The Tv Generation :: essays research papers

The TV Generation Everyone has a moment in history which belongs particularly to him. It is the moment when his emotions achieve their most powerful sway over him, and afterward when you say to this person "the world today" or "life" or "reality" he will assume that you mean this moment, even if it is fifty years in the past. My generation is greatly influenced by the media, specifically television. Television becomes my reality by bringing into my life the happenings of the outside world. Our generation is often called the MTV generation. We are often stereotyped with the idea that all we do is sit around and watch TV. Sure, we probably do watch more television than our parents did as teenagers but we have to remember, TV was generally new to their generation. They only had a couple of channels to choose from while we sit in front of a television with 53 channels and a remote to control them with. We have the option to decide upon everything from The Disney Channel to VH1, The Family Channel to Fox. That box in our bedroom or family room is a very controlling yet entertaining appliance. Teenagers have always been free-spirited in any generation. We are always doing and saying childish things while trying to grow up. If we only have a couple years of our childhood left then who cares if we spend it in front of a TV? Which is not to say that we do that anyhow. Perhaps we use the TV as a way of relaxing before we go off and hit the books for two hours. Or maybe we use it to spend time with our family. I mean, come on, how many teenagers enjoy going on family outings with mom, dad, and kid brother? However, if the TV can gather everyone together on a Sunday afternoon to watch the "Packers" game then shouldn't mom and dad be happy? On the other hand, there is such a thing as bad TV. Sex and violence is plastered all over our brains with a flick of a switch and I tend to believe that this influences teenagers, or for that matter, anyone who watches it. But then again, we can not say all TV is evil. MTV has set up several programs to educate teens on sensitive subjects and has begun to censor certain videos and shows. Parents often say to their teens, "If you watch too much TV you'll fry you brains out." Yeah, right mom! As if we're going to believe that.

