Browsing by Subject "convergence"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Code-switching, Structural change and Convergence: A study of Sesotho in contact with English in Lesotho
    (2019) Semethe, Mpho Maboitumelo; Mesthrie, Rajend; Bowerman, Sean
    This study investigates whether code-switching practices among Sesotho-English bilinguals promote convergence between Sesotho and English. First, the study identifies different types and patterns of code-switching between Sesotho and English and analyses them using Myers-Scotton’s (1993) Matrix Language Frame model and Myers-Scotton and Jake’s (2000) 4-M model. Second, it applies the ML turnover in order to detect convergence in Sesotho-English code-switching data and to observe which direction it takes. The study also explores other factors contributing to change in the structure of Sesotho, which are not necessarily influenced by convergence. In conducting this study, data was collected through interviews that were held with younger bilingual speakers from different tertiary institutions in and around Maseru (Lesotho) and through recorded youth-centred phone-in radio programmes. Findings from the analysis of data reveal simple to complex Sesotho-English code-switching performance of various types and strategies. Findings also show through the existence of composite language in Sesotho-English code-switching that there is a turnover in the ML, which indicates a development of an asymmetrical convergence between Sesotho and English. It was also discovered that, although other changes in the Sesotho structure are not English influenced, they are enhanced mostly by younger urban bilingual speakers’ frequent “looser” approach to Sesotho. This is an indication that Sesotho’s susceptibility to change correlates strongly with age; that is, both the length of time contact between Sesotho and English has existed, and the generation in which change is mostly found. This thesis adds and documents a different perspective to the previously recorded changes on Sesotho-English contact in Lesotho.
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    Examining personality assessment in asynchronous video interviews (AVI): convergence between human personality judgements and AI/ML scoring
    (2025) Cronje, Jacobus Fouche; de Kock, Francois
    The assessment of personality is an essential component of personnel selection due to its validity in predicting job performance. To assess personality, asynchronous video interviews (AVIs) scored using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are increasingly used, allowing candidates to record responses to interview prompts that are subsequently evaluated automatically by AI algorithms and/or human raters. As questions remain about the validity of AI-based AVI scoring approaches, this study examines the convergence between human-and AI-scored personality assessments. To measure personality, the study focuses on the HEXACO model, which measures Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience. Verbal responses were transcribed from videotaped AVIs of 161 mock interview candidates who answered five AVI questions. Responses were scored by 15 trained human raters and a closed-dictionary text-analysis keyword-counting AI algorithm developed for this study, respectively. The correlation between trait-level scores produced by human judges and AI scoring was tested both across traits and within traits (trait-level) to assess scoring convergence. Moreover, in addition to comparing score levels produced by the two scoring methods (AI vs. human raters), score spread (i.e., variability), rank-order stability, and rating reliability were evaluated. The findings revealed a moderately positive and significant overall convergence (r = .29, p < .001) across traits between human and AI evaluations, which suggests that AI scoring may potentially be useful as a replacement of human evaluations when general screening is desired. Trait-level convergence varied between scoring methods, with the scoring consensus between human raters and AI being higher for some traits than for others, suggesting that these methods rely on different information and/or may interpret interview responses differently. The research highlights the potential of AI to complement human- based scoring of AVIs used in recruitment, selection, and assessment while also identifying the limitations of algorithm-based scoring in capturing complex human behaviour in interviews. The findings may further contribute to understanding the role of AI in personality assessment and implications for organisational practices.
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    Syntax, and semantics-based signature database for hybrid intrusion detection systems
    (2008) Barry, Bazara I A; Chan, H Anthony
    The International Society for Burns Injuries (ISBI) has published guidelines for the management of multiple or mass burns casualties, and recommends that 'each country has or should have a disaster planning system that addresses its own particular needs.' The need for a national burns disaster plan integrated with national and provincial disaster planning was discussed at the South African Burns Society Congress in 2009, but there was no real involvement in the disaster planning prior to the 2010 World Cup; the country would have been poorly prepared had there been a burns disaster during the event. This article identifies some of the lessons learnt and strategies derived from major burns disasters and burns disaster planning from other regions. Members of the South African Burns Society are undertaking an audit of burns care in South Africa to investigate the feasibility of a national burns disaster plan. This audit (which is still under way) also aims to identify weaknesses of burns care in South Africa and implement improvements where necessary.
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    THE EFFECT OF WEAK LENSING ON DISTANCE ESTIMATES FROM SUPERNOVAE
    (2014) Smith, Mathew; Bacon, David J; Nichol, Robert C; Campbell, Heather; Clarkson, Chris; Maartens, Roy; D\'Andrea, Chris B; Bassett, Bruce A; Cinabro, David; Finley, David A; Frieman, Joshua A; Galbany, Lluís; Garnavich, Peter M; Olmstead, Matthew D; Schneider, Donald P; Shapiro, Charles; Sollerman, Jesper
    Using a sample of 608 Type Ia supernovae from the SDSS-II and BOSS surveys, combined with a sample of foreground galaxies from SDSS-II, we estimate the weak lensing convergence for each supernova l ...