Le romani, ou romanes, est une langue parlée historiquement par des communautés qui s’autodénomment « Roms », « Sintos » et « Calos ». Dans cette thèse, on se propose d'analyser une page du réseau social Facebook, comportant de nombreux messages en langue romani. Dans un premier temps, nous identifierons les dialectes présents sur la page et étudierons la diversité des pratiques orthographiques. Puis, on analysera comment la variation est prise en compte par les locuteurs, en évoquant les problématiques d'intercompréhension, d'identité et de revitalisation. Le but de notre recherche est de faire un état des lieux des besoins, réussites et représentations des locuteurs du romani afin d’accompagner ce qui pourrait être un processus d’autogestion langagière. / Romani, also known as Romanes, is a language historically spoken by communities who call themselves “Roma”, “Sinti” and “Kalo”. The purpose of this thesis is to study a page of the social network Facebook which includes many messages written in Romani language. First of all, we will identify the dialects used on the page and we will describe the diversity of spelling practices. Then, we wil analyze the way variation is taken into account by the speakers, discussing the issues of mutual understanding, identity and revitalization. Our research focuses on determining the needs, successes and representations of the Romani speakers in order to support a possible linguistic self-management.

The aim of the thesis is to find out if then Prague quarter of Karlin has been under the process of gentrification recently. Karlin is an inner city and has been going through dynamic changes in the last thirteen years. This is not only because of post-socialist transformation but the regeneration was also accelerated by dealing with the consequences of the flood in 2002. Different census areas of Karlin are classified into three categories according to the degree of gentrification: gentrified, ungentrified and below average areas. The research is based on the results summarizing a field research which determined physical condition of the houses, the result of analyses of ownership and price levels of Karlin houses and the development of sociodemographic and economic structure. Key words: gentrification, post-socialist transformation, physical environment, sociodemographic and economic structure

Urban and architecture study of the location on the border of the historical centre of the town of Znojmo focuses on spatial cultivation of Square of Freedom and revitalisation of fragments of the town fortification system.

The project of revitalisation of the Ambit area in Český Krumlov emerges from the current needs and the future strategic visions of the town as well as from its historical context and cultural heritage. It proposes a natural and simple cultivation of the grounds and their transformation into a park and riverside promenades creating an agreeable background for the pedestrian paths joining the downtown with the housing areas in the suburbs. This environment creates a set for a multifunctional cultural and community centre. The historically protected building, originally a cloth factory, is transformed into a hotel with a restaurant and connected to two new objects of the cultural centre. In their volume and location these buildings don’t exceed the maximal height level of the surrounding area and respect its natural configuration as well as its historical value. Both houses correspond not only in terms of materials but also in their simple conception free of all unnecessary formalities. They are not trying to compete with the town and its genius loci; on the contrary, they attempt to create a dignified entrance wordy of the town. Their floor plan creates a coherent space with a certain amount of tension created by the very not-orthogonal arrangement.

This diploma project deals with a post-industrial factory area Zbrojovka Brno. It proposes a strategy for its revitalisation and development. On contrary to official studies of one time reconstruction and creation of a residential site, the proposal brings an idea of step by step transformation into a multifunctional city quarter with preservation and new use of original industrial architecture. The strategy has four main phases, which are characterised by addition of functions, metamorphoses of public space and opening of the area and connecting it to neighbourhoods. After the four phases, the area should become a healthy and sustainable city with a compact structure with mixed functions, high quality public spaces linked with greenery, sustainable system of transportation and energetic concept and with use of community sharing.

