Essa pesquisa investiga a influência das variáveis físico-espaciais associadas à orientação nos espaços urbanos, a partir da percepção de grupos que diferem quanto ao gênero e grau de familiaridade com o espaço. O objetivo central é fornecer subsídios teóricos que possam auxiliar nas diretrizes de desenho urbano, de modo a garantir a maior facilidade na orientação espacial nos espaços urbanos, além de contribuir para um ambiente urbano de maior qualidade. Adotase a cidade de Santa Maria (RS) como objeto de estudo por constituir, principalmente, uma área onde a concentração de indivíduos com diferentes níveis de familiaridade com o espaço é significativa. Da mesma forma, por possuir espaços heterogêneos em termos das variáveis associadas aos aspectos físico-espaciais que tornam pertinente a comparação entre eles. Os métodos de coleta e análise de dados fazem parte dos utilizados na área de pesquisa Ambiente e Comportamento. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de duas etapas: (1) levantamento de arquivo, entrevistas e mapas mentais, e (2) levantamento físico, questionário e mapas mentais, sendo esta etapa precedida de uma tarefa envolvendo orientação espacial isto é, a realização de um percurso no Centro da cidade. Os resultados dessa investigação demonstram que existem relações evidentes entre os níveis de facilidade de orientação e as variáveis físico-espaciais associadas às características urbanas dos espaços. Primeiramente, fica evidente que a presença de marcos referenciais contribui positivamente para facilitar a orientação espacial. Para determinados espaços, a presença de sinalização, também tende a explicar os níveis de facilidade de orientação. Ademais, os resultados revelam que as medidas sintáticas, tais como, níveis de integração, Relativa Assimetria Real e inteligibilidade são consideradas importantes para as análises sobre navegação no espaço urbano. Espera-se que os dados encontrados despertem o interesse pelo desenvolvimento de outros estudos sobre a relação entre orientação espacial e características urbanas. / This research investigates the influence of the physic-spatial variables associated to orientation in urban spaces, from the perception of groups that differ in gender and degree of familiarity to the space. The central purpose is to provide theoretic knowledge that can suppose urban design guidelines, thus guaranteeing greater easiness at wayfinding in urban spaces, as well as contributing for a higher quality urban atmosphere. It is adopted as study object the city of Santa Maria (RS) for constituting, mainly, an area where the individuals' concentration with different levels of familiarity with the space is significant. Likewise, for containing heterogeneous spaces in terms of the variables associated to the physic-spatial aspects that render the comparison among them pertinent. The collecting methods and analyses of data are part of those used in the field of the research of the Environment and Behavior. The data were obtained through two stages: (1) field survey, interviews and mental maps, and (2) physical survey, questionnaire and mental maps, preceded by a task involving wayfinding, which means the accomplishment of a course Downtown. The results of this investigation show that there are quite evident relations between the easiness of orientation levels and the physic-spatial variables associated to the urban features of the spaces. Initially, it is evident that the presence of marks contributes positively to facilitate the spatial orientation. For certain spaces, the presence of signage also tends to explain the levels of orientation easiness. Moreover, the results reveal that the syntactic measures, such as integration levels, Relative Asymmetry, Real Relative Asymmetry and intelligibility, are considered important for the analyses of navigation in the urban space. It is expected that the found data rouse the interest on the development of other studies about the relationship between spatial orientation and urban characteristics.