Mr collins proposal to elizabeth Essay

How does Austen use humour to portray Mr Collins and his proposal? Austen presents Mr Collins to be the most unwillingly comical character in the whole novel through his extreme idiocy and pomposity. From Austen’s description of Mr Collins it is clear that he is self satisfied, proud and serious. â€Å"Mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman†. This shows that although Mr Collins isn’t in a extremely high position in society he is proud of who he is and perhaps thinks himself to be more important than what he is in reality. In terms of physical appearance, Mr Collins is shorter than Darcy which could suggest that he has a weaker chance of marrying Elizabeth, as Darcy is more powerful and serious. Mr Collins isn’t presented as a purposely comical character, but rather the opposite, he is always serious in every situation and is often blinded by his own ego to see that people often mock him. Mr Collin’s proposal to Elizabeth is one of the most humorous points in the novel, which reflects his personality due to the fact that Austen presents it in a ironically humorous way. The first instance of irony is that Collins mistakes Elizabeth’s unwillingness to be left in the room alone with himself as ‘modesty’ and shyness when in actual fact she Just finds the whole situation uncomfortable. Another example of irony is when Mr Collins assumes that all young ‘modest’ girls refuse a proposal from men that they intend to accept, â€Å"l know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application†, and so takes Elizabeth’s refusal speech as encouragement and continues to persuade her with his literate proposal. This highlights how clueless and arrogant Mr Collins is as he has the audacity to continue with his proposal ignoring all sense of ridiculousness, and in a way patronises Elizabeth as he suggests that he knows how all young ladies act, and doesn’t take her response seriously which reinforces how unromantic and scripted the proposal is. The words â€Å"your sex† indicate how domineering men were at the time, and he almost contradicts himself as earlier he states that he singled Elizabeth out, but then however goes on to group the whole â€Å"sex† together suggesting that omen are all exactly the same. Mr Collins speaks of passion and love for Elizabeth as though he is reading a list or quoting something. The proposal is clearly unromantic and literate when Mr Collins begins listing his reasons for wanting to marry. â€Å"My reasons for marrying are, first that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish, secondly,†. This shows that marriage for Mr Collins is simply a convenience rather than emotion, opposed to Elizabeth who elieves marriage is based on true love, and so his proposal becomes even more un realistic and comical as their views are so different. The line â€Å"for coming into Hertfordshire with the design of selecting a wife† suggests that Mr Collins created a plan for his proposal before hand, and suggests that he chose Elizabeth purely shows the dominance of men at the time as women were almost like a prize that they selected. Although Mr Collins is trying to convince Elizabeth into marriage, he suggests that she ‘almost’ his first choice when in actual fact he had planned to arry Jane. In contrast to this, he then goes on to say â€Å"but before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject†. This makes the situation more humorous as Mr Collins is clearly contradicting and humiliating himself as his earlier actions show that his need for marriage is not based on ‘feelings’ and that he may not have any romantic feelings towards Elizabeth at all. Elizabeth’s reaction to Mr Collins reaction is perhaps what makes the whole situation more humorous. Firstly, she does the unthinkable and refuses him, â€Å"l am perfectly erious in my refusal†, which would have been out of the ordinary and frowned upon in society at the time. The word â€Å"serious† shows how independent she is which was strange at the time as women were almost in possession of a man and you were only as good as the man you married. Strangely, Elizabeth finds the whole situation humorous, and slightly entertaining as he is so pompous and self- righteous that she cant help but laugh. â€Å"Made Elizabeth so near laughing that she could not use the short pause he allowed her to stop him further†. Instead of stopping Mr Collins, she inds the whole situation overly awkward as she is aware of the total incompatibility of each other, in comparison to Mr Collins who is totally unaware of the fact that he looks ridiculous and so continues, hoping to impress Elizabeth. As Mr Collins continues on, Elizabeth begins to get frustrated as she tried to subtly suggest that his idea of marriage would never work, however Mr Collins stays persistent. â€Å"It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now’. This is humorous as it shows how self obsessed Mr collins is as he thinks of himself too highly and believes that he is orthy of every woman, which is why he is so shocked when Elizabeth assures him that she is rejecting his proposal. â€Å"l am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of being acceptable†. The reader may petty or sympathise with Mr Collins as his inability to understand and pride could pass off to be innocence, which suggests he has no idea on the matter of marriage and love even though he speaks like he does. Mr Collins often elaborates in situations thinking himself to be the epitome of elegance, in ontrast to Elizabeth who stays silent and offers mere responses to his proposal. This is humorous as it highlights how shocked Elizabeth is at Mr Collins arrogance and reinforces their total incompatibility. To conclude, Austen successfully portrays a humorous scene which reflects the unwillingly comical character of Mr Collins. She does this using ironic humour, and in particular makes Elizabeth’s response to the situation much less elaborate than the proposal itself, which shows how idiotic and narrow minded she views Mr Collins to be.

