Browsing by Author "Abiye Daniel"

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    African Literary Texts and Language Based Approaches in EL T: a study of motivation
    (Addis Ababa University, 1998-06) Abiye Daniel ; Haile Michael
    The Ethiopian English language learner seems to be less fluent in the freshman class over the last couple of years. What appears to be the root cause of these low grades is the lack of motivation in the language classroom due to the neglect of culturally appropriate material and the absence of a language-based approach. This thesis attempts to explore the contributions of African literary texts to the language classroom arguing that a socio-cultural approach to language learning is more viable. Ethiopian English does not exist as an institutionalized variety, however, within a Pan-African perspective the Ethiopian learner can identify with African Literatures in English and begin from a familiar schematic reality. This authentic schema, apart from motivating the learner, will help in the efficient use of their top-down processing, a quality that at present is lacking. An understanding of African Literature is also approached through an attempt of it's definition from a historical perspective, an asset the language learner can call upon from his cultural competence and which also powerfully influences the rules of discourse in communication. Furthermore, African literature is based on the supposition that there is a constant interaction between social and linguistic aspects in regards to the understanding of language. Therefore the educational goal is based on the understanding of cultural assumptions in the classroom, and views culture as a process of understanding and tolerating different perceptions . African literature, in this thesis, focuses on problematizing major themes and therefore, stimulating discussion dependent on cultural awareness and based on dialogue and negotiation. African literature is therefore viewed as a stepping stone from which the Ethiopian language learner begins from and moves towards other forms of discourse, that is, from the familiar towards the unfamiliar. The learner approaches African literary texts from a language-based perspective with an emphasis on communication and negotiation as a bases for language awareness. In other V words, African literary texts are seen from three perspectives: as text, as message, and as discourse. African literary text as text enables the language learner to examine language as system, and through a stylistic analysis be able to explore the different levels of language. However, though description is a fundamental beginning towards a closer understanding , the learner has to move on to the next level of text as message. On this level the student explores meaning in text on the semantic level and understands how the writer transmits his message through language. The third and most important aspect however, is through interpretative procedures where text is seen as discourse and the learner's response is most valued, here a pragmatic understanding of meaning is explored. In this case meaning only exists with learners active engagement with the text and in the ultimate pursuit of communication. Communication in turn, develops a better understanding of language. As students are equipped with their schematic knowledge, bottom-up processing or explicit awareness of language is dealt with in the tasks. The tasks therefore, have a major role to play in language learning, firstly, they are a means through which the learner communicates and negotiates meaning- an educational value, and secondly the learner is exposed to a more explicit awareness of language- a pedagogic value. Based on the assumptions of African literary texts and language-based approaches, this thesis also explores the motivational factors that influence language learning. The researcher feels that by using African literary texts and a language-based methodology the language learner will be more motivated to learn a foreign language. Models exploring motivation are reviewed and a synthesis between a psycho-educational model by Lambert and a socioeducational model by Gardner seem to be most relevant for this research. In this approach, cultural beliefs have a great influence on individual differences of which attitude and motivation are a part. Attitude and the aspect of orientation, which includes integration and instrumentality , seem to have a direct influence on motivation and situational anxiety, influencing foreign language learning. The ultimate outcome of learning a foreign language is reflected on self-identity both in linguistic and non-linguistic terms. Therefore, African literary texts, based on the social milieu of the learners, seems to assure that self-identity and VI may probably help to motivate second language acquisition. However the Ethiopian situation is unique because English is used only as a medium of instruction, questioning whether the integrative motive is the most influential in language acquisition. To conclude, the researcher feels that the use of African literary texts in the language classroom with a focus on a language-based approach communication, can help to foster motivation and break the 'culture of silence' in the Ethiopian language learner.
