This thesis seeks to address the academic debate surrounding the intervention of state actors in foreign information spaces, as this discourse lacks a coherent framework, allowing researchers to...Show moreThis thesis seeks to address the academic debate surrounding the intervention of state actors in foreign information spaces, as this discourse lacks a coherent framework, allowing researchers to identify, compare, categorize and hence explain acts of Information Intervention (II). To initiate a solution for this problem, this thesis aimed to create a typology of common contemporary types of covert and semi-covert state IIs beyond the means subsumed by the soft power and public diplomacy concepts. This process was facilitated by Kluge’s (2000) framework for the empirically grounded construction of types and an empirical research process, which was based on the identification of sources by employing keyword configurations and the search engines Google/Google Scholar. Given the scope of this project and the public unavailability of certain II practices, it was not possible to cover all acts of II for the given typology. Rather, the goal of this thesis was to guide future research in the field of Information Interventions, by providing a notion of the dynamics in the given field, on which future research can be built on. Therefore, while the typology presented in this thesis cannot be determined as universal, it made the first step towards the establishment of such framework, allowing researchers to systematically analyze IIs.Show less
This thesis aims at filling a gap in the typological analysis of Niger-Congo noun classes and initiate the creation of a framework applicable for every Niger-Congo noun class system. It answers the...Show moreThis thesis aims at filling a gap in the typological analysis of Niger-Congo noun classes and initiate the creation of a framework applicable for every Niger-Congo noun class system. It answers the research question "What are the criteria and challenges to creating a typological framework for Niger-Congo noun classes ?" Based on existing literature, this thesis reviewed the definitions of noun classes and existing frameworks in most of Niger-Congo language families. It also identifies the challenges specific to this type of project and develops an approach to overcome the difficulties by using the resources of technology, typically Excel, to build a database, sufficiently general to take into account all Niger-Congo noun class systems and flexible enough to adapt to all specificities. Such a framework also aims at creating a database in order to create statistical analysis.Show less
In this thesis, I discuss the range of numerals in South American languages, the strategies that languages use to form their numerals, and what cultural and historical causes can be given to the...Show moreIn this thesis, I discuss the range of numerals in South American languages, the strategies that languages use to form their numerals, and what cultural and historical causes can be given to the range of the numerals. The Quechuan languages consistently possess an infinite decimal system. This could be the result of the preservation of the high numerals after colonization that were used to keep track of administration in the extended Inca Empire. In the Arawakan family, both the range and the internal structure of the numerals differ. Just as for the Quechuan, the Arawakan people were involved in trade and war which could indicate a need of high numerals. However, unlike for the Quechuan numerals, they have not been preserved. During colonization, Arawakan groups fled from their original settlements and adopted other groups into their communities, which indicates substratum influence and explains the diversity of the Arawakan numerals. In the Guaporé-Mamoré linguistic area, numerals are mostly concentrated around a maximum of 20. The body-part system and a connection to company or loneliness are common in the numerals in this area.Show less
Numeral classifiers are additional grammatical elements within a numeral phrase (NumP) which refer to the salient semantic properties of the counted noun (Gil 2013). Numeral classifier systems are...Show moreNumeral classifiers are additional grammatical elements within a numeral phrase (NumP) which refer to the salient semantic properties of the counted noun (Gil 2013). Numeral classifier systems are the most recognised type of classifier system in the world’s languages. Numeral classifiers are structured by semantic principles, by which certain subclasses of nouns are assigned to the same classifiers. These semantic principles bear certain similarities across the world’s languages, which are called universals. Besides a universals basis, Lyons (1977a: 248) believes that the semantics of numeral classifier are also determined partly by cultural basis. This thesis is a comparative analysis of numeral classifiers in Palikúr (an Arawakan language of Brazil and French Guiana) and Rongga (an Austronesian language). The thesis has two goals. First, I am interested to explore to what extent the semantic universals regarding numeral classifiers hold for Palikúr and Rongga. In particular for Palikúr, since South American languages were mostly left out in the search for universal patterns in numeral classifier languages. The universal semantic frameworks regarding numeral classifiers that I discuss are Allan (1977), Lyons (1977) and Croft (1994). My second goal for this thesis is to explore the semantic variability between the Palikúr and Rongga numeral classifier systems. This question is of interest because it can help illuminate what kinds of semantic differences can be found within the semantic universal parameters identified by semanticists. The semantic variability of numeral classifier systems that I discuss is based on the study of Grinevald (2015). Together, these two questions shed light onto the interplay between universality and variability in the semantics of numeral classifier systems.Show less