Essa pesquisa investiga a influência das variáveis físico-espaciais associadas à orientação nos espaços urbanos, a partir da percepção de grupos que diferem quanto ao gênero e grau de familiaridade com o espaço. O objetivo central é fornecer subsídios teóricos que possam auxiliar nas diretrizes de desenho urbano, de modo a garantir a maior facilidade na orientação espacial nos espaços urbanos, além de contribuir para um ambiente urbano de maior qualidade. Adotase a cidade de Santa Maria (RS) como objeto de estudo por constituir, principalmente, uma área onde a concentração de indivíduos com diferentes níveis de familiaridade com o espaço é significativa. Da mesma forma, por possuir espaços heterogêneos em termos das variáveis associadas aos aspectos físico-espaciais que tornam pertinente a comparação entre eles. Os métodos de coleta e análise de dados fazem parte dos utilizados na área de pesquisa Ambiente e Comportamento. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de duas etapas: (1) levantamento de arquivo, entrevistas e mapas mentais, e (2) levantamento físico, questionário e mapas mentais, sendo esta etapa precedida de uma tarefa envolvendo orientação espacial isto é, a realização de um percurso no Centro da cidade. Os resultados dessa investigação demonstram que existem relações evidentes entre os níveis de facilidade de orientação e as variáveis físico-espaciais associadas às características urbanas dos espaços. Primeiramente, fica evidente que a presença de marcos referenciais contribui positivamente para facilitar a orientação espacial. Para determinados espaços, a presença de sinalização, também tende a explicar os níveis de facilidade de orientação. Ademais, os resultados revelam que as medidas sintáticas, tais como, níveis de integração, Relativa Assimetria Real e inteligibilidade são consideradas importantes para as análises sobre navegação no espaço urbano. Espera-se que os dados encontrados despertem o interesse pelo desenvolvimento de outros estudos sobre a relação entre orientação espacial e características urbanas. / This research investigates the influence of the physic-spatial variables associated to orientation in urban spaces, from the perception of groups that differ in gender and degree of familiarity to the space. The central purpose is to provide theoretic knowledge that can suppose urban design guidelines, thus guaranteeing greater easiness at wayfinding in urban spaces, as well as contributing for a higher quality urban atmosphere. It is adopted as study object the city of Santa Maria (RS) for constituting, mainly, an area where the individuals' concentration with different levels of familiarity with the space is significant. Likewise, for containing heterogeneous spaces in terms of the variables associated to the physic-spatial aspects that render the comparison among them pertinent. The collecting methods and analyses of data are part of those used in the field of the research of the Environment and Behavior. The data were obtained through two stages: (1) field survey, interviews and mental maps, and (2) physical survey, questionnaire and mental maps, preceded by a task involving wayfinding, which means the accomplishment of a course Downtown. The results of this investigation show that there are quite evident relations between the easiness of orientation levels and the physic-spatial variables associated to the urban features of the spaces. Initially, it is evident that the presence of marks contributes positively to facilitate the spatial orientation. For certain spaces, the presence of signage also tends to explain the levels of orientation easiness. Moreover, the results reveal that the syntactic measures, such as integration levels, Relative Asymmetry, Real Relative Asymmetry and intelligibility, are considered important for the analyses of navigation in the urban space. It is expected that the found data rouse the interest on the development of other studies about the relationship between spatial orientation and urban characteristics.

