Slang is a nonstandard informal vocabulary peculiar to a group. In this digital age, the reproduction and evolution of slang words has become faster due to the digital platforms that they are often...Show moreSlang is a nonstandard informal vocabulary peculiar to a group. In this digital age, the reproduction and evolution of slang words has become faster due to the digital platforms that they are often used in. Research has been done on the lexical aspects of slang and slang in general (Sornig (1981); Metcalf (2002)), and on forms of digital slang (McCulloch (2019)), but none view slang as a mode of translation and applied it to to other types of text besides messages on social media. This thesis will address where digital slang terms come from, and if their origins can help explain how likely they are to be understood by someone who speaks regular English. To do so I will annotate a slang translation of Harry Potter, and research the etymological origins of the slang to try to discover - using Metcalf’s (2002) FUDGE theory - which slang terms are more likely to be understood. I expect to find that the slang terms that more closely resemble regular English words are more likely to be understood.Show less
In the world’s quest for a greener and more sustainable future, lithium has emerged as a critical metal. In fact, the majority of the world’s lithium resources could be found in the so-called ...Show moreIn the world’s quest for a greener and more sustainable future, lithium has emerged as a critical metal. In fact, the majority of the world’s lithium resources could be found in the so-called ‘Lithium Triangle’ region – comprising Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Consequently, this region’s role in facilitating global sustainable growth becomes increasingly pivotal, especially in the (near) future. It is therefore of crucial importance for all stakeholders involved in the global supply chain of lithium-ion batteries to understand what drives and shapes lithium governance in the ‘Lithium Triangle’ countries. To achieve the latter, this thesis argues that an explanation of a country’s approach to lithium governance should go beyond a narrow focus on its relationship with commodity prices. Instead, it should engage with a wide range of ideological, cultural, social, historical and economic factors too. By taking such a holistic approach, this thesis seeksto explain differences in lithium governance and, subsequently, the attitude towards transnational lithium companies (TLCs) among the ‘Lithium Triangle’ countries observed over the past fifteen years. As a result, this thesis not only contributes to an increased understanding of lithium governance within the ‘Lithium Triangle’ region. More generally, it also sheds light on what factors influence a country’s natural resource governance, placing it somewhere on the continuum between resource nationalism and resource liberalism.Show less
Despite how clearly it permeates most political and social strata in the region, the intersection of spirituality and politics in Myanmar is a relatively underappreciated subject. This thesis...Show moreDespite how clearly it permeates most political and social strata in the region, the intersection of spirituality and politics in Myanmar is a relatively underappreciated subject. This thesis attempts to uncover the instances where distinct political acts and histories enmeshed and enthused a religious narrative informing much of the region's political legitimacy. Stylistically informed by Intellectual History, this paper first examines the definitions and concepts surrounding Political Buddhism and its interpolations within a Myanmar context. The paper will then divulge the broadest examples of Political Buddhism during Colonialism, Socialism, and military junta before honing in on use cases within the three latest public events: The 1988 uprising, the Saffron Revolution, the discourse surrounding the Rohingya Massacre, and the "Sangha" Buddhist monk institution's involvement in such.Show less
In recent years, the Egyptian government has embarked on an ambitious development agenda, focusing on megaprojects to enhance economic, societal, and environmental progress. Amid economic...Show moreIn recent years, the Egyptian government has embarked on an ambitious development agenda, focusing on megaprojects to enhance economic, societal, and environmental progress. Amid economic challenges, there is a recognition of tourism's potential to boost foreign currency income. The government has shifted its tourism development focus from coastal resort towns to the culturally significant St. Catherine in South Sinai. A UNESCO heritage site and a natural protectorate, the site is believed to be where Moses received the Ten Commandments and houses the oldest continuously inhabited monastery globally. The newly initiated ‘al-Tagali al-Aatham’ project aims to transform the city into a global tourist destination, sparking economic growth for the city, the region, and the Egyptian state. However, environmental and heritage concerns have arisen. This thesis investigates the socio-economic impact of al-Tagali al-Aatham on St. Catherine, employing ethnographic fieldwork to explore perspectives from both the government and local Gabaliya Bedouin. Positioned within Sinai’s history of political contestation and nation-building efforts, the thesis positions the project as a case study of state-induced development on the ‘margins’ of an authoritarian state in an ethnically complex setting. It argues that al-Tagali al-Aatham serves as a nation-consolidation measure, promoting national identity and solidifying Sinai’s integration into the Egyptian nation-state by imposing nationalism, seeking peace, and presenting Egypt as a modern nation.Show less
