Although much is a frequently occurring word of many uses, not much research has been done on the different types of much as a negative polarity item (NPI). Therefore, in this study, the NPI...Show moreAlthough much is a frequently occurring word of many uses, not much research has been done on the different types of much as a negative polarity item (NPI). Therefore, in this study, the NPI tendency of two different types of much were compared: differential and adnominal much. Generally, research shows that much tends to be an NPI, whereas differential much prefers non-negation over negation contexts. Thus, the hypothesis is that there would be a strong tendency towards adnominal much occurring as an NPI, whereas differential much would not be an NPI. From the British National Corpus (BNC), 500-instance samples were analysed, and later compared with BNC searches for specific instances (that much, very much, etc.) in order to confirm their validity. These results were divided into NEG – in which negation took place – and POS – in which (implicit) negation did not take place. The results showed that NEG differential much only occurred in 5% of the instances, whereas NEG adnominal much occurred in 28% of the instances. When both much types were combined with modifiers (i.e., very much, that much, so much, etc.), they mostly occurred in a POS context. The bare adnominal much instances – without any modifiers – are almost equally divided among NEG (100) and POS (109) instances. Overall, the NEG instances did not have a preference for a certain genre in comparison to their POS counterparts. The results imply that differential much is not an NPI, whereas adnominal much may have a tendency to occur in NPI contexts.Show less
When a noun irregularly has the regular endings of one gender in the singular and those of a different gender in the plural, it is said to belong to an inquorate gender. This thesis assembles a...Show moreWhen a noun irregularly has the regular endings of one gender in the singular and those of a different gender in the plural, it is said to belong to an inquorate gender. This thesis assembles a corpus of nouns displaying this behavior in Latin and groups them into four inquorate genders. Then for each noun it investigates the purported causes of their abnormal gender in an attempt to find if each of the inquorate genders has a single cause. After examining each noun, it is argued that none of the four inquorate genders has a single cause. It is also argued that for some of the nouns, the previous explanations for their origin are incorrect.Show less
The translation of children’s literature is a relatively new and upcoming field within translation studies. Within this genre, readers can find everything ranging from prose to poetry, and...Show moreThe translation of children’s literature is a relatively new and upcoming field within translation studies. Within this genre, readers can find everything ranging from prose to poetry, and sometimes even the two combined. Children’s books often make use of verse, short poetic songs embedded within prose to add more colour to the oral performances of these books, which are often read aloud by adults to children. However, creating a text that is well-suited for reading aloud is quite difficult and not always translated successfully. This thesis is a case study that aims to assess the effect a translation can have on the oral performance of children’s verse in A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner by conducting interviews with adults participants performing an immediate and repeated reading of the first three verses of the books. The results showed that a translation can assuredly have a negative effect on the oral performance of a text and that there is a specific need for a consistent rhyme scheme and rhythm in children’s verseShow less
In vowel harmony, all vowels in (roughly) a word agree with one another regarding one of their features. Vowels in such languages can harmonize with regard to backness, rounding, height, and tongue...Show moreIn vowel harmony, all vowels in (roughly) a word agree with one another regarding one of their features. Vowels in such languages can harmonize with regard to backness, rounding, height, and tongue root position. Vowels can be described in terms of phonological features. Some feature combinations are ‘preferable’ to others, as Archangeli and Pulleyblank (1994) argue in Grounding Theory. Based on these feature relationships, the low vowel /a/ in particular may show interesting behavior in vowel harmony. This thesis therefor examined the following research question: How can a feature-based interpretation account for the behavior of /a/ in vowel harmony languages? In order to research this, data from Tuvan (backness), Kirghiz (rounding), C’lela (height), and Maasai (tongue root position) have been used. Findings show that a feature-based interpretation can account for the behavior of /a/ in vowel harmony languages. /a/ alternates in some languages, and fails to harmonize in others. When /a/ participates in vowel harmony, it has to seek its counterpart slightly higher in the vowel triangle, as predicted by Grounding Theory. Feature relationships show that some combinations of features are preferable, and thus result in successful harmony, while others are avoided. These ‘poor’ combinations of features often result in failure to harmonize. All in all, a feature-based interpretation can account for the behavior of /a/ in vowel harmony languages. These findings suggest that the behavior of /a/ is predictable by a feature-based interpretation.Show less
