1 ABSTRACT This diploma thesis, grounded in the theoretical framework of Critical Discourse Analysis, aims to analyse the textual representations of social actors in the New Year speeches of British Prime Ministers. The corpus consists of New Year speeches from the New Year of 2012 to the New Year of 2020. These textual encodings do not need to point directly to the social actors that actually exist in the social world. Instead, they tend to reveal certain ideas that the text-producers have about the social actors. Therefore, the way in which the text-producer portrays a social actor serves as a means of reproducing his or her ideology. In the theoretical part, the purpose of the thesis is considered from the position of Critical Discourse Analysis. Then, the ways of representing social actors in texts are explored together with their impact on ideology and its reproduction. Also, the characteristics of pronouns that can affect the portrayal of these actors are described. The practical part seeks to analyse the New Year speeches with respect to textual means of representing social actors. In doing so, it provides an explanatory critique which aims to reveal what ideas are encoded in textual representations, how they are communicated and how the portrayal of the social actors can affect the recipients. A...

The concept of the natural year (Swahili `mwaka´) is found throughout the Bantu family of languages (Guthrie 1970: iv, 143) Today there are three possible years for the Swahili. First there is the Swahili year, the first day of which was once celebrated by all the Swahili people, while the year itself was of especial importance to farmers, to sailors and fishermen as well as to travellers and scholars. Secondly there is the Islamic-Swahili year, the first day of which is, in practice, celebrated on the first day of the first month after Ramadhani - 1 mfungo mosi (and not on 1 Muharram). Finally there is, since the arrival of European- hristians in the the second half of the nineteenth century, the Gregorian year, which is known to Swahilis who have attended primary school and 1 January has been a government holiday ever since.

Der Neujahrsempfang 2009 der Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig fand diesmal in besonderen Räumlichkeiten statt: Das leergeräumte Erdgeschoß West der Bibliotheca Albertina enthielt früher u. a. einen Lesesaal, künftig werden die Räumlichkeiten für Schulungen, Ausstellungen und Vorträge genutzt. Als erstes wird im Sommer 2009 der neue Ausstellungsraum eröffnet werden.

馬來西亞華人的年節習俗與神話傳說，結合了在地化生活經驗的實踐，融通多元種族的文化習俗，也沿襲繼承了傳統，在文化抉擇認同感上是具有革新的適應性與長遠的價值觀，這項象徵著宇宙歷史永恆的回歸，賦予了每個檳榔嶼華人經歷一個生命禮俗的「通過儀式」而產生不朽的生命能量。 檳榔嶼鍾靈毓秀，位於馬來西亞北部，享有印度洋上的「綠寶石」和「東方明珠」稱譽，自1786年開埠迄今，具有逾2百多年悠久歷史，是馬來西亞第二大城市，更是擁有華裔族群最多的一個州屬 。以檳榔嶼華人年節習俗與神話傳說作為一個研究個案，是基於檳榔嶼原初為南渡馬來半島的華人移民定根的橋頭堡，並且佔全國華人人口比例最多的一個州屬，而且州的主政權一直以來是由華人所主導。 隨著華裔先民的南遷移居定根，華人年節文化薪火相傳地在異域開枝散葉，有關華人的年節習俗和神話傳說也就隨著傳統文化的傳播，注入在地新文化元素，形塑出具有特殊性的檳榔嶼華人年節文化與華人年節的神話傳說、民間故事和傳統習俗。年節習俗和相關神話傳說的傳承，千百年來一直被完整地保留在那永恆的神聖時空，並且與時並進，衍生出非凡的象徵意義和文化意涵，深深地影響著檳榔嶼的華人世俗社會。 本論文主題分為三大部分，探討檳榔嶼「華人年節習俗與傳統文化」，專注於華人年節的一些傳統風俗習慣、文化與宗教祭祀信仰，並結合在地化的生活禮儀，反映出移民原生情感聯繫的移植，充滿了兆驗和禁忌；「年」的傳說在時間和空間中所產生的概念與面向、特殊的人日撈生慶祝儀式、新春廟會活動的象徵意義以及峇峇娘惹的元宵節活動，展現出先民在日常生活中的原始思維方式，經過長期的經驗累積、生活情境體會、人生成長智慧的啟發，以及生命禮俗的通過儀，詮釋出華人社群文化的認同與文化混生現象。 其次，華人在新春節日中的祈福求財啟智慧的民俗信仰與傳統習俗文化的傳承關係密切，本文將探討福、祿、壽、喜、財等五福神話傳說的來源與發展，尤其是檳榔嶼華人最為重視的地域性福德正神廟請火祈願儀式以及五方五土龍神與唐番地主財神的敬奉，更是充滿著華人對佛、道、民間信仰的神明傳說、神聖空間特性、象徵意義的崇高想像，以及背後所涉及隱匿性的黨派組織所構成的華人社會根源，尤其與華人日常生活習俗息息相關。 最後一部分將探討檳榔嶼華人對天公信仰的崇拜，天公信仰是檳榔嶼各籍華裔社群，尤其是閩南籍福建人士認為天大過年的一個節日，這也是一種原始情懷的延伸，從原初華人聚集的姓氏橋周姓橋民及天公壇古廟每年盛大的祭拜天公儀式當中，可以窺視究竟。本論文亦試圖結合臺灣與檳榔嶼華人春節慶典與民間習俗傳說的世俗經典文化，作互文性的比較，從中區別兩地華人傳統春節慶典儀式和春節習俗傳說在生活層次條件下的發展。 / The study of this topic is with great value. It is important to compare with the differences of the Chinese new year festival and customary legends between Taiwan and Penang , then it should promote the understanding between each other. The traditional Chinese new year festival in Penang intergrated the multi-enthic cultures and customs, either to inheritate the traditional, or to create the new local culture from the cultural identity. Penang Island is established in 1786, which is the second largest city with most enthic group of Chinese lived. It is located at the northern part of Malaysia Penisula and known as “Emerald” or “Pearl of Orient” on the Indian Ocean. This thesis is study mainly on the traditional Chinese New Year Customary Legends