Thinking, Language, And Intelligence Essays - Sociolinguistics

Thinking, Language, And Intelligence Kristine Thornton Southern Technical College Dr. Andrea Goldstein We are surrounded by language during nearly every waking moment of our lives. We use language to communicate our thoughts and feelings, to connect with others and identify with our culture, and to understand the world around us. And for many people, this rich linguistic environment involves not just one language but two or more. In fact, the majority of the world's p opulation is bilingual or multilingual. In a survey conducted by the European Commission in 2006, 56 percent of respondents reported being able to speak in a language other than their mother tongue. In many countries that percentage is even higherfor inst ance, 99 percent of Luxembourgers and 95 percent of Latvians speak more than one language. Even in the United States, which is widely considered to be monolingual, one-fifth of those over the age of five reported speaking a language other than English at h ome in 2007, an increase of 140 percent since 1980. Millions of Americans use a language other than En glish in their everyday lives outside of the home, when they are at work or in the classroom. Europe and the United States are not alone, either. The Ass ociated Press reports that up to 66 percent of the world's children are raised bilingual. Over the past few decades, technological advances have allowed researchers to peer deeper into the brain to investigate how bilingualism interacts with and changes th e cognitive and neurological systems. Research has overwhelmingly shown that when a bilingual person uses one language, the other is active at the same time. When a person hears a word, he or she doesn't hear the entire word all at once: the sounds arrive in sequential order. Long before the word is finished, the brain's language system begins to guess what that word might be by activating lots of words that match the signal. If you hear "can," you will likely activate words like "candy" and "candle" as we ll, at least during the earlier stages of word recognition. For bilingual people, this activation is not limited to a single language; auditory input activates corresponding words regardless of the language to which they belong. Some of the most compellin g evidence for language co-activation comes from studying eye movements. We tend to look at things that we are thinking, talking, or hearing about. A Russian-English bilingual person asked to "pick up a marker" from a set of objects would look more at a s tamp than someone who doesn't know Russian, because the Russian word for "stamp," " marka ," sounds like the English word he or she heard, "marker." In cases like this, language co-activation occurs because what the listener hears could map onto words in eit her language. Furthermore, language co-activation is so automatic that people consider words in both languages even without overt similarity. For example, when Chinese-English bilingual people judge how alike two English words are in meaning, their brain r esponses are affected by whether or not the Chinese translations of those words are written similarly. Even though the task does not require the bilingual people to engage their Chin ese, they do so anyway. Having to deal with this persistent linguistic co mpetition can result in language difficulties. For instance, knowing more than one language can cause speakers to name pictures more slowly and can increase tip-of-the-tongue states (where you're unable to fully conjure a word, but can remember specific de tails about it, like what letter it starts with). As a result, the constant juggling of two languages creates a need to control how much a person accesses a language at any given time. From a communicative standpoint, this is an important skill understand ing a message in one language can be difficult if your other language always interferes. Likewise, if a bilingual person frequently switches between languages when speaking, it can confuse the listener, especially if that listener knows only one of the spe aker's languages. To maintain the relative balance between two languages, the bilingual brain relies on executive functions, a regulatory system of general cognitive abilities that includes processes such as attention and inhibition.