Viele Großstädte und Metropolen in Deutschland sind Zielgebiete nationaler und internationaler Migration. Die zunehmenden Bevölkerungszahlen in diesen Städten führen häufig zu Überlastungserscheinungen, wie steigenden Preisen auf den Wohnungsmärkten, Segregationstendenzen innerhalb der Stadtgebiete, einer sich verschlechternden Umweltqualität und einer Überlastung von Einrichtungen der sozialen Infrastruktur. Dem gegenüber stehen zumeist kleinere Städte in peripheren Lagen vor der Herausforderung stagnierender oder schrumpfender Bevölkerungszahlen. Langanhaltende Bevölkerungsverluste über die letzten Jahrzehnte führen häufig zu hohen Leerstandsquoten, einem Verfall von Bausubstanz, einer geringen Auslastung von Versorgungsstrukturen, einer wirtschaftlichen Abkoppelung und dem Gefühl von Vernachlässigung und Stigmatisierung. In Zukunft stehen die verschiedenen Städte somit vor unterschiedlichen aber vergleichsweise großen Herausforderungen. Das Promotionsvorhaben konzentriert sich auf geschrumpfte Mittelstädte (20.000 - 100.000 Menschen) in peripheren Lagen. Ziel der Arbeit ist es, Faktoren herauszustellen, die eine Standortwahl in eben diesen Stadttyp begünstigen können sowie Stärken und zu fördernde Potenziale dieser Städte darzustellen, die dazu beitragen, dass sich geschrumpfte Mittelstädte als Alternativstandorte zu überlasteten Ballungsräumen erweisen. Diese Herangehensweise an aktuelle Herausforderungen von Schrumpfung betroffener Mittelstädte kommt ab von der häufig in der Forschung thematisierten generellen Abwärtsspirale dieser Städte und zeigt neue Entwicklungsperspektiven auf, ohne ein erneutes Wachstum dieser Städte als prioritäres Ziel zu verfolgen. Ein angestrebter Ausgleich der Bevölkerungsverteilung innerhalb Deutschlands kann den Druck auf Großstädte und Ballungsräume entschärfen, ohne ihn gänzlich zu beseitigen. Darüber hinaus hätte eine Ausgleichswirkung, insbesondere wenn sie einhergeht mit der Nutzung vorhandener Ressourcen wie leerstehender Gebäude und bestehender Infrastrukturen, positive Effekte für eine nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung. Die inhaltliche Konzentration auf Mittelstädte erfolgt aufgrund des Vorhandenseins eines gewissen Versorgungsangebotes in diesen Städten, ohne jedoch die oft negativ empfundenen Überlastungserscheinungen vieler Großstädte und Ballungsräume aufzuweisen. Studien belegen, dass ein Leben in einer städtischen Umgebung von vielen Personengruppen nach wie vor bevorzugt wird. In der bisherigen Stadtforschung wird dem Stadttyp Mittelstadt dabei jedoch noch zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt und er wird häufig im Zusammenschluss mit Kleinstädten betrachtet. Die Fokussierung auf Mittelstädte in dieser Arbeit ist damit eine deutliche Abgrenzung zu bisherigen Studien und stellt charakteristische Merkmale dieser Städte heraus. Darüber hinaus thematisieren bisherige Studien zur Wohnstandortwahl häufig das Wanderungsgeschehen in das suburbane Umland von Ballungsräumen und weniger in peripher gelegene Städte. Auch erfolgt meist eine Betrachtung von Personen, die eine Entscheidung zur Wanderung getroffen haben und analysiert deren Beweggründe und Motivationen. Gründe und Faktoren, die Personen von einer Umzugsentscheidung abgehalten haben, werden nicht erhoben. In dem Promotionsvorhaben wird ein neuer Ansatz zur Erkenntnisgewinnung verfolgt, indem sich gezielt mit der Standortentscheidung in eine geschrumpfte Mittelstadt auseinander gesetzt wird. Die Besonderheit besteht darin, dass die Relevanz einzelner Standortfaktoren abgefragt wird und darauf aufbauend Personen durch ihre Teilnahme am Projekt „Stadt auf Probe“ einen neuen Standort in einer geschrumpften Mittelstadt vorübergehend auch ausprobieren können. Am Ende des Aufenthaltes reflektieren sie die zuvor angenommene Bedeutung einzelner Faktoren anhand der persönlichen Erfahrung vor Ort. Dadurch kann eine Standortentscheidung auf Basis deutlich detaillierterer Informationen gefällt werden, als es bei interregionalen Wanderungen meist der Fall ist. Dieser experimentelle Projektansatz trägt dazu bei, dass neue Erkenntnisse für die Stadtentwicklung gewonnen werden können. Außerdem werden in die empirische Analyse der vorliegenden Arbeit somit sowohl Personen einbezogen, die eine Entscheidung für eine geschrumpfte Mittelstadt in peripheren Lagen getroffen haben als auch solche, die sich dagegen entschieden.

