Submitted by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2017-06-30T18:45:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DIS_RENATO_AUGUSTO_VORTMANN_DE_BARBA_COMPLETO.pdf: 961856 bytes, checksum: 3bc19ee0642b80af8997a18416275a99 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-30T18:45:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DIS_RENATO_AUGUSTO_VORTMANN_DE_BARBA_COMPLETO.pdf: 961856 bytes, checksum: 3bc19ee0642b80af8997a18416275a99 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-01-19 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Dentro da teoria gerativa dos princ?pios e par?metros (Chomsky, 1981), categorias vazias s?o entidades utilizadas nas an?lises sint?ticas para que certas estruturas lingu?sticas n?o violem princ?pios universais (Mioto, 2007). O portugu?s brasileiro (PB) faz uso de v?rias dessas categorias em diferentes estruturas, e uma das estruturas permitidas pela l?ngua ? o fen?meno conhecido como object drop, ou objeto foneticamente nulo. Em estudos de Aquisi??o de Segunda L?ngua (SLA, no original), a teoria de Transfer?ncia Total / Acesso Total (Schwartz & Sprouse, 1996) postula que o est?gio inicial do L2 ? o est?gio final do L1, mas ao encontrar estruturas que n?o s?o permitidas pela sintaxe da L1, os aprendizes acessam a GU para redefinir par?metros relacionados ?s estruturas. Considerando que o PB ? frequentemente aprendido ap?s outra l?ngua adicional, sendo assim uma L3, o Modelo da Supremacia Tipol?gica (TPM, no original) proposto por Rothman (2010) afirma que a transfer?ncia ocorrer? a partir da gram?tica da l?ngua percebida como a mais semelhante, mesmo se a transfer?ncia de outra l?ngua fosse mais facilitadora. O presente estudo aplicou uma tarefa de julgamento de aceitabilidade com diferentes estruturas em PB tanto para os falantes nativos (n = 27) quanto para os aprendizes de PB (L1 espanhol, L2 ingl?s) (n = 15) para poder comparar sua avalia??o dessas estruturas. Esperava-se que, como PB e espanhol s?o percebidos como tipologicamente mais pr?ximos, os aprendizes de PB transfeririam seus conhecimentos da L1 ao avaliar as frases em PB. Os resultados demonstram que os falantes nativos t?m avalia??es diferentes dependendo da estrutura que est? sendo testada, com objetos nulos sendo preferidos em ora??es simples, mas nenhuma prefer?ncia clara em estruturas com ilhas sint?ticas fortes. Os aprendizes de PB n?o demonstraram qualquer prefer?ncia por objetos nulos ou abertamente realizados em estruturas com ilhas sint?ticas fortes, mas mostraram prefer?ncia por objetos nulos em ora??es simples com referentes [?definido]. Assumindo FT/FA e TPM, parece que os aprendizes de PB continuam utilizando a gram?tica de sua L1 na avalia??o de algumas das estruturas, enquanto que em outras estruturas parece haver alguma converg?ncia na gram?tica alvo, o que sugere poss?vel acesso ? GU. / Within the generative theory of principles and parameters (Chomsky, 1981), empty categories are entities used in syntactic analyses so that certain language structures do not violate universal principles (Mioto, 2007). Brazilian Portuguese (BP) makes use of several of these categories in different structures, and one of the structures allowed by the language is the phenomenon known as object drop, or phonetically null objects. In studies of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), the theory of Full Transfer / Full Access (Schwartz & Sprouse, 1996) posits that the initial stage of the L2 is the final stage of the L1, but in finding structures that are not allowed by the L1 syntax, learners access the UG to reset parameters related to these structures. Considering BP is often learned after another additional language, hence being an L3, the Typological Primacy Model (TPM) proposed by Rothman (2010) claims that transfer will occur from the grammar of the language perceived as the most similar, even if transfer from another language would be more facilitative. The present study contains results of an acceptability judgment task with different structures in BP given to both Native speakers (n = 27) and BP learners (L1 Spanish, L2 English)(n = 15). It was expected that, because BP and Spanish are perceived as typologically closer, BP learners would transfer their knowledge from the L1 while evaluating the sentences in BP. The results show that Native speakers have different evaluations depending on the structure being tested, with null objects being preferred in Simple clauses, but no clear preference in structures with strong syntactic islands. The BP learners did not show any clear preference for null or overt objects in structures with strong syntactic islands, but showed preference for null objects in Simple clauses with [? definite] referents. Assuming FT/FA and the TPM, it seems that BP learners kept using the grammar from their L1 in evaluating some of the structures, while in other structures there seems to be some convergence on the target grammar, hinting at some level of access to UG.