For the past thirty years excavations in western Cyprus have taken place and uncovered substantial settlements from the Chalcolithic period (ca. 3800-2300 BC). One of the most recent excavations is...Show moreFor the past thirty years excavations in western Cyprus have taken place and uncovered substantial settlements from the Chalcolithic period (ca. 3800-2300 BC). One of the most recent excavations is the project of Chlorakas-Palloures, which first started during the summer of 2015. The project is a rescue excavation before the plot of land will be occupied by hotels or villas. During the past two years, architecture, burials and many artefacts were recovered from the sites and proved that this site is a valuable asset to Chalcolithic archaeology. The specific topic of this thesis is ground stone. The ground stone category consists of most stone artefacts, except for those that can be identified as chipped stone. The aim of this thesis was to identify the materials used for the object classes of this material and determine why these materials were used. The results of Palloures were then compared to those of the nearby sites of Kissonerga-Mosphilia, Kissonerga-Mylouthkia and Lemba-Lakkous, all of which have yielded large amounts of ground stone artefacts and quite well documented. Despite the close proximity of all sites, there turned out to be quite a degree of local variance, although this was more noticeable in some classes than others. Artefact stone selection could be explained by a couple of factors: Local availability, functionality and sometimes aesthetics, and convenience. Objects require a certain material to be used in order to be effective, which has to be available in order to be used. Objects with multiple forms of use-wear appear to have been used either sequentially or concomitantly. The former are particularly suitable for the convenience model, since the original purpose of the object is no longer in use, and the tool has been reshaped, most likely to avoid the unnecessary wasting of material. A large amount of materials were used for multiple tool classes and several object classes have been used simultaneously for two different functions and have the use-wear matching these functions. It would be convenient to be able to use one object for multiple purposes and not having to carry around more tools than necessary. Although many theories can be come up with to explain material selection, it is not without problems. Differences in detail of excavation reports, dated approaches to the material and the lack of experimental archaeology to explore the possibilities of rock types increase the difficulty significantly. I suspect that employing experimental archaeology actively within the field of ground stone could increase our understanding of the material and therefore the Chalcolithic community as a whole.Show less
This thesis aims to discuss the distinction between nouns and verbs (and other word classes) in Wakashan and Salish languages. I will be discussing this distinction with specific reference to the...Show moreThis thesis aims to discuss the distinction between nouns and verbs (and other word classes) in Wakashan and Salish languages. I will be discussing this distinction with specific reference to the two main approaches in flexible languages – categorial and precategorial classification. For the categorial approach, I will be looking at how well Hengeveld’s (1992) PoS system, and its revisions (Hengeveld et al. 2004, Hengeveld & Van Lier 2010), can be applied to the six Wakashan and Salish languages. For the precategorial approach, I will be working with Don & Van Lier's (2013) precategorial approach and notion of syntactic flexibility to determine how well it can be applied to the Wakashan and Salish languages. The resulting data and analysis indicates that neither approach is particularly suitable. Categorial classification is shown to be slightly too restrictive, whereas precategorial classification can be viewed as not restrictive enough. Additionally, a recurring issue is that word classes aren’t always mutually flexible, a problem which neither approach seems to account for.Show less
This thesis presents a comparative typological study of twelve languages, with varying degrees of geographical and genealogical distance. The system of Reference Tracking of each of these languages...Show moreThis thesis presents a comparative typological study of twelve languages, with varying degrees of geographical and genealogical distance. The system of Reference Tracking of each of these languages is detailed and, in the conclusion, compared to the other systems, with the purpose of finding relevant similarities. Moreover, the aim is to corroborate the findings of this thesis with those of previously established works (cf. Haiman & Munro 1983, Foley & Van Valin 1985, Stirling 1993). The languages are sorted by their types of system, which are Agreement, Switch Reference or neither of the aforementioned. All the languages used in this thesis were chosen for their intricate systems of reference tracking, and for the geographical and genealogical distance between them. Each language is treated a small case study. First, the status of the language is established. This is followed by a detailed description of the workings of the reference tracking system of that language. Finally, all systems are compared to one another and all notable similarities are given. The end of the thesis consists of the conclusions I have drawn from these comparisons.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
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This thesis is a descriptive grammar sketch of the Naueti language, an Austronesian language spoken by around 15.000 people in the East Timorese subdistricts of Uatolari and Uatocarbau (Viqueque...Show moreThis thesis is a descriptive grammar sketch of the Naueti language, an Austronesian language spoken by around 15.000 people in the East Timorese subdistricts of Uatolari and Uatocarbau (Viqueque district) and the southwestern part of Baguia (Baucau district). There are a few differences between the varieties spoken in Uatolari and the Uatocarbau-Baguia area. This thesis is mostly based on the Uatolari variety. The topics covered by this thesis include phonology (chapter 2), nouns, pronouns and noun phrases (chapter 3), prepositions, prepositional verbs and prepositional phrases (chapter 4), the clause (chapter 5), predicate modification (chapter 6), serial verb constructions (chapter 7) and multiclausal constructions (chapter 8). The appendices contain a Naueti-English glossary, three transcribed texts and a Matebianic Swadesh list.Show less
