The Significance of Language in Indigenous Culture essay

The Significance of Language in Indigenous Culture essay The Significance of Language in Indigenous Culture essay The Significance of Language in Indigenous Culture essayThe issue regarding the significance of language in various social movements has been widely discussed in both the academic literature and the media. The role of language in indigenous culture deserves special attention because language and culture are two interrelated things. Actually, the concept of culture refers to â€Å"knowledge, experience, meanings, beliefs, values, attitudes, and religions, concepts of self, the universe and self-universe, relationships, hierarchies of status, role expectations, spatial relations, and time concepts† collected and utilized by a particular group of people over many generations.1 In other words culture is reflected in various language patterns, influencing the process of communication. Indigenous culture involves a set of activities that are deeply rooted in the past. Besides, â€Å"indigenous culture affects the development of language,† promoting science knowledge and socia l growth.2 Because of the rapid decline in language diversity of indigenous people, there is the considerable decline in cultural diversity. Undoubtedly, these changes are caused by historical developments, such as imperialism and colonialism, intensive global economic development, and the growth of militarism. Besides, cultural beliefs affect the use of language by indigenous peoples. Thesis statement: Language plays an important role in indigenous culture as it is part of culture and cannot exist without culture.Analysis of the relationship between language and indigenous cultureThe relationship between language and indigenous culture has been analyzed in recent research. It has been found that â€Å"in Indigenous American beliefs we see that language is the embodiment of life, the spirit, providing sacred teachings within it and through it.†3 It is very important for Indigenous people to preserve their native language, promoting its spiritual effects and maintaining its cu ltural aspects.In many countries, Indigenous people fail to enjoy the basic indigenous rights, which are considered to be crucial in establishing a context for the proper autonomous development, contributing to the survival of indigenous culture. The right to use one’s own language forms the basis of effective social development. Since colonization, this right has been denied by the dominated nations. They considered that language could become â€Å"an obstacle to assimilation and national homogenization.†4Recent research, which was conducted in the form of observation, shows the ways in which language is embedded in culture, cultural heritage and social context of an indigenous community. Special attention in the informal observation was paid to the role of history and its impact on cultural heritage, including the impact of legends, music, songs, dancing, and various cultural practices, which highlight the role of social change on language. The participants brought t heir experiences of language and culture based on their own cultural heritage. The observation was focused on exploration of the experiences from different indigenous communities, which enabled the participants to take into consideration both basic denominators in the role of language and cultural relationship and the proper strategies aimed at addressing language and cultural revitalization. The observation was held in indigenous communities: Maya community in the U.S. and Ngarrindjeri community in Australia. It has been found that the preservation of indigenous language and culture contributes to each country’s history. The following responses to the set questions regarding the significant role of language in indigenous culture include:Participant 1: â€Å"For Indigenous people in the U.S., languages are linked to their culture, beliefs, values and spiritual identity. Indigenous language reflects the history of indigenous people.†Participant 2: â€Å"Over half of th e 250 Indigenous languages in Australia are no longer used. It is very important to preserve those languages that remain. Many of the existing indigenous languages are used only by Elders. This fact means these languages are facing extinction. The proper steps should be taken to record them.†Participant 3: â€Å"No efforts are made in the community to revive the oldest languages. We should encourage the younger generation to use indigenous languages.†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, 90% of the participants support the idea of preserving indigenous language in order to maintain indigenous culture.   The informal observation provided much information that helps to analyze the relationship between language and indigenous culture.Some social problems that have negative impacton the role of language in indigenous culture  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are serious social problems that may have negative impact on the role of language in i ndigenous culture. In fact, â€Å"institutionalized racism toward Indigenous Americans has occurred both on and off reservations, in government and in Christian institutions.†5 In other word eradication of native languages may lead to eradication of indigenous cultures. The U.S. Indian Reservations have suffered considerably because of improper policies aimed at eradication of native languages. Many social problems, such as poverty, drug/alcohol abuse, high school dropout rates, unemployment, the spread of various diseases and other factors, had negative impact on the role of language in the development of indigenous culture.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The major problem that affects the role of language in the development of indigenous culture is the culture of Christian Churches. It is known that some Christian Churches see language as the â€Å"threat to the culture of their churches.†6 Many Churches do not support the idea to allow indigenous people teach their language at schools. This conflict may lead to serious problems concerning the promotion of the identity of Indigenous communities.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nevertheless, many Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada continue to teach their children native language, â€Å"the language of their grandparents and ancestors.†7 Researchers highlight the problems of eradication of native languages. In 1950s, indigenous children were forbidden to speak their native languages, such as Navajo language. If they made attempts to speak their native language, they were punished. As a matter of fact, â€Å"a policy† that forbade Native language use existed in Canada, the United States, including Guam, the U.S. territory in Micronesia.8 There are some positive outcomes of the implemented strategies that address the significance of indigenous language and lead to its revival.   Actually, â€Å"the Kaurna language once thrived and was spoken by the or iginal inhabitants of Adelaide, but it began to disappear from daily use in South Australia as early as the 1860s.†9 Today, this language is alive because indigenous people are allowed to use it in communication.Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that language can be perceived as culture. Language plays a significant role in the development of Indigenous culture. This research points out to the fact that language can be used as a tool to preserve Indigenous cultures. For many Indigenous people, language is considered to be sacred. In other words, language cannot be separated from the culture it represents. It has been found that cross-cultural communication, effective cooperation, and mutual understanding can help Indigenous people to maintain their indigenous culture, language and identity. Diversity as one of the major concerns that requires using the proper strategies aimed at making a difference in this world.

