Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 230-255). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Françaises. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-157). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38739

This dissertation will examine the speech practices of collectives of Ixhil Mayas in post-war Guatemala. Specifically I analyze the way that historical memory of the recent period of violence, which culminated in genocide in the 1980s, is encoded in Ixhil ways of speaking and constitutes social action among Ixhil collectives. I propose an ethnographically situated framework within which to consider Ixhil historical memory which includes Ixhil concern for relationships with the dead, proper treatment of cornfields, innovations on community practices that were threatened during the war, and discourses about the injustice of an unarmed population confronted with armed soldiers of the government of Guatemala. Such a framework critiques views that see historic memory as externally imposed or as a manifestation of trauma and brokenness. Rather, the framework I offer allows us to see how discourses of historical memory make use of the resources of the Ixhil language and the conventions of various Ixhil ways of speaking in order to continue to constitute Ixhil communities and the collectives of political society. In this dissertation I likewise propose a broader view of the politics arising from Ixhil historical memory. In addition to the simultaneously spiritual and overtly political reburial ceremonies for the wartime dead, political rallies, and formal exhumations, the post-war politics of historical memory includes a proliferation of community-based organizations which have begun to take key positions in Ixhil communities. Ixhil genres of prayer, political speech, meeting talk, collective narratives, funeral speeches, and the talk used when visiting the sick provide the discursive tools to encode historical memory and new forms of community. In the aftermath of genocide that sought to destroy Mayas’ ability to exist as a collective, these acts of community-making among groups formed in response to the peace accords offer a version of post-war politics of historical memory. / text

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This thesis is a descriptive study investigating the perceptions of 380 debaters and 95 judges at seven collegiate debate tournaments. The study examined debater/ judge agreement in terms of win/loss, speaker ratings and criteria important in the debate decision. A Kappa index and Pearson product-moment correlation were used to analyze the data.The findings indicated that debaters and judges do not tend to perceive the debate decision, speaker ratings or important criteria similarly.

This qualitative study examined three areas of social service provision through the experiences of non-English speaking older Hispanic immigrants. These three areas included availability and accessibility of services and culturally competent practices of service providers. The qualitative approach of phenomenology was used to interview ten participants in order to explore their experiences with service provision. An analysis of the interviews pointed to the following themes: (a) experiences with services were deeply connected to issues of immigration and adaptation; (b) language barriers were especially difficult to overcome in services; (c) the role of families as primary supports needed to be reconsidered in order to offer better quality of services; and (d) culturally competent practices needed to be reinforced at the organizational level of workers, agencies and government in order to become more effective. From these themes, recommendations and implications for social work and services for non-English speaking elderly Hispanics are detailed.

This qualitative study examined three areas of social service provision through the experiences of non-English speaking older Hispanic immigrants. These three areas included availability and accessibility of services and culturally competent practices of service providers. The qualitative approach of phenomenology was used to interview ten participants in order to explore their experiences with service provision. An analysis of the interviews pointed to the following themes: (a) experiences with services were deeply connected to issues of immigration and adaptation; (b) language barriers were especially difficult to overcome in services; (c) the role of families as primary supports needed to be reconsidered in order to offer better quality of services; and (d) culturally competent practices needed to be reinforced at the organizational level of workers, agencies and government in order to become more effective. From these themes, recommendations and implications for social work and services for non-English speaking elderly Hispanics are detailed.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-174). / v, 174 leaves, bound 29 cm

Nasality is a common resonance disorder present in the speech of severely hearing impaired individuals (Hudgins, 1934). The likely cause has been attributed to structural or functional abnormalities of the velopharyngeal mechanism as well as deviations in pitch and loudness. In addition, hearing impaired individuals speak at a slower rate than normal hearing individuals which has been shown to exacerbate the presence of nasality in their speech (Colton & Cooker, 1968). The purpose of this study was to determine whether deliberate increases in speaking rate would serve to decrease the amount of nasality in the speech of severely hearing impaired individuals. The participants were 11 severe to profoundly hearing impaired students, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years (mean = 16 years). Each participant provided a baseline speech sample (R1) followed by three training sessions during which participants were trained to increase their speaking rate. Following the training sessions, a second speech sample was obtained (R2). Acoustic and perceptual analysis pf the speech samples obtained at R1 and R2 were undertaken. The acoustic analysis focused on changes in first and second formant frequency bandwidth (BW1 & BW2). The perceptual analysis involved 21 naïve listeners rating the speech samples (at R1 & R2) for perceived nasality. Findings indicated a significant increase in speaking rate at R2. In addition, a significantly narrower BW2 frequency and lower perceptual rating score was obtained at R2 across all participants, suggesting a considerable decrease in nasality as speaking rate increases. The influences of speaking rate changes on the functioning of the velopharyngeal mechanism are discussed. In addition, the clinical implications of the findings are explored.

Migration can cause disruption to the normal functioning of the family; especially women and mothers. In this study a cross sectional approach, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was undertaken to establish the impact of migration on women fiom the United Kingdom (UK) and Eire (N=154) now living in Australia; from these participants 40 were selected for in-depth interview. Women were asked about their experiences of migration and the strategies used to 'settle' in a new country. The researcher postulated that the process of settlement requires a reinvention of the self through building new perceptions of culture, country, friends, and family and the re-definition of the self in relation to these aspects of the environment. A conceptual model was developed and used to determine and examine the relationships amongst who and what influenced the decision and motivation to migrate, the impact of exposure to a new culture, assault on the old identity and the possible grieving response to the impact of multiple loss (loss of home, major attachment figure, family, community, culture and social networks). Bowlby's attachment theory and grieving process was used as a theoretical framework for the study. Data analysis inQcated that the majority of the women experienced at least some of the characteristics associated with the stages of the grieving process and the time-scale and pathway through the process differed amongst individuals. Women who successfully reached the final stage (reorganisation) of the grieving process were able to "re-invent" themselves using pre and post-migration strategies (social, cultural and country activities). Participants who were less able in this transformation or re-invention used more solitary strategies. Different levels of a sense of belonging and success in re-inventing the self were linked to the different motivations for migrating. Inability to reach the stage of re-organisation, even after residency of 20 years or more, resulted in negative perceptions of the adopted country and continuing psychological distress. However, even those participants who successfully re-invented themselves continued to foster a residual link to the homeland. This is interpreted to be the result of a form of imprinting. Furthermore, women with newborns or young children identified that the impact of multiple loss, especially loss of a social support system, had a detrimental impact on their childrearing experiences. The study has implications for future migrants in assisting them to adjust and survive in the new country. It also has implications for health professionals to recognise that all mothers and perhaps especially migrant mothers require a social support network. Further, the health professional needs to be a part of that network and also assist the migrant to develop the appropriate shlls to extend their social support. In addition, immigration and social services and the general population should recognise and provide for the psychological and physical needs of migrants of all origrns - English speaking as well as non-English speaking.