Do you think our language influences our understanding of the world? Does our knowledge of the world influence how we understand what people say?”
(Use examples from your own experience)
Language, the tool of communication. No matter if you’re reading a book, sending an email, having a phone conversation or in fact reading this essay, language is being used to communicate thoughts and opinions, ideas and concepts all over the world. And English has its own way of doing this, and in this essay I aim to show relationships between (the English) language and the perceptions, understanding, and knowledge of the world we live in.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
My entry for the David Crystal Scholarship.
As infants we acquired English in order to communicate with those around us, most likely our parents. As children we didn’t truly understand what the significance of the language we used was, in the same way that we wouldn’t have truly understood the benefits that breathing and eating gave us; we could understand that if we made a certain noise, or said a certain word that we would get (for example) some food, however as infants we don’t have much life experience so our tools for language are limited for the first few years of our lives. However as we get increasingly older we understand how to use language to form, word play, metaphors, to use it to make someone laugh, using it to make someone feel sad, using it to make someone feel loved and so forth.
Taking a look at the English speaking world, which is a far and wide one, in most cases Standard English will be taught to learners of the language, however due to cultural differences there will be words which will enter their version of English, these could include names for food, ceremonies and clothes associated with that culture, and so forth. In order to explain this point more the subject of technology would be a good reference point; in countries (some deemed 3rd world) they may not have encountered such new technologies like (for example) the ipod, as this concept hasn’t been introduced into some areas there is no need for the word to exist in this culture. That’s what it comes down to at the end of the day, encountering/creating things, and making language to go with said things, you wont have any real need for a word which doesn’t exist where you live/in your culture.
In our world we can understand (and give names) to abstract concepts usually based around emotions, feelings, and ideas, for example, love, hate, jealousy, freedom, justice and so forth. We can see them, and they can be hard to explain at times, but we know they exist in their own unique way. Because we have access to understanding these concepts we can build upon them, in example by telling someone that you love them, or when Moses (referencing the bible) demanded “Let my people go”, an example of wanting freedom and so forth. However if we took away these abstract words, would it also take away these abstract concepts; would it in fact limit it us (the English speakers) to not understand the concepts, and not be able to acknowledge these feelings, emotions and ideas? How would we be able to cope without these extensions of ourselves, would we become but lifeless beings?
The Sapir-Wharf hypothesis suggests that we see things differently dependant upon the culture/social background (as examples) we have grown up with, with regards to English speakers, because of the variant cluster of cultures that exist across the world, there may be more focuses on certain aspects of life, for example there are certain religions/countries which promote a tradition of pre-arranged marriages, however in the Western world we don’t see as much of this; so we can possibly say that two couples (one of arranged marriage, the other not) may perceive the concept of love differently; for example the arranged marriage couple could see it as something that grows, and to do with destiny, whereas the non-arranged couple may use the love cliché of “love at first sight” and see it that way. Therefore the language would be varied between the two couples in this example.
Saussure spoke of langue and parole, the former being to do with the language spoken by a community, the later being the language spoken by an individual. What can be noted, from my personal experience, is that I know the colloquial terms that my friends will use with each other, so as I come from the North East of England words like “why aye!”, “nee way!”, “narr like!” are used during informal conversation as these are terms we are familiar and comfortable with. However, as we are all individuals, and because of this we will have had different experiences of the world and the people living in it and so forth, we will have our own individual parole, as an example, when referring to a state of being drunk, one friend may have preference to used “hammered”, another may say “off his face”, whereas I’m content using “drunk”, they all mean drunk and we know they do, it’s just personal preference over the words we choose to use.
Within the realms of language, there will be language which is specialist (subject specific lexis) if we look at the world of jobs, in certain professions specialist vocabulary is used in order to reduce any ambiguity that may arise; someone in the medical profession will need to know names of medication as part of their job, someone who deals with computers will need to know parts of the computer as part of their job. So the (in example) doctor will encounter the names of drugs on a daily basis, and this reflects the language he will use in the (e.g.) hospital whilst speaking to people of a similar profession; if said doctor is speaking to a patient there is little point using the specialist language to converse with them (unless they happen to be a doctor or nurse). So usually the name of drug the patient has to take will be given a more general name to avoid any confusion.