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    African Literary Texts and Language Based Approaches in Elt: A Study of Motivation
    (Addis Ababa University, 1998-07) Abiye Daniel ; Haile Michael
    The Ethiopian Engl ish language learner seems to be less fluent in the freshman class over the last couple of years. What appears to be the root cause of these low grades is the lack of motivation in the language classroom due to the neglect of culturally appropriate material and the absence of a language-based approach. This thesis attempts to explore the contributions of African literary texts to the language classroom arguing that a socio-cultural approach to language learning is more viab le. Ethiopian English does not exist as an institutionalized variety , however, within a Pan-African perspective the Ethiopian learner can identify with African Literatures in English and begin from a familiar schematic reality. This authentic schema , apart from motivating the learner,will help in the efficient use of their top-down processing, a quality that at present is lacking. An understanding of African Literature is also approached through an attempt of it's definition from a historical perspective, an asset the language learner can call upon from his cultural competence and which also powerfully influences the rules of discourse in communication. Furthermore, African literature is based on the supposition that there is a constant interaction between social and linguistic aspects in regards to the understanding of language. Therefore the educational goal is based on the understanding of cultural assumptions in the classroom, and views culture as a process of understanding and tolerating different perceptions. African literature, in this thesis , focuses on problematizing major themes and therefore, stimulating discussion dependent on cultural awareness and based on dialogue and negotiation. African literature is therefore viewed as a stepping stone from which the Ethiopian language learner begins from and moves towards other forms of discourse, that is, from the familiar towards the unfamiliar.The learner approaches African literary texts from a language-based perspective with an emphasis on communication and negotiation as a bases for language awareness. In otherwords, African literary texts are seen from three perspectives: as text, as message, and as discourse. African literary text as text enables the language learner to examine language as system, and through a stylistic analys is be able to explore the di fferent levels of language. However, though description is a fund amental beginning towards a closer understanding, the learner has to move on to the next level of text as message. On this level the student explores meaning in text on the semantic level and understands how the wri ter transmits his message through language. The third and most important aspect however, is through interpretative procedures where text is seen as discourse and the learner's response is most valued, here a pragmatic understanding of meaning is explored. In tlus case meaning only exists with learners active engagement with the text and in the ultimate pursuit of communication. Communication in turn, develops a better understanding of language. As students are equipped with their schematic knowledge, bottom-up process ing or explicit awareness of language is dealt with in the tasks. The tasks therefore, have a major role to play in language learning, firstly , they are a means through which the learner communicates and negotiates meaning- an educational va lue, and secondly the learner is exposed to a more explicit awareness of language- a pedagogic va lue. Based on the assumptions of African literary texts and language-based approaches, this thes is also explores the motivational factors that influence language learning. The researcher fee ls that by using African literary texts and a language-based methodology the language learner will be more motivated to learn a foreign language. Models exploring motivation are reviewed and a synthesis between a psycho-educational model by Lambert and a socioeducational model by Gardner seem to be most relevant for this research. In this approach, cultural beliefs have a great influence on individual differences of which attitude and motivation are a part. Attitude and the aspect of orientation, which includes integration and instrumentality, seem to have a direct influence on motivation and situational anxiety, influencing foreign language learning. The ultimate outcome of learning a foreign language is refl ected on self- identity both in linguistic and non-linguistic terms. Therefore, African literary texts, based on the social milieu of the learners, seems to assure that se lf-identity and may probably help to motivate second language acquisition. However the Ethiopian situation is unique because English is used only as a medium of instruction, questioning whether the integrative motive is the most influential in language acquisition. To conclude, the researcher feels that the use of African literary texts in the language classroom with a focus on a language-based approach communication, can help to foster motivation and break the 'culture of silence' in the Ethiopian language learner.
