From the list below, see if you can match these foreign words borrowed into English with their language of origin. Some languages are represented more than once.
Borrowed words/ Phrases- A capella, Alma mater, Bambino, Batik, Cul-de-sac, Eureka, Grand Prix, Guru, Haiku, Ikebana, Jihad, Karaoke, Kindergarten, Terminus, Verbatim, Volkswagen
Options- Japanese, Latin, Greek, Javanese, French, Hindi, German, Italian, Arabic
Answers- A Capella-Italian, Alma mater-Latin, Bambino-Italian, Batik-Javanese, Cul-de-sac-French, Eureka-Greek, Grand Prix- French, Guru-Hindi, Haiku-Japanese, Ikebana-Japanese, Jihad-Arabic, Karaoke-Japanese, Kindergarten-German, Terminus-Latin, Verbatim-Latin, Volkswagen-German
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Communicative Behaviour
Human beings communicate a great deal by use of their bodies. Our inner responses to situations are normally communicated through our bodies. Body language can also be misread.Non-verbal communication refers to a wide array of behaviours bu which we communicate messages without the use of our voices.Such behaviours are referred to as communicative behaviours.The most obvious non-verbal behaviour are seen in our gestures, posture, movements and in our use of objects, space and time.
POSTURE, GESTURES AND MOVEMENT
These are most obvious means of communicating our feelings and attitudes.These meanings are culturally determined and may vary from place to place.Posture in any context is a crucial indicator of attitude and helps to determine how others willl react towards you. Gestures enhance a verbal presentation, while movements may also suggest timidity, doubt and fear but one has to be careful not to misread the meaning of a person's movements.
Use of space-PROXEMICS
Proxemics is an overlooked form of communication. People who are skilled in communication know how to use space to their advantage and they influence the behaviour of others.
Interpersonal space can be divided into several categories:
Intimate distance used for embracing, touching and whispering
Personal distance used for interactions among good friends
Social distance used for interactions among acquaintances
Public distance used for public speaking.
Distances decribed are culturally based. Knowing about these differences and what is socially acceptable distance allows for better cross-cultural communication.
When someone leans close to you in a social gathering you may feel several different emotions depending on how you perceive this change in social distance.
KINESICS
This is the interpretation of body language such as facial expression and gestures, or more formally, non-verbal behaviour related to movement of the body or any part of the body. It is also culture bound. The movement of the body, or separate parts, conveys many specific meanings and they carry a risk of being misinterpreted.
Use of the time-CHRONEMICS
This refers to the use of time, waiting or pausing.These are generally used to get your attention.
DRESS
Our dress communicate our social standing, especially in those cultures where specific clothes are worn only by specific individuals. Colour is also used symbolically. Women in positions of power often wear red. Black is associated with mourning. Costumes also depict some aspect of nature or some historical or social event.
PARALANGUAGE
This is used to modify meaning and convey emotions. Paralanguage includes pitch, volume and intonation of speech. It is also revealed in text communication via the internet.Shouting or speaking softly each changes the way that a message might be interpreted. Our laughs, cries and moans all have meaning and communicate some feeling or emotion. Vocal segregates such as ooh, eh and mmmh may appear incomprehensible but each has some special meaning whether it is acceptance, agreement or uncertainty.
POSTURE, GESTURES AND MOVEMENT
These are most obvious means of communicating our feelings and attitudes.These meanings are culturally determined and may vary from place to place.Posture in any context is a crucial indicator of attitude and helps to determine how others willl react towards you. Gestures enhance a verbal presentation, while movements may also suggest timidity, doubt and fear but one has to be careful not to misread the meaning of a person's movements.
Use of space-PROXEMICS
Proxemics is an overlooked form of communication. People who are skilled in communication know how to use space to their advantage and they influence the behaviour of others.
Interpersonal space can be divided into several categories:
Intimate distance used for embracing, touching and whispering
Personal distance used for interactions among good friends
Social distance used for interactions among acquaintances
Public distance used for public speaking.
Distances decribed are culturally based. Knowing about these differences and what is socially acceptable distance allows for better cross-cultural communication.
When someone leans close to you in a social gathering you may feel several different emotions depending on how you perceive this change in social distance.
KINESICS
This is the interpretation of body language such as facial expression and gestures, or more formally, non-verbal behaviour related to movement of the body or any part of the body. It is also culture bound. The movement of the body, or separate parts, conveys many specific meanings and they carry a risk of being misinterpreted.
Use of the time-CHRONEMICS
This refers to the use of time, waiting or pausing.These are generally used to get your attention.