of Penang Island. The Chinese New Year Culture is moved with the Chinese anscestors accordingly and spread widely on the island. The Traditional Chinese New Year customary legends are dessimanated with new local culture elements which added into it, and becomes the unique custom in the region that affected the local born Chinese of Penang Island thoroughly. The main topic of the thesis is divided into three parts, firstly, to study the traditional and regeneration of the Chinese New Year. It is related to various traditional customs, cultures and beliefs in religious worship which integrated with the local etiquette. Secondly, to study the God of wealth in folk custom, especially the custom legend regarding about the Penang Fu De Zheng Sheng(God of wealth) in lightening the ritual fire ceremony. Lastly but no least, to study the Supreme God festival in Chew Jetty.

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar o impacto dos feriados do Natal e Ano Novo na mortalidade por doença coronariana, AVC, insuficiência cardíaca, acidente de transporte, suicídio e homicídio na cidade de São Paulo, 1996 a 2009. Os objetivos secundários foram investigar outras efemérides, como carnaval, copa do mundo e rebaixamento de times paulistas (Corinthians e Palmeiras), ataque do PCC no ano de 2006. Além disso, foram investigadas associações entre variáveis ambientais, culturais com a mortalidade, como sazonalidade, dia da semana, atributos do clima e poluentes atmosféricos. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico e retrospectivo. Os dados diários de mortalidade foram obtidos pelo PRO-AIM. O estudo realizou três tipos de análise: (1) comparação de médias; (2) tendência; (3) regressão linear. Análise de variância (ANOVA) com teste post hoc de Bonferroni foi utilizada para comparar a média de mortes entre as estações do ano e entre os dias da semana. O nível de significância adotado foi de 0,05. No caso das efemérides, foi utilizado o mesmo teste (ANOVA) para comparar com a média de mortes da data controle. A análise de tendência foi realizada pelo programa joinpoint regression. Foi considerada a média de mortes por semana epidemiológica ao longo do ano (53 semanas) bem como os dias próximos ao Natal e Ano novo. O objetivo dessa análise foi identificar alguma alteração das mortes no período do Natal e Ano novo. Para a análise da associação entre mortalidade e variáveis ambientais, foram escolhidos dois períodos do ano: 24 de dezembro a 1 de janeiro e 24 de junho a 2 de julho. Foram calculadas as médias anuais para cada causa de morte bem como de cada variável ambiental, ano a ano. Foi utilizado teste para o coeficiente de correlação e regressão linear para estimar as associações. RESULTADOS: Foi identificado um excesso de homicídio no período do Natal e Ano novo para o sexo masculino e total. Considerando-se apenas o feriado (25 de dezembro e 1 de janeiro) o excesso de homicídio foi de 7,81 (p<0,01) mortes para o total. As demais efemérides não apresentaram diferença significativa em relação às respectivas datas de controle. A análise de variância, para o grupo de doenças cardiovasculares, identificou um pico significativo de mortes no inverno. Suicídio e homicídio apresentaram picos nas estações quentes. Acidente de transporte não apresentou padrão definido. Quanto ao dia da semana, doença coronariana apresentou excesso de mortes na segunda-feira, insuficiência na terça-feira. AVC não apresentou padrão definido. Homicídio e acidente de transporte apresentaram maior frequência de mortes aos finais de semana. Suicídio apresentou picos no domingo e segunda-feira. A análise de tendência identificou um pico no meio do ano, correspondente ao inverno, para mortes por doenças cardiovasculares. Acidente de transporte apresentou queda no período do Natal e Ano novo. Considerando-se os dias próximos ao Natal e Ano novo, não foi identificada nenhuma alteração da tendência. Na análise de regressão, para doença coronariana, foi identificada associação negativa com a temperatura mínima e positiva com NO2, para o total e sexo masculino. CONCLUSÃO: Foi identificado um pico significativo de homicídios no Natal e Ano novo, que pode ser explicado parcialmente pela teoria de atividade de rotina. Quanto à sazonalidade os resultados condizem com a literatura, ou seja, mortes por doenças cardiovasculares mais frequentes no inverno, suicídio e homicídio no verão. Em