Visualisation processes in teaching patterns and their generalisation: perceptions and experiences from senior phase mathematics teachers
- Authors: Chatima, Simon
- Date: 2022-04-08
- Subjects: Visual learning South Africa Eastern Cape , Mathematics Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa Eastern Cape , Mathematics teachers South Africa Eastern Cape Attitudes , Sequences (Mathematics) Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa Eastern Cape , Constructivism (Education) South Africa Eastern Cape , Mathematics teachers In-service training South Africa Eastern Cape , VIPRO MATHS Project
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232936 , vital:50039
- Description: This study investigated how senior phase mathematics teachers used visualisation approaches to teach patterns and their generalisation as a result of an intervention programme. This project is an integral component of the VIPRO MATHS Project and one of a number of post-graduate research projects which has a particular focus on visualisation processes in mathematics education in the Southern African region. This case study of Senior Phase mathematics teachers in the Chris Hani West District (CHW) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa used a social constructivist theory. The study is grounded within an interpretive paradigm explanatory qualitative method design. It surveyed thirty-seven Senior Phase mathematics teachers from schools in the CHW district to get an idea of how teachers teach patterns and their generalisation, prior to an intervention process. After the survey, nine teachers were purposively selected to take part in an intervention programme. They were then observed (teaching) and interviewed to get their perceptions about what factors enable and/or constrain the teaching of patterns and their generalisation when visualisation approaches were used. The data from the survey questionnaire responses, the lesson observations and the interviews were analysed qualitatively. The findings from the survey questionnaire responses revealed that teachers in CHW district value the use of visualisation approaches, although they used visuals to teach patterns in a way that lacked depth, skill and rigor prior to the intervention. Challenges such as difficulty in keeping abreast with the prescribed syllabus, the lack of resources, time constraints, and the limited knowledge of algebra learners have for successfully transferring pictorial representations to symbolic presentations, emerged from the survey data. This necessitated the need for an intervention which focused on the use of a variety of visual strategies and tools to teach patterns and their generalisation effectively. Data from lesson observations showed that all observed participant teachers used visuals to generate image- related questions and created platforms for lively classroom discussions. The teachers used the generated questions to build on learners’ prior knowledge and to promote learner understanding of pattern dynamics that stem from pictorial representations. The data from the interviews revealed that teachers’ perceptions had drastically changed after the intervention. This was because they were now equipped and empowered to effectively make use of visual strategies that enabled them to: build on learners’ prior knowledge, to manipulate visuals for the purpose of prompting learning, develop cognitive perception in learners, cultivate learner innovation and originality and enhance problem solving techniques. This study concludes that the use of visuals enhanced conceptual teaching of patterns and their generalisation in the observed participants. This has the potential to provide mathematics education researchers and curriculum developers with a strong basis to include visualisation processes and strategies into the design of policy documents and to initiate further research efforts. The implications for the teachers are that learners need to be taught ways to create and interpret visual representations in order to understand the dynamics of transferring a pictorial pattern to its resultant symbolic representation expressing pattern regularity. It is also hoped that the results of this study will be utilised by mathematics subject advisers and teacher training institutions to improve the teaching of patterns and their generalisation. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-08
- Authors: Chatima, Simon
- Date: 2022-04-08
- Subjects: Visual learning South Africa Eastern Cape , Mathematics Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa Eastern Cape , Mathematics teachers South Africa Eastern Cape Attitudes , Sequences (Mathematics) Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa Eastern Cape , Constructivism (Education) South Africa Eastern Cape , Mathematics teachers In-service training South Africa Eastern Cape , VIPRO MATHS Project
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232936 , vital:50039
- Description: This study investigated how senior phase mathematics teachers used visualisation approaches to teach patterns and their generalisation as a result of an intervention programme. This project is an integral component of the VIPRO MATHS Project and one of a number of post-graduate research projects which has a particular focus on visualisation processes in mathematics education in the Southern African region. This case study of Senior Phase mathematics teachers in the Chris Hani West District (CHW) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa used a social constructivist theory. The study is grounded within an interpretive paradigm explanatory qualitative method design. It surveyed thirty-seven Senior Phase mathematics teachers from schools in the CHW district to get an idea of how teachers teach patterns and their generalisation, prior to an intervention process. After the survey, nine teachers were purposively selected to take part in an intervention programme. They were then observed (teaching) and interviewed to get their perceptions about what factors enable and/or constrain the teaching of patterns and their generalisation when visualisation approaches were used. The data from the survey questionnaire responses, the lesson observations and the interviews were analysed qualitatively. The findings from the survey questionnaire responses revealed that teachers in CHW district value the use of visualisation approaches, although they used visuals to teach patterns in a way that lacked depth, skill and rigor prior to the intervention. Challenges such as difficulty in keeping abreast with the prescribed syllabus, the lack of resources, time constraints, and the limited knowledge of algebra learners have for successfully transferring pictorial representations to symbolic presentations, emerged from the survey data. This necessitated the need for an intervention which focused on the use of a variety of visual strategies and tools to teach patterns and their generalisation effectively. Data from lesson observations showed that all observed participant teachers used visuals to generate image- related questions and created platforms for lively classroom discussions. The teachers used the generated questions to build on learners’ prior knowledge and to promote learner understanding of pattern dynamics that stem from pictorial representations. The data from the interviews revealed that teachers’ perceptions had drastically changed after the intervention. This was because they were now equipped and empowered to effectively make use of visual strategies that enabled them to: build on learners’ prior knowledge, to manipulate visuals for the purpose of prompting learning, develop cognitive perception in learners, cultivate learner innovation and originality and enhance problem solving techniques. This study concludes that the use of visuals enhanced conceptual teaching of patterns and their generalisation in the observed participants. This has the potential to provide mathematics education researchers and curriculum developers with a strong basis to include visualisation processes and strategies into the design of policy documents and to initiate further research efforts. The implications for the teachers are that learners need to be taught ways to create and interpret visual representations in order to understand the dynamics of transferring a pictorial pattern to its resultant symbolic representation expressing pattern regularity. It is also hoped that the results of this study will be utilised by mathematics subject advisers and teacher training institutions to improve the teaching of patterns and their generalisation. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-08
Visualising Chinese presence: an analysis of the contemporary arts of Zambia and Zimbabwe
- Authors: Zhang, Lifang
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Art, Modern -- 21st century , Art, Modern -- 21st century -- Chinese influences , China -- Relations -- Zambia , China -- Relations -- Zimbabwe , Art and society -- Zambia , Social practice (Art) -- Zambia , Art and globalization -- Zambia , Art and society -- Zimbabwe , Social practice (Art) -- Zimbabwe , Art and globalization -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146618 , vital:38542
- Description: With the revival and rapid growth of relations between China and African countries in the present century, the “China-Africa relationship” has become a topic of close attention globally and the media and politicians have been dominating the mainstream discourses with dichotomised narratives. China-Africa engagement has also spurred academic research, most of which is oriented toward large-scale economic, political, and strategic concerns. In this context, it is significant to conduct in-depth research exploring specific engagement between Chinese and African people on the ground. Contemporary artists based in Africa have started to represent, through artworks and performances, their experiences and expressions of relations between China and various African countries. However, an examination of twenty-first century connections between Africa and China in relation to the contemporary visual arts is a new area of study and only a limited number of scholarly works exist. To contribute to the research in this area, this thesis explores the ways in which artists engage with specific realities and lived-experiences of Chinese presence through their artistic practices, with a focus on a selection of artists from Zambia and Zimbabwe. Through visual analysis, interviews and field work, this thesis provides a systematic investigation of contemporary arts of Zambia and Zimbabwe in relation to Africa- China encounters, engaging with four aspects: the discursive field, the material presence, individual experiences of encounters, and the broader relational connections within the arts. This thesis argues that, motivated by the histories and realities of African societies, artists from Zambia and Zimbabwe, through their artistic practices, form part of the Africa-China engagement and insert their agencies in the south-south relations between Africans and Chinese. Therefore, this thesis demonstrates the value in approaching the broader discussion on Africa-China engagements from the perspective of contemporary art, arguing that, with the social concerns of the artists and the expressive capacity of creative forms, visual arts are able to embrace diversity, dynamics, complexities and contradictions, and, therefore, can develop the topic beyond the stereotypical narratives about Africa-China relations to a more nuanced understanding of African-Chinese encounters in specific contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Zhang, Lifang
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Art, Modern -- 21st century , Art, Modern -- 21st century -- Chinese influences , China -- Relations -- Zambia , China -- Relations -- Zimbabwe , Art and society -- Zambia , Social practice (Art) -- Zambia , Art and globalization -- Zambia , Art and society -- Zimbabwe , Social practice (Art) -- Zimbabwe , Art and globalization -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146618 , vital:38542
- Description: With the revival and rapid growth of relations between China and African countries in the present century, the “China-Africa relationship” has become a topic of close attention globally and the media and politicians have been dominating the mainstream discourses with dichotomised narratives. China-Africa engagement has also spurred academic research, most of which is oriented toward large-scale economic, political, and strategic concerns. In this context, it is significant to conduct in-depth research exploring specific engagement between Chinese and African people on the ground. Contemporary artists based in Africa have started to represent, through artworks and performances, their experiences and expressions of relations between China and various African countries. However, an examination of twenty-first century connections between Africa and China in relation to the contemporary visual arts is a new area of study and only a limited number of scholarly works exist. To contribute to the research in this area, this thesis explores the ways in which artists engage with specific realities and lived-experiences of Chinese presence through their artistic practices, with a focus on a selection of artists from Zambia and Zimbabwe. Through visual analysis, interviews and field work, this thesis provides a systematic investigation of contemporary arts of Zambia and Zimbabwe in relation to Africa- China encounters, engaging with four aspects: the discursive field, the material presence, individual experiences of encounters, and the broader relational connections within the arts. This thesis argues that, motivated by the histories and realities of African societies, artists from Zambia and Zimbabwe, through their artistic practices, form part of the Africa-China engagement and insert their agencies in the south-south relations between Africans and Chinese. Therefore, this thesis demonstrates the value in approaching the broader discussion on Africa-China engagements from the perspective of contemporary art, arguing that, with the social concerns of the artists and the expressive capacity of creative forms, visual arts are able to embrace diversity, dynamics, complexities and contradictions, and, therefore, can develop the topic beyond the stereotypical narratives about Africa-China relations to a more nuanced understanding of African-Chinese encounters in specific contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Visualising the Psyche: Perspectives on mental health in the medium of comics