Asteroids Essays - Planetary Science, Asteroid Belt, Asteroid, Ceres

Asteroids Essays - Planetary Science, Asteroid Belt, Asteroid, Ceres Asteroids In our solar system today there are over 30 000 asteroids flying around in all directions colliding with other asteroids and planets not caring about the destruction they might convey. Our planet Earth is caught right in the middle of all of this action and is liable to entire extinction of any life forms on the planet if a large enough asteroid crosses its path. Any one single asteroid has the possibility to erase thousands of years of history and wipeout the human race as we know it. Asteroids are large or small chunks of rock and metal flying around space up to speeds of 80 000 km/h. These chunks were believed to have formed millions of years ago during the big bang. These rocks didnt form any planets and were stuck floating around space on their own or in the gravitation of the asteroid belt. This belt is approximately 300 million miles from the Sun and it contains thousands of asteroids some being miles in diameter. Another theory of the formation of asteroids is that a planet between Mars and Jupiter once existed and after many years it exploded into thousands of pieces that are still revolving around the sun in the form of an asteroid belt. Other asteroids are formed when large meteors collide with large asteroids creating more small ones. These meteors can also collide with planets breaking off chunks of the crust into space. Ceres is believed to be the biggest asteroid that was in space at one point in time. Ceres was believed to be 600 miles wide making u p 1/3 of the total mass of all asteroids. Ceres was the first asteroid discovered and was found in 1801. There are two main types of asteroids; the first dominates the outer part of the belt and are found to be rich in carbon, the second group are located in the inside of the belt and are found to be rich in minerals. The average temperature of the surface of an asteroid is approximately -73 degrees C. Many people dont know that every year over 50 000 small asteroids called meteors hit the Earth every year. These meteors are the outside layer of larger asteroids that have been chipped off or are the surface of other planets that have detached from their positions when hit with larger asteroids. Asteroids sometimes align with Earth when meteors flying through space collide with other asteroids in the belt causing pieces to break off and head in all directions. Sometimes these pieces just happen to get aligned with Earth. However, scientists are trying to discover a way in which they can detonate a nuclear bomb close to the asteroid causing it to change rotation and therefore change its course. This is very dangerous because if the asteroid explodes it will make even more of a mess when hundreds of pieces are then on course with the Earth. Asteroids are found all over space but are most abundant in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This belt holds about 2000 asteroids all of different shapes and sizes. This belt has its own gravitational pull and all of the asteroids in it revolve around the Sun. It is believed that this belt was formed when planet X exploded. Although the majority of asteroids are found in this belt and are generally stuck in its gravitational pull, they are sometimes jarred from their positions from the impact of other asteroids that are constantly floating through space. Although asteroids could destroy Earth if they come in contact with it, small meteors that hit Earth are found to be great discoveries. These small space rocks that have been chipped off of other planets such as Saturn or Mars are a great way of studying other planets surfaces without having to travel millions of miles for samples. They come to us. If it wasnt for asteroids hitting the Earth, we might not be here today. Millions of years ago when the Earth was forming it was a giant ball made of liquid molten. Over a long period of time asteroids hit the Earth at tremendous velocities causing them to join the molten and create a crust

