Palu’e Ikat: Nomenclature and Iconography

This paper provides a comprehensive documentation of customary Palu’e ikat textiles and investigates the extent to which the design nomenclature and local interpretations constitute an iconography. A multivalent approach is used, starting from linguistic-ethnographic fieldwork and engaging critically with scholarly ikat research and the anthropological methods often applied in studies of traditional textiles, including the underlying assumptions about meaning, symbolism, and mythology. The Palu’e design nomenclature is not embedded in the recorded oral literature, or vice versa. Rather than being repositories for mythology, the cloths signify transmissibility; the act of transmitting them, along with the required craftsmanship skills, from generation to generation assigns them meaning and sacrality. This accounts for the discrepancy observed with compartmentalized or linguistically-inclined inquiries. For weavers, the nomenclature serves as a mnemonic device for memorizing designs, and enables discourse about them.Cet article documente les textiles ikat coutumiers de Palu'e et examine dans quelle mesure la nomenclature des dessins et les interprétations locales constituent une iconographie. Une approche multivalente est utilisée, en partant de travaux de terrain linguistiques et ethnographiques, et en examinant de manière critique la recherche scientifique sur l'ikat et les méthodes anthropologiques souvent appliquées dans les études des textiles traditionnels, y compris les hypothèses sous-jacentes sur la signification, le symbolisme et la mythologie. La nomenclature des motifs de Palu'e ne fait pas partie de la littérature orale connue, ou vice versa. Plutôt que d'être les dépositaires de la mythologie, les vêtements signifient transmissibilité ; l'acte de les transmettre, ainsi que les compétences artisanales requises, de génération en génération, leur confèrant un sens et une sacralité. C'est ce qui explique le décalage observé dans les enquêtes compartimentées ou à orientation linguistique. Pour les tisserands, la nomenclature sert de dispositif mnémonique pour mémoriser les dessins et permet le discours qui s'y rapporte

Documentation of Palu’e; Storytelling and folklore

This paper presents Palu’e storytelling on the basis of the on-going work with the Palu’e audio collection, created in the context of language/oral traditions documentation. The main aim is to show that the collection is a research resource for the humanities by discussing and comparing items which are referenced and accessible in the Kaipuleohone Ethnographic Archive. While the contents of the collection are showcased for this specific presentation, the intention is directed towards the body of digital humanities collections. The problems of what genres should be included, definitions, method of analysis, are discussed and put to the test. Recordings initially focused on oral literature, but expanded to include personal narratives with content related to culture and tradition. The cross-referencing between genres and items demonstrates the benefits of a comparative methodology, and suggests ways of using the collection

Cue acquisition:A feature of malawian midwives decision making process to support normality during the first stage of labour

ObjectiveTo explore Malawian midwives decision making when caring for women during the first stage of labour in the hospital setting.Design and methodsThis focused ethnographic study examined the decision making process of 9 nurse-midwives with varying years of clinical experience in the real world setting of an urban and semi urban hospital from October 2013 to May 2014.This was done using 27 participant observations and 27 post-observation in-depth interviews over a period of six months. Qualitative data analysis software, NVivo 10, was used to assist with data management for the analysis. All data was analysed using the principle of theme and category formation.FindingsAnalysis revealed a six-stage process of decision making that include a baseline for labour, deciding to admit a woman to labour ward, ascertaining the normal physiological progress of labour, supporting the normal physiological progress of labour, embracing uncertainty: the midwives’ construction of unusual labour as normal, dealing with uncertainty and deciding to intervene in unusual labour. This six-stage process of decision making is conceptualised as the ‘role of cue acquisition’, illustrating the ways in which midwives utilise their assessment of labouring women to reason and make decisions on how to care for them in labour. Cue acquisition involved the midwives piecing together segments of information they obtained from the women to formulate an understanding of the woman's birthing progress and inform the midwives decision making process. This understanding of cue acquisition by midwives is significant for supporting safe care in the labour setting. When there was uncertainty in a woman's progress of labour, midwives used deductive reasoning, for example, by cross-checking and analysing the information obtained during the span of labour. Supporting normal labour physiological processes was identified as an underlying principle that shaped the midwives clinical judgement and decision making when they cared for women in labour.Key conclusions and implications for practiceThe significance of this study is in the new understanding and insight into the process of midwifery decision making. Whilst the approach to decision making by the midwives requires further testing and refinement in order to explore implications for practice, the findings here provide new conceptual and practical clarity of midwifery decision making. The work contributes to the identified lack of knowledge of how midwives working clinically, in the ‘real world setting. These findings therefore, contribute to this body of knowledge with regards to our understanding of decision making of midwives

