Fulfilling our Potential Essay Example for Free

Fulfilling our Potential Essay The different Definitions of education are misinterpreted in different ways, but there are still ways that you can interpret what you think the definition is on education. Education is to be able to find your own path. To have a high school diploma or to have a college degree, education is to be successful in your life in whatever way that is. Trying to define education is like trying to define why the sky is the color it is or why the grass is green, there is no accurate definition of education to me. Education can mean more than one thing having a college degree but also can mean not having a college degree. Being educated to me means to be successful in your life, just because you do not have a college degree doesn’t mean you will not go far in your life or make a good amount of money. People make it seem as if you don’t have a decent degree you will just work at a fast food restaurant. If someone were to ask me what it meant to be educated I wouldn’t be able to give them an answer. My mother Julie, went to the University Of Arkansas were she had completed law school. After completing law school she got a job at JB Hunt being a contract attorney. My father Carlos, who only has a high school diploma but works for a company called South Western Energy and is a company man for two rigs out in Pennsylvania where he is very successful in what he does. I don’t think you have to have a college diploma to be the most educated person around. Do I think you would make more amount of money in certain professions? Yes. Society makes it out to be that you must be admitted to a college to be educated, but really how educated do you have to be, to be admitted into a college. Back in the day it was a lot harder to get into a college, now-a-days you can score a fourteen through a sixteen and easily get into a college and just have to do remediation classes. Being tested for an ACT, SAT, Standardized test to me doesn’t show how educated you really are. Teachers teach you for the chapter they are covering than they either expect you to continue to remember what they taught you or you forget it. On the standardized test or the A T or SAT there is information that you were taught in younger grades or that you haven’t been taught yet. So technically it really isn’t showing how educated a person may really be. Life its self-offers you an education. This lesson of education is more a hard learning education. ‘The best way to predict your future is to create It.’- Abraham Lincoln. You are not taught in school how to balance a check book, how to cook, how to pay taxes, or how to do major things in the real world. Sooner or later you will get to the point that you will graduate for high school, get your GED or even drop out, but there will come a time that you will leave your parents’ house, which then you will have to find your own path in the real world. Unless you were taught by your parents or other adults how to balance a check book, how to cook, how to pay taxes, or how to do things in the real world you won’t be an educated person on how to go about life. In life there will be times that you will come to points in life that will you will see how educated you are, or when there is times that you need to speak up or when you need to go ahead and back off from the situation. People are different and learn in many different ways some faster than others and some who remember everything easily or some who forget stuff by the time class is over. Being knowledgeable in one subject and not in the other is that consider too make someone less knowledgeable or less comprehensive than another person. When going through college to earn a degree depending on what we want to major in we aren’t taught certain subjects. When majoring in anything in the medical field you aren’t taught any type of histories because you don’t need to know it. When you want to become a history major you aren’t taught any sciences because you don’t and won’t need them. If someone was to walk up to someone and try and have a conversation with them about a certain subject or ask them for some type of help on a certain subject but the other person isn’t able to have a conversation back because they aren’t taught that subject or haven’t been taught that subject does that make them any less educated than the person asking for help. There will always be some one that is always smarter or believes to be smarter than you, but really how can you tell how smart someone is. Being successful to me is a huge part of being educated. When knowing people who have a good degree and do not do anything with their degree and make bad choices in their life and not care what anyone thinks isn’t a successful and well educated person. When you are living on the streets and have a good degree you could go and find a job even if it means starting at a fast food restaurant and working your way to the top to get a job for what your degree is. It may take time but no reason to just sit around and waste a well-educated mind as society would say. There may be as many definitions as there are defines, but it is important for people to have a clear understand of education in order to be able to define it to other people on what your beliefs are and what it means to be a well-educated person. Lincoln, Abraham. Education Quotes Edgalaxy. Edgalaxy. Techzoo, 2009-2013. Web. 17 Sept. 2013.