Using hitherto unexplored archival materials, this study explores the extended negotiations leading to the 1972 Dutch-Sino joint communique in which the exchange of embassies was settled. It...Show moreUsing hitherto unexplored archival materials, this study explores the extended negotiations leading to the 1972 Dutch-Sino joint communique in which the exchange of embassies was settled. It identifies two accelerators and hurdles in the process. Richard Nixon's 1971 visit announcement initiated talks between the Netherlands and the PRC, while the PRC’s admission to the UN removed an important difficulty in their bilateral ties. Hurdles arose during discussions on how to communicate the elevation of bilateral ties to the ambassadorial level and on the formal language regarding Taiwan in the joint communique. The addition of the 'anti-Brezhnev doctrine' showcased the Netherlands' departure from the Brezhnev Doctrine, emphasizing peaceful coexistence. Beyond the negotiation intricacies, the study highlights the agency of smaller states. The Netherlands intentionally deviated from U.S. foreign policy in the UN-vote on Chinese representation and included discussions with Romania on European security and limiting superpower actions in its negotiations with China.Show less
Er is onderzoek gedaan naar de rol die bestaande beelden over deepfakes in de Nederlandse media speelden in berichtgeving over een specifieke casus die zich afspeelde in april 2021. Hierbij deed...Show moreEr is onderzoek gedaan naar de rol die bestaande beelden over deepfakes in de Nederlandse media speelden in berichtgeving over een specifieke casus die zich afspeelde in april 2021. Hierbij deed een lid van een Russisch bedriegersduo zich voor als de Russische oppositiepoliticus Leonid Volkov en sprak met de Vaste Kamercommissie voor buitenlandse zaken. Eerst rapporteerde de berichtgeving over deze casus dat de bedrieger gebruik maakte van deepfaketechnologie, maar dit bleek later niet zo te zijn. Deze scriptie onderzoekt hoe deze fout tot stand gekomen is en welke factoren daa r een rol bij hebben gespeeld aan de hand van drie stappen. In de eerste stap is er een frameanalyse uitgevoerd over de Nederlandse berichtgeving over deepfakes in de periode 23 november 2020 tot 23 april 2021, waaruit bleek dat de framing van deepfakes in deze periode grotendeels negatief was. In de tweede en derde stap is een reconstructie van de berichtgeving over de casus uitgevoerd, respectievelijk door middel van een analyse van de berichtgeving zelf en door interviews met twee journalisten die over d e casus schreven. Hieruit bleek dat meerdere factoren een rol speelden in het ontstaan van de fout, inclusief de bestaande hype over deepfaketechnologie, maar ook gebrek aan beeldmateriaal van de bedrieger en de tijdsdruk die in het algemeen binnen het journalistieke vak bestaat.Show less
This thesis analyses how, if at all, the Israeli claim to Jerusalem has evolved since 1948. To answer this question, it compares discourse in The Early Years (1948-1967) and The Post Six-Day War...Show moreThis thesis analyses how, if at all, the Israeli claim to Jerusalem has evolved since 1948. To answer this question, it compares discourse in The Early Years (1948-1967) and The Post Six-Day War Era (1967-2018) periods within three key areas – political, cultural and legal developments. The results show a surface-level evolution of the claim in certain aspects such as the growth of messianism and fundamental legal changes. However, amidst this superficial evolution, a profound substantive consistency prevails across both periods in political and cultural discourse, where the essence remains unchanged, particularly evidenced in the enduring national consensus on the issue and conceptualisation of Jerusalem in the national identity. The implications of this reinforce the notion of a united Jerusalem as a symbolic bedrock of Israel’s existence, historical legitimacy and foundational narrative.Show less
