As a major project, this work studies the spoken word genre as a response to, and interpretation of, oppression and examine my own spoken word performance through the lens of narratology, narrative-making and auto-ethnography. This project is composed of two parts: a full-length spoken word performance and a curatorial analysis of this performance. While attempting to re-enact the trauma of oppression, this performance dually recognizes the impossibility within the task. Maurice Blanchot writes in The Writing of the Disaster, “The disaster, unexperienced. It is what escapes the very possibility of experience- it is the limit of writing. This must be repeated: the disaster de- scribes.” This project aims to perform the places of de-scription. In poems detailing experiences of trauma, racism, misogyny, and relationships, this spoken word performance will offer an account of the subject for whom the act of narration is subversive. In this, the performance is self-aware and self-reflective; it communicates experiences for which the language to describe such experiences is either unavailable or nonexistent. The continuous theme of ‘home’ is maintained throughout the performance- how its absence marks the absence of the oppressed subject, how its absence implies the absence of language for the subject, and how spoken word can begin the outlining of a narrative, a foundation, for the subject. My accompanying curatorial paper will examine similar themes. As spoken word is an art form deeply linked to activism, my paper will begin with an analysis of how this art has taken place, what its role has been in community development, and how it continues to function as a teaching tool. My paper argues that spoken word is instrumental in tying learning to voice; by offering young people a medium that both gives them a forum to voice the issues directly impacting their lives, while giving them a means of developing skills in language, presentation and communicating ideas effectively, spoken word acts as a unique and important teaching tool. / Thesis (Master, Cultural Studies) -- Queen's University, 2014-01-07 02:07:39.286

The study is concerned with the problem of how to improve the teaching of Arabic as a foreign or a second language. It lays down some of the essential foundation-work necessary for bringing about systematic and constructive improvements in the teaching of Arabic as a foreign language (TAFL) by investigating the contributions of modern linguistic sciences (such as applied linguistics, educational linguistics, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics) to the development of foreign language (FL) teaching and learning. A survey of the literature indicates that a 'revolution' is currently taking place in FL teaching and that a new approach, known as the Communicative Approach (CA), has begun to emerge and influence the teaching of FLs in general, over the last decade or so. Since the CA is currently being adopted to the teaching of most major FLs and since this revolution has not yet had much impact on TAPL, the study explores the possibility of the application of the CA to the teaching of Arabic as a living language. The thesis is divided into 7 chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the importance of viewing the nature of language and FL teaching from a multidimensional point of view. Chapter 2 outlines the general nature and importance of the subject matter (i.e. the Arabic language) in a wide context. In order to understand what has directly or indirectly influenced the teaching practices of TAFL, Chapter 3 provides an overview of the development of views of FL teaching approaches and methods in recent times, from formalism (teacher-centred learning) to functionalism (student -centred learning). Chapter 4 concentrates on providing an interpretation of the current 'state of the art' of TPPL in Britain. A theoretical outline of the CA is presented in Chapter 5. This chapter provides a working hypothesis of a proposed integrative model for communicative competence that can be used as a practical reference tool in the relevant areas of communicative language development In TAPL. Chapter 6 focuses on one of these areas; communicative syllabus design, in which the stages in Arabic language programme development and types of communicative syllabuses are discussed. The last chapter concludes with a suggetion of specific further research needs in TAFL: communicative teaching methodology, communicative materials development, communicative testing techniques and communicative tea cher training.

Te Ao o te Whaikōrero, the �world of Māori oratory�, explores the complexity of ̂Māori oratory, both past and present. What makes whaikōrero more than merely a theatrical speech is the origin and function of the various components, the rites associated with the selection and qualification of its exponents, and its delivery. This thesis delves into the underlying philosophies inherent in whaikōrero which impact on, and are influenced by, a diverse range of systems within the Māori world, its culture, etiquette, and belief system. We must also recognise the effect of colonisation and urbanisation on Māori practices. Whaikōrero is tragically undermined by some of its �performers� and observers alike, and possibly, through ignorance, arrogance and complacency, a sense of disregard has developed about its true value. The effect of this is whaikōrero of inferior quality. With this in mind, this thesis expounds the �underlying philosophies� of whaikōrero through both oral and literary sources, as well as objective and subjective discussion. The chapters illustrate the inter-tribal, intra-tribal, and individual variations which make each delivery of whaikōrero unique. The thesis begins with the origin of whaikōrero, after which modes of learning and the acquisition of whaikōrero are discussed. This provides the basis to discuss the locations where whaikōrero takes place and who is permitted to deliver whaikōrero. Having designated the people to deliver whaikōrero and their �space� for delivery there is an exploration of the speaker, and the attributes which qualify a particular individual, or the type of delivery that is acceptable. The issue of �quality�, or lack of it, is of paramount importance in terms of the mana of the individual performer, and the people (s)he represents. The range of information discussed up to this point is historical and tracks the evolution of whaikōrero to the present; the conclusion, therefore, also addresses some of the issues raised which are potentially challenging in regard to current adherence to custom and etiquette. This opens the window into the future of whaikōrero, and what adaptations may lie ahead. Perhaps with broader, and more in-depth discussion, and in particular, the explanation of the diversity of whaikōrero, this thesis will provide a) a means by which the spirit of older whaikōrero can be reinvested in the modern context by current and potential orators, and b) raise the awareness of speakers whereby they themselves can seek excellence in their own whaikōrero. Perhaps with an invigorated approach to both the delivery, observance, and a more informed appreciation of whaikōrero, there will be a resurgence of excellence in whaikōrero.

This study is a partial replication of Pica et al’s study (1989) of comprehensible output, and investigates comprehensible output in NNS-NNS interaction in Japanese as a Foreign Language. Data were collected using two different types of tasks (information gap and jigsaw tasks) in three sub-groups of different proficiency levels (High-High, Low-Low, and High-Low) in order to find out (1) to what extent the tasks provide opportunities for learners to modify their initial output in response to requests for clarification and confirmation, and (2) the extent to which learners actually modify their output in response to interlocutor requests. / The results show that comprehensible output is an important phenomenon in NNS-NNS interaction. Unlike the result of Pica et al, task types had more effect on opportunities for comprehensible output and actual production of comprehensible output than request types. Not much difference was found among different proficiency groups.

xiii, 92 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Towards a more complete description of cleft constructions, this thesis comprises an investigation of the prosody, syntax, and information structure of IT clefts, REVERSE WH clefts, and existential THERE clefts in Spoken English. Cleft constructions were extracted from the Santa Barbara Corpus of Spoken American English on the basis of syntactic characteristics, and empirical methods were developed for evaluating clefts with respect to prosody and information structure factors. Native speaker-hearer judgments about cleft constructions in authentic spoken language were gathered to provide a basis for operational definitions of PROSODIC PROMINENCE, GIVENNESS, NEWNESS, CONTRASTIVENESS, and levels of contextual RELEVANCE. While cleft constructions have conventionally been discussed as contrastive focusing devices, the current study provides empirical evidence for a more complex view of clefts. Added to past corpus studies, this thesis shows that English cleft constructions exhibit a broader range of subtypes and functions than captured by traditional accounts. / Committee in Charge: Dr. Doris L. Payne; Dr. Melissa A. Redford

Although the areas I intend to investigate are rather diverse, what unites them is a concern for the ancient and fascinating question of the relationship between language and thought. Assumptions concerning the latter are surely latent as the basis for any inquiry into language. One of my general purposes is to give some overt orientation to this problem which is all too often simply glossed over. More particularly, I am also concerned with shaping a new approach to Bantu linguistic inquiry in terms of an emphasis on discourse analysis. In the context of the burgeoning of discourse analysis internationally, the field has been seriously neglected in Southern Africa. Studies of discourse are, we believe, vital to advancing our knowledge of inter-ethnic communication and understanding, an area that cannot be ignored in Southern Africa. In more general terms, I hope that this thesis represents a challenge to linguistic inquiry in ways that we have already outlined above. Most importantly, is that while it appears that most South African linguists are satisfied with adopting a rigid monotheoretical approach, I differ, advocating a multitheoretical perspective. This, I believe, allows a greater and more holistic view not only of the 'data' in question but also in terms of the general nature of inquiry, as well as the 'world' it attempts to describe. The body of this thesis is divided into two sections which reflect the two central concerns we have outlined above. Section A, divided into three chapters, is chiefly concerned with the conceptual basis of Xhosa narrative and its linguistic manifestation. In this section we shall find cause to query and to redefine traditional approaches to the linguistic categories manifest in Xhosa narrative. In section B, also divided into three chapters, we shall be concerned with the development of a theory of narrative production with specific reference to intsomi production. In this section we include an in depth criticism of previous approaches to this problem before developing and applying our own theory. There are two appendices attached to this thesis. The first presents certain tables and figures relevant to chapter 4. while the second includes the narrative texts from which we draw our examples. (Introduction, p. 21-22)