Martins Luther King Jr. Strugle for Racial Segregation and Civil Rights Essay Example for Free

Martins Luther King Jr. Strugle for Racial Segregation and Civil Rights Essay Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most important figures within the fields of politics and non-violent activism of the 20th century. King was born on 15th of January 1929 in the city of Atlanta within the boundaries of the state of Georgia. Originally Martin Luther King Jr. as named after his father as Michael King, although his father who was also named after Michael King after visiting the Nazi Germany in order to attend the Fifth Baptist World Alliance Congress in Berlin he found himself been inspired by a German reformer called Martin Luther, so he decided to change both his name and his son’s name into Martin Luther King and Martin Luther King Jr. respectively. King was the middle child of the family having a younger brother Alfred Daniel Williams King and an older sister Willie Christine King. As a reference to his education he attended Booker T. Washington High school, also it is stated that he was a precocious student as he skipped two grades the ninth and the twelfth and entered Morehouse College at the early age of fifteen. He graduated College in 1948 and enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester which he graduated with a B. Div. degree in 1951. Meanwhile in 1953 he married Correta Scott and eventually became a father of four children Yolanda King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and Bernice King. Thereupon he became a pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery in 1954; he began his doctoral degree course in Systematic Theology at Boston University and graduated receiving his Ph. D. degree in 1955 with a dissertation on A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman. Although an academic observation which was held in 1991 concluded that parts of his dissertation were plagiarized but the committee decided that his degree shouldn’t be revoked. As a remark Martin Luther King Jr. was strongly influenced by religion (as it was natural, as been a Christian Minister since 1947) more specifically he was influenced by Jesus Christ and the Christian Gospels from which he frequently used quotes in his public speeches, he was also inspired from Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent activist action. In April of 1959 he made a desired for him as it was stated trip to India with the assistance of the American Friends Service Committee, it has to be mentioned that the trip affected King in a profound way and helped him deepen his knowledge and understanding in non-violent resistance and his commitment to the America’s struggle for civil rights, as he stated the last day of his trip to India in a local radio, King said: â€Å"Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of non-violent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity. The â€Å"Fight† Against Segregation It all started back in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Claudette Colvin an African- American girl which in fact was under aged unmarried pregnant girl refused to give up her seat to a white man. At that point King was a member of the Birmingham African-American community and also a member of the committee which looked into the case but it was decided that they should wait for a better case to pursue. Their patience yielded. On December 1, 1955 an other African-American girl called Rosa Sparks also refused to give up her seat, back on that date the buses rows were â€Å"separated†, white people should seat on the front rows and the African-American people should seat on the back rows of the busses seats, as natural at some point the two â€Å"different† categories of passengers would meet. At that point the bus’s seats were all occupied and according to Jim Crow laws the following African-American passengers that would board on the bus were required to stand. It was exactly what they were waiting for, and soon after Rosa was arrested the Montgomery Bus Boycott broke out, it lasted 385 days. The whole Boycott issue turned out as a huge victory, although during the campaign a bombing attack was made against King’s house and he was also arrested. As a result the United States District Court in Browder v. Gayle case ended the racial segregation in all Montgomery public busses. After the Montgomery Bus Boycott King’s contribution to the result transformed him into a national figure and he was also off the record declared the best-known spokesman of the civil-rights movement. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Soon after the Montgomery lowdown King, Ralph Abernathy, and other civil rights activists founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The group was created in order to saddle the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct non-violent protests in the service of civil rights reform, King led the SCLC until his death. In 1962 SCLC joins Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the Albany Movement which was stated to be the first major non-violent campaign of SCLC. The Albany movement was a desegregation movement which was formed by local activist organizations, the SNCC and the National Association for the Advanced of Colored People (NAACP). The movement’s leader was William G. Anderson. During the period of King’s involvement with the Albany movement he was arrested twice, once in a mass arrest on 15th December of 1961 and in July of 1962. Although it has to be mentioned that King had been criticized by SNCC, they’ve even given him a snide nickname â€Å"De Lawd†, because as they claimed he maintained a safe distance from challenges that had to deal with Jim Crow laws. Birmingham Campaign Soon after the incidents in Albany the Birmingham campaign came to light. Birmingham campaign was a movement organized by SCLC and led by Martin Luther King Jr. and others. In the spring of 1963 the operation of the Birmingham campaign was at its peak, including widely publicized controversies between black young people and white civic authorities and eventually led the municipal government to change the citys discrimination laws. A fact that can’t remain unnoticed as during the early 60s Birmingham was one of the most racially divided cities in the United States. Ultimately Birmingham movement was defined as a model of direct action protest, as it effectively shut down the city through a boycott and a series of sit-ins and marches, and drew the world’s attention to racial segregation in the South. Also it is stated that it paved the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Great March on Washington After the Birmingham campaign the SCLC called for massive protests in Washington DC to push for new civil rights legislation that would outlaw segregation nation-wide which turned to be an unparalleled success. The Great march on Washington claimed the title of one of the largest political rallies for human rights in the United State’s history, as the estimated number of participants varies from 200,000 to 300,000 and still remained non-violent, the 80% of the participants were estimated to be black and the rest were white and other non-black minorities. Also the city was swarmed by more than 2,000 buses, 21 special trains, 10 chartered aircrafts and uncountable personal vehicles. But the march was stigmatized by the King’s famous â€Å"I have a dream† speech. King began his speech with the emancipation of the slaves, issued by Abraham Lincoln and concludes that even though blacks were freed from slavery they still aren’t free. Then he raised the matter of the unkept promise of America to the Civil Rights Union for the continued pursuit of justice as racial segregation still existed. Finally he promotes black people to keep on fighting for their rights in non-violent ways as he believed that violence would lead to a cycle of fighting, unnecessary death and cruelty. The Poor People’s Campaign and the opposition to the Vietnam War In 1965 Martin Luther King Jr. egan to express his doubts about the Vietnam War in public. On 4th April 1967 he delivered a speech at the New York City Riverside Church titled â€Å"Beyond Vietnam: A time to break silence. † In which he expressed his objection to the role of the United States in the Vietnam War, mentioning that United States was in Vietnam â€Å"to occupy it as an American colony† and called the US government â€Å"the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today. † He also connected the Vietnam War with economic injustice based on the fact that the US government was spending more and more on the military and less and less on anti-poverty programs. He summed up this aspect by saying:† A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. Almost a year later in 1968 King organized the â€Å"Poor Peoples Campaign† in order to raise the matter of economic injustice; King crossed the whole country in order to assemble a multiracial army of poor people in order to march on Washington DC and engage in a non-violent civil disobedience at the Capitol until Congress created an economic bill of rights for poor Americans. The campaign culminated in a march on Washington, D. C. , demanding economic aid to the poorest communities of the United States. The reconnaissance King was awarded at least fifty honorary degrees from colleges and universities. On October 14, 1964, King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to him for leading non-violent resistance to racial prejudice in the U. S. In 1965, he was awarded the American Liberties Medallion by the American Jewish Committee for his exceptional advancement of the principles of human liberty. In his acceptance remarks, King said, Freedom is one thing. You have it all or you are not free. In 1957, he was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. Two years later, he won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for his book Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. In 1966, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America awarded King the Margaret Sanger Award for his courageous resistance to bigotry and his lifelong dedication to the advancement of social justice and human dignity. Also in 1966, King was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was posthumously awarded a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for his Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam in 1971. In 1977, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was posthumously awarded to King by President Jimmy Carter, who stated: Martin Luther King, Jr. , was the conscience of his generation. He gazed upon the great wall of segregation and saw that the power of love could bring it down. From the pain and exhaustion of his fight to fulfill the promises of our founding fathers for our humblest citizens, he wrung his eloquent statement of his dream for America. He made our nation stronger because he made it better. His dream sustains us yet. More than 730 cities in the United States have streets named after King. King County, Washington rededicated its name in his honor in 1986, and changed its logo to an image of his face in 2007. The city government center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is named in honor of King. King is remembered as a martyr by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (feast day April 4) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (feast day January 15).