In this essay I have shown the links between (the English) language, and the people who use it, based upon their culture, profession, and where they may live.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
I've changed address since the last time I did one of these...
I'm at Bangor University and it's fantastic!
At the University during freshers week, the staff and Peer Guides were so helpful in making everyone settle in, furthermore, because all the freshers all effectively in the same boats, well everyone you meet is friendly with you, and lots of new friends are made.
So, everyone is more or less passed any stage of worrying.
As for myself, I've been able to head out to a variety of events, quiet drink in a pub, a silent disco, and a few games of badminton. These were very fun to be part of, and hopefully I'll do more things, and meet more nice people along the way.
There's not really anything to complain about, it's been a nice week and a half, although I've picked up a cold which isn't great as you can imagine. Also, the walk from my accomodation to where my lectures are, is about 20 minutes, which can be a bit annoying. Just wauit till winter...
I'll try and keep you updated, I know this wasn't long but hey I haven't got much else to say at this point.
Bye for now.
Callum
At the University during freshers week, the staff and Peer Guides were so helpful in making everyone settle in, furthermore, because all the freshers all effectively in the same boats, well everyone you meet is friendly with you, and lots of new friends are made.
So, everyone is more or less passed any stage of worrying.
As for myself, I've been able to head out to a variety of events, quiet drink in a pub, a silent disco, and a few games of badminton. These were very fun to be part of, and hopefully I'll do more things, and meet more nice people along the way.
There's not really anything to complain about, it's been a nice week and a half, although I've picked up a cold which isn't great as you can imagine. Also, the walk from my accomodation to where my lectures are, is about 20 minutes, which can be a bit annoying. Just wauit till winter...
I'll try and keep you updated, I know this wasn't long but hey I haven't got much else to say at this point.
Bye for now.
Callum
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
A few late night thoughts...
Hello reader, hope you're well.
Just one or two things before I shut up shop tonight.
I start Uni on the 21st of September, I'm both really nervous, but looking forward to it just as much, thankfully I ''know'' someone who will be joining me there, so at least I'll have someone who I can enjoy the highs and who can help me through the lows.
I haven't been out for a week, partly due to my fixing my laptop, I've had to put loads back on plus I've been content in the house and just walking the dog etc.
I want to see my girlfriend Vivien before I head off to Uni, she's been away for the last week. When I go to Uni, and she goes to Uni we will be at opposite ends of Wales, so I can't see her and hopefully we can meet up here and there. I'll help her get through Uni if she ever needs help, and I'm sure she'll return the favour.
Callum.
Just one or two things before I shut up shop tonight.
I start Uni on the 21st of September, I'm both really nervous, but looking forward to it just as much, thankfully I ''know'' someone who will be joining me there, so at least I'll have someone who I can enjoy the highs and who can help me through the lows.
I haven't been out for a week, partly due to my fixing my laptop, I've had to put loads back on plus I've been content in the house and just walking the dog etc.
I want to see my girlfriend Vivien before I head off to Uni, she's been away for the last week. When I go to Uni, and she goes to Uni we will be at opposite ends of Wales, so I can't see her and hopefully we can meet up here and there. I'll help her get through Uni if she ever needs help, and I'm sure she'll return the favour.
Callum.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
I'm in (part 2)
You may recall in my last blog I told you that I had passed my A levels to such a degree that I cemented my place at Bangor University, I also told you that I headed off to Bangor the day after knowing I had a place ... this is where we shall pick things up.
The brief and basic plan of the day was thus;
6am - Left house
10.15 - Arrived at University
12.30 - Left the University; went for lunch
1.30 - Left City
6.30pm - Returned home.
