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A Phonological Grammar Of Northern Pame, Scott Charles Berthiaume

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation describes the phonology and morphology of Northern Pame, an Otomanguean language of Central Mexico. Furthermore, it explains the grammatical relationship of these domains from an Optimality Theoretic perspective. In terms of description, Northern Pame has a complex phonological inventory of 40 consonants, which distinguish among glottalized, aspirated, voiceless and voiced segments, as well as 6 vowels, which contrast for nasalization. In addition, a claim is made for two Northern Pame tones, in contrast to earlier suggestions of a three-tone system (Avelino 1997). Regarding Otomanguean laryngeally complex vowels (Silverman 1997b, Herrera 2000), this research provides phonological, as well as …

Cultural Commentary: Bridgewater Students Look At Language, Barbara Apstein

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Transparency And Spreading Of Tense, Aspect, And Mood In Kuche Narrative Discourse, Janet E. Wilson

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

Though clauses of Kuche can be grammatically marked—usually by verb prefixes or auxiliary verbs—for tense and/or aspect and/or mood (TAM), in discourse, very few clauses are actually marked for these categories. Instead, TAM is often marked only once in a stretch of text and is assumed to apply to every subsequent clause up to a delimiting construction. This paper describes how certain grammatical indicators of TAM are used in Kuche narrative discourse. Four chapters of an oral history and one folk tale are tabulated for the frequency of various TAM markings and interpretations. Number grids and bar graphs indicate how …

Past, Present And Future Of Language Policy In Kazakhstan, Aliya S. Kuzhabekova

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an analysis of the historical preliminaries, current state and directions of further development of the language policy in the former Soviet and presently independent Republic of Kazakhstan. Such an analysis is of special interest for sociolinguistic theory. The uniqueness of the linguistic situation challenging contemporary Kazakhstani language policy-making consists in the fact that Kazakh, the native tongue of the ethnic majority and the de jure state language of the independent Republic of Kazakhstan, is too lexically underdeveloped to successfully compete in most of the communicative domains with Russian, the state language of Soviet Kazakhstan and the alternate …

忠信與操縱 : 當代基督教《聖經》中文譯本研究, Cho Yuen Lam

Lingnan Theses

在基督教群體中，《聖經》向來被視為上帝的話，享有絕對的權威。 翻譯《聖經》的工作皆以忠於原文為首要目標。不同語言的《聖經》譯 本的數量早已成為古今中外譯本之冠。近一百多年來，基督教中文《聖經》的翻譯工作持續不斷，新的譯本相繼問世。這些譯本都宣稱以忠於原文為翻譯目的、比舊的譯本更忠實可信。然而《聖經》的原文早已遺失，不同譯本依據的源文又各有不同，譯本宣稱忠於原文的各種說法，不免有名不符實之嫌；而所謂忠信，亦是一個非常複雜的變動而相對的概念。本文擬採用描述性翻譯研究的方法，借用安德烈•勒菲弗爾 (André Lefevere) 的理論，嘗試從意識形態、詩學、贊助人三方面，探討聲稱以忠信為翻譯目標的當代《聖經》中文譯本在翻譯過程中對原文的操縱情況，揭示《聖經》中文譯本名為忠信、實為操縱的翻譯現象。

意识形态、诗学与文学翻译选择规范 : 20世纪50-80年代中国的(后)现代主义文学翻译研究, Mingjian Zha

Lingnan Theses

20世纪80年代之前，西方(后)现代主义文学在中国一直受到排斥，在中国翻译文学多元系统中处于边缘的位置，在50-70年代更被视为"颓废文学"、 "反动文学"。70年代末，中国开始译介(后)现代主义文学，但引起了激烈的论争。译介者运用种种阐释和翻译策略，终于使(后)现代主义文学"合法地"进入中国文学系统，并从文学系统的边缘走向比较中心的位置。(后)现代主义文学的翻译影响了八九十年代中国文学的发展面貌。(后)现代主义文学在当代中国的文化际遇，非常生动地说明，文学翻译并不是简单的语言转换行为，而是译语文化多元系统对外国文学的文化操纵和利用。

