Digital Commons Network^™

Specifications For The Development Of Effective Academic Vocabulary Activities In Intensive English Programs, Jared Nathan Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

With the new curriculum at the English Language Center (ELC) at Brigham Young University (BYU) including a program focused specifically on preparing students to succeed in academic institutions wherein the language of instruction is English, a need for a systematic approach to vocabulary instruction was identified. Specifically, the Academic Program focuses on the Academic Word List (AWL) in order to provide a broad base of words that can best prepare students for the academic world. This project followed the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) to craft a systematic approach to developing vocabulary learning activities. An analysis of existing …

Development Of Psychometrically Equivalent Speech Recognition Threshold Materials For Native Speakers Of Samoan, Jennifer Lane Newman

Theses and Dissertations

The speech recognition threshold (SRT) is an important measure, as it validates the pure-tone average (PTA), assists in the diagnosis and prognosis of hearing impairments, and aids in the identification of non-organic hearing impairments. Research has shown that in order for SRT testing to yield valid and reliable measures, testing needs to be performed in the patient's native language. There are currently no published materials for SRT testing in the Samoan language. As a result, audiologists are testing patients with English materials or other materials not of the patient's native language. Results produced from this manner of testing are confounded …

Accuracy Of English Speakers Administering Word Recognition Score Tests In Mandarin, Kaylene Barrett Polley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of English-speakers in determining the word recognition score of native Taiwan Mandarin-speakers. Digitally recorded Mandarin word lists were presented to 10 native Mandarin-speakers from Taiwan (five male, five female), from whom oral and written responses were collected. Oral responses were scored by 30 native English-speakers, 15 of which had no experience with Mandarin and 15 with two to three years of college-level Mandarin courses or equivalent knowledge of Mandarin. The judges who had experience with Mandarin were able to score the WRS tests with 97% accuracy (with scores ranging from …

The Effect Of First Language Dialect Vowel Mergers On Second Language Perception And Production, Christine Elaine Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

Previous second language (L2) acquisition research has assumed that L2 learners from a common first language (L1) have the same problems in an L2, ignoring the potential impact of a speaker's L1 dialect on L2 acquisition. This study examines the effects of L1 dialect on the acquisition of L2 German vowels. In particular, this thesis investigates two questions: 1) Do speakers from L1 dialects with vowel mergers perceive or produce vowel contrasts in the L1 and/or L2 differently than speakers from dialect areas without the same mergers? and 2) Are subjects' patterns of L1 perception or production paralleled in the …

Multi-Disciplinary Development Of An Early Warning And Automated Response System (Ewars) For Epidemic Prevention, Ajit N. Babu, Engelbert Niehaus

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

It is becoming increasingly clear that changes in the environment can promote growth ofdisease vectors like mosquitoes and rodents as well as rise in water-borne illnesses likecholera and other enteric diseases. Our paper is based on the concept that a multidisciplinaryinformatics scaffold can serve as an Early Warning and Automated Response System(EWARS) for a variety of communicable diseases. It will utilize multiple informationresources including Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) andGeographic Information Systems (GIS) for exposure assessment (John et al 2004). Earlywarning systems are not new (Witt et al 2009). However, what is novel in the proposal isthe integration …

Meta-Modelling The European Environmental Information Space, Werner Pillmann, Karl-Heinz Simon

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In this paper a conceptual Meta-Model is presented with the aim to structure environmental information, relevant for the environmental part of sustainable development. It is focused on crucial environmental information flows handled in the discipline of Environmental Informatics. The introduced structure is a conceptual systems dynamics type model which describes the natural environment (air, water, soil, climate etc.), the private sector (industry, trade, transport etc.) and households. It uses the input-output presentation where causeeffect chains and information feedback paths are considered. The Meta-Model brings together substantial information about environmental indicators from different areas and organizations, the knowledge about levels of …

Set-Membership Approach For Identification Of The Uncertainty In Power-Law Relationships: The Case Of Sediment Yield, Karel J. Keesman, Lachlan T. H. Newham, Tony Jakeman

