Implikasies van die keuse van 'n teoretiese benadering vir beslissings oor navorsingsontwerp

SUMMARY

This article sets out to show that and how the researcher's theoretical approach, that is, the view of communication that derives from his/her ontological, anthropological and epistemological assumptions, determines decisions concerning research design and the application of the findings. Two contrasting theoretical approaches, viz. functionalism and phenomenology, are discussed and the consequences of their assumptions for the execution of research illustrated with reference to two empirical studies. The most important issue arising from their contrary positions concerns the truthfulness of research findings. While phenomenologists maintain that findings must be validated by respondents' agreement that their experience of reality has been truthfully expressed, functionalists argue that research must produce general patterns that may be presented by means of predetermined categories. It is finally suggested that the ongoing debate concerning suitable theoretical approaches is of vital importance to researchers since it highlights their ethical responsibility.     

Suid-Afrikaanse "alternatiewe" rolprente en die Suid-Afrikaanse sosio-politieke werklikheid. 'n Historiese,teoretiese en analitiese verkenning (Deel 1)

SUMMARY

The "alternative" film originated in South Africa because people or groups outside the apartheid establishment were unable to communicate through existing mass media structures, and their own communication channel had to be established.

The key question addressed in this article is whether the "alternative" South African film actually succeeds in making a contribution, on an intercultural level of communication, to the socio-political reality of South African society, and to what extent the film as communication medium succeeds in establishing positive intercultural communication? A study of four films is undertaken, according to Pieter J. Fourie's theoretical model (1983), whereby the content and shaping aspects of film images are examined from a contextual as well as an analytical point of view.

The value of the "alternative" film lies in the fact that the South African reality is seen from the perspective of the "black" or "coloured" person. For many years "whites", on account of their ethnocentric attitude and the absolutization of their values and norms, were never really aware of other race groups' values and norms, and were not interested in how these people experienced reality. In this regard the "alternative" film has a dual function significant to intercultural communication: on the one hand it offers self-expression – an important principle and starting point for intercultural communication – to people outside the apartheid establishment, and on the other hand, it gives whites within this establishment the opportunity to become acquainted with the worlds of other cultural and ideological groups.

If the South African film wants to present a model for reality, it will have to take into account the complexity of multicultural diversity without absolutizing certain people's cultural values and ideological perspectives. Communication should rather take the form of "dialogue".     

Enkele gedagtes oor die rol van teorie in die wetenskapsbeoefening

SUMMARY

The social significance of television and film as the most powerful means of mass communication in Western civilisation today cannot be underrated. The mass media, and television and film in particular, are not merely neutral carriers of messages. They confer power, legitimate systems and provide ways of looking at the world. They supply the context in which information is learned, attitudes and values formed and decisions made, thereby fulfilling the functions previously filled by the medieval church.

The general functions of the mass media, and television and film in particular, are entertainment, the provision of information and education, socialization and the handing down, or propogation of culture. However, these can be suggested to be merely surface functions and effects of the media's deeper power. There is a hidden role which transcends all surface effects. It may be proposed that it is the media, rather than the church which provides individuals with a worldview which reflects to them what is of ultimate value, and which justifies their behaviour and way of life. Television itself is becoming a kind of religion and has become a prime cultivator of culture, providing the myths, teachings and expressions of religion.

Various authors suggest that television needs to be seriously considered as an operative religious activity. This does not mean that the television and film industry would see itself in religious terms, nor that the mass media can be seen to be replacing theistic religion, but that the correspondence between the content and uses of television and the traditional functions of religion and religious practice is significant.

This article, based on a literature survey, explores the provocative parallel between the traditional functions of religion and the church, and commercial television.     

Die bindende rol van die nasionale pers in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing

SUMMARY

Although “science” involves both theory and practice the significance of theory is often questioned in the field of communication studies. Some practitioners, for example, maintain that they need very little, if any, theory since their publics demand “results” and are not interested in theoretical debates. In similar vein it is argued that university students do not know how “to do the job” when they enter the field of communication practice. This article sets out to clarify some of the misunderstandings concerning the nature and role of theory in scientific practice and to show the need for a better understanding and closer cooperation between theorists and practitioners. Apart from suggesting a useful definition of theory for the purposes of the discussion, some common misconceptions concerning theory are addressed. It is argued that communicologists will only succeed in playing a meaningful role in a new South Africa if theorists and practitioners critically assess their own as well as each other's contributions and actively seek ways to cooperate in addressing critical issues in communication within the South African context. The article concludes with a discussion of some pressing problems currently experienced in the teaching of communication theory and offers some guidelines for selecting and presenting theory curricula relevant to communication and communication practice within the changing South African context.     

