In Urdu, all nouns are gendered, and this gender is visible in the way that other word classes agree with these nouns. English does not have the grammatical category of gender, and English nouns...Show moreIn Urdu, all nouns are gendered, and this gender is visible in the way that other word classes agree with these nouns. English does not have the grammatical category of gender, and English nouns are inherently genderless. This paper investigates the criteria used by Urdu speakers to assign gender to English nouns when they are code-switched into Urdu discourse. I identified four such criteria which have been found to influence such gender assignment in other languages—morphological factors, phonological factors, semantic equivalency and hyponymhypernym relations. I used these criteria as a framework to analyse the gender assignment process in Urdu. I created a questionnaire in which native Urdu speakers were prompted to inflect certain words which must agree with the English nouns in Urdu sentences, and analysed the results. All four criteria were found to influence gender assignment.Show less
This thesis explores the effectiveness of three different machine translation (MT) engines—Google Translate, ChatGPT, and Baidu—in translating English phrasal verbs into Mandarin. The study focuses...Show moreThis thesis explores the effectiveness of three different machine translation (MT) engines—Google Translate, ChatGPT, and Baidu—in translating English phrasal verbs into Mandarin. The study focuses on three categories of phrasal verbs: literal, aspectual, and idiomatic. A corpus of sentences containing various phrasal verbs was translated by each MT engine and evaluated for general translation quality using automatic metrics and for the accuracy of phrasal verb translations via human assessment. Results indicate that while improvements have been made in MT, significant challenges remain, particularly with literal phrasal verbs. Among the MT engines, Baidu performed the best, likely due to its extensive training on Mandarin data. However, ChatGPT shows promise, proposing that with advanced prompting and fine-tuning, it could surpass Baidu. This research highlights the current strengths and weaknesses of MT engines in handling phrasal verbs and suggests directions for future improvements in MT technology.Show less
This thesis investigates the similarities and differences between the realizations of /tj/ in English and Dutch, focusing on the process of palatalization in both languages. This paper investigates...Show moreThis thesis investigates the similarities and differences between the realizations of /tj/ in English and Dutch, focusing on the process of palatalization in both languages. This paper investigates the various linguistic environments in which palatalization occurs and describes the linguistic factors that influence the different realizations of the cluster. An experiment with Dutch speakers is conducted. This experiment is compared to literature about the processes in English and Dutch. Stress is the main linguistic factor that promotes palatalization in both languages.Show less
This thesis examines the competition between the nominal suffixes -ity and -ness in Late Modern English (LModE) from 1710 to 1920. By replicating the methodology of Rodríguez-Puente et al. (2022),...Show moreThis thesis examines the competition between the nominal suffixes -ity and -ness in Late Modern English (LModE) from 1710 to 1920. By replicating the methodology of Rodríguez-Puente et al. (2022), the study measures the diachronic productivity of both suffixes across different registers using corpus linguistic methods. The study utilises the Corpus of Late Modern English Texts (CLMET) and the Old Bailey Corpus (OBC) to calculate the proportion of -ity types out of all -ity and -ness types. The results indicate a stabilisation of -ity type proportions during the LModE period and show significant register effects on the diversity of suffix use. The findings suggest that the situational and linguistic contexts of different registers play a crucial role in shaping the competition and productivity of suffixes. This study further highlights the dynamic interplay of linguistic and sociolinguistic factors.Show less
This thesis follows up on a study by Jingrong Tong and Landon Zuo, who found that in the years leading up to the 2016 Brexit referendum, a moral panic around migrants was reflected in UK migration...Show moreThis thesis follows up on a study by Jingrong Tong and Landon Zuo, who found that in the years leading up to the 2016 Brexit referendum, a moral panic around migrants was reflected in UK migration discourse. This moral panic diminished post-referendum, as according to surveys, national concerns about migration climactically dropped during this time, suggesting a decrease in moral panic. The current exploratory study examines if this decline in moral panic is reflected in framing trends of migrants in 2016 UK media. A small corpus was compiled containing articles about migration from three major UK newspapers. The frequencies of thematic framing trends were examined diachronically, and examples of the trends were studied qualitatively. The findings indicated no strong alignment between framing trends and the decrease in migration concerns. However, the number of times migrants were discussed in general did decrease during the concern decline. Future researchers should adjust their methodology to re-examine the relationship between framing and moral panic climaxes.Show less
The Old English poem Judith stands out as somewhat of an anomaly in what little survives of pre-Norman Conquest English literature. Much like Beowulf, which it shares a manuscript with, Judith is...Show moreThe Old English poem Judith stands out as somewhat of an anomaly in what little survives of pre-Norman Conquest English literature. Much like Beowulf, which it shares a manuscript with, Judith is an example of heroic epic poem; a form of narrative verse, which describe the grand and larger-than-life deeds of aristocratic warriors and rulers, and often written in an elevated and exaggeratedly dramatic style. However, what separates Judith from its contemporary in the same volume, as well as most heroic poems, is that it stars a woman in the leading role; the biblical Saint Judith, who, in response to her beloved city of Bethulia being besieged with no hope of relief, snuck inside the Assyrian general Holofernes’ camp and beheaded him. Unlike in the original Liber Vulgate text, however, Judith is framed as more of a military leader than a religiously significant figure.Show less