Ground stone tools have clearly been neglected in archaeological research. The misconception that nothing interesting is to be learned from this particular material category has had a devastating...Show moreGround stone tools have clearly been neglected in archaeological research. The misconception that nothing interesting is to be learned from this particular material category has had a devastating effect on the amount of attention these objects have received in archaeological projects. They are often neglected in literature and discarded in the field. The presumption that these objects have nothing to tell is however wrong. Ground stone assemblages can tell us many things about the daily life on a site. This is why a new look into the ground stone artefacts of Tell Sabi Abyad was warranted. Research started with a look into the occurring types on the site. To facilitate this the original ground stone shape typology was revised. Via a look into ground stone types and the used stone types to produce these artefacts an overview of the Late Bronze Age ground stone assemblage of Tell Sabi Abyad was constructed. Tell Sabi Abyad also has the great advantage of having a clear stratigraphy and lots of in situ ground stone artefacts. However, perhaps even more interesting, there is also clear evidence of different crafts being practiced on site. Known crafts location include a baker, brewer and potter. By comparing their known locations on the site to concentrations of different types of ground stone a correlation between use, type and tool was researhed. A close look was taken at preferences in shape and stone type per ground stone tool category. Furthermore, both the spatial and chronological dispersal of the artefacts were examined to ascertain if any of the patterns could lend an insight into any of the preferences the inhabitants of the site had, where ground stone was concerned. Clusters of ground stone objects were found in areas of the site where certain crafts were performed. There were, for example, clusters of ground stone found inside a pottery workshop (Duistermaat 2007, 705) and the office of the brewer22. Other than some cuneiform the location of the brewer was confirmed by any other material evidence. Illustrating that ground stone archaeological research is not as insignificant as it is being generally portrayed.Show less
A misleading label was the starting point for the preparation of the current work. The erroneous interpretation of the relief portrait with inventory number F 1953/3.1 preserved in the Egyptian...Show moreA misleading label was the starting point for the preparation of the current work. The erroneous interpretation of the relief portrait with inventory number F 1953/3.1 preserved in the Egyptian exhibition of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden stimulated the interest of this author. Though labeled as a portrait of Tutankhamen (ruled ca. 1332 B.C. – 1322 B.C.) (Freed 1999, 275), observations of recent years come to show that the under discussion relief is most probably a depiction of Amenophis III (ruled ca. 1390 B.C. – 1353 B.C.) (Freed 1999, 201). The goal of this thesis is binary: a) firstly, as the main research question, to trace those elements leading to the assertion that the portrait belongs possibly to the time of Amenophis III and b) secondly, to raise the foundations for further study as regards to the question of how it is possible for the museum to believe for over sixty years that the exhibited artifact is a representation of Tutankhamen. The study on this matter is implemented via a methodology organized around the portrait’s stylistic analysis. In parallel, an argumentation will be formulated based on stylistic comparisons among representative artworks of the two kings’ portraiture and thereby a conglomeration of similarities and differences will become the fundamental axis of this work. The aforementioned synthesis will reveal two typological formations of Amenophis III’s and Tutankhamen’s imaging, focused on the rendering of their facial characteristics. The kings’ typology will constitute the cornerstone of this study and will provide connecting factors and highlighting correlations to the question: what made the museum staff to do incorrect assessment on this particular artwork’s identification for over sixty years? Are there stylistic reasons that caused such misinterpretation? What conclusions could be carried out from the total research process?Show less
This MA thesis is a study into the assemblage of bone tools from the Late Neolithic period of Tell Sabi Abyad, specifically the tools that come from the Operation III area. Only those objects that...Show moreThis MA thesis is a study into the assemblage of bone tools from the Late Neolithic period of Tell Sabi Abyad, specifically the tools that come from the Operation III area. Only those objects that can be seen as tools or implements have been the subject of the research. In total this amounts to an assemblage of 1081 objects. Of these objects this study investigates which types are present, the numbers in which they occur, and the manner of distribution across the area. The first step is the forming of a typology that is easy to understand for anyone working with the bone tool material from Tell Sabi Abyad yet retains enough detail to make clear distinctions in the distribution of the different objects. The framework of the typology is based on several different ways in which researchers have looked at bone tool assemblages; from the very detailed work of J. Schibler to the more basic idea of expedient versus time-invested tools as first proposed by A.T. Clason. A quantitative analysis is then given, where the different typological classifications and the arguments underlying them are mentioned in detail. Secondly, the implement distribution and contexts per typological entity is investigated. This results in the identification of what can be seen as two main centres within the distribution of the Operation III area. Whether these can be counted as centres of activity is not certain. The available data on the contexts gives an ambiguous view and specific activity localities could not be recognized. From the study it becomes clear that Tell Sabi Abyad shows an assemblage comparable to other Neolithic sites in the Near East and other regions. The typology as it is set up fits well within the limits of the typologies of other sites and, as such, is recognizable for those working on similar studies. This counts both for Tell Sabi Abyad as for other sites. Future work will in all likelihood give rise to reasons for alteration of the current typology but it is believed that the main body will remain upright.Show less