本文采取史论结合的方式，以埃文─佐哈尔(Itamar Even-Zohar)的多元系统论作为基本理论框架，以勒菲弗尔(André Lefevere)等人的理论作为探讨具体翻译现象的理论视点，在当代中国文化多元系统动态演进的时空中，分析意识形态、诗学、文学体制与文学翻译选择规范的形成和嬗变的关系，由此阐释(后)现代主义文学在中国50-70年代被边缘化，在80年代被中心化的意识形态和诗学原因。本文还从翻译文学经典形成的角度，考察(后)现代主义翻译文学经典对80年代中国文学创作以及意识形态和诗学的影响。最后，作者根据本文研究，对系统理论进行了反思，并对如何拓展翻译文学史研究空间，提出了个人的观点。

The Acquisition Of A Stage Dialect, Nathaniel George Halloran

Dissertations and Theses

This study reports on the effectiveness of (theatrical) stage dialect learning techniques in bringing about linguistically authentic change. Actors use several techniques, some rather esoteric in nature and others more closely tied to linguistic fact such as the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet. The purpose of this study is to examine some of these techniques as to their ability to bring about linguistic authenticity, as well as to attempt a comparison of stage dialect acquisition and naturalistic dialect acquisition.

Data were collected by interviewing a convenience sample of twelve student actors. Six of these (three males, three females) were …

A Sociolinguistic Comparison Of The Syntax Of Modern Standard Arabic And Jordanian Arabic, Ahmad Mahmoud Saidat

Linguistics & TESOL Theses - Archive

This thesis investigates some of the syntactic differences between two forms of Arabic, the standard and the local vernacular of Petra. This vernacular has not been looked at from a syntactic perspective. The attempt here is to bring attention to some of the features characterizing this vernacular by comparing it with Standard Arabic. It attempts also to find reasons for having two forms of the language in one society as well as people's reaction towards that. It also compares and contrasts the grammatical features each form has and tests them against X-bar theory to see the syntactic difference from a …

Awara Phonology, Edward C. Quigley

Theses and Dissertations

Awara is a Papuan language of Papua New Guinea spoken in the Finisterre Mountain Range. Though it has been mentioned in papers written about the Finisterre-Huon languages and about the Wantoat language (another language in the Wantoat family), the Awara sound system has not been described in depth.

This paper describes the Awara phonemic inventory, autosegmental features, morphophonemic processes, and implications for the Awara orthography. The analysis is presented within the framework of rules-based Generative Phonology.

Interesting aspects of the language shown here are 1) prenasalized voiced stops, 2) complex, phonemes /kw/, /ŋw/ and /gw/, 3) non--universal morphophonemic processes such …

Discourse Of Evil: Speaking Terrorism To Silence, Galip Isen

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

That the impact of terrorism is equal to the reaction it elicits may be a truism, but one that deserves further probing as demonstrated by the way that reaction is put to use politically. Whichever of 150-strong definitions [1] is accepted, the consequential aspect of terrorism is ideational: the assault targets the concept and experience of normal in the lives and minds of ordinary people. Several writers argue that terrorism is generally inefficacious, strategically counterproductive and mostly unsuccessful as a method of attaining socio-political objectives [2]. However, overall public response to 11 September 2001 has been so profound …

The Electronic Polis: Media Democracy And The Invasion Of Iraq, Jeff Lewis, Kirsty Best

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

The American-led victory in Baghdad was announced to the world with scenes of Iraqi citizens dragging down the statues of the deposed tyrant. Like the spectacle of World Cup Soccer or the Olympic Games, the image was transmitted live through the global media network to the billions of people who had been closely watching the three week invasion. President Bush shared in the celebration, announcing the dawn of a new age for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. This new democracy, the president proclaimed, would bring stability and prosperity to the region through the obliteration of terrorism …

Not Thinking Like A Nonlawyer: Implications Of "Recogonization" For Legal Education, Robert J. Morris

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Language Choice In A German Immersion School, Miranda Kussmaul Novash

Dissertations and Theses

When bilinguals converse with one another, they make choices about which language to speak. Many different factors have been shown to influence adult bilinguals' language choice, including interlocutor, setting, discourse content and discourse function. Less, however, is known about the factors influencing the language choice behavior of young bilinguals. Although case studies have provided into the type of language choice behavior exhibited by individual children, there is a lack of knowledge of the course of development from the language choice behavior of early childhood bilinguals to the more complex behavior of adult bilinguals.