This thesis consists of a phonological description of the Yamalero language, based on primary data. Yamalero is a Guahiban language spoken by some 300 people in the Colombian Eastern Plains. Some...Show moreThis thesis consists of a phonological description of the Yamalero language, based on primary data. Yamalero is a Guahiban language spoken by some 300 people in the Colombian Eastern Plains. Some of these speakers are ethnic Yaruro, who had been reported to speak Yaruro (Pumé), but this thesis shows that none of them is able to use this language any more. Yamalero is a virtually undocumented language, since the only materials available before the publication of this phonological description were a 31 terms wordlist. This enabled the classification of Yamalero within the Cuiba-Sikuani language continuum. This thesis shows some features of the Yamalero phonology that are closer to Sikuani, such as the process of lenition of aspirated plosives, and others that are closer to Cuiba, such as the presence of consonantic codas. When appropriate, it also shows its resemblances to other genetically unrelated languages in the area, such as Saliba, Piapoco, Achagua or Puinave. This phonological description contributes to the study of Guahiban languages, on which very little research has been published in the last 20 years, as well as to the study of the languages between the Amazonia and the Andean foothills.Show less
Pragma-dialectical argumentation theory has been extensively applied to the study of institutionalized domains. Only very little scholarly attention has been paid to the informal contexts such as...Show morePragma-dialectical argumentation theory has been extensively applied to the study of institutionalized domains. Only very little scholarly attention has been paid to the informal contexts such as family mealtime discussions. Family mealtime discussions have long been an object of research in a wide range of fields because they play an important role in children’s development and socialization. So far, a systematic understanding of family mealtime argumentation within the pragma-dialectical framework is still lacking. By characterizing family mealtime discussions as a pragmadialectical argumentative activity type, this paper investigates the constraints imposed by this activity type on family members’ argumentative moves in mealtime discussion. The analysis suggests that the activity of family mealtime discussion is largely informal and not institutionalized. Therefore, it is impossible to find concrete and explicit constraints imposed by this activity type. Nevertheless, some general characteristics of this activity are identified: (1) the overarching goal of socialization of children, (2) the cultural variation in norms and values, and (3) the discrepancy in cognitive and language competency between parents and children. These characteristics of family mealtime discussions constrain family members’ argumentative moves in terms of making a choice from the topical potential, adapting to the audience demand, and exploiting the presentational devices. This study provides a systematic description and analysis of family mealtime argumentative discussions, adding to the extant literature on this topic and serving as a basis for the evaluation of argumentation in family contexts.Show less
Several scholars have already studied how certain groups are in- and excluded in discourse. Their studies have demonstrated how certain stylistic choices from textual analyses denote that certain...Show moreSeveral scholars have already studied how certain groups are in- and excluded in discourse. Their studies have demonstrated how certain stylistic choices from textual analyses denote that certain groups are excluded in discourse. Contemporary studies have already covered Trump’s verbal style and rhetoric during the 2016 presidential election. Previous research, however, has not covered how Trump’s campaign rhetoric during the 2016 presidential election contributed to the general impression that he excludes immigrants. Therefore, this thesis aims to provide an answer to which stylistic choices contribute to the impression that the Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump excludes immigrants in his immigration speech held on 31 August 2016.Show less
This thesis is a case study of domestication and foreignization in two Dutch literary works: De avond is ongemak by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, translated into English as The Discomfort of Evening by...Show moreThis thesis is a case study of domestication and foreignization in two Dutch literary works: De avond is ongemak by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, translated into English as The Discomfort of Evening by Michele Hutchison, and Boven is het stil by Gerbrand Bakker, translated into English as The Twin by David Colmer. Drawing on the work of Venuti, Van Poucke, and Molina and Hurtado Albir, an attempt is made in this thesis to operationalize the concepts of domestication and foreignization to estimate the degree to which the translations of these two novels may be considered domesticised and/or foreignized. Fifty sentences –randomly selected from each translation– were analysed for signs of domestication and foreignization and scored accordingly. This qualitative research was followed up with limited quantitative corpus research looking for further support of the tentative conclusion that The Discomfort of Evening might be domesticated to a higher degree than The Twin.Show less
