The discourse of fundraising in UK universities: a critical discourse analysis

The research aimed at investigating how the discourse of fundraising is organised by universities in the UK. The study has been undertaken from a Critical Discourse Analysis perspective using two theoretical approaches namely argumentation and evaluation which have been utilised in analysing and understanding the mechanism of this discourse. The data was collected from the alumni webpages of five UK universities: Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Saint Andrews and University College London. From the argumentation perspective, the analysis revealed the macro structure of the argument as revolving chiefly around claims, goals, values, circumstances and means premises, which capture what the universities value and hold dear, why they care about such and the practical steps required to achieve such goals. While the argumentation approach unravels the macro structure of the discourse of the universities and how they persuade their alumni and friends to make donations, the evaluation theory was used in investigating the specific internal structure of the discourse, analysing more delicately and sensitively the specific values that the universities promote in their arguments. From the analysis, six evaluative categories: significance, capacity, variety, people, flexibility and novelty were identified as cumulatively constituting the core discursive and persuasive strategies of the universities. The findings of the research therefore suggest that the discourse of fundraising in UK universities takes a promotional posture revolving chiefly around argumentation and evaluative strategies to solicit funds from alumni, friends and the public

Lahktarindid suulises eesti keeles: uurimus infostruktuuri raamistikus

Käesolev doktoriväitekiri „Initial and final detachments in spoken Estonian: a study in the framework of Information Structuring“ käsitleb lahktarindeid eesti suulises keeles infostruktuuri raamistikus. Lahktarinditena (inglise keeles detachments, dislocations) vaadeldakse siin konstruktsioone, milles leksikaalne element esineb kas enne pealauset või pärast seda, kusjuures pealauses esineb leksikaalse elemendiga samaviiteline asesõna. Neid konstruktsioone peetakse spontaanses keelekasutuses universaalseteks, kuid nende esinemus ja funktsioonid on keeleti mõnevõrra erinevad. Lahktarindeid ei ole eesti keeles varem uuritud; üldiselt on neid keeleuurimustes seotud infostruktuuri mõistetega nagu teema ja postreema, st nad tõstavad esile infostruktuuri tasandil leksikaalses üksuses ühelt poolt teema, mille kohta pealauses (reema) midagi öeldakse ning teiselt poolt esinevad nad struktuurides, kus pealause ehk reema on lausungis esimesel kohal, millele järgneb leksikaalse üksusena postreema. Et infostruktuuri tasandist lähtuvaid uurimusi eesti keele kohta tehtud pole, antakse väitekirja esimestes peatükkides ülevaade valdkonna problemaatikast ning käesolevas töös olulistest lähenemistest. Väitekiri sisaldab ka ülevaadet enamikust (süntaksit käsitlevatest) uurimustest eesti keele kohta, milles kasutatakse infostruktuuri mõisteid. Korpuseanalüüsis vaadeldakse lähemalt ülalmainitud kaht tüüpi lahktarindeid, keskendudes peamiselt referendi informatsioonilisele staatusele, tarindite erinevatele funktsioonidele ja toimimisele diskursuse tasandil. Väitekirja tulemusena võib lahktarindite kohta väita järgmist: tegemist on suulises kõnes levinud struktuuridega, mis toetavad suulisele kõnele iseloomulikku info edastamist lühemate üksuste kaupa. Tarindites viidatavad referendid on enamasti kas vestluses juba esinenud või on tuletatavad vestluse üldisest raamistikust. Postreemat sisaldavates tarindites, kus leksikaalne referent tuleb alles lausungi lõpus, esineb rohkem ka eelneva sisuga seostamata referente. Lisaks vormilistele erinevustele ning nendest tulenevalt on nende kahe struktuuri puhul selgelt näha erinevaid strateegiaid referendi sissetoomise puhul ning selle käsitlemisel edaspidises diskursuses.The present thesis “Initial and final detachments in spoken Estonian: a study in the framework of Information Structuring” analyses detachment constructions (initial and final detachments) in spoken Estonian, in the framework of Information Structuring. Initial detachments are defined as structures where a detached lexical element precedes the main clause, which contains a coreferential pronoun; in final detachments, the referent is at first referred to by a pronoun in the main clause, followed by the lexical element in a detached element at the end of the utterance. These structures have been considered universals in spontaneous oral language, but their functions and degree of grammaticalization differ in various languages. Detached constructions have not been investigated before in Estonian. They have been associated to the notions of Theme and Post-rheme at the level of Information Structuring, i.e. initial detachment introduces an element that is considered as Theme at the informational level and final detachment serves to introduce the Post-rheme. Given that there are no studies dedicated to the level of Information Structuring as independent object of investigation, an overview about the main problems of this domain is provided in first chapters of the thesis, followed by a summary of studies (in syntax) about Estonian where the notions of Information Structuring framework have been used. The analysis of the corpus concentrates mainly on the informational status of the referent, different functions of these constructions and their functioning at the discourse level. The analysis revealed that detached constructions allow the information to be staged during the discourse building work; as concerns the informational status of the referents, it could be shown that they have mostly been mentioned before during the conversation or are present in the thematic frame of the discourse. Final detachments are also used in order to introduce unmentioned and new referents. Besides the formal differences, and stemming from them, the two constructions are clearly different as concerns the mechanisms of introduction of the referent and its treatment in the discourse