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Power laws are used to describe a large variety of natural and man-made phenomena. Consequently, they are used in a wide range of scientific research and management applications. In this paper, we focus on the identification of uncertainty bounds on a power law relationship from experimental data, using a bounded-error characterization. These bounds can subsequently be used as constraints in e.g. optimization and scenario studies. The basic so-called set-membership approach involves outlier identification and removal, feasible parameter set estimation, evaluation of the feasible model output set and tuning of the error bounds. As an example we examine scattered sediment yield …

Meta-Modelling The European Environmental Information Space, Werner Pillmann, Karl-Heinz Simon

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In this paper a conceptual Meta-Model is presented with the aim to structure environmental information, relevant for the environmental part of sustainable development. It is focused on crucial environmental information flows handled in the discipline of Environmental Informatics. The introduced structure is a conceptual systems dynamics type model which describes the natural environment (air, water, soil, climate etc.), the private sector (industry, trade, transport etc.) and households. It uses the input-output presentation where causeeffect chains and information feedback paths are considered. The Meta-Model brings together substantial information about environmental indicators from different areas and organizations, the knowledge about levels of …

The Use Of Ontologies In Peer Reviews Of Integrated Assessment Models, M. De Vos, N. Koenderink, B. Van Ruijven, J. Top

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Integrated assessment models are used to analyze global change issues and they allow a better understanding of our complex environment. It is crucial to be able to relate these models to their scientific basis, both for interpretation and validation purposes. Current model evaluation procedures focus on model behavior analysis; the conceptual knowledge and assumptions embedded in integrated assessment models are hardly tested. As such, current model evaluation procedures do not contribute to the understanding of the structure of the models and the selected mechanisms and assumptions. We submit that evaluation of the scientific basis of integrated assessment models should follow …

Multi-Disciplinary Development Of An Early Warning And Automated Response System (Ewars) For Epidemic Prevention, Ajit N. Babu, Engelbert Niehaus

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

It is becoming increasingly clear that changes in the environment can promote growth ofdisease vectors like mosquitoes and rodents as well as rise in water-borne illnesses likecholera and other enteric diseases. Our paper is based on the concept that a multidisciplinaryinformatics scaffold can serve as an Early Warning and Automated Response System(EWARS) for a variety of communicable diseases. It will utilize multiple informationresources including Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) andGeographic Information Systems (GIS) for exposure assessment (John et al 2004). Earlywarning systems are not new (Witt et al 2009). However, what is novel in the proposal isthe integration …

The Use Of Ontologies In Peer Reviews Of Integrated Assessment Models, M. De Vos, N. Koenderink, B. Van Ruijven, J. Top

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Integrated assessment models are used to analyze global change issues and they allow a better understanding of our complex environment. It is crucial to be able to relate these models to their scientific basis, both for interpretation and validation purposes. Current model evaluation procedures focus on model behavior analysis; the conceptual knowledge and assumptions embedded in integrated assessment models are hardly tested. As such, current model evaluation procedures do not contribute to the understanding of the structure of the models and the selected mechanisms and assumptions. We submit that evaluation of the scientific basis of integrated assessment models should follow …

An Integration Between Cognitive Map And Bayesian Belief Network For Conflicts Analysis In Drought Management, R. Giordano, E. Preziosi, E. Romano

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In the real world, environmental decision-making takes place in a highly interconnected environment, in which neither the decisional ramifications of a management action, nor the complexity of its impact, can be neglected. This contribution focuses on drought management. Due to the high complexity of drought impacts and the ambiguity in drought perceptions, different and often conflicting drought management strategies could be implemented by different actors. This, in turn, could have a strong negative impact on the effectiveness of drought mitigation strategies. Therefore, a deep conflict analysis and the definition of effective negotiation strategies could be really useful. In this work, …

Formalizing Knowledge On International Environmental Regimes For Integrated Assessment Modeling, M. De Vos, P. Janssen, S. Frantzi, P. Pattberg, A. Petersen, F. Biermann, M. Kok