- Authors: Solomon, Tayla Shan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Spiegelman, Art -- Maus , Kelly, Joe, 1971- -- I kill giants , Niimura, J M Ken -- I kill giants , Brosh, Allie -- Hyperbole and a half , Comic books, strips, etc. -- Psychological aspects , Comic books, stripa, etc. -- Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148413 , vital:38737
- Description: The field of Psychology is constantly shifting in its understanding of mental health. Scholars have been critiquing Psychology’s narrow perspective of what constitutes ‘normal’. Many dealing with mental health issues fear that they will be misunderstood and are confronted with systems and institutions that they find unempathetic. This mini-thesis conceptualises creative empathy as a solution to these problems. It is based on the idea that every experience is unique and therefore cannot be wholly understood without engaging in an imaginative process. The appropriateness of the comics medium as a tool for promoting this strategy is explored with a focus on the use of visual imagery to tell stories of distressing experiences. It looks at Tayla Shan Solomon’s The Adventures of Apparently-Anyone-Can-Do-It-If-TheyJust-Try Bug! (2019), Art Spiegelman’s Maus (I & II) (1986), Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura’s I Kill Giants (2011), and Allie Brosh’s Hyperbole and a Half: unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened (2013). This mini-thesis analyses various techniques employed by comics artists to create compelling stories of idiosyncratic experiences, including the use of symbolic imagery and framing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Solomon, Tayla Shan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Spiegelman, Art -- Maus , Kelly, Joe, 1971- -- I kill giants , Niimura, J M Ken -- I kill giants , Brosh, Allie -- Hyperbole and a half , Comic books, strips, etc. -- Psychological aspects , Comic books, stripa, etc. -- Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148413 , vital:38737
- Description: The field of Psychology is constantly shifting in its understanding of mental health. Scholars have been critiquing Psychology’s narrow perspective of what constitutes ‘normal’. Many dealing with mental health issues fear that they will be misunderstood and are confronted with systems and institutions that they find unempathetic. This mini-thesis conceptualises creative empathy as a solution to these problems. It is based on the idea that every experience is unique and therefore cannot be wholly understood without engaging in an imaginative process. The appropriateness of the comics medium as a tool for promoting this strategy is explored with a focus on the use of visual imagery to tell stories of distressing experiences. It looks at Tayla Shan Solomon’s The Adventures of Apparently-Anyone-Can-Do-It-If-TheyJust-Try Bug! (2019), Art Spiegelman’s Maus (I & II) (1986), Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura’s I Kill Giants (2011), and Allie Brosh’s Hyperbole and a Half: unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened (2013). This mini-thesis analyses various techniques employed by comics artists to create compelling stories of idiosyncratic experiences, including the use of symbolic imagery and framing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Vital threats to human security in Southern Africa : the regional ramifications of the public health crisis in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Mtero, Shingirai
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human security -- Africa, Southern , Communicable diseases -- Africa, Southern , Public health -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2891 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018251
- Description: The southern African region is beset with numerous security concerns: pervasive poverty, deepening inequality, starvation, contamination of essential natural resources, violent crime and state oppression. However, the most vital of the region’s security concerns in the 21st century is the spread of infectious disease. The region shoulders a disproportionate amount of the continent’s infectious disease burden, with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria claiming more lives every year than any other factor. The nature of these diseases and their propensity to spread, coupled with inadequate regional public health structures pose a significant threat to regional security and stability. The study asserts that southern Africa’s security concerns are most appropriately characterised under the paradigm of Human Security. It further asserts that if such vital threats to human security are not adequately managed they have the ability to permeate across state borders, spelling numerous negative ramifications for the region. To this end, the study details the public health crisis in Zimbabwe and its effects on regional security and stability in southern Africa. An enduring political and economic collapse in Zimbabwe led to the dramatic deterioration of its public health sector, the concomitant mass migration of Zimbabwean nationals across the region presented a unique and complex challenge to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its member states. As the premier regional governance institution, SADC has failed to adequately mobilise its structures and member states to respond to the challenges resulting from the public health crisis in Zimbabwe. The study explores the factors accounting for this regional inertia, and asserts that while infectious diseases are at present the most vital of the human security threats, similar threats to human security have the potential to affect the region if SADC fails to recognise and prioritise threats to human security as legitimate regional security concerns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mtero, Shingirai
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human security -- Africa, Southern , Communicable diseases -- Africa, Southern , Public health -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2891 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018251
- Description: The southern African region is beset with numerous security concerns: pervasive poverty, deepening inequality, starvation, contamination of essential natural resources, violent crime and state oppression. However, the most vital of the region’s security concerns in the 21st century is the spread of infectious disease. The region shoulders a disproportionate amount of the continent’s infectious disease burden, with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria claiming more lives every year than any other factor. The nature of these diseases and their propensity to spread, coupled with inadequate regional public health structures pose a significant threat to regional security and stability. The study asserts that southern Africa’s security concerns are most appropriately characterised under the paradigm of Human Security. It further asserts that if such vital threats to human security are not adequately managed they have the ability to permeate across state borders, spelling numerous negative ramifications for the region. To this end, the study details the public health crisis in Zimbabwe and its effects on regional security and stability in southern Africa. An enduring political and economic collapse in Zimbabwe led to the dramatic deterioration of its public health sector, the concomitant mass migration of Zimbabwean nationals across the region presented a unique and complex challenge to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its member states. As the premier regional governance institution, SADC has failed to adequately mobilise its structures and member states to respond to the challenges resulting from the public health crisis in Zimbabwe. The study explores the factors accounting for this regional inertia, and asserts that while infectious diseases are at present the most vital of the human security threats, similar threats to human security have the potential to affect the region if SADC fails to recognise and prioritise threats to human security as legitimate regional security concerns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Vitalis en verteller: 'n ondersoek na aspekte van die romankuns van Gerard Walschap
- Authors: Vaughan , F E M
- Date: 1981
- Subjects: Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 , Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 -- Criticism and interpretation , Dutch fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3607 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003817 , Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 , Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 -- Criticism and interpretation , Dutch fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
- Description: In 'n hoofstuk getiteld In het teken van het persoonlijkheidsideaal in sy werk De Vlaamse Letterkunde van 1780 tot Heden bespreek R F Lissens die wegeb van die "expressionistische getij met die dood van Van Ostaijen, en die onvermoë van die roman om - op enkele min of meer geslaagde voorbeelde na - die tendense van die ekspressionisme te vertolk: verdere pogings in dié rigting loop dan ook teen die einde van die twintigerjare dood. Ook B F van Vlierden beskou die ekspressionisme as 'n in die grond ongeskikte voedingsbron vir die romangenre, met die gevolg dat die roman in dié jare - d.w.s. na die mln of meer naturalisties-impressionistiese romantradisie verteenwoordig deur Buysse, Streuvels, Timmermans, Claes - "in zijn eigen ontwikkeling op een kritiek keerpunt staat, waarbij men vooralsnog aIleen het kritieke van de situatie ziet ... Het decennium na de oorlog is in feite weinig gunstig voor de roman ... Ook P van Ostaijen heeft gepoogd een 'grote roman' te schrijven, maar deze werd nooit voltooid ... In de marge van het humanitair expressionisme ontstaan weI een aantal prozawerken, maar precies in het licht van de humanitaire poëzie is het vooralsnog duidelijk, dat deze uit een geestelijke kweeste bestaan, en dus een schakeI zijn in de ontwikkeling die van de werkelijkheid wegvoert naar een inwendig leven, naar een geestelijke ontwikkeling." Terselfdertyd, egter, is Lissens en Van Vlierden dit met J Weisgerber eens dat "het Jaar 1927 kan worden beschouwd als het begin van een nieuw tijdperk" en dat die leemte wat na die Eerste Wêreldoorlog onstaan het, weldra gevul sal word met 'n groot aantal romanwerke van 'n besondere gehalte. Die kritiek sien hierdie keerpunt met verloop van tyd al hoe duideliker in, maar erken nietemin óók dat die invloed van die modernisme, en met name die ekspressionisme, ''heilzame gevolgen heeft voor de roman. Niet vergeefs heeft deze beweging de ethische noot aangeslagen, de verantwoordelijkheidszin weer gewekt en al haar aandacht op de mens geconcentreerd. De nieuwe roman, die kort voor 1930 opkomt, kan men bezwaarlijk expressionistisch noemen, maar de grondige omkeer waar hij van blijk geeft, gebeurt ontegensprekelijk onder de invloed van het door het expressionisme gewijzigde klimaat." Anders gestel: "zij (gaan) akkoord met de veroordeling van de impressionistische en naturalistische opvattingen, maar tussen het individualisme van de 'estheten' en de humanitaire kunst van Ruimte, tussen de wetenschappelijke objectiviteit en de lyrische subjectiviteit kiezen zij doorgaans een middenweg. De nieuwe roman - en dat is de reden waarom hij deze benaming verdient - zal aan de individualiteit minder reliëf verlenen dan aan de 'persoonlijkheid', hetgeen wil zeggen dat het individu, dat zich op zichzelf bezint, aldus beseft dat het in morele of juridische zin met een gemeenschap verbonden is. Hij zal de mens tegelijkertijd in zijn individualiteit en in de eigenschappen van zijn soort beschouwen, en hoewel hij het Ik zal peilen, zal hij ook het zoeklicht richten op het onmetelijke terrein van de gemeenschappelijke waarden...". Dit is dus op die groeiende belang van 'n "persoonlijkheidsideaal, een modern humanisme dat sociaal solidair blijft doch de raadselen van de mens en het leven wil peilen" dat die klem tussen die jare 1930 en 1940 val: op "de mens op het voorplan", dus, maar óók op dié mens in gemeenskapsverband.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981
- Authors: Vaughan , F E M
- Date: 1981