Cyphers: On the Historiography of Digital Architecture

This dissertation reflects on the methods and concepts employed in constructing a history of digital architecture. By focusing on the methodological issues, it complements and expands the research developed for the monographic study Digital Architecture Beyond Computers (DABC) and the book chapter “Crypto Architecture”. In both pieces digital architecture is understood to cover a period of time that stretches well beyond the appearance of the modern digital computer (after World War Two). The notion of computing numbers and symbols to apprehend and intervene in our reality is in fact a much older idea than the invention of the modern digital computer. This dissertation reflects on the approach suggested by both writings by analysing the conceptual basis of computation in order to devise an appropriate historiographic approach to digital architecture. The aim of the investigation is to move beyond a technologically‐driven, utilitarian view of computation in favour of a more conceptual position that foregrounds computation’s fundamental logic and the role of the disciplines that informed and continue to inform it. This broader perspective aims at establishing a relation between the artifacts and the processes of digital architecture; that is, between what digital architecture is (which DABC explores through case studies in which computation and design affected one another), and how it is generated (the techniques and methods deployed to design architecture). This dissertation introduces a specific conceptual figure to articulate the historiography of digital architecture: the cypher. Cyphers address the fundamental challenges emerging from constructing a history of digital architecture, they organise the vast collections of case studies forming the history of digital architecture, foreground the conceptual motivations behind computation, and acknowledge the role that different disciplines (philosophy, logic, semiotic) have played in shaping what we call digital architecture

On Language Processors and Software Maintenance

This work investigates declarative transformation tools in the context of software maintenance. Besides maintenance of the language specification, evolution of a software language requires the adaptation of the software written in that language as well as the adaptation of the software that transforms software written in the evolving language. This co-evolution is studied to derive automatic adaptations of artefacts from adaptations of the language specification. Furthermore, AOP for Prolog is introduced to improve maintainability of language specifications and derived tools.Die Arbeit unterstützt deklarative Transformationswerkzeuge im Kontext der Softwarewartung. Neben der Wartung der Sprachbeschreibung erfordert die Evolution einer Sprache sowohl die Anpassung der Software, die in dieser Sprache geschrieben ist als auch die Anpassung der Software, die diese Software transformiert. Diese Koevolution wird untersucht, um automatische Anpassungen von Artefakten von Anpassungen der Sprachbeschreibungen abzuleiten. Weiterhin wird AOP für Prolog eingeführt, um die Wartbarkeit von Sprachbeschreibungen und den daraus abgeleiteten Werkzeugen zu erhöhen

The Impact of Ideology on Lexical Borrowing in Arabic: A Synergy of Corpus Linguistics and CDA

Lexical borrowing is a natural outcome of language contact and one source of neologisms. The traditional view of lexical borrowing explains it as motivated mainly by lexical need or prestige where loans in the recipient language have more or less similar if not identical meanings with the borrowing language. Linguistic adaptation has been often seen grammatically based where grammarians or linguists assume the major task of nativizing foreign terms. This is typical in many studies on linguistic borrowing in Arabic while a secondary attention is given to semantic, sociolinguistic, and educational perspectives. The present study approached lexical borrowing as more language users’ task emphasizing their role in meaning construction. Three English loanwords in Arabic (agenda, liberal, lobby) were studied in naturally occurring language to see if their meanings and co-occurrence patterns correspond to their equivalents in English and, thus, agree with the notion of lexical need to linguistic borrowing. Some of the meanings of the loans fall under the domain of sociopolitics which is a fertile site believed to show ideological impact. Using two analytical frameworks of Sinclair (2005, 1998) and Van Dijk (2014, 2016b, 2016a), the three loanwords were investigated from corpus linguistics and CDA angles. The findings revealed different co-occurrence patterns in Arabic characterized by negative associations than in English. Negative associations were motivated by (religious, political, linguistic) ideological stances often implied in the connotations and attitudinal meanings of real language use. Ideological influence was also reproduced in Arabic dictionaries where some loanwords or their meanings are vi absent or excluded though used in formal settings. The connection between dictionary making and learning as influenced by dominant ideology was also explored