Definition and Examples of Performative Verbs

In English grammar  and speech-act theory, a performative verb is a  verb  that explicitly conveys the kind of speech act being performed—such as  promise, invite, apologize, predict, vow, request, warn, insist,  and  forbid. Also known as speech-act verb or  performative utterance.   The concept of performative verbs  was introduced by Oxford philosopher J. L. Austin in  How to Do Things With Words  (1962) and further developed by American philosopher J.R. Searle, among others. Austin estimated that a good dictionary contains upwards of 10,000 performative or speech-act verbs. Examples and Observations Performative verbs name actions that are performed, wholly or partly, by saying something (state, promise); non-performative verbs name other types of actions, types of action which are independent of speech (walk, sleep).-Kirsten Malmkjaer, Speech-Act Theory. The  Linguistics Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2004As your lawyer, your brother, and your friend, I highly recommend that you get a better lawyer.-David Patrick Kelly as Jerry Horne in Twin Peaks, 1990The faculty at Ohios Bowling Green State University vetoed a professors planned course on political correctness. Kathleen Dixon, director of womens studies at the university, explained: We forbid any course that says we restrict free speech.-George Will, Newsweek. December  25, 2000I declare, he said, with the mamma I got its a wonder I turned out to be such a nice boy!-Flannery OConnor, Greenleaf. The Kenyon Review, 1957As your president, I would demand a science-fiction library, featuring an ABC of the genre. Asimov, Best er, Clarke.-Martin Prince in Lisas Substitute. The Simpsons, 1991ApologizingBy saying we apologize we perform an expressive act simultaneously with the naming of that expressive act. It is for this reason that apologize is called a performative verb, defined as a verb denoting linguistic action that can both describe a speech act and express it. This explains why we can say that we are sorry, but not that we are sorry on someone elses behalf because be sorry only expresses, but does not describe the act of making an apology.-R. Dirven and M. Verspoor, Cognitive Exploration of Language and Linguistics. John Benjamins, 2004Hedged PerformativesGenerally, the performative verb...is in the simple present active and the subject is I, but the verb may be in the simple present passive and the subject need not be I: Smoking is forbidden; The committee thanks you for your services. A test for whether a verb is being used performatively is the possible insertion of hereby: I hereby apologize; The committee hereby thanks you. In hedged performatives, the verb is present but the speech act is performed indirectly: In saying I must apologize for my behavior, the speaker is expressing an obligation to make an apology, but implies that the acknowledgment of that obligation is the same as an apology. In contrast, I apologized is a report, and Must I apologize? is a request for advice.-S. Greenbaum, The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press,  1992