Essa pesquisa investiga a influência das variáveis físico-espaciais associadas à orientação nos espaços urbanos, a partir da percepção de grupos que diferem quanto ao gênero e grau de familiaridade com o espaço. O objetivo central é fornecer subsídios teóricos que possam auxiliar nas diretrizes de desenho urbano, de modo a garantir a maior facilidade na orientação espacial nos espaços urbanos, além de contribuir para um ambiente urbano de maior qualidade. Adotase a cidade de Santa Maria (RS) como objeto de estudo por constituir, principalmente, uma área onde a concentração de indivíduos com diferentes níveis de familiaridade com o espaço é significativa. Da mesma forma, por possuir espaços heterogêneos em termos das variáveis associadas aos aspectos físico-espaciais que tornam pertinente a comparação entre eles. Os métodos de coleta e análise de dados fazem parte dos utilizados na área de pesquisa Ambiente e Comportamento. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de duas etapas: (1) levantamento de arquivo, entrevistas e mapas mentais, e (2) levantamento físico, questionário e mapas mentais, sendo esta etapa precedida de uma tarefa envolvendo orientação espacial isto é, a realização de um percurso no Centro da cidade. Os resultados dessa investigação demonstram que existem relações evidentes entre os níveis de facilidade de orientação e as variáveis físico-espaciais associadas às características urbanas dos espaços. Primeiramente, fica evidente que a presença de marcos referenciais contribui positivamente para facilitar a orientação espacial. Para determinados espaços, a presença de sinalização, também tende a explicar os níveis de facilidade de orientação. Ademais, os resultados revelam que as medidas sintáticas, tais como, níveis de integração, Relativa Assimetria Real e inteligibilidade são consideradas importantes para as análises sobre navegação no espaço urbano. Espera-se que os dados encontrados despertem o interesse pelo desenvolvimento de outros estudos sobre a relação entre orientação espacial e características urbanas. / This research investigates the influence of the physic-spatial variables associated to orientation in urban spaces, from the perception of groups that differ in gender and degree of familiarity to the space. The central purpose is to provide theoretic knowledge that can suppose urban design guidelines, thus guaranteeing greater easiness at wayfinding in urban spaces, as well as contributing for a higher quality urban atmosphere. It is adopted as study object the city of Santa Maria (RS) for constituting, mainly, an area where the individuals' concentration with different levels of familiarity with the space is significant. Likewise, for containing heterogeneous spaces in terms of the variables associated to the physic-spatial aspects that render the comparison among them pertinent. The collecting methods and analyses of data are part of those used in the field of the research of the Environment and Behavior. The data were obtained through two stages: (1) field survey, interviews and mental maps, and (2) physical survey, questionnaire and mental maps, preceded by a task involving wayfinding, which means the accomplishment of a course Downtown. The results of this investigation show that there are quite evident relations between the easiness of orientation levels and the physic-spatial variables associated to the urban features of the spaces. Initially, it is evident that the presence of marks contributes positively to facilitate the spatial orientation. For certain spaces, the presence of signage also tends to explain the levels of orientation easiness. Moreover, the results reveal that the syntactic measures, such as integration levels, Relative Asymmetry, Real Relative Asymmetry and intelligibility, are considered important for the analyses of navigation in the urban space. It is expected that the found data rouse the interest on the development of other studies about the relationship between spatial orientation and urban characteristics.

1 ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis is the assessment of the level of individual aspects of school maturity in preschool children attending a kindergarten. The first part of the thesis describes the visual perception, motor activity and spatial orientation with a special emphasis on the structure. The second part of the thesis deals with the characteristics of preschool children and their development in individual areas outlined in the first part of the thesis. This is followed by diagnostics of individual aspects of school maturity with a detailed description of pedagogic diagnostics and its types and methods. The final part of the thesis focuses on the assessment of the level of the visual perception, graphomotor skills, and spatial orientation. This evaluation is based on three tests of school maturity. The comparison of the obtained data represents a core of the thesis. The proposition of three hypotheses is followed by a comparison of the results of two tests evaluating individual aspect of school maturity. The quantitative type of research has been used for the purpose of this analysis.