Pragmatic competence is a fundamental aspect of communicative ability and key to successful interaction between two or more interlocutors within a given socio-cultural context. It is widely...Show morePragmatic competence is a fundamental aspect of communicative ability and key to successful interaction between two or more interlocutors within a given socio-cultural context. It is widely accepted that its absence entails misunderstandings or communication breakdowns (Alsuhaibani, 2022; Tulgar, 2016). Therefore, teaching pragmatics in EFL classrooms is a crucial issue since it prepares second language learners to communicate effectively within an intercultural and multicultural context, which is, in fact, the ultimate goal of second language learning. Yet, in Greek EFL classes, pragmatics instruction is often absent. Admittedly, Greek EFL teachers are not native speakers of the language and have been taught English and its pragmatics as second-language learners themselves. Consequently, their limited exposure to the target L2 socio-cultural context may imply teachers’ low level of pragmatic knowledge, which influences their teaching of pragmatics. Besides, there are other issues that EFL instructors should deal with that hinder the incorporation of pragmatics in their lesson plans. This thesis aimed to investigate Greek EFL teachers’ pragmatic competence, their beliefs on L2 pragmatics instruction, and the challenges they face in integrating it into their EFL classroom. To achieve the thesis objectives, a mixed-methods research design was employed, using questionnaires (pragmatic comprehension scenarios, DCT, Likert-scale self-reports) and semi-structured interviews to collect data, which were then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The present thesis showed that the 72 Greek EFL teachers who participated in the questionnaire have a relatively high level of pragmatic competence. This thesis also identified no correlation between teachers’ pragmatic competence and their years of teaching experience or their residing/studying/working abroad using the target language. Moreover, it is found that although most teachers do not include structured pragmatic instruction in their lesson plans, they do value L2 pragmatics teaching. Finally, teacher and learner factors, as well as the Greek EFL context itself, pose significant challenges in incorporating L2 pragmatic instructions in Greek EFL classrooms.Show less
This thesis examines the paintings of Henry Scott Tuke (1858-1929) against the backdrop of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain, exploring how his depictions of naked youths at the British seaside...Show moreThis thesis examines the paintings of Henry Scott Tuke (1858-1929) against the backdrop of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain, exploring how his depictions of naked youths at the British seaside navigated and subverted dominant cultural narratives of gender and sexuality. The study employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating the lens of “the queer gaze,” multiple social-historical contexts in relation to the seaside, and critical reception. The first chapter delves into Tuke's portrayal of naked youths, revealing layers of homoerotic desire and voyeurism. Through visual analysis, Tuke's paintings are shown to evoke both childhood innocence and charged intimacy, inviting viewers to question and interpret the subtle sensuality within them. The second chapter examines the significance of the British seaside in Tuke's work, highlighting its idealized portrayal as a utopia of leisure and a masculine homosocial space. The final chapter explores the reception of Tuke's paintings during his lifetime and in current perspectives, revealing a nuanced tension between tradition and innovation in both style and subject. Tuke's depictions of naked youths at the beach occupy a liminal space between convention and novelty, both accepted by the critics of his time as well as the Royal Academy and celebrated by queer fringe groups. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of Tuke's work while shedding light on broader discussions surrounding the representation of gender and sexuality in art history.Show less
Op 12 februari 2022 verschijnt op de website van The Guardian niet voor het eerst een liveblog over de spanningen in Oekraïne. Dit liveblog zou het eerste blijken in een reeks dagelijkse liveblogs...Show moreOp 12 februari 2022 verschijnt op de website van The Guardian niet voor het eerst een liveblog over de spanningen in Oekraïne. Dit liveblog zou het eerste blijken in een reeks dagelijkse liveblogs die tot op heden onafgebroken is. Net als The Guardian maken talloze nieuwsmedia in de berichtgeving over de Russische invasie gebruik van het langlopende liveblog, ook wel slowblog genoemd. Een slowblog heeft alle kenmerken van een liveblog, maar er zijn ook verschillen. In de wetenschappelijke literatuur wordt nog geen onderscheid gemaakt tussen live- en slowblogs; er wordt enkel gesproken over liveblogs. In dit exploratieve onderzoek worden door middel van een kwalitatieve inhoudsanalyse volgens de methode van Biber & Conrad (2019) antwoord gegeven op de vraag: wat zijn verschillen tussen liveblogs en slowblogs in register, genre en stijl? Twee samengestelde slowblogs worden vergeleken met een samengesteld liveblog, waarbij verschillen worden aangetroffen op het gebied van fragmentatie, bronverwijzing, en het gebruik van werkwoordstijden, die worden verklaard aan de hand van de communicatieve doelen die de twee soorten liveblogs dienen. Dit onderzoek kan worden gebruikt als leidraad voor meer vergelijkend onderzoek, en kan door middel van interviews worden getoetst aan de journalistieke praktijk.Show less