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    Application of Major Narrative Techniques: A Comparative Analysis of Chinua Achebe’s Novels
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-06) Tesfamaryam G/Meskel ; Abiye Daniel
    This thesis tries to investigate the application of major narrative techniques used in Chinua Achebe’s novels. The main objectives of the paper are identifying the narrative techniques used in Achebe’s novels and pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the novels in relation to the use of narrative techniques. In accomplishing the aforementioned objectives, the writer of this study tries to review relevant literatures in relation to narrative techniques. Then an attempt is made to go through Achebe’s five novels in accordance with the reviewed literatures by focusing on point of view and narrative time. In the analysis, it is pointed out that Achebe’s first three novels are written in the third person omniscient point of view. This perspective made the reader a passive recipient of information since he/she expects everything from the narrator. Achebe’s fourth novel, ‘A Man of the People’, is written from the point of view of a first person narrator. With all its subjectivity and unreliability, this novel is appealing to readers because of the narrators’ humanly appearances. Achebe’s fifth novel ‘Anthills of the Savannah’ employs the third person omniscient and the first person point of views. The use of the two points of views helps the author to minimize the gap that can be created due to the limitations of both points of views. On the other hand, no relevant difference can be observed among the five novels in terms of narrative time, except the second novel ‘No Longer at Ease’. The story in this novel is presented in the form of a long flashback. Because of this, the reader might find him/her self, connecting pieces of information in the process of reading. There are also deviations from the chronological order in the other four novels. Similar presentations can be observed when we look at the five novels in terms of duration and frequency. 8 From the analysis of the five novels, it is concluded that considerable attention is not given to the way the stories in his first three novels are presented. On the other hand, in ‘A Man of the People’, the author used the limitations of the first person narrator to foreground the overall cynicism that existed in the country. In ‘Anthills of the Savannah’, the author succeeded in overcoming the limitations of the first person and the third person points of views by substituting the two points of views in presenting the story.
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    An Assessment on the Significance of Literature in Language Teaching With Special Reference to Grade Nine
    (Addis Ababa University, 2009-01) Fikru Gebre ; Abiye Daniel
    The main objective of this study is to assess the role of literature in teaching theEnglish language and to check whether or not it could be applicable inEthiopian high schools in general and in grade nine in particular. Hence, it hascombined both theoretical and practical methods of data collection. The theoretical approach focuses on the review of related literature whereas the practical approach gives emphasis to the activities performed in the classroom to see the significance of literature in teaching the English language and its results. The paper all in all consists of five chapters. The first chapter discuses the background of English language teaching, statement of the problem, objective of the study, the importance of the study and its scope. The second chapter reviews related works on literature and language teaching. It gives detail regards to issues such as the nature of language teaching, its importance, the interrelation between literature and language teaching, methods of teaching language through literature. It has also given an appropriate space to related local works. The third chapter, in its turn, had given much space to the why and the how of the study. It also earnestly regards the methodology of data collection and all the processes and procedures passed through in the data collection process. This mainly involves methods of sampling, processes of data collection, mechanisms of the analysis and interpretation, the process of teaching language making use of some selected literary materials and what the outcome looks like. The fourth chapter is dedicated to the analysis and interpretation of the data. This has mainly focused on students' age distribution and sexdifferences, the pre-and the post-lesson exam's result, etc. In this chapter all the collected data are presented, analyzed and interpreted into two main ways. These are quantitative and tabular presentations. The quantitative approach has been set apart for the statistical analysis of the pre-and post-lesson exam's results. In the tabular presentation the sample student's demographic backgrounds and the responses they gave to the questionnaires are detailed. The final chapter presents the summary and conclusion of the study and the researcher's recommendation.