The Story of Semele as Told by Nemesis

The Story of Semele as Told by Nemesis Semele was a daughter of Poseidons grandson, Cadmus, the King of Thebes, and Harmonia. Through Harmonia, Semele was a granddaughter of Ares and the cousin of Aphrodite, and therefore, great-granddaughter of Zeus. Do you remember the genealogy of Achilles? Zeus was his great-great-great-grandfather once and great-great-great-great-grandfather twice on Achilles fathers mothers side. Lusty Zeus even wanted to mate with Thetis, Achilles mother but was scared off when he heard that her son would eclipse his father in fame. Considering the number of times Zeus insinuated himself into the genealogies of the heroes, and the founders of the great cities, youd think he was trying single-handedly to populate Greece. Despite the fact that Zeus was (old enough to be) Semeles great-granddad, Semele, and Zeus became lovers. Hera, jealous as usual - and, as usual, with a cause - disguised herself as a mortal nurse. Working in this capacity at the Theban court of King Cadmus, Hera as nurse Beroe gained the confidence of Princess Semele. When Semele became pregnant, Hera-Beroe put an idea into her mind. You might be more familiar with another variation on the same theme: The most beautiful woman in the world, Psyche, was given as a bride to a mysterious creature (whom she did not know was the son of Aphrodite Cupid) as a punishment for detracting from the worship of the goddess Aphrodite. Life was grand even though Psyche was only allowed to visit with her husband in the cover of darkness. Psyches two jealous sisters did what they could to spoil Psyches nighttime fun. They told Psyche her husband was probably a hideous monster and that was why he didnt want her to see him. Persuaded that they might be right, Psyche disobeyed the rule set down by her divine husband. To get a clear look at him, she shone a lamp on his face, saw the most beautiful being she could have imagined, and dropped a bit of lamp oil upon him. Burned, he instantly awoke. Seeing that Psyche had distrusted and therefore disobeyed him (actually, his mother Aphrodite), he flew away. For Psyche to regain her gorgeous husband Cupid, she had to placate Aphrodite. This included making a return trip to the Underworld. Like Psyches jealous sister, the goddess who is a past-mistress of jealousy, Hera, sowed seeds of doubt and jealousy in Semele. Hera persuaded Semele that she wouldnt know if the man who was presenting himself to her as Zeus was a god unless he revealed himself to Semele in godlike form. Furthermore, Semele wouldnt know if Zeus loved her unless he made love to her in the same way he made love to his wife, Hera. Semele was young, and pregnancy can do odd things, so Semele, who probably should have known better, prevailed upon Zeus to grant her (or rather Hera-Beroes) request. Why did Zeus oblige? Was he vain enough to want to impress the young woman? Was he foolish enough to think it wouldnt hurt? Did he know he could convince anyone that he was under an obligation of honor to do as Semele requested? Did he want to be both mother and father to the unborn child? Ill let you decide. Zeus, revealing himself in his full thunder-bolting glory, killed the frail human Semele. Before her body was cold, Zeus had snatched from it the six-month unborn child and sewed it into his thigh. When the thigh-sewn child was born, he was named Dionysus. Among the Thebans, rumors - planted by Hera - persisted that Zeus had not been his father. Instead, Dionysus was the entirely mortal son of Semele and a mortal man. Dionysus dispensed with any mortal who cast aspersions on his mothers reputation by doubting that her sexual liaison had been divine - although why mating with the philandering Zeus confers honor in mortal circles is beyond me. Whats more, with the permission of Zeus, the dutiful Dionysus went to the Underworld and raised his mother Semele from the dead so that, like Psyche, she could live along with her child, among the gods.

Literature and art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Literature and art - Essay Example Both of them are actually a representation of the creator’s thought process. They reveal their creator’s inner self for the world to see. It is interesting, however, that whereas artists do it by their selection of color, line, space and symmetry; writers do it by the selection of their plot, theme, characters and setting. It seems as if both art and literature actually have a story to tell to the world at large. Although arts demand much more imagination from the world, in that the viewers have to come up with their own explanations about a lot of things, whereas in literature, a writer normally gives almost the entire story to the reader, however, even here, the reaction of each reader is different. Based on our own life experiences and knowledge, we form our own interpretation, both after looking at a piece of art or after reading a piece of literature. Both art and literature give depth to common ideas, bringing certain nuances to our notice as well as creating room for certain new ideas. Both art and literature have been used time and again for the purpose of creating awareness among the public about certain issues as well, what is more, both of them depict emotions extremely well. They are not only a joy to behold or read, but they also cause us to pause and think about ourselves and the world. Not only do both of them bring beauty in our lives, but they also create a world of ideas where others can come and gain more insight into the world. The thing that surprised me the most about literature was, that before I always used to think that literature was only the feelings or thoughts of the writer depicted on page. I thought it was one dimensional. However, for me it was surprising to see that everyone who partakes in it comes out with his or her own understanding of the piece of writing. Whether it is poetry or fiction, the words of the writer are not limited, although they appear to be so. There are always more meanings than one that can be gleaned from literature. There is the writer’s original meaning, undoubtedly, but there are also other elements in the writing that may cause one to come to their own conclusion about it. Literature is very rich in meaning, and the fact that it can elicit such varied responses from the readers is a cause of wonder for me. I never thought of literature like that, like I said, I thought that literature was only limited to what the author had to say and nothing more. A good piece of writing is truly a joy to read, no matter what genre of literature it is, however, for me, fiction is the most appealing out of all these genres. The same events or the same story can be told in a myriad of ways in fiction to elicit different responses from the readers, or even to create to a different set of readers. I am fascinated by the richness of fiction. There is such a treasure of ideas and thoughts in fiction: the changes in a society, the ideals of enlightenment, the discussion of emotions , laying bare the ugliness and beauty of life all at the same time, there is so much that fiction has accomplished. I like the way fiction draws the reader into a woven web of a tale and then transports them into a world other than their own where they get to meet people and go places and then learn life’s lessons from them. Without fiction this could only be possible for the well-traveled amongst us, but due to literature we can learn a