relação ao dia da semana foram identificados alguns resultados diferenciados, como maior ocorrência de mortes por insuficiência cardíaca as terças-feiras e suicídio aos domingos e segundas-feiras / INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Christmas and New Years holidays in the mortality from coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, traffic accidents, suicide and homicide in the city of São Paulo, 1996 to 2009. Secondary objectives were to investigate other ephemerides, like carnival, world cup and demotion of the football teams (Corinthians and Palmeiras), PCC attack in 2006. In addition, we investigated associations between environmental and cultural variables with mortality, as seasonality, day of week, weather and air pollutants. METHODS: An ecological and retrospective study. The daily mortality data were obtained through PRO-AIM. The study conducted three types of analysis: (1) comparison of means, (2) trend, (3) linear regression. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc test was used to compare the average number of deaths between seasons and between the day of the week. The level of significance was 0.05. In the case of the ephemeris, we used the same test (ANOVA) to compare with the deaths with the control period. A trend analysis was performed by the joinpoint regression program. It was considered the average of deaths per epidemiological week throughout the year (53 weeks) and the days near Christmas and New Year. The purpose of this analysis was to identify any changes in the deaths during this period. For the analysis of association between mortality and environmental variables were chosen two periods of the year: December 24 to January 1 and June 24 to July 2. Annual averages were calculated for each cause of death as well as each environmental variable from year to year. Test was used for the coefficient of correlation and linear regression to estimate associations. RESULTS: An excess of homicide in the period around Christmas and New Year was identified for males and total. Considering only the holiday (December 25 and January 1) the excess of homicide was 7.81 (p <0.01) for total deaths. Other ephemerides did not differ significantly from their respective control dates. The analysis of variance for the group of cardiovascular disease, identified a significant peak of deaths in winter. Suicide and homicide peaked in the warm seasons. Transport accident showed no definite pattern. Considering the day of the week, coronary heart disease showed an excess of deaths on Monday, heart failure on Tuesday. Stroke showed no definite pattern. Homicide and transport accident deaths were more frequent on weekends. Suicide peaks were on Sunday and Monday. Trend analysis identified a peak in the middle of the year, corresponding to winter, only to deaths from cardiovascular disease. Traffic accidents decreased during the Christmas and New Year. Considering the days near Christmas and New Year, no change was identified. In regression analysis, coronary heart disease was negatively associated with minimum temperatura and positively with NO2, for the total and male. CONCLUSION: We identified a significant spike of homicides in the Christmas and New Year, which can be partially explained by the theory of routine activity. The seasonality results consistent with the literature, ie, deaths from cardiovascular disease more common in winter, suicide and homicide in the summer. Regarding the day of the week have been identified differing results, as higher incidence of deaths from heart failure on Tuesdays and suicide on Sunday and Monday

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar o impacto dos feriados do Natal e Ano Novo na mortalidade por doença coronariana, AVC, insuficiência cardíaca, acidente de transporte, suicídio e homicídio na cidade de São Paulo, 1996 a 2009. Os objetivos secundários foram investigar outras efemérides, como carnaval, copa do mundo e rebaixamento de times paulistas (Corinthians e Palmeiras), ataque do PCC no ano de 2006. Além disso, foram investigadas associações entre variáveis ambientais, culturais com a mortalidade, como sazonalidade, dia da semana, atributos do clima e poluentes atmosféricos. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico e retrospectivo. Os dados diários de mortalidade foram obtidos pelo PRO-AIM. O estudo realizou três tipos de análise: (1) comparação de médias; (2) tendência; (3) regressão linear. Análise de variância (ANOVA) com teste post hoc de Bonferroni foi utilizada para comparar a média de mortes entre as estações do ano e entre os dias da semana. O nível de significância adotado foi de 0,05. No caso das efemérides, foi utilizado o mesmo teste (ANOVA) para comparar com a média de mortes da data controle. A análise de tendência foi realizada pelo programa joinpoint regression. Foi considerada a média de mortes por semana epidemiológica ao longo do ano (53 semanas) bem como os dias próximos ao Natal e Ano novo. O objetivo dessa análise foi identificar alguma alteração das mortes no período do Natal e Ano novo. Para a análise da associação entre mortalidade e variáveis ambientais, foram escolhidos dois períodos do ano: 24 de dezembro a 1 de janeiro e 24 de junho a 2 de julho. Foram calculadas as médias anuais para cada causa de morte bem como de cada variável ambiental, ano a ano. Foi utilizado teste para o coeficiente de correlação e regressão linear para estimar as associações. RESULTADOS: Foi identificado um excesso de homicídio no período do Natal e Ano novo para o sexo masculino e total. Considerando-se apenas o feriado (25 de dezembro e 1 de janeiro) o excesso de homicídio foi de 7,81 (p<0,01) mortes para o total. As demais efemérides não apresentaram diferença significativa em relação às respectivas datas de controle. A análise de variância, para o grupo de doenças cardiovasculares, identificou um pico significativo de mortes no inverno. Suicídio e homicídio apresentaram picos nas estações quentes. Acidente de transporte não apresentou padrão definido. Quanto ao dia da semana, doença coronariana apresentou excesso de mortes na segunda-feira, insuficiência na terça-feira. AVC não apresentou padrão definido. Homicídio e acidente de transporte apresentaram maior frequência de mortes aos finais de semana. Suicídio apresentou picos no domingo e segunda-feira. A análise de tendência identificou um pico no meio do ano, correspondente ao inverno, para mortes por doenças cardiovasculares. Acidente de transporte apresentou queda no período do Natal e Ano novo. Considerando-se os dias próximos ao Natal e Ano novo, não foi identificada nenhuma alteração da tendência. Na análise de regressão, para doença coronariana, foi identificada associação negativa com a temperatura mínima e positiva com NO2, para o total e sexo masculino. CONCLUSÃO: Foi identificado um pico significativo de homicídios no Natal e Ano novo, que pode ser explicado parcialmente pela teoria de atividade de rotina. Quanto à sazonalidade os resultados condizem com a literatura, ou seja, mortes por doenças cardiovasculares mais frequentes no inverno, suicídio e homicídio no verão. Em relação ao dia da semana foram identificados alguns resultados diferenciados, como maior ocorrência de mortes por insuficiência cardíaca as terças-feiras e suicídio aos domingos e segundas-feiras / INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Christmas and New Years holidays in the mortality from coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, traffic accidents, suicide and homicide in the city of São Paulo, 1996 to 2009. Secondary objectives were to investigate other ephemerides, like carnival, world cup and demotion of the football teams (Corinthians and Palmeiras), PCC attack in 2006. In addition, we investigated associations between environmental and cultural variables with mortality, as seasonality, day of week, weather and air pollutants. METHODS: An ecological and retrospective study. The daily mortality data were obtained through PRO-AIM. The study conducted three types of analysis: (1) comparison of means, (2) trend, (3) linear regression. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc test was used to compare the average number of deaths between seasons and between the day of the week. The level of significance was 0.05. In the case of the ephemeris, we used the same test (ANOVA) to compare with the deaths with the control period. A trend analysis was performed by the joinpoint regression program. It was considered the average of deaths per epidemiological week throughout the year (53 weeks) and the days near Christmas and New Year. The purpose of this analysis was to identify any changes in the deaths during this period. For the analysis of association between mortality and environmental variables were chosen