Calculating How Many People Share Your Birthday

Calculating How Many People Share Your Birthday Birthdays are special days to each of us, but every so often we run into someone who shares our birthday. Its not an uncommon experience, but doesnt it make you wonder how many people do share your birthday? What Are the Odds? All things being equal, if your birthday is any day except February 29, the odds of you sharing your birthday with anyone should be approximately 1/365 in any population (0.274%). Since the world population as of this writing is estimated at 7 billion, you should share your birthday with over 19 million people around the world (19,178,082). If you are lucky enough to have been born on February 29, you should share your birthday with 1/1461 (because 366365365365 equals 1461) of the population (0.068%) and so worldwide, you should only share your birthday with a mere 4,791,239 people! Wait- I Should Share My Birthday? However, even though it would seem logical to think that the odds of being born on any given date are one in 365.25, birth rates arent driven by random forces. A lot of things affect when babies are born. In the American tradition, for example, a high percentage of marriages are scheduled for June: and so you might expect at least a small bubble of births to take place in February or March. Further, it seems likely that people conceive children when theyre rested and relaxed. Theres even an old urban legend, debunked by a Duke University study reported on the Snopes.com site, that claimed that nine months after the 1965 New York City blackout, there was a dramatic increase in babies born nine months later. That turns out not to have been true, but it is interesting that people would perceive it to be true. Show Me the Numbers! In 2006, The New York Times published a simple table titled How Common is Your Birthday? The table provided data compiled by Amitabh Chandra of Harvard University, on how often babies are born in the United States on each day from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. According to Chandras table, including birth records between 1973 and 1999, babies are far more likely to be born in the summers, followed by fall, and then spring and winter. Sept. 16 was the most popular birthday, and the top ten most popular birthdays all fall in September. Not surprisingly, February 29th was the 366th most common day to be born on. Not counting that rare day, the 10 least popular days reported by Chandra to be born on fall on holidays: the 4th of July, late November (26, 27, 28, and 30, near Thanksgiving) and over Christmas (Dec. 24, 25, 26) and New Years (Dec. 29, Jan. 1, 2, and 3). That would seem to suggest that mothers have some say in when babies are born. New Data In 2017, Matt Stiles writing in the Daily Viz reported new data from United States births between for 1994-2014. The data was compiled from U.S. health records by the FiveThirtyEight statistics site- the original report is no longer on FiveThirtyEight. According to that set of data, the least popular birthdays are still around the holidays: July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. That data shows that those holidays even beat out February 29th, only the 347th least common day to be born on, which is pretty remarkable, statistically speaking. The most popular days to be born in the United States in this latest set of statistics? The top ten days fall in September: except for one, July 7th. If you were born in September, you were likely conceived over the Christmas holidays. What Does Science Say? Since the 1990s, several scientific studies have shown that there are, in fact, overall seasonal differences in conception rates. Birth rates in the northern hemisphere typically peak between March and May and are at their lowest between October to December. But scientists also point out that those numbers vary widely according to the age, education, and socioeconomic status and marital status of the parents. In addition, the health of a mother affects fertility and conception rates. Environmental stress does too:  conception rates plummet in war-torn regions and during famines. During very hot summers, conception rates are often suppressed. Sources Bobak, Martin, and Arjan Gjonca. The Seasonality of Live Birth Is Strongly Influenced by Socio-Demographic Factors. Human Reproduction 16.7 (2001): 1512-17. Print.Bronson, F. H. Seasonal Variation in Human Reproduction: Environmental Factors. The Quarterly Review of Biology 70.2 (1995): 141-64. Print.Chandra, Amitabh. How Common Is Your Birthday? The New York Times December 19, 2006. Print.Mikkelson, David Blackout Baby Boom. Snopes.com. Published July 31, 2009.  Stiles, Matt. How Common is Your Birthday? This Visualization Might Surprise You. Daily Viz September 17, 2017.