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

International environmental regimes are considered key factors in dealing with global environmental problems. It is important to understand if and how these regimes are effective in solving or improving global environmental problems. In this paper we present a multidisciplinary approach to formalize knowledge on the effectiveness of environmental regimes. We constructed a conceptual framework to enhance systematic analysis of conditions that influence regime effectiveness and implemented this into a computer model using fuzzy logic reasoning. We applied the model in a preliminary analysis of two environmental regimes, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate …

Set-Membership Approach For Identification Of The Uncertainty In Power-Law Relationships: The Case Of Sediment Yield, Karel J. Keesman, Lachlan T. H. Newham, Tony Jakeman

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Power laws are used to describe a large variety of natural and man-made phenomena. Consequently, they are used in a wide range of scientific research and management applications. In this paper, we focus on the identification of uncertainty bounds on a power law relationship from experimental data, using a bounded-error characterization. These bounds can subsequently be used as constraints in e.g. optimization and scenario studies. The basic so-called set-membership approach involves outlier identification and removal, feasible parameter set estimation, evaluation of the feasible model output set and tuning of the error bounds. As an example we examine scattered sediment yield …

Formalizing Knowledge On International Environmental Regimes For Integrated Assessment Modeling, M. De Vos, P. Janssen, S. Frantzi, P. Pattberg, A. Petersen, F. Biermann, M. Kok

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

International environmental regimes are considered key factors in dealing with global environmental problems. It is important to understand if and how these regimes are effective in solving or improving global environmental problems. In this paper we present a multidisciplinary approach to formalize knowledge on the effectiveness of environmental regimes. We constructed a conceptual framework to enhance systematic analysis of conditions that influence regime effectiveness and implemented this into a computer model using fuzzy logic reasoning. We applied the model in a preliminary analysis of two environmental regimes, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate …

An Integration Between Cognitive Map And Bayesian Belief Network For Conflicts Analysis In Drought Management, R. Giordano, E. Preziosi, E. Romano

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In the real world, environmental decision-making takes place in a highly interconnected environment, in which neither the decisional ramifications of a management action, nor the complexity of its impact, can be neglected. This contribution focuses on drought management. Due to the high complexity of drought impacts and the ambiguity in drought perceptions, different and often conflicting drought management strategies could be implemented by different actors. This, in turn, could have a strong negative impact on the effectiveness of drought mitigation strategies. Therefore, a deep conflict analysis and the definition of effective negotiation strategies could be really useful. In this work, …

Brigham Young University Remembers Walter Kempowski, Alan F. Keele

BYU Studies

David Paulsen, Jacob Hawken, and Michael Hansen discuss Sir Anthony Buzzard's work Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian (2007). In this theological review essay, the authors show that the problems inherent in the doctrines of unitarianism and trinitarianism are addressed elegantly in the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Editor's Note: At the authors' request, we have posted two versions of this article--the shorter version that was printed in the journal and the longer 22-page version that is only available here.

Renowned German writer Walter Kempowski, who passed away in late 2007, had a long and interesting …

Witnesses—Those Who Assist To Bring Forth This Work, A. Bryan Weston

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Joseph Smith And The First Principles Of The Gospel, Richard E. Bennett

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

The Testimony Of Alma: “Give Ear To My Words”, John W. Welch

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Remembering The Pioneer Legacy, Timothy G. Merrill [email protected]

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Guiding College Students To Success, Don Pearson, Ann Pearson

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Jesus Was Not A Unitarian, David L. Paulsen, Jacob Hawken, Michael Hansen

BYU Studies

David Paulsen, Jacob Hawken, and Michael Hansen discuss Sir Anthony Buzzard's work Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian (2007). In this theological review essay, the authors show that the problems inherent in the doctrines of unitarianism and trinitarianism are addressed elegantly in the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Editor's Note: At the authors' request, we have posted two versions of this article--the shorter version that was printed in the journal and the longer 22-page version that is only available here.