Afrikaans as televisietaal in Suid-Afrika: 'n toekomsperspektief

ABSTRACT

This article deals with an investigation into the need for Afrikaans television programmes among Afrikaans viewers in the changing media environment in South Africa. Viewers' needs were researched by means of a case study among grade 10 learners in Pretoria. The uses and gratifications approach serves as the theoretical framework of the study and a number of variables affecting respondents' need with regard to Afrikaans television programmes are investigated. These variables are television driven (supply, content and structure of Afrikaans programmes), technology driven (new media technologies such as satellite television and the Internet) and viewer driven (socio-cultural, personal and demographic factors). The study finds a relation between these variables and the need for Afrikaans programmes among respondents. The supply, content and structure of Afrikaans programmes do not gratify respondents' needs. New media technologies broaden respondents' socio-cultural horizons, enabling them to watch, interpret, associate with, and enjoy English programmes comfortably. The changing socio-cultural and demographic environment is liberalising traditional Afrikaans views on television use and is exposing an increasing number of Afrikaans viewers to global television. Within this context the need for Afrikaans programmes is diminishing, placing a question mark over the future of Afrikaans as a television language.     

Dialoog en Manipulasie in kommunikasie

SUMMARY

In this article the author deals with the misunderstanding of nonverbal behaviour. He presents relevant qualitative and quantitative data on misunderstanding based on tests administrated to both Ethiopian newcomers and veteran residents of modern Israel. He also discusses gestures in both cultures which are homomorphs but antonyms as well as what he calls “congruent” and “diverging” decoding, and the interpersonal and intrapersonal processes of misunderstanding. He offers a model of “Communication Quality” and introduces the concept of the “certainty factor.” For testing the level of nonverbal misunderstanding, the author developed the Schneller Israeli Emblem Test, which he administered to Israelis from eight countries. In the light of his relevant theoretical and conceptual approaches, Schneller's work yields important conclusions, so that this may be applied to other multicultural nations as well. Included in this contribution are also appendices with a total of 35 Ethopian and Israeli emblematic gestures.     

Televisie,tegnopolie en postmodernisme

SUMMARY

In this article the author argues that the ongoing process of redefining public broadcasting can be related to the nature of the technopological society of the late twentieth century and the existing postmodern condition. In this society the emphasis moved away from television as a cultural product to television as a consumer product or commodity. Based on Neil Postman's work he briefly discusses the nature of the technopological society and its influence on public communication. He relates this to postmodernism and briefly discusses the so-called postmodern condition and how it is reflected (and even created) by and through television.     

古巴社会科学研究现状

1994年以前,古巴科学院负责领导全国的科学和技术工作,领导和协调古巴的社会科学研究。1 994年以后,古巴的社会科学由科学、技术和环境部领导和协调,科学院继续存在,但职能缩小,成为该部的组成部分。此外,古巴还有一个跨部委的全国社会科学最高理事会,由以下1 1个部委组成:科技环境部、经济和计划部、文化部、内务部、国防部、高教部、教育部、科学院、司法部、共产党和共产主义青年联盟。该理事会负责协调全国的社会科学研究工作。古巴现有5 0多个社会科学研究所或研究中心,有近1 0 0 0名专职社会科学研究人员。此外,在各大专院校中,还有5 …     

Rand Daily Mail: die dood in perspektief

SUMMARY

The closure of the Rand Daily Mail on April 30, 1985 focused the attention of South Africans on the state of the South African press. This (mainly white) press is examined in the article. It is found that if one uses Merill & Lowenstein's EPS curve of stages of media development in South Africa, the white press is already in the Modern phase, with saturated mass publications, decreasing readership of the mass press and an increasing commitment to specialization and diversification. The black publications are in the Transitional phase, moving from the Elite phase to the Popular phase, with a great potential for mass publications due mainly to increasing literacy and rising levels of income. Readership among Blacks has increased by some 250 per cent between 1962 and 1977. Conclusions drawn from these findings seem to indicate that the Rand Daily Mail had not taken adequate account of the realities of the media market and had positioned itself in a no-man's-land between a sophisticated white market and a developing black one. It had proved itself second best against both its main white and black rivals, namely Citizen and Sowetan. It is recommended that, due to the press's economic difficulties and the need for a diversity of views in a reforming constitutional system on the road to greater democracy, government subsidization of the press be considered seriously as an option for the future.     

Les perspectives pour les ONG en Chine

Cet article explore les perspectives pour les ONG étrangères et autochtones de la Chine d'après Mao. La complexité structurelle du secteur ONG qui se développe en Chine est illustrée par une typologie des nouvelles organisations sociales qui se sont épanouies pendant les dix dernières années. L'auteur évoque les facteurs qui favorisent l'expansion de ce secteur intermédiaire d'activités peu ou non gouvernementales, mais il fait aussi état des facteurs qui empêchent dans l'immédiat, l'émergence d'un secteur d'ONG animé. Les ONG étrangères qui iront chercher des contacts à la prochaine Conférence Internationale des Nations Unies sur les Femmes devront être disposées à travailler avec le Parti/État et les organisations sociales semi-officielles.     