The Queen Annes Revenge - Blackbeards Pirate Ship

The Queen Anne's Revenge - Blackbeard's Pirate Ship The Queen Annes Revenge was a massive pirate ship commanded by Edward Blackbeard Teach in 1717-18. Originally a French slaving vessel that Blackbeard captured and modified, it was one of the most formidable pirate ships ever, carrying 40 cannons and enough room for plenty of men and loot. The Queen Annes Revenge was capable of fighting off nearly any Navy warship afloat at the time. It sank in 1718, and many believe that Blackbeard scuttled it on purpose. The wreck has been found and has turned up a treasure trove of pirate artifacts. From Concorde to Queen Annes Revenge On November 17, 1717, Blackbeard captured La Concorde, a French slaving vessel. He realized that it would make a perfect pirate ship. It was large yet fast and big enough to mount 40 cannons on board. He renamed it Queen Annes Revenge: the name referred to Anne, Queen of England and Scotland (1665-1714). Many pirates, including Blackbeard, were Jacobites: this meant that they favored the return of the throne of Great Britain from the House of Hanover to the House of Stuart. It had changed hands after Annes death. The Ultimate Pirate Ship Blackbeard preferred to intimidate his victims into surrendering, as fights were costly. For several months in 1717-18, Blackbeard used the Queen Annes Revenge to effectively terrorize shipping in the Atlantic. Between the massive frigate and his own fearsome appearance and reputation, Blackbeards victims rarely put up a fight and handed over their cargoes peacefully.  He plundered the shipping lanes at will. He was even able to blockade the port of Charleston for a week in April of 1718, looting several ships. The town gave him a valuable chest full of medicines to make him go away. The Queen Annes Revenge Sinks In June of 1718, the Queen Annes Revenge hit a sandbar off of North Carolina and had to be abandoned. Blackbeard took the opportunity to make off with all of the loot and a select few of his favorite pirates, leaving the others (including hapless pirate Stede Bonnet) to fend for themselves. Because Blackbeard went legit (sort of) for a little while after that, many thought he scuttled his flagship on purpose. Within a few months, Blackbeard would return to piracy and on November 22, 1718, he was killed by pirate hunters in a pitched battle off of North Carolina. The Wreck of the Queen Anne’s Revenge In 1996, a shipwreck believed to be that of the Queen Annes Revenge was discovered off of North Carolina. For 15 years it was excavated and studied, and in 2011 it was confirmed to be Blackbeards ship. The shipwreck has yielded many interesting artifacts, including weapons, cannons, medical gear and a massive anchor. Juha Flinkman, SubZone OY / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons Many of the artifacts are on display at North Carolinas Maritime museum and can be viewed by the public. The opening of the exhibit drew record crowds, a testament to Blackbeards lasting reputation and popularity. Sources Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1996Defoe, Daniel (Captain Charles Johnson). A General History of the Pyrates. Edited by Manuel Schonhorn. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1972/1999.Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates. Guilford: the Lyons Press, 2009Konstam, Angus. The Pirate Ship 1660-1730. New York: Osprey, 2003.