Meta-analysis was used to investigate the relationship between visuo-spatial ability and performance in remote environments. In order to be included, each study needed to examine the relationship between the use of an ego-centric perspective and various dimensions of performance (i.e., identification, localization, navigation, and mission completion time). The moderator analysis investigated relationships involving: (a) visuo-spatial construct with an emphasis on Carroll’s (1993) visualization (VZ) factor; (b) performance outcome (i.e., identification, localization, navigation, and mission completion time); (c) autonomy to support mission performance; (d) task type (i.e., navigation vs. reconnaissance); and (e) experimental testbed (i.e., physical vs. virtual environments). The process of searching and screening for published and unpublished analyses identified 81 works of interest that were found to represent 50 unique datasets. 518 effects were extracted from these datasets for analyses. Analyses of aggregated effects (Hunter & Schmidt, 2004) found that visuo-spatial abilities were significantly associated with each construct, such that effect sizes ranged from weak (r = .235) to moderately strong (r = .371). For meta-regression (Borenstein, Hedges, Figgins, & Rothstein, 2009; Kalaian & Raudenbush, 1996; Tabachnick & Fidell, 2007), moderation by visuo-spatial construct (i.e., focusing on visualization) was consistently supported for all outcomes. For at least one of the outcomes, support was found for moderation by test, the reliability coefficient of a test, autonomy (i.e. to support identification, localization, and navigation), testbed (i.e., physical vs. virtual environment), intended domain of application, and gender. These findings illustrate that majority of what researchers refer to as “spatial ability” actually uses measures that load onto Carroll’s (1993) visualization (VZ) factor. The associations between this predictor and all performance outcomes were significant, but the significant iv variation across moderators highlight important issues for the design of unmanned systems and the external validity of findings across domains. For example, higher levels of autonomy for supporting navigation decreased the association between visualization (VZ) and performance. In contrast, higher levels of autonomy for supporting identification and localization increased the association between visualization (VZ) and performance. Furthermore, moderation by testbed, intended domain of application, and gender challenged the degree to which findings can be expected to generalize across domains and sets of participants.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die waarde van visueel-perseptuele skoling of terapie vir visueel-perseptueel gestremde leerlinge as 'n subgroep van leergestremdheid, is reeds vir dekades 'n omstrede aangeleentheid. Hierdie omstredenheid is ondersoek aan die hand van sewe internasionaal erkende psigometriese toetse. Die interne konsekwentheidskoeffisiente van hierdie toetse het vir die huidige studie van 0,62 tot 0,95 gestrek. 'n Faktorontleding van die toetsinterkorrelasies het 'n gemeenskaplike faktor blootgele. Ses toetse was primer visueel-perseptueel, en Goodenough <1926> se skaal is vir die bepaling van intelligensie gebruik. Bykomend hiertoe, is leerlinge se prestasies in hul eerste taal, wiskunde en skrif gebruik om die effek van terapie te bepaal. Proefpersone is as visueel-perseptueel gestremd gediagnoseer deur 'n opvoedkundige sielkundige en 'n visuele skolingsentrum in Pretoria, waar eksper imentele leerlinge terapie ontvang het. Hierdie diagnoses is deur die Test for Visual Analysis Skills wat beduidend tussen normale en visueelperseptueel gestremdes onderskei, bevestig. Die toets se geldigheid vir Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede is in 'n voorstudie bepaal. Honderd en ses, ses- tot negejarige proefpersone (82 seuns en 24 dogters>, van normale intelligensie, gesigskerpte en gehoor, is betrek. Drie en vyftig het die eksperimentele groep gevorm wat onderverdeel is in 32 wat terapie voltooi het, en 21 wat nie het nie. Hierdie leerlinge is individueel afgepaar met kontroleleerlinge van dieselfde geslag, ouderdom, huistaal, sosio-ekonomiese status en skoolstanderd. Eksperimentele leerlinge het visuele terapie in n breer groepsverband vir een uur per week ontvang. Terapieperiodes het van 4 tot 15 maande gewissel. Die eksperimentele ontwerp was 'n voortoets-natoets-tweegroepontwerp. t-Toetse vir afhanklike (afgepaarde) groepe is uitgevoer