Young children on average learn 10 new words every day, using over 30 muscles in a complex manouvre to physically produce them through speech. A young childs language begins at home, about a year after they are born (although babies may still produce phonemes irregularly). It has been proven that children can learn language on their own howeverm, with a stimulus through pirmary socialisation, a method in which a child learns from their parents, the child is more likely to advance at a faster rate and learn language more quickly.
Robert Winston made the incredible finding that it is also natural for a child to be bilingual at an early age. This is because they use different areas of their brains to speak in multiple languages and so it comes as a second nature for a young child to communicate with two different sets of vocabulary.
Young babies develop speech once they are physically old enough to stop being breastfed. This is because through evolution, the laryx in a babies throat acts as a complex yet ingenious functioning part of their body as it blocks the vocal cords to allow the baby to breathe and feed at the same time. Once the baby is old enough the laryx will drop 3 centimetres making it possible for the child to start acquring and producing (although irregular) speech patterns.
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Monday, 12 September 2016
Broken homes article analysis
Broken homes 'damage brains of infant children' is an article written by Whitehall editor Marie Wolf explaining that it is solely down to the upbringing of the child and the reasonable stimuli surrounding the child which affects their mentality. This article, although seeming to be just a controversial hypothesis, actually ties in quotes and elements of evidence for her claim towards how a 'broken home' can affect an individual at an infant age throughout their later life.
Graphology: Laid out in three formal columns underneath a heading in bold font which highlights and emphasises the study. The simplicity of the text and the lack of pictures enforces its formality as Marie directs you straight to her views and knowledge on the subject.
Purpose: This article is written as an informative essay regarding parenting and living conditions for children. This gets the point across that parents of young children must change their ways for the good of their children to allow them to aspire to greater things when they are able to.
Mode: 'Broken homes' is displayed in a written format, then typed up into an article after it was edited.
Tone: An informative tone, set in an approachable tone as it explores other peoples studies and gives a personal opinion.
Audience: Adults and more importantly, parents. This contextually could be interpreted as a study to improve attitudes towards parenthood.
Personal view: I don't agree totally to the fact that bad parenting affects a child's mentality completely, I agree that it could set them back however a lot of people agree that it pushes children to work harder in life. Most success stories explain how they came from nothing to something like rap artist Eminem and clothing designer Ralph Lauren.
Monday, 20 June 2016
Parliament
UK parliament
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the UK Parliament, the British Parliament or Parliament, is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories.The main work of Parliament is to make laws, debate topical issues and look at how our taxes are spent to help run the country. The issues discussed in Parliament affect us all: health, the environment, transport, jobs, schools, crime.
Parliamentary language
Parlimentary language tends to involve latinate and higher register terms to describe and explain economical legislation and policies. These can include.
Non parliamentary language
Unparliamentary language breaks the rules of politeness in the House of Commons Chamber. The Speaker will direct an MP who has used unparliamentary language to withdraw it. Refusal to withdraw a comment might lead to an MP being disciplined for example the Speaker could 'name' the Member.
Words to which objection has been taken by the Speaker over the years include:
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the UK Parliament, the British Parliament or Parliament, is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories.The main work of Parliament is to make laws, debate topical issues and look at how our taxes are spent to help run the country. The issues discussed in Parliament affect us all: health, the environment, transport, jobs, schools, crime.
Parliamentary language
Parlimentary language tends to involve latinate and higher register terms to describe and explain economical legislation and policies. These can include.
- Defecit
- Budget
- Legislatory
- Referendum
- Conservative
- Inflation
- Immigration
Non parliamentary language
Unparliamentary language breaks the rules of politeness in the House of Commons Chamber. The Speaker will direct an MP who has used unparliamentary language to withdraw it. Refusal to withdraw a comment might lead to an MP being disciplined for example the Speaker could 'name' the Member.
Words to which objection has been taken by the Speaker over the years include:
- Blackguard
- Coward
- Git
- Guttersnipe
- Hooligan
- Rat
- Swine
- Stoolpigeon
- Traitor
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Moms and Mums argument
http://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2016/mar/18/moms-as-american-as-motherhood-and-apple-pie
British readers of the Guardian sometimes complain about the “Americanisms” that find their way into the paper. (Often this term simply refers to a word they don’t like, which may or may not emanate from the other side of the Atlantic.) This blogpost, however, concerns an example of the opposite phenomenon. Let’s call it a “Britishism”.
A reader complains: “Will the Guardian please – please – stop putting the word ‘mum’ into the mouths of American speakers? No one there is or has a mum. No one uses the term. Its compulsory appearance in your accounts of life in the US is incongruous and bewildering.
“Surely your British readers know that Americans use the word ‘mom’. I don’t expect they would be shocked or offended by an accurate transcription of this element of vernacular speech. Why have you chosen to substitute an anglicism in every instance?
“And how far are you prepared to carry this practice? Are we to be informed at some point that a victorious candidate in Alabama claimed to be ‘jolly well chuffed’? Americans are often chided in Britain for their perceived cultural provincialism. I think a little mote-shifting is in order.”
As an example, he cites a father’s account about his son who went on a shooting rampage in a California high school. As our reader notes: “The insertion of the word ‘mum’ is noticeably at odds with the American tone of his remarks and follows a pattern in Guardian reporting from the US.
“I have read more Guardian dispatches, interviews etc than I can recall, in which country singers, film actors, soldiers, unemployed dishwashers, political officeholders and celebrated authors, all incontestably American, fondly alluded to their memories of ‘mum’.”
This reader will not have enjoyed a profile of the film executive Harvey Weinstein that began: “On Sunday, one man’s name will be invoked in Oscar acceptance speeches even more frequently than mum, America and the Almighty ... ”
This was silly. While people with mums do win Oscars occasionally, they are much more likely to go to those with moms (especially when the recipients also invoke America and the Almighty).
I agree with the reader, and we have added a style guide entry (“mom or mum?”) accordingly. So it’s soccer moms in the United States; soccer mums in the United Kingdom (although we generally eschew the word soccer in favour of football). Our two countries may be divided by a common language, but our differences can be celebrated and enjoyed.
Analysis
This article is targeted at the British / people who speak the English vernacular. It is a persuasive article trying to get across that we should all speak the American accent and dialect rather than using our 'Britishisms' to be unique.
Neologisms are used in this article like 'Britishism'. This gives a comedic effect to the text however it could be interpreted that it harms the British positive face.
The discourse of this written text isn't as clear as I would expect from a guardian article however this could be due to the fact that this argument is personal to the writer and is an opinion rather than a fact based persuasive piece.
Examples of agitation in this text are shown when it says "Why have you chosen to substitute an Anglicism in every instance?" This rhetorical question doesn't seek an answer from the British reader, instead, (due to contextual factors as it is understandable the modern reader didn't discover the British accent and dialect) he questions the British audacity to speak differently than the average American
British readers of the Guardian sometimes complain about the “Americanisms” that find their way into the paper. (Often this term simply refers to a word they don’t like, which may or may not emanate from the other side of the Atlantic.) This blogpost, however, concerns an example of the opposite phenomenon. Let’s call it a “Britishism”.
A reader complains: “Will the Guardian please – please – stop putting the word ‘mum’ into the mouths of American speakers? No one there is or has a mum. No one uses the term. Its compulsory appearance in your accounts of life in the US is incongruous and bewildering.
“Surely your British readers know that Americans use the word ‘mom’. I don’t expect they would be shocked or offended by an accurate transcription of this element of vernacular speech. Why have you chosen to substitute an anglicism in every instance?
“And how far are you prepared to carry this practice? Are we to be informed at some point that a victorious candidate in Alabama claimed to be ‘jolly well chuffed’? Americans are often chided in Britain for their perceived cultural provincialism. I think a little mote-shifting is in order.”
As an example, he cites a father’s account about his son who went on a shooting rampage in a California high school. As our reader notes: “The insertion of the word ‘mum’ is noticeably at odds with the American tone of his remarks and follows a pattern in Guardian reporting from the US.
“I have read more Guardian dispatches, interviews etc than I can recall, in which country singers, film actors, soldiers, unemployed dishwashers, political officeholders and celebrated authors, all incontestably American, fondly alluded to their memories of ‘mum’.”
This reader will not have enjoyed a profile of the film executive Harvey Weinstein that began: “On Sunday, one man’s name will be invoked in Oscar acceptance speeches even more frequently than mum, America and the Almighty ... ”
This was silly. While people with mums do win Oscars occasionally, they are much more likely to go to those with moms (especially when the recipients also invoke America and the Almighty).
I agree with the reader, and we have added a style guide entry (“mom or mum?”) accordingly. So it’s soccer moms in the United States; soccer mums in the United Kingdom (although we generally eschew the word soccer in favour of football). Our two countries may be divided by a common language, but our differences can be celebrated and enjoyed.
Analysis
This article is targeted at the British / people who speak the English vernacular. It is a persuasive article trying to get across that we should all speak the American accent and dialect rather than using our 'Britishisms' to be unique.
Neologisms are used in this article like 'Britishism'. This gives a comedic effect to the text however it could be interpreted that it harms the British positive face.
The discourse of this written text isn't as clear as I would expect from a guardian article however this could be due to the fact that this argument is personal to the writer and is an opinion rather than a fact based persuasive piece.
Examples of agitation in this text are shown when it says "Why have you chosen to substitute an Anglicism in every instance?" This rhetorical question doesn't seek an answer from the British reader, instead, (due to contextual factors as it is understandable the modern reader didn't discover the British accent and dialect) he questions the British audacity to speak differently than the average American
Monday, 29 February 2016
Self evaluation
In my essay we did in lesson a few days ago I was disappointed with my result. I was awarded half the marks for each A0 however it was evident where I went wrong. My main targets to improve are to embed more language levels into each paragraph and strengthen my argument and judgement.