As you can tell it was a long day, but well worth it might I add! What's got to be said is that Bangor is a really lovely place that I'm sure as sure as sure AS SURE can be that I'll enjoy my time studying down in Bangor; it just has a really nice atmosphere around both city and University, the two members or staff at the Uni seemed like really nice people who wanted to promote ''fun and learning'', so it'll be a good environment to work in; there wasn't a sniff of patronisation, or snobbery about the place...Ok I spent a day down there, but first impressions do matter and they were very positive ones.
So, this isn't a long blog by any means but I just wanted to give some details and info on things really.
Callum
The brief and basic plan of the day was thus;
6am - Left house
10.15 - Arrived at University
12.30 - Left the University; went for lunch
1.30 - Left City
6.30pm - Returned home.
As you can tell it was a long day, but well worth it might I add! What's got to be said is that Bangor is a really lovely place that I'm sure as sure as sure AS SURE can be that I'll enjoy my time studying down in Bangor; it just has a really nice atmosphere around both city and University, the two members or staff at the Uni seemed like really nice people who wanted to promote ''fun and learning'', so it'll be a good environment to work in; there wasn't a sniff of patronisation, or snobbery about the place...Ok I spent a day down there, but first impressions do matter and they were very positive ones.
So, this isn't a long blog by any means but I just wanted to give some details and info on things really.
Callum
Sunday, 23 August 2009
I'm in.
I'm in, I did it, I'm on board, I've got my shot at the big time, and any other clichés and idioms you wish to add at this stage...
Don't dwell on that for too long, as the rest of this entry is one I hope you enjoy.
At this point it may be a good idea if I uncover the mystery to what I'm actually ''in'' on, that my friends is Bangor University; as I obtained enough UCAS points to be given the chance to study there. Hurrahs and hurrays are in order!
I will note here that I needed 260 UCAS points, and got 260 UCAS points. The reason for me saying that is so that you know I'm not going to be all high and mighty; the fact is I could have got higher in terms of both grades and therefore points. For example I know I was really close to a 'C' for English Language, but one or two bad exams gave me a 'D' overall; before anyone goes, ''oh well, he isn't very good then (at English Language)'', the fact is I like English Language and I am good at it, that is to say I understand the course content, and can speak about it well in the realms of the classroom this being said when it comes to actually writing in the exam itself (for whatever reason) I must do things slightly differently, because they usually come out lower than my practice runs. Although I did a resit in English which went from an E to a B, so I was chuffed as hell with that.
Just so you are aware for my other A levels; I got an E for French, I did really well (for me) in my coursework and oral exam, had my 'reading, listening, writing' paper been A LOT stronger who knows, I may have ended up with a D...
I got a D for General Studies, a C for Psychology, and this combined with a E for my AS Graphics 'ta da' 260 UCAS points, place confirmed; not exactly ''passing with flying colours'' by any means, but a place confirmed nonetheless.
Enough about that though, important thing is I'm going to Bangor University (in Wales) to study English Language and Linguistics (hence the bit about my English Language A level) and nobody can take that away from me; it's in my hands to decide where I want to take it.
Another pretty good thing is that my girlfriend (Vivien) got into Swansea Uni to study Egyptology and Classics, so I'm really happy for her :u).
I did visit Bangor the day after my A level results were revealed and my place confirmed at Bangor; I'll talk about the visit in my next blog.
I think this is a fairly short one, hope you enjoyed regardless.
Callum
Don't dwell on that for too long, as the rest of this entry is one I hope you enjoy.
At this point it may be a good idea if I uncover the mystery to what I'm actually ''in'' on, that my friends is Bangor University; as I obtained enough UCAS points to be given the chance to study there. Hurrahs and hurrays are in order!