op die verskille tussen voor- en natoetstellings, asook tussen die eksperimentele en kontrolegroepe. Geeneen van die primer visueel-oerseptuele meettegnieke het beduidende resultate opgelewer nie. Dit is aanduidend van die ondoeltreffendheid van visueel-perseptuele terapie om die tekorte waarop dit gemik is, reg te stel. Die waarde van visueel-perseptueie terapie is inteendeel beperk tot 'n oorhoofse verbetering in konseptualisering en intellektuele ryping by die groep wat terapie voltooi het. Skrif was die enigste vak wat by dieselfde groep beduidend verbeter het. Hierdie resultaat is egter twyfelagtig vanwee beoordelingstekorte. / The value of visual perceptual training or therapy, to visually perceptually impaired pupils as a subgroup of the learning disabled, has been a controversy far decades. This controversy was investigated by means of seven internationally recognised psychometric tests. The internal consistency coefficients of these tests for the present study ranged from 0,62 to 0,95. A factor analysis of test intercorrelations revealed a common factor. Six tests were primarily visual perceptual, whilst the Goodenough (1926) scale determined intelligence. Additionally, pupils' performance in their first language, mathematics and writing, was used to assess the therapeutic effect. Subjects were diagnosed as visually perceptually impaired by an educational psychologist and a visual training centre in Pretoria where experimental pupils received therapy. These diagnoses were confirmed by the Test for Visual Analysis Skills, which significantly differentiates between the normal and visually perceptually impaired. This test's validity for South African circumstances was determined in a prestudy. One hundred and six, six to nine year old subjects <82 boys and 24 girls>, of normal intelligence, visual acuity and hearing, were involved. Fifty three formed the experimental group which was subdivided in 32 who completed therapy, and 21 who did not. These pupils were individualiy matched with controls of similar sex, age, home language, socio economic status and school standard. Experimental pupils received visual therapy within a broader group context for one hour per week. Therapy periods fluctuated between 4 and 15 months. The experimental design was a pretest-posttest two group design. t-Tests for dependant <matched) groups were conducted on the differences between pre and oosttest scores, as well as between the experimental and control groups. None of the primarily visual perceptual tests revealed significant results. This signifies the inefficiency of visual perceptual therapy to rectify the deficits at which it is directed. The value of visual perceptual therapy is, on the contrary, restricted to an overall improvement in conceptualization and intellectual maturation within the group which completed therapy. Writing was the only subject which improved significantly within the same group. However, this result is dubious, due to evaluation deficits. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die waarde van visueel-perseptuele skoling of terapie vir visueel-perseptueel gestremde leerlinge as 'n subgroep van leergestremdheid, is reeds vir dekades 'n omstrede aangeleentheid. Hierdie omstredenheid is ondersoek aan die hand van sewe internasionaal erkende psigometriese toetse. Die interne konsekwentheidskoeffisiente van hierdie toetse het vir die huidige studie van 0,62 tot 0,95 gestrek. 'n Faktorontleding van die toetsinterkorrelasies het 'n gemeenskaplike faktor blootgele. Ses toetse was primer visueel-perseptueel, en Goodenough <1926> se skaal is vir die bepaling van intelligensie gebruik. Bykomend hiertoe, is leerlinge se prestasies in hul eerste taal, wiskunde en skrif gebruik om die effek van terapie te bepaal. Proefpersone is as visueel-perseptueel gestremd gediagnoseer deur 'n opvoedkundige sielkundige en 'n visuele skolingsentrum in Pretoria, waar eksper imentele leerlinge terapie ontvang het. Hierdie diagnoses is deur die Test for Visual Analysis Skills wat beduidend tussen normale en visueelperseptueel gestremdes onderskei, bevestig. Die toets se geldigheid vir Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede is in 'n voorstudie bepaal. Honderd en ses, ses- tot negejarige proefpersone (82 seuns en 24 dogters>, van normale intelligensie, gesigskerpte en gehoor, is betrek. Drie en vyftig het die eksperimentele groep gevorm wat onderverdeel is in 32 wat terapie voltooi het, en 21 wat nie het nie. Hierdie leerlinge is individueel afgepaar met kontroleleerlinge van dieselfde