- Subjects: Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 , Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 -- Criticism and interpretation , Dutch fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3607 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003817 , Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 , Walschap, Gerard, 1898-1989 -- Criticism and interpretation , Dutch fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
- Description: In 'n hoofstuk getiteld In het teken van het persoonlijkheidsideaal in sy werk De Vlaamse Letterkunde van 1780 tot Heden bespreek R F Lissens die wegeb van die "expressionistische getij met die dood van Van Ostaijen, en die onvermoë van die roman om - op enkele min of meer geslaagde voorbeelde na - die tendense van die ekspressionisme te vertolk: verdere pogings in dié rigting loop dan ook teen die einde van die twintigerjare dood. Ook B F van Vlierden beskou die ekspressionisme as 'n in die grond ongeskikte voedingsbron vir die romangenre, met die gevolg dat die roman in dié jare - d.w.s. na die mln of meer naturalisties-impressionistiese romantradisie verteenwoordig deur Buysse, Streuvels, Timmermans, Claes - "in zijn eigen ontwikkeling op een kritiek keerpunt staat, waarbij men vooralsnog aIleen het kritieke van de situatie ziet ... Het decennium na de oorlog is in feite weinig gunstig voor de roman ... Ook P van Ostaijen heeft gepoogd een 'grote roman' te schrijven, maar deze werd nooit voltooid ... In de marge van het humanitair expressionisme ontstaan weI een aantal prozawerken, maar precies in het licht van de humanitaire poëzie is het vooralsnog duidelijk, dat deze uit een geestelijke kweeste bestaan, en dus een schakeI zijn in de ontwikkeling die van de werkelijkheid wegvoert naar een inwendig leven, naar een geestelijke ontwikkeling." Terselfdertyd, egter, is Lissens en Van Vlierden dit met J Weisgerber eens dat "het Jaar 1927 kan worden beschouwd als het begin van een nieuw tijdperk" en dat die leemte wat na die Eerste Wêreldoorlog onstaan het, weldra gevul sal word met 'n groot aantal romanwerke van 'n besondere gehalte. Die kritiek sien hierdie keerpunt met verloop van tyd al hoe duideliker in, maar erken nietemin óók dat die invloed van die modernisme, en met name die ekspressionisme, ''heilzame gevolgen heeft voor de roman. Niet vergeefs heeft deze beweging de ethische noot aangeslagen, de verantwoordelijkheidszin weer gewekt en al haar aandacht op de mens geconcentreerd. De nieuwe roman, die kort voor 1930 opkomt, kan men bezwaarlijk expressionistisch noemen, maar de grondige omkeer waar hij van blijk geeft, gebeurt ontegensprekelijk onder de invloed van het door het expressionisme gewijzigde klimaat." Anders gestel: "zij (gaan) akkoord met de veroordeling van de impressionistische en naturalistische opvattingen, maar tussen het individualisme van de 'estheten' en de humanitaire kunst van Ruimte, tussen de wetenschappelijke objectiviteit en de lyrische subjectiviteit kiezen zij doorgaans een middenweg. De nieuwe roman - en dat is de reden waarom hij deze benaming verdient - zal aan de individualiteit minder reliëf verlenen dan aan de 'persoonlijkheid', hetgeen wil zeggen dat het individu, dat zich op zichzelf bezint, aldus beseft dat het in morele of juridische zin met een gemeenschap verbonden is. Hij zal de mens tegelijkertijd in zijn individualiteit en in de eigenschappen van zijn soort beschouwen, en hoewel hij het Ik zal peilen, zal hij ook het zoeklicht richten op het onmetelijke terrein van de gemeenschappelijke waarden...". Dit is dus op die groeiende belang van 'n "persoonlijkheidsideaal, een modern humanisme dat sociaal solidair blijft doch de raadselen van de mens en het leven wil peilen" dat die klem tussen die jare 1930 en 1940 val: op "de mens op het voorplan", dus, maar óók op dié mens in gemeenskapsverband.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981
Vitamin E supplementation and secondary metabolites interactions and effects on melanoma growth
- Authors: Ottino, Paulo
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: Vitamin E Melanoma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004076
- Description: The present study was undertaken to determine the effects and possible mechanism of action of vitamin E succinate on malignant murine melanoma (BL6) and non-malignant monkey kidney (LLCMK) cell growth in vitro. Studies revealed that supplementation of 5, 7 and lOJLg/ml vitamin E succinate significantly inhibited BL6 cell growth, while in LLCMK cells no significant increase or decrease in growth was observed. The actual mechanism by which vitamin E succinate inhibits BL6 cell growth is at present unclear. Studies have suggested a radical or oxidant involvement in a number of degenerative diseases such as cancer, and that supplementation of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E may function to reduce cancer cell growth by quenching free radical species and preventing lipid peroxidation. In addition to its antioxidant role in a cell, vitamin E is believed to modulate the activities of various enzymes and metabolites in the eicosanoid pathway. Hence, this study investigated the effects of vitamin E succinate supplementation on free radical and lipid peroxidation levels, as well as the activities of various enzymes and metabolites ill the eicosanoid pathway. Throughout this study, emphasis was placed on BL6 melanoma cells since the magnitude of the relationship between LLCMK growth and the levels of various enzymes and metabolites in the eicosanoid pathway varied considerably from one experiment to another and did not show the consistent trend found with the BL6 cells. A decrease in cell growth was found to be accompanied by a concomitant increase rather than a decrease in the levels of free radicals and lipid peroxidation, suggesting that the growth inhibitory effects of vitamin E succinate on BL6 cells in vitro was not due to its antioxidant properties associated with the vitamin E component, but rather due to one or more of its other potential roles within the cell. This proposal was further strengthened by findings that vitamin E succinate, a non-physiological antioxidant in its esterified form, did not undergo significant cleavage to free vitamin E in the BL6 cells. Vitamin E succinate is believed to modulate membrane bound enzyme activities through physicochemical interactions with membrane lipids and changes in membrane fluidity. Hence, this study investigated the role of vitamin E succinate in modulating the activity of various enzymes and secondary messengers in the eicosanoid pathway. Supplementation of l-lOjLg/ml vitamin E succinate resulted in an overall increase in phospholipase A2 activity while cyclooxygenase and adenyl ate cyclase activities were found to be significantly increased at vitamin E succinate concentrations of 7 and WjLg/ml respectively. A significant increase in" 5-LOX activity was observed a! 10jLg/mi supplementation. The suggestion that vitamin E succinate modulates membrane bound enzyme activities was further strengthened by uptake and cellular distribution studies, which showed significantly higher levels of vitamin E succinate in membrane fractions of BL6 cells when compared with stroma fractions. Another factor which could account for elevated PLA2,-5-LOX and COX activities in BL6 cells as a result of vitamin E succinate supplementation, was that of intracellular calcium levels. Supplementation of BL6 cells with 1-7 jLg/ml vitamin E succinate resulted in an overall increase in intracellular calcium levels. These changes in calcium levels however were positively correlated with changes in PLA2 activity only. Since the rate of prostaglandin synthesis is controlled by phospholipase A2 activity, and net prostagiandin production is dependant on cyclooxygenase activity, the effects of vitamin E succinate supplementation on prostaglandin levels in BL6 cells was determined. Vitamin E succinate supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in prostaglandin D2 levels at vitamin E succinate concentrations of 3, 5, 7 and lOjLg/ml respectively, while prostaglandin F2a levels were significantly decreased at 1-10jLg/ml vitamin E succinate. The increases in prostaglandin E2 and 12 levels were inversely related to BL6 cell growth suggesting that both prostaglandins may act as negative regulators of BL6 cell growth. When comparing prostaglandin E2 levels to prostaglandin 12 levels in BL6 cells, significantly higher levels of prostaglandin E2 were found, suggesting that vitamin E succinate effects were mediated primarily through an increase in prostaglandin E2 levels. Furthermore, prostaglandin E2 levels are believed to modulate adenylate cyclase activity. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the increased adenyl ate cyclase activity found in BL6 cells was dependant on prostaglandin E2 levels, since increases in prostaglandin E2 levels at 7 and lOjLg/ml vitamin E succinate correlated with an increase in adenylate cyclase activity and cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels. Thus it appeared that the observed inhibitory effects of vitamin E succinate supplementation on BL6 cell growth was not due to the antioxidant properties associated with the vitamin E component of the vitamin E succinate molecule, but was rather mediated in part through a cascade effect initiated by phospholipase A2 activation and archidonic acid release. This initial effect then appeared to result in an increase in cyclooxygenase activity and activation of a prostaglandin E2-adenylate cyclase-cyclic adenosine monophosphate linked system, ultimately altering cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and inhibiting BL6 cell growth. This was confirmed when BL6 cells were supplemented with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Supplementation with the inhibitor resulted in vitamin E succinate having no inhibitory effects on BL6 cell growth. Furthermore, when comparing the levels of prostaglandin ~, adenylate cyclase activity and cyclIC adenosine monophosphate in the indomethacin treated cultures to non-indomethacin treated cultures, markedly lower levels of these metabolites were found in the indomethacin treated cultures. The cause of the increase in free radical and lipid peroxidation levels in BL6 cells following vitamin E succinate supplementation was further investigated. Cyclooxygenase enzymes are believed to generate free radical species and contribute to lipid peroxidation levels during catalytic activity. Markedly lower levels of free radicals and lipid peroxidation in indomethacin treated cultures were found when compared with vitamin E succinate treated cultures alone, suggesting that the increases in free radical and lipid peroxidation levels in BL6 cells supplemented with vitamin E succinate were indirectly due to an increase in cyclooxygenase activity in these cells.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
- Authors: Ottino, Paulo
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: Vitamin E Melanoma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004076
- Description: The present study was undertaken to determine the effects and possible mechanism of action of vitamin E succinate on malignant murine melanoma (BL6) and non-malignant monkey kidney (LLCMK) cell growth in vitro. Studies revealed that supplementation of 5, 7 and lOJLg/ml vitamin E succinate significantly inhibited BL6 cell growth, while in LLCMK cells no significant increase or decrease in growth was observed. The actual mechanism by which vitamin E succinate inhibits BL6 cell growth is at present unclear. Studies have suggested a radical or oxidant involvement in a number of degenerative diseases such as cancer, and that supplementation of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E may function to reduce cancer cell growth by quenching free radical species and preventing lipid peroxidation. In addition to its antioxidant role in a cell, vitamin E is believed to modulate the activities of various enzymes and metabolites in the eicosanoid pathway. Hence, this study investigated the effects of vitamin E succinate supplementation on free radical and lipid peroxidation levels, as well as the activities of various enzymes and metabolites ill the eicosanoid pathway. Throughout this study, emphasis was placed on BL6 melanoma cells since the magnitude of the relationship between LLCMK growth and the levels of various enzymes and metabolites in the eicosanoid pathway varied considerably from one experiment to another and did not show the consistent trend found with the BL6 cells. A decrease in cell growth was found to be accompanied by a concomitant increase rather than a decrease in the levels of free radicals and lipid peroxidation, suggesting that the growth inhibitory effects of vitamin E succinate on BL6 cells in vitro was not due to its antioxidant properties associated with the vitamin E component, but rather due to one or more of its other potential roles within the cell. This proposal was further strengthened by findings that vitamin E succinate, a non-physiological antioxidant in its esterified form, did not undergo significant cleavage to free vitamin E in the BL6 cells. Vitamin E succinate is believed to modulate membrane bound enzyme activities through physicochemical interactions with membrane lipids and changes in membrane fluidity. Hence, this study investigated the role of vitamin E succinate in modulating the activity of various enzymes and secondary messengers in the eicosanoid pathway. Supplementation of l-lOjLg/ml vitamin E succinate resulted in an overall increase in phospholipase A2 activity while cyclooxygenase and adenyl ate cyclase activities were found to be significantly increased at vitamin E succinate concentrations of 7 and WjLg/ml respectively. A significant increase in" 5-LOX activity was observed a! 10jLg/mi supplementation. The suggestion that vitamin E succinate modulates membrane bound enzyme activities was further strengthened by uptake and cellular distribution studies, which showed significantly higher levels of vitamin E succinate in membrane fractions of BL6 cells when compared with stroma fractions. Another factor which could account for elevated PLA2,-5-LOX and COX activities in BL6 cells as a result of vitamin E succinate supplementation, was that of intracellular calcium levels. Supplementation of BL6 cells with 1-7 jLg/ml vitamin E succinate resulted in an overall increase in intracellular calcium levels. These changes in calcium levels however were positively correlated with changes in PLA2 activity only. Since the rate of prostaglandin synthesis is controlled by phospholipase A2 activity, and net prostagiandin production is dependant on cyclooxygenase activity, the effects of vitamin E succinate supplementation on prostaglandin levels in BL6 cells was determined. Vitamin E succinate supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in prostaglandin D2 levels at vitamin E succinate concentrations of 3, 5, 7 and lOjLg/ml respectively, while prostaglandin F2a levels were significantly decreased at 1-10jLg/ml vitamin E succinate. The increases in prostaglandin E2 and 12 levels were inversely related to BL6 cell growth suggesting that both prostaglandins may act as negative regulators of BL6 cell growth. When comparing prostaglandin E2 levels to prostaglandin 12 levels in BL6 cells, significantly higher levels of prostaglandin E2 were found, suggesting that vitamin E succinate effects were mediated primarily through an increase in prostaglandin E2 levels. Furthermore, prostaglandin E2 levels are believed to modulate adenylate cyclase activity. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the increased adenyl ate cyclase activity found in BL6 cells was dependant on prostaglandin E2 levels, since increases in prostaglandin E2 levels at 7 and lOjLg/ml vitamin E succinate correlated with an increase in adenylate cyclase activity and cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels. Thus it appeared that the observed inhibitory effects of vitamin E succinate supplementation on BL6 cell growth was not due to the antioxidant properties associated with the vitamin E component of the vitamin E succinate molecule, but was rather mediated in part through a cascade effect initiated by phospholipase A2 activation and archidonic acid release. This initial effect then appeared to result in an increase in cyclooxygenase activity and activation of a prostaglandin E2-adenylate cyclase-cyclic adenosine monophosphate linked system, ultimately altering cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and inhibiting BL6 cell growth. This was confirmed when BL6 cells were supplemented with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Supplementation with the inhibitor resulted in vitamin E succinate having no inhibitory effects on BL6 cell growth. Furthermore, when comparing the levels of prostaglandin ~, adenylate cyclase activity and cyclIC adenosine monophosphate in the indomethacin treated cultures to non-indomethacin treated cultures, markedly lower levels of these metabolites were found in the indomethacin treated cultures. The cause of the increase in free radical and lipid peroxidation levels in BL6 cells following vitamin E succinate supplementation was further investigated. Cyclooxygenase enzymes are believed to generate free radical species and contribute to lipid peroxidation levels during catalytic activity. Markedly lower levels of free radicals and lipid peroxidation in indomethacin treated cultures were found when compared with vitamin E succinate treated cultures alone, suggesting that the increases in free radical and lipid peroxidation levels in BL6 cells supplemented with vitamin E succinate were indirectly due to an increase in cyclooxygenase activity in these cells.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
Vocabulary development in a grade 7 class using dictionary skills: an action research project
- Authors: Wells, Stephanie Alice
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vocabulary -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape English language Dictionaries -- Polyglot -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1822 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003708
- Description: As I was involved as a voluntary, part-time teacher in a local, semi-rural school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, I became increasingly aware of the learners' lack of English literacy. I therefore decided to do a practical research on vocabulary development, focusing on dictionary skills. In this thesis I describe how I implemented a vocabulary development programme as an Action Research project. My research group was a grade 7 class of English First Additional Language learners who had minimal exposure to English at school and in their communities. The class was a mixture of Afrikaans and isiXhosa home language speakers and the medium of instruction was Afrikaans. The school served a low-income community and was poorly resourced. As dictionary skills is a requirement of the national curriculum, I used 10 time-tabled lessons over a 5 week period to introduce the learners to dictionaries. My data sources were a journal detailing my reflections on each lesson; a video-recording of the lessons; small group interviews after each lesson which were audio-recorded; tasksheets on the work covered in class and questionnaires asking the learners for written responses to the lessons. The class teacher who filmed the lessons was also asked for feedback during and after the programme. My goals were to assess my teaching approach in these circumstances and to what extent the outcomes were positive for the learners. As I had come from a background of English Home Language teaching in good, well-resourced schools I found I had to question many of my assumptions. Although I was an experienced, qualified and confident teacher, I was continually having to reassess my teaching methods which were being challenged by very different classroom conditions. The outcomes of the research show why I was not able to achieve what I had thought I could in the time given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Wells, Stephanie Alice
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vocabulary -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape English language Dictionaries -- Polyglot -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1822 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003708
- Description: As I was involved as a voluntary, part-time teacher in a local, semi-rural school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, I became increasingly aware of the learners' lack of English literacy. I therefore decided to do a practical research on vocabulary development, focusing on dictionary skills. In this thesis I describe how I implemented a vocabulary development programme as an Action Research project. My research group was a grade 7 class of English First Additional Language learners who had minimal exposure to English at school and in their communities. The class was a mixture of Afrikaans and isiXhosa home language speakers and the medium of instruction was Afrikaans. The school served a low-income community and was poorly resourced. As dictionary skills is a requirement of the national curriculum, I used 10 time-tabled lessons over a 5 week period to introduce the learners to dictionaries. My data sources were a journal detailing my reflections on each lesson; a video-recording of the lessons; small group interviews after each lesson which were audio-recorded; tasksheets on the work covered in class and questionnaires asking the learners for written responses to the lessons. The class teacher who filmed the lessons was also asked for feedback during and after the programme. My goals were to assess my teaching approach in these circumstances and to what extent the outcomes were positive for the learners. As I had come from a background of English Home Language teaching in good, well-resourced schools I found I had to question many of my assumptions. Although I was an experienced, qualified and confident teacher, I was continually having to reassess my teaching methods which were being challenged by very different classroom conditions. The outcomes of the research show why I was not able to achieve what I had thought I could in the time given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Vocabulary proficiency in English of students in the primary teachers' certificate course
- Authors: Harlech-Jones, Brian Arthur
- Date: 1981
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) Vocabulary -- Study and teaching (Elementary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006347
- Description: This work investigates vocabulary proficiency in English of a group of students in the Primary Teacher's Certificate course. It is shown that this is the major certification course for teachers in Black education in South Africa, and, that primary school teachers are the major source of English for Black pupils for a considerable period, if not for the duration of their school education. The quality of the teachers' English thus has a major influence on that used by the pupils. In addition to the established needs for proficiency in a national and international medium such as English, it is emphasized that , with the increasing use of English as a medium of instruction, a lack of proficiency will adversely affect general scholastic achievement. The investigation proceeds by two means: (1) a series of vocabulary tests and (2) an error analysis (lexis and morphology) , based on scripts produced by the same group to whom the tests were administered. Prior to the presentation of the tests and the results and conclusions, there is a discussion of what constitutes vocabulary. This is introduced by a discussion of the dichotemy 'structure/lexis', primarily by reference to the writings on structuralism by Charles Fries - This discussion shows that the progress in vocabulary study is intimately related to the as-yet undeveloped state of investigations into the semantics of the language . There is a referenoe to the role of frequency-counts in vocabulary teaching with specific reference to Michael West's General Service List of English Words. In the absence of other prescribed standards of attainment in vocabulary, the General Service List serves as control for the tests , and is itself under examination as a possible major resource for vocabulary teaching. It is shown that structuralism has produced the instructional method known as 'audio- lingualism', which has gained wide credence, not least in the educational system through which the subjects of this study have passed. The contributions and defects of this method are discussed , with particular reference to its deleterious effect on vocabulary teaching. It is shown that vocabulary teaching becomes increasingly important in the later stages of language learning. There is reference to the current emphasis on ' commununicative' language teaching/learning, and it is shown that a major area of application is in the presentation of materials which embody an across-the-curriculum approach. The Pre- Tests are concerned only with the four major 'parts of speech ' and use only items from the General Service List ('G.S.L'). A particular feature is the development of tests based on the 'partial productivity of lexical rules' , which proved significantly effective in distinguishing between testees of high and low proficiency . The Final Tests, compiled from items which discriminated successfully in the Pre-Tests , are presented , and a Post- Final Test form of ultimately successful items is provided. There is a brief theoretical discussion of Error Analysis, and this is followed by the presentation of the categorization of lexical and morphological errors extracted from a corpus produced by the same group which provided subjects for the tests . There is comment on this categorization, which points to both the usefulness and shortcomings of such data . Amongst the conclusions and recommendations are the following: that vocabulary teaching has languished, both because of present inadequacies in semantic investigation, and because of the predominance of structuralism; that vocabulary teaching is important throughout , but particularly in the post-initial stages ; that word-counts (specifically the G. S. L.)have a valuable place in vocabulary teaching, as controls, prompts and suppliers of resource material ; that there is a wide range of proficiency amongst these subjects , even within the limits of a word-count such as the G.S.L. (the most frequent 2000 'words ' in English , with a samantic count, and related items formed by various processes) ; that this range of proficiency and the shortcomings shown are disturbing in teachers- in- training , who are also in their eleventh and twelfth years of formal instruction in English; that there is further cause for concern when it is remembered that their pupils will need English for success in a number of subjects , and will be instructed in English mainly by teachers. drawn from this group ; that there is some evidence of a relationship between vocabulary proficiency and the frequency of items in the G.S .L. (reinforcing the suggesting that the G.S .L. is a useful ' teaching tool ' ) ; that the categorization of errors shows that mastery of the · contents of the G. S. L. would , in theory , eliminate the great majority of errors attested in the categorization, and that mastery of even the most common areas of lexis and lexical formation cannot and should not be taken for granted; and that acquaintance with the contents of a word frequency-count , and with categorizations of errors , will sharpen teachers' perceptions as to the nature of their task and the directions in which vocabulary teaching should proceed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981