I will note here that I needed 260 UCAS points, and got 260 UCAS points. The reason for me saying that is so that you know I'm not going to be all high and mighty; the fact is I could have got higher in terms of both grades and therefore points. For example I know I was really close to a 'C' for English Language, but one or two bad exams gave me a 'D' overall; before anyone goes, ''oh well, he isn't very good then (at English Language)'', the fact is I like English Language and I am good at it, that is to say I understand the course content, and can speak about it well in the realms of the classroom this being said when it comes to actually writing in the exam itself (for whatever reason) I must do things slightly differently, because they usually come out lower than my practice runs. Although I did a resit in English which went from an E to a B, so I was chuffed as hell with that.
Just so you are aware for my other A levels; I got an E for French, I did really well (for me) in my coursework and oral exam, had my 'reading, listening, writing' paper been A LOT stronger who knows, I may have ended up with a D...
I got a D for General Studies, a C for Psychology, and this combined with a E for my AS Graphics 'ta da' 260 UCAS points, place confirmed; not exactly ''passing with flying colours'' by any means, but a place confirmed nonetheless.
Enough about that though, important thing is I'm going to Bangor University (in Wales) to study English Language and Linguistics (hence the bit about my English Language A level) and nobody can take that away from me; it's in my hands to decide where I want to take it.
Another pretty good thing is that my girlfriend (Vivien) got into Swansea Uni to study Egyptology and Classics, so I'm really happy for her :u).
I did visit Bangor the day after my A level results were revealed and my place confirmed at Bangor; I'll talk about the visit in my next blog.
I think this is a fairly short one, hope you enjoyed regardless.
Callum
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Football, and why it annoys me so...
They call it the 'beautiful game', then again a lot of people can use adjectives...
This blog is about some of the things that stem from football (soccer) which make me think ''oh dear'', ''why?'', and ''please don't do that''.
Don't get me wrong here, and see me as someone who has never played/watched football, I LIKE football, more the participating element; I just see it as more fun. From a fairly young age I liked to play football, up until year 11, I haven't played a game since.
Whereas the watching element suggests some sort of interest in the going-ons in football, and I will say that I support Newcastle United (yes, feel free to laugh), and would follow transfers and so forth a lot; sorry if I'm going on, I'm trying to set the scene. Simply, for the most part I'm a fan of football.
Right to the niggles, one such annoyance lies with the fact that if a player ''appears'' to commit a 'handball' (as an example) there is a giant up-roar for something to be given, be it a penatly, a free-kick, a card of some sort. My problem with this is it just seems a very childish thing to do, if I was a manager I'd instruct my players just to play on for God's sake! The phrase 'don't cry over spilt milk' comes to mind, ok in the grand scheme of things ''3 points'' will be worth more than the milk ever was, but I hope you can see my point, just get on with the game, I'd be far happier to say I got an honest 0 - 0, rather than being able to say ''ohh our team won 1 - 0, based upon our powers of moaning in order to get a penatly''.
The second thing is one many people will raise their hands in agreement with ''money'', be it transfer fees or players wages. Personally money in football, leaves me with a bad after taste in my mouth, I think everything that can be said has been said, but still here's my take. I'd like to see some sort of system whereby clubs are ''capped'' that is they can only spend so much money on wages, futhermore in a transfer window each team can spend up to ''£XXX'' amount; you can buy as many or as few players as you like, as long as you don't go past ''£XXX'', the point being that I believe that you would see teams developing their young players more than for example the Real Madrids and Man Citys of this world paying giant sums of money for players, who are only going there so they have loads of money at hand (not like I'm saying anything groundbraking here).
See I admire teams in England like Everton, and Aston Villa, because a few years ago they were mid-table teams, but a few good buys, and new exciting youth players have launched them within touching distance of the ''Big-four'', simple hard graft has been used here folks, not the ''Big-Money-Teams ways of doing it; trying to ''buy success''.
