M.A. thesis at Al-Basrah University Entitled: Clash of Civilizations: A Study of Euphemistic and Dysphemistic Expressions in Coetzee's "Waiting for the Barbarians"
By: Haneen Ali Jumaa
The thesis has been discussed at the Department of English, College of Education for Human Sciences, University of Basrah.
Topic & Abstract: The study deals with the euphemistic and dysphemistic expressions in "Waiting for the Barbarians", which involves the pragmatic concerns behind using these expressions. Such expressions are analyzed by applying the Appraisal theory of Martin and White (2005).
Topic & Outline: The study comprises five chapters. Chapter One is an introductory chapter including the hypotheses, aims, procedures, why this novel particularly, limits, difficulties, and the significance of the study. The theoretical part is proposed in Chapter Two. Chapter Three includes the methodology of the study. Chapter Four deals with the practical part of the study, which includes the analysis of the euphemistic and dysphemistic expressions in the novel, percentages of each sub-system in the four sections of the analysis, and discussion of the results. Conclusions and suggestions for further studies are included in Chapter Five.
Conclusions: The study comes up with some results. First, the dysphemistic expressions are the dominant in all of the parts except part one, where the euphemistic expressions are dominant. Second, the negative attitude is prevalent in the novel. At last, the judgement sub-system is overused in all the parts of the novel. To conclude, the study shows that the Magistrate is a dominant character. His interactions with other characters reveal the clash of civilizations between the Empire and the Barbarians
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