Acronyms, initialisms and other types of abbreviations are frequently used in scientific, academic, governmental and administrative setting to shorten lengthy terminology and nomenclature. While they can make a text easier to read for people familiar with the abbreviations, they can add to the text’s inherent difficulty and impede comprehension for those who are not familiar with their meaning. The phenomenon of acronym polynymy (multiple definitions associated with the same acronym) can create confusion and add to the cognitive load associated with understanding the text. The current practice of defining acronyms only once, when introduced can result in readers scrolling back and forth in the text looking for acronym definitions, increasing the cognitive load and negatively affect reading speed and content comprehension. The purpose of this research was to study if the presence of a large number of acronyms in a text impedes reading performance. The current study also investigated if providing easy access to acronym definitions via hover text would alleviate comprehension problems caused by unknown acronyms in the text. The hypothesis was that by enabling fast acronym disambiguation, and eliminating the need to scroll for acronym definitions, the hover functionality would enhance reading speed and content comprehension. The results of the experiment are analyzed and recommendations for future investigations of the acronym problem are formulated.

<p>The language used in Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (or MMORPGs) is a form of computer-mediate communication. It consists of elements from both written and spoken language, but it is a highly abbreviated and innovative form of written language. This study focuses on the English language used in a MMORPG called Warhammer Online. The aim of this study is to identify abbreviations, interpret their meanings and to analyze the word formation processes and semantic changes that are involved in new words. The method used in this study is a qualitative case study of the English language in a MMORPG from a synchronic point of view. The secondary sources used in this study include previous works on morphology and semantics. The material used is based on logs acquired from the game Warhammer Online as a subscribed player. The results presented in this study show new and unique words created by players in Warhammer Online, along with other semantic changes that have taken place. It is concluded that the English written language has not seen such a major change in its entirety before, within one community.</p>

The language used in Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (or MMORPGs) is a form of computer-mediate communication. It consists of elements from both written and spoken language, but it is a highly abbreviated and innovative form of written language. This study focuses on the English language used in a MMORPG called Warhammer Online. The aim of this study is to identify abbreviations, interpret their meanings and to analyze the word formation processes and semantic changes that are involved in new words. The method used in this study is a qualitative case study of the English language in a MMORPG from a synchronic point of view. The secondary sources used in this study include previous works on morphology and semantics. The material used is based on logs acquired from the game Warhammer Online as a subscribed player. The results presented in this study show new and unique words created by players in Warhammer Online, along with other semantic changes that have taken place. It is concluded that the English written language has not seen such a major change in its entirety before, within one community.

The thesis talks about psychological aspects of English phrases acronym usage among adolescent students of primary and secondary schools. It looks at which acronyms adolescents use, how they understand, use and perceive them and finally what are the specifics of vulgar acronym use. The theoretical part introduces the term acronym and sets it into a broader context of language and specifically e-language. It further talks about adolescence and specifics of adolescent communication. As acronyms that adolescents use the most come from electronic communication, it is also given a fair amount of attention. The empiric part offers research results of a survey consisting of two questionnaires. The results show that due to electronic communication adolescents abbreviate language intensively. The most popular way of abbreviating are acronyms. They use only limited number of selected acronyms though. Adolescents use acronyms exclusively among themselves. They expect rejection from adults. Even though almost all of them use acronyms, not all perceive them positively. Vulgar acronyms are used often and are not perceived as as strong as their unabbreviated versions. Keywords: acronym, abbreviation, English phrases, e-language, electronic communication, adolescents

Nursing is a permanently developing field of activity. Research plays an irreplaceable role in this field. We moreover more and more often see the term Evidence Based Practice nowadays. However a lot of general nurses do not know that this term also relates to the field of nursing, where it is called Evidence Based Nursing. Quantitative research was chosen for this thesis. The research was performed in South Bohemian and Central Bohemian regions among general nurses with bachelor degree. The aim of the questionnaire research was to confirm or refute the hypotheses set for this thesis. The first goal of the thesis was to find out whether general nurses with bachelor degree were willing to participate in research in nursing. The second goal was to find out whether general nurses with bachelor degree had come across the term Evidence Based Practice. The third goal was focused on finding whether general nurses with bachelor degree knew the names of databases that might be used in planning nursing care based on evidence. The fourth goal was to find out whether general nurses with bachelor degree were willing to participate on application of research results to nursing practice. The fifth goal was to find out whether general nurses with bachelor degree had met with application of research results to nursing practice. The goals of the thesis have been met. Five hypotheses were set for achievement of the above goals. H1: General nurses with bachelor degree are willing to participate in research in nursing. H2: General nurses with bachelor degree are able to define the term Evidence Based Practice. H3: General nurses with bachelor degree know the names of databases they may use in planning nursing care based on evidence. H4: General nurses with bachelor degree are willing to participate in introduction and application of research results to nursing practice. H5: General nurses with bachelor degree meet application of research results to nursing practice. The first, second and fourth hypotheses were confirmed, the third and fifth ones were not confirmed. Although the issues of Evidence Based Practice appear more and more often in literature, and we might expect nurses with tertiary education to apply the practice based on evidence in nursing, there are still general nurses who have lack of information in this sphere. Nevertheless there are a lot of general nurses with tertiary education who would like to participate in research and application of the research results to nursing practice. A proposal for a whole-life educational course focused on application of Evidence Based Practice to nursing was elaborated upon the research results. The results may also be used in hospital seminars and in education of nursing students.

