MA Alumni

Research subject: The design of the educational system infrastructure (1953-1948)

Abstract: The first decade succeeding the foundation of the state of Israel was filled with critical historic events and radical changes. In those years, as expected of a newly founded state, policymakers started to form the public infrastructure of Israel - including the educational system. It was the decade in which the main characteristics of the educational system ways were formed, as well as its goals, ways of action and structural aspects. My research intends to dwell upon the connection between the historical events and sociological aspects of Israel in that time and the design of the educational system infrastructure. The research will discuss the ways in which the educational system itself, being one of the ultimate devices for shaping the society, is derived from the political and historical events which happened in that crucial decade.

Supervisors: Prof. Edit Doron, Dr. Aynat Rubinstein

Abstract: My work will refer to a phenomenon known in the literature as "the Actualization Effect", where modal expressions conjugated in preterit are interpreted as an action that has been carried out. My intention is to address the current theoretical literature related to this effect, focusing on semantic, syntactical and morphological aspects. These analyses will be examined with respect to Spoken Modern Hebrew data, as well as to written Hebrew corpora, from a diachronic perspective/

Supervisor: Prof. Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony

Abstract: My work explores the complex relations between voice and silence, in regard to how prayer was designed and constructed in Rabbinic and Syriac-Christian literature in Late Antiquity. In the Thesis I examine the interplay between Rabbinic and Syriac literature regarding perceptions of body and language, and from that I continue on to explore the different attitudes towards silent and bodily prayer.

The work focuses on the works of Aphrahat, Ephrem, the Book of Steps and John of Apamea - all Syrian writings of the fourth and fifth centuries, and on rabbinic literature from roughly the same period.

Supervisor: Aldina Rodriguez Quintana

Abstract: This dissertation will examine how Hebrew speakers respond to compliments by examining Hebrew speaking students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a sub-group of Hebrew speakers. This focus on a micro-level speech act is part of a wider understanding of the importance of pragmatics to intercultural communication.  By examining linguistic choices in socio-linguistic interaction a lot can be learned about the pragmatic motives of speakers. Understanding pragmatic motivation is extremely beneficial in preventing pragmatic failure, which occurs when speakers apply the pragmatic patterns of their native language (L1) on the spoken foreign language (L2) (Thomas 1983). 

 When receiving a compliment, it is expected to show happiness or embarrassment, the latter is more expected from women. External compliments, on appearance, performance and possession are the most welcomed, while physical appearance, talent and personality compliments are perceived as interior and therefore less welcomed. A simple /to’da/ will always suffice, especially if you are men, but expressing your pleasure with the compliment is a good choice too, especially if you are a woman and the giver of the compliment is a woman as well. Try to avoid denial of the compliment, as acceptance is much preferred. The least expected sub-strategies are ‘return compliment’, ‘magnified acceptance’ and ‘soliciting confirmation’. If you wish to choose ‘acceptance with amendment’, your best bet will be ‘tempered acceptance’. If you wish to ignore the illocutionary force of the compliment and address it as discursive, the best option is to view it a ‘topic introduction’.

The comparatively large variation in response choice in the Israeli culture, compared to the Spanish culture for example (Siebold 2008) is a result of two things: 1) the relative newness of the Israeli society, which means cultural expectations are not yet fully established, and 2) The importance of the individual over the importance of the group; Israel has become very diverse and Capitalism and North-American influence raised the importance of the individual over the collective.