- Authors: Harlech-Jones, Brian Arthur
- Date: 1981
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) Vocabulary -- Study and teaching (Elementary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006347
- Description: This work investigates vocabulary proficiency in English of a group of students in the Primary Teacher's Certificate course. It is shown that this is the major certification course for teachers in Black education in South Africa, and, that primary school teachers are the major source of English for Black pupils for a considerable period, if not for the duration of their school education. The quality of the teachers' English thus has a major influence on that used by the pupils. In addition to the established needs for proficiency in a national and international medium such as English, it is emphasized that , with the increasing use of English as a medium of instruction, a lack of proficiency will adversely affect general scholastic achievement. The investigation proceeds by two means: (1) a series of vocabulary tests and (2) an error analysis (lexis and morphology) , based on scripts produced by the same group to whom the tests were administered. Prior to the presentation of the tests and the results and conclusions, there is a discussion of what constitutes vocabulary. This is introduced by a discussion of the dichotemy 'structure/lexis', primarily by reference to the writings on structuralism by Charles Fries - This discussion shows that the progress in vocabulary study is intimately related to the as-yet undeveloped state of investigations into the semantics of the language . There is a referenoe to the role of frequency-counts in vocabulary teaching with specific reference to Michael West's General Service List of English Words. In the absence of other prescribed standards of attainment in vocabulary, the General Service List serves as control for the tests , and is itself under examination as a possible major resource for vocabulary teaching. It is shown that structuralism has produced the instructional method known as 'audio- lingualism', which has gained wide credence, not least in the educational system through which the subjects of this study have passed. The contributions and defects of this method are discussed , with particular reference to its deleterious effect on vocabulary teaching. It is shown that vocabulary teaching becomes increasingly important in the later stages of language learning. There is reference to the current emphasis on ' commununicative' language teaching/learning, and it is shown that a major area of application is in the presentation of materials which embody an across-the-curriculum approach. The Pre- Tests are concerned only with the four major 'parts of speech ' and use only items from the General Service List ('G.S.L'). A particular feature is the development of tests based on the 'partial productivity of lexical rules' , which proved significantly effective in distinguishing between testees of high and low proficiency . The Final Tests, compiled from items which discriminated successfully in the Pre-Tests , are presented , and a Post- Final Test form of ultimately successful items is provided. There is a brief theoretical discussion of Error Analysis, and this is followed by the presentation of the categorization of lexical and morphological errors extracted from a corpus produced by the same group which provided subjects for the tests . There is comment on this categorization, which points to both the usefulness and shortcomings of such data . Amongst the conclusions and recommendations are the following: that vocabulary teaching has languished, both because of present inadequacies in semantic investigation, and because of the predominance of structuralism; that vocabulary teaching is important throughout , but particularly in the post-initial stages ; that word-counts (specifically the G. S. L.)have a valuable place in vocabulary teaching, as controls, prompts and suppliers of resource material ; that there is a wide range of proficiency amongst these subjects , even within the limits of a word-count such as the G.S.L. (the most frequent 2000 'words ' in English , with a samantic count, and related items formed by various processes) ; that this range of proficiency and the shortcomings shown are disturbing in teachers- in- training , who are also in their eleventh and twelfth years of formal instruction in English; that there is further cause for concern when it is remembered that their pupils will need English for success in a number of subjects , and will be instructed in English mainly by teachers. drawn from this group ; that there is some evidence of a relationship between vocabulary proficiency and the frequency of items in the G.S .L. (reinforcing the suggesting that the G.S .L. is a useful ' teaching tool ' ) ; that the categorization of errors shows that mastery of the · contents of the G. S. L. would , in theory , eliminate the great majority of errors attested in the categorization, and that mastery of even the most common areas of lexis and lexical formation cannot and should not be taken for granted; and that acquaintance with the contents of a word frequency-count , and with categorizations of errors , will sharpen teachers' perceptions as to the nature of their task and the directions in which vocabulary teaching should proceed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981
Vocational language learning and how it relates to language policy issues
- Authors: Maseko, Pamela
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Language policy -- South Africa Language and education -- South Africa Language and languages -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Multilingualism -- South Africa Education, Higher -- South Africa Vocational education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3583 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002158
- Description: This research explores issues relating to language policy, and language learning and teaching. It further looks at the relationship that exists between language policy and language learning and teaching. In the research I argue that well-thought out and well-meaning language policies will fail to be implemented meaningfully if there is no clear and unambiguous implementation plan. I also note that the national vision and ideals which are often embodied in the language policy fail to take effect if, again, there is no comprehensive implementation plan. This view is held by many scholars and researchers in the areas of language policy and planning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Maseko, Pamela
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Language policy -- South Africa Language and education -- South Africa Language and languages -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Multilingualism -- South Africa Education, Higher -- South Africa Vocational education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3583 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002158
- Description: This research explores issues relating to language policy, and language learning and teaching. It further looks at the relationship that exists between language policy and language learning and teaching. In the research I argue that well-thought out and well-meaning language policies will fail to be implemented meaningfully if there is no clear and unambiguous implementation plan. I also note that the national vision and ideals which are often embodied in the language policy fail to take effect if, again, there is no comprehensive implementation plan. This view is held by many scholars and researchers in the areas of language policy and planning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Volatility and the risk return relationship on the South African equity market
- Authors: Mandimika, Neville
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Stock exchanges , Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1009 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002744 , Stock exchanges , Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa
- Description: The volatility of stock markets has important implications for investment decision making, financial stability and overall macroeconomic stability. This study examines the risk-return relationship as well as the behaviour of volatility of the South African equity markets using both aggregate, industrial level and sector level data. The study is divided into three parts. The first part investigates the behaviour of volatility in each of the industries, sectors and the benchmark series focussing on whether volatility is symmetric or asymmetric. Subsequently we investigate which, among the GARCH family of models appropriately captured the riskreturn relationship under which distributional assumption. The second part examines the riskreturn relationship on the SA stock market. The third part examines the long term trend of volatility and whether volatility significantly increases during financial crises and during major global shocks. The GARCH-M, EGARCH-M and TARCH-M models under the Gaussian, Student –t and the GED are used. The findings this study makes are as follows: firstly, there is no clear relationship between risk and return. Secondly, volatility is asymmetrical, implying that bad news has a greater effect on volatility than good news in the South African equity market. Thirdly, the TARCH-M model under the GED was found to be the most appropriate model. Fourthly, volatility increases during financial crises and major global shocks. Overall, volatility is generally not priced on the South African equity markets. Thus, both local and international investors need to consider other factors that influence returns such as skewness. The general increase in volatility during financial crises and major global shocks poses a major concern for policy makers as this may cause financial instability. Thus policy makers need to be mindful of the behaviour of volatility in the South African equity market in response to external shocks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mandimika, Neville
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Stock exchanges , Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1009 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002744 , Stock exchanges , Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa
- Description: The volatility of stock markets has important implications for investment decision making, financial stability and overall macroeconomic stability. This study examines the risk-return relationship as well as the behaviour of volatility of the South African equity markets using both aggregate, industrial level and sector level data. The study is divided into three parts. The first part investigates the behaviour of volatility in each of the industries, sectors and the benchmark series focussing on whether volatility is symmetric or asymmetric. Subsequently we investigate which, among the GARCH family of models appropriately captured the riskreturn relationship under which distributional assumption. The second part examines the riskreturn relationship on the SA stock market. The third part examines the long term trend of volatility and whether volatility significantly increases during financial crises and during major global shocks. The GARCH-M, EGARCH-M and TARCH-M models under the Gaussian, Student –t and the GED are used. The findings this study makes are as follows: firstly, there is no clear relationship between risk and return. Secondly, volatility is asymmetrical, implying that bad news has a greater effect on volatility than good news in the South African equity market. Thirdly, the TARCH-M model under the GED was found to be the most appropriate model. Fourthly, volatility increases during financial crises and major global shocks. Overall, volatility is generally not priced on the South African equity markets. Thus, both local and international investors need to consider other factors that influence returns such as skewness. The general increase in volatility during financial crises and major global shocks poses a major concern for policy makers as this may cause financial instability. Thus policy makers need to be mindful of the behaviour of volatility in the South African equity market in response to external shocks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Volatility spillovers and determinants of contagion: a case of BRICS equity and foreign exchange markets
- Authors: Nyopa, Tšepiso
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCOM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164590 , vital:41146
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Nyopa, Tšepiso
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCOM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164590 , vital:41146
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Volatility transmission across South African financial markets: does the bull – bear distinction matter?
