For this week's blog, you will compose the introduction to your paper. As Hacker says, a good length for an introduction is between 50 and 150 words. Write an introduction and integrate your thesis into it.
This introduction needs to do several things. It needs to grab your reader's attention. You should establish the topic and show that you know something about the topic -- that is, you need to evince your academic credibility. Also, be sure that your writing leads up to your thesis statement(s) effectively.
This is a short assignment, but I expect you to work hard to polish this into a strong and interesting introduction! Finally, as this is a formal paper, make sure your writing is clear and conforms to Standard English grammar.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Is language learned or biological?
Sam Redden
Is language learned or biological?
Thesis:
Considering the fact that children are taught their native language by being around and communicating with other natives; language is taught. However, because children easily pick up their language without extensive teachings, the desire to communicate is biological.
Quote 1: Harvey A. Daniels “Nine Ideas about Language” pg 19
“Children learn their native language swiftly, efficiently, and largely without instruction.”
This quote will be used to argue that when children learn language, there is more to it than merely being taught. They are not given lessons on grammar at age two, but they somehow still pick it up. This quote will help persuade readers that there is a role of biology in the development of a child’s native tongue.
Quote 2: Pinker “An instinct to acquire an art” pg 4
“We think that children pick up their mother tongue by imitating their mothers, but when a child says Don’t giggle me! or We holded the baby rabbits, it cannot be an act of imitation.”
I understand that most readers will need more persuasion to believe language is also biological than to believe it is learned by people around us. This quote will cause my readers to think about their arguments and consider my thesis more deeply.
Quote 3: Dalrymple “The Gift of Language” pg 4
“my mother, a native German-speaker, arrived in England aged 18 and learned to speak standard English without a trace of a German accent (which linguists say is a rare accomplishment) and without ever making a grammatical mistake. She didn’t imitate her parents, perhaps, but she imitated someone.”
This quote will be used to argue other point of my thesis. When learning a language, one typically repeats what they hear other speakers saying. I refuse, however, to write a paper about the hat Dalrymple has for Pinker. Dalrymple’s point will not necessarily used to contradict Pinker, but to aid in the construction of my paper.
Is language learned or biological?
Thesis:
Considering the fact that children are taught their native language by being around and communicating with other natives; language is taught. However, because children easily pick up their language without extensive teachings, the desire to communicate is biological.
Quote 1: Harvey A. Daniels “Nine Ideas about Language” pg 19
“Children learn their native language swiftly, efficiently, and largely without instruction.”
This quote will be used to argue that when children learn language, there is more to it than merely being taught. They are not given lessons on grammar at age two, but they somehow still pick it up. This quote will help persuade readers that there is a role of biology in the development of a child’s native tongue.
Quote 2: Pinker “An instinct to acquire an art” pg 4
“We think that children pick up their mother tongue by imitating their mothers, but when a child says Don’t giggle me! or We holded the baby rabbits, it cannot be an act of imitation.”
I understand that most readers will need more persuasion to believe language is also biological than to believe it is learned by people around us. This quote will cause my readers to think about their arguments and consider my thesis more deeply.
Quote 3: Dalrymple “The Gift of Language” pg 4
“my mother, a native German-speaker, arrived in England aged 18 and learned to speak standard English without a trace of a German accent (which linguists say is a rare accomplishment) and without ever making a grammatical mistake. She didn’t imitate her parents, perhaps, but she imitated someone.”
This quote will be used to argue other point of my thesis. When learning a language, one typically repeats what they hear other speakers saying. I refuse, however, to write a paper about the hat Dalrymple has for Pinker. Dalrymple’s point will not necessarily used to contradict Pinker, but to aid in the construction of my paper.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Language: have it or gain it?
Leila Shearon
9.25.09
Thesis
The development of language in a human child is not strictly the work of neither nature nor nurture; it is a combination of both.
Quotes
“For you and I belong to a species with remarkable ability…”
>>I decided to use this quote to state that the communication is more complex and advanced than that of animals. Since it is more complex it requires nurture for it to grow to its full potential. (Pinker page 1)
Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of biological makeup of our brains. (Pinker page 18)
“Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in a child spontaneously without conscious effort or formal instruction”(Pinker page 3)
>>I will use these quote to state the side that Pinker takes. His opinion is only half of what I believe is truth.
