Today, English is spoken by more non-native speakers than native speakers; current estimates by Graddol (2007) indicate five to one. With this transformation English has become the international language of business and intercultural communication. The emergence of English as Lingua Franca is apparent in Korean society where English plays a defining role in educational, career, social, cultural, and economic domains. Despite such inextricable links the acquisition of English in Korea has not been successful. This study examines the relationship between Korean university students' International Posture or non-ethnocentric attitude (Yashima, 2002, p. 57) and their L2 (Second Language) Learning Motivation, and L2 Proficiency in English, first described by Yashima (2002) in her study of Japanese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) tertiary students. The methodology used in this thesis was quantitative as it employed Likert scales in order to elicit students' International Posture, and L2 Motivation, and obtained L2 Proficiency from percentile grades in the TOEIC exam. With the use of path analysis software, AMOS 7, data from 118 university freshman (majoring in English literature) from Hannam University, South Korea were analyzed in order examine the relationship between International Posture, L2 Learning Motivation, and L2 Proficiency among South Korean EFL students. The results indicated a significant and very strong relationship between International Posture and L2 Learning Motivation and a significant and moderate relationship between L2 Learning Motivation and overall L2 Proficiency. The findings of the study conclude that EFL learner motivation can be understood by an agglomeration of integrative and instrumental motivational orientations. The findings in this study also suggest that the tendency for Korean EFL learners to approach, rather than avoid, interaction with people of different cultures is especially important to understanding Korean tertiary level students' attitude, motivation and performance in EFL. These findings could be implemented in the classroom by providing Korean EFL learners with safe and appropriate opportunities to interact with foreigners. Potential areas for further research include longitudinal studies (utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies) that look into the effect of EFL learner age, gender, and teaching pedagogy on International Posture, L2 Learning Motivation, and L2 Proficiency.

Axial rotation is regarded as an essential movement of the trunk that allows many individuals to participate in vocations, sports and activities of daily living. Unfortunately when the destabilising nature of rotation is combined with that of spinal flexion, the risk of injuring the spine can increase significantly. Few studies have investigated the potential benefits that maximizing trunk rotation has in certain vocation and sport-related arenas and none have looked at whether adopting certain spinal postures in the sagittal plane can maximise trunk rotation more than others. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of alterations of trunk inclination, spinal posture, pelvic fixation and turning direction on the active range of motion (ROM) of trunk rotation. Twenty healthy individuals participated in the main study. Retro-reflective markers were placed on key anatomical locations and used to track the movement of the thorax and pelvis during a series of repeated maximal trunk rotations in ten different spinal positions within the sagittal plane. Trunk kinematics and kinetics were recorded simultaneously using an optoelectronic motion analysis and force platform measuring system. A repeated-measures multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to test for the main effects of trunk inclination, spinal posture, fixation of pelvis and direction of turn on maximum active ROM of trunk rotation, maximum pelvic rotation and the anterior-posterior and lateral displacement of the centre of pressure (COP). To investigate test-retest reliability, ten participants were tested on two separate days. Repeatability for each outcome measure was investigated using interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland Altman graphs. The majority of subjects showed reasonable test-retest reliability for trunk rotation measures in each of the test positions, with ICC’s ranging between 0.562 – 0.731. Overall, trunk inclination (0°, 22.5°, 45°) forward in the sagittal plane had a significant effect on trunk and pelvic rotation (p<0.001) and lateral displacement of the COP (p<0.005) during trunk rotation. As trunk inclination increased from 0° to 45° there was an average increase in trunk rotation ROM of approximately 10 % (approximately 3.4°). Furthermore, increasing trunk inclination led to an increase in lateral displacement of the COP and a decrease in pelvic rotation. Spinal posture (neutral, flexed, extended) at a forward inclination of 45° had a significant effect on trunk rotation (p<0.01) and pelvic rotation (p<0.05), with a neutral spine averaging approximately 3 % (approximately 1.1°) more trunk rotation than a flexed or extended posture. The position and posture of the spine in the sagittal plane appears to have a significant influence on ranges of trunk rotation. The study suggests that rotating the trunk when adopting a neutral spine inclined to 45° will maximise range of trunk rotation and encourage a natural stabilisation of the lower body. This posture meets the unique set of biomechanical requirements for the sport of golf and may help to reduce the risk of injury in manual material handling tasks. Conversely, rotating the trunk whilst the thoracolumbar spine is flexed leads to a reduction in trunk rotation ROM, encourages greater pelvic and lower body rotation, reduces torque production of the trunk and may increase the risk of lower back injury. These findings have important implications in relation to the teaching of spinal position during vocations, sports and activities of daily living that seek to maximise trunk rotation.

