic and the selfish way of life are genuine choices for rational beings. Next I argue that the nature of values is such that they require reinforcement from others in order for us to verify that what we believe to be values are indeed values. I further argue that values are unattainable for the totally selfish person. Subsequently, I point out that values are necessary for an agent to have a meaningful life, and very likely necessary for a human to be able to have a sense of self. Since most people desire to have a meaningful life and a sense of self, I argue that the benefits possible to the fairly moral person outweigh the benefits possible to the totally selfish one, even if the latter can disguise her selfishness completely. / Arts, Faculty of / Philosophy, Department of / Graduate

This study focusses on language and the communication of meaning within the ICT systems development project management environment. Neglecting to identify the importance of language within the multi-national and multi-cultural ICT project is a major risk to the success of the project. The diversity of the cultures and languages of the project’s human resources and the existence of language barriers are identified and proven as being risk factors that need to be managed as part of the project management plan. The author compiled a framework that incorporates guidelines and critical success factors for an ICT project to assist in identifying and managing specific problems and risks related to language and the communication of meaning within the project. This framework emphasizes the importance of communication that transfers meaning and not only information. / Dissertation (MCOM(Informatics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Informatics / unrestricted

This dissertation focuses on the redevelopment of the No. II Shaft Cullinan Compound, which lies in ruins. The compound is located at the Cullinan Diamond Mine, 40km east of the Pretoria CBD. The No. II Shaft Compound was used to house the enormous migrant workforce during the middle to late 1900s. It was closed down in 1973. In its derelict state it does not do justice to the memory of the workers who had to endure the hardships of the harsh working and living regime of the mine. This dissertation advocates that meaning and significance are achieved in landscape design through the use of landscape narrative. The author argues that meaning neither resides in the landscape itself nor with the creator but with the mediation between user, the landscape and its elements. The design intervention celebrates the unique historical significance of the compound system in general and specifically that of the No. II Shaft Cullinan Compound. The landscape design aims at integrating and maintaining all layers of history – that which was, what is and what potentially can be. The design intervention celebrates the unique industrial heritage of the Cullinan No. II Shaft Compound through a process of heritage preservation, representation and integration with its surrounding context. This dissertation aims at establishing a method of communicating the story of the workers who lived, worked and died in the compound. The project designs a landscape narrative experience where the story of the workers of the compound is communicated to users when they visit the site. Communication of narrative is achieved through the use of landscape design mechanisms, like semiotics, metaphor and landscape rhetoric. The design approaches the site as one of cultural and historical significance. The intervention acts as a mediator between the workers and history of the site, and the new contemporary layer of production and research. The final stage of the design investigates the technical resolution of the design proposal. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Architecture / ML(Prof) / Unrestricted

English When we observe the interpreters in their booths battling with ambiguity in order to find the accurate meaning of an ambiguous utterance, we inevitably come to the realization of the daunting impact of ambiguities on the latter. Ambiguity in general and diplomatic ambiguity in particular, is a thorn in interpreters’ sides. Then, the main question is “what strategies can the interpreter use to cope successfully with diplomatic ambiguity?” How do interpreters manage to find ways of resolving instances of ambiguity when interpreting in a diplomatic setting that requires immediate disambiguation. This mini-dissertation investigates the theme of diplomatic ambiguity in interpreter-mediated communication and comes up with responses to these concerns and queries. It (this mini-dissertation) primarily focuses on interpreting as an act of communication insofar as interpreting is a professional verbal communication activity. It then looks specifically into ambiguity in diplomatic communication. Diplomatic communication is often riddled with ambiguity; in turn, ambiguity, affects and correlates to meaning. And here lies the problem with diplomatic ambiguity: diplomatic ambiguity prevents a proper understanding or reception of the intended meaning. It therefore poses problems to the interpreter. In view of the above, this mini-dissertation has a practical purpose: to provide the interpreter with a clear sense of problem-solving techniques for the resolution of ambiguity. In this respect, coping tactics and strategies will be proposed as a means of clarifying ambiguities, elucidating obscure passages. / French Lorsque l’on assiste au spectacle d’interprètes s’échinant dans leurs cabines à trouver le vrai sens d’une expression ambiguë, l’on se rend bien vite compte des effets redoutables de l’ambiguïté sur ces derniers. La question de l’ambiguïté en général, celle de l’ambiguïté du discours diplomatique en particulier, constitue une écharde dans le flanc de tout interprète. Alors, la question majeure qui se pose est de savoir «à quelles stratégies les interprètes peuvent-ils recourir pour faire face avec succès à l’ambiguïté diplomatique?». Comment les interprètes arrivent-ils à remédier aux problèmes d’ambiguïté diplomatique surgissant au cours de l’interprétation et qui requièrent une désambiguïsation sur le champ ? Ce mémoire traite de la question de l’ambiguïté diplomatique en situation de communication médiée par un interprète et vient en réponse aux interrogations et préoccupations ci-dessus. Ce mémoire aborde en premier chef la question de l’interprétation conçue comme un acte communicationnel dans la mesure où elle se définit comme un exercice de communication orale fait par un professionnel. Ensuite, un accent particulier sera mis sur l’ambigüité dans la communication diplomatique qui en recèle souvent; à son tour, l’ambiguïté entrave l’appréhension du sens [des mots ou concepts] auquel elle étroitement liée. C’est ici donc que se situe toute la problématique de l’ambiguïté diplomatique: l’ambiguïté diplomatique obstrue aussi bien la bonne compréhension que la réception du message à transmettre. Dès lors surgissent des difficultés d’interprétation. Au regard de ce qui précède, ce mémoire se veut pragmatique: susciter au sein des interprètes le réflexe de la recherche de techniques de résolution des problèmes de l’ambiguïté. Pour ce faire, un éventail de tactiques et stratégies susceptibles d’aider à clarifier et élucider les instances d’ambiguïté sera mis à disposition. / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / African Languages / MA / Unrestricted