The quality of the processes involved in language regeneration strategy formation is critical to the creation of an effective language regeneration strategy and this, in turn, is critical to the achievement of successful language regeneration outcomes. The overall aim of this research project was to evaluate, using a range of effectiveness criteria, the processes involved in the creation of a marae-based te reo Māori regeneration strategy in the hope that others involved in similar projects in the future would benefit and in the hope that the Whakamārama whānau will themselves derive benefit from it in reviewing what has already been achieved. In Chapter 1, the background to the research project and its rationale are outlined and the research questions and research methods are introduced. Chapter 2 provides a critical review of selected literature in the area of strategic planning aspects of language regeneration and relevant aspects of mātauranga Māori. Using an ethnographic approach, the processes and immediate outcomes (in terms of a survey report and a regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae) of the language regeneration project are outlined in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, effectiveness criteria are derived on the basis of the literature review in Chapter 2. These include criteria relating to leadership, participation, Kaupapa Māori values, environmental analysis and outcomes. The criteria are then applied to the analysis and evaluation of the processes and outcomes outlined in Chapter 3 in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The overall conclusion is that Whakamārama's language regeneration activities to date can be regarded as successful in many ways, including the fact that they have resulted in the production of high quality documentation that is widely appreciated by the whānau in the form of a maraebased language survey and a marae-based te reo Māori regeneration plan. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment, motivation and determination, in addition to the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which resulted in a build up of work at a number of stages. This, in turn, lead to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. It also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the reo plan goals. The information and analysis provided here have relevance to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type. It is hoped therefore that this thesis may help others to not only avoid the problems experienced by the Whakamārama whānau but also to benefit from their successes.

This dissertation investigates the revitalisation of Tonga, an endangered minority language in Zimbabwe. It seeks to establish why the Tonga people embarked on the revitalisation of their language, the strategies they used, the challenges they encountered and how they managed them. The Human Needs Theory propounded by Burton (1990) and Yamamoto’s (1998) Nine Factors Language Revitalisation Model formed the theoretical framework within which the data were analysed. This case-study identified various socio-cultural and historical factors that influenced the revitalisation of the Tonga language. Despite the socio-economic and political challenges from both within and outside the Tonga community, the Tonga revitalisation initiative was to a large extent a success, thanks to the speech community’s positive attitude and ownership of the language revitalisation process. It not only restored the use of Tonga in the home domain but also extended the language function into the domains of education, the media, and religion. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Sociolinguistics)

Individuals and organisations follow a general developmental cycle, that begins with birth, and progresses through growth, maturity, decline and death. While individuals necessarily die after a period of years, organisations may continue through many generations, though they too may die. Once an organisation reaches maturity, it tends toward decline, for sin has corrupted not only men, but all creation (Rms. 8:21-22). Though all things tend toward decay and death, they can be revitalised, for such is the power of God's grace. Like all organisations, the church can become ineffective. Many prefer abandoning the old organisation and starting a new work. Revitalisation may be the better solution, though it is certainly the greater challenge. This project considers the organisational life cycle biblically, historically and contemporarily. It considers how the church grows, and what keeps it from growing. It also considers the merits of creating `new wineskins,' versus revitalising old ones. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

This thesis examines evolution in the phonology of Guernesiais, the endangered variety of Norman French indigenous to the Channel Island of Guernsey. It identifies ways in which modern Guernesiais phonology differs from previous descriptions of the variety written between 1870 and 2008, and identifies new patterns of phonological variation which correlate with speaker place of origin within the island. This is accomplished through a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses of a new corpus of speech data. The relationship between the data and other extralinguistic variables such as age and gender is also explored. The Guernsey 2010 corpus was gathered during linguistic interviews held with forty-nine adult native speakers of Guernesiais between July and September 2010. The interviews featured a word list translation task (English > Guernesiais), a series of socio-biographical questions, and a self-assessment questionnaire which sought to elicit information about the participants’ use of Guernesiais as well as their responses to questions relating to language revitalisation issues. The interviews resulted in over 40 hours of recorded material in addition to a bank of written socio-biographical, behavioural and attitudinal data. Analysis of the phonetically transcribed data revealed that a number of phonological features of Guernesiais have evolved, perhaps owing to greater contact with English or through other processes of language change such as levelling. Shifting patterns of diatopic variation indicate that south-western Guernesiais forms are spreading northwards, and this is echoed in the findings of the socio-biographical data. New evidence of diatopic variation in final consonant devoicing and word-final post-obstruent liquid deletion was also found. This thesis concludes that there is still considerable variation in the pronunciation of modern native speakers of Guernesiais, and that this correlates with place of origin within the island. While northern Guernesiais forms have not disappeared entirely, south-western Guernesiais appears set to become the de facto standard for the variety, especially as the political impetus for revitalisation is generated from this area of the island.