- Authors: Jaramba, Toddy
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Finance -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Portfolio management -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- Mathematical models , Bond market -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1106 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013396
- Description: The volatility transmission in financial markets has important implications for investment decision making, portfolio diversification and overall macroeconomic stability. This paper analyses volatility transmission across four South African financial markets that is the stock, bond, money and foreign exchange markets, using daily data for the period 2000-2010. It also shows whether the volatilities in the SA financial markets present a different behaviour in bull and bear market phases. The effects of the international markets volatility to the local markets volatility was also looked at in this study. To obtain estimates of market volatility, the study experimented with various volatility models that include the GARCH, EGARCH and TARCH. To examine volatility interaction and the transmission of volatility shocks, a VAR model was estimated together with block exogeneity, impulse response and variance decomposition. The study found that there is limited volatility transmission across the SA financial markets. The study also found that the money market is the most exogenous of all markets since the other three financial markets volatility is insignificant to the money market (see impulse response results). For the bond market, volatility transmission was characterized with a decreasing trend. With regard to international markets volatility, it concluded that, the shocks in the international markets will eventually affect the movement in the local markets. The results also highlighted that, world and local markets are important in accelerating the volatility transmission in SA financial markets depending on whether they are in their bull or bear phases. In the case of South Africa, the study found that volatility transmission across markets is higher during bear market periods than bull market periods. Basing on the study results which show that the volatility transmission is limited across SA financial markets, the implication to local and international investors is that there is a greater potential for diversifying risk by investing in different South African financial markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jaramba, Toddy
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Finance -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Portfolio management -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- Mathematical models , Bond market -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1106 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013396
- Description: The volatility transmission in financial markets has important implications for investment decision making, portfolio diversification and overall macroeconomic stability. This paper analyses volatility transmission across four South African financial markets that is the stock, bond, money and foreign exchange markets, using daily data for the period 2000-2010. It also shows whether the volatilities in the SA financial markets present a different behaviour in bull and bear market phases. The effects of the international markets volatility to the local markets volatility was also looked at in this study. To obtain estimates of market volatility, the study experimented with various volatility models that include the GARCH, EGARCH and TARCH. To examine volatility interaction and the transmission of volatility shocks, a VAR model was estimated together with block exogeneity, impulse response and variance decomposition. The study found that there is limited volatility transmission across the SA financial markets. The study also found that the money market is the most exogenous of all markets since the other three financial markets volatility is insignificant to the money market (see impulse response results). For the bond market, volatility transmission was characterized with a decreasing trend. With regard to international markets volatility, it concluded that, the shocks in the international markets will eventually affect the movement in the local markets. The results also highlighted that, world and local markets are important in accelerating the volatility transmission in SA financial markets depending on whether they are in their bull or bear phases. In the case of South Africa, the study found that volatility transmission across markets is higher during bear market periods than bull market periods. Basing on the study results which show that the volatility transmission is limited across SA financial markets, the implication to local and international investors is that there is a greater potential for diversifying risk by investing in different South African financial markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Voltammetric analysis of pesticides and their degradation: A case study of Amitraz and its degradants
- Authors: Brimecombe, Rory Dennis
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Hydrolysis , Biodegradation , Voltammetry , Pesticides -- Biodegradation , Pesticides -- Environmental aspects , Acaricides , Acaricides -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4131 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015724
- Description: Amitraz is a formamide acaricide used predominantly in the control of ectoparasites in livestock and honeybees. Amitraz hydrolysis is rapid and occurs under acidic conditions, exposure to sunlight and biodegradation by microorganisms. The main hydrolysis product of amitraz, 2,4-dimethylaniline, is recalcitrant in the environment and toxic to humans. An electrochemical method for the determination of total amitraz residues and its final breakdown product, 2,4-dimethylaniline, in spent cattle dip, is presented. Cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode showed the irreversible oxidation of amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline. A limit of detection in the range of 8.5 x 10⁻⁸ M for amitraz and 2 x 10⁻⁸ M for 2,4-dimethylaniline was determined using differential pulse voltammetry. Feasibility studies in which the effect of supporting electrolyte type and pH had on electroanalysis of amitraz and its degradants, showed that pH affects current response as well as the potential at which amitraz and its degradants are oxidised. Britton-Robinson buffer was found to be the most suitable supporting electrolyte for detection of amitraz and its degradants in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility. Studies performed using environmental samples showed that the sensitivity and reproducibility of amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline analyses in spent cattle dip were comparable to analyses of amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline performed in Britton-Robinson buffer. In addition, the feasibility qf measuring amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline in environmental samples was assessed and compared to amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline analyses in Britton-Robinson buffer. Amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline were readily detectable in milk and honey. Furthermore, it was elucidated that 2,4-dimethylaniline can be metabolised to 3-methylcatechol by Pseudomonas species and the proposed breakdown pathway is presented. The biological degradation of amitraz and subsequent formation of 2,4-dimethylaniline was readily monitored in spent cattle dip. The breakdown of amitraz to 2,4-dimethylaniline and then to 3-MC was monitored using cyclic voltammetry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Brimecombe, Rory Dennis
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Hydrolysis , Biodegradation , Voltammetry , Pesticides -- Biodegradation , Pesticides -- Environmental aspects , Acaricides , Acaricides -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4131 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015724
- Description: Amitraz is a formamide acaricide used predominantly in the control of ectoparasites in livestock and honeybees. Amitraz hydrolysis is rapid and occurs under acidic conditions, exposure to sunlight and biodegradation by microorganisms. The main hydrolysis product of amitraz, 2,4-dimethylaniline, is recalcitrant in the environment and toxic to humans. An electrochemical method for the determination of total amitraz residues and its final breakdown product, 2,4-dimethylaniline, in spent cattle dip, is presented. Cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode showed the irreversible oxidation of amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline. A limit of detection in the range of 8.5 x 10⁻⁸ M for amitraz and 2 x 10⁻⁸ M for 2,4-dimethylaniline was determined using differential pulse voltammetry. Feasibility studies in which the effect of supporting electrolyte type and pH had on electroanalysis of amitraz and its degradants, showed that pH affects current response as well as the potential at which amitraz and its degradants are oxidised. Britton-Robinson buffer was found to be the most suitable supporting electrolyte for detection of amitraz and its degradants in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility. Studies performed using environmental samples showed that the sensitivity and reproducibility of amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline analyses in spent cattle dip were comparable to analyses of amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline performed in Britton-Robinson buffer. In addition, the feasibility qf measuring amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline in environmental samples was assessed and compared to amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline analyses in Britton-Robinson buffer. Amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline were readily detectable in milk and honey. Furthermore, it was elucidated that 2,4-dimethylaniline can be metabolised to 3-methylcatechol by Pseudomonas species and the proposed breakdown pathway is presented. The biological degradation of amitraz and subsequent formation of 2,4-dimethylaniline was readily monitored in spent cattle dip. The breakdown of amitraz to 2,4-dimethylaniline and then to 3-MC was monitored using cyclic voltammetry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Voltammetric investigation of microbiological growth media and carbon nanotube modified electrodes : a case study of oxytetracycline
- Authors: Kruid, Jan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Voltammetry , Electrodes , Oxytetracycline , Carbon nanotubes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018238
- Description: Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a broad spectrum antibiotic used extensively in the agricultural and human-health sector, and is effective against various gram positive and –negative bacteria as well as large viruses and certain pathogenic Rickettsiae. This study addresses the lack of voltammetric knowledge regarding the electroanalytical characterisation of OTC and its analysis in complex matrices. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) revealed several irreversible anodic peaks for OTC at a bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). These current responses were improved through the selection of a diluent for OTC stock preparation, electrolyte solution and electrolyte pH, stir time and applied preconditioning potential. Under enhanced adsorptive conditions and using square wave voltammetry (SWV), a detection limit of 24.3 nM was achieved. The electrode surface could be renewed in vitro for 10 successive scans. OTC oxidation was characterised as a one electron:one proton ECiE mechanisms. Next, investigating the viability of voltammetry in various complex microbiological growth media revealed that selected growth media contained interfering redox active components, which, while simultaneously coating the electrode surface, effectively reduced GCE performance and lowered the active electrode surface area, as ascertained through CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. This interference lowered OTC current response in the presence of growth media which was partially recovered by appropriate growth media selection and sample dilution. In testing the use of acid functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to improve anodic OTC response, charge-based attraction was observed between the MWCNT dispersal agent Nafion® and OTC, while increased surface area associated with prolonged acid functionalisation time aided in improving OTC current response.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Kruid, Jan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Voltammetry , Electrodes , Oxytetracycline , Carbon nanotubes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018238
- Description: Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a broad spectrum antibiotic used extensively in the agricultural and human-health sector, and is effective against various gram positive and –negative bacteria as well as large viruses and certain pathogenic Rickettsiae. This study addresses the lack of voltammetric knowledge regarding the electroanalytical characterisation of OTC and its analysis in complex matrices. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) revealed several irreversible anodic peaks for OTC at a bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). These current responses were improved through the selection of a diluent for OTC stock preparation, electrolyte solution and electrolyte pH, stir time and applied preconditioning potential. Under enhanced adsorptive conditions and using square wave voltammetry (SWV), a detection limit of 24.3 nM was achieved. The electrode surface could be renewed in vitro for 10 successive scans. OTC oxidation was characterised as a one electron:one proton ECiE mechanisms. Next, investigating the viability of voltammetry in various complex microbiological growth media revealed that selected growth media contained interfering redox active components, which, while simultaneously coating the electrode surface, effectively reduced GCE performance and lowered the active electrode surface area, as ascertained through CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. This interference lowered OTC current response in the presence of growth media which was partially recovered by appropriate growth media selection and sample dilution. In testing the use of acid functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to improve anodic OTC response, charge-based attraction was observed between the MWCNT dispersal agent Nafion® and OTC, while increased surface area associated with prolonged acid functionalisation time aided in improving OTC current response.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Voluntary associations as schools for democracy? : a case study of the Sibanye Development Project
- Authors: Siwahla, Lindiwe Lillian
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004778 , Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Description: This is an empirical study of a voluntary association with a view to interrogate the theories of civil society and participation and their practice. These theories came to dominate debate on African politics and democratisation following disappointment with structural approaches to development and democracy. Disenchantment with the state whose role was emphasised by the structural approach led analysts and technocrats to turn their attention to human agency; hence the salience of the idea of popular participation in the public domain, and preoccupation with the idea of strengthening civil society. This trend gained momentum after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and demise of the communist block, and was accompanied by anti-statist sentiments on a global scale. Civil society organisations are seen as schools for democracy and agents of democratic consolidation, and are accordingly expected to perform two major tasks, namely instilling and disseminating a democratic political culture in and among participants and society at large, and promoting good governance. The aim therefore is to take advantage of the supposed intrinsic and utilitarian benefits of participation. As evident in a number of policy documents and legislation, the incumbent South African government embraces the idea of participatory democracy. However, not all analysts share this confidence in the capacity of civil society to perform these tasks. For some analysts public participation does not always have positive intrinsic benefits. Public participation may instead lead to a corrupted political culture deriving from the participants' attempts to survive in a public sphere characterised by manipulation and subtle political control, and it is civil society organisations lacking in organisational strength that are particularly vulnerable. The study revealed that unity between practice and theories of participation and civil society is a complex matter fraught with a number of ambiguities and contradictions. It revealed that though participation in the voluntary association in question does have educative benefits, those benefits do not extend to all the participants. In addition, the quality of that education is contingent upon a number of factors, some internal, others external. The internal and external factors reinforce one another. The internal factors pertain to the organisational dynamics of the voluntary association itself, and the external factors to the nature of the relationship between the voluntary association concerned and public authorities and other civil society organisations. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
