Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Kaplan (1966) has claimed that certain organizational problems in non-native speakers' writing are due to the influence of L1 rhetorical patterns. Based on an examination of 600 papers written in English by students from different cultural backgrounds, Kaplan concluded that the Oriental students developed their ideas in an indirect, inwardly spiralling pattern. Such circular development contrasted with the linear structure of paragraphs written by English speakers.While Kaplan's conceptualizations have received considerable attention, there is a central problem with his analysis: his claims were based solely on compositions written in English.In this thesis, I examine 30 paragraphs of Chinese expository prose and 30 paragraphs of English expository prose randomly chosen from contemporary writings to see if they conform to Kaplan's model. In the first chapter, I present certain problems in the teaching of composition concerning paragraph development. A literature review is presented in Chapter Two. Chapter Three is a brief description of the modes and organization of expository Prose that Chinese students learn. Chapter Four shows the modes and organization of English expository prose. In Chapter Five, a representative sample of 30 paragraphs of Chinese expository prose examined are discussed. Chapter Six is discussion of representative English paragraphs. A brief discussion of the results of the examination is presented in Chapter Seven. Finally, a brief summary concludes the thesis.

This dissertation discusses the effects of dyslexia on reading behavior and cognition. It does so by first outlining the overall incidence of dyslexia, providing current definitions, giving a history of scientific inquiry and discussing relevant contemporary research. Thirteen different analyses are then discussed (ten a priori and three post-hoc). Individuals with dyslexia were found to have increased fixation duration, first run dwell time, total dwell time, and refixation probability. The dyslexia group was also highly sensitive to lexical predictability. Within the reading network, the BOLD response was depressed in dyslexia during reading in the following regions: the left medial and inferior temporal gyrus, the left temporal pole, the right cerebellum, right occipital gyrus and the right parahippocampal gyrus. A second regions of interest analysis in the reading network revealed dyslexia was associated with a depressed BOLD response to lexical predictability in the following regions: left supplementary motor area, posterior middle frontal gyrus, and the left temporal pole. A regions of interest analysis in the oculomotor network revealed a depressed BOLD response in the following regions during reading: the left parietal eye fields and the cerebellum. One oculomotor region had a depressed BOLD response to lexical predictability due to dyslexia: the left frontal eye fields. This sensitivity to lexical predictability and depression in the BOLD response is suggestive of reduced input into higher cortical areas. Future study should be focused on finding the common origin of this bottom-up deficit.

Thesis (MA (Ancient Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The aim of this study is to determine inter-subjective, verifiable criteria according to which paragraphs can be distinguished in BH narrative texts. Distinguishing these units plays an important role in the understanding and processing of written texts. Corpus studies in text-linguistics and empirical studies in psycholinguistic studies have established that narrative is not only characterized by a string of sentences, but has a multi-dimensional or hierarchical structure, which can be broken down into units. These units are regarded as episodes, which are cognitively and structurally relevant. An episode is defined as a memory block. Semantically, it is defined as a thematically unified entity, the surface boundaries of which are marked linguistically. On the one hand, text production studies have established that authors employ segmentation markers or devices at the beginning of each episode in order to warn the reader that a new episode is impending. On the other hand, studies in text comprehension have also concluded that readers understand these devices of textual segmentation. On the basis of the above investigations, this study established a set of criteria for identifying episodes. The criteria included several segmentation devices such as overspecified referential expressions, temporal expressions, and shifts in space that mark the boundaries of episodes, as well as devices that signal thematic continuity in narrative episodes of BH. The value and validity of these criteria were then tested in the light of a specific corpus of texts, viz. 1 Sam 1-6. The text was analyzed and episodes have been distinguished by means of the above-mentioned set of criteria. These episodes were then compared to the paragraph distinctions (i.e. the graphic representations of episodes), which are made in a representative number of commentaries and translations. The investigation confirmed that many of the paragraph distinctions in commentaries and translations are justifiable. However, it was also found that the paragraph distinctions of exegetes and translators often differ. This finding confirmed the necessity (and need) of inter-subjectively verifiable, and well-founded, criteria for distinguishing paragraphs in BH narratives. This exploratory study established the value of the model used, but also indicated that further investigation is needed to refine various aspects of the model.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

SUmmaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die oogmerk van hierdie verhandeling is om te wys op die tekstuele en visuele kontraste in Georgi con 11.1 - 108. Ten aanvang word 'n bree vergelyking getreftussen Georgicon I en II om sodoende die funksie asook die effek van Boek 2 in die viertal gedigte te bepaal. Vir 'n meer indringende ontleding word Boek 2, asook die relevante verse, skematies verdeel en alhoewel die panoramiese effek versteur word, kan die problematiek van hierdie gedig alleenlik s0 noukeuriger opgelos word. Daar word getoon dat Boek 2 in drie afdelings verdeel is met 'n laus-tema wat telkens as hoogtepunt dien vir elk van die dele. Ook die oorkoepelende tema van variatio-labor en die wisselwerking daarvan kan duideliker waargeneem word. Verse I - I 08 is didakties van aard en eenvoudige patrone word saamgestel uit alledaagse objekte en idees. Vergilius slaag daarin om vergelykings af te dwing en om kontras te bewerkstellig deur die skep van imagines. Hierdie beelde kom duideliker na vore deur 'n baie noukeurige analise van die teks en s6 word vorm, lyn, kleur en tekstuur beklemtoon en gekontrasteer. W anneer die fokus verskuif vanaf die natuur na die mens, word daar gewys op die kontras in verse 3 5 - 46 tussen die landbouers en die politieke magsfiguur van Maecenas. Die onderliggende felix I fortuna/us tema word s6 beklemtoon. Die problematiek van didaktisisme word aangespreek deur die effek van die kontrastering van parallelle passasies aan te toon. As Leitmotiv word telkens gewys op die tekstuele en visuele kontraste in die digter se keuse en rangskikking van 'n ryke verskeidenheid van borne - met spesifieke verwysing na hulle aard, voorkoms, herkoms en funksie. / The aim of this dissertation is to indicate the textual and visual contrasts in Georgi con TI.l - 108. In a broad comparison between Georgica I and II the function and the effect ofBook 2 within the framework of the four poems is determined. With a view to a more penetrating analysis, Book 2 as a whole and specifically lines 1 - 108 will be dealt with schematically. Although this puts the panoramic effect at risk, it is the only way in which the complexities of this poem can be successfully resolved. Book 2 is shown to have a tripartite structure, with a taustheme as the climax of each of the three divisions. The over-arching theme of reciprocating variatio- labor also comes to light more clearly. Lines I - I 08 are of a didactic nature, and simple patterns are shaped out of everyday objects and ideas. By creating imagines Vergil manages to enforce comparisons and to bring about contrasts. A meticulous analysis of the text highlights these images more clearly and in this manner the poet accentuates colour, form, line and texture. When the focus shifts from nature to man, the contrast between the farmers and the politically powerful Maecenas in lines 3 5 - 46 is brought to the fore to emphasize the underlying theme of felix I fortunatus. The problem of didacticism is addressed by focusing on the effect of the contrasts between parallel passages. The textual and visual contrasts in the poet's choice and marshalling of a rich variety of trees, with a particular reference to their nature, occurrence, provenance and function, serve as Leitmotif for the dissertation as a whole. / Classics and Modern European Languages / M.A. (Latyn)

SUmmaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die oogmerk van hierdie verhandeling is om te wys op die tekstuele en visuele kontraste in Georgi con 11.1 - 108. Ten aanvang word 'n bree vergelyking getreftussen Georgicon I en II om sodoende die funksie asook die effek van Boek 2 in die viertal gedigte te bepaal. Vir 'n meer indringende ontleding word Boek 2, asook die relevante verse, skematies verdeel en alhoewel die panoramiese effek versteur word, kan die problematiek van hierdie gedig alleenlik s0 noukeuriger opgelos word. Daar word getoon dat Boek 2 in drie afdelings verdeel is met 'n laus-tema wat telkens as hoogtepunt dien vir elk van die dele. Ook die oorkoepelende tema van variatio-labor en die wisselwerking daarvan kan duideliker waargeneem word. Verse I - I 08 is didakties van aard en eenvoudige patrone word saamgestel uit alledaagse objekte en idees. Vergilius slaag daarin om vergelykings af te dwing en om kontras te bewerkstellig deur die skep van imagines. Hierdie beelde kom duideliker na vore deur 'n baie noukeurige analise van die teks en s6 word vorm, lyn, kleur en tekstuur beklemtoon en gekontrasteer. W anneer die fokus verskuif vanaf die natuur na die mens, word daar gewys op die kontras in verse 3 5 - 46 tussen die landbouers en die politieke magsfiguur van Maecenas. Die onderliggende felix I fortuna/us tema word s6 beklemtoon. Die problematiek van didaktisisme word aangespreek deur die effek van die kontrastering van parallelle passasies aan te toon. As Leitmotiv word telkens gewys op die tekstuele en visuele kontraste in die digter se keuse en rangskikking van 'n ryke verskeidenheid van borne - met spesifieke verwysing na hulle aard, voorkoms, herkoms en funksie. / The aim of this dissertation is to indicate the textual and visual contrasts in Georgi con TI.l - 108. In a broad comparison between Georgica I and II the function and the effect ofBook 2 within the framework of the four poems is determined. With a view to a more penetrating analysis, Book 2 as a whole and specifically lines 1 - 108 will be dealt with schematically. Although this puts the panoramic effect at risk, it is the only way in which the complexities of this poem can be successfully resolved. Book 2 is shown to have a tripartite structure, with a taustheme as the climax of each of the three divisions. The over-arching theme of reciprocating variatio- labor also comes to light more clearly. Lines I - I 08 are of a didactic nature, and simple patterns are shaped out of everyday objects and ideas. By creating imagines Vergil manages to enforce comparisons and to bring about contrasts. A meticulous analysis of the text highlights these images more clearly and in this manner the poet accentuates colour, form, line and texture. When the focus shifts from nature to man, the contrast between the farmers and the politically powerful Maecenas in lines 3 5 - 46 is brought to the fore to emphasize the underlying theme of felix I fortunatus. The problem of didacticism is addressed by focusing on the effect of the contrasts between parallel passages. The textual and visual contrasts in the poet's choice and marshalling of a rich variety of trees, with a particular reference to their nature, occurrence, provenance and function, serve as Leitmotif for the dissertation as a whole. / Classics and Modern European Languages / M.A. (Latyn)