From a social constructivist perspective (SCP) we analyse TV-commercials’ success. We address the following questions: Does the customer co-create meaning, and, more specific, is a commercial more successful if a customer plays a co-creating role? If so, both the customer and her experience, as well as the commercial, play a significant part in explaining the commercial’s success. As independent constructs to explain commercials’ success we used storytelling, indicating the commercial’s part, and experiential conclusiveness, indicating the customer’s part. We found support that the customer and seller via the commercial co-create meaning and coordinate their activities.

This research dissertation explores how memory can be used as a design tool when dealing with sites or places that have undergone political oppression in the past. It aims to explore the ways in which memory can inform and invigorate identity and meaning to regain the spirit of the place. The study area is in Marabastad, Pretoria, South Africa, which underwent political oppression including forced relocation, racial separation and destruction of its urban fabric. The future development plans for Marabastad propose that previous residents have the opportunity to return to their land. The use of memories in the future design and development plans becomes important for people who know Marabastad past and for those who don’t because it creates a reference to the past that can be identified with. Marabastad’s meaning lies within its memories and it is important to have this connection to the past in order to build a meaningful future. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted

Tarski's semantic conception of truth is arguably the most influential - certainly, most discussed - modern conception of truth. It has provoked many different interpretations and reactions, some thinkers celebrating it for successfully explicating the notion of truth, whereas others have argued that it is no good as a philosophical account of truth. The aim of the thesis is to offer a systematic and critical investigation of its nature and significance, based on the thorough explanation of its conceptual, technical as well as historical underpinnings. The methodological strategy adopted in the thesis reflects the author's belief that in order to evaluate the import of Tarski's conception we need to understand what logical, mathematical and philosophical aspects it has, what role they play in his project of theoretical semantics, which of them hang in together, and which should be kept separate. Chapter 2 therefore starts with a detailed exposition of the conceptual and historical background of Tarski's semantic conception of truth and his method of truth definition for formalized languages, situating it within his project of theoretical semantics, and Chapter 3 explains the formal machinery of Tarski's truth definitions for increasingly more complex languages. Chapters 4-7 form the core of the...

What distinguishes a meaningless utterance from a meaningful term?  While one might say that, within the context of Ruth Millikan\'s teleosemantics, it is a term\'s having a proper function that distinguishes it from a meaningless utterance, I propose that the distinction can be made with reference to the history of the term.  Using evolutionary game theory, I offer a way to clarify the distinction between the meaningless and the meaningful.  I reject the possibility of correlating meaning with an evolutionarily stable strategy as this does not seem to be consistent with how communication works or with Millikan\'s theory.  Instead, when a term has meaning, the function category of that term corresponds to an evolutionarily stable state composed of both speaker and hearer strategies. / Master of Arts