I was weakest in A01 and even though I need to incorporate more language levels, I also need to communicate in a more advanced way to the examiner as to how these prove the hypothesis. I should be able to feel more comfortable maintaining a balance between my primary and secondary research and I also need to provide challenges for pending theories. This will help me get a much better mark.
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Friday, 12 February 2016
Tracking words in the OED
Bachelor
The word bachelor was first known in 1297 and connoted the meaning "A young knight, not old enough or having too few vassals, to display his own banner, and who therefore followed the banner of another; a novice in arms". There are 23 different forms of the word bachelor in total which have evolved ever since the 13th century. some of which seem extremely dissimilar to the word we have now as "baculere" and "Bachylere" were to name a few. This proves that the pronunciation of the word has altered through time.
The most modern meaning of the word bachelor is an unmarried man. This contrasts previous meanings of the word connoting a man who has been knighted. Contextually this word is interesting as it derived from honourable and now it means a lonely man. This could show that the honour of the word has been eradicated.
This word emphasises masculinity as other word phrases have been created from it such as "Bachelors wife". This means the ideal wife of which a bachelor idealises over.
Witch
The word witch comes from 890 AD. A man who practises witchcraft or magic; a magician, sorcerer, wizard; this was deemed as a witch in 890 AD however the meaning adapted. By 1000 it meant a female magician, sorceress; in later use esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their co-operation to perform supernatural acts. By this time the meaning stayed stable and is used up to the modern day. Contextually the word meant only a woman due to the lack of respect woman received up until the present day. An alternative form of the word has is 'Wicca' and was founded in 1959. "The practices and religious cult of modern witchcraft." this derivative shows that to the modern day the word 'Witch' still explores negative worship and sorcery. Many people have been known to connote the word to 'hell'
Wizard
The word Wizard comes from 890 AD from the word 'wizen' and meant 'A wise man'. In 1440 the word evolved into the term 'Wizard'. A wizard is the male connotation of a witch, primarily if you were to be called a wizard it would mean a prophet or a sage. Forms of this word include ME wys(e)ard, -sar, 15 -sarde, -zard, wyssarde, wissard, Sc. weser, 15–16 wisard, (16 wiseard, wizer). In the 16th century wisard came to mean A man who is skilled in occult arts; in later use, a man who practises witchcraft (the male counterpart of witch n.2): = wise man n. 3.
Derivatives of this word have come to create modern phrases like a 'financial wizard'. This means someone who is skilled with their contribution to their business, occupation or their finances.
The main comparison between wizard and witch is that the male counterpart is linked with power and skill and the female counterpart is linked with demonology and corruption.
The word bachelor was first known in 1297 and connoted the meaning "A young knight, not old enough or having too few vassals, to display his own banner, and who therefore followed the banner of another; a novice in arms". There are 23 different forms of the word bachelor in total which have evolved ever since the 13th century. some of which seem extremely dissimilar to the word we have now as "baculere" and "Bachylere" were to name a few. This proves that the pronunciation of the word has altered through time.
The most modern meaning of the word bachelor is an unmarried man. This contrasts previous meanings of the word connoting a man who has been knighted. Contextually this word is interesting as it derived from honourable and now it means a lonely man. This could show that the honour of the word has been eradicated.
This word emphasises masculinity as other word phrases have been created from it such as "Bachelors wife". This means the ideal wife of which a bachelor idealises over.
Witch
The word witch comes from 890 AD. A man who practises witchcraft or magic; a magician, sorcerer, wizard; this was deemed as a witch in 890 AD however the meaning adapted. By 1000 it meant a female magician, sorceress; in later use esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their co-operation to perform supernatural acts. By this time the meaning stayed stable and is used up to the modern day. Contextually the word meant only a woman due to the lack of respect woman received up until the present day. An alternative form of the word has is 'Wicca' and was founded in 1959. "The practices and religious cult of modern witchcraft." this derivative shows that to the modern day the word 'Witch' still explores negative worship and sorcery. Many people have been known to connote the word to 'hell'
Wizard
The word Wizard comes from 890 AD from the word 'wizen' and meant 'A wise man'. In 1440 the word evolved into the term 'Wizard'. A wizard is the male connotation of a witch, primarily if you were to be called a wizard it would mean a prophet or a sage. Forms of this word include ME wys(e)ard, -sar, 15 -sarde, -zard, wyssarde, wissard, Sc. weser, 15–16 wisard, (16 wiseard, wizer). In the 16th century wisard came to mean A man who is skilled in occult arts; in later use, a man who practises witchcraft (the male counterpart of witch n.2): = wise man n. 3.
Derivatives of this word have come to create modern phrases like a 'financial wizard'. This means someone who is skilled with their contribution to their business, occupation or their finances.
The main comparison between wizard and witch is that the male counterpart is linked with power and skill and the female counterpart is linked with demonology and corruption.
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