Code-switching and the use of different varieties of English in blogs in a multilingual context

Code-switching and the use of different varieties of English in blogs in a multilingual context Abstract This project paper attempts to rationalize the reasons as to why code-switching and different varieties of English are used in blogs among young adults who are proficient in the language. The varieties that were found in all 6 case study blogs differ very much in style and form, ranging anywhere from colloquial to formal, or written in grammatically correct English to simple use of the language along with mild to heavy code-switching. Three important questions were raised and answered in the paper, namely i) what are the varieties of languages used in the blogs? ii) to what extent does the code-switching take place (e.g. word, sentence level)? and iii) what are the reasons for the occurrences of the code-switching? 1. Introduction â€Å"The accent of ones birthplace lingers in the mind and in the heart as it does in ones speech† Rochefoucauld, Maximes, 342 Blogs are currently a growing trend, especially among the younger generation who are technologically savvy. Maintaining a blog is almost a norm and to some people, something that they cannot live without. Many of these youngsters regard blogs as their means of expressing their sense of independence and individualism. It is their private world a place where they are able to speak their mind without anyone questioning them (disregarding instances of comments being left by readers). However, just like the writers themselves who are different from one another, the language varieties that are used in these blogs differ very much in style and form, reflecting the writers individuality. The language can range from being colloquial to formal, or in cases where the writers are multilingual, display instances of heavy code-switching. These reasons for code-switching could range from trying to create a sense of importance about a certain topic or individual, to simply wanting to reflect ones individualism and background by using certain expressions that are intended to exclude or include certain speech communities. For example, a blog written in the Malayalam language is meant only for readers who are able to read and write in the language, and thus not for the purpose of general viewing. This study attempts to examine the use of code-switching in certain Malaysian blogs and examine the possible reasons for code-switching by individuals who are proficient in English. 2. Literature Review Haugen (1953, p.7) defines bilingualism as a phenomenon where â€Å"the speaker of one language can produce complete meaningful utterances in the other language†. As highlighted in Hakuta (1986), Mackey (1967) has also claimed that â€Å"bilingualism, far from being exceptional, is a problem which affects the majority of the worlds population† (p.11). This is a statement that I do not fully agree on, because bilingualism should not be considered a problem, but more a reflection of rapid globalization and an increasingly borderless world. Hakuta (1986, p.10) also explains that â€Å"the story of bilingualism is in part about the changing perspectives of social scientists, changes that occur not only as a function of trends in the profession but as a function of trends in society as a whole†. This is something quite relevant to the topic of bilingualism as it has a lot to do with the changing perspectives of society and how it really functions as a trend. In Paradiss (Ed.) (1978), it is claimed that â€Å"†¦since the role of individual idiosyncratic factors seems to be an important aspect of code-switching, in that among groups of approximately equal bilingual abilities, some code-switch more than others, a complete determination of the sufficient conditions for code-switching probably lies beyond the reach of behavioral sciences†. Paradis (1978) also further stated that â€Å"within a given linguistic community, there appears to be no single set of norms that determines how often, within a single sentence, languages may shifted, nor how many words or syllables must intervene between switches†. This is very true if bilingual communities such as within the Malaysian context are observed, where most of the people are multilingual and code-switching is an almost sub-conscious part of their lives. Dopke (1992), claims that â€Å"[c]ode-switching can arise as a result of changes to the participants in a conversation, the setting, the discourse type or the topic or by the speakers need to emphasize or clarify a point, to attract or retain the attention of the listener, to quote someone else or to simply exclude or include specific audiences†. For example, Pillai (2008) shows that code-switching in this context is related to the concept of power and solidarity, and reflects ones identity within a community. Adler (1977, p.154), points out that if a person were to learn â€Å"a language in his home country, and learns it well, he will be affected by it to some extent†. Adler (1977, p.154) further adds that â€Å"he will have to absorb at least part of the culture of the society whose language he learnsspeaking the language with natives will not only perfect his knowledge but he will also change [code-switch] more than would be the case otherwise†. This is due to the influence of other languages in his environment which affects his primary language. This theory would be used as the theoretical framework in the analysis of data from the case study blogs used for this project paper. In a study on the use of Tagalog-English in blogs written by Filipino bloggers, Smedley (2006) summarized that â€Å"†¦switching is not merely a product of how speakers attend to the orderly production of conversation, but also a product of how they attend to the inherent heteroglossic nature of language and exploit their linguistic repertoire maximally to make their communication as effective as possible, and to construct and negotiate multiple identities†. This is proven when an individual code-switch to further elaborate and explicate meanings through communication with others around them, for example when using certain terms or phrases unique to a certain vernacular language in a predominantly English conversation. This is an underlying premise of which I will attempt to examine in this study. Pillai (2008) also points out that switching can be at the micro level of accent switching in the Malaysian context where speakers do not change language variety but put on a different ethnic accent to reflect ones identity within a community i.e. to be included in various speech communities. It is also pointed out by Ibrahim (2005, cited in Pillai 2008) that there exists a â€Å"desire to use our own brand of English to construct a sense of belonging and identity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ; and â€Å"†¦to emphasize solidarity or otherwise, and to communicate a particular stance or emotion†. This is another underlying premise regarding code-switching that this study attemps to explore. Similarly, Lipski (2008) discusses the sense of identity as seen within the context of code-switching and bilingualism. This study will be based on the two assumptions. The first is the assumption by Adler (1977, p.154), that if a person were to learn â€Å"a language in his home country, and learns it well, he will be affected by it to some extent†. Adler further adds that â€Å"He will have to absorb at least part of the culture of the society whose language he learnsspeaking the language with natives will not only perfect his knowledge but he will also change [code-switch] more than would be the case otherwise†. The second would be a hypotheses by Smedley (2006) where he claims that â€Å"†¦switching is not merely a product of how speakers attend to the orderly production of conversation, but also a product of how they attend to the inherent heteroglossic nature of language and exploit their linguistic repertoire maximally to make their communication as effective as possible, and to construct and negotiate multiple identities†. 3. Aim This research aims to examine the extent of code-switching in blogs written by individuals who are proficient in the English Language, and to determine the possible reasons for code-switching. In relation to these aims, the research questions that are addressed by this study are as follows: 1. What are the varieties of languages used in the blogs? 2. To what extent does the code-switching take place (e.g. word, sentence level)? 3. What are the reasons for the occurrences of the code-switching? 4. Methodology In order to obtain the relevant data for this research paper, six (6) blogs were chosen three blogs each from writers of the two major ethnic groups in Malaysia, namely Chinese and Malays. The writers of all six blogs that were chosen are first, second and third year English major students from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya. The main reason as to why only English major students were chosen is because they are proficient in the language, and thus would provide interesting data which may provide answers to the research questions raised. All six blogs were analyzed to examine the varieties of languages used, and the extent to which they were used as well as the reasons for the code-switching. The analysis was done based on two levels; i) intra-language (variations within English) code-switching at word and sentence level and ii) inter-language code-switching at word and sentence level. 5. Findings Discussion For this research, only data (blog entries) from the months of July to December 2008 were looked at and analysed. This is so that the data acquired is not too broad or too general, instead pointing out specific details which would help in the analysis of data. Three blogs by Malay bloggers and another three blogs by Chinese bloggers were studied and used as data. 5.1 Intra-language code-switching at word level †¦I wus lyk, black out . This sentence is quite interesting as it is made up of a few different varieties of English. The word â€Å"wus† is actually â€Å"was†, and this method of spelling and pronunciation is used mainly in African American Vernacular English speech. The word â€Å"lyk†, which is actually a short form of â€Å"like†, is used primarily in non-standard American English speech, where the word is inserted in the middle of sentences usually before a verb to describe ones emotional state or reaction. notice anything kewl~ today on my page The term â€Å"kewl† here is actually a differed spelling for â€Å"cool†, used usually in teenagers and young adults jargon. The term, in this context, brings about the meaning of â€Å"different and/or interesting or good†. The pronunciation for the word is as its written form. I fucking hate my fucking life . In this sentence from one of the bloggers entries, the curse word â€Å"fucking† is used twice to further illustrate her anger and frustration. This syntactical formation is generally considered non-standard in addition to being offensive or taboo. However, many youngsters these days use this term very freely and it is accepted among the youth today. So Ill say, screw you . Similarly, the phrase â€Å"screw you† is considered non-standard, although not as offensive as the earlier example. This phrase has a few attached meanings to it including â€Å"fuck you† and â€Å"to hell with you†. n btw, its from mahatma gandhi . In this sentence, the blogger uses the term â€Å"btw† which is an acronym for the phrase â€Å"by the way†. This acronym is non-standard English and is used only in written form. In addition to that, â€Å"n† is used in replacement of the more standard â€Å"And†, although it is not usually used at the beginning of a formal sentence. And the prick just went on . Although the blogger uses a generally informal variety of written English, she does code-switch to a non-standard term in between her words the use of the term â€Å"prick†, for example, is considered offensive and taboo in most cases. Here, it is used mainly to illustrate her frustration and anger. 5.2 Intra-language code-switching at sentence level I terribly hearts you . This is a unique way of youngsters nowadays to express their love or liking for something, usually towards non-animate objects, as seen here where the blogger expresses her liking for a TV programme. This style of writing is not accepted in Standard English; however it is so in modern teenagers jargon. What the heck . The phrase highlighted here is a very informal utterance which is used to simply demonstrate ones annoyance. This sentence is generally considered non-standard and is usually used to show exasperation or displeasure towards something, as seen in the example above. Oh no-ness . This phrase is considered ungrammatical in addition to being non-standard. Although for the most part the blogger uses standard and grammatically accepted written English, she chooses to switch to a less grammatical sentence structure, in this case most probably for the purpose of emphasizing her disappointment. 5.3 Inter-language code-switching at word level Nenek belanja all 8 of us to watch the movie . Here, the blogger code-switches from English to Malay to draw attention to the fact that her grandmother (whom she refers to as â€Å"Nenek† a result of her hailing from a Malay culture background) had treated all eight of her siblings and family members to a movie. This is an interesting feature as many people in Malaysia, regardless of their age, race and English proficiency level, use the term â€Å"belanja† quite often to replace the English equivalent â€Å"treated†. It is the main reason as to why the term, like many others akin to it, has a very Malaysian flavour to it. even my abah had forgotten that it was my bday ! Similarly, another blogger from a Malay culture background used the term â€Å"abah† to refer to her father. She does not use the English terms â€Å"father† (formal) or â€Å"dad† (informal), but chooses instead to keep the term she uses to call him â€Å"abah†. As seen in the examples here, words or phrases referring to kinship terms are generally maintained in written form. This can be due to the habit or familiarity with the concept (family members) which makes it easier to refer to them with the names as per given and called. Whatever la . The term â€Å"la† is a very typical Colloquial Malaysian English discourse particle which is used primarily used at the end or beginning of a sentence, though occasionally they are inserted in the middle of sentences. Influenced by the Malay languages â€Å"-lah† suffix, it is commonly used in English conversations for various reasons, such as to create a sense of Malaysian-ism for an individual or to alter the meaning or tone of a sentence (to stress a point, persuade, show an acceptance of an offer, show agreement or admittance, or to soften a brusque reply). plus, pray to Allah that those who r responsible for th death wil accept th biggest punishment in th world . In the sentence above, the blogger refers to God as â€Å"Allah†. This is due to her cultural background i.e. being a Muslim. Usually, Muslims tend to refer to God as â€Å"Allah† because that is the term used to refer to God in the Muslim holy book, the Al-Quran. Many Muslims grow up having to learn and read the book, as well as go for religious classes; all of which influences each and every one of them in terms used to refer to religious matters including the name for God. maybe theres hikmah in all of this . Here, the blogger uses the term â€Å"hikmah† to bring about the meaning of â€Å"silver lining†. The Malay language term was chosen and used most probably because of the cultural background (being a Malay) of the blogger herself, where this term is used more often as compared to the English language equivalent. In addition to that, the Malay term is preferred most probably due to the meaning it produces the English translation of the term does not fully explain and carry the meaning of the term as compared to Malay. First attempt to insert a new stick†¦patah . Here the blogger code-switches from English to Malay in one of her entries. This term is widely used in the Malay language, as well as Colloquial Malaysian English where it is used to mean anything that is â€Å"broken†. In the context of this entry, the blogger uses the term to refer to her ruined hand fan. wae-yo saranghae-yo!! This particular blogger code-switches from English to Korean in one of the entries. Although she is not Korean by heritage, she is interested in Korean culture and this is proven by her statement â€Å"i guess some of you already know of my fondness for all things Korean e.g. dramas, songs, actors, singers, food etc. therefore i wont say much.† Due to the nature of the topic discussed in this particular entry (related to the Korean culture, specifically music), the blogger chooses to code-switch between English and Korean, although only at word level, most probably because she is not proficient in the language. †¦listen to my plead of untaggin moi . This particular blogger as seen here, code-switches from English to French. There is no apparent reason as to why she code-switches in this context, although it can be deduced that she has had some kind of exposure to the French language to be able to code-switch freely. In addition to that, she might have chosen to code-switch in this context to create more emphasis on herself. Im trying to earn money to pay for my cravings for oyster mee suah . The blogger code-switches from English to Chinese in this particular entry, where the term â€Å"mee suah† is used, used to refer to a popular dish among the Chinese community. Due to the inexistence of the term in English, the blogger chooses to use the Chinese term to illustrate the concept. However, only people whom are familiar with the Chinese language and/or dishes would be able to relate and fully comprehend the bloggers thoughts and points. Uncle, please hor . In this sentence, the blogger inserts a Chinese discourse particle in an English phrase. The insertion of this term is to indicate a mode or sense of sarcasm as well as emphasis, where in this context the blogger is being sarcastic to a Chinese cab driver who was very rude to her. I busy ma . This particular blogger inserts the Chinese discourse particle â€Å"ma† at the end of her sentence. It is slot in at the end to stress her point, as well as a reminder to others that she was busy at the referred point in time. Stupidnya The suffix â€Å"-nya† from the Malay language is used very commonly among Malaysians of all race and cultural background not just when using Malay but also English. Here, the suffix is inserted alongside English words (usually adjectives, as seen in the example above). This is frequently done to put emphasis on the state of something or someone at a certain point of time. The usage of this suffix, in addition to other examples, tends to create a truly Malaysian feeling as only Malaysians tend to use the â€Å"-nya† suffix in this unique manner. 5.4 Inter-language code-switching at sentence level Habis cerita . As seen here, the blogger ends her primarily English language entry with this Malay utterance. In the context of this entry, the blogger used this phrase in substitution of â€Å"None of this would have happened† or â€Å"Problem solved†. This popular Malay phrase is used quite commonly among Malaysians to create a meaning close to â€Å"Not having so many problems†. The blogger probably chose to use the Malay phrase not only because she is Malay, but because the English equivalent to the phrase may not provide the exact intended meaning as compared to the Malay phrase. Soy Estudiante de Espana ! This particular blogger starts off her entry in Spanish, but continues in English, further explaining that she would be sitting for her Spanish examination later on that morning, which clarifies the reason as to why she code-switches from English to Spanish in this particular entry. Tiap-tiap hari lepas habis buka puasa mesti kemas rumah . For this particular entry, the blogger starts off in Malay and continues her post in English. Here it may be because of the nature of the situation itself where the practice of â€Å"Buka Puasa† is a Malay/Islamic culture, so the writer chooses to express this statement in the Malay language to make her point, as the custom of â€Å"Buka Puasa† is somewhat related to â€Å"kemas rumah† i.e. cleaning the house in preparation for the Hari Raya celebrations. aku tak tau knape†¦. aku sgt curious nk tau wether†¦ Although this blog is primarily written in English, this particular entry was in Malay with a few English words inserted here and there. The main reason as to why this entry was written in the Malay language is most probably due to the nature of the topic discussed in the entry: related to religion. Islam is almost always associated with the Malay language because the religion itself is taught in Malay, with translations of Arab phrases and terms into Malay. Thus, when one talks about matters relating to Islam, the use of Malay is, more of than not, preferred even by individuals who are generally proficient in the English language. Tidur, makan, TV, mahjong . This particular blogger does not code-switch as often as compared to the other five bloggers, except on certain occasions only. In this entry the blogger code-switches form English to Malay, albeit for one sentence only. She most probably did this to emphasize the activities that she had been busy with i.e. sleeping, eating, watching TV and playing ‘mahjong (a board game popular among the Chinese) all of which are forms of relaxation, which is something that is quite often regarded as being part of truly Malaysian. 6. Conclusion â€Å"Along with physical appearance and cultural characteristics, language is part of what distinguishes one nation from another† Finegan, Edward (2004) The varieties of English used in all six blogs range anywhere from standard to non-standard or colloquial, as well as grammatical to ungrammatical. In addition to that, other languages are also used alongside English in various entries of all the blogs. These languages include Chinese, Malay, Korean, French and Spanish. The code-switching that takes place in these blogs are not only at word level but also at the sentence level. In some instances, whole entries are in a different language altogether, with a few English words inserted in between lines. There are many reasons as to why code-switching occur in all the blogs researched. In some instances, it may be due to the individual trying to draw attention to something significant regarding certain matters. Here, when a person attempts to emphasize something that is regarded important and needs to be highlighted, code-switching happens either from English to the individuals mother tongue or in certain cases, from English to a foreign language(s). Another reason is as to why code-switching occurs in these blogs is the desire of an individual to stand out among many others. In this case, a person may use certain expressions and phrases which automatically include or exclude selected speech communities. These expressions and phrases may be within English itself where an individual may switch form a certain variety of English to another, or between a dominant language (English, in this context) to another. It is interesting to point out that all the blogs chosen for the purpose of this research were written by individuals who are quite proficient in English. This in mind, one would assume that the possible code-switching that might take place would not be as extensive as what is seen here. However this notion was proven wrong, as most individuals are affected by other languages existing around them in one way or another. In a multilingual context such as in Malaysia, it is clear that the assumption by Adler (1977, p.154) that when one learns â€Å"a language in his home country, and learns it well, he will be affected by it to some extent†. Case in point where the blogs that were analysed all had numerous instances of code-switching from English to ones mother tongue (Chinese and Malay). Here, it is apparent that ones cultural background affects ones speech not only verbally but also in written from. Smedleys (2006) claim where he argues that â€Å"†¦switching is not merely a product of how speakers attend to the orderly production of conversation, but also a product of how they attend to the inherent heteroglossic nature of language and exploit their linguistic repertoire maximally to make their communication as effective as possible, and to construct and negotiate multiple identities† is also proven right in this research. When an individual attempts to make a point clear or highlight a certain matter in argument, code-switching occurs. Knowledge of more than one language helps one to bring out the intended meaning of something during an argument, where it is presumed that with the use of more than one language, meanings can be emphasized and made clear. As a result, communication is made more effective. Smedley (2006) also claims that code-switching also occurs due to the desire of an individual â€Å"to construct and negotiate multiple identities†. Here, an individual is seen as wanting to bring out more than what is seen by others around them. For example, an individual who is able to speak and write in grammatically correct and Standard English tries to bring out more than what meets the eye. There is a desire to reveal a different side of the person, working more like an alter ego References Adler, Max K. (1977). Collective and individual bilingualism: A sociolinguistic study. Hamburg: Helmut Buske Verlag Hamburg. Afendras, Evangelos A. (Ed.). (1980). Patterns of bilingualism. Singapore: Singapore University Press. Bilingualism: An Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://psych.colorado.edu/~colunga/P7215/overview.pdf Blog. (2008). Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog Code-switching. (2008). Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code-switching Duran, Luisa. Toward a better understanding of code switching and interlanguage in bilinguality: Implications for bilingual instruction. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/jeilms/vol14/duran.htm Galasso, Joseph. The development of child code-switching: Minimalist constraints and the role of checking theory. Retrieved November 18, 2008 from http://www.csun.edu/~galasso/code.pdf Hakuta, Kenji. (1986). Mirror of language: The debate on bilingiualism. New York: Basic Books, Inc. Haugen, Einar. (1987). Blessings of Babel: Bilingualism and language planning. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Heller, Monica. (Ed.). (1988). Codeswitching: Anthropological and sociolinguistic perspectives. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Heredia, Roberto R. Brown, Jeffrey M. Code-switching. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.tamiu.edu/~rheredia/switch.htm Huffaker, D. A. Calvert, S. L. (2005). Gender, identity, and language use in teenage blogs. In Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10 (2), article 1. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue2/huffaker.html Lipski, John M. Code-switching or borrowing? No sà © so no puedo decir, you know. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wss/2/paper1136.pdf MacSwan, Jeff. A minimalist approach to code switching. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.public.asu.edu/~macswan/5.pdf MacSwan, Jeff. The architecture of the bilingual language faculty: Evidence from intrasentential code switching. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from hpp://www.public.asu.edu/~macswan/Bilingualism.pdf Marasigan, Elizabeth. (1983). Code-switching and code-mixing in multilingual societies. Singapore: Singapore University Press. Maya Khemlani David. (Ed.). (2006). Language choices and discourse of Malaysian families. Malaysia: Strategic Information and Research Development Centre. Maya Khemlani David Karen Kow Yip Cheng. (Eds.). (2008). Politeness in Malaysian family talk. Malaysia: Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia. Multilingualism. (2008). Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilingualism Nilep, Chad. â€Å"Code switching† in sociocultural linguistics. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.colorado.edu/ling/CRIL/volume19_Issue1/paper_NILEP.pdf Paradis, Michel. (Ed.). (1978). Aspects of bilingualism. South Carolina: Hornbeam Press, Incorporated. Paulston, Christina Bratt. (Ed.). (1988). International handbook of bilingualism and bilingual education. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. Poplack, Shana. (2004). Code-switching. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.sociolinguistics.uottawa.ca/shanapoplack/pubs/articles/Poplack2004.pdf Smedley, Frank P. Code-switching and identity on the blogs: An analysis of Taglish in computer mediated communication. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/handle/10292/186 Stefanie Pillai. (2008). Speaking English the Malaysian way correct or not?. English Today.24 (4), 42-45. Suojanen, Pà ¤ivikki. Aspects of identity: Rights and obligations of ethnic groups. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.njas.helsinki.fi.pdf-files/vol1num2/suojanen.pdf Van Gelderen, Elly Macswan, Jeff. Interface conditions and code-switching: Pronouns, lexical DPs, and checking theories. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.public.asu.edu/~gelderen/elly-jeff-CS.pdf Appendix Blogger 1 (Malay writer), taken from http://littlecharmvinyls.blogspot.com/ and http://zsazubir.blogspot.com/ Blogger 2 (Malay writer) taken from http://sy4h33r4h.blog.friendster.com/ Blogger 3 (Malay writer) taken from http://juzshahidah.blogspot.com/ Blogger 4 (Chinese writer) taken from http://ling3586.blogspot.com/ Blogger 5 (Chinese writer) taken from http://mandychockjy.blogspot.com/ Blogger 6 (Chinese writer) taken from http://evonhooi.blogspot.com/

Essential Amino Acids as Ergogenic Aids :: Health Medical Research Papers

Amino Acids Amino acids are considered the building blocks of proteins. Breaking down protein will yield 22 known amino acids. There are three types of amino acids. These are indispensable(essential), conditionally dispensable, and dispensable. Conditionally dispensable amino acids can be synthesized from other amino acids by our bodies. Dispensable amino acids are considered non-essential. Amino acids are "one of the six basic nutrients our body needs". Essential Amino Acids acids are central to our discussion with regards to their use in weightlifting and training. httg:///www.kaiwan.com/-fitnessalaacid.html (hftp://www.thelinx.com/healthy/aminoacd.htm#valine) (hftp://www.getbig.com/articies/protein.htm) The Essential Amino Acids Of 22 amino acids, 8 or 9, are considered essential because our bodies can't manufacture them. These are tryptophan, lysine, methione, phenylalaine, threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, and histadine. Leucine "serves as a substrate for muscle metabolism during periods of cellular energy depletion" and promotes healing of the skin and broken bones as well as improving alertness. Tryptophan, whose benefits include calming, stimulating the release of growth hormones, and cholesterol reduction, is the only essential amino acid whose free form is not currently available in the U.S. lsoleucine helps in the formation of hemoglobin and is used by the muscles for energy. Valine, which promotes muscle coordination, remains unprocessed by the liver allowing it to go directly to muscles. Histadine dilates blood vessels, helps to alleviate symptoms of arthritis and ulcers, and helps in the production of red and white blood cells. Lysine builds new body tissue and bone, enhances fertility, improves concentration, and may be an effective treatment for certain forms of herpes. Methione reduces fat and protects the kidneys and may also reduces cholesterol levels. Phenylalaine serves to reduce hunger pains, helps in the production of Norepinephrine and collagen, and improves memory and alertness. Threonine assists in metabolism and assimilation, prevents fatty build-up in the liver, and is a component of collagen. (http://www.nutrimart.com/amnoinfo.htm) (http://www.betterbodz.com/suppl/leucine.htmi) (http://www.getbig.com/articles/protein.htm) (http://www.thelinx.com/healthylaminoacd.htm#valine) Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAS) Studies indicate that the presence of branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) after training is "critical for recovery" If they are ingested before exercise they may "alter hormonal responses to high intensity exercise". BCAA supplementation occurring during the exercise may have several health benefits, including "improved physiological and psychological responses to endurance exercise". BCAA's can compromise up to thirty-five percent of muscle tissue and a lack of any one of the three can "result in a decrease in muscle strength and tone"(Nature's Pantry Free Pamphlet).

The American Prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920s Essay -- American Hi

The American Prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920's The prohibition of alcohol in the United States lasted from 1920 until 1932. The movement began in the late nineteenth century, and was fueled by the formation of the Anti-Saloon League in 1893 (Why Prohibition?). This league and other anti-alcohol organizations, began to succeed in establishing local prohibition laws. By the 1920's prohibition was a national effort. The prohibition movement was aimed primarily at closing saloons. Saloons were the brewing companies place in retail business, selling alcohol by the glass. In the early twentieth century, there was one saloon for every one-hundred fifty or two-hundred Americans. This competitiveness forced saloon keepers to find other ways to make money. By the 1920's saloons had become houses of gambling and prostitution, not the innocent, friendly bar we associate the word with today (Why Prohibition?). The prohibition advocates found such establishments offensive, and sought to revoke their licenses. The National Prohibition Act was added to the United States Constitution on January 16th, 1920 (The Eighteenth Amendment). The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the illegal manufacturing or selling of alcohol. There were only two ways to legally obtain alcohol under the prohibition laws. Religious groups were granted the right to obtain alcohol for sacramental purposes, and doctors were permitted to write prescriptions (Medicinal Alcohol). People have believed in medicinal benefits of alcohol since ancient times, using it to cure snake bites and control disease. Even though the belief has begun to dwindle in the early twentieth century, alcohol was legally manufactured for medic... ...ter. â€Å"Prohibition.† http://www.detektivroman.de/forum/_disc3/0000004d.htm: May 2002. This site has good statistical information about Capone and other Chicago gangs during the 1920s. â€Å"Medicinal Alcohol.† http://prohibition.history.ohio‑state.edu/Medicinal_Alcohol.htm. This site gives a brief history (very brief) of the beliefs in medicinal alcohol. â€Å"The Eighteenth Amendment and the National Prohibition Act.† http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/wick/wick1.html This site gives a detailed analysis of the National Prohibition Act. â€Å"Speakeasy.† http://hotwired.lycos.com/cocktail/links/speakeasy.html: Lycos, 2002. This site gives a quick idea of what a speakeasy was. â€Å"Why Prohibition?† http://prohibition.history.ohio‑state.edu/whyprohibition.htm: November, 2002. This site gives a history of the prohibition movement.

Online Newspapers Over Dinner -- Internet Web News Essays

Online Newspapers Over Dinner From accessing newspapers without a subscription to searching for articles and being able to find them with a simple click of a mouse, online newspapers have increasingly evolved over the past decade, through their convenient sources and new innovations. The following discusses these developments and the reasons for popularity and also includes a fictional dinner conversation between experts on these types of publications. My thoughts of this new media are also explored before and after researching the topic. A drop of sweat trickles down my cheek as I race through my house finalizing plans for the elegant dinner party. Experts from all across the United States will convene at my residence for dinner, socialization, and discussion of online newspapers. Not only have I spent weeks scrubbing every white linoleum tile in my kitchen and waxing all the wooden floors in the house, especially in the dining room, but I also bought a lavish chandelier with glistening crystals hanging down from its frame and porcelain china for a pleasurable dining experience. Actually preparing the food became an entire separate crisis. I knew some of the authors were vegetarians, lactose intolerant, or simply possessed picky eating habits, so I arranged for six different entrà ©es for the guests to choose from in order to satisfy their hunger. I had never gone so far out of my way to please other people, and I prayed that all my hard work and consideration would pay off. My anticipation and anxiety woul d soon be settled in less than an hour. By 6:55, five minutes before expected, my first guests arrived. Shannon E. Martin and Kathleen A. Hansen entered my home, displaying typical librarian and p... ... since the various articles have to be clicked on continuously instead of simply opening to the desired section and they cannot be carried around. Everyone’s eyes widened and mouths dropped even at the conclusion of his ideals, as no one knew exactly what to say next. Finally, as everyone began shouting his or her own ideas and beliefs, a subtle debate turned into a verbal war. Then, Katz, sat up, thanked me for my hospitality, and proceeded to walk out the door, start up his motorcycle and leave. Again, the same eerie silence plagued the room and gradually, each person changed conversation topics over a white chocolate cheesecake and hazelnut coffee. About an hour later, all my guests began to leave for the evening. Exhausted and overwhelmed by the evening’s events, I sat at the kitchen in awe and wondering how I would ever form an opinion of online newspapers.

Public Speaking, Fears and Concerns.

Fears and Concerns about Public Speaking Fears and Concerns about Public Speaking There are many things in this world that one can have a fear of. One could be scared of bugs, the dark, or heights; but a major fear is the fear of having to speak in public. In everyday life public speaking is necessary, whether it be in a social or professional setting. My biggest fears and concerns about public speaking are being the center of attention, rejection, and failure. Being the center of attention can be very nerve racking.Are they judging the way I am dressed or the way I present myself? Are they paying attention to what I have to say? Or even, what will they think of me when I am done my presentation? Lastly, can I stop my nervous habits long enough to finish my presentation? These are all questions that run through my head that could easily distract me from actually presenting in the way I would like too. At some point everyone has to be concerned about rejection. This is also one of my main fears and concerns.The fact that not everyone will agree with, or accept, the point I am trying to portray. Maybe they just will not care or give me the time of day, and maybe even try to conflict with what I have to say. Then it will feel like I have wasted my time to come up with a presentation just to be ridiculed. No one ever thinks to themselves that they want to be a failure. My fears could distract me from delivering my presentation in the way I would like. I could stutter, forget what to say, or just not be as well prepared as I thought.This would all lead to a miserable presentation failure. Would I ever gain respect of my audience again? I do not want to be thought of as a failure. That is probably my worst concern about public speaking. With all kinds of fears and concerns about public speaking, it is difficult to think that one could get over them to go on to become a great public speaker. I would like to get over my fears so that I can continue through life with no concerns. I feel it will take time and practice but with the help of this class as well, I can be on my way to being a great public speaker.