Tjerita and Novel. Literary Discourse in Post New Order Indonesia

The work examines developments in the novel and the short story of writers who grew up during the New Order era (1966-1998) in the period of reform post 1998. It is assumed and subsequently affirmed that the genres are developing, modern genres in dialogue with the past and present. The work's main use of theory is that of M. M. Bakhtin's ideas of dialogism. The assumption of 'novelization' is framed in Bakhtin's observation that the 'flowering of the novel is always connected with a disintegration of stable verbal-ideological systems' (such as the New Order) 'and with an intensification and intentionalization of speech diversity that are counterpoised to the previously reigning stable systems', which is found and identified in literature Post New Order. This concrete setting in time is the base for questions of value change and identity, as well as aesthetic developments, which are viewed from a historical ideological perspective. The dissertation departs from a survey of the prolific short story and assumptions based on the arguably generational novel Saman (1998) Ayu Utami. The survey is the base for a discourse analysis of qualities relating to both form and content. It affirms the rise of the short story in the hierarchy of genres, the newspaper Kompas as 'authority' and actuality as an aesthetic stratification imposed by it. Novelization and its boundaries, reproduction, are found and identified in the genre. Similar ideas are then applied to the novel. In the period past taboos and myths were identified and engaged by a wide range of authors. These were revealed as such and often engaged in styles that made them less sacral. Gender discourse was found to be one of the most prolific and important discourses of the period, in both genres and of both male and female authors. Gender was directly engaged in feminine or feminist strategies by female authors. In terms of identity new models were sought for that left previous ideals behind and it was often done in ways that envisioned pluralism. Primordial discourses and its concrete figures, identified with the past and gender inequalities, were engaged and challenged. This not only reflected social change in the period; the generation that embraced change and new possibilities used anti primordial discourse, often in styles that challenged orthodoxies, as its prime vehicle for social change

ROJA HAMA-HAMA? TINJAUAN LINGUISTIK TRADISI TENUN ENDE DAN PALU'E (Roja Hama-hama? A Linguistic Review of The Ende and Palu'e Weaving Traditions)

The study of loom technology and textile design structure can reveal connections between weaving traditions similarly to how comparative linguistics reveal connections between linguistic groups, due to the inherent conservatism of weaving. This paper compares the weaving traditions of the Ende and the Palu’e, who are linked in oral traditions, primarily by comparing weaving related terminology against the dictionary, and examines if Palu’e weaving have branched away from Ende weaving. The archaic style of Palu’e weaving may have a source in older forms of Flores design structures that became surpassed by developments, such as patola designs among the Ende. But the comparison of the weaving lexicons show a lower convergence than language generally and does not support a Palu’e weaving origin from the Ende, neither do the designs and basic techniques. The links between the Ende and the Palu’e are more on the proto-level; language group, culture, weaving tools. Studi tentang teknologi alat tenun dan struktur desain tekstil dapat mengungkapkan hubungan antara tradisi menenun serupa linguistik komparatif mengungkapkan hubungan antara kelompok linguistik, karena konservatisme inheren tradisi tenun. Artikel ini membandingkan tradisi tenun Ende dan Palu'e, dua kelompok yang terkait dalam tradisi lisan, terutama dengan membandingkan terminologi tenun dengan kamus, dan menguji apakah tenun Palu’e pernah bercabang dari tenun Ende. Gaya kuno tenun Palu’e mungkin memiliki sumber dalam bentuk struktur desain Flores zaman dahulu yang dilampaui perkembangan seperti desain patola di tradisi Ende. Tetapi perbandingan leksikon tenun menunjukkan konvergensi yang lebih rendah daripada bahasa pada umumnya dan tidak mendukung bahwa tenun Palu’e pernah bercabang dari tenun Ende, begitu pula desain dan teknik dasarnya. Hubungan antara Ende dan Palu lebih pada tingkat proto; kelompok bahasa, budaya, alat tenun.</jats:p

Critical obstetric situations - obstetricians' ethical decision-making and parents' handling of threat of preterm birth