Transnational IT Operations Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Transnational IT Operations - Coursework Example In addition, with the emergence of information technology particularly the Internet and e-commerce, organizations have also slowly but surely engaged in intercontinental business as these technologies have presented them wonderful tools and opportunities. The reputation of globalization is straightforwardly linked with the reputation of information and communication technology for the reason that it facilitates organizations that at one time were not capable of launching and managing business operations internationally with the prospect of competing globally. It is an admitted fact that the transnational operations can offer the businesses a number of benefits at many different stages, as well as if supervised in the approved manner, the businesses can compensate the potential challenging features that exist in this process, providing these businesses with an optimized arrangement that can change the organization into a winning business working on an international stage. There are many advantages of transnational IT operations; some of the important advantages include access to the worldwide market, elasticity, diversity, and affordable business structures. At the same time as various challenges, for instance, service levels and quality of work have usually overwhelmed worldwide businesses. In this scenario, the development of latest tools and technologies and the knowledge derived from transnational IT operations are as well very much modernizing these aspects and areas and reducing the harmful impact usually held. In this scenario, variety in the human resources also allows the businesses to gain experience and search for latest tools required to launch their products and services internationally (Marulanda, 2010; Kniaziewicz, 2008). Additionally, this diversity does not simply present an opportunity to expand customer contact by