geslag, ouderdom, huistaal, sosio-ekonomiese status en skoolstanderd. Eksperimentele leerlinge het visuele terapie in n breer groepsverband vir een uur per week ontvang. Terapieperiodes het van 4 tot 15 maande gewissel. Die eksperimentele ontwerp was 'n voortoets-natoets-tweegroepontwerp. t-Toetse vir afhanklike (afgepaarde) groepe is uitgevoer op die verskille tussen voor- en natoetstellings, asook tussen die eksperimentele en kontrolegroepe. Geeneen van die primer visueel-oerseptuele meettegnieke het beduidende resultate opgelewer nie. Dit is aanduidend van die ondoeltreffendheid van visueel-perseptuele terapie om die tekorte waarop dit gemik is, reg te stel. Die waarde van visueel-perseptueie terapie is inteendeel beperk tot 'n oorhoofse verbetering in konseptualisering en intellektuele ryping by die groep wat terapie voltooi het. Skrif was die enigste vak wat by dieselfde groep beduidend verbeter het. Hierdie resultaat is egter twyfelagtig vanwee beoordelingstekorte. / The value of visual perceptual training or therapy, to visually perceptually impaired pupils as a subgroup of the learning disabled, has been a controversy far decades. This controversy was investigated by means of seven internationally recognised psychometric tests. The internal consistency coefficients of these tests for the present study ranged from 0,62 to 0,95. A factor analysis of test intercorrelations revealed a common factor. Six tests were primarily visual perceptual, whilst the Goodenough (1926) scale determined intelligence. Additionally, pupils' performance in their first language, mathematics and writing, was used to assess the therapeutic effect. Subjects were diagnosed as visually perceptually impaired by an educational psychologist and a visual training centre in Pretoria where experimental pupils received therapy. These diagnoses were confirmed by the Test for Visual Analysis Skills, which significantly differentiates between the normal and visually perceptually impaired. This test's validity for South African circumstances was determined in a prestudy. One hundred and six, six to nine year old subjects <82 boys and 24 girls>, of normal intelligence, visual acuity and hearing, were involved. Fifty three formed the experimental group which was subdivided in 32 who completed therapy, and 21 who did not. These pupils were individualiy matched with controls of similar sex, age, home language, socio economic status and school standard. Experimental pupils received visual therapy within a broader group context for one hour per week. Therapy periods fluctuated between 4 and 15 months. The experimental design was a pretest-posttest two group design. t-Tests for dependant <matched) groups were conducted on the differences between pre and oosttest scores, as well as between the experimental and control groups. None of the primarily visual perceptual tests revealed significant results. This signifies the inefficiency of visual perceptual therapy to rectify the deficits at which it is directed. The value of visual perceptual therapy is, on the contrary, restricted to an overall improvement in conceptualization and intellectual maturation within the group which completed therapy. Writing was the only subject which improved significantly within the same group. However, this result is dubious, due to evaluation deficits. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Dans cette thèse, nous avons étudié d’une manière structurée et détaillée la sémantique des verbes gnat’ et gonjat’. Pour cela, nous avons tout d’abord formalisé leur potentiel sémantique qui comprend les composants de leur valeur de base et ce qu’ils génèrent dans des situations nouvelles, dans des cotextes particuliers. Pour chaque valeur sémantique, nous avons présenté un schéma sémantique, un schéma actantiel en précisant les rôles sémantiques, la nature des actants et leur réalisation syntaxique, ainsi que des illustrations d’emploi dans des cotextes des plus représentatifs, des synonymes, la famille morphologique. Les valeurs plus ou moins communes à gnat’ et à gonjat’ ont été étudiées ensemble, ce qui nous a permis de mettre en évidence leurs similitudes et différences. Puis, nous avons traité la question de la catégorie grammaticale des verbes de mouvement. Après avoir exposé les propriétés traditionnellement attribuées aux corrélats déterminé / indéterminé et les particularités qui sont générées dans l’emploi de chacun de ces corrélats, nous avons analysé la corrélation déterminé / indéterminé en général, et en particulier, entre gnat’ et