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    Construction of Self: Narrating Minds in Two Novels of Adam Retta.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2021-01) Yewubdar Demissie; Abiye Daniel
    This dissertation examines the construction of self in two Amharic novels of Adam Retta, ―Yesinibit Kelemat‖ (2016) and ―Merek‖ (2017). The main objective of the study then, is to examine the relationship between life story and construction of self, thereby understand and gain more insight into the processes of self construction in the context of fictional characters. In order to accomplish this objective, I tried to review relevant literature in relation to self, narrative and plot. Moreover, the social constructionists approach to narrative and self, together with a theory of plot structure, has laid the foundation for the study‘s theoretical framework, which made it interdisciplinary by its nature as it draws concepts from literary theory and narrative identity theory in social psychology. Social constructionism contends that self is defined through a continuous process of narrative construction in social contexts. My research uses this premise as a starting point and asks how the character-narrators in these novels attempt to organize their life experiences into coherent self-narratives to define themselves. Then an attempt is made to perform a textual analysis on five selected self narratives from the two novels in accordance with the reviewed literature and theoretical framework by focusing on dominant stories constituted by important life events and their organization into a coherent life story in order to define the self. The findings indicate that dominant stories are frequently found to be problem-loaded with three recurring experiences, i.e., the physical body, suffering and relationships, which are found to be fertile grounds from which the characters draw a strong sense of selves. Beginnings of the narrative texts provided hints on specific points that the narrating subjects want to accentuate on, while chronological beginnings shed light on familial influences on identity. Multiple flashbacks also situate some of the self narratives with beginnings ―in medias res‖, which in most cases served as indicators of the following chaotic life story with conflicting selves and identity struggles. Endings, on the other hand, gave some of the self-narratives definite conclusions, while leaving others open, designating the ongoing nature of identity work. In addition to this, turning points in characters‘ life involved surprising incidents which, usually, are followed by profound shifts in identity. Besides this, identity changes are mainly triggered by influences from significant others, followed by sudden and enlightening realizations about the self. In conclusion, the self narratives demonstrated how self-construction is an ongoing social narrative practice and not something to be settled once and for all.
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    Contemporary Sociopolitical Predicaments in Selected East African Novels in English [Ca. 2005-2015]
    (Addis Ababa University, 2021-01) Mekwanent Tilahun; Abiye Daniel
    This project is geared towards investigating contemporary sociopolitical predicaments in an attempt to determine the trajectory of the historical, social and political realities reflected in theselected East African novels in English. The study aimed at finding out the emergent themes in the selected novels, identifying if the prevailing themes correlate with the historical realities,examining the representation of Africa and Africans, and identifying the intertexuality between the chosen novels. A postcolonial theory is used as a reading strategy and a national/regionalmodel of postcolonial theory is employed to comparatively examine the thematic convergenceand divergence the novels under scrutiny may have. To this effect, four novels namely, TheOrchard of Lost Souls (2013) Cross Bones(2011), Black Star Nairobi (2013) and Waiting(2007) have been selected purposively from East Africa. The purposive selection of theaforementioned novels is grounded on the researcher’s motivation to fill the identified researchgap. A postcolonial theory has been discussed in an eclectic manner as a theoretical frameworkof the study. The study thus found out that the selected novels have brought out emergent themessuch as religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism, piracy, human trafficking, and cross boundarysociopolitical problems that are unsettling the sociopolitical atmosphere of the Horn of Africa. In addition to foregrounding the impact of the aforesaid themes upon sociopolitical realities ofthe East African countries, the novels under scrutiny also reveal that the existing sociopoliticalanomalies such as corruption, lack of good governance, and gender issues are still taking theirtoll on Africans long after independence. Finally, the comparative analysis conducted on theselected novels has shown that the novels under investigation have both thematic convergencesand divergences. The study concludes that the authors have tried to call the attention of thereaders to the fact that Africa in general and theEastAfrican region in particular is confrontedwith new challenges such as religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism, piracy, human trafficking,cross boundary sociopolitical problems, and foreign powers’ meddling in their internal affairs.
