Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass is one of the most important live testimonies about the slavery era in America.
October 22, 2003 Ido Ben-Ze'ev Essay #2: "Interpretive Summary" Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass is one of the most important live testimonies about the slavery era in America. The book is an autobiography of a slave who was born into slavery and struggled staunchly to find his way to freedom despite of the fact that his masters oppressed him cruelly. Because he was a slave, Frederick Douglass was a victim of the dehumanization that resulted from the white men's enslavement of the "colored" people. By being so cruel and brutal, Douglass' masters were trying to darken his moral and mental vision so that he would lose interest in obtaining freedom and serve them as an efficient mindless tool. But despite Douglass' master's efforts during his "career" as a slave, they didn't manage to destroy his power of reason. Frederick Douglass was born in Maryland, to a slave mother that was raped by her white master, so he was a mulatto, which was considered at this time even worst than being a black. For his entire life he saw his mom for four times since she was hired to work in a distanced farm and he stayed with an old lady that raised him with other black children. His mother died when he was seven years old. We can see that even from the very beginning of a slave's life, any effort is taken to distinguish between a human being to a slave. This is why all the babies are
The historical and present day contexts of the English language
The historical and present day contexts of the English language English as a worldwide language comes across as a powerful and dependable collection of words. The English language is part of the heritage of the English-speaking world and has influenced the languages of countries where English is spoken fist, or even second, language. English has a larger vocabulary than other language. There are more than 600,000 words in the largest dictionaries of the English language. Many English words have been passed from generation to generation as far back as scholars can trace. Words such as women, man, sun and eat, express basic ideas and feelings. Later, many words have been borrowed from other languages. For example, algebra is from Arabic. The Jamaican tongue is shaped and formed from English and African. In general, the universal language on the Internet is English, or more exactly a vague collection of languages called English because their common origin is the national language spoken in England by the English. That national language has spread over the world, and several variants such as American English, and Australian English. A great number of people whose native language is none of the variants know English as a foreign language. They typically use a more or less simplified variant. Sometimes the English used by people as a foreign language on the Internet is
Outline the difference between a prescriptive and descriptive approach to language.
My task for this essay is to outline the difference between a prescriptive and descriptive approach to language. Grammar is the underlying structure of language and is a socially agreed framework; it is needed as it allows groups of words to be linked together in ways that make sense. If there was no grammar, language would be a meaningless jumble. "Grammar is the sum of the conventions of Standard English". This is written in the prescriptive approach and suggests that rules are essential. Some of the non-standard features include taboo language (swearing), slang, dialect features, spoken features and language seen as rude. In class we did an exercise to show the importance of grammar. We were told to write any word on a piece of paper and pass it on throughout the difference members in the class. The results came out as followed: Metal through jacket atmosphere no overprotect magic. This list of words made no semantical sense as it did not include any conjunctions or prepositions. It made no grammatical sense. We then repeated the experiment but this time was instructed to insert a verb, adjective or a noun in a particular order that we were told. T The sentence came out like this: The microwave sang discreetly and the blue elephant urinated. This sentence was structured and made grammatical sense even thought it dose not make sense semantically. This experiment
Discuss the linguistic differences between the spoken and written modes and consider the ways in which both are perceived in terms of social prestige.
Laura Mead Discuss the linguistic differences between the spoken and written modes and consider the ways in which both are perceived in terms of social prestige For both the spoken and written mode it is possible to recognize different linguistic characteristics. Speech is a useful social tool, helping to develop communication and express attitudes and opinions. Writing is useful for documenting facts and ideas, making notes and organising information; it is a more permanent mode than speech which can be revised or reread. The first point to be taken into consideration for each mode is the audience. Spoken encounters more often than not are personalised and happen face to face with a particular individual. While written language can either be intended for one individual reader or directed at a wider unknown audience. The lexis for both the written and spoken mode is somewhat different. Informal and colloquial is the language used during speech whereas Standard English applies for the written. It is very uncommon; except for during personal correspondence that informal lexis would be acceptable in the written mode. Due to the personal nature of speech it is customary to use personal register, for example, current jokes or nicknames, and colloquial idioms e.g. 'the thing is', 'as far as I can see'. Abbreviations may also be used when a high level of familiarity is
If Language isn't simply vocabulary, and isn't simply communication, how might you describe what it is (and how it works)?