This study focuses on developing a new approach to seated work positions. It was conducted on 67 office workers who use the Video Display Terminal (VDT) as a major function of their working day. Muscle tension was measured by surface electromyography when subjects were asked to adopt four selected working postures. Pain was measured before and after ergonomic intervention on the Nordic scale, which was modified for this study. Performance was measured on timed typing tests. A psychosocial questionnaire was used to determine influences of job demands, and a diagnostic assessment was performed to determine symptoms and pre-existing musculoskeletal conditions. Furniture was used to place subjects in desired positions during the clinical testing sessions and the extended intervention period. The chair seat pan was adjusted to a forward tilt to promote a lordotic curve of the low back, resulting in an erect upper body and upright head position. The desk and keyboard were adjusted to the proper height for each worker. A neutral wrist position was obtained by lowering and tilting the keyboard away from the user. Results revealed muscle tension scores in the upper trapezius and forearm extensors were significantly reduced when the workers were placed with the head in a midline position, with forward-tilting seating and with use of a negative sloping keyboard tray. Subjects reported low pain scores at pretest so no changes were noted after intervention. Loss of control over job elements, lack of job satisfaction, and fear of job loss were related to an increase in muscle tension. Only fear of job loss correlated to increased pain levels. There was no relationship between any of the job demand factors and performance.

The aim of this thesis is to develop a quantitative measure of postural defects known as lordosis and kyphosis. The measurement of these is an important part of their identification and treatment.

Les démarches participatives se sont récemment imposées dans le domaine de la gestion des ressources renouvelables, mais ceux qui les mettent en pratique demeurent confrontés à plusieurs dilemmes. Lorsque les démarches sont mises en œuvre dans des contextes sociaux caractérisés par de fortes disparités de pouvoir, on leur reproche tantôt d'être naïvement manipulés par les acteurs les plus influents, tantôt d'être au contraire trop interventionnistes en agissant en faveur d'un groupe donné, souvent les acteurs les moins influents, sans en avoir la légitimité. Face à ce dilemme et à d'autres, la thèse relate la mise à l'épreuve d'une posture d'accompagnement critique reposant sur un cadre conceptuel faisant appel, entre autres, aux théories de la négociation. Cette posture intime une prise en compte des jeux de pouvoir locaux pour éviter que le processus conduit n'accroisse les disparités initiales. La thèse s'appuie sur la mise en œuvre et l'analyse réflexive de processus de modélisation d'accompagnement (ComMod) conduits selon une telle posture dans deux systèmes agraires des hautes terres du Nord de la Thaïlande. Nous montrons qu'un processus ComMod mis en œuvre dans une société donnée est le lieu d'expression de jeux de pouvoir inhérents à cette société, dont certains constituent des obstacles à l'émergence d'un processus de concertation équitable. Nous montrons aussi que, par ses choix méthodologiques, le concepteur d'un processus ComMod peut, dans une certaine mesure, surmonter ces obstacles. Par conséquent, loin d'être neutre, la mise en œuvre d'un processus ComMod implique une réflexion critique continue, notamment quant à la légitimité du processus et de son concepteur aux yeux des acteurs auprès desquels il intervient. Ceci entraîne la nécessité d'une explicitation systématique de ses hypothèses, au début et en cours du processus, de façon à ce qu'elles puissent être remises en cause ou légitimées par ces acteurs.

Ce document de synthèse présente un résumé de mes recherches dans le cadre de la Grammaire Cognitive. Ces travaux concernent les verbes causatifs en anglais et leur diathèses; les analyses cognitives des verbes de posture enéerlandais ainsi que mes travaux typologiques sur les verbes de localisation.

<p>Nonverbal communication such as body language is a vital component of our communication, and since scholars agree that there are some notable differences in the way men and women use body language, the study of gendered nonverbal communication as a social construction is vital to our understanding of how we create gendered identities. The aim of this paper is to investigate how social gender norms concerning body language appear in constructed communication. By studying the body language of the characters in the American sitcom Friends, and with focus on leg postures, I examine how the show Friends enacts and represents stereotyped sex differences in body language. The study encompasses both the distribution of leg positions between the genders, and what these postures seem to accomplish in interaction. As for the relationship between gender and leg postures, I observed the sitting positions of the characters Chandler, Ross, Joey, Monica and Rachel in six episodes from the 1999/2000 season of Friends for the first study. For the analysis of leg postures in relation to the communicative situation, the entire corpus of ten episode recordings was used. Based on repeated inspection of scenes where leg positions could be studied in relation to gender and communication, systematic patterns were identified.</p><p>The results of the study are consistent with the findings of scholars like Vrugt and Luyerink (2000); women tend to sit in closed postures or with their legs crossed, which is regarded feminine, while men sit in wide positions with their legs spread, which is regarded masculine. Furthermore, the characters/actors in Friends seem to perform their gender roles partly by using different leg positions and wideness of postures. However, leg positions alone were not found to be decisive in the messages communicated, and emotions and stance were communicated using verbal and other non-verbal channels and cues. Instead, leg positions remained gender-stereotypical regardless of the message communicated, and men and women seem to communicate the same message using different leg positions. It is therefore concluded that leg positions are an inherent part of “doing gender”, but that leg positions as such are not necessarily related to the type of message or emotional stance that is communicated.</p>