Implementing change Essay Example for Free

Implementing change Essay Managers are entrusted with a leadership role for an organization with an aim to set out objectives and create the right environment and effective techniques to meet those objectives. There are supposed to come up with creative ideas on the change needed in the organization and how that change should be implemented with minimal difficulties while at the same time reaping maximum benefits from the change. A manager’s role and responsibility in implementing change One major step towards achieving this is of course through having a very clear sense of goals. When the management is equipped with a clear sense of goals and objectives, then it will be possible for an organization or an institution to have a new direction. The manager is important at this stage. He or she is responsible for coming up with specific objectives and determining what direction the institution is supposed to take. It is imperative that the leader or in this case the manager learn to be patient because in many cases change demands patience. As a manager, one should be well informed on his or her team so as to have a good knowledge on which members can be best used. Banutu Banutu 2003) The task of management in times of implementing change demands good communication skills. One of the manager’s main tasks is relaying ideas, mission, goals, and objectives of the institution to the subordinates. It is therefore important that the manager is skilled in communication so as to effectively hammer the point home. Good communication skills are two way. The manager should also be a good observer and listener so as to understand any information or feedback that may be coming from the team members. Managers should also act as role models to their team by for instance setting an example of sacrifice. To make the process of change easier, the manager’s behavior should provide a model for motivation. He or she should be ready to listen to team members, respect them, delegate some powers to them, and assist them. Such characters and actions go a long way in motivating the team and elevating their interest to the task at hand. Team members are not only inspired with a mission but also motivated to initiate novelty and new ways of thinking. For a change process to be successful, the manager is supposed to build trust among group members and ensure that they think and work as a unit as opposed to working as individuals. The manager should be able to nurture intimacy among members, demonstrate self confidence, integrity, and honesty. He or she should be able to connect real life personal experiences with transformational requirements or behaviors of the institution. The manager should have a strong sense of involvement with the team and its activities. This way, the influence process becomes easier and more effective. It is imperative the manager fully understands the task ahead and relays that to the subordinates. This attribute should be coupled with high level commitment to the institution. Integrity and consistency are paramount in the change process if the laid down objectives are to be realized. (Banutu Banutu 2003) Handling staff resistance to change One of the most common characteristics in the change process is resistance towards change by members of the organization. Though resistance to change is mainly viewed negatively, it can have positive outcomes too. For instance, staff resistance can lead to a functional conflict. This sought of conflict stimulates a healthy debate among members and the leadership as well. Such a debate sheds light on the various faces of change and ultimately leads to a better decision in the end. Staff resistance though could act as a major obstacle to an organization’s pursuit to achieve change and progress. If the staff is adamant to change its mindset to fit and adapt with changing times, then the organization will experience difficulties adapting and achieving progress. Managers are supposed to come up with ways to deal with staff resistance and ensure that the staff is collaborative instead of the other way round. (Kelly 1992) Communicating with staff members is a significant step in dealing with resistance. The leadership should take its time in demonstrating the logic of change to the staff and get rid of any chances of misinformation or misunderstanding. As indicated earlier, involvement of the staff in decision making is a beneficial tactic in ensuring that staff members not only implement change but also feel as being a part of it. This reduces the level of resistance, increases the change quality of the staff, and achieves commitment from the staff. The manager can also provide individuals who can handle and manage change activities or act as one. The manager or the change agents can offer facilitation and support to staff members so the idea of change and its actual implementation can be easier and more understandable. (Holton 2003) Another method through which managers can avert potential resistance is through negotiation with the staff. The management can offer the staff something like a reward in exchange of lessened resistance. The manager should however be wary of blackmail because some staff members may take advantage of this and demand rewards in any event of a change process. When ‘clean’ strategies fail or deemed unreliable to avert staff resistance, the manager can use cooptation and manipulation techniques so as to achieve his or her ends. Making facts look appealing more than they really are and hatching force rumors can get the staff to accept change and actually look forward to its implementation. The personalities leading the resistance can be bought off by the manager by offering them important positions in the change process. They are made to feel as if they engaged in opposing change but in actual sense the plan goes unhitched. The last trick on the book is the use of coercion. The manager gives direct threats to the staff members and applies direct force. Other measures include transfer of members, demotion, poor letter recommendation, or outright firing. It is important that the staff understands they are not indispensable as the change that the organization is seeking is more important than an individual career. (Bass Avolio 1994) Steps of the change process The management with the collaboration and active participation of the staff should engage themselves in assessing the organization’s goals and objectives. There should be an extensive understanding of why the organization is taking the change path and how well equipped it is to actually implement its objectives. In the event that the management feels time is not ripe for a particular change process to be initiated, then it can be shelved until the right time comes. The management should put all facts on the table and analyze them before it starts to implement them. All possible scenarios to the process should be considered. In the planning process, it is important that the manager ensures that staff members fully comprehend the plan ahead of them. It is also important that staff members are to a certain level involved in the process. The reasons for using participation, as discussed earlier, is to gain the collaboration of the staff and reduce chances of resistance. Carrying out the actual change process calls for dedication from everyone involved. Any challenges such as staff resistance should be dealt with swiftly. During the evaluation, the management should go back to the aims and objectives outlined during the planning process. External evaluators should be invited so as to avoid any chances of bias. (Banutu Banutu 2003) Conclusion Only one thing is certain in any place and that is change. Organizations, just as human beings, are in a process of change. It is up to the management to ensure that this is change is to the positive. The modern world is characterized by cutthroat competition and there is no room for being stagnant.