1984 Critical Essay - 1507 Words

1984 Critical Essay The novel I have chosen to write about that is set in a different time but is still relevant to this day is â€Å"1984† by George Orwell. Orwell effectively uses theme, characterisation, imagery and symbolism to help us appreciate the themes he runs throughout the book that have just as much relevance then as they do now. This is despite Orwells’ book being first published in 1948. Orwells’ book is set in a totalitarian state where all who live there must accept and comply with every one of the Party’s rules, ideas and orders. The main character in this novel is Winston Smith. Winston decides to rebel against the Party and soon after this results in his capture and torture from the Party. By the end of the book Winston†¦show more content†¦This is shown in part 3 of the novel where Winston feels the full extent of the brutal power of the Party when he is taken to the Ministry of Love where he is tortured and brainwashed so he can’t remember things that have happened, he is made to be like everyone else in Oceania. This is shown when O’Brien tries to persuade him: â€Å"You are unable to remember real events, and persuade yourself that you remember other events which never happened† O’Brien tortures Winston, making him doubt himself and his ability to remember changes in the party then eventually breaking him. Firstly O’Brien shows to Winston that he could harm him and make him suffer for as long as he wanted by simply turning a lever, then he tells him he is ‘mentally deranged’ and that he is curing him by making him suffer. After O’Brien makes Winston suffer for days or weeks or even months or years he takes him to room 101. Here Winston is exposed to his biggest fear. Rats. This is where all the inmates at the Ministry of Love were finally broken.Show MoreRelated1984 Critical Analysis Essay1186 Words   |  5 Pagesdistinct personalities: the outer Edna, which holds proper social values, and the inner Edna, who questions her actions. A product of an environment that has strict rules and regulation. This distinction is taken to the extreme with George Orwell’s, 1984, whose protagonist, Winston Smith has a similar disti nction but the consequences are death and torture. This motif of two sides to people is clear in Orwell’s novel. Winston has two sides, one that is conforming and another that is rebelling. Winston’sRead More The Lure of Evil in Shakespeares Macbeth1368 Words   |  6 PagesPlaths Late Poems. Critical Essays on Sylvia Plath. Ed. Linda W. Wagner. Boston: G. K. Hall Company, 1984. 130 - 139. Dickie, Margaret. Sylvia Plaths Narrative Strategies. Critical Essays on Sylvia Plath. Ed. Linda W. Wagner. Boston: G. K. Hall Company, 1984. 170 - 182. Malmsheimer, Lonna M: Sylvia Plath. American Writers: Supplement 1, Part 2. Ed. Leonard Unger. Rev. ed. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1979. Mazzenti, Roberta. Plath in Italy. Critical Essays on Sylvia Plath.Read MoreA Rhetorical Analysis on Nineteen Eighty-Four1044 Words   |  5 PagesRunning Head: NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR Nineteen Eighty Four: A Critical Essay on Rhetoric Bereket Kifle Composition 12 Honors Abstract George Orwell employs the usage of different rhetoric throughout 1984.  Ã‚  The rhetoric differs from describing the human body and its struggle to survive to the different crimes and how the citizens felt about them.  Ã‚  Also, within  1984  lies a warning from Orwell: to eliminate the caustic consequences of a communist government.  Ã‚  While OrwellRead MoreThe Sociological Concept Of ‘Taste’ Allows Us To See How1651 Words   |  7 Pagesmannerisms directly define and structure the societal groups we inhabit. In Stewart’s book ‘Culture, Taste and Value’ (2013) he defines taste, from a common sense perspective, as a purely subjective, private matter (Stewart, 2013). However, in this essay, my aim is to inform the reader of the substantial implications ‘taste’ has as a theoretical framework for explaining societal structures and understanding everyday life. The concept can be seen as more than just a subjective entity drawing u pon privateRead MoreCritical Review of Learning Style Essay606 Words   |  3 Pagessome by reading, some by looking at diagrams and others by reading and writing. The end result of the learning process may be completely different to that of their peers. The following essay will be a critical reflective review that will examine and evaluate my own learning style. Due to the word constraints of the essay it will not be possible to review my own learning style in relation to all theories. In order to understand and evaluate my own learning style; I first needed to understand what aRead MoreThe Victims Of History By George Orwell1234 Words   |  5 PagesThe Victims of History the importance in critical history studies In his critically acclaimed novel, 1984, George Orwell wrote the following; â€Å"Who controls the past controls the future. And who controls the present controls the past.† When discussing the validity of studying history critically, I think this quote accurately highlights many of the key points that are discussed when it comes to studying history. Critical history analysis prompts us to consider more than just the information we areRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Hustle As The Strategy `` By Amar Bhide1168 Words   |  5 Pagesobjective of the essay is a critical review of the article Hustle as the strategy by Amar Bhide. First of all, it will look into the position of the article in the broader debate on strategies. Secondly, it will examine the suppositions and theoretical bases of the article. It will then assess the strengths and weaknesses of the viewpoints presented in this article. And lastly, author’s personal thoughts on strategy will be terminated alongside the conclusion of the entire essay. Position in theRead MoreChristian Philosophy Of Christian Theology935 Words   |  4 Pageseducates us on how to approach life situations independently. Independence is the self-governing state of freedom to think and act as we desire. How we approach life events can be viewed from a philosophical and/or a theological perspective. This essay will compare different approaches in Christian theology to philosophy to see which study was more influential in our individual development. Christian theology is the study of Christian beliefs. There are four sources for this study including scriptureRead MoreThe Party’s Attitude Toward Love and Sexuality1574 Words   |  7 PagesThe Party’s attitude toward love and sexuality 1984 is a novel written by George Orwell, the main theme of the novel is about how totalitarian society can control every aspect of a person thought, sexuality and action. Totalitarianism can be define as a repressive one-party that has total control over people thoughts and actions. In 1984, people are being control totally by the Party through device such as the telescreen. People are stripped away from their freedom to do things that they want.Read More1984 Ap Essay890 Words   |  4 Pages1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action