two periods of the year: December 24 to January 1 and June 24 to July 2. Annual averages were calculated for each cause of death as well as each environmental variable from year to year. Test was used for the coefficient of correlation and linear regression to estimate associations. RESULTS: An excess of homicide in the period around Christmas and New Year was identified for males and total. Considering only the holiday (December 25 and January 1) the excess of homicide was 7.81 (p <0.01) for total deaths. Other ephemerides did not differ significantly from their respective control dates. The analysis of variance for the group of cardiovascular disease, identified a significant peak of deaths in winter. Suicide and homicide peaked in the warm seasons. Transport accident showed no definite pattern. Considering the day of the week, coronary heart disease showed an excess of deaths on Monday, heart failure on Tuesday. Stroke showed no definite pattern. Homicide and transport accident deaths were more frequent on weekends. Suicide peaks were on Sunday and Monday. Trend analysis identified a peak in the middle of the year, corresponding to winter, only to deaths from cardiovascular disease. Traffic accidents decreased during the Christmas and New Year. Considering the days near Christmas and New Year, no change was identified. In regression analysis, coronary heart disease was negatively associated with minimum temperatura and positively with NO2, for the total and male. CONCLUSION: We identified a significant spike of homicides in the Christmas and New Year, which can be partially explained by the theory of routine activity. The seasonality results consistent with the literature, ie, deaths from cardiovascular disease more common in winter, suicide and homicide in the summer. Regarding the day of the week have been identified differing results, as higher incidence of deaths from heart failure on Tuesdays and suicide on Sunday and Monday

The diploma thesis deals with the analysis and detailed description of the basic holidays of the civil year. The theoretical part of the thesis contains the study of the most popular folk traditions, religious rituals and beliefs of the Slavs, the way how Christian church (Catholic and Orthodox) influenced on the origin of fundamental traditions and rituals. There is also a description of the way the major Slavonic holidays are held. Czech and Russian traditions are compared in order to find some basic similarities and differences between them and to analyze the development of the traditions in historical context. Such issues as language pedagogy, intercultural language competence and how to use traditions at Russian lessons at primary and secondary schools are also emphasized in the work. The practical part of the thesis deals with the analysis of some books used for teaching Russian language at Czech schools in order to find out how customs, folk traditions and holidays are described and presented. It also contains the research of the contemporary situation at Czech schools in the form of the testing of the teachers of Russian language and the students of elementary and secondary schools. The aim of the research is to find out which methods the teachers are dealing with for the successful...

The thesis "Ethical aspects in the New Year's speeches by Vaclav Havel" interprets and evaluates the content of the New Year's speeches by President Havel in the light of civil and political ethics. In the study part first deals with the theoretical background (the areas of ethical consideration; relationship of ethics, politics, freedom) and also represents Havel`s ethical and philosophical dimension (the philosophical roots and sources of inspiration - the ideas, personalities). The core of thesis analyzes the ethical content and the development of the main ideas New Year's speeches, as well as their contribution to value creation on the road to moral autonomy and a more mature political culture. From the perspective of a new relation and in the context of the former regime, the last chapter reflects on Havel's considerations of ethical topics that are necessary for meaningful functioning of person in society with regard to civil and political ethos. Keywords Vaclav Havel, New Year`s speeches, ethics, political ethics, truth, love, conscience, liberty, responsibility, morals, morality, values, democracy, totality, civil courage.