DRESS
Our dress communicate our social standing, especially in those cultures where specific clothes are worn only by specific individuals. Colour is also used symbolically. Women in positions of power often wear red. Black is associated with mourning. Costumes also depict some aspect of nature or some historical or social event.
PARALANGUAGE
This is used to modify meaning and convey emotions. Paralanguage includes pitch, volume and intonation of speech. It is also revealed in text communication via the internet.Shouting or speaking softly each changes the way that a message might be interpreted. Our laughs, cries and moans all have meaning and communicate some feeling or emotion. Vocal segregates such as ooh, eh and mmmh may appear incomprehensible but each has some special meaning whether it is acceptance, agreement or uncertainty.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Attitude to Language
Langauge plays a major role in all aspects of society. The most obvious is its social role of allowing persons to communicate and relate to each other, share information, emotions and ways of life.
Your speech conveys specific impressions to an audience. People form impressions of your personality, emotional state, geographic origin, age, or socioeconomic status from the language you use and the way you use it. Some impressions are formed largely because of societal and personal attitudes to certain types of language.
People often adopt certain linguistic behaviours that they believe would create more favourable impressions of themselves, or enable them to fit in with the crowd.
In the Caribbean there are varying attitudes to language. This is due mainly to our history, people of the region tend to place a high value on standard langaugesas it is the langauge of power and economic might. Most persons believe that upward mobility is largely dependent on one's ability to fit in with the predominant socioeconomic class, and language is the main signifier of fitting in.
Most Caribbean persons tend to use a 'twang' or take on a new accent in order to fit in and be seen in a higher social class. Persons view proficiency in spoken English would gain them respect from others as well as allow them to get a job, advance their career, makes them feel mature and proud. Proficiency in Standard English is necessary if person want to travel or widen their horizons.
Attitudes to language vary from one sector of the society to another and some people demonstrate self-conscious behaviour when speaking the standard language.
Some persons view the use of Creole as the langugae to be used among friends and families.
Your speech conveys specific impressions to an audience. People form impressions of your personality, emotional state, geographic origin, age, or socioeconomic status from the language you use and the way you use it. Some impressions are formed largely because of societal and personal attitudes to certain types of language.
People often adopt certain linguistic behaviours that they believe would create more favourable impressions of themselves, or enable them to fit in with the crowd.
In the Caribbean there are varying attitudes to language. This is due mainly to our history, people of the region tend to place a high value on standard langaugesas it is the langauge of power and economic might. Most persons believe that upward mobility is largely dependent on one's ability to fit in with the predominant socioeconomic class, and language is the main signifier of fitting in.
Most Caribbean persons tend to use a 'twang' or take on a new accent in order to fit in and be seen in a higher social class. Persons view proficiency in spoken English would gain them respect from others as well as allow them to get a job, advance their career, makes them feel mature and proud. Proficiency in Standard English is necessary if person want to travel or widen their horizons.
Attitudes to language vary from one sector of the society to another and some people demonstrate self-conscious behaviour when speaking the standard language.
Some persons view the use of Creole as the langugae to be used among friends and families.
Language Variation
Language variation means that a given language is not one uniform or homogenous system, but that it contains many varieties which differ with respect to their grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. The varities are normally referred to as dialects.
Langauge variation influences language change. Language use varies because of a number of social factors which include social identities of the people engaged in the speech acts, their socially defined purposes for interacting, as well as the social setting within which the interaction takes place.
Different languages are spoken in different geographical locations. For example, people in Spain, Cuba, Venezuela, and Mexico speak Sapnish , but the Spanish spoken in each country is somewhat different from that spoken in the other countries.
No language is spoken in exactly the same way when used. As a language evolve, one particular dialect becomes dominant. This is due to the fact that it is the dialect spoken by the people with the economic power or greatest social influence in that society. This dialect now becomes the standard variety and becomes the one used for writing and other formal purposes and is often given prestige over other varities.
Depending on whon you are speaking or writing to, you instinctively vary the way in which you express yourself. This type of language variation is known as code switching.
Of importance is the fact that choice of register also generally reflects teh speaker's or writer's relationship with his or her audience.
Langauge variation influences language change. Language use varies because of a number of social factors which include social identities of the people engaged in the speech acts, their socially defined purposes for interacting, as well as the social setting within which the interaction takes place.
Different languages are spoken in different geographical locations. For example, people in Spain, Cuba, Venezuela, and Mexico speak Sapnish , but the Spanish spoken in each country is somewhat different from that spoken in the other countries.