African American Ideas of the Past in Contemporary Pieces

It is appropriate to say that the conditions of Blacks in the past have improved since various Black power movements. The twenty first century generation of African Americans continues to be content with the accomplishments’ of our ancestors, instead of becoming more aware of our heritage and culture in order to understand the present. Renà ©e Stout’s art develop from Black movements such as Garveyism and the Pan-Africanism movements that aimed to instill racial pride and racial unity. Just as these movements made Blacks around the Diaspora aware of the conditions of other Blacks, Stout’s exhibit, Tales of the Conjure Woman, unveil the oppressed culture of Africans and African Americans while instilling racial pride and unity. Firstly the name of Renà ©e Stout’s exhibit, Tales of the Conjure Woman, contains a word that is significant in the purpose of the exhibit. Conjure; meaning to call upon a devil or spirit by spell or witchcraft , insinuates that Stout’s exhibit, as a whole will explore the spiritual roots of African-American culture. Stout’s use of art such as, paintings, sculptures, and photography conveys the oppressed history this generation needs to be instilled with racial pride and unity once again. Her pieces successfully encourage viewers to self-examine themselves so that we can find the absurdities of life, ideas that Garveyism and the Pan-Africanist movement called for Blacks around the Diaspora to do. Once the absurdities of life are identified and there is anShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Help By Kathryn Stockett1063 Words   |  5 Pages There are many artistic elements located throughout the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. These elements help to create images in the readers’ minds, which make the book a strong piece of art. At the same time, the book is also a powerful cultural artifact due to the incorporation of valuable past and present themes of culture. Even though Stockett artfully enhances her book with literary elements, The Help is a stronger cultural artifact than it is an artistic work of literature. One artisticRead More Adaptation of Modern African-American Writers814 Words   |  4 PagesAdaptation of Modern African-American Writers Modern writers learn from the past by reading works written by authors of that particular era. Contemporary African-American writers gain knowledge and insight into the horrendous and sometimes harmonious conditions that plagued Africans during slavery and the slave trade. By reading the actual words, thoughts, and feelings of these enslaved Africans, modern writers receive information from the perspective of the victimized. Lucille Cliftons slaveshipRead MoreRacism And African American Women Essay1543 Words   |  7 Pagessupremacy, that one race is superior’ (1997:465). Racism affects the African-American community very strongly, as this race has a history of being treated as racially inferior to other racial groups. Within this community, African-American women are often considered doubly disadvantaged in various situations because of their minority positions of both being a woman and being African-American. Through an analysis of the popular African-American sitcom, A Dif ferent World, one can see how racism, particularlyRead MoreKerry Marshall and Faith Ringgold: Contemporary Artists Essay970 Words   |  4 Pageshumans which allows them to express ideas through writing, drawing, picture, sculpture, or other form. An artist can use art to prove a point to society, draw people’s attention to a situation or just as a means of entertainment in its design. Contemporary art is art produced at the present period in time or within our lifetime (Contemporary Art). Through contemporary art, artists are able to express social ideas or causes by giving us a glimpse into past events which have occurred because ofRead MoreNikki Giovanni: The Princess of Black Poetry Essay1698 Words   |  7 Pagestwentieth-century, when Contemporary Literature was emerging from 1960 to present time, it was seen as a product of the post-Second World War situation. Yolande Cornelia â€Å"Nikki† Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Lincoln Hei ghts, an all-black suburb in Cincinnati. Giovanni is one of the most commonly read American poets; her frankness in her writing has brought her a lot of recognition and prominence. Giovanni became the voice of many African Americans, her contribution to theRead More The Role of Female African American Sculptors in the Harlem Renaissance1689 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of Female African American Sculptors in the Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance, a time of global appreciation for the black culture, was a door opening for African American women. Until then, African Americans, let alone African American women, were neither respected nor recognized in the artistic world. During this time of this New Negro Movement, women sculptors were able to connect their heritages with the present issues in America. There is an abundance of culture and historyRead MoreThe Narrative Of Frederick Douglass, The Souls Of Black Folks876 Words   |  4 Pages Education has long been at the core of every African American story. Historically, this ideal represented freedom and empowerment and at the same time, fought against white oppression, segregation, and enslavement. Education in every African American experience denotes a haunting yet positive connotation and vestiges of its impact can still seen in our contemporary lives. Through this essay, we explore the how education affected both slaves and whites alike and how the controversy of educationRead MoreLangston Hughes And The Harlem Renaissance1476 Words   |  6 PagesModern Age. More specifically, set your destination to northern Manhattan in the early 20s. When you step onto those bustling streets, you’ll find yourself swept up in the Harlem Renaissance. The contemporary writers you are surrounded by are legends such as Langston Hughes and W. E. B. DuBois, and the contemporary musicians you may hear at a local nightclub include some of the greatest in jazz history, inclu ding Thelonious Monk, Nat King Cole, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington. When you’re tired of dancingRead MoreAlain Locke Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pages With the exception of Native Americans, there is no race of people that originated in America. Yet today, we all come together under the colors of red, white and blue, sing the National Anthem and call ourselves quot;Americansquot;. Despite our differences in religion, norms, values, national origins, our pasts, and our creeds, we all combine under one common denominator. Alain Locke addresses this issue of cultural pluralism in his article, quot;Who and What is `Negro?quot; In this articleRead MoreThe Between Teachers And Their Students During History Classrooms Nationwide1575 Words   |  7 PagesTeaching at Hunter College of the City University of New York. Epstein authored the piece, Adolescents’ Perspectives on Racial Diversity in U.S. History: Case Studies From an Urban Classroom, which sought to determine how fac tors such as race, ethnicity, or nationality shape young people’s perspectives of the past. In the 1993-1994 academic year Epstein, a European American female, and Jamal Cooks, an African American graduate student, observed Ms. Hines’ 11th grade US history class in an urban mid-western