This thesis deals with motives of the South Africa's inclusion to BRIC countries and examines the impact of this inclusion on South Africa. It explores the question whether South Africa "deserves" the inclusion to BRIC countries and what characteristics connect it with these economies. The thesis also analyzes the BRICS bloc, the current situation in these economies, their cooperation and performing on the global scene.

Ce travail de recherche mené sur un corpus qui rassemble onze pays arabes, vise à soulever une problématique liée à la rupture et à la continuité au sein de la terminologie arabe d’Internet, terminologie créée dans le monde anglophone, aux États-Unis précisément. Les termes « rupture » et « continuité » montrent un conflit réel entre deux systèmes linguistiques différents : le système de la langue arabe que nous appelons « système autochtone » et celui de la langue anglaise que nous appelons « système étranger ». L’image qui se dessine est celle de deux systèmes qui se disputent une partie d’un jeu d’échec. À l’ouverture, les cavaliers des deux côtés se mobilisent rapidement. Ceux du « système étranger » essaient d’instaurer d’emblée des éléments que nous appelons « éléments de rupture ». Ces derniers se manifestent à travers le phénomène de l’emprunt linguistique sous ses deux formes : emprunt entier et siglaison. En guise de réponse, le « système autochtone » mobilise tout d’abord ses deux cavaliers : il s’agit bien évidemment de deux moyens morpho-syntaxiques : le sous-système de nomination et le sous-système de communication. Ensuite, et afin de ne pas s’écrouler, « le système autochtone » renforce ses positions à l’aide de deux autres procédés : procédé sémantique qu’est la métaphore, et procédé discursive qu’est la reformulation. Dans notre travail, il ne s’agit pas de dire lequel des deux systèmes a gagné, En effet, sur une période de dix ans, nous avons accompagné l’évolution de la terminologie arabe d’Internet afin de tirer des conclusions et de relever plus exactement une certaine tendance générale et globale à la lumière des changements que cette terminologie a connus, changements qui ne sont certainement pas définitifs. / This research carried out on a corpus which gathers eleven Arab countries, aims at raising problems related to the rupture and continuity within the Arabic terminology of Internet, terminology created in the Anglophone world, more precisely in the United States. The terms “rupture” and “continuity” show a real conflict between two different linguistic systems: the Arabic language system which we call “indigenous system” and the English language system which we call “foreign system”. The image which takes shape is that of two systems playing chess. At the beginning of the game, the knights of the two sides are mobilized quickly. Those of the “foreign system” try to impose elements which we call “elements of rupture”. The latter appear through the linguistic loan phenomenon with its two forms: the integral loan and the acronyms. In response to these “elements of rupture”, the “indigenous system” mobilizes first of all its two knights, i.e. its two morpho-syntactic means: the subsystem of nomination and the subsystem of communication. Then, in order not to collapse, the “indigenous system” fortifies its position using two other processes: the semantic process which is the metaphor and the discursive process which is the rewording. In this study, we are not aiming at saying which of the two systems won. Indeed, within a period of ten years, we followed the evolution of the Arabic terminology of Internet in order to draw conclusions, and more exactly to draw a general tendency in light of changes that this terminology has known, changes which are certainly not final.