No language is spoken in exactly the same way when used. As a language evolve, one particular dialect becomes dominant. This is due to the fact that it is the dialect spoken by the people with the economic power or greatest social influence in that society. This dialect now becomes the standard variety and becomes the one used for writing and other formal purposes and is often given prestige over other varities.
Depending on whon you are speaking or writing to, you instinctively vary the way in which you express yourself. This type of language variation is known as code switching.
Of importance is the fact that choice of register also generally reflects teh speaker's or writer's relationship with his or her audience.
Language Register
In deciding which register is suitable for a given situation you must consider factors such as the audience for which the communication is intended, the nature of the subject matter being spoken or written about, the medium which may or may not include non-verbal elements of communication, the writer's attitude towards the content he or she writes about.
Social ranks, politeness and protocol are all factors that we consider when selecting a register to be used.
There are two factors governing the levels of formality in any speech or writing act. The two factors are Social setting and communicative code.
Attention must be paid to the rules and conventions in both speech and writing, gesture, dress and relationship between those engaged in discourse.
In speech care is taken with intonation-pitch, loudness, rate of speech, and turn-taking.
In writing attention is paid to use of complete sentence structures and diction. Deviation from accepted norms of spelling, pronunciation and meaning is avoided.
Social setting influence formality in discourse. Formal situation requires a display of seriousness, politeness and respect.
Language register may be identified as :
Formal, casual, Intimate, Private, Frozen and consultative
Formal register -normally used with strangers or persons in socially formal situations. There is the use of standard language and complete sentences by persons at this level.
Casual register - used mainly with acquaintances and people not personally known. Use of standard and non-standard structures, slands as well as ellipsis are normally applied in the casual register.
Intimate register- used mainly among very close acquaintances and relatives. Persons normally use incomplete sentences and ellipsis, slangs, coded language, specialized vocabularyas well as a greater reliance on non-verbal elements.
Private register- takes place within ones self and is normally intra-personal. There is the use of standard and non-standard structures, ellipsis and slang.
Frozen register- can be appropriate for formal and informal situations. Many persons possess standard and non-standard features of language.
Consultative register- is appropriate for formal and informal discourse in which the listener is expected to give continuous feedback to the speaker. Persons possess standard or non-standard features depending on the context. There may also be the use of non-verbal elements.
Social ranks, politeness and protocol are all factors that we consider when selecting a register to be used.
There are two factors governing the levels of formality in any speech or writing act. The two factors are Social setting and communicative code.
Attention must be paid to the rules and conventions in both speech and writing, gesture, dress and relationship between those engaged in discourse.
In speech care is taken with intonation-pitch, loudness, rate of speech, and turn-taking.
In writing attention is paid to use of complete sentence structures and diction. Deviation from accepted norms of spelling, pronunciation and meaning is avoided.
Social setting influence formality in discourse. Formal situation requires a display of seriousness, politeness and respect.
Language register may be identified as :
Formal, casual, Intimate, Private, Frozen and consultative
Formal register -normally used with strangers or persons in socially formal situations. There is the use of standard language and complete sentences by persons at this level.
Casual register - used mainly with acquaintances and people not personally known. Use of standard and non-standard structures, slands as well as ellipsis are normally applied in the casual register.
Intimate register- used mainly among very close acquaintances and relatives. Persons normally use incomplete sentences and ellipsis, slangs, coded language, specialized vocabularyas well as a greater reliance on non-verbal elements.
Private register- takes place within ones self and is normally intra-personal. There is the use of standard and non-standard structures, ellipsis and slang.
Frozen register- can be appropriate for formal and informal situations. Many persons possess standard and non-standard features of language.
Consultative register- is appropriate for formal and informal discourse in which the listener is expected to give continuous feedback to the speaker. Persons possess standard or non-standard features depending on the context. There may also be the use of non-verbal elements.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Similarities and distinctiveness in vocabulary used to describe foods endemic to the region
Linguistic similarities and distinctiveness are seen in vocabulary for foods endemic to the region. In different countries different names and labels are used to denote the same referent. Some names are directly infuenced by the mixed linguistic heritage of the territories involved. For example, territories with a French linguistic influence, but Caribbean English borrows from myriad sources starting with the Amerindians, Spanish, Dutch, French, Portuguese, African ancestral languages, East Indians, Chinese, Americans, and of course the British English.
Names of some fruits and vegetables that are used across the Region.