- Authors: Siwahla, Lindiwe Lillian
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004778 , Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Description: This is an empirical study of a voluntary association with a view to interrogate the theories of civil society and participation and their practice. These theories came to dominate debate on African politics and democratisation following disappointment with structural approaches to development and democracy. Disenchantment with the state whose role was emphasised by the structural approach led analysts and technocrats to turn their attention to human agency; hence the salience of the idea of popular participation in the public domain, and preoccupation with the idea of strengthening civil society. This trend gained momentum after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and demise of the communist block, and was accompanied by anti-statist sentiments on a global scale. Civil society organisations are seen as schools for democracy and agents of democratic consolidation, and are accordingly expected to perform two major tasks, namely instilling and disseminating a democratic political culture in and among participants and society at large, and promoting good governance. The aim therefore is to take advantage of the supposed intrinsic and utilitarian benefits of participation. As evident in a number of policy documents and legislation, the incumbent South African government embraces the idea of participatory democracy. However, not all analysts share this confidence in the capacity of civil society to perform these tasks. For some analysts public participation does not always have positive intrinsic benefits. Public participation may instead lead to a corrupted political culture deriving from the participants' attempts to survive in a public sphere characterised by manipulation and subtle political control, and it is civil society organisations lacking in organisational strength that are particularly vulnerable. The study revealed that unity between practice and theories of participation and civil society is a complex matter fraught with a number of ambiguities and contradictions. It revealed that though participation in the voluntary association in question does have educative benefits, those benefits do not extend to all the participants. In addition, the quality of that education is contingent upon a number of factors, some internal, others external. The internal and external factors reinforce one another. The internal factors pertain to the organisational dynamics of the voluntary association itself, and the external factors to the nature of the relationship between the voluntary association concerned and public authorities and other civil society organisations. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
Voluntary disclosure programmes and tax amnesties: an international appraisal
- Authors: Jaramba, Toddy
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Tax amnesty -- South Africa , Tax evasion -- South Africa , Investments, Foreign -- Taxation -- South Africa , Tax collection -- South Africa , Tax administration and procedure -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015666
- Description: Tax amnesties are government programs that typically allow a short period of time for tax evaders to voluntarily repay previously evaded taxes without being subject to penalties and prosecution that discovery of such tax evasion normally brings. Tax amnesties differ widely in terms of coverage, tax types, and incentives offered. A state’s Voluntary Disclosure Programme is another avenue available to taxpayers to assist them in resolving their state tax delinquencies. This programme is an on-going programme as compared to a tax amnesty, which is there for a limited time period only. The main goal of the research was to describe the tax amnesty and the voluntary disclosure programmes in South Africa and to assess their advantages and disadvantages. This thesis also discussed another form of voluntary disclosure programme, referred to as an Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Programme, which allows taxpayers with unreported foreign bank accounts, and presumably unreported foreign income, to voluntarily disclose their affairs. The study found that, due to tax amnesties, Government raises more tax revenue not only in the short run from collecting overdue taxes but also by bringing former non-filers back into the tax system for the long run. It was also found that, initially short-run revenue brought in from overdue taxes will be positive for the first amnesty and then decline each time the amnesty is offered repeatedly. The reason for the decline in revenue might be that tax amnesties provide incentives for otherwise honest taxpayers to start evading taxes because they will anticipate the offering of future amnesties, thereby weakening tax compliance. The costs associated with amnesty programmes include negative long run revenue impact and also that amnesty programmes reduce compliance by taxpayers in the long-run. In South Africa tax amnesties, especially the voluntary disclosure programme, are likely to be successful since they will increase the revenue yield and also bring non-filers back on the tax rolls.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Jaramba, Toddy
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Tax amnesty -- South Africa , Tax evasion -- South Africa , Investments, Foreign -- Taxation -- South Africa , Tax collection -- South Africa , Tax administration and procedure -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015666
- Description: Tax amnesties are government programs that typically allow a short period of time for tax evaders to voluntarily repay previously evaded taxes without being subject to penalties and prosecution that discovery of such tax evasion normally brings. Tax amnesties differ widely in terms of coverage, tax types, and incentives offered. A state’s Voluntary Disclosure Programme is another avenue available to taxpayers to assist them in resolving their state tax delinquencies. This programme is an on-going programme as compared to a tax amnesty, which is there for a limited time period only. The main goal of the research was to describe the tax amnesty and the voluntary disclosure programmes in South Africa and to assess their advantages and disadvantages. This thesis also discussed another form of voluntary disclosure programme, referred to as an Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Programme, which allows taxpayers with unreported foreign bank accounts, and presumably unreported foreign income, to voluntarily disclose their affairs. The study found that, due to tax amnesties, Government raises more tax revenue not only in the short run from collecting overdue taxes but also by bringing former non-filers back into the tax system for the long run. It was also found that, initially short-run revenue brought in from overdue taxes will be positive for the first amnesty and then decline each time the amnesty is offered repeatedly. The reason for the decline in revenue might be that tax amnesties provide incentives for otherwise honest taxpayers to start evading taxes because they will anticipate the offering of future amnesties, thereby weakening tax compliance. The costs associated with amnesty programmes include negative long run revenue impact and also that amnesty programmes reduce compliance by taxpayers in the long-run. In South Africa tax amnesties, especially the voluntary disclosure programme, are likely to be successful since they will increase the revenue yield and also bring non-filers back on the tax rolls.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Vote of thanks: Cecil Rhodes commemoration lecture
- Authors: Henderson, Derek Scott
- Date: 1981-07-29
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7436 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018313
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981-07-29
- Authors: Henderson, Derek Scott
- Date: 1981-07-29
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7436 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018313
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981-07-29
Voting and meaning in Hooggenoeg, Grahamstown : an audience's reception of Grocott's Mail's 2011 municipal election coverage
- Authors: Amzat, Ajibola Taofeek
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) Local elections -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Elections -- South Africa Press and politics -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Journalism -- Objectivity -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Newspapers -- Objectivity Journalism -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5970 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011729
- Description: This thesis examines the meanings that residents of the township of Hooggenoeg (in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa) made of the election coverage in the Grocott’s Mail newspaper during 2011 municipal elections in South Africa. In addition, this study also sought to understand the particular set of ‘normative roles’ played by the paper, both with reference to the well-established body of theory about the normative roles of journalism in a democracy, and in terms of the paper’s own conceptualisation of its role in the functioning of local democracy. Grocott’s Mail, the oldest independent newspaper in South Africa, provided extensive pre-election coverage, which included producing and distributing an unprecedented free edition of the paper. The paper also facilitated a town hall debate in order to encourage residents to vote, and empower them to make a more informed choice about their vote. Three qualitative research methods, namely qualitative content analysis, focus group interviews, and individual interviews were used to examine the relationship between the content provided by the paper and the audience’s process of ‘making sense’ and deriving meaning from the content provided. The study concludes that Grocott’s attempt to encourage democratic culture in Grahamstown, in keeping with the more ‘facilitative’ normative roles that the local media can play, was only partially successful. Much of the election reporting subordinated the voices of the ordinary people, and privileged reporting that focussed narrowly on the voting process, and which foregrounded the views of political parties. Overall this coverage largely failed to resonate with the Grocott’s readers who live in Hooggenoeg (a largely ‘coloured’ area of Grahamstown), whose key concerns in terms of their daily life – such as poverty, unemployment, crime, lack of services – seemed, to them, unaddressed by this election coverage and, consequently, was not as engaging or convincing as the publishers/editors had hoped it would be. It can be also argued that Grocott’s narrow conceptualisation of democracy as entailing only public participation in electoral processes failed to cater for how audiences can be made aware of how they can participate in governance beyond the election period.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Amzat, Ajibola Taofeek
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) Local elections -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Elections -- South Africa Press and politics -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Journalism -- Objectivity -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Newspapers -- Objectivity Journalism -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5970 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011729
- Description: This thesis examines the meanings that residents of the township of Hooggenoeg (in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa) made of the election coverage in the Grocott’s Mail newspaper during 2011 municipal elections in South Africa. In addition, this study also sought to understand the particular set of ‘normative roles’ played by the paper, both with reference to the well-established body of theory about the normative roles of journalism in a democracy, and in terms of the paper’s own conceptualisation of its role in the functioning of local democracy. Grocott’s Mail, the oldest independent newspaper in South Africa, provided extensive pre-election coverage, which included producing and distributing an unprecedented free edition of the paper. The paper also facilitated a town hall debate in order to encourage residents to vote, and empower them to make a more informed choice about their vote. Three qualitative research methods, namely qualitative content analysis, focus group interviews, and individual interviews were used to examine the relationship between the content provided by the paper and the audience’s process of ‘making sense’ and deriving meaning from the content provided. The study concludes that Grocott’s attempt to encourage democratic culture in Grahamstown, in keeping with the more ‘facilitative’ normative roles that the local media can play, was only partially successful. Much of the election reporting subordinated the voices of the ordinary people, and privileged reporting that focussed narrowly on the voting process, and which foregrounded the views of political parties. Overall this coverage largely failed to resonate with the Grocott’s readers who live in Hooggenoeg (a largely ‘coloured’ area of Grahamstown), whose key concerns in terms of their daily life – such as poverty, unemployment, crime, lack of services – seemed, to them, unaddressed by this election coverage and, consequently, was not as engaging or convincing as the publishers/editors had hoped it would be. It can be also argued that Grocott’s narrow conceptualisation of democracy as entailing only public participation in electoral processes failed to cater for how audiences can be made aware of how they can participate in governance beyond the election period.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Vowel harmony in isiXhosa: an OT and acoustic study of [ATR]
- Authors: Kilian, Kelly
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Grammar, Comparative and general -- Vowel harmony , Xhosa language -- Vowels , Xhosa language -- Phonetics
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67678 , vital:29128