A BIM Compatible Schema for Architectural Programming Information

Having access to architectural programming information that documents the predesign requirements for the building throughout the lifecycle of a building can add value to design evaluation, facility management, renovation and extension. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a new approach to manage the information that represents the characteristics of a building throughout its lifecycle. Architectural programming, although a key part of Architecture/Engineering/Construction/Operations (AECO) processes, has not been well integrated into Building Information Modeling (BIM) standards. Although research for many years has established computational data models for a BIM, there is not yet a comprehensive and standard data model to store architectural programming information that is compatible with BIM data modeling standards. This study investigated the possibility for a Universal Format for an Architectural Program Of Requirements (UFPOR) that can connect the architectural programming information to the BIM. Three well-known formats for architectural programming were analyzed to produce data models representing each format. The data models were further analyzed and compared to form a common data model that can bring together all three formats, producing a Universal Format for Architectural Program Of Requirements (UFPOR). The capabilities of UFPOR in representing PORs from the industry was further analyzed by modeling a POR excerpt using UFPOR. In the next phase, the data schema for the industry standard International Foundation Classes (IFC), which represents Building Information Models, was analyzed to explore its capabilities in supporting architectural programming information. Previous attempts to use IFC in documenting architectural programming information were reviewed and analyzed. The findings were compared with UFPOR to evaluate the capabilities of IFC in supporting a universal format for architectural programming. The result was a subset of IFC that can partially represent UFPOR (UFPOR-IFC). The limitations of IFC to fully support UFPOR are also discussed. In the next phase, a computer application prototype (Target) was developed based on the findings of the previous phase to demonstrate how a limited subset of architectural programming requirements can be represented in IFC based on UFPOR-IFC. The output of the application was tested to ensure the IFC physical files produced by the application accurately reflect the data inserted by the application’s user. UFPOR-IFC was tested by modeling two architectural programming documents to assess the external credibility of the findings. The devised system offers a blueprint for creating a link between real-world Architectural Programs and BIM models through IFC physical files. For future work, the findings of the study can be further analyzed by testing the extensibility of the UFPOR-IFC in modeling architectural programming requirements in different subdomains such as lighting, earthquake resilience, and acoustics. Enhancement of IFC to fully support UFPOR could also be investigated and devised. The capabilities of UFPOR-IFC to create a link between UFPOR information and other BIM models should be further tested and analyzed

Consolidation of Customized Product Copies into Software Product Lines

In software development, project constraints lead to customer-specific variants by copying and adapting the product. During this process, modifications are scattered all over the code. Although this is flexible and efficient in the short term, a Software Product Line (SPL) offers better results in the long term, regarding cost reduction, time-to-market, and quality attributes. This book presents a novel approach named SPLevo, which consolidates customized product copies into an SPL

Consolidation of Customized Product Copies into Software Product Lines

In software development, project constraints lead to customer-specific variants by copying and adapting the product. During this process, modifications are scattered all over the code. Although this is flexible and efficient in the short term, a Software Product Line (SPL) offers better results in the long term, regarding cost reduction, time-to-market, and quality attributes. This book presents a novel approach named SPLevo, which consolidates customized product copies into an SPL

Business rules based legacy system evolution towards service-oriented architecture.

Enterprises can be empowered to live up to the potential of becoming dynamic, agile and real-time. Service orientation is emerging from the amalgamation of a number of key business, technology and cultural developments. Three essential trends in particular are coming together to create a new revolutionary breed of enterprise, the service-oriented enterprise (SOE): (1) the continuous performance management of the enterprise; (2) the emergence of business process management; and (3) advances in the standards-based service-oriented infrastructures. This thesis focuses on this emerging three-layered architecture that builds on a service-oriented architecture framework, with a process layer that brings technology and business together, and a corporate performance layer that continually monitors and improves the performance indicators of global enterprises provides a novel framework for the business context in which to apply the important technical idea of service orientation and moves it from being an interesting tool for engineers to a vehicle for business managers to fundamentally improve their businesses

Reviews of recent publications

Anderson, Stephanie. Le Discours Féminin de Marguerite Duras by Julia Lauer-Chéenne Booker, M. Keith. Literature and Domination: Sex, Knowledge, and Power in Modern Fiction by Frédérique Chevillot Chevillot, Frédérique. La Réouverture du texte by Susan Ireland Cixous, Hélène. Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing by Jeff Schneider Descombes, Vincent. The Barometer of Modern Reason: On the Philosophies of Current Events by André Pierre Colombat Holmgren, Beth. Women\u27s Works in Stalin\u27s Time: On Lidiia Chukovskaia and Nadezhda Mandelstam by Serafima Roll Lyotard, Jean François. Political Writings. Trans. Bill Readings and Kevin Paul Geiman by Ronald Bogue McPherson, Karen S. Incriminations: Guilty Women/Telling Stories by Colette Hall Melnick, Daniel C. Fullness of Dissonance. Modern Fiction and the Aesthetics of Music by Walter A. Strauss Scatton, Linda Hart. Mikhail Zoshchenko: Evolution of a Writer by Eric Lozowy Sollers, Philippe. Watteau in Venice by T. Douglas Doyle Steele, Cynthia. Politics, Gender, and the Mexican Novel, 1968-1988: Beyond the Pyramid by Jill S. Kuhnheim Webb, Barbara J. Myth and History in Caribbean Fiction. Alejo Carpentier, Wilson Harris and Eduard Glissant by Nicasio Urbin