新发展主义中的国家和市场

作为上世纪80年代债务危机的产物而在拉丁美洲兴起的新自由主义政策抑制住了通货膨胀,但它在实现真正的宏观经济稳定、恢复发展方面却失败了.从比较优势理论出发,尤其是相对廉价的劳动力优势论出发,拉美国家应当已经接近第一世界国家的发展水平(处于"赶上"的过程).但事实却相反.因此,现在出现了反对传统的正统学派的强烈反应.     

拉丁美洲小额信贷初探

作为世界“三P”(贫困、人口和污染)难题之一的贫困问题备受关注。它不仅是指人们所处的那种贫困状态,而且反映了由于社会各种环境的限制使人们丧失有价值的生活。因此,世界银行在提出反贫困战略时强调,把赋予穷人权利、提高穷人参与社会的程度和他们的社会经济地位确定为减缓贫困的关键。在《世界发展报告2 0 0 0 /2 0 0 1——反贫困》中,人们的资产被分为5类:个人资产(如劳动能力、技能及健康) ,自然资产(如土地) ,物质资产(如基础设施的使用权) ,金融资产(储蓄及获得的贷款) ,社会资产(以取得他人信任和互助为主要内容及穷人参与政治活…     

Ideologie,kultuur en hegemonie: Toerusting vir media-ontleding

SUMMARY

This paper has four aims. The first is to present the major tenets of an emergent paradigm in cultural studies by critically outlining the three main concepts of that paradigm, viz., ideology, culture and hegemony; secondly, to relate this paradigm to concerns in communication and media studies; thirdly, to establish some connections between this paradigm and some recent work done in this area in SA; and finally to indicate some of the new directions this paradigm is taking in current social theorizing.     

拉美军人与政治:一项历史的考察

在拉美国家的政治发展和现代化进程中 ,军人一直发挥着重要的作用。 1 9世纪前半期 ,军人考迪罗是拉美政治的主宰者 ;1 9世纪 70年代以后 ,随着拉美国家现代化的启动 ,军人职业化有了一定程度的发展 ,但军人干政现象并未消失 ;第二次世界大战结束后 ,特别是在冷战时期 ,军事学说的变化 ,军队专业化水平的提高 ,社会和政治危机 ,促使一些拉美国家在 60年代以后建立了军人政权 ;80年代后 ,拉美实现了军人政权向文人政权的过渡 ,但真正民主的文人—军人关系的建立仍有待于实现     

智利的国有企业改革

20世纪 70年代中期 ,智利成为拉美第一个对经济结构进行深刻调整的国家。国有企业 (包括国家依法建立的、国家征收的和国家占大部分股份的 )广泛私有化就是这一结构性调整的组成部分 ,也是智利为减少国家对经济的干预、改革国有企业和提高生产效率而采取的一项重要措施。一　国企私有化前的状况在智利历史上 ,尽管早在 1 8世纪国家就通过建立企业来干预经济 ,担负起企业主的作用 ,但直到 2 0世纪 30年代末期 ,国有企业的作用仍很有限。自 1 939年起情况发生了很大变化 ,智利政府成立了国营生产开发公司 ( CORFO) ,在智利进口替代工业化进…     

全球化下中国与拉美贸易关系的新趋势

在中国经济走向全球化的背景下 ,2 1世纪以来中国与拉美的经贸关系呈现全新的趋势和特点 ,也给国际分工理论带来了新的内涵。中国要跳出单纯的双边贸易逆差的思维 ,从全球分工的战略高度来看待中拉双边贸易 ,以平等、互利和互惠的心态 ,积极推进中拉贸易关系 ,为中国企业长期耕耘拉美市场打下基础 ,在中拉之间建立新型的南南合作关系 ,通过中拉之间的双赢局面来实现和保障中国的长期战略利益。     

墨西哥和拉美左派面临的挑战

首先,我忠心地感谢中国社会科学院拉丁美洲研究所邀请我参加这一重要的国际学术论坛.能够与参加这次论坛的各位共同分享我对墨西哥和拉美左派的一些思考,是我莫大的荣幸.     

拉美国家的家庭暴力问题及其对妇女的影响

对女性的暴力活动已成为全世界普遍存在的现象,越来越受到各国政府和国际组织的重视。联合国确定每年1 1月2 5日为“国际消除对妇女暴力日”。在妇女遭受的各种暴力侵害中,家庭暴力问题是一个涉及面最广、处理难度最大、对女性身心健康和未来发展有着长期影响的社会问题。拉美的家庭暴力不是一个新现象,但对这一问题的关注基本上是从2 0世纪80年代后期才开始的。进入90年代以后,随着拉美主要国家民主化进程的加快,维护和扩大公民权利的呼声日益高涨,对女性的生活和工作带来极大危害的家庭暴力问题逐渐引起政府部门和广大公众的关注,成为舆论…