Postmodernistiese vertelstrategieë in Nag van die clown van Abraham H. de Vries

This thesis locates Abraham H. de Vries's Nag van ale Clown witbin the self-conscious South African socio-literary climate of the eighties and analyses postmodernist narrative strategies in five stories. Surveying the debate on postmodernism, this study describes postmodernism as a nomadic, inherently contradictory and mutually informing palimpsest of texts and views the De Vries text as a problematized inscribing of subjectivity into history.Hierdie proefskrif situeer Nag van die Clown (1989) van Abraham H. de Vries binne die selfbewuste sosioliterere klimaat van die Suid-Afrika van die dekade tagtig en ontleed postmodernistiese vertelstrategiee in vyf verhale uit die bundel. Die studie bied 'n oorsig oor die debat rondom die postmodernisme as nomadiese, weersprekende en wedersyds voedende palimpses tekste en beskou die De Vries-teks as 'n problematiserende inskryf van subjektiwiteit in die geskiedenis

The Spoken Web Search Task

International audienceIn this paper, we describe the "Spoken Web Search" Task, which is being held as part of the 2012 MediaEval campaign. The purpose of this task is to perform audio search in multiple languages, with very little resources being available for each individual language. The data is being taken from audio content that was created in live and realistic low-resource settings

Learning Structured Representations of Data

Abstract Bayesian networks have shown themselves to be useful tools for the analysis and modelling of large data sets. However, their complete generality leads to computational and modelling complexities that have limited their applicability. We propose an approach to simplify and constrain Bayesian networks that strikes a more useful compromise between generality and tractability. These constrained graphical will allow us to build computationally tractable models for large high-dimensional data sets. We also describe examples of data sets drawn from image and speech processing on which we can (1) further explore this constrained set of graphical models, and (2) analyse their performance as a general-purpose statistical data analysis tool

Die eko-teologiese uitdaging aan die Apostoliese Geloof Sending van Suid-Afrika.

Scientists emphasise the fact that the global environmental crisis is a threat to all life on earth. The Bible and the church, and therefore also the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, are blamed for the increasing predicament. The unilateral emphasis on biblical anthropocentrism is the direct cause of man’s dominance over creation and the exploitation of nature. This anthropocentristic way of life, in which nature is regarded to be no more than the stage upon which the human drama is enacted, and to have very little intrinsic worth, has caused animosity between the world of faith and the natural world. Man has come to believe that he has absolute tenure and that he can treat the earth as he likes. Theological interpretations have contributed to the problem by focusing on salvation theology which deals exclusively with saving humankind “from” the earth. This study aims at inculcating a biblically founded, practicable eco-awareness in the members of the AFM of SA by proving that salvation theology on its own leads to an impoverished, one-sided ethos, and that the negation of eco-equity in the Bible has far-reaching consequences in terms of sustainable development. The Bible can contribute towards restoring harmony with the earth, because the Bible has an indisputable “green” dimension. An analysis of the biblical text made the discovery of new “green” encoded values possible. In following the tracks of the new Earth Bible Series (NC Habel et al) the hermeneutics of suspicion and recovery were used to find eco-just values in the Bible. The quest for “green” encoded values yielded surprising eco-just principles that contributed towards the successful eco-friendly assessment of a number of biblical texts. The reconstruction of Israel’s nature and world view showed that Israel had indeed been aware of nature. Israel acknowledged her mutual bond with nature and her dependency on it as part of her responsibility to keep the covenant. Nature frequently acted as God’s messenger and Israel was compelled to act within certain parameters as far as nature was concerned. Israel was shaped by her environment. The use of metaphors and myths in biblical texts shows that a close bond existed with nature. God’s appearance in the form of theophanies imbued nature with intrinsic value. Israel’s broad value orientation with regard to nature can be regarded as a harmonious one. The AFM of SA was evaluated in the light of a biblically founded eco-justness and it was concluded that she has been ecologically insensitive up to the present. A closer investigation of the constitution of the church has indicated a lack of eco-justness. Furthermore an investigation into the agenda of the church during important church meetings has shown no important ecological interest. Reasons for this insensitivity could be found in the redemption theology of the church, in her doctrine concerning the hereafter and in the dualism that exists between the spiritual and the natural world. In an attempt to find solutions to the ecological paucity in the AFM of SA a first step would be to cooperate with scientists in order to achieve a greater understanding of the wonders of the biodiversity of the earth, and of its intricate cosmic design. Greater emphasis must be placed on the cosmic work of the Holy Spirit and the execution of God’s will on earth. Furthermore ecclesiastical practice could be more widely utilised in order to establish an eco-ethic. Public worship should allow for ecological responsibility. Eco-justness should be taken into account in shaping man in his totality. Social activities such as breakaway weekends and official gatherings are excellent opportunities for eco-justness to be promoted in the AFM of SA. Biblically founded eco-just knowledge will undoubtedly contribute towards a new eco-awareness in the AFM of SA. It will certainly make a difference in the country, as well as in the church and in the lives of her members. In advancing eco-justness the church will increase her influence, boost her public image and promote her contribution towards sustainable development.Prof. H. Vivier