tagged w/ Language
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Al Gore's daughter wrote an article about the archives of the descendants and former slaves recordings done in the 1930' and 40.s as part of the WPA. The project was done to capture the stories and voices. This article is wonderful and the recordings are worth listening to. In that vein I recall hearing about the Native American Language Project. This is a project to capture the dying languages of Native cultures and record language so descendants can learn their native tongues.
http://www.amphilsoc.org/library/digcoll/natamrecordings
there are some recordings on this site.Al Gore's daughter wrote an article about the archives of the descendants and... more
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If you understand this you have either smoked too much weed, drank too much booze or perhaps played too much Sims?
Source DailyWhat and Reddit.If you understand this you have either smoked too much weed, drank too much booze or... more
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Every once in awhile a new term/catchphrase/buzzword/meme catches fire here in the US. Sometimes it’s a function of the fact that our incredibly plastic language, with its myriad dynamic influences (everything from media to subcultural to ethnic to technological) sort of inherently generates new words. Other times the term is a result of political or PR craftiness, as was the case with “Japan-bashing” (and subsequently, any more generalized iteration of “______-bashing”). The lobbyist who made the phrase up later famously said ”Those people who use (the term) have the distinction of being my intellectual dupes.”Every once in awhile a new term/catchphrase/buzzword/meme catches fire here in the US.... more
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Computers understand us if we talk to them as if they were stupid. But when humans talk to each other, we talk in complex social riddles that have always left computers utterly confused about our intentions. Until now.Computers understand us if we talk to them as if they were stupid. But when humans... more
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Few days back I saw the Hollywood movie- "Eat, Love, Pray" starring Julia Roberts. Though, the movie was average but it was really good in bits-n-pieces. One of the part that I really liked was when Julia Roberts goes to Italy. Italy is truly a mesmerizing place and it certainly in my wishlist, I sure want to visit it sometime soon.
http://paragonist.blogspot.com/2011/09/italian-language-you-just-dont-say-it.htmlFew days back I saw the Hollywood movie- "Eat, Love, Pray" starring Julia... more
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IBMs announcement of the first working cognitive computing chips covered nicely by Dean Takahashi at Venturebeat is one of those potentially disruptive technologies, but don’t expect the next iPad to be powered by one. While nanotechnologies have given us the tools to at least partially understand how nature works, replicating it is a different matter. It is a very different architecture, and one where connections are far more important than raw speed. But every advance in materials science, nanotechnology, and neuroscience takes us a step closer to developing something that allows us to get off the treadmill of Moore’s Law. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/your-details/42997-ibms-cognitive-computing-chipsIBMs announcement of the first working cognitive computing chips covered nicely by... more
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worrg
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PHOENIX — The massive dust storms that swept through central Arizona this month have stirred up not just clouds of sand but a debate over what to call them.
Related
Phoenix Dusts Off After Giant Sandstorm Whips Through (July 7, 2011) The blinding waves of brown particles, the most recent of which hit Phoenix on Monday, are caused by thunderstorms that emit gusts of wind, roiling the desert landscape. Use of the term “haboob,” which is what such storms have long been called in the Middle East, has rubbed some Arizona residents the wrong way.
“I am insulted that local TV news crews are now calling this kind of storm a haboob,” Don Yonts, a resident of Gilbert, Ariz., wrote to The Arizona Republic after a particularly fierce, mile-high dust storm swept through the state on July 5. “How do they think our soldiers feel coming back to Arizona and hearing some Middle Eastern term?”
Diane Robinson of Wickenburg, Ariz., agreed, saying the state’s dust storms are unique and ought to be labeled as such.
“Excuse me, Mr. Weatherman!” she said in a letter to the editor. “Who gave you the right to use the word ‘haboob’ in describing our recent dust storm? While you may think there are similarities, don’t forget that in these parts our dust is mixed with the whoop of the Indian’s dance, the progression of the cattle herd and warning of the rattlesnake as it lifts its head to strike.”
Dust storms are a regular summer phenomenon in Arizona, and the news media typically label them as nothing more than that. But the National Weather Service, in describing this month’s particularly thick storm, used the term haboob, which was widely picked up by the news media.
“Meteorologists in the Southwest have used the term for decades,” said Randy Cerveny, a climatologist at Arizona State University. “The media usually avoid it because they don’t think anyone will understand it.”
Not everyone was put out by the use of the term. David Wilson of Goodyear, Ariz., said those who wanted to avoid Arabic terms should steer clear of algebra, zero, pajamas and khaki, as well. “Let’s not become so ‘xenophobic’ that we forget to remember that we are citizens of the world, nor fail to recognize the contributions of all cultures to the richness of our language,” he wrote.
Although use of the term often brings smirks, Mr. Cerveny said the walls of dust could have serious consequences, toppling power lines and causing huge traffic accidents. Although ultradry conditions in the desert are considered one cause for the intensity of this year’s storms, Mr. Cerveny pointed to another possible factor: the housing bust that left developments half-finished and unmaintained, creating more desert dust to be stirred up.PHOENIX — The massive dust storms that swept through central Arizona this month... more
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Review - You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity
For the average nonfiction author, synthesizing millennia of politics, history and economics (among many other unlikely factors) into a simple explanation of contemporary language would be a daunting task. Yet Greene's linguistic elucidations never become muddled or obtuse. That alone makes the book a marvel, even if the reader somehow finds nothing else about this book interesting.Review - You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of... more
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Out of the depths of photographer Hayley Murphy’s psyche spills out somecolorful goo, in the shape of a Martianpainting a Statue of Liberty with choco-late, and an Islamic rebel strapped witha machine gun, devouring a table of sweets. Murphy captures images that pop into her head, that stew in her sub-conscious as she sleeps and dreams, and glues these mental clues together, bring-ing life to what her unconscious brainis trying to tell her, which results ininsanely-colorful photographic riddlesthat never stop producing questions,or giving answers. With the rawness of Hans Bellmer, the famboyance of DavidLa Chapelle and the confusion-inducinggenius of David Lynch, she wrestles hermind-blips in front of the lens to seewhat the puzzle looks like once all the pieces are in place. Here’s a look intohow her mind rolls.... http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/section-table/42975-hayley-murphy-statue-of-liberty-with-chocolateOut of the depths of photographer Hayley Murphy’s psyche spills out somecolorful... more
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eva2
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A long-standing idea that human languages share universal features that are dictated by human brain structure has been cast into doubt.A study reported in Nature has borrowed methods from evolutionary biology to trace the development of grammar in several language families.
:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13049700A long-standing idea that human languages share universal features that are dictated... more
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suzane
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It probably comes as little to no surprise that many institutes of higher learning in the United States offer more than a few opportunities for their English majors to soak up some learning abroad.These cities in particular are by no means the only great destinations for indulging the literary love, but they certainly make a great start when exploring the different opportunities available.
LINK : http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/10-best-study-abroad-cities-for-english-majors/It probably comes as little to no surprise that many institutes of higher learning in... more
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eva2
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April 4, 2011
In an interconnected world, speaking more than one language is becoming increasingly common. Approximately one-fifth of Americans speak a non-English language at home, and globally, as many as two-thirds of children are brought up bilingual.
Research suggests that the growing numbers of bilingual speakers may have an advantage that goes beyond communication: It turns out that being bilingual is also good for your brain.
Judy and Paul Szentkiralyi both grew up bilingual in the U.S., speaking Hungarian with their families and English with their peers. When they first started dating, they spoke English with each other.
But they knew they wanted to raise their children speaking both languages, so when things turned serious they did something unusual — they decided to switch to Hungarian.
Today, Hungarian is the primary language the Szentkiralyis use at home. Their two daughters — Hannah, 14, and Julia, 8 — speak both languages fluently, and without any accent. But they both heard only Hungarian from mom and dad until the age of 3 or 4, when they started school.
"When she did go to preschool that accent was very thick – she counted like Vun, two, tree," said Judy Szentkiralyi, recalling Hanna's early experience with English. "And by the time four or five months went by, it was totally gone."
Dispelling Confusion Around Bilingualism
The Szentkiralyis say that most people were supportive, but not everyone. Paul recounts an uncomfortable confrontation Judy once had in the local grocery store.
"I remember one time you came home and you said this one lady was like, 'When is she going to learn English?' And it was like, 'Well, when she goes to school she'll learn English,'" he said.
For a bilingual who really has two good languages that they use, both of them are always active.
- Ellen Bialystok, a psychologist from York University in Toronto
"People would often say, 'Well, won't they get confused?" added Judy. "And I would have to explain, 'Well, no, it wasn't confusing for us.'"
The idea that children exposed to two languages from birth become confused or that they fall behind monolingual children is a common misconception, says Janet Werker, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia who studies language acquisition in bilingual babies.
"Growing up bilingual is just as natural as growing up monolingual," said Werker, whose own research indicates babies of bilingual mothers can distinguish between languages even hours after birth.
"There is absolutely no evidence that bilingual acquisition leads to confusion, and there is no evidence that bilingual acquisition leads to delay," she said.
Werker and other researchers say the evidence to the contrary is actually quite strong. Instead of holding you back, being bilingual, they say, may actually be good for you.
Tuning In To The Right Signal
Ellen Bialystok, a psychologist from York University in Toronto, says the reason lies in the way the bilingual mind uses language.
"We don't really know very much in psychology," said Bialystok. "But the one thing that has been so overwhelmingly proven, that I can say with great certainty, is this: For a bilingual who really has two good languages that they use, both of them are always active."
In other words, no matter what language a person is speaking at the moment, both languages are active in the brain.
"The evidence is very dramatic. Even if you are in a context that is utterly monolingual, where you think there is absolutely no reason to think about Chinese or Spanish or French, it is part of the activated network that's going on in your brain," she said.
More at link..April 4, 2011
In an interconnected world, speaking more than one language is becoming... more
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Considering its necessary place in human discussion expression, nobody would ever be surprised to hear that many find linguistics an amazingly fascinating topic. It permeates almost every other subject on the planet, most especially writing and communications, and anyone hoping to explore languages in depths would do well to discover these overlaps. The following collection offers up a diverse sample of some of the seriously cool videos they host.
LINK : http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2011/20-terrific-ted-talks-for-language-lovers/Considering its necessary place in human discussion expression, nobody would ever be... more
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The communication is totally based on the language skills of a person. Language has the prime importance and makes us able to understand what is being said. But, the knowledge of only one language restricts our knowledge of different cultures of the world. Therefore, you should learn different languages to make yourself learn about different cultural variations. Learning a foreign language is always a fruitful activity and it enhances the personality and brings some diversification in the nature of a person.
The main advantage of learning the language skills is to open the new job opportunities for you in any field with very efficient communication skills. The knowledge of the culture and historical richness of any country or civilization requires a vast knowledge of the native language and a strong interaction with the natives. Moreover, knowledge of different set f languages proves to be a great potential for the company and it increases your professional credibility too....Read More @ http://www.articlescolumn.com/communications/the-challenge-of-studying-a-foreign-language.htmlThe communication is totally based on the language skills of a person. Language has... more
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