Ethical issues arise in obstetric situations and demand the obstetrician’s moral consideration for those who are involved in the actual case (Paper I). A balance between the health of the foetus and the autonomy of the woman is necessary to do the best for both the mother and her foetus/infant. Preterm birth is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity for the child, in short and long term (Paper II). When the mother is hospitalized, a feeling of frustration can appear due to her concern for the foetus during the pregnancy and of her ability to function as a mother, wife and working woman. Fathers are worried when their partner has a threat of preterm birth. It is important for the woman and her partner to be informed and to take part in the decision-making process. The overall aim of this thesis was to illuminate and gain deeper understanding of obstetricians’ and parents’ experiences of being in a critical obstetric situation. The thesis includes two specific aims: to highlight the meaning of being in ethically difficult obstetric situations as narrated by obstetricians (Paper I) and to gain a deeper understanding of both parents’ experiences, when the mother was hospitalized due to a threat of preterm birth (Paper II). Both studies have a qualitative approach and a hermeneutic phenomenological method was used in Paper I and Grounded Theory in Paper II. Data collection was done with tape-recorded interviews in both studies. The findings in Paper I are described thematically with one overriding theme; Sympathetic responsibility in decisions of critical importance for the mother and her infant. Five themes illuminated the decision-making process which the obstetricians went through during the situations; ‘To proceed with a moral reasoning that leads to the choice of a solution’, ‘To balance one’s own medical knowledge and moral insight with the needs and requests of the parents’, ‘To know one’s medical and moral responsibility in the relation to the decision made’, ‘To experience the ability to take action and to make and carry out difficult and important decisions for the health of the mother and her infant’ and ‘To reflect on a given situation in a manner leading to a rational acceptance of one’s own conduct’. The parents’ main concern is shown through the concepts of the parents’ experiences of threat of preterm birth (Paper II). This included the core category “Inter-adapting” followed by three categories with six related subcategories; Interacting (‘Communicating with the professional caregivers’, ‘Keeping the family together through a stressful situation’, ‘Seeking empowerment during labour and birth’), Reorganizing (‘Arranging for a new family situation’) and Caring (‘Accepting the restrictions for the sake of the health of the foetus’, ‘Reaching out to the infant and taking part in the care’). “Inter-adapting” is a new concept and was interpreted as a mutual adaptation between the actors involved in the situation. The theoretical model “Inter-adapting to Threat of Preterm Birth” was developed and named the ITPB-model. In conclusion, sympathetic responsibility is present during the obstetricians’ decision-making process and includes a moral reasoning while balancing their medical knowledge against the woman’s autonomy and the health of the foetus/infant. Emotional strain for the obstetricians could appear during the situation. Their decision-making was aimed at obtaining the best possible outcome for both mother and infant (Paper I). The concern of the foetus/infant made the parents accept the hospitalization. Reorganizing their work situation and home responsibility was important to enable the family to function. When ‘‘Inter-adapting” occurred between the parents and the actors involved, the parents were able to manage the situation (Paper II). Implications for care could be formal meetings with different professionals to discuss ethically difficult situations. This could lead to a deeper understanding and co-operation between colleagues and professions (Paper I). To strengthen and support the parents during hospitalization and decrease the feeling of separation by integrating the different wards involved, could help the family manage their situation (Paper II)

The amorphous zone : a critical study of the division of Asia in the classification system Dewey Decimal Classification

The purpose of this thesis is to highlight a problem with the geographical organisation of knowledge in the library classification system Dewey Decimal Classification. World regions are according to the post-war convention divided along international borders, a classification that tends to obscure relations between sociohistorical phenomena in the borderlands between nation-states. Using a comparative analytic method, four such geopolitically defined world regions in Asia were examined - Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia - and compared with the Dewey-system’s classification of the same regions. The study finds that the Dewey-system divides the regions according to convention along nation-state lines. Drawing on examples from historical accounts and ethnographic literature as well as academic constructs such as Zomia, The Southeast Asian Massif and Highland Asia, which refer to borderland areas in highland mainland Asia, the author adopted a borderlands optics through which obscured sociohistorical relations between transnational cultural groups were accentuated. The study further finds that such relations are difficult to express in the Dewey-system, the reason being that it divides the past from the present and that the modern world is largely ordered into nation-states and geopolitically divided world regions. The author concludes that the classification prevents library users from seeing relations between documents about and by groups/authors from borderlands in highland mainland Asia. The author suggests that the thesis’ underlying ideas and results can be applied by librarians in the public library work, whereby it can be used pedagogically to critically think with library users about alternative ways to organise knowledge geographically than the dominant