Minor in Entrepreneurship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Minor in Entrepreneurship - Assignment Example Here are some of the issues you need to understand when launching and building a new business: 1. Industry Characteristics 2. Competitive Rivalry 3. Influence of Suppliers 4. Substitute Products Most successful entrepreneurs develop an intimate knowledge of these factors by working in the industry in which they start their business. If they haven’t held a job in the industry they are serious and frequent product consumers. Personal experience in the industry provides excellent exposure to the products, services, suppliers, important contacts, competitors, strength and weaknesses of competitors, key customers, channels of distribution, and marketing strategies. In nearly every success story we have collected, extensive experience in the industry revealed the missing piece that led to the business opportunity. Successful entrepreneurs continue to experience their industry first hand after they launch their new venture. All organizations exist in geographical space; the center is the furthest away from customers; the boundary is the place where customers, products, and competitors all interface. Thriving business builders spend a great deal of time in the boundary of their organization rather than inside an office: they interact with customers, work with front-line employees, and study their competitors’ products and services. Living in the boundary provides personal and up-to-date information about new innovations, reactions from consumers, tactics of competitors, changing conditions, and new business opportunities. Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest American presidents, is a superb example of â€Å"living in the boundary† in the political arena. According to Lincoln, the best way to assess an opportunity was to gather data personally. During his first few years in office, Lincoln spent more days out of the White House than he did in it. He inspected every state regiment that passed through Washington, D.C., he met with his generals in the field, he spent time with the troops in their encampments, he visited the wounded in hospitals, he spent many days in the telegraph office at the War Department to obtain real-time information, he studied new weaponry, and even took charge of several battles, coming under fire on more than one occasion. This approach gave Lincoln first-hand information for quick decisions and effective strategies without having to rely on second- or third-hand information from others (Donald Phillips, Lincoln on Leadership, New York: Warner Books, 1992). In like manner, successful entrepreneurs spend a considerable amount of time on the edge of their organization, rather than in the center. This gives them a broad and deep understanding of their industry and provides valuable information for decision making and strategic planning. By contrast, company founders who fail often create ideas in a vacuum, and then try to push them into unfamiliar territory. In this scenario, the learning curve is long an d steep, and the fragile venture quickly burns through the capital, passion, goodwill, and team members.

Macroeconomics- methods of Economic growth for Singapore and Hong Kong Essay

Macroeconomics- methods of Economic growth for Singapore and Hong Kong - Essay Example The prices of goods offered by the economy have determination in a free price system (McEachern, 2012). The nations should look for the products and services that people are interested and focus on building them. Today, large nations that control the world’s trade depend on market economy since it is where they control and participate in both exports and exports. Singapore and Hong Kong are some of the new nations that have come of age and adopting the market economy to not only increase their competitiveness but also give it an economic advantage. Additionally, taxation laws are another way both Hong Kong and Singapore can use to encourage economic growth. If the economies do not give enough tax, they will not be able to supply the infrastructure and services they need to keep existing businesses or attract new ones. Investment in infrastructure and human capital – safe and modern infrastructure guarantees investments in the country. Any country with a high number of investors leads to more exports from the country. Better investments, thus result in the growth of the economy of the nations (McEachern, 2012). The roads in Singapore and Hong Kong are of high quality thus offer quick and efficient transport system for the goods and services. Besides, improved infrastructures attract investors and reduce the cost of production. Availability of cheap electricity and enhanced road network is paramount to opening interior areas as they have potential when reach. Some of the newly industrialized nations managed to reach the stage because of the developed infrastructure. Similarly, availability of human capital is vital is any economy because it determines the input required towards higher production. For instance, any nation that wants to attract investors must ensure that it provides personnel that assist in the daily running of the institutions as well as firms that have been