- Description: The vowel harmony system in isiXhosa is centred on a process of vowel raising. All mid-vowels preceding a high vowel take on the feature advanced tongue root (ATR) (e.g. thɛnga ‘buy’ → thengisa ‘sell’; bɔna 'see' → bonisa 'cause to see') (Harris 1987). The process of mid-vowel assimilation for the feature [+ATR] is consistent in all instances in which the mid-vowel occurs preceding a high vowel trigger, unless harmony is blocked by the low opaque vowel [a]. This is the analysis presented in Jokweni & Thipa (1996) the only previous literature to address the vowel harmony process of isiXhosa in detail. As an alternative approach to the rule-based phonology applied in the analysis presented by Jokweni & Thipa (1996), I propose the introduction of Optimality theory (OT) (Prince & Smolensky 1993, Bakovic 2000, and Pulleyblank 2002). I will present a map of the harmony system of isiXhosa using OT, while also presenting acoustic data to supplement the selected examples provided in Jokweni & Thipa (1996). This acoustic investigation will determine whether the harmonic feature is ATR, and how this feature patterns among vowels in different phonological contexts. In this paper vowel harmony is achieved through the implication of numerous rules, and with very specific directional and prosodic limitations on the spread of [+ATR]. Using generalisations based on my own collected data as well as those reported in previous literature, I have developed a constraint ranking to account for the harmony process in isiXhosa. By adapting the No-disagreement approach to harmony (Pulleyblank 2002), the final constraint ranking has the capacity to derive the optimal phonetic candidate for every harmony case. A selection of spread constraints is used to account for the raising as well as blocking processes, by driving either regressive or progressive spreading. Within the original No-disagreement approach a spread constraint would recognised only one feature in its prohibition of disagreeing segments. However, in the adapted approach the spread constraint driving [+ATR] assimilation is combined with a feature of correspondence (Krämer 2001) which considers the height as well as the ATR value of the sequential segments. The constraint is therefore adapted to consider more than one feature and is not activated unless the sequential segments agree for this particular feature. The regressive spread constraint is therefore only activated when the consecutive segments have an agreeing height value. The introduction of this adaptation was necessary to provide a more nuanced OT approach with the capacity to effectively characterise the idiosyncrasies observed in this harmony pattern. The harmony constraints are therefore no longer contradict one another by simultaneously driving harmony in opposite directions. Furthermore, the direct acoustic analysis is completed by means of the PRAAT software, to answer the salient question of the definitive harmonic feature. To provide a multiplicity of empirical evidence I have recorded utterances containing a number of vowel combinations. Each combination positions the alternating mid-vowels in a particular phonological context from which instances of ATR alternations have been extracted and phonetically analysed. Using the generalisations reported in Jokweni & Thipa (1996) as a starting point, the acoustic signal of each mid-vowel within a set phonological context is annotated for a predicted ATR value. Hence, if a mid-vowel occurs preceding a high vowel it is annotated as [+ATR] etc. The data sets representing each of the mid-variants found in a specific phonological context are then plotted into vowel charts and compared by means of statistical analysis (Baayen 2008, Bluman 2000). The results are then used to determine whether any significant phonetic alternation is occurring, and what the acoustic distinction between [+ATR] & [-ATR] variants is essentially comprised of. The final acoustic results indicate a significant difference between the mid-vowel ATR variants extracted from specific phonological contexts. Hence, due to co-articulatory effects or some other phonological influence the realisation of [+/-ATR] variants exist along a spectrum, and are therefore not phonetically consistent, but indicate a different acoustic make-up across the various groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kilian, Kelly
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Grammar, Comparative and general -- Vowel harmony , Xhosa language -- Vowels , Xhosa language -- Phonetics
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67678 , vital:29128
- Description: The vowel harmony system in isiXhosa is centred on a process of vowel raising. All mid-vowels preceding a high vowel take on the feature advanced tongue root (ATR) (e.g. thɛnga ‘buy’ → thengisa ‘sell’; bɔna 'see' → bonisa 'cause to see') (Harris 1987). The process of mid-vowel assimilation for the feature [+ATR] is consistent in all instances in which the mid-vowel occurs preceding a high vowel trigger, unless harmony is blocked by the low opaque vowel [a]. This is the analysis presented in Jokweni & Thipa (1996) the only previous literature to address the vowel harmony process of isiXhosa in detail. As an alternative approach to the rule-based phonology applied in the analysis presented by Jokweni & Thipa (1996), I propose the introduction of Optimality theory (OT) (Prince & Smolensky 1993, Bakovic 2000, and Pulleyblank 2002). I will present a map of the harmony system of isiXhosa using OT, while also presenting acoustic data to supplement the selected examples provided in Jokweni & Thipa (1996). This acoustic investigation will determine whether the harmonic feature is ATR, and how this feature patterns among vowels in different phonological contexts. In this paper vowel harmony is achieved through the implication of numerous rules, and with very specific directional and prosodic limitations on the spread of [+ATR]. Using generalisations based on my own collected data as well as those reported in previous literature, I have developed a constraint ranking to account for the harmony process in isiXhosa. By adapting the No-disagreement approach to harmony (Pulleyblank 2002), the final constraint ranking has the capacity to derive the optimal phonetic candidate for every harmony case. A selection of spread constraints is used to account for the raising as well as blocking processes, by driving either regressive or progressive spreading. Within the original No-disagreement approach a spread constraint would recognised only one feature in its prohibition of disagreeing segments. However, in the adapted approach the spread constraint driving [+ATR] assimilation is combined with a feature of correspondence (Krämer 2001) which considers the height as well as the ATR value of the sequential segments. The constraint is therefore adapted to consider more than one feature and is not activated unless the sequential segments agree for this particular feature. The regressive spread constraint is therefore only activated when the consecutive segments have an agreeing height value. The introduction of this adaptation was necessary to provide a more nuanced OT approach with the capacity to effectively characterise the idiosyncrasies observed in this harmony pattern. The harmony constraints are therefore no longer contradict one another by simultaneously driving harmony in opposite directions. Furthermore, the direct acoustic analysis is completed by means of the PRAAT software, to answer the salient question of the definitive harmonic feature. To provide a multiplicity of empirical evidence I have recorded utterances containing a number of vowel combinations. Each combination positions the alternating mid-vowels in a particular phonological context from which instances of ATR alternations have been extracted and phonetically analysed. Using the generalisations reported in Jokweni & Thipa (1996) as a starting point, the acoustic signal of each mid-vowel within a set phonological context is annotated for a predicted ATR value. Hence, if a mid-vowel occurs preceding a high vowel it is annotated as [+ATR] etc. The data sets representing each of the mid-variants found in a specific phonological context are then plotted into vowel charts and compared by means of statistical analysis (Baayen 2008, Bluman 2000). The results are then used to determine whether any significant phonetic alternation is occurring, and what the acoustic distinction between [+ATR] & [-ATR] variants is essentially comprised of. The final acoustic results indicate a significant difference between the mid-vowel ATR variants extracted from specific phonological contexts. Hence, due to co-articulatory effects or some other phonological influence the realisation of [+/-ATR] variants exist along a spectrum, and are therefore not phonetically consistent, but indicate a different acoustic make-up across the various groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Vulnerability and adaptation of Zanzibar east coast communities to climate variability and change and other interacting stressors
- Authors: Makame, Makame Omar
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Bioclimatology Global temperature changes Food security -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Water-supply -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Sustainable development -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Human ecology -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Zanzibar -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4778 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011895
- Description: Climate variability and change as well as sea level rise poses significant challenges to livelihoods, water and food security in small island developing states (SIDSs) including the Zanzibar Islands. Thus, without planned strategic adaptation, the future projected changes in climate and sea level will intensify the vulnerability of these sensitive areas. This thesis is based on research conducted in two sites located in the north eastern parts of each island, namely Kiuyu Mbuyuni, Pemba Island and Matemwe, Unguja Island. The research focused firstly on assessing the vulnerability of these two coastal communities to climate variability and change and other stressors. This included investigation of (1) the perceptions of fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers regarding climate stressors and shocks and associated risks and impacts, (2) existing and possible future water and food security issues, and (3) household's access to important livelihood assets. This was followed by an exploration of the coping and adaptive responses of farmers, fishers and seaweed farmers to perceived shocks and stresses and some of the barriers to these responses. Lastly, an analysis of the implications of the findings for achieving sustainable coastal livelihoods and a resilient coastal community was undertaken. The general picture that emerges is that local people along the east coasts of both islands are already vulnerable to a wide range of stressors. Although variability in rainfall is not a new phenomenon in these areas, increasing frequency of dry spells and coastal floods resulting from the influence of El Niño and La Niña events exert enormous pressures on local activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) which are the crux of the local economy. The main argument of the study is that the nature and characteristics of these activities are the main source of sensitivity amongst these communities and this creates high levels of vulnerability to climate shocks and trends. This vulnerability is evidenced by the reoccurrence of localised food shortages and the observed food and water insecurity. The study found that food insecurity is a result of unreliable rainfall, drought and seasonality changes. These interacted with other contextual factors such as poor soil, low purchasing power and the lack of livelihood diversification options. In addition to exposure to these almost unavoidable risks from climate variability, the vulnerability of the local communities along the east coasts is also influenced by the low level of capital stocks and limited access to the assets that are important for coping and adaptation. Despite this, some households managed to overcome barriers and adapt in various ways both within the three main livelihood sectors (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) as well as through adopting options outside these sectors resulting in diversification of the livelihood portfolio. However, the study found that most of the strategies opted for by fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers were mainly spontaneous. Few planned adaptation measures supported by state authorities were observed across the sites, with the exception of the provision of motorised boats which were specifically meant to increase physical assets amongst fishers, reduce pressure in the marine conservation areas and prevent overfishing in-shore. Furthermore, numerous strategies that people adopted were discontinued when further barriers were encountered. Interestingly, some of the barriers that prevented households adapting were the same ones that forced households that had responded to abandon their adaptations. To increase resilience amongst east coast communities to current and future predicted changes in climate and sea level, the study argues that traditional livelihood activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) need to be better supported, and access to a range of livelihood assets improved. This may be achieved through increased access to local sources of water and facilitation of rainwater harvesting, expanding the livelihood options available to people and increasing climate change awareness, and access to sources of credit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Makame, Makame Omar
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Bioclimatology Global temperature changes Food security -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Water-supply -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Sustainable development -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Human ecology -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Zanzibar -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4778 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011895
- Description: Climate variability and change as well as sea level rise poses significant challenges to livelihoods, water and food security in small island developing states (SIDSs) including the Zanzibar Islands. Thus, without planned strategic adaptation, the future projected changes in climate and sea level will intensify the vulnerability of these sensitive areas. This thesis is based on research conducted in two sites located in the north eastern parts of each island, namely Kiuyu Mbuyuni, Pemba Island and Matemwe, Unguja Island. The research focused firstly on assessing the vulnerability of these two coastal communities to climate variability and change and other stressors. This included investigation of (1) the perceptions of fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers regarding climate stressors and shocks and associated risks and impacts, (2) existing and possible future water and food security issues, and (3) household's access to important livelihood assets. This was followed by an exploration of the coping and adaptive responses of farmers, fishers and seaweed farmers to perceived shocks and stresses and some of the barriers to these responses. Lastly, an analysis of the implications of the findings for achieving sustainable coastal livelihoods and a resilient coastal community was undertaken. The general picture that emerges is that local people along the east coasts of both islands are already vulnerable to a wide range of stressors. Although variability in rainfall is not a new phenomenon in these areas, increasing frequency of dry spells and coastal floods resulting from the influence of El Niño and La Niña events exert enormous pressures on local activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) which are the crux of the local economy. The main argument of the study is that the nature and characteristics of these activities are the main source of sensitivity amongst these communities and this creates high levels of vulnerability to climate shocks and trends. This vulnerability is evidenced by the reoccurrence of localised food shortages and the observed food and water insecurity. The study found that food insecurity is a result of unreliable rainfall, drought and seasonality changes. These interacted with other contextual factors such as poor soil, low purchasing power and the lack of livelihood diversification options. In addition to exposure to these almost unavoidable risks from climate variability, the vulnerability of the local communities along the east coasts is also influenced by the low level of capital stocks and limited access to the assets that are important for coping and adaptation. Despite this, some households managed to overcome barriers and adapt in various ways both within the three main livelihood sectors (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) as well as through adopting options outside these sectors resulting in diversification of the livelihood portfolio. However, the study found that most of the strategies opted for by fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers were mainly spontaneous. Few planned adaptation measures supported by state authorities were observed across the sites, with the exception of the provision of motorised boats which were specifically meant to increase physical assets amongst fishers, reduce pressure in the marine conservation areas and prevent overfishing in-shore. Furthermore, numerous strategies that people adopted were discontinued when further barriers were encountered. Interestingly, some of the barriers that prevented households adapting were the same ones that forced households that had responded to abandon their adaptations. To increase resilience amongst east coast communities to current and future predicted changes in climate and sea level, the study argues that traditional livelihood activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) need to be better supported, and access to a range of livelihood assets improved. This may be achieved through increased access to local sources of water and facilitation of rainwater harvesting, expanding the livelihood options available to people and increasing climate change awareness, and access to sources of credit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014