This thesis examines the developmental pattern of …

Espace Francophone Et Politiques Linguistiques : Glottophagie Ou Diversité Culturelle?, Zacharie Petnkeu Nzepa

Présence Francophone: Revue internationale de langue et de littérature

This paper is illustrative of the conflict of languages in a sociolinguistic landscape. It asserts that in French-speaking world, notably Black Africa and the West Indies, politics in collusion with French language policies work for the imperceptible, but gradual disappearance of vernaculars on behalf of the prestige of French language. The International Organization of "Francophonie" is depicted as being instrumental in the ongoing strategy. The article ends up suggesting criteria for a harmonious cohabitation of languages in the above-mentioned ommunities.

Nl-Soar Update, Deryle W. Lonsdale

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

「アメリカの日本語教育」 [Japanese Education In The U.S.]. 『月間日本語 ５月号』, Seiichiro Inaba

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Word Order In Biblical Hebrew Poetry, Sherry Lynn Fariss

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

Syntacticians generally focus on prose texts of a language when studying word order rather than examining poetry. The general consensus is that the stylization of poetry exercises too great an influence on the text to allow for regular word order. In their study of pragmatics, particularly in obsolete languages, Herring (2000) and Hock (2000) demonstrate that even in poetry syntactic patterns can be seen in different genres or text types. Herring's contention in Old Tamil poetry is that the more poetic the genre, the more word order variation can be expected. By the same token, the more informational the genre, …

The Structure Of Nominalization In Burmese, Paulette M. Hopple

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

Nominalized sentential elements have long been observed in Tibeto-Burman languages, but the role and extent of nominalized patterns have not been explored as a base of formative structuring. This dissertation examines nominalization patterns in Burmese from the word to text level and posits a complex information packaging role of postposition particles in erecting a structure of predictable and iteratively patterned nominals which function to reduce information overload and facilitate online parsing. Burmese has been characterized as a predominantly verbal language (U Pe Maung Tin 1956). A complementary view is presented in which ontological objects created via a grammatical system of …

The Word Out : A Stylistic Analysis Of Rap Music, Claudia Coscarello

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Rap music is a particular socioculturally bound music phenomenon that was conceived on the streets and birthed within the African-American communities in the urban boroughs of New York City during the 1970's. It was developed as a particular kind of linguistic self expression in the form of music for African- American youth. Rap music is a display of ethnic creativity and cultural pride which gives expression to a speech community's voice as it declares the stark reality of urban life.

For close to three decades, rap music has maintained its position at the forefront of the youth culture across the …

Artifacts And Cultures-Of-Use In Intercultural Communication, Steven L. Thorne

World Languages and Literatures Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article develops a conceptual framework for understanding how intercultural communication, mediated by cultural artifacts (i.e., Internet communication tools), creates compelling, problematic, and surprising conditions for additional language learning. Three case studies of computer-mediated intercultural engagement draw together correlations between discursive orientation, communicative modality, communicative activity, and emergent interpersonal dynamics. These factors contribute to varying qualities and quantities of participation in the intercultural partnerships. Case one, "Clashing Frames of Expectation -- Differing Cultures-of-Use," suggests that the cultures-of-use of Internet communication tools, their perceived existence and on-going construction as distinctive cultural artifacts, differs interculturally just as communicative genre, pragmatics, and institutional …

Review Of The Korean Alphabet Of 1446, David J. Silva

Linguistics & TESOL Faculty Publications & Presentations - Archive

Perhaps the most noteworthy product of Korean civilization, han'guil is a source of pride among Koreans: not only does it embody a sense of national uniqueness, but it is also a valuable tool against illiteracy. While this great cultural achievement has merited considerable attention in Korea, detailed English-language accounts of han'guil are scarce. Most prominent among this small body of work is Gari Ledyard's 1966 dissertation, "The Korean Language Reform of 1446," since republished (with modest revisions) in 1998. Two recent volumes about the Korean script are now looking to claim space alongside Ledyard's text: The Korean Alphabet of 1446, …

Innovating Superheroes, Alvise Mattozzi

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[Introduction]

Superhero comics have changed. They have passed through a Golden Age and Silver Age, they have been transformed, cancelled, revived, killed, deconstructed, reconstructed, revisited, etc. My aim is to account for part of these changes and show how superhero comics have been innovated. In order to track these changes I chose to compare different versions of a few DC Comics series, such as Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing, Shade, that had been cancelled and then revived and are known to have introduced relevant changes between the earliest and the subsequent versions.