In this study four Dutch privacy statements and their English translations are analyzed in order to get an impression of what privacy law terminology is in use, whether there are issues to be...Show moreIn this study four Dutch privacy statements and their English translations are analyzed in order to get an impression of what privacy law terminology is in use, whether there are issues to be addressed and how these might be solved. The privacy statements investigated are those of Leiden University, Erasmus MC hospital, EliteSingles (a dating website), and Bink Kinderopvang (a child daycare center). The necessary background for this analysis consists of two parts: a chapter in which several theories of equivalence are detailed in order to help structure the analysis and to help identify the choices translators have made in the translations of the privacy statements. There is also a chapter in which the relevant legislation is laid out, the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union, its Dutch translation the Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming and the Uitvoeringswet Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming. The latter is the Dutch law that implements the EU-regulation. In the mentioned analysis, the privacy specific terminology of every statement was arranged in a table in which the English and the Dutch counterparts are compared with each other and, where possible, with the terminology of the mentioned legislation. The analysis showed that if you consistently follow the GDPR/AVG and UAVG, translating privacy law terminology does not pose many problems. It was also found that smaller organizations had translations with more inconsistencies and inaccurate terminology. Finally, a suggested terminology list is given in order to help translators find the right terminology and to promote consistency in translating privacy law related texts.Show less
Immigratie is de afgelopen decennia een centraal thema geweest in het publieke debat. In dit onderzoek is geanalyseerd hoe koningin Beatrix op retorische manier het debat over immigratie heeft...Show moreImmigratie is de afgelopen decennia een centraal thema geweest in het publieke debat. In dit onderzoek is geanalyseerd hoe koningin Beatrix op retorische manier het debat over immigratie heeft beïnvloed tijdens haar kersttoespraken. De resultaten van deze analyse van de Nederlandse kersttoespraken worden vergeleken met de resultaten van de Deense, Zweedse en Noorse monarchen uit het onderzoek van Kjeldsen (2019). De hoofdvraag luidt: Hoe gaat koningin Beatrix in haar kersttoespraken van 1980-2013 in retorisch-topisch opzicht om met de vraagstukken over immigratie en de multiculturele samenleving en hoe verhoudt dit zich tot de manieren waarop de Deense, Noorse en Zweedse monarchen hiermee omgaan? Retorisch-topisch onderzoek naar deze toespraken zorgt voor een nieuw perspectief op dit nog weinig belichte onderwerp, een onderwerp dat toch veel invloed heeft. Haar retorische keuzes om het publiek aan te spreken hebben invloed op de vorming van gedeelde normen en waarden t.a.v. het immigratiebeleid en de nationale identiteit van Nederlanders. Er zijn 33 toespraken met elkaar vergeleken in de periode 1980 tot en met 2013.Show less
This thesis investigates the juxtaposition of Lawrence Venuti’s theory on translator visibility with the situation of Dutch video game localisers in practice. Venuti argues that translators should...Show moreThis thesis investigates the juxtaposition of Lawrence Venuti’s theory on translator visibility with the situation of Dutch video game localisers in practice. Venuti argues that translators should employ foreignizing translation strategies, lest they erase themselves. Video game localisation, however, is said to rely heavily on domesticating strategies to ensure that a game meets the needs of the target culture. This conflicting phenomenon is investigated by means of an interview study with seven professional translators who translate video games into Dutch. The results suggest that Dutch video game localisers do have a strong preference for domesticating their translations, and that a foreignizing strategy is only rarely used. The results further indicate that while translators do feel invisible, they do not see a direct connection between their strategy and their visibility. It therefore appears that Venuti’s theory is not applicable to this type of translation. However, Venuti believes that the translator’s working environment also influences their visibility, and the results of this thesis further suggest that there are other agents within and beyond the game localisation business that may be capable of improving translator visibility.Show less