Drugs and Its Effects Free Essays

A drug is a substance which has a discernible physiological effect when taken into the body. These chemicals change the functions of the central nervous system (CNS), providing temporary relief from mental, physical and social problems. Usage of a drug over a period of time often results in dependence and tolerance of the drug. We will write a custom essay sample on Drugs and Its Effects or any similar topic only for you Order Now The user experiences physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when attempts are made to quit the drug. Tolerance refers to the increased ability of the body to tolerate the drug without ill effects. Due to drugs having the capacity to enhance performance, they are often used recreationally and abused. This leads to addiction which can potentially destroy lives. Drugs which alter behavior could be categorized as stimulants, hallucinogens and depressants. Stimulants are a class of drug which can alter the way in which someone behaves by stimulating the central nervous systems. In other words, they increase the activity of the brain resulting in increased alertness physical activity, productivity, endurance and motivation. Stimulants include amphetamines, called ‘uppers’, cocaine and nicotine. Users usually find relaxation and rest impossible and tend to have no appetite. Moreover, side effects may include muscle spasms, chest pain, nausea, and blurred vision due to an overworked heart and the subsequent high blood pressure. During World War II, stimulants were extensively used by soldiers to maintain alertness. By then, various forms of the drug were readily available such as methamphetamine. Today however, due to its side effects and addictive properties, possession and usage have been made illegal and doctor prescriptions have been significantly reduced. Hallucinogens are a class of drugs which cause an alteration in perception, thought, or mood. Examples of hallucinogens drugs include marijuana, magic mushrooms and cannabis. These drugs distort sensory perception by interfering with the activity of acetylcholine, norepinaphrine, or serotonin. Hallucinogenic drugs are among the oldest known group of drugs used for their ability to alter human perception and mood. Effects of hallucinogens include perceptual distortion, increased heart rate, nausea, weaknesses and hearing, touching and seeing things that don’t exist. The effects of hallucinogens take place within half an hour and last for several hours. Depressants are a group of drugs which temporarily diminish the function or activity of a specific part of the body or mind. Depressants are described as psychoactive drugs that slow down one’s Central Nervous System (CNS), thus they are referred to as â€Å"downers†. These types of drugs are used as prescribed medication as well as illicit substances and can be dangerous. Depressants include alcohol, barbiturates and tranquillizers. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are the two major categories of depressants used as medicine. Benzodiazepines that are commonly used such as Diazepam (Valium) and Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) were developed as a safe alternative to barbiturates to treat insomnia and anxiety but are now a major category of abused drugs. The prolonged use of these drugs can result in tolerance. In addition, the sudden withdrawal from these drugs by habitual users may result in physical withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, nausea, headaches, weakness and blood pressure drops. This may consequently lead to a coma and or death. Drugs which alter behavior could be categorized as stimulants, hallucinogens and depressants. The use of each type of drug results in an alteration of the Central Nervous System. Stimulants tend to affect the Central Nervous System by stimulating ones brain hence altering ones behavior. Hallucinogens are known to distort one’s senses by causing changes in perception, thought, and emotion. On the other hand, depressants have the opposite effect of stimulants. Depressants tend to temporarily slow down the function or activity of a particular part of the mind or body. Although some types of these drugs are acquired legally, they are often abused. How to cite Drugs and Its Effects, Papers