In this paper, I explore the following research question: are there differences between the tendencies of speakers of English and Dutch, native and non-native, monolingual and non-monolingual, when...Show moreIn this paper, I explore the following research question: are there differences between the tendencies of speakers of English and Dutch, native and non-native, monolingual and non-monolingual, when referring to un(der)specified subjects1? Do native speakers of these languages use different tactics to refer to generic human subjects whose (gender) identity is either unknown or unimportant (in context) than non-native speakers? Also, how does artificial intelligence mimic these tendencies? To answer these questions, I have researched the intuitions of native speakers of English and Dutch, created a survey-writing task hybrid experiment based on the findings, and tested whether the found patterns are (re)produced by participants as well as text-generating artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT (GPT- 3.5). I have found that the consensus of literature appears to be that native Dutch users tend to use the singular third person masculine generically, while native English users prefer to use ‘he/she’. Meanwhile, English and Dutch participants use the (neuter) formal and informal singular second person forms. The ChatGPT-generated texts also predominantly include second person forms in both languages.Show less
Technology has rapidly progressed since the Industrial Revolution in the medical, political and environmental fields. It has become an element that is essential and unavoidable at the present time....Show moreTechnology has rapidly progressed since the Industrial Revolution in the medical, political and environmental fields. It has become an element that is essential and unavoidable at the present time. Although technological enhancements have their positive influences, there is the reality of negative consequences tied to this progression. The recurring debates regarding positive and negative influences of technology on society is still prevalent. These concerns and consequences have been reflected and portrayed in numerous science fiction series and films. This includes the popular British series, Doctor Who, which explores the consequences and concerns tied to technological enhancements. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the manner in which Doctor Who presents the dire consequences tied to technological enhancements within the posthumanism and transhumanism frameworks. The social and ethical notions are challenged by presenting technology at its most extreme. This is done by analyzing the recurring villain, the Cybermen, who are the epitome of the fusion between man and machine. The analysis is based on episodes both from the Classic Who era and the NuWho era to provide a detailed insight into the changes the Cybermen have undergone, and the manner in which they reflect the cultural zeitgeist. The study discovered that the representation of the Cybermen challenge the notions of posthumanism and transhumanism. The increasingly blurred boundaries between man and machine are a realistic, albeit fictional concern resulting in the prevalance of the debate concerning the rapid progression of technological enhancements.Show less
In this thesis, a case study is conducted of two different English translations of The Count of Monte Cristo, one of which was published in 1846 by Chapman and Hall and one which was translated by...Show moreIn this thesis, a case study is conducted of two different English translations of The Count of Monte Cristo, one of which was published in 1846 by Chapman and Hall and one which was translated by Robin Buss and published in 1996. The case study is conducted to observe one of the reasons for retranslation as given by Robin Buss to explain his choice to retranslate the novel. This reason in analysed according to the overview for reasons for retranslation by van Poucke (2017). Concerning the queer relationship between Miss Danglar and Miss d’Armilly, Buss notes that previous translation choices leave out certain passages and lexical items that were present in the French source text. The 1996 translation is presented as an improved translation. This thesis aims to find sections of text that contain examples to support or deny this claim and to verify if the differences between the source text and original translation (as a result of translation choices) required a retranslation as given by Buss.Show less
This thesis explores the endings of Quentin Tarantino's films through the lens of auteur theory. By analyzing the closing scenes of three of his works—Pulp Fiction (1994), Inglourious Basterds ...Show moreThis thesis explores the endings of Quentin Tarantino's films through the lens of auteur theory. By analyzing the closing scenes of three of his works—Pulp Fiction (1994), Inglourious Basterds (2009), and Django Unchained (2012)—the study aims to uncover the distinct stylistic elements that characterize Tarantino's directorial approach. The selected films span nearly two decades and various genres, providing a comprehensive overview of his evolving style. Key techniques such as bracketing, close-ups, music, and mirroring shots are identified as recurring elements in his endings. These techniques emphasize character emotions and control, creating memorable and impactful conclusions. The study concludes that Tarantino's unique signature is evident in his film endings, showcasing his consistent thematic focus on control and power dynamics .Show less
In this thesis, I examine the gothic and metafictional genre elements of Mark Z. Danielewski's novel 'House of Leaves.' Chapter 1 is split into two sections: section 1.1 contains an analysis of the...Show moreIn this thesis, I examine the gothic and metafictional genre elements of Mark Z. Danielewski's novel 'House of Leaves.' Chapter 1 is split into two sections: section 1.1 contains an analysis of the gothic elements present in 'The Navidson Record' central to the novel and, in section 1.2, I proceed to examine the novel's metafictional characteristics and how metafiction and Gothicism are intertwined in the text. In both preceding sections, the reader's knowledge gap—referred to in my thesis as the epistemological gap—is prevalent in my reading of the novel. Consequently, in Chapter 2 I explore this knowledge gap further, relating it to the gothic and metafictional elements analyzed in the preceding chapter. Lastly, I argue that the audience might fill the epistemological gap by projecting their own personal interpretations of the text onto it. One of the main characters inside the narrative, Johnny Truant, projects his childhood trauma onto the text and processes it in his annotations to 'The Navidson Record.'Show less
An analysis of the Cosmic Horror genre and how it shifted in modern times. This is done by analysing Lovecraft's work and analysing the podcast The Magnus Archives. Then comparing them and...Show moreAn analysis of the Cosmic Horror genre and how it shifted in modern times. This is done by analysing Lovecraft's work and analysing the podcast The Magnus Archives. Then comparing them and determining how the genre has shifted over time.Show less