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    The Images of Women in the Proverbs and Sayings of the Oromo: The Case of West Arsi Zone
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-06) Sena Gonfa; Abiye Daniel
    The major goal of this study is to examine the portrayal of women in the proverbs and sayings of the Arsi Oromo and to asses the awareness of the people about the effects of these proverbs and sayings on women. To achieve this goal, an attempt was made to collect proverbs and sayings that refer to women and attitudinal information from two woredas of West Arsi zone- Arsi Negelle and Kofale. The data was collected using three types of instruments (focus-group discussion), interview and questionnaire. The collected data was transcribed, tallied and tabulated (for questionnaires), translated from the original language (‘Afaan Oromoo) to the target language (English) and finally, it was analyzed and interpreted qualitatively.The study shows that women are portrayed both positively and negatively in the proverbs and sayings of the Arsi. The image of women as mothers is a positive one, despite the fact that even the proverbs sayings that are used to praise women also reflect a socio-cultural attitude of the people and the sex-role stereotypes that are hidden in these proverbs and sayings. Even though the majority of the respondents have indicated that among the Arsi, proverbs are used to add flavor to their speech; to settle social problems; to correct misbehavior; to criticize, praise and encourage good behavior; etc., they directly or indirectly show the inferiority of women and the biased social attitudes towards them. In these proverbs and sayings, women are depicted as weak and dependent, illogical, irrational, irresponsible, ignorant, jealous, unfaithful, unreliable and unpredictable, and as inferior members of their community. Positively, women are portrayed as good house makers and obedient servants for their family. And it was found out that, the women have internalized the negative attitude the society shows towards them and they act according to the social code of conduct honestly. The elders attributed the cause of the existing negative attitude towards women to the cultural adoption of the Oromo people after the fall of Gadaa system due to the conquest of Minelik II to the region. Though they are not aware of the socializing effect of the proverbs and sayings that they use for their aforementioned functions, the respondents indicated that the proverbs and sayings they use towards women have both positive and negative effects on them. It is also found out that the transmission of these proverbs and sayings from one generation to the other generation facilitates the continuation of the existing images of women to the future, thereby causing women’s negative self image that results in low women’s participation in different social affairs. Finally, it was indicated by the respondents that this problem will be alleviated by: teaching the society about gender equality; increasing women’s participation; hindering the use of proverbs and sayings that undermine women; and by educating women so as to enable them defend the violation of their rights.
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    Karen Horney’s Psychoanalytic Reading of Three Ethiopian Diasporic English Novels
    (Addis Ababa University, 2021-06) Amanuel Weldemichael; Abiye Daniel
    This study examines the experiences of characters owing to the Horney’s psychoanalytic conceptions in the selected Ethiopian English novels. This study gives focus to explore the experiential realities of the literary characters are described in the light of psychoanalysis in the selected diasporic novels. Thus, an intention has been given to analyze the psychological experiences of the characters based on neurotic development, intrapsychic conflicts and neurotic character structure. The study is intended to explore the characterization and conflict of the fictional characters thereby to psychoanalyze the personality of the characters the study is designed to employ a qualitative descriptions. From this, textual analysis and critical reading are employed to explicate the personality of the characters. The selection of the three diasporic novels is being conducted to get sufficient concepts of psychoanalysis for the analysis of the characters. Thus, the psychological experiences of eight characters are analyzed by the psychoanalytic conceptions. To achieve the specified goals, the theoretical framework has given focus to Horney’s psychoanalytic social theory. From this, three broad fundamental psychoanalytic conceptions are deployed. In view of this, to analyze the experiences of literary characters by the conceptions of contemporary psychoanalysis, three diaspora novels are selected. An attempt has been done to characterize the neurotic development, intrapsychic conflicts and neurotic solutions in the life of the literary characters owing to the dislocation they experienced in alien land. The results of this study explicated that the concepts of contemporary psychoanalysis are compatible to employ into the overwhelming experiences of literary characters in the three diaspora novels. Due to this, the characters are exposed into the subtleties of neurotic anxieties and conflicts which engender intrapsychic conflicts and neurotic solutions/ neurotic character structure from unpleasant past and present environmental and cultural situations. Consequently, the novels represent the incongruity of the real self who the characters really are and idealized self who the characters should want to be, rendered them to possess neurotic personality. Besides, the application of psychoanalysis is worthwhile to configure the characterization of the literary characters in the novels.
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    Life and Death in Selected Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath: A Comparative Analysis
    (Addis Ababa university, 2021-01) Kalkidan Tesfaye ; Abiye Daniel
    This study is concerned with A Freudian Psychoanalytic analysis of selected English poems of two poets: namely Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath. This research focuses on how these poets communicate their conscious and unconscious thoughts through language choices. Therefore, the main purpose of this thesis is to explore the language use of the poets and find out which language choices convey meanings in all poems. In addition, the study will try to identify the themes each poem portrays. The other aim of this study is to reveal the effectiveness of the Freudian Psychoanalytic approach in bringing out meaning of the poems and arriving at valid interpretation of literary texts. The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the research work. The second chapters show different reviews and researches related to this study. The third chapter shows an overview of the concepts in focus and discusses the concept of Freudian psychoanalysis and basic frameworks of Freudian analysis. The last chapter deals with the actual analysis of the selected poems. Thus, the poems of Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath will be analyzed against significant frameworks of Freudian theories to reveal the message they present as literary works and as reflections of the poets as well as to show the significant similarities and difference in the works of these poets. In the final section, which is the conclusion part, the findings of the researcher are briefly presented.