The last choice, wont be shared by a lot of football fans, but do hear me out. The thing is, with 11-a-side there is a tendancy for alot of ''bore draws'', games which move very slowly at times etc. My crazy idea, would be to make it 8-a-side, this way there would be goals galore and if you are a season ticket holder you'd get your money's worth (hopefully). Games would be able to be played faster, as there would be larger amounts of space due to the lack of 3 players for each side. I'd allow five subsitutes a game, in order to compensate for players running more, and I'd even be tempted to make games 80mins apposed to 90mins...some people may turn their noses at this and think I'm just changing things too much, but look at it, there are still two teams trying to get a ball into a net to score a goal, subsequent points, or going through to the next round of a ''cup'' and there still would exsist that bag of footballing clichés, puns, and word play that make football what it is, what some call, 'The Beautiful Game''.
Do hope you enjoyed.
Let me know what you think.
Callum.
This blog is about some of the things that stem from football (soccer) which make me think ''oh dear'', ''why?'', and ''please don't do that''.
Don't get me wrong here, and see me as someone who has never played/watched football, I LIKE football, more the participating element; I just see it as more fun. From a fairly young age I liked to play football, up until year 11, I haven't played a game since.
Whereas the watching element suggests some sort of interest in the going-ons in football, and I will say that I support Newcastle United (yes, feel free to laugh), and would follow transfers and so forth a lot; sorry if I'm going on, I'm trying to set the scene. Simply, for the most part I'm a fan of football.
Right to the niggles, one such annoyance lies with the fact that if a player ''appears'' to commit a 'handball' (as an example) there is a giant up-roar for something to be given, be it a penatly, a free-kick, a card of some sort. My problem with this is it just seems a very childish thing to do, if I was a manager I'd instruct my players just to play on for God's sake! The phrase 'don't cry over spilt milk' comes to mind, ok in the grand scheme of things ''3 points'' will be worth more than the milk ever was, but I hope you can see my point, just get on with the game, I'd be far happier to say I got an honest 0 - 0, rather than being able to say ''ohh our team won 1 - 0, based upon our powers of moaning in order to get a penatly''.
The second thing is one many people will raise their hands in agreement with ''money'', be it transfer fees or players wages. Personally money in football, leaves me with a bad after taste in my mouth, I think everything that can be said has been said, but still here's my take. I'd like to see some sort of system whereby clubs are ''capped'' that is they can only spend so much money on wages, futhermore in a transfer window each team can spend up to ''£XXX'' amount; you can buy as many or as few players as you like, as long as you don't go past ''£XXX'', the point being that I believe that you would see teams developing their young players more than for example the Real Madrids and Man Citys of this world paying giant sums of money for players, who are only going there so they have loads of money at hand (not like I'm saying anything groundbraking here).
See I admire teams in England like Everton, and Aston Villa, because a few years ago they were mid-table teams, but a few good buys, and new exciting youth players have launched them within touching distance of the ''Big-four'', simple hard graft has been used here folks, not the ''Big-Money-Teams ways of doing it; trying to ''buy success''.
The last choice, wont be shared by a lot of football fans, but do hear me out. The thing is, with 11-a-side there is a tendancy for alot of ''bore draws'', games which move very slowly at times etc. My crazy idea, would be to make it 8-a-side, this way there would be goals galore and if you are a season ticket holder you'd get your money's worth (hopefully). Games would be able to be played faster, as there would be larger amounts of space due to the lack of 3 players for each side. I'd allow five subsitutes a game, in order to compensate for players running more, and I'd even be tempted to make games 80mins apposed to 90mins...some people may turn their noses at this and think I'm just changing things too much, but look at it, there are still two teams trying to get a ball into a net to score a goal, subsequent points, or going through to the next round of a ''cup'' and there still would exsist that bag of footballing clichés, puns, and word play that make football what it is, what some call, 'The Beautiful Game''.
Do hope you enjoyed.
Let me know what you think.
Callum.
Sunday, 26 July 2009
The Day Approacheth...
The day will soon cometh...
