Discuss "It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman despise him."

The term "Englishman" generally refers to the people who live in England, a country part of the United Kingdom. All Englishmen communicate with one common language, which is English. However, one Englishman may use a type of English language that is different from the type of English language used by another Englishman. The types or varieties of English language differ by features of grammar, vocabulary and phonology and this is known as dialect. The pronunciation, otherwise known as accent, of the different varieties of English is also prevalent. In the past, in England, any accent which differs from Received Pronunciation (RP), the variety of English used by the Queen and British Broadcast Corporation (BBC), is considered inferior. According to "An English accent" video clip, RP is associated to upper class, prestige and privilege. RP is taught in schools especially prestigious schools. Therefore, if an Englishman speaks without the RP accent, he may be despised by another Englishman because it means that he is not from the upper class or is not very educated. In recent years, RP is not widely used. Post-modernity has lead to people, especially young people, having less conformity to standards and being anti-institutions. Hence, few young people use RP in today's time. The mindset of the people now is that if someone uses RP, he is considered unfriendly. Likewise, an

  • Word count: 1422
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

The Development of Old English. Differences between Old and Modern English

Old English Old English (OE), also known as Anglo-Saxon evolved from the Germanic dialects of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisian. The language was influenced by Latin, borrowing many words from it as the Anglo-Saxons had lived within the borders of the Roman Empires prior to invading Britain. The conversion to Christianity in 600 AD also introduced literacy using the Roman alphabet (Graddol et al., 2007, p 40-43). Influences on Old English Old English underwent linguistic changes as a result of contact with the Scandinavian invaders' and their language- Old Norse. The influence of Old Norse simplified the inflections system and many of the vocabulary adopted, remained in our English language today (Graddol, p 59- 63). The English language further evolved during the Norman Conquest when French was established as the language of power and officialdom. The Middle English period saw the assimilation of French into the English vocabulary as well as adoption of rhyme, which is typical of French verse writing (Graddol, p.66-69). Modern English The introduction of the printing technology in Britain in the 15th century by Caxton helped moved English from a vernacular language with regional varieties towards standardization and eventually, a national language (Graddol, p85 -87). This was the Modern English (MnE) period where 'lexical growth took place; existing words were

  • Word count: 1020
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Changing our bodies, changing ourselves? From Popular culture: A users Guide written by Susie OBrien and Imre Szeman is an excerpt which comes from a chapter in the Identity and the Body textbook. The textbook d

Changing Bodies and Minds in the Modern World "Changing our bodies, changing ourselves? From Popular culture: A user's Guide" written by Susie O'Brien and Imre Szeman is an excerpt which comes from a chapter in the "Identity and the Body" textbook. The textbook discusses the "powerful impact of cultural practices" which it has on the daily lives and a "sense of identity" of humans. Susie O'Brien is an assistant professor at McMaster University for courses offered in the Humanities while Imre Szeman is Canada research chair in Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta. In the chapter, the authors discuss the variety of relationships between the identity and the body of an individual. The authors of the article, explore the various ways of popular culture in which North America which is obsessed with the body. The modern ways which there are in the world today are bounded to references which are made to the body, from products for the body to representations of the body. The dualist philosophy described as "I think therefore I am" (Descartes's famous formula) through "...overlapping oppositions- spirit vs. matter, mind vs. bod, reason vs. passion, nature vs. culture - ... map out relations of being ...and relations of power" (Susie O'brien and Imre Szeman, 2). This suggests that the body and mind are connected to represent the identity of a person, it can be proven that

  • Word count: 912
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

In my essay I am going to analyse the 2001 first inaugural speech by George W. Bush and the 2009 inaugural address of Barack Obama. I have chosen these particular speeches because Bush and Obama had very different policies, thus I assume it should be real

Select any two American presidential inaugural addresses for which a video recording is available. Which do you think is the better address, and why? Throughout more than two hundred years Americans have witnessed fifty-six presidential inaugural addresses. Inaugural address is the second part of the inauguration ceremony, which also consists of the oath of office and a couple of prayers. In my essay I am going to analyse the 2001 first inaugural speech by George W. Bush and the 2009 inaugural address of Barack Obama. I have chosen these particular speeches because Bush and Obama had very different policies, thus I assume it should be really interesting to see whether their addresses were different or maybe quite similar. I will begin with comparing rhetorical features of the speeches. Both presidents used an antithesis several times. According to Atkinson (1984), an antithesis (also known as a contrastive pair or, simply, contrast) is used to 'project a completion point' and to deliver a surprising punch line, which keeps an audience focused (p. 73). Dlugan (2009) argues that contrast is 'sometimes the best way to highlight and sharpen concepts'. In his speech Bush says: 'The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country.' He says so to praise democracy in the United States, thank to which a transfer of authority has always or almost always

  • Word count: 2201
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Explain why Roger Asham wrote Toxophilus is written in English

In Passage 2 on Page 423 of Baugh and Cable's A History of the English Language, Roger Ascham is explaining why he is writing Toxophilus in English. Explain why he thought it necessary to do this. Roger Ascham, born in 1515, wrote Toxophilus in the early 1540's as a justification of the art of the English Longbow - hence the Greek title, which translates as 'the lover of arrows'. Yet to the linguistic scholar, the most fascinating part of the book, lest he also be an enthusiast in late mediaeval weaponry, is Ascham's defence of his use of English to write the book, despite its Greek title. Ascham, who was at the time reader of Greek at Cambridge, could easily have written Toxophilus in Latin or Greek, and says as much in the introduction to the King: "to haue vvritten this boke either in latin or Greke (vvhich thing I vvold be verie glad yet to do, if I might surelie knovv your Graces pleasure there in)1" Yet having chosen to write in English, he prefaced his work with a justification of his writing in the vernacular. In this essay, I shall try to explain why. I shall briefly chart the rise of English back to prominence after the Norman Invasion, which banished English to a level lower even than the other vernaculars for some centuries. I shall expound upon each of the reasons Ascham himself gives for, as well as describing the arguments more commonly made against the