Japanese honorifics (JH) are challenging for learners of Japanese language to acquire due to their complex grammatical formulas. Textbooks tend to assume that the explanation of grammatical rules and drill exercises focusing on the rules are sufficient for learners to be competent in JH. However, functional issues related to honorifics such as how to use honorifics in socioculturally appropriate ways or how to deal with non-linguistic aspects of honorifics are likely to be ignored. The present study questioned the assumptions entailed in the traditional formoriented approach to teaching language, and examined an oral interview activity carried out by 24 students in a Japanese language course at a Canadian university. In this activity, the students interviewed Japanese professors using JH, and several types of data (i.e., the researcher observations and interviews with the participants and student written reflections on the interviews) were analyzed in order to find out students' practice (i.e., what students did) of and theory (i.e., how students perceived) about JH and oral interviews. The findings of the study present a very complex picture of students' practice and theory; they were engaged not only in the formation of the rules of JH but also in the functional areas such as non-verbal behaviour and conversation management. The data also revealed that students were very much concerned with functional areas during the interviews. From these findings, the study emphasizes the importance offunctions embedded in JH, and suggests that the Japanese teacher help learners acquire the functional competence dealing with JH as well as the linguistic competence. / Education, Faculty of / Language and Literacy Education (LLED), Department of / Graduate

M.A. (African Languages) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

L'interaction vocale avec des systèmes automatiques connaît, depuis quelques années, un accroissement dans l'intérêt que lui porte tant le grand public que la communauté de la recherche. Cette thèse s'inscrit dans ce cadre pour aborder le sujet depuis deux points de vue complémentaires. D'une part, celui apparent de la fiabilité, de l'efficacité et de l'utilisabilité de ces interfaces. D'autre part, les aspects de conception et d'implémentation sont étudiés pour apporter des outils de développement aux concepteurs plus ou moins initiés de tels systèmes. A partir des outils et des évolutions dans le domaine, une plate-forme modulaire de dialogue vocal a été agrégée. L'interaction continue, basée sur une "écoute" permanente du système pose des problèmes de segmentation, de débruitage, de capture de son, de sélection des segments adressés au système, etc... Une méthode simple, basée sur la comparaison des résultats de traitements parallèles a prouvé son efficacité, tout comme ses limites pour une interaction continue avec l'utilisateur. Les modules de compréhension du langage forment un sous-système interconnecté au sein de la plate-forme. Ils sont les adaptations d'algorithmes de l'état de l'art comme des idées originales. Le choix de la gestion du dialogue basé sur des modèles de tâches hiérarchiques, comme c'est la cas pour la plate-forme, est argumenté. Ce formalisme est basé sur une construction humaine et présente, de fait, des obstacles pour concevoir, implémenter, maintenir et faire évoluer les modèles. Pour parer à ceux-ci, un nouveau formalisme est proposé qui se transforme en hiérarchie de tâches grâce aux outils associés. / Recently, global tech companies released so-called virtual intelligent personal assistants.This thesis has a bi-directional approach to the domain of spoken dialog systems. On the one hand, parts of the work emphasize on increasing the reliability and the intuitiveness of such interfaces. On the other hand, it also focuses on the design and development side, providing a platform made of independent specialized modules and tools to support the implementation and the test of prototypical spoken dialog systems technologies. The topics covered by this thesis are centered around an open-source framework for supporting the design and implementation of natural-language spoken dialog systems. Continuous listening, where users are not required to signal their intent prior to speak, has been and is still an active research area. Two methods are proposed here, analyzed and compared. According to the two directions taken in this work, the natural language understanding subsystem of the platform has been thought to be intuitive to use, allowing a natural language interaction. Finally, on the dialog management side, this thesis argue in favor of the deterministic modeling of dialogs. However, such an approach requires intense human labor, is prone to error and does not ease the maintenance, the update or the modification of the models. A new paradigm, the linked-form filling language, offers to facilitate the design and the maintenance tasks by shifting the modeling to an application specification formalism.

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