I write this while listening to my ipod, it's 22:36, I've had a fairly relaxed day. The night prior though, I struggled to sleep for a little while, don't worry though I did get a good amount of sleep in the end, but I will let you know that the reason for my not sleeping was based upon this day I mentioned earlier in my Old English tones, I would have used runic letters...anyway that's going on off one and I can't afford to. The day in question, is that of exam results day and up until yesterday night I was pretty 'not worried' about it.
However, for whatever reason, more than likely a niggling feeling of doubt had made it's way slowly forward into my mind, just before I'm going to sleep helpful. The simple way of putting things is ALL the A levels I'm doing (and was doing) go towards my UCAS points (I need 260 of them to get into Bangor University). That's dandy for me. And makes the 'dream' of going to Bangor that much 'easier' (lack of a better word); despite that advantage I was unable to sleep the other night, you can probably see where this is going, due to me worrying about exam results.
I feel my actual exams went ok, nothing really really so awful that I wanted to cry - type thing. But as it's me, to be honest I'm sure this goes for a good spread of 18 year olds who are in the same position as me, I have come to worry. It's not made any better by the fact that there is such a wait until I know what is in my brown envelope of fate(that being August 20th). Literally ANYTHING could be within that mysterious brown envelope...well I say that, obviously within the grounds of how I performed on the exams, however I won't know that until I can see my actual results!
I don't know what felt worse, getting through the exams, or waiting?...I'll throw a curve ball here and say waiting. The fact is my exam-timetable wasn't too bad at any course, that isn't to say any exam was a piece of cake, just that I didn't have any jam packed days. So in theory I've done ok enough, but I just don't know!!
It's like a circle of torture...The good thing is that I know it will come to an end, but will that be a good thing after all? Still I best enjoy my Summer holidays while they last, the exam result thing wont play on my mind too much, what should I do tomorrow...?
I'll leave it here I suppose, I'm tired, and I think this could become more rambly if I don't stop now...
Hope you enjoyed what was here.
Callum
I write this while listening to my ipod, it's 22:36, I've had a fairly relaxed day. The night prior though, I struggled to sleep for a little while, don't worry though I did get a good amount of sleep in the end, but I will let you know that the reason for my not sleeping was based upon this day I mentioned earlier in my Old English tones, I would have used runic letters...anyway that's going on off one and I can't afford to. The day in question, is that of exam results day and up until yesterday night I was pretty 'not worried' about it.
However, for whatever reason, more than likely a niggling feeling of doubt had made it's way slowly forward into my mind, just before I'm going to sleep helpful. The simple way of putting things is ALL the A levels I'm doing (and was doing) go towards my UCAS points (I need 260 of them to get into Bangor University). That's dandy for me. And makes the 'dream' of going to Bangor that much 'easier' (lack of a better word); despite that advantage I was unable to sleep the other night, you can probably see where this is going, due to me worrying about exam results.
I feel my actual exams went ok, nothing really really so awful that I wanted to cry - type thing. But as it's me, to be honest I'm sure this goes for a good spread of 18 year olds who are in the same position as me, I have come to worry. It's not made any better by the fact that there is such a wait until I know what is in my brown envelope of fate(that being August 20th). Literally ANYTHING could be within that mysterious brown envelope...well I say that, obviously within the grounds of how I performed on the exams, however I won't know that until I can see my actual results!
I don't know what felt worse, getting through the exams, or waiting?...I'll throw a curve ball here and say waiting. The fact is my exam-timetable wasn't too bad at any course, that isn't to say any exam was a piece of cake, just that I didn't have any jam packed days. So in theory I've done ok enough, but I just don't know!!
It's like a circle of torture...The good thing is that I know it will come to an end, but will that be a good thing after all? Still I best enjoy my Summer holidays while they last, the exam result thing wont play on my mind too much, what should I do tomorrow...?
I'll leave it here I suppose, I'm tired, and I think this could become more rambly if I don't stop now...
Hope you enjoyed what was here.
Callum
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