Summary in Tsonga and English / Ndzavisiso lowu wu xopela xiyimo xa mavumbelo, matsalelo, mahikahatelo na mathyelo ya swikomiso na mavulwankatso eka Xitsonga hi xikongomelo xo bumabumela maringaneriselo ya swona. Switiviwa swi huma eka switshuriwa swo hambanahambana swa nomu na swo tsariwa ku katsa na swa dyondzo (swa vuvulavuri, swihlayahlaya na swihlamuselamarito) swihangalasamahungunyingi na swinavetiso etilayiburari, eswikolweni, emagondzweni, eka tibilibodo na le makhumbini ya miako.Tinxaka ta mikomiso ti kumeka eka swa vanhu (mavito, swiyimo, vuxaka), matiko, tin’hweti, masiku ya vhiki, mavito ya tiholideyi, ya tihuvo, ya mihlangano, ya tiyunivhesiti, nasw. Ku na nkomisokulu (wa switshuriwa swo leha swa ndzungulo na swa nkalandzungulo, xikombiso: xihungwana, vumbiwa) na nkomisotsongo (wa switshuriwa swo koma: xivulwa, xivulwahava, rito, xiaki, peletwana). Lowu ndzavisiso wu pakanise nkomisotsongo. Nkomisotsongo wu paluxa mikhetekanyokulu ya mune ya ‘rikhwanyano’, ‘rivulwankatso’, ‘xikomiso’ na ‘rivulwampfilungano’. Swikombiso hi nandzelelano i: ‘za’ < zela); Huriri/(HRR) < ‘Huvo ya Rixaka ya Ririmi’, na (NSFAS > En-es-FAS). Xikomiso xi tihlawulekisa hi ku peleta kumbe ku komisa hi ku tsala ntsena, rito ra kona ri vuriwa hi ku hetiseka. Rikhwanyano na rivulwankatso swona swi tihlawulekisa hi ku vuleka tanihi rito rohelela. Rivulwampfilungano ri hlanganisa rivulwankatso na xikomiso. Rixaka rin’wana na rin’wana ri tlhela ri va na swivumbeko na mahikahatelo yo hambana. Matirhiselo ya swihikahato ya ya hi milawu ya ririmi ro karhi, xikombiso: nkomiso wa rivitavito wu fanele ku sungula hi letere lerikulu. Ndzavisiso wu paluxa leswaku ku tirhisiwa ka hiko (.) swi fanele ku papalatiwa eka nkomiso hikuva hiko yi teka ndhawu leyi nkomiso wu lwelaka ku hunguta yona hileswi hiko na vangwa swi hlayiwaka tanihi xitekandhawu loko ku hlayeriwa maletere. Ndzavisiso lowu wu basisile matheme lama thyiweke mikomiso eka Xitsonga, ku engetela nhlayo ya mikomiso na ku susumeta misinya yo yi ringanerisa. Ndzi bumabumerile swilaveko na swiyila ku pfuneta vahundzuluxeri na ku va seketela hi ku famba ndzi nyika maritondzingano ya Xinghezi laha swi kotekaka. Switandzhaku swi nyika vumbhoni bya leswaku nhluvuko wa mikomiso eka Xitsonga wa tshikeleriwa hi van’wana va lava nyikiweke matimba yo kondletela ntirho wa vuhundzuluxeri, leswi koxaka ku cinca ka maehleketelo. / This study analyses the state of shortenings (abbreviations and acronyms) in Xitsonga in order to determine their formation, structure, punctuation and naming patterns with the aim of recommending standardisation strategies. The data was collected from various oral and written sources. Various types of shortenings manifest in human phenomena (names, social positions and relations), names of countries, months, weekdays, holidays, boards, organisations, universities, etcetera. There are long shortened texts (e.g. abstracts, summaries) and short texts (sentence, phrase, word, morpheme, syllable). This study focusses on the short texts. Short texts fall into four major categories: ‘compression’, ‘acronym’, ‘abbreviation’ and ‘acreviation’ (combination of acronym and abbreviation). Examples of these forms are respectively ‘za’ < ‘zela’; ‘Huriri’/HRR < ‘Huvo ya Rixaka ya Ririmi’; and NSFAS > En-es- FAS. An ‘Abbreviation’ is characterised by spelling the word letter-by-letter or using it only in writing but uttering its full form when reading, while compression and acronym are characterised by the word’s ‘pronounceability’ in normal syllables. ‘Acreviation’ describes a combination of ‘acronym’ and ‘abbreviation’. Each of these forms further reveals different structural and punctuation patterns. The use of punctuation marks depends on the rules of a specific language, for example, the shortening of a proper name has to begin with a capital letter. The study also reveals that as much as possible, the use of a period should be avoided in the abbreviation as it occupies the space which the abbreviation intends to save because a full stop and space are counted as a character when a word count is done. This study has successfully clarifies the terminology used in the naming of shortenings in Xitsonga, increases the number of shortenings and proposes standardisation guidelines. The researcher recommends do’s and don’t’s for translators and provides English equivalents where applicable. The addenda provide evidence in support of the fact that the development of abbreviations and acronyms in Xitsonga is still thwarted by some individuals who are given coordination roles in translation projects and that a change of mindset is necessary. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)