<p>Children with myelomeningocele (MMC) usually have problems with daily life activities, but the background to their problems is not altogether obvious. An understanding of the possible causes of activity problems is a prerequisite for the effectiveness of physical therapy. The overall aim of the present studies was to identify impairments above the cele level, which might influence mobility in children with MMC (study I) and to analyse sitting posture (study II) and the movement characteristics of reaching movements (study III and IV). </p><p>In total, 41 children and young adults with MMC and without mental retardation were investigated. Study I comprised 32 children, 6-11 years. Mobility and the caregiver assistance required for mobility were quantified according to the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and correlation between mobility and neurological impairment, hand function and cognitive function were calculated. The results showed that nine children achieved independent mobility and that there was a moderate and significant correlation between the need for physical assistance and high cele level, impaired hand function and impaired cognitive function. In those children who used a wheelchair, only poor hand strength was significantly correlated with the need for caregiver assistance.</p><p>Study II comprised 11 children, 10-13 years, and a control group of 20 healthy children. Sitting posture was investigated by using a force plate and analysed from the frequency and the amplitude of the postural sway. The reaction forces before and during rapid arm lift were also analysed. The result showed that children with MMC had significantly lower sway frequency compared to the controls. In both groups, the ground reaction forces were registered before the children lifted their arms. Study III and IV comprised 31 children and young adults, 9-19 years and 31 matched controls. Reaching movements were investigated with a digitising tablet, linked to a computer. The ability to program and execute reaching movements was analysed and also the ability to adapt reaching to new visuomotor conditions. The results showed that the MMC group had poorer precision, less straight movements and shorter deceleration phases as compared to the controls. In both groups the movements were pre-programmed. In addition, adaptation of reaching to new visuomotor conditions was poor in the MMC group as compared to the controls. </p><p>In conclusion we found that impairments above the cele level influenced mobility and the control of sitting posture in children with MMC. Reduced precision and co-ordination of reaching, and also difficulties with motor adaptation, could partly explain thier problems with hand activities. These findings need to be considered in therapy programs for children and young adults with MMC.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D. (Movement Science Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Backpacks are used by more than 90% of schoolchildren worldwide and over 40 million students in the United States on a regular basis. The carriage of loaded backpacks is associated with kinematic and physiological changes, as well as complaints of neck and back pain. Since a history of backpain in childhood is the strongest predictor of having musculoskeletal discomfort and back pain as an adult, development of back pain due to backpack use is of prognostic concern. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effects of backpack weights (up to 20% body weight (BW)) on children’s posture, subjective complaints of pain and perceived exertion, and walking endurance. A secondary goal was to examine the data to identify and recommend a weight limit for backpacks carried by elementary school children based on the results. In Chapter 2, we performed a preliminary study designed to examine the effects of loaded backpacks on forward head posture in school children. The results of this study found that forward head posture increased with both backpack weight and condition. The greatest differences were noted at the 15% and 20%BW backpack loads with initial loading, but after 6 minutes of walking the forward head posture was similar for all backpack loads. In Chapter 3, we conducted a study to evaluate multiple postural angles and the subjective complaints of pain and perceived exertion/fatigue in children to determine the effects of both the weight and time spent carrying loaded backpacks up to 20%BW. Subjects showed significant changes in all measures including the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), OMNI Walk/Run Scale of perceived exertion/fatigue and subjective complaints of pain, as well as the postural angles of Craniovertebral Angle, Forward Trunk Lean, and Pelvic Tilt. Subjects demonstrated immediate and significant changes in forward head posture, forward trunk lean, and pelvic tilt while wearing backpacks weighing 10%, 15% and 20%BW, but the 10%BW backpack resulted in the least amount of change. This study also found that these postural angles changed additionally after walking 6 minutes while carrying the loaded backpacks. Subjects also demonstrated decreased 6MWT distances and increased reports of perceived exertion and pain after carrying backpacks weighing 10%, 15% and 20%BW. In Chapter 4, we discussed the clinical implications of this research. It was determined that backpack loads weighing 10%, 15% and 20%BW of a child’s body weight result in immediate changes in posture, which continue to increase after walking six minutes with the loaded backpack. The backpack loads significantly impacted the children’s walking endurance as well as their reports of perceived exertion/fatigue and regional pain. This study found that of the loads tested, the 10%BW resulted in the least amount of change in all outcome measures. However, the 10%BW load was not innocuous, as it still created significant changes in posture and subjective complaints. Backpack weight limit guidelines need to be written to protect children from carrying backpacks weighing more than 10% body weight.