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    Modern-Day Sociopolitical Intricacies in Selected Anglophone Novels [Ca. 2005-2015]: A Comparative Study of East African Experiences
    (Addis Ababa Unversity, 2020-12) Mekwanent Tilahun; Abiye Daniel
    This project is geared towards investigating modern-day sociopolitical intricacies in an attempt to determine the trajectory of the historical, social and political realities reflected in the selected East African novels in English. The study aimed at finding out the emergent themes in the selected novels, identifying if the prevailing themes correlate with the historical realities, examining the representation of Africa and Africans, and identifying the inter texuality between the chosen novels. A postcolonial theory is used as a reading strategy and a national/regional model of postcolonial theory is employed to comparatively examine the thematic convergence and divergence the novels under scrutiny may have. To this effect, four novels namely, The Orchard of Lost Souls (2013) Cross Bones (2011), Black Star Nairobi (2013) and Waiting (2007) have been selected purposively from East Africa. The purposive selection of the aforementioned novels is grounded on the researcher’s motivation to fill the identified research gap. A postcolonial theory has been discussed in an eclectic manner as a theoretical framework of the study. The study thus found out that the selected novels have brought out emergent themes such as religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism, piracy, human trafficking, and cross boundary sociopolitical problems that are unsettling the sociopolitical atmosphere of the Horn of Africa. In addition to foregrounding the impact of the aforesaid themes upon sociopolitical realities of the East African countries, the novels under scrutiny also reveal that the existing sociopolitical anomalies such as corruption, lack of good governance, and gender issues are still taking their toll on Africans long after independence. Finally, the comparative analysis conducted on the selected novels has shown that the novels under investigation have both thematic convergences and divergences. The study concludes that the authors have tried to call the attention of the readers to the fact that Africa in general and the East African region in particular is confronted with new challenges such as religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism, piracy, human trafficking, cross boundary sociopolitical problems, and foreign powers’ meddling in their internal affairs.
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    Narrative Time and Mode in Firebrands and Somebody’s Daughter: A Comparative Study
    (Addis Ababa University, 2022-01) Solomon Bekele ; Abiye Daniel
    Although Ethiopian novelists have started writing novels in English since long ago, researchers doesn‟t seem to have the desire to analyze those novels from the perspective of narrative techniques. This thesis attempts to analyze Sahle Sellassie‟s „Firebrands‟(1979) and Hiwot Walelign‟s „Somebody‟s Daughter‟(2018) from the perspective of narrative techniques with respect to Narrative Time and Mode. It deals with the comparative analysis of the two novels pointing out their strong and weak sides. The findings indicate the two novels share similarity in the above mentioned elements of narrative technique with some differences. Both narrators also share similarity in narrative time with some differences. Although both of them deviate in the order of the events, the narrator in Somebody‟s Daughter(2018) deviates more in her order of presentation.In terms of duration both novels share similarity because of the discourse time being shorter than the story time although the discourse time is much shorter in Somebody‟s Daughter (2018) than Firebrands (1979). In terms of frequency more iterative, the second type of singulative telling and repetitive telling are used in Somebody‟s Daughter (2018) than in Firebrands (1979). With regard to narrative mode scenic presentation and dialogues are the favored method in Firebrands (1979) but summary is chosen by the narrator in Somebody‟s Daughter(2018).All the differences are attributed to the volume of the respective novels because Firebrands (1979) having more pages than Somebody‟s Daughter(2018) gives greater opportunity for the narrator to use more dialogues and scenic presentation
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    The Persuasive Power of HIV Advertisements of Radio Ethiopia and FM-Addis (97. 1): A Textual Analysis
    (Addis Ababa University, 2005-11) Eshetu Shibeshi ; Abiye Daniel