The discussion on the existence of a bilingual advantage in executive functioning is still going on to this day. But even if this advantage does exist, can we speak of a true advantage? In other...Show moreThe discussion on the existence of a bilingual advantage in executive functioning is still going on to this day. But even if this advantage does exist, can we speak of a true advantage? In other words, how does this advantage resonate in real-life? This study translated executive functions into real-world competences and tested whether bilinguals score better on these as well as on their school performances. Results show very little to no evidence of the existence of a bilingual advantage in real life. The most likely explanations are that there either is no advantage or the advantage is very small and therefore masked by other factors influencing executive functioning and bilingualism.Show less
This thesis studies the conceptualization of malaria in three cultural traditions: Hamar and Swahili, two indigenous East-African languages, and Western biomedicine. It will demonstrate that ideas...Show moreThis thesis studies the conceptualization of malaria in three cultural traditions: Hamar and Swahili, two indigenous East-African languages, and Western biomedicine. It will demonstrate that ideas on malaria vary significantly between these three cultures: in both Hamar and Swahili, malaria is included in a more general category of febrile illnesses, which becomes clear from the linguistic terms and constructions which are used to express ‘malaria’. In biomedicine, malaria is regarded as a potentially life-threatening disease which requires immediate treatment in hospital. If it progresses into severe or cerebral malaria, patients may show symptoms such as convulsions. This symptom is not related to malaria in many African cultures, but it is instead often categorized in a domain of spiritual illnesses and as such, requires different treatment, according to their traditional indigenous practices. An attempt will be made to clarify the Hamar, Swahili, and biomedical conceptualization of malaria from a linguistic point of view. This is done by investigating how malaria or febrile illness in general as well as related symptoms are expressed in Hamar and Swahili. For the biomedical perspective, it will not only be examined how malaria is conceptualized, but also the way in which traditional indigenous medical knowledge is considered. Moreover, an important aim of this thesis is to make a proposal of how to bring the different views together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation, in order to contribute to the global malaria struggle.Show less
Kirkpatrick claimed that French keyboard music sounded like French. Hall (1953) talked about a resemblance of Elgar’s Music and the intonation of British speech. Both discussed instrumental music...Show moreKirkpatrick claimed that French keyboard music sounded like French. Hall (1953) talked about a resemblance of Elgar’s Music and the intonation of British speech. Both discussed instrumental music and a likeness with the speech, which has remained controversial. This thesis investigates the robustness of the metrics used for the two experiments in rhythm and melody to provide information about their linguistic origins. To this end, this thesis replicates the two experiments of Patel et al. (2006) regarding the rhythm and melody of British English and French speech and instrumental music. In addition, a third parameter labelled as “slope” was tested to investigate if melody, when taking into consideration the durational property of the melodic interval, provides the same results as the two previous replicated experiments. We replicated the findings for rhythm and melody reported in Patel et al. (2006). The slope parameter, however, showed a reverse pattern raising some critical questions about the validity of the metrics to portray statistical evidence of national characteristics in speech and music.Show less
USA reality competition television series RuPaul’s Drag Race has seen a rise in popularity since it first aired in 2009 and can be watched in several countries across different platforms. This...Show moreUSA reality competition television series RuPaul’s Drag Race has seen a rise in popularity since it first aired in 2009 and can be watched in several countries across different platforms. This global interest causes the need to translate the series’ English language into other languages. The use of language that is specific to the drag community and gay community, one that is tied to both gender and sexuality, as explored in this thesis, causes the translator to have to deal with community-specific words. A fairly recent phenomenon, the concept of translating this community-specific language and its translation into Dutch has not yet been extensively discussed. This thesis aims to find patterns that are visible in the translation procedures used (based on the concept of translation procedures by Newmark) for the translation of language tied to the drag and gay community, for the Dutch Netflix subtitles of three episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Some of this language is maintained in the audiovisual translation, while other language is modified or removed. This modification or removal might possibly cause a different viewing experience for the Dutch viewer as compared to a viewer who only uses the source text, and causes a loss of meaning of cultural elements related to the drag community.Show less