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Speech audiometry is considered an essential tool in the assessment of hearing, not only to validate pure tone measurements, but also to indicate speech perception as a critical communicative function. The use of sentence material in the assessment of speech perception has great value as it simulates – more closely than single words – the type of speech stimuli that listeners are confronted with on a daily basis. In South Africa, speech recognition (reception and discrimination) abilities are most commonly assessed through the use of single words, presented by monitored live voice, a practice sternly criticized in the literature. Furthermore, speech recognition is commonly evaluated in an ideal (quiet) listening environment. This method gives an incomplete impression of a patient’s auditory performance, since everyday listening situations are often characterised by the presence of background noise that influences comprehension of speech. The present study was therefore launched with the aim to develop a reliable measure of speech recognition in noise using Afrikaans sentence material. The development of the test was conducted in three phases. The first phase entailed the compilation of culturally valid, pre-recorded Afrikaans sentence material. During the second phase the uniformity of the recorded sentence collection was improved by determining the intelligibility of each sentence in the presence of noise and eliminating sentences that were not of equivalent difficulty in this regard. The objective of the third phase was to arrange the sentence material into lists using two different methods of list compilation. The first method involved grouping sentences together based solely on their intelligibility in noise (as assessed in the previous phase). The second method was the well-documented method of compiling phonetically balanced lists. The inter-list reliability of both sets of lists was evaluated in both normal hearing listeners and listeners with a simulated high frequency hearing loss. The results provided valuable information on the process of developing a test of speech recognition in noise, especially in terms of options for list compilation. Findings indicated that lists compiled according to intelligibility in noise showed a higher degree of equivalence than phonetically balanced lists when applied to normally hearing listeners. However, when applied to listeners with a simulated loss, phonetically balanced lists displayed greater equivalence. The developed test provides a means of assessing speech recognition in noise in Afrikaans, and shows potential for application in the assessment of hearing impaired populations, individuals with auditory processing difficulties, and the paediatric population. In addition, the methodology described for the development of the test could provide a valuable guideline for future researchers looking to develop similar tests in other languages. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MCommunication Pathology / Unrestricted

The dissertation examines mainly segmental assimilatory processes of Xhosa phonology within the dependency framework. This model is a multi-faceted approach which involves hierarchical organisation of features into larger constituents known as gestures. The analysis includes an elementary historical background to the development of phonological theory with emphasis on the shift from traditional linear approaches to modern non-linear models, as well as a shift from derivational theories to representational frameworks. An exploration of the phonetics/phonology interface through the application of gestures is considered an advantage of using the dependency framework over other theories of phonology. The focus of the dissertation is the description of phonetically-motivated and morphologically-motivated Xhosa phonological processes. A brief exposition of the use of the dependency framework in non-assimilatory Xhosa phonological processes is given as a possible recommendation in the conclusion of the dissertation. / Language Education, Arts and Culture / M.A. (African Languages)

The dissertation examines mainly segmental assimilatory processes of Xhosa phonology within the dependency framework. This model is a multi-faceted approach which involves hierarchical organisation of features into larger constituents known as gestures. The analysis includes an elementary historical background to the development of phonological theory with emphasis on the shift from traditional linear approaches to modern non-linear models, as well as a shift from derivational theories to representational frameworks. An exploration of the phonetics/phonology interface through the application of gestures is considered an advantage of using the dependency framework over other theories of phonology. The focus of the dissertation is the description of phonetically-motivated and morphologically-motivated Xhosa phonological processes. A brief exposition of the use of the dependency framework in non-assimilatory Xhosa phonological processes is given as a possible recommendation in the conclusion of the dissertation. / Language Education, Arts and Culture / M.A. (African Languages)