  • Word count: 2156
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

The Lexicogaphy of "Extraordinary Rendition"

rendition, n. /rndn/ . The surrender of a person or possession. 2. Law. The transfer of (a person) from one jurisdiction to another, or an instance of this; esp. the extradition of a fugitive criminal. COMPOUNDS (chiefly in Law). C1. extraordinary rendition, n. The illegal capture and transportation of a criminal suspect (esp. a terrorist suspect) from one jurisdiction to another, or an instance of this; esp. when they are subjected to torture during interrogation. Euphem. 983 M. C. BASSIOUNI Internat. Extradition 11 The United States increasingly resorts to extraordinary rendition devices, including abduction, thus circumventing traditional extradition processes. 2000 R. SIEVERT Cases and Materials on U.S. Law and Nat. Security 469 The court in Toscanino was setting a standard for evaluating "extraordinary rendition" (abduction) by US officials that was somewhat consistent with the worldview of... government officials in 1974. 2002 Washington Post (Electronic ed.) 26 Dec., These extraordinary renditions are done without resort to legal process and usually involve countries with security services known for using brutal means. 2008 Guardian (Electronic ed.) 6 May., The last British resident left in Guantánamo Bay is suing the UK government for refusing to produce evidence that he was a victim of extraordinary rendition and torture. 2009 Mirror (Electronic ed.) 27

  • Word count: 3525
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Media plays an important role in our everyday lives. Why is it important to us?

Media plays an important role in our everyday lives. Why is it important to us? This is because media can tell us what is exactly going on in the world today, so that we will not be left behind and we can always keep ourselves updated via the media. Media comes in many forms such as newspapers, film, radio, television, computer software, communications network and so forth. While discussing about media, technology and theory are involved. This is because media themselves change quicker than any theory (Bazalgatte, C, 2000, pp.5). But what is 'media studies'? According to Bazalgette, media studies is a controversial, unstable and immensely important field. This is because it is still new and deals with things that change continuously. Therefore it is hard to be understood, regulated & consumed (Bazalgatte, C, 2000, pp.2). Media studies is considered as a hybrid subject. This is because the ideas and approaches that make up the subject are taken from many different sources (Bazalgatte, C, 2000, pp.3). Media studies is associated with politics, not just national party politics but the politics of the media. Undeniably, the politics of the media influences our lives as much as government politics and can be fulfilling to investigate since proofs can be found daily all around (Bazalgatte, C, 2000, pp.7). The influences, the impact of the influences and how they may be challenged

  • Word count: 1684
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Language and Identity

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING Rachid Belaredj 570036539 Module EED D028 Discourse, Pedagogy and Identity Language identity issues: Exploring Samuel Huntington's views on language identity. Dr. Malcolm McDonald Submitted on 31st October, 2008, as part of the requirements for the Ed. D in TESOL 2007-8 Introduction Part A Huntington theoretical approach on the concept of civilization The clash of Civilizations Part B Huntington theoretical approach on the clash theory The Hispanic" nightmare" Huntington's conceptual approach to American identity Part C Beyond Huntington paradigm Huntington's view on language identity Huntington's potential influence on US politics Conclusion Appendices Appendix I - The clash of Civilization and the remaking of the world order. Samuel P, Huntington. Appendix II - The Hispanic challenge, Samuel P, Huntington Appendix III - Who we are? , Samuel P, Huntington. Bibliography Abstract The main purpose of this writing is to present a subset of literature on identity, cultural identity, and discuss language identity: How does ethnic identity manifest itself among Americans? Are there any correlations between language and identity? Does symbolic ethnicity prevail for ethnic minorities who are living in the USA as it has for Americans of European descents? This essay is a close reading

  • Word count: 8257
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

U211 TMA02

U211

  • Word count: 2184
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

A critical evaluation of articles written by MacKinnon, Tisdale, and Nussbaum on the subject of pornography.

Adam Kagan 10135577 Sexual Ethics 2 December, 2002 T.A. Maureen PORNOGRAPHY The articles written by MacKinnon and Tisdale offer opposing views on the subject of pornography, while Nussbaum's article attempts to mediate the two views. In this essay, I will reconstruct and give a critical evaluation of each of the three articles, after which I will give my own opinion on the subject: that Tisdale's view on pornography is correct and that MacKinnon's idea of pornography objectifying women is not effectively derived. MacKinnon believes that pornography is the embodiment of our societies social structure, which is focused around male dominance. She defines pornography by saying that "in sexuality, life and art are each other, and therefore in this society of male dominance, pornography is reality; it is male dominance (409)", a definition which she adopts from Andrea Dworkin. Pornography is therefore not a moral issue, it is a political one; it is not about good and evil, it is about power and powerlessness. "In pornography", she says, "women are there to be violated and possessed, men are there to violate and possess them, either on screen or by pen, on behalf of the viewer (408)." It is this definition of pornography that demonstrates precisely how it affects women: it turns them into objects. The social implications of this effect, MacKinnon argues, are very negative and

  • Word count: 1767
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay