Abstract The paper describes the setting of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel "A Handmaid's Tale" where women are prevented from voting in elections and even from reading or writing. The paper shows how within Gilead itself, Atwood's fictional setting, both language and its repression are continually and deliberately used to maintain power over the women. Atwood's Gilead has its own new vocabulary, inflected with words, phrases and word-usages designed to reinforce the skewed attitudes and values of the established order. The paper's analysis illustrates how a loss of linguistic freedoms leads easily to the repression and loss of other freedoms as well.
From the Paper "In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood describes the nightmarish potential of a complete reversal of all of the progress in women's rights made during the 1960's and 1970's women's rights movement. Within Atwood's fictional setting, Gilead, right-wing religious extremists seize power, and then based their new leadership on a "return to traditional values", e.g., male hegemony over women by men. Abortion is now illegal again; as is birth control."
"Women are prevented from voting in elections, and even from either reading or writing anymore. Women are instead, again, quite simply, now present for the subjugation by, and the pleasure of men."
Abstract There are a number of problems that a translator might come upon when translating wh- words from Bulgarian into English. This paper looks at "who" and "which" in particular. Why is there a problem? In English, "who" and "which" do not take grammatical markers for gender and number, while in Bulgarian they do . In English and Bulgarian, gender is grammaticalized differently. This particularity is sometimes considered a problem for certain translations from Bulgarian, and more specifically, when gender seems of importance to the Bulgarian text. This paper deals with the notions of grammatical and semantic gender only because the former exists in Bulgarian and the latter is used in English. This paper begins with some preliminary remarks, exposing the differences between Bulgarian and English when it comes to number and gender markings. Some translation examples are discussed in more detail in the section entitled "Examples". It must be pointed out that the paper investigates only one side of the problem, where Bulgarian is the source language and English is the target language. Back translation is not discussed here. The main focus is on how gender itself is produced and translated. Following paragraphs clarify what gender is in both languages and what problems translators might encounter if they choose to transfer a gendered reference from Bulgarian into English.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Preliminary Remarks on Gender and Number in English and Bulgarian
Who and Which in English
Who and Which in Bulgarian
Examples
Conclusions
Bibliography
From the Paper "In the extra-linguistic world, gender is a physiological phenomenon connected with the structure of some living beings. There are objects with no sex (inanimate) and others with sex (animate). The category of sex has two exponents (male and female). These facts can be reflected in language since gender markings in a given language are, on the first place, categories established through our contact with the natural differences between the sexes and between what we have called "the animate" and "the inanimate". Thus, the linguistic exponent of sex has the following grammatical and/or lexical correspondences in English:
1 M / he male (animate) boy, father, John, etc.
2 F / she female (animate) girl, mother, Mary, etc.
3 N / it O gender (inanimate/undetermined) cat, stone, table, baby (if sex unknown)"
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the journal article "Hearing Lips and Seeing Voices" by Harry McGurk and John MacDonald which was published in 1976. This was a groundbreaking study in the subject of verbal communication, that examined the ways in which verbal communication relies on not only auditory input, but visual input as well. The paper shows that this went against the common belief that verbal communication uses sound alone.
Outline:
Presentation
Discussion Questions
Works Cited
From the Paper "One of the most interesting things revealed about verbal communication during this study is related to the different error rates among the different age groups. During the audio-only portion, preschool children had the highest error percentage, reporting the incorrect syllable nine percent of the time, while older children and adults were correct almost all of the time. However, when presented with conflicting auditory and visual input, the preschool children and school-age children had a much lower error rate than the adults."
Abstract This paper identifies and evaluates the assessment evaluation test called FAIS, or Functional Assessment and Intervention System, as it relates to English language learner (ELL) students. The paper concludes that functional assessment and intervention systems offer a new guiding light for the future of ELL students and, as a result, all schools should be prepared to meet the challenge of an increasingly diverse student population, including many students who are not proficient in English.
From the Paper "Other problems affecting a functional assessment of ELL learners would have to do with student absences due to illness, suspension, an inability to meet with parents or siblings, or school cancellations. The lack of an individual functional analysis is a criticism that could be directly applied to the ELL student, because in their case, a better intervention plan could be written based on an individual analysis only. Research estimates that the future of "bilingual education" will directly affect one out of four public school students and have a significant impact on almost every school (E-Source Online, 2005). In such cases, interventions derived from functional assessment could also be subjected to further experimental tests, including an analysis of variables in single-participant designs (Schcill, 1996). Finally, during the process of implementing a functional assessment and intervention system, teachers and educators must develop multi-step programs that utilize existing skills and the theory that knowledge of the functions causing learning problems can be used to shape more effective learning potential."
Abstract The paper examines how language educators and researchers continue to debate how language is developed in humans. The paper further examines the differences between humans and other higher primates regarding language. The paper explores how, in order to gain more insight on how language evolved in early humans, researchers closely study language acquisition in primates.
From the Paper "What Stokoe finds most interesting is the turning of the head, just as signers of American Sign Language turn their head and gaze to mark a change from one part of a complex structure to another. Concludes Stokoe: Children are fortunate that elementary sign language preceded spoken language. As people get older, they forget how they used their bodies, eyes and heads. However, once speech is acquired at another stage and a person is fully articulate, it is still possible to go to "Nevada or Oklahoma and enter into conversation with a chimpanzee." "
Abstract This study examines how production and perception of English vowels are affected by one's native language, specifically among Mandarin speakers. The paper examines the specific relationship between Mandarin speakers' production and perception of English vowels and their mastery of the English language, including their comprehension of intonation and pitch. The author hypothesizes that Mandarin speakers' would experience more difficulty mastering English vowels if their exposure to the English language encompassed one year or less.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
From the Paper "Previous studies suggest that multiple factors affect speakers' ability to produce sounds and their perceptions of sound. Various studies including that conducted by Boroditsky (2001) suggest that how one speaks affects many aspects of their livelihood including how one views or perceives the world. Further studies suggest that when compared with native English speakers, Mandarin speakers tend to refer to different concepts in different ways, including describing time in different manners (Boroditsky, 2001). The results of this study are relevant as they suggest that language is a "powerful tool shaping thought" and that one's native language "plays an important role in shaping thoughts and thought processes" (Boroditsky, 20)."
Abstract This paper discusses the effects on children's developmental progress when they are given systematic explicit instruction in phonemic awareness. It discusses the ways in which phonological awareness and phonemic awareness, including how to teach and assess them, has made an extremely valuable contribution to understanding how to teach reading to all children, including children with learning disabilities or delays in early reading.
From the Paper "Other findings reveal that opportunities to play with language result in the development of phonemic awareness (Wasik 2001). In one 1987 study, young children who were knowledgeable about nursery rhymes and who had opportunities to manipulate sound in language also had well-developed phonemic awareness (Wasik 2001). Nursery rhymes are a natural way to expose children to words that sound the same, and research suggests that by learning rhymes, poems, and jingles, children develop awareness of sounds in words (Wasik 2001). Therefore, natural play with language can encourage children to attend to the sounds that words make (Wasik 2001). Research demonstrates that teaching phonemic awareness to 1st and 2nd graders who have had difficulty reading resulted in significant improvements in their ability to read and spell words, thus it is important for adult to create opportunities for children to learn phonemic awareness (Wasik 2001)."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the art of advertising and the role that text plays in the advert. The paper focuses specifically on a Volvo advert, which profoundly illustrates the interaction between text and image to convey a message. The paper further discusses the issues of subcultures and the portrayal of subcultural issues in this advert and the media.
From the Paper "In examining the range of readings that the text generates across an audience, it becomes obvious that, especially when the ad is shown to people outside of the subculture towards which it was initially aimed, even this small amount of text can be interpreted in many ways, and it can impact the reader in a multitude of ways. For some readers, the text serves to clarify the sexual reference in the image. For others, it clarifies another non-sexual interpretation of the image. Other readers are confused by the text and do not find it to clarify the message of the ad at all, while others believe the text was only included to help less witty readers get the joke. For certain readers, the smaller text has a significant impact on the message of the advertisements, while other readers ignore it completely. The following examples of reactions from different readers show the wide range of readings possible for this small amount of text."
Abstract The paper discusses four aspects of learning English. The paper explains that many students today are from different nationalities and backgrounds, with different cultural ideas and English as a second language. The paper addresses the language and cultural boundaries that exist in many schools between teachers and students. The paper looks at the problem of dyslexia, a lack of phonological awareness and problems with syntax and/or semantics. The paper points out that it is important to teach children about figurative language and how to use it correctly; including metaphors, idioms and proverbs. The paper also talks about the use of conjunctions and independent and dependent clauses that are of importance in school-age learning.
From the Paper "The diversity that is being seen more and more today in schools would be thought to be good, but it can actually be difficult for students. This is largely because most teachers in this country are white and speak English as their only language. In contrast to this, their students are from many different nationalities and backgrounds. They also have different cultural ideas and many speak English as a second language, and often not very well. There are more and more immigrants coming into this country today, and so there are many more children that must be taught. These children are getting an education, but there is some concern over whether they are really getting the high quality of education that they want and need because of language and cultural boundaries that still exist in many schools between teachers and students."
Abstract The paper analyzes the unique writing style of the American novelist and humorist Samuel Clemens (better known by his pen name, Mark Twain.) The paper explains that his works are known for their humor and varied satirical and sarcastic literary elements. The paper looks at "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and explains that the conflict that runs through the book is the root of much of Mark Twain's satire, sarcasm and irony within it. The paper concludes that Mark Twain was in every way a realist and a social critic, albeit a satirical, bitingly sarcastic and socially and historically misunderstood.
From the Paper "Mark Twain's stylistic characteristics as a writer include humor; satire; sarcasm; and irony. All of these can be found in abundance, for example, in his short stories, his essays, his speeches, and, in particular, his novels. Novels of Mark Twain's like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876); The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884); The Prince and the Pauper (1882); and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889), for example, contain much satire and sarcasm. Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, though, arguably contains the most biting (although also, at times, surprisingly subtle in places) satire; sarcasm; and irony."
Abstract The paper examines headlines from Associated Press (AP) news and compares them with headlines from the news magazine "Time." The paper highlights the differences between the AP and "Time" headlines and shows how each news organization writes headlines for its intended audience. The paper discusses how headlines may seem like a very small part of a news article or story, but they are the primary way a reader decides whether to read an article or not. The paper concludes that headlines, therefore, are one of the most important parts of any news story.
From the Paper "The first headline comes from Time magazine, and is the headline for a book review regarding a biography of a man named James Holman. The headline reads "Have Cane, Will Travel." Immediately, it draws the reader into the article, posing questions the reader wants answered. 'Why does the person carry a cane, and where do they travel?' might be two of the first questions that pop into the reader's mind. The lead paragraph literally 'leads' the reader on, introducing the book and the person it chronicles, but still not answering the questions the headline generates. It is not until the end of the second paragraph that the reader learns the 'rest of the story' - that Homan was blind, and traveled the world in the 19th century, when travel was much more difficult, especially for a blind man."
Abstract In this article, the writer claims that one may say that Stephen Krashen is an advocate of total immersion teaching to encourage second language learning in and out of the classroom. The writer points out that Krashen's techniques are worth studying because they provide educators with new approaches to teaching a second language in the classroom. Further, the writer notes that his techniques and hypotheses also counter traditional lecture style teaching and encourage educators to adopt more comprehensive practices to help students master a new language. The writer concludes that Krashen's techniques are important to study because they can provide educators with new methods for teaching second languages to students in a helpful and comprehensible environment.
Outline:
Introduction
Acquisition Learning
Monitor
Natural Order
Input
Affective Filter
Summary and Conclusions
From the Paper "This hypothesis is the basis of all other hypothesis presented by Krashen. The acquisition learning hypothesis focuses more on an individual's need to acquire skills in a second language than it focuses on the actual process of learning traditionally involved in a classroom setting. The whole basis of Krashen's concepts in fact, relies on one's ability to acquire language skills. The acquisition hypothesis suggests people have an acquired and learned system of entertaining a new language, with the acquisition process involving meaningful interaction in the "target language" . Using this hypothesis one may acquire language best through natural communications. Learned system process is the process of actually learning a language, like in a classroom environment."
This paper explores the effectiveness of promoting English as the official language of the United States in order to improve intercultural communication.
Abstract The paper discusses how many different languages are spoken within the United States' borders. The paper examines whether this makes communication and hence understanding between these cultures difficult. The paper investigates racial overtones in the Rodney King beating, the O.J. Simpson trial and the U.S. Patriot Act. The paper shows how language is not at the root of the cultural divide in the country; rather the problem is one of deep-seated communication and understanding. The paper contends that the funds and effort should be channelled into events and legislation that would encourage different cultures to truly communicate with each other, regardless of the language they use to do so.
From the Paper " The United States of America has been home to an increasingly multitude of cultures since the first immigrants came to its shores during the 1600's. The pursuit of the "American Dream" concept has furthermore made the country attractive for immigrants from many diverse countries. The result is that many different languages are spoken within the country's borders. This often makes communication and hence understanding between these cultures difficult. Phenomena such as racism and hate crimes are often blamed upon this lack of understanding. It is true that racism often arises in criminal and other cases heard in American courts."
Abstract The paper discusses the nativist theory that children have some built in or learned knowledge of ideas before the actual development of language. These theorists believe that functions of language are universal and innate. The paper then looks at the functionalists and anti-nativists who argue that culture and language itself shape the meanings behind language. Finally, the paper discusses those theorists who believe that children possess innate understanding of ideas before language and also learn about ideas from language and culture. The paper examines the ideas of Dan I. Slobin, Behrens Heike, Melissa Bowerman and Soonja Choi.
From the Paper "How exactly do children learn to connect language with the things around them? Though virtually all of us were participants in this complex process, a full understanding of how children learn language and learn through language is a matter of debate. Primarily, the debate takes on two major points on view. Those who argue for a nativist theory find that children have some built in or learned knowledge of ideas before the actual development of language (Shanker 481; Slobin 407). These theorists believe that functions of language are universal and innate. This is the "nature" side of the argument."
Abstract This paper discusses high school writing centers and how they benefit students for when they enter college. The paper focuses on how improved high school writing centers can benefit students by providing them with a better knowledge of how to write college-level papers and by assisting them in exploring their own writing abilities.
From the Paper "Can we use High School writing centers to better prepare students for college? Too often students are considerably under prepared when they enter college. In English 1101 at Kennesaw State University, students learn to write at a college level. This KSU Course Description details it as "Designed to teach principles of good writing. Attention to grammar, sentences, punctuation, diction, mechanics and major forms of discourse. Themes, parallel readings, and a short documented essay required." (354) Other universities have similar courses for first time college students. The question is whether or not this course is truly effective or whether it might be too late to start trying to get students motivated to better their writing skills. High school writing centers offer many advantages to students, including getting a jump-start on improving students writing abilities. Writing centers need to become more common in high schools, to not only give secondary schools' students the extra help in writing they need, but to create a network that is beneficial on a number of levels."
