title: Just because. Constructions in spoken and written New Zealand English

authors: Calude, Andreea S.

abstract: Just because (JB) is widely used and has been a target of commentary and humorous use by English speakers and aroused some interest among linguists, who have investigated its syntax, semantics, and derivation. Some, based on researcher constructed data, have proposed construction analyses (Hirose 1991, Bender and Kathol 2001). Another (Hilpert 2005: 97), using a diachronic corpus, proposes that JB has been grammaticalized as a concessive marker via "the discourse function of inference denial." Our study, based on a corpus of New Zealand written and spoken English, demonstrates, amongst other significant findings, that JB occurs in a far broader set of grammatical contexts than the earlier literature recognizes, that JB constructions are significantly more frequent in spoken than in written English, that JB adverbial clauses are more likely to occur in pre-posed than in post-posed position, that the meaning of just because affects this distribution, that just because is far more likely to be followed by a clause than a prepositional phrase, and that JB constructions are extremely likely to occur in the discourse context of a negator.

text: Just because. Constructions in spoken and written New Zealand English Just because (JB) is widely used and has been a target of commentary and humorous use by English speakers and aroused some interest among linguists, who have investigated its syntax, semantics, and derivation. Some, based on researcher constructed data, have proposed construction analyses (Hirose 1991, Bender and Kathol 2001). Another (Hilpert 2005: 97), using a diachronic corpus, proposes that JB has been grammaticalized as a concessive marker via "the discourse function of inference denial." Our study, based on a corpus of New Zealand written and spoken English, demonstrates, amongst other significant findings, that JB occurs in a far broader set of grammatical contexts than the earlier literature recognizes, that JB constructions are significantly more frequent in spoken than in written English, that JB adverbial clauses are more likely to occur in pre-posed than in post-posed position, that the meaning of just because affects this distribution, that just because is far more likely to be followed by a clause than a prepositional phrase, and that JB constructions are extremely likely to occur in the discourse context of a negator.

year: 2020

title: Restrictive practices in Aotearoa New Zealand: Current prevalence and barriers to least restrictive practice

authors: Cairns, Mitchell

subjects: Restrictive practices

abstract: Restrictive practices refer to a group of practices whereby an individual's freedom of movement is prevented or partially restricted. This could be done by the use of physical force, harness or straps, or with medications and sedatives. There are several risks associated with the use of restrictive practices, such as physical injury, trauma, post-traumatic stress, and even death for both those subjected to and those implementing restraints. This study aims to determine the frequency and type of restrictive practices used in New Zealand, views of behaviour of concern, and the barriers and enablers to the reduction of restrictive practices, and examine differing views in the population using mixed-method analysis. Survey data was collected and followed up with a focus group to provide additional qualitative data. Data analysis indicated that the use of restrictive practice in New Zealand disability care was high, with 48.61%-77.0% of clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities being subjected to at least one form of restrictive practice. A high level of consensus on the definition of behaviours of concern and their most effective interventions being proactive and function-based was also reflected in the data. Identified barriers to restraint reduction were similar to existing research and included attitudes toward restraint, organisational constraints, caregiver capacity, resource limitations, and limitations in support planning. Identified enablers to restraint reduction included ongoing training and development, behaviour support plans, interdisciplinary reviews, organisational leadership, and caregiver/whānau involvement. Recommendations for future research to examine specific factors resulting in the high use of restrictive practices in New Zealand are provided.

text: Restrictive practices in Aotearoa New Zealand: Current prevalence and barriers to least restrictive practice Restrictive practices refer to a group of practices whereby an individual's freedom of movement is prevented or partially restricted. This could be done by the use of physical force, harness or straps, or with medications and sedatives. There are several risks associated with the use of restrictive practices, such as physical injury, trauma, post-traumatic stress, and even death for both those subjected to and those implementing restraints. This study aims to determine the frequency and type of restrictive practices used in New Zealand, views of behaviour of concern, and the barriers and enablers to the reduction of restrictive practices, and examine differing views in the population using mixed-method analysis. Survey data was collected and followed up with a focus group to provide additional qualitative data. Data analysis indicated that the use of restrictive practice in New Zealand disability care was high, with 48.61%-77.0% of clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities being subjected to at least one form of restrictive practice. A high level of consensus on the definition of behaviours of concern and their most effective interventions being proactive and function-based was also reflected in the data. Identified barriers to restraint reduction were similar to existing research and included attitudes toward restraint, organisational constraints, caregiver capacity, resource limitations, and limitations in support planning. Identified enablers to restraint reduction included ongoing training and development, behaviour support plans, interdisciplinary reviews, organisational leadership, and caregiver/whānau involvement. Recommendations for future research to examine specific factors resulting in the high use of restrictive practices in New Zealand are provided.

year: 2026

title: Popoia te reo kia penapena: Nurture the language

authors: Berryman, Mere

subjects: Maori language

abstract: Research to develop a Māori language screening tool (Specialist Education Services, 2001), identified that students entering Māori Medium at five, could be classified into one of four Māori language competency, groups. Concurrently, teachers raised their need to identify the Māori language proficiency of five year olds entering Māori Medium so that more appropriate teaching strategies could be incorporated in preparation for literacy.
Accordingly, three Māori oral-language assessment tools, to help identify the Māori language competency of students entering Māori Medium settings at five years of age and provide formative information, were developed in response to this need. This paper details the development and trial of these tools.

text: Popoia te reo kia penapena: Nurture the language Research to develop a Māori language screening tool (Specialist Education Services, 2001), identified that students entering Māori Medium at five, could be classified into one of four Māori language competency, groups. Concurrently, teachers raised their need to identify the Māori language proficiency of five year olds entering Māori Medium so that more appropriate teaching strategies could be incorporated in preparation for literacy.
Accordingly, three Māori oral-language assessment tools, to help identify the Māori language competency of students entering Māori Medium settings at five years of age and provide formative information, were developed in response to this need. This paper details the development and trial of these tools.

year: 2009