gonjat’. Faisant partie de la catégorie grammaticale des verbes de mouvement, gnat’ et gonjat’ s’opposent sur le plan grammatical en tant que déterminé vs indéterminé et leurs caractéristiques grammaticales induisent quelques différences sémantiques. Ainsi, la plupart des différences observées entre gnat’ et gonjat’ ne sont pas en fait pas d’ordre lexical, mais résultent des différences grammaticales du déterminé gnat’ et de l’indéterminé gonjat’. Dans la partie consacrée à la dérivation morphologique, nous avons eu pour objectif d’examiner les effets de la préverbation et les modifications de sens que la préverbation entraîne pour ces verbes. Nous avons étudié les préverbés formés sur la base de gnat’ / gonjat’ à valeur spatiale en les regroupant en fonction de l’orientation spatiale : à partir du point de départ, vers le point d’arrivée, les deux en même temps ou en rapport avec un repère. Une attention minutieuse a été accordée aux différences sémantiques et aspectuelles de certains préverbés partageant les mêmes valeurs spatiales. L’étude des préverbés combinés aux préverbes à valeur non spatiale a été organisée en fonction de la morphologie de l’aspect : les préverbés hors couple et les couples de verbes. Quelques particularités ont été observées. Pour que l’étude sémantique soit complète, nous y avons inclus la question des phrasèmes comportant ces verbes. Puis, nous avons analysé le parallélisme qui existe entre gnat’ / gonjat’ simples et préverbés et le verbe dit de position sidet’ : les valeurs que ces verbes ont en commun et aussi, les limites de leur corrélation, Enfin, en partant directement des situations linguistiques concrètes avec gnat’ / gonjat’ simples et préverbés nous avons exposé un certain nombre de mécanismes qui aboutissent à un effet expressif. / In this thesis, we have studied the semantics of the verbs gnat’ and gonjat’ in a structured and extensive way. To achieve this, we began by structuring their semantic potential, which includes their basic value and what it produces in new situations, in specific cotexts. For each semantic value, we have presented a semantic schema, mapping the semantic roles of the actants, their nature and their syntactic development, together with examples of usage in the most representative cotexts, the synonyms, the morphological family. The more or less common values of gnat’ and gonjat’ have been studied together, so that we could bring their similarities and differences to light. Then, we dealt with the question of the grammatical category of the verbs of motion. Having presented the usually attributed properties of the correlate determined / indetermined and the particularities that emerge in the usage of each of these correlates, we have focused on the determined / indetermined correlation in general and between gnat’ and gonjat’ in particular. While belonging to the same grammatical category of the verbs of motion, both gnat’ and gonjat’ are opposed on a grammatical level, as determined and indetermined, and their grammatical characteristics lead to some semantical differences. Hence, most of the observed differences between gnat’ and gonjat’ are not of a lexical type; they are rather the result of the semantical differences between the determined gnat’ and the indetermined gonjat’. In the part of our thesis dedicated to morphological derivation, our goal was to study the impacts of verbal prefixation and the change of meaning as a result of the prefixation for these verbs. We have studied prefixed verbs based on gnat’ / gonjat’ with spatial meanings, clustering them depending on their spatial orientation: from the starting point, to the point of arrival, both at the same time or in relation to a landmark. A particular focus has been placed on the semantical and aspectual differences of some verbs with prefixes that share the same spatial values. The analysis of verbs with spatial prefixes was done according to the morphology of the aspect: the verbs with prefixes outside aspectual pairs and the pair of verbs. Some particularities have been observed. For the semantic study to be complete, we have added the question of the phrasemes using these verbs. Then, we studied the similarity between gnat’ and gonjat’ in their simple and prefixed forms and the verb of position sidet’: what those verbs have in common but also the limits of their similarities. Finally, we have taken concrete linguistic situations involving gnat’ and gonjat’ in their simple and prefixed forms in order to outline a number of mechanisms leading to an expressive result.