If Language isn't simply vocabulary, and isn't simply communication, how might you describe what it is (and how it works)? Language is the expression of human communication through which knowledge, belief, behaviour, and experience can be explained and shared. This sharing is based on systematic, conventionally used signs, sounds, gestures, or marks that convey understood meanings within a group or community. Humans express thoughts, feelings, and ideas orally to one another through a series of complex movements that alter and mould the basic tone created by voice into specific, decodable sounds. Speech is produced by precisely coordinated muscle actions in the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. Speech development is a gradual process that requires years of practice. Language is a defining and limiting set of words, symbols, sounds, gestures, or marks that are used to convey or transfer experiences. The use of language evokes many problems of knowledge that tie into the limits that it imposes on the transmission of an experience. Language limits the way in which an experience is conveyed in three ways. First, our thoughts are limited by our language. Secondly, language, in this context, does not limit, however, it shapes and moulds our interactions with other people. Lastly, language may act as a barrier to acquiring certain skills. All of these aspects must be addressed, while
LORD OF THE FLIES BOOK REPORT
LORD OF THE FLIES BOOK REPORT HEADER QUESTIONS: . WILLIAM GOLDING Lord of the Flies 2. 225 pages 3. The setting takes place on a tropical island. It has a jungle at one end, with a rocky mountain above it. At the opposite side is the lagoon, where the boys go to bathe and where they first met after the crash. Near there, up the mountain, is a platform where it was decided a fire would stay lit in hope of rescue. . The story took place on deserted island island. A plane had crashed and it come about that there were no adult survivors. Two older English boys - fair-haired and athletic Ralph and an overweight and clumsy, bespectacled boy "Piggy", a nickname he hates and confided to Ralph his school mates called him were on a isolated island getting acquainted. Ralph told Piggy his father would rescue them when he found out that their plane was missing, but Piggy rejected that possibility by saying: "Didn't you hear what the pilot said? About the atom bomb? They're all dead." As they began to become aware of their new surroundings, Piggy continually urged Ralph to go with him to look for other survivors. Ralph went swimming in a lagoon, found a white conch shell about 18 inches long and Piggy had suggested that Ralph used the conch as a horn to call for any other survivors who would've been on the island. Told Ralph that blowing into it would make a sound loud enough to be
The role of language is crucial in this process of relationships.
The role of language is crucial in this process of relationships. Language shapes reality, and it limits what ideas and concepts are available in a particular situation. In all aspects of our lives we engage with, resist, reframe with, the meanings available through language, to give meaning to every aspect of our lives. Ideas and understandings available through language shape our practice in a variety of ways in everyday interactions. It has been well known since the beginning of time that men and women are on different wavelengths when it comes to communicating. The differences between the communication styles of men and women go far beyond mere socialization, and appear to be inherent in the basic make up of each sex (Lee, Shaw). For males, conversation is the way you negotiate your status in the group and keep people from pushing you around; you use talk to preserve your independence. Females, on the other hand, use conversation to negotiate closeness and intimacy; talk is the essence of intimacy, so being best friends means sitting and talking (Lee, Shaw). For boys, activities, doing things together, are central. Just sitting and talking is not an essential part of friendship. They're friends with the boys they do things with. In respect to the language used by male and females, they differ, sometimes unnoticeably. Women use more polite speech and fewer profanities.
“Religious language is meaningless.” Discuss
"Religious language is meaningless." Discuss It is a key factor within science that if something cannot be proven, it is rendered meaningless. This was first suggested by Karl Popper, and despite not being in the context of religious language, it is applied. However, the subject is more complicated than simple terms. When one is to speak of religious issues, despite using the same language, there is almost a certain code; a type of wording which can relate only to religion through metaphoric associations, use of symbol, reference etc. One of the key issues within the use of religious language is perhaps that the words that are used by mere mortals to described what can only name what has been experienced on this world. One cannot anticipate what may exist beyond this world, and so the question emerges, debating whether one should refer to things that cannot be conceived, or if one should; how? The problem begins through the examination of what language actually provides one with. To use cognitive language is to make factual assertions, which may be proved true or false and contain a certain amount of knowledge. Non-cognitive language makes assertions which may be interpreted in some way and are generally made through non-literal modes of expression. There are theories that all language is either univocal or equivocal; univocal being that words have one meaning and there
The dialogue that I chose to transcribe for my coursework, the TV soap drama "Emmerdale", is a great emulation of spontaneous
Jane Bradley 6/11/06 A2 English Language Coursework Transcription Analysis The dialogue that I chose to transcribe for my coursework, the TV soap drama "Emmerdale", is a great emulation of spontaneous spoken conversation. As part of my coursework I will be analysing the text in order to discover whether or not it's attempt at genuine spontaneous conversation is successful and how it makes use of lexical, grammatical and structural characteristics to do so. Register The transcription's level of formality is notable low, which follows the typical conventions of spoken conversation. The register is especially low due to the relatively close-knit relationships between the characters, which means that the majority of conversation is informal, with little or no phatic talk. However, there is once exception to this rule, which is the brief conversation between the two policemen. Policeman 1: They've worked out whose car it is (.) Good luck Policeman 2: Cheers. I believe that the formality of this transaction is due to the formal relationship between the two characters; they are colleagues therefore their relationship is forced upon them. However, although the relationships between the other characters are relatively close does not mean that it is equal.
Just another brick in the wall
Just another brick in the wall I was running but they were still gaining. I wasn't even sure why I was running from them, but my heart was beating at a million beats a minute, my legs were moving faster than any express train, but they were gaining, gaining. 'Got ya'. I screamed with pain when one of them threw me violently to the floor. He fell on me like a hammer on a nail. My hands were tied tightly and my mouth was closed with duck tape. They took me to a dark dilapidated van where I was violently flung into the back to find another man already lying there. Blood was pouring from his head as if he had been shot with a hundred bullets. I wasn't sure whether he was alive, dead or just unconscious. One of the men started the van. We drove for about half-an-hour - although it could have been less, but I was so scared, it might have seemed longer. They dragged me and the other man into what I later found out to be a small prison. They left us in the same run down cell together for the night. I would have tried to ague my case against staying here, but no one could speak English in Turkey and I would only get a beating if I tried to argue anyway, so I chose against it. I was woken after only a couple of hours of sleep by a waterfall of freezing hosepipe water. After a stomach-filling breakfast, which included a large green slice of bread with what tasted like chicken, I was
