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Thesis (MPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the practice of language use on road signs in Switzerland. The language used in public spaces constitutes our image of a specific place to a remarkable degree. We are constantly exposed to signs, whether road signs, advertisements or notifiers. These signs not only convey information such as “Caution”, “Final sale” or “Speed limit 60 here”, but also highlight aspects of culture and, where written text appear on them, aspects of the language(s) used in that area. Language use within the public space enables us to conceptualize, as well as recognize, the ways in which language use occurs, often (but not always) informing us whether a country is monolingual, bilingual or multilingual. In addition, these signs also indicate how language use is linked to other processes such as globalisation, social change and cultural heritage. The main purpose of this thesis was to establish how language is used on road signs in presentday, officially multilingual Switzerland. In this regard, three Swiss cantons (in which bilingual or multilingual societies are found) were investigated as to the language(s) – or lack thereof – which appear on their road signs, as well as to the order in which these languages appear. Specifically, bilingual or multilingual signs, as well as so-called Bildersprache (“picture language”, in other words on a board or plaque with a picture, symbol or other image on it), were studied in these cantons. Data for this research consists of photographic material (taken during visits to the study areas) as well as interview data. It was found that the social and political identities, as well as the economic interests, of language groups in a particular area affect the design and placement of road signs in that area. The results of this study serve as a framework for future research, and the photo material enables us, to a certain extent, to see how an apparently stable language system (such as the multilingualism found in Switzerland) encounters changes due to internal and external influences, but also how creative language can be. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is die taalgebruik op padtekens in Switserland ondersoek. Die taalgebruik in openbare plekke vorm tot ’n merkwaardige mate die beeld wat ons van ’n spesifieke plek het. Ons word konstant blootgestel aan tekens, hetsy padtekens, advertensies of kennisgewings. Hierdie tekens verskaf nie net inligting soos “Versigtig”, “Finale uitverkoping” of “Spoedgrens 60” nie, maar beklemtoon ook kulturele aspekte en, in daardie gevalle waarin geskrewe teks op tekens verskyn, ook aspekte van taal/tale wat in die betrokke gebied gebesig word. Taalgebruik in die openbare ruimte help ons om die wyses waarop taalgebruik voorkom te konseptualiseer en te herken, en dui gereeld (maar nie altyd nie) vir ons aan of ’n land eentalig, tweetalig of veeltalig is. Verder gee die tekens ook ’n aanduiding van hoe taalgebruik gekoppel is aan prosesse soos globalisasie, sosiale verandering en kulturele erfenis. Die hoof doel van hierdie tesis was om te bepaal hoe taal in die hedendaagse Switzerland op padtekens gebruik word. Drie Switserse kantons (met tweetalige en veeltalige gemeenskappe) is in hierdie verband ondersoek in terme van die taal/tale – of die gebrek daaraan – wat op padtekens verskyn asook die volgorde waarin hierdie tale op die padtekens verskyn. Spesifiek tweetalige of veeltalige tekens asook sogenaamde Bildersprache (“prentetaal”, met ander woorde ’n bord met ’n prent, simbool of ander voorstelling daarop) is in hierdie kantons bestudeer. Die data vir hierdie navorsing bestaan uit fotografiese materiaal (wat verkry is tydens besoeke aan die studie-areas) sowel as inligting wat verkry is deur onderhoudvoering. Daar is bevind dat die sosiale en politiese identiteite, sowel as die ekonomiese belange, van taalgroepe in ’n spesifieke area die ontwerp en plasing van padtekens in daardie area beïnvloed. Die resultate van hierdie studie dien as ’n raamwerk vir toekomstige navorsing en die fotomateriaal stel ons tot ’n sekere mate in staat om vas te stel hoe ’n klaarblyklik stabiele taalsisteem (soos die veeltalige een wat in Switserland aangetref word) veranderinge weens interne en eksterne invloede kan ervaar, maar ook hoe kreatief taal kan wees.

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Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-50). / In this thesis I explore the identification of [tau] leptons from simulated reconstructed data that will be collected by the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The two components of particle identification, efficiencies of [tau] identification from generator level information, along with fake rates of the current default algorithm have been determined and analyzed for a photon plus jets background sample and QCD background sample. I propose a new [tau] lepton identification algorithm that employs a signal cone parametrized with respect to the 7 transverse energy, and an isolation cone parametrized with respect to charged particle density surrounding the [tau] jet. Using the default algorithm an efficiency of 27.7% is achieved along with a photon plus jets fake rate of 1.96%. Using the proposed algorithm and matching the efficiency of the default algorithm, an efficiency of 26.9% and a fake rate of 0.44% is achieved. Approximately matching fake rates, an efficiency of 37.4% is achieved with a fake rate of 2.36%. / by by Philip James Ilten. / S.B.

The thesis discusses the comparative advantages of the different cantons of Switzerland. The aim is to compare the cantons, highlight their specifics and examine their main comparative advantages. In order to achieve this goal both PEST analysis and, at the end of each subchapter, SWOT analysis are used. After a methodological introduction Switzerland is first reviewed at a national level, so that it can be subsequently differentiated into individual cantons or groups of cantons. The first part reviews in detail four selected cantons, which are unique in their characteristics, i.e. Grisons, Ticino, Zurich and Geneve. Subsequently four groups of cantons are examined, namely Eastern, Central and French Switzerland as well as the cantons alongside the river Aare. For better clarity, all cantons are then compared based on major economic indicators, which allow conclusions on their comparative advantages. The final chapter deals with the Czech-Swiss trade cooperation, including not only the development and structure of mutual trade but also foreign direct investments. One of the conclusions reached is the significance of industry concentration and specialization, which represent one of the success factors of the Swiss economy. Another economic driver, which proves to be one of the determinants of cantons' comparative advantages, is the diversified tax burden.

This study investigates the evacuation of 60,000 French and Belgian children to Switzerland between 1940 and 1945. This humanitarian action was initially implemented by a coalition of Swiss charities but because of its growing popularity and increasing scope, the Swiss Red Cross joined the efforts in 1942. Despite the devastation, food scarcities and logistical limitations of the Second World War, these children were successfully fed, clothed and housed in Swiss households for three-month periods before they returned home. Given the massive diplomatic and material challenges, it is surprising that such a large transnational evacuation for vulnerable, foreign children was generally effective. By evaluating both how these evacuations were conducted and why participating governments sought to support or prohibit their implementation, this thesis reveals new information that challenges the standard narratives of the wartime actions of the Allies, Nazi Germany and Switzerland. Britain and America’s role in the evacuation does not support their reputation as righteous victors, but as bickering governments strategizing to strengthen their post-war political position in Europe. Nazi Germany’s authorization of the evacuation deepens our knowledge by demonstrating how “humanitarian” operations were circuitously manipulated as a way to increase Nazi control. The noteworthy hospitality of Swiss citizens significantly diverged from the strict immigration policies imposed by their government, a finding which both challenges and reinforces the controversy surrounding Switzerland’s prohibitive, internationally-condemned refugee policies. Overall, this thesis recasts each participant in a new light by questioning the motivations of governments at war, the value of children in war, and the logistics of wartime humanitarian operations.

Inaug.-Diss.--Bern. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 241-269.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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