quality characteristics

The Award of Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Linguistics

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that damages cells of the body‟s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from damages caused by HIV in the immune system. HIV/AIDS affects both the young and the old regardless of their gender, economic or social status. It is a killer disease which has continued to pose a grave threat to the health, economic, social and living standards of the community and more so to the young people living with HIV/AIDS. The social and economic well being of young men and women living with HIV/AIDS is in one way or the other influenced by their status. The core aim of the study was to establish the effects of gender on the economic status and social interaction of HIV/AIDS infected youth in Kaptembwo Location. It further aimed to establish the social, demographic and economic characteristic of HIV/AIDS infected youth as well as to determine the social interaction pattern of the said youth in Kaptembwo Location. The location has an estimated total of 36,404 households out of whom 80 infected persons were sampled. The research instruments used to collect primary data were interviews where 30 people living with HIV/AIDS were interviewed, face to face interview was done to 10 people, and focus group discussions comprised of 10 while questionnaires were administered to 30 people of which 25 came back comprising a good sample. Secondary data was used to supplement primary. Snowball method was used to identify the sample whereby the researcher made contact with two cases in the population with the support of medical personnel and community social workers who later linked the researcher to the members to get the desired sample. This study adopted the social action theory which explains the way an individual reacts to phenomena that affects them. Data analysis was done using both interpretations of raw data, critical analysis and inferential statistics with the help of statistical package for social scientist (SPSS). The study found out that majority of the male respondents had poor social interaction as compared to females. Further the females felt less appreciated and loved than the male counterparts. The results of this study shows there is a need for the government and relevant stakeholders to develop strategies that enhances interaction activities for youth living with HIV/AIDS.

Abstract

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern requiring global attention and action by heads of state. On the 30th, of March 2020, Uganda confirmed its first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a traveller from the United Arab Emirates. By April 15, 2020, 54 cases had been reported in the country, (Migisha, R., Kwesiga, B., Mirembe, B. B., & Amanya, G., et al…2020). In Uganda, a lockdown was announced by President Yoweri Museveni on 1st April, and it entered into force a few days later after the announcement the lockdown also involved the closure, among others, of universities, and recreational spaces (including sports clubs). To investigate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown effects on behavior change among students of Africa Renewal University.

This study is a stylistic analysis of code- mixing in the Novel ‘Devil on the Cross’ as translated by the author. The study focuses on three types of code-mixing: Intersentential mixing, intra – sentential mixing and intra word mixing. The study hypothesized that: code mixing in ‘Devil on the cross’ is used in social contexts, minor characters in ‘Devil on the Cross’ use code mixing, code mixing is related to certain concepts, the code- mixing brings out communicative intentions clearly and that Systematic Functional Linguistics theory of M.A.K Halliday can be used to analyze code- mixing in ‘Devil on the Cross”. SFL incorporates three meta- functions of language: ideational, interpersonal and textual. SFL is a social theory of language that sees meaning as choice and its focus is on how language is used as a meaning making resource in contexts of situation and culture. The study is organized into six chapters with the first chapter laying the foundation for the research and giving us the definition of code- mixing, and problemitizing the concept of codemixing under the statement of the problem. Under this same chapter, the objectives of the study have been stated clearly, the rationale of the study has been outlined, the scope and limitation given as well as the research methodology. The data for the study was obtained through selection of texts from the literary work under study through purposive sampling. These is corroborated by scholarly works on code- switching and code- mixing, propounded by other scholars and underpinned by SFL conceptual framework in analysis. ‘Devil on the Cross’ manifests various types of code- mixing techniques. These can be analyzed by the SFL linguistic lens which can pan across sets of texts produced within a discipline or it can zoom in on specific texts produced by individual writers. To address the research questions, the thesis draws on a critical social theory of language (SFL) that focuses on how language is used as a meaning making resource in contexts of situations and woven together for communicative purpose.

Abstract

There is general consensus that contemporary African conflicts are fueled by the need to protect identity and are based on ethnicity, religion or the combination of the both. These conflicts start as latent with identity structural causes and if not resolved they have most often turned violent and protracted becoming more difficult to resolve. To this end, this study explored implications of religion intolerance on state security in Africa using Malawi as a case study, Lilongwe City to be specific. The study was anchored on Social Identity Theory which argues that groups or individuals dedicate themselves in protecting what they believe is in the best interest of the group to protect or further group identity. The study was more qualitative though some quantitative techniques were also incorporated. Apart from using secondary data, primary data was collected using questionnaire. Analysis involved content analysis for qualitative data and quantitative data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel software.Key findings of this study are that intolerance in Malawi is existent and is increasing over time with waves of violent events, thus negatively affecting state security. The policies and strategies in place now are less effective while some policies and strategies which could have been useful are non-existent. Resource constraints and contradicting irreconcilable beliefs are among some of the obstacles to effective implementation of the available policies and strategies. Uses of coercive measures to address religious intolerance have not been effective because they only address the surface while underlying causes remain intact. On the other hand, faith-based organizations have proved to be useful in addressing such issues. Overall, the study recommends that Malawi government; explore proactive measures that would address religious conflicts in their latent stages using noncoercive strategies and policies. The government should also provide sufficient resources for effective implementation of available policies and strategies. At the same time there is a need to fast track drafting new policies to cover gaps exposed by this study.

Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies, Department of Economics and Development Studies

Abstract