    This paper, a study on the persuasive power of HIV radio advertisements (FM Addis and Radio Ethiopia) a textual analysis, is divided into five chapters. The first chapter, an introductory part, contains the background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives significance, delimitation and limitations of the study. The second chapter is a review of theoretical perspectives related to mass communication, a dvertising and HIV / AIDS as well as aspects of persuasion. It a lso gives a review of related works. The third chapter, methodology, a lso presents the major method, textual analysis, and a particular approach, rhetoric criticism, used for the analysis of the advertisements. Textual analysis and rhetoric criticism in particular is used to analyze and interpret persuasive messages. The chapter also sets out the parameters to be used in the analysis: source credibility, audience analysis and content characteristics of the advertisements. In chapter four, sample advertisements are interpreted and analyzed as per the parameters suggested in the methodology. The outcome of the analysis, therefore, r evealed that though there are advertisements that seem to share some qualities of a persuasive communication, most of them have shown failure m achieving effectiveness in such aspects of persuasion as source credibility, audience analysis and content characteristics. Finally, the last ch apter, conclusion and recommendations, provides a summary of the findings of the study with possible alternatives that would curb the existing problems.
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    Structural Analysis of Theme Through Technique of Yeshitela's Novels
    (Addis Ababa University, 2001-06) Martha Badi ; Abiye Daniel
    The obj ectives of this thesis mainly focuses on a n attempt to implement structural analysis method on texts, that help one to arrive at intended themes. For this purpose, Yeshitla Kokeb's novels Wogegta and Dosegnaw h ave been selected. The themes of these n ovels, eman cipation and commitment respective ly, are hig hli ghted through the utilization of characterization a nd p lot techniques. The a n alysis of the techniques doesn't mainly fo c us on content. As a critique, i t is dealt here as an achieved content, the form, the work of art. Different structur es by which the form got constructed, had h e lped to explicitly show, how the t echniques are utilized for the purpose aforemention ed. Hence, those different structu r ing methods of theoreticians that proved to suit the analysis a re only applied. Moreover, the research er h as endeavored to devise h e r own structu rin g approach. The research has revealed that the economic, social and political life of our society can easily clearly be visuali zed through t h e utilization of different stru cturing methods. It has also proved the existence of a dopting t heoretical frame works ,whic h might h elp one to invent her I hisown theory of structuring method. The first chapter of this thesis comprises the introduc tion, a nd the methodology the researcher e mployed in analyzing the texts and the problems e n countered .The li terature review of differen t theoreticians,who have done analysis on c h a r acter and plot is s h own in the second chapter. In Wogegta among oth e r s, the researcher h as tried to apply the most detailed consid er ation of the organization of lexies, which Roland Barthes distinguished as five "c odes" w hich a r e applied in the reading of a text. Structures of these literary codes, i.e . the proairetic code (code o f action); the cultural code (which refers to all the system of knowle dgeand values); the symbolic code (which refers to the theme); the connotative code (which expresses th emes developed around ch aracter s); and the hermeneutic code (code of puzzle) which help in the characterization technique are attempted to be a pplied on the text in the third ch a pter. Moreover, the theories contribution to the advancement of the emancipation and other themes is also examined. Furthermore, in the fourth chapter, plots of Dosegnaw with its relevance to the development of commitment and other themes are endeavored to be structurally highlighted. Hence, Greimase's 'contractu a l sequence', Todorov's postulation of a set of basic categories, Barthese"s cultural code identification and Shklovsky's type of para llelism and their contribution towards the progression of the themes are examined. The researcher had intermingled Barthese's codes with characterization techniques and has attempted to establish viable slructures. The structures relevance to the development of the themes is a lso examined . Besides from among diffrent types of characterization methods, I have pinpointed those areas III the chronological characterization method tha t should be ra mified. Moreover, the researcher has adopted Greimase's "four term homology" into "three" so that it fits to analyze Doseganw th oroughly. Specifica lly, my investigation deals with : (a) Different ch a racterization technique th eories which are combined with Barthese's codes moreover theories of analysis of plots are also interpreted. (b) The effect of applying a characterization method on Wogegta's theme is explored. (c) The effect of plot construction on Dosegnaw's theme is also examined.