The Language of Learning free essay sample

The English language unites people from all continents and nations. It is the language most commonly learned by people in other countries. Its influence makes it something of a sociological and human phenomenon. And I am so proud to be able to speak it, and speak it well. My native language is Russian, and I spoke it exclusively until age four. Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which has some difficult sounds to pronounce, and its grammar is a hassle to learn. Therefore, I always prided myself on being able to speak, read, and write Russian better than other kids. When I had to learn English in preschool, I caught on very quickly and had little accent. My life might be far less fulfilling if I were not able to express myself so well. Many people joke that English is a crazy language, and they are not wrong. After all, we have homophones, rhyming discrepancies, silent letters, dialects, borrowed words – you name it. We will write a custom essay sample on The Language of Learning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This did not faze me, however. Growing up, I could never understand why other kids had so much trouble distinguishing between they’re, their, and there, or you’re and your. Maybe I owe this to my memory, maybe to my ability for communication. Either way, English became my default language, the one I think in, love in, live in. Fast forward to middle school, where I learned Spanish. Lo and behold, I couldn’t fathom why my peers couldn’t remember simple article usage and conjugations. I breezed through it all with only small confusions here and there, nothing a little studying couldn’t fix. Some say an amazing teacher can make you love a subject, but in this case my teachers were not extraordinary. I loved Spanish because I could connect its grammar, syntax, and vocabulary with that of English and even Russian. For this reason, I never worried about tests, and I almost always aced them. Now we get to the latest part of my journey; I am in eleventh gr ade in AP Spanish. Oh, how the tables have turned since the simple days of the preterite and future tense. AP Spanish is one big linguistic minefield. I began the year thinking I knew Spanish, but soon I realized I didn’t, and this was evidenced in my continuous mistakes and inability to remember things. Nevertheless, I still excel in the class because it’s what I do best. AP Spanish is the bridge from proficiency to fluency, and I’m determined to come out of it with the linguistic agility of a native speaker. Speaking and writing in everyday life is the basis of having beliefs and viewpoints, and that is what makes a person who they are. I would describe my voice as low and even, but full of inflections and interjections. It is easy to fall into the trap of using crutch words such as like, uh, um, literally, sort of, kind of, but I refrain from this as much as I can because I know they take away from my point and make me harder to understand. I try not to be to o nasal or squeaky either; I talk the way I would want others to talk to me. I find that having a â€Å"poker voice† helps hide my true emotions, even though I am not usually one to hide my emotions. Inflection, interjections, and figures of speech make my words unique; I can make my word choice reveal what I’m feeling. Word choice is powerful because I can use it to convey that I am excited or disappointed, bitter or enamored. Since we all have emotions, it is critical that we are able to find the right words to convey them, in multiple languages, if you will.