The Master vs. The Student: Antonioni and Coppola Essay -- Michelangel

The Master vs. The Student: Antonioni and Coppola Michelangelo Antonioni initiated a shift in Italian film in the 1950s. He kept some aspects of Italian Neorealism but then moved away into the world of the art film. With Blow-up, which was made possible by a deal MGM for a series of films in English, he takes a meandering, odd storyline and places it in trendy, ?swinging? London (Thompson & Bordwell, 426-7). He further reinforces the distance between the diegetic world of the film and the audience through precisely spacious camera techniques. ?I want to re-create reality in an abstract form. I?m really questioning the nature of reality,? Antonioni has said honestly about the film (Arrowsmith, 112). He has taken the audience-active film to a new and interesting level. Blow-up has often times been compared to Francis Ford Coppola?s The Conversation. The two films not only share a similar plot (two men, both leaders in their fields, inadvertently stumble across a murder or murder plot and must reevaluate themselves while reevaluating their creations) but Coppola uses much of the same camera techniques as Antonioni, as well. The film is not a total emulation, though; Coppola adds his own twist by taking space and contorting it, whereas Antonioni might leave it in the abstract. In examining the two aspects of space and self-evaluation, one can see that Coppola?s The Conversation does not imitate Antonioni?s Blow-up as much as it learns from it. Antonioni?s most noticeable and intriguing tool of Blow-up is the use of space within each frame. Antonioni, on the cusp of Neorealism, often times places the camera far from Thomas (the main character played by David Hemmings), letting him move about freely within the frame. ... ...as far back in the room the camera could get, it seems). All of these shots reinforce the loneliness, desperation, and isolation of these two stranded souls. All these shots lend to the two breaking down barriers within themselves to reach a better, actualized self. And, all of these shots could easily have been produced by Antonioni or Francis Coppola; perhaps there is hope for a new wave of the Antonioni-art-film style. Works Cited Arrowsmith, William. (1995). Antonioni, The Poet of Images. New York: Oxford. Brunette, Peter. (1998). The Films of Michelangelo Antonioni. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University. Leprohon, Pierre. (1963). Michelangelo Antonioni: an Introduction. New York: Simon and Schuster. Thompson, Kristen & Bordwell, David. (2003). Film History, an Introduction. Boston: McGraw Hill. The Master vs. The Student: Antonioni and Coppola Essay -- Michelangel The Master vs. The Student: Antonioni and Coppola Michelangelo Antonioni initiated a shift in Italian film in the 1950s. He kept some aspects of Italian Neorealism but then moved away into the world of the art film. With Blow-up, which was made possible by a deal MGM for a series of films in English, he takes a meandering, odd storyline and places it in trendy, ?swinging? London (Thompson & Bordwell, 426-7). He further reinforces the distance between the diegetic world of the film and the audience through precisely spacious camera techniques. ?I want to re-create reality in an abstract form. I?m really questioning the nature of reality,? Antonioni has said honestly about the film (Arrowsmith, 112). He has taken the audience-active film to a new and interesting level. Blow-up has often times been compared to Francis Ford Coppola?s The Conversation. The two films not only share a similar plot (two men, both leaders in their fields, inadvertently stumble across a murder or murder plot and must reevaluate themselves while reevaluating their creations) but Coppola uses much of the same camera techniques as Antonioni, as well. The film is not a total emulation, though; Coppola adds his own twist by taking space and contorting it, whereas Antonioni might leave it in the abstract. In examining the two aspects of space and self-evaluation, one can see that Coppola?s The Conversation does not imitate Antonioni?s Blow-up as much as it learns from it. Antonioni?s most noticeable and intriguing tool of Blow-up is the use of space within each frame. Antonioni, on the cusp of Neorealism, often times places the camera far from Thomas (the main character played by David Hemmings), letting him move about freely within the frame. ... ...as far back in the room the camera could get, it seems). All of these shots reinforce the loneliness, desperation, and isolation of these two stranded souls. All these shots lend to the two breaking down barriers within themselves to reach a better, actualized self. And, all of these shots could easily have been produced by Antonioni or Francis Coppola; perhaps there is hope for a new wave of the Antonioni-art-film style. Works Cited Arrowsmith, William. (1995). Antonioni, The Poet of Images. New York: Oxford. Brunette, Peter. (1998). The Films of Michelangelo Antonioni. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University. Leprohon, Pierre. (1963). Michelangelo Antonioni: an Introduction. New York: Simon and Schuster. Thompson, Kristen & Bordwell, David. (2003). Film History, an Introduction. Boston: McGraw Hill.