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    Suffering and the Sense of Self in Contemporary Tigrigna Poetry (1999-2010): A Mystical Interpretation
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-06) Yohannes Asfaw ; Abiye Daniel
    This thesis examines the question of human suffering from the viewpoint of the sense of self. To this end, an interpretive framework focused on mystical conception of self is employed. Despite the discrete self of sense perception, the mystical conception of self posits an intuitive experience of self that is progressively inclusive of the other. This experiential conception of self is implicated in the alleviation of human suffering. Such an experientially sensitive epistemology is suitable to literary texts which usually rely more on emotional and intuitive experiences than on empirical or rational explications. Poetic imagery constitutes an important literary tool in unveiling experiential realities that may be elusive to words lacking sensory details and suggestions. In view of this, twenty contemporary Tigrigna poetic texts that deal with the subject of suffering and are imbued with poetic imagery were selected for analysis. The study attempts to discern textual elements that suggest the dissolution or formation of self/other dichotomy and examine how these experiential conceptions of self bear on the text’s representation of human suffering. The results of the study indicate that although there are ample instances that deconstruct the sense perception of a separate self, none of the texts express a sustained and all-inclusive unitive sense of self. Consequently, the texts assume a complex relationship with the question of human suffering. While the alleviation of suffering is implicated in an experience of self/other connectedness, its perpetuation is also implicated in the limitedness and/or unsustainablity of the experience. The suffering implicated in the frustration of the unitive sense of self, however, also suggests a positive experiential implication in the sense that it may urge the experiencers to root their sense of self on grounds that are more inclusive and hence less susceptible to mutability.
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    The Theme of Alienation as Reflected in Dinaw Mengestu’s Trilogy: A Sociological Perspective
    (Addis Ababa University, 2021-04) Tsegaberhan Wodaj; Abiye Daniel
    This study focuses on the three fictional works of Dinaw Mengestu; “The Beautiful Things thatHeaven Bears” (2007), “How to Read the Air” (2010), and “All Our Names” (2014). Thisresearch aims to investigate the causes of alienation that enumerates by extracting the influencingfactors and the consequence of alienation in a way the fundamental concern that human beingfaces in the course of migration and immigration. This study reveals that theimmigrantcharactersrepresented in the selected trilogy while confronting and challenging the various forms ofalienation in their attempt to co-exist the new immigrant life since alienation has become wordsof such modern man’s everyday language. This study also deals with the major concerns andmatters of the immigrant characters’ reactions of alienation regardless of their reasons for exile.The main reason for focusing on the concept of alienation in the selected novels is that this areaof literary theme has not been given enough attention to be studied comprehensively in the contextof African (Ethiopians) immigrants’ life. Besides, no other Ethiopian literary work has portrayedthe themes of alienation better than the selected three novels which have dealt with the pain andsufferings of alienation in the lives of the. This study tried to explore the immigrants ‘sense ofalienation in the hosting country and in the process of immigration where life as an immigrantwas unbearable, forcing them to try towards the process of economic, social, and culturaladjustment. An attempt is made to explore the multiple dimensions of alienation and the alienatingfactors based on Melvin Seeman’s five aspects of alienation: powerlessness, meaninglessness,normlessness, isolation, and self-estrangement. The selected three literary immigrant novelsreveal the theme of the immigrants’ feelings of alienation as a central preoccupation of the author. The researcher has used textual analysis to explore the selected literary works and captured theportrayal of alienation of the African immigrants which allows us the understanding, processing,and witnessing of human suffering. The study summarizes that the selected trilogy explicitly orimplicitly points out the various forms of alienation facing the African immigrants in the course ofcreating new life in the host land. Keywords: Alienation, Dinaw, Seeman, and Immigration