Causes of Homophobia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Causes of Homophobia - Essay Example I hope this research will provide insights with regard to the underlying causes of homophobia. Why some people fear homosexuality and others not? The answer might seem straightforward at first and it is easy to put blame on the stereotypical gender roles produced by what Judith Butler called hegemonic heterosexual matrix. However, it is important to understand homophobic psyche without any bias so that underlying roots of their fears could be revealed. I think it is essential to grasp their views in order to assuage their homophobic fears, if such thing is possible. Why homosexuality arouses such a strong response and hatred in some people? What are they truly afraid of? This annotated bibliography aims to explore the explanatory frameworks for homophobic people’s reactions. It is very difficult to understand why some people hate gays to the extent that they wish them dead or even attempt to kill them. I would like to dig the deeper causes of their homophobic fears. Furthermor e, I also hope to find out if there is a gender differentiation with regard to homophobia and whether males are more prone to homophobia than females, and whether lesbianism is more acceptable than its male counterpart. This research also aims to examine the possible links between homosexuality and sexuality of homophobic people. I would like to know if their fears are related with their own sexuality and if it is linked with their own oedipal struggles. Adams, Henry A., Lester W. Wright and Bethany A. Lohr. â€Å"Is Homophobia Associated With Homosexual Arousal?† Journal of Abnormal Psychology 105, No. 3 (1996): 440-445. Henry Adams and his colleagues conduct a survey with the participation of a group of homophobic men and a group of non-homophobic men in order to investigate the role of homosexual arousal in homophobic people. They find a positive correlation and reveal that the group of homophobic men shows increased penile erection to male homosexual tapes. Their finding is consistent with the psychoanalytical theories which conceptualize homophobia as latent homosexuality. The article is very useful in a sense that it shows what homophobes are truly afraid of: their own homosexual tendencies. However, the research does not answer why they fear their own sexuality. Nevertheless, it is also not clear that why homophobes represses their homosexual tendencies while homosexuals don’t, it might be related with the gender matrix theory or with their deeper differences vis-a-vis the oedipal struggles. Bleich, David. â€Å"Homophobia and Sexism as Popular Values†. Feminist Teacher 4, no 2/3 (1989): 21-28 In his article, David Bleach argues that sexism is the oldest form of social domination and tries to prove Lerner's claim about the primordiality of sexism. He conducts a survey with the participation of 115 first -year students at Indiana University and examines their essays on homosexuality. He notes that almost %20 of the students (both men and women) gave utterly homophobic responses, including a passive participation in a gay-bashing incident, and they expressed their homophobic feelings under the cover of Christianity. Bleich also quotes the essays of his students who compared homosexuality with the apocalypse and approved that gays should be stoned or killed, or they just â€Å"don’t deserve to live†. Bleich also notes that there was one man in the class who is courageous enough to confess that every heterosexual young men in the class including

Law case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Law case study - Essay Example Once offer and acceptance are found to exist, the courts will then look to determine whether or not there is consideration. Consideration was defined by Lush LJ in the following terms: While Daniel offered to sell his guitar to Marina for the sum of 500 pounds, Marina did not accept the offer outright. Her offer was no more than a conditional acceptance, in that she would purchase the guitar if she could raise the sum offered. It is commonly felt that in order for the acceptance of an order to be legally binding it must follow the essential substance of the offer made.4 By saying what she could only purchase the guitar if she could raise the funds, Marina was no accepting the offer but merely indicating that she would if and when she had the necessary consideration. Therefore the offer and acceptance would not have been completed until such time as Marina communicated to Daniel a firm intention to purchase the guitar. Since this never happened there was no binding agreement between them. The fact that Daniel sold the guitar to a third party on Wednesday despite having promised Marina that he would not sell the guitar before Friday is of no consequence. There is nothing preventing Daniel withdrawing his offer at anytime before the prescribed period which was stated to Friday. Either party is at liberty to change their minds before the agreement is complete.5 In any event, Marina has a more onerous task establishing that the offer and acceptance goes beyond a mere gratuitous exchange of promises. These kinds of promises, in the absence of an executed deed of contract and/or consideration will not be enforced by the courts. In order to substantiate an effective claim against Anthea for breach of contract, Marina will have to show that there was some consideration.6 Consideration is defined by Patterson J as: Since Marina did not suffer a detriment pursuant to the offer made and withdrawn