1. Barbados- cashew, bolanger, spur pepper, red beans, ground nut, white eddo
2. Belize- maranon, berenjena, chilli duke, red kidney, cacahaute, cocoyam
3. British Virgin Islands-cherry, melongae, jumbie pepper, red bean, peanut, dasheen
4. Dominica- cashew, balangenes, Pimon toiseau, red peas, pistache, dasheen
5. Guyana- cashew, baigan, bird pepper, bisoloma, ground nut, slip & dip
6. Jamaica- cashew nut, garden egg, bird pepper, red peas, peanut, coco
7. Trinidad& Tobago- cashew, melongene, hot pepper, red beans, peanut, chinese eddo
Notice the difference in the names of the different fruits and vegetables that exist in the region.
Do you think you can add more fruits and vegetables to the list? If so see how many other fruits and vegetables you can find to add to the list.
Names of some fruits and vegetables that are used across the Region.
1. Barbados- cashew, bolanger, spur pepper, red beans, ground nut, white eddo
2. Belize- maranon, berenjena, chilli duke, red kidney, cacahaute, cocoyam
3. British Virgin Islands-cherry, melongae, jumbie pepper, red bean, peanut, dasheen
4. Dominica- cashew, balangenes, Pimon toiseau, red peas, pistache, dasheen
5. Guyana- cashew, baigan, bird pepper, bisoloma, ground nut, slip & dip
6. Jamaica- cashew nut, garden egg, bird pepper, red peas, peanut, coco
7. Trinidad& Tobago- cashew, melongene, hot pepper, red beans, peanut, chinese eddo
Notice the difference in the names of the different fruits and vegetables that exist in the region.
Do you think you can add more fruits and vegetables to the list? If so see how many other fruits and vegetables you can find to add to the list.
Caribbean Creole Vocabulary
The Vocabulary or lexicon of Caribbean Creole English is derived mainly from Standard English. A number of words used in Creole speech are related to cultural influences from other European, African, East Indian, Chinese and Amerindian languages.
Examples of some of these words are listed below.
1. African- Senseh, bakra, dutty, nyam, foo-foo, makak, shango
2. Chinese- Wok, chop suey, chow mein, wonton, soy, chow chow
3. East Indian- Paisa, bhariat, maticore, sari, dhal, saro-bhai, orni, baratan
4. Amerindian- Maraca, barbecue, cassave, iguana, arepa, manatee, babrikot
How many of these words from the list did you know?
Can you find others to add to the list?
Examples of some of these words are listed below.
1. African- Senseh, bakra, dutty, nyam, foo-foo, makak, shango
2. Chinese- Wok, chop suey, chow mein, wonton, soy, chow chow
3. East Indian- Paisa, bhariat, maticore, sari, dhal, saro-bhai, orni, baratan
4. Amerindian- Maraca, barbecue, cassave, iguana, arepa, manatee, babrikot
How many of these words from the list did you know?
Can you find others to add to the list?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Functions of Language
Humans use language in a varied way and as a result all language functions facilitate communication and expression. All functions of language are socially related, as they have to do with who the user is, his position or role that he has to perform and his relationship with others in his society.
Functions of Language
1. The Communicative Function
2. The Expressive Function
3. The Reflective Function
4. The Ritualistic Function
5. The Identification Function is used to:
- create bond and distance
-used to make statements about ourseleves
-establish relationships rather than to communicate ideas.
Functions of Language
1. The Communicative Function
2. The Expressive Function
3. The Reflective Function
4. The Ritualistic Function
5. The Identification Function is used to:
- create bond and distance
-used to make statements about ourseleves
-establish relationships rather than to communicate ideas.
Purpose of Language
Language serves many purposes which are vital to man's survival.
Some of the purposes of language are for:
1. persuading
2. questioning
3. directing
4. providing aesthetic pleasure
5. informing
6. reflecting
7. expressing feelings of emotions and aspirations
8. transmitting and receiving information
9. social bonding
10. phatic communication (small talk used to establish relationships)
Some of the purposes of language are for:
1. persuading
2. questioning
3. directing
4. providing aesthetic pleasure
5. informing
6. reflecting
7. expressing feelings of emotions and aspirations
8. transmitting and receiving information
9. social bonding
10. phatic communication (small talk used to establish relationships)
Features of Language
1. It is uniquely a human activity
2. It is non-instinctive
3. It is systematic
4. It is symbolic
5. It is dynamic
6. It is maturational
7.It is verbal
8. It is arbitrary
2. It is non-instinctive
3. It is systematic
4. It is symbolic
5. It is dynamic
6. It is maturational
7.It is verbal
8. It is arbitrary
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