Alexander Korda And His "Foreignized Translation" Of The Thief Of Bagdad (1940), Jessica Caroline Alder Wiest

Theses and Dissertations

Adaptation studies has recently turned an eye towards translation theory for valuable discussion on the role of movie makers as translators. Such discussion notes the difficulties inherent in adapting a medium such as a book, a play, or even a theme park ride into film. These difficulties have interesting parallels to the translation of one language into another. Translation theory, in fact, can shed important light on the adaptation process. Intrinsic to translation theory is the dichotomy between domesticating translation and foreignizing translation, the two major styles of translation. Translation scholar Lawrence Venuti, the author of these two terms, argues …

Burke, Dewey, And The Experience Of Aristotle's Epideictic: An Examination Of Rhetorical Elements Found In The Funerals Of Lincoln, Kennedy, And Reagan, Xanthe Kristine Allen Farnworth

Theses and Dissertations

This article examines the role of epideictic rhetoric as a tool for promoting civic virtue in the public realm through the application of Kenneth Burke's theory of identification and John Dewey's explanation of an aesthetic experience. Long the jurisdiction of Aristotle's logical arguments, civic discussion usually works within the realm of forensic or deliberative persuasion. However, scholarship in the last fifty years suggests there is an unexplored dimension of Aristotle's discussion of epideictic and emotion that needs to be examined in an attempt to identify its usefulness as a tool for examining human experience and practical behavior in the political …

Normal Masking Level Difference Parameters For Use In The Clinical Evaluation Of Auditory Processing Disorders, Maria Noelle Burnham

Theses and Dissertations

Masking Level Difference (MLD) tests are an established component of auditory processing test batteries; however, normative data for these tests vary according to procedure. In this study, forty normal, native-English speaking adults between the ages of 18 and 26 were tested for MLD via a newly developed computer software program using both an adaptive procedure (MLDA) and a Bekesy procedure (MLDB). The results from the two procedures were analyzed for sex differences and compared with each other. For both the MLDA and MLDB, the results showed statistically significant sex differences in the masked thresholds used to obtain the MLD (NoSo …

The Elan Event-Related Potential In Children 5 To 12 Years Of Age, Melissa Crandall

Theses and Dissertations

The examination of Event Related Potentials during language processing tasks provides valuable information of how the brain processes language over time. In the current study, the development of the early left anterior negativity (ELAN) was analyzed in young children. Previous research has described the ELAN as a negative waveform elicited during syntactic processing between 200 and 500 ms post linguistic stimuli. Thirty children from 5 to 12 years of age listened to sentences that were linguistically correct, syntactically incorrect, or semantically incorrect. Sentences were presented for right monaural, left monaural, and binaural ear conditions to determine possible differences related to …

Students' Perceptions Of Their Esl Training In Preparation For University Reading Tasks, Olha Kondiyenko

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to determine perceptions of former English Language Center (ELC) students of their readiness for university reading tasks after completing their ESL training. Former ELC students who now study or have studied at 10 different American post-secondary institutions provided insights for the study. Through questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, the study collected and analyzed many interesting and revealing comments from participants. Their comments demonstrated that even though the majority of students overall were satisfied with their learning experiences at the ELC, some significant changes still have to be made to be able to fully meet students' educational needs. Participants …

Twitter Rhetoric: From Kinetic To Potential, Jeffrey C. Swift

Theses and Dissertations

Everyone can agree that microblogging service Twitter makes a terrible first impression. Many will agree that this impression is an accurate assessment of many microblogging media, especially considering the narcissistic and egotistical bent that so often dominates the genre. Rhetoricians are justifiably skeptical of microblogging, especially of its rhetorical value (or lack thereof). While many rhetorical scholars have contributed to the field of digital rhetoric, the field of microblogging rhetoric is still undefined. This article examines a new kind of rhetoric exhibited by Twitter, attempting to both start the discussion about Twitter rhetoric and enter the ongoing discussion about theories …

Narrating The Literate Identities Of Five Ninth Grade Boys On The School Landscape, Mary Frances Rice

Theses and Dissertations

I conducted a narrative inquiry with five ninth grade boys in my English class that I identified as displaying multiple literacies. The classes I taught the boys in were two sections of honors ninth grade English. The boys came from a variety of backgrounds and lived in various neighborhoods in the approximately 20,0000-member community where we all live. The site of this research was the junior high school in Utah where the boys attend school and I had been employed for six years. After the research was collected, I conducted several negotiation sessions with the boys and their parents at …