Before tackling the series mentioned, I …

To Be Or Not To Be Ideophonically Impoverished, Janis B. Nuckolls

Faculty Publications

This paper addresses a current debate over the universality of ideophones, a class of expressions that are used to simulate, through performative foregrounding, the salient processes and perceptions of everyday life experience. Using data from Quechua-speaking Runa in Amazonian Ecuador, I argue for a view of ideophones as a type of cultural discourse through which speakers align themselves with nonhuman life forms and forces of nature. This alignment is suggested by the special performative properties of ideophones, which collapse the distinction between a speech event and a narrated event, thus compelling a speaker to become an action, event, or process, …

Memory-Based Tone Recognition Of Cantonese Syllables, Michael William Emonts

Theses and Dissertations

Speech recognition has only recently been applied to Cantonese. Considerable effort, however, has been spent in recognizing Mandarin, the standard dialect of Chinese. Prior to this thesis, the only published work on monosyllabic Cantonese tone recognition is from Tan Lee et al. (1993,1995). This thesis is the first of its kind in that it explores memory-based learning as a viable approach for Cantonese tone recognition. The memory-based learning algorithm employed in this thesis outperforms the highly respected and widely used neural network approach. Various numbers of tones and features are modeled to find the best method for feature selection and …

On Extraction From Nps, William D. Davies, Stanley William Dubinsky

Faculty Publications

This paper sheds new light on the conditions governing extraction from NPs. A close examination of wh-extraction out of object NPs reveals that previously unnoticed semantic factors play a greater role than has been recognized. In particular, we find that NPs lacking 'participant' structure do not permit wh-extraction at all, and that certain NPs permit extraction even when they are definite. At the same time, the prohibition on wh-extraction from subject NPs is shown to be a purely syntactic phenomenon which arises from the particular way in which the Extended Projection Principle is satisfied in English.

Quality Delivery Of Online Translation Course, Dermot Campbell

Conference papers

This presentation covers the rationale for a distance delivery of a German-English translation course, the difficulties and advantages of remote delivery and the application of colour-coded feedback to promote learner discussion.

An Analysis Of It-Clefts Within A Role And Reference Grammar Framework, Emma Pavey

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

The it-cleft construction (e.g. "It was Bill that I saw") is generally accepted to be a marked syntactic bi-clausal option which expresses a simple semantic proposition; in terms of information structure, the construction places an element in focus position, within a copular matrix clause. This element receives an exhaustive interpretation; that is, in the case of (1), it is Bill, and only Bill, that was seen. These clefts lack a straightforward mapping between their syntactic, semantic and pragmatic structures and as a result are a prime construction to illustrate the advantages of Role and Reference Grammar which is able to …

Evidence That Demands A Verdict?, David J. Weber

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Source—Meaning—Receptor (SMR) theories of translation, such as "dynamic equivalence" and "meaning-based" theories, shifted focus from the equivalence of FORM to the equivalence of MEANING. SMR theories were a significant advance and have been the basis for many modern English translations.

However, SMR theories were formulated when the dominant theory of communication was the code model. Consequently they presumed that meaning was determined almost entirely by a text (utterance) itself. This theory is now rejected in favor of theories that understand interpretation as the inferential product of the interaction of the text with (mind-mediated) context. These newer theories shift the focus …

Positive Orientation Towards The Vernacular Among The Talysh Of Sumgayit, Calvin F. Tiessen

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

This thesis looks at the identification of positive vernacular orientation in the Talysh community of the city of Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, for the purpose of gaining a greater understanding of its causes. Positive vernacular orientation is described in three areas of sociolinguistic behaviour: patterns of vernacular language use, vernacular language proficiency and frequency of vernacular-speaking individuals in social networks. Variation in vernacular orientation is shown to pattern itself according to differences in generation and time of arrival or birth in Sumgayit.

What Do You Mean? Finding Answers To Complex Questions, Anne R. Diekema, Ozgur Yilmazel, Jiangping Chen, Sarah Harwell, Elizabeth D. Liddy, Lan He

School of Information Studies - Faculty Scholarship

This paper illustrates ongoing research and issues faced when dealing with real-time questions in the domain of Reusable Launch Vehicles (aerospace engineering). The question- answering system described in this paper is used in a collaborative learning environment with real users and live questions. The paper describes an analysis of these more complex questions as well as research to include the user in the question-answering process by implementing a question negotiation module based on the traditional reference interview.