Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

Open Access Dissertations

Theses/Dissertations

Linguistics

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Concept-Based And Grammar-Based Methods Of Instruction On The Acquisition Of The Subjunctive Among Heritage And Second Language Learners Of Spanish, Antoni Fernandez Parera May 2018

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Concept-Based And Grammar-Based Methods Of Instruction On The Acquisition Of The Subjunctive Among Heritage And Second Language Learners Of Spanish, Antoni Fernandez Parera

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the outcomes of two different types of instructional approaches on advanced second language (L2) learners and intermediate heritage language (HL) learners of Spanish. Two methodologically distinct pedagogical interventions were conducted: 1) MCE (Mindful Conceptual Engagement), derived from the principles set in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of mind (SCT); and 2) Grammar-Based Instruction, which is based upon more traditional methods of instruction involving the description and practice of grammatical content (e.g., fill-in-the blank exercises). Both interventions focused on usage of the subjunctive in variable contexts where the indicative was possible, but with a subsequent change in meaning (e.g., Busco …


Phantom Arabic, Dislocated French: Auto-Anthropological Imaginaries:Jean Genet, Abdellah Taia,Leila Sebbar, Nabil Ayouch, Amine Zidouh Apr 2018

Phantom Arabic, Dislocated French: Auto-Anthropological Imaginaries:Jean Genet, Abdellah Taia,Leila Sebbar, Nabil Ayouch, Amine Zidouh

Open Access Dissertations

This study combines sociolinguistics with literary, cultural and cinematographic studies in the analysis of works by Jean Genet, Abdellah Taia, Leila Sebbar and Nabil Ayouch. This dissertation’s main argument is that an understanding of the relationship between what is to be conceived as Phantom Arabic and Dislocated French is crucial to the critical repositioning and re-questioning of a significant part of postcolonial cultural production emanating from North Africa and/or the North African diaspora. This thesis intervenes in current debates in French and Francophone Studies, in Arabic and Comparative Studies, but also in Sociolinguistics (particularly as related to North Africa, the …


Automatic Identification Of Metaphoric Utterances, Jonathan Edwin Dunn Oct 2013

Automatic Identification Of Metaphoric Utterances, Jonathan Edwin Dunn

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes the problem of metaphor identification in linguistic and computational semantics, considering both manual and automatic approaches. It describes a manual approach to metaphor identification, the Metaphoricity Measurement Procedure (MMP), and compares this approach with other manual approaches. The dissertation then describes an implemented and simplified version of the procedure, Measuring and Identifiying Metaphor-in-Language (MIMIL), and compares the premises of this system with other automatic metaphor identification systems. MIMIL and three existing metaphor identification systems are then evaluated on a common data set. Finally, the dissertation looks at difficulties which face attempts to automatically identify metaphors caused by …


An Investigation Into Managers' Language Use In Earnings Press Releases, Tracey Jean Riley Feb 2011

An Investigation Into Managers' Language Use In Earnings Press Releases, Tracey Jean Riley

Open Access Dissertations

For years, researchers have examined financial data in corporate earnings announcements and their influence on market participants. More recently, a body of research has been developing recognizing the impact of narrative disclosures and managers' deliberate language choices. However, no prior studies have investigated those language choices of managers which are likely unintentional in composing such narratives; language choices which, as previous research has revealed, escape conscious access. Using an empirically-grounded model which systematically classifies different predicates, I examined whether managers use systematic patterns of language when construing the earnings press release in a likely unintentional effort to channel or direct …