Des études soutiennent que l’entraînement cognitif est une méthode efficace pour ralentirle déclin cognitif chez les personnes âgées. Les jeux sérieux basés sur la réalité virtuelle(RV) ont trouvé une application dans ce domaine en raison du haut niveau d’immersionet d’interactivité offert par les environnements virtuels (EV). Ce projet implémente unjeu d’orientation 3D en réalité virtuelle entièrement immersif avec un système pour guiderl’utilisateur en temps réel. Le jeu d’orientation 3D est utilisé comme exercice pour entraînerles capacités cognitives des utilisateurs. Les effets immédiats du jeu d’orientation sur lescapacités de mémoire et d’attention ont été étudiés sur quinze personnes âgées présentant undéclin cognitif subjectif (DCS). Il a été observé que bien qu’il n’y ait pas eu d’améliorationsignificative des résultats pour les exercices d’attention, les participants ont obtenu demeilleurs résultats aux exercices de mémoire spécifiques après avoir joué au jeu d’orientation. Le manque de succès dans la réalisation de l’objectif requis peut parfois augmenter lesémotions négatives chez les êtres humains, et plus particulièrement chez les personnes quisouffrent de déclin cognitif. C’est pourquoi le jeu a été équipé d’un système de guidageavec indices de localisation en temps réel pour contrôler les émotions négatives et aiderles participants à accomplir leurs tâches. Le système de guidage est basé sur des règleslogiques; chaque indice est délivré si une condition spécifique est remplie. Le changement desémotions des participants a montré que les indices sont efficaces pour réduire la frustration,étant donné qu’ils sont facilement compréhensibles et conçus pour donner un retour positif. La dernière partie du projet se concentre sur le système de guidage et met en oeuvre unmoyen pour l’activer entièrement selon les émotions d’une personne. Le problème consisteà identifier l’état des émotions qui devraient déclencher l’activation du système de guidage.Ce problème prend la forme d’un processus de décision markovien (PDM), qui peut êtrerésolu via l’apprentissage par renforcement (AR). Le réseau profond Q (RPQ) avec relectured’expérience (ER), qui est l’un des algorithmes d’apprentissage par renforcement les plusavancés pour la prédiction d’actions dans un espace d’action discret, a été utilisé dans cecontexte. L’algorithme a été formé sur des données d’émotions simulées, et testé sur les données de quinze personnes âgées acquises lors d’expériences menées dans la première partiedu projet. On observe que la méthode basée sur l’AR est plus performante que la méthodebasée sur les règles pour identifier l’état mental d’une personne afin de lui fournir des indices. / Studies support cognitive training as an efficient method to slow the cognitive declinein older adults. Virtual reality (VR) based serious games have found application in thisfield due to the high level of immersion and interactivity offered by virtual environments(VE). This project implements a fully immersive 3D virtual reality orientation game with areal-time guidance system to be used as an exercise for cognitive training. The immediateaftereffects of playing the orientation game on memory and attention abilities were studiedon fifteen older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). It was observed that whilethere was no significant improvement in attention exercises, the participants performedbetter in specific memory exercises after playing the orientation game. Sometimes lack of success in achieving the required objective may increase the negativeemotions in humans and more so in people who suffer from cognitive decline. Hence, thegame was equipped with a real-time guidance system with location hints to control negativeemotions and help participants to complete the tasks. The guidance system is based onlogical rules; each hint is delivered if a specific condition is met. Change in emotions ofparticipants showed that hints are effective in reducing frustration, given that the hints areeasily comprehensible and designed to give positive feedback. The final part of the project focuses on the guidance system and implements a way toactivate it entirely based on a person’s emotions. The problem calls for identifying the stateof the emotions that should trigger the guidance system’s activation. This problem takes theform of a Markov decision process (MDP), which can be solved by setting it in a reinforcementlearning framework. Deep Q-Learning network (DQN) with experience replay (ER),which is one of the state-of-the-art reinforcement learning algorithms for predicting actionsin discrete action space, was used in this context. The algorithm was trained on simulateddata of emotions and tested on the data of fifteen older adults acquired in experimentsconducted in the first part of the project. It is observed that the RL based method performsbetter than the rule-based method in identifying the mental state of a person to provide hints.