“I find it difficult to believe that this is entirely a coincidence and that imitation has nothing to do with it. Moreover, it is a sociological truism that children tend to speak not merely that language but the dialect of their parents." (Dalrymple page 4)
>>I will use this quote to state that culture and surrounding also has a part in the development of language in a child.
9.25.09
Thesis
The development of language in a human child is not strictly the work of neither nature nor nurture; it is a combination of both.
Quotes
“For you and I belong to a species with remarkable ability…”
>>I decided to use this quote to state that the communication is more complex and advanced than that of animals. Since it is more complex it requires nurture for it to grow to its full potential. (Pinker page 1)
Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of biological makeup of our brains. (Pinker page 18)
“Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in a child spontaneously without conscious effort or formal instruction”(Pinker page 3)
>>I will use these quote to state the side that Pinker takes. His opinion is only half of what I believe is truth.
“I find it difficult to believe that this is entirely a coincidence and that imitation has nothing to do with it. Moreover, it is a sociological truism that children tend to speak not merely that language but the dialect of their parents." (Dalrymple page 4)
>>I will use this quote to state that culture and surrounding also has a part in the development of language in a child.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Language Authority in the United States
Jackie Hand
Dr. Hughes
English 1101
Quote 2: “I’ll never forget, all the mothers were crying.”
I chose this quote because it shows the pain that these poor people had to go through. They were forced to send their children to these schools, and it is just so sad. It must have been terrible as a mother to watch your children be sent away where you KNEW that they were going to be abused.
Quote 3: "A great general has said that the only good Indian is a dead one," Pratt said. "In a sense, I agree with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man."
Why should you want to ridicule someone for their heritage? That goes against everything that this country stands for. People came here to not be judged or punished for what they believe or how they speak, and without that we would not be what we are today. So why are we punishing the people who were here first?
Dr. Hughes
English 1101
Language Authority In the United States
Thesis statement: It is apparent that English is the language spoken by most people in this country. Yet, it has yet to be made into our “official” language. So, how is it, since we are indecisive ourselves, that we feel the right to force others to learn English? We, together as a country, need to make a decision on what to do about this situation. If it is necessary for others to learn English, then why not just make it our official language?
Quote 1: “Kill the Indian…save the man”
I chose this quote because it is the most ludicrous statement that I have ever heard. If we are really the “land of the free” then how can we say this about the very people who were here first? I think I’m going to use this quote as a basis for most of my paper because this is the very thing that I want to argue against.
Thesis statement: It is apparent that English is the language spoken by most people in this country. Yet, it has yet to be made into our “official” language. So, how is it, since we are indecisive ourselves, that we feel the right to force others to learn English? We, together as a country, need to make a decision on what to do about this situation. If it is necessary for others to learn English, then why not just make it our official language?
Quote 1: “Kill the Indian…save the man”
I chose this quote because it is the most ludicrous statement that I have ever heard. If we are really the “land of the free” then how can we say this about the very people who were here first? I think I’m going to use this quote as a basis for most of my paper because this is the very thing that I want to argue against.
Quote 2: “I’ll never forget, all the mothers were crying.”
I chose this quote because it shows the pain that these poor people had to go through. They were forced to send their children to these schools, and it is just so sad. It must have been terrible as a mother to watch your children be sent away where you KNEW that they were going to be abused.
Quote 3: "A great general has said that the only good Indian is a dead one," Pratt said. "In a sense, I agree with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man."
Why should you want to ridicule someone for their heritage? That goes against everything that this country stands for. People came here to not be judged or punished for what they believe or how they speak, and without that we would not be what we are today. So why are we punishing the people who were here first?
Animals Are Capable of Communication Too!
Steven Holland
Engl 1101
Dr. Hughes
Blog 5
Thesis Statement- Many people don’t think that animals are capable of communicating with the human race. Animals can indeed communicate with humans through various methods other than speech. The inability to speak does not stop many animals from communicating with humans; especially if they are taught to communicate using sign language or some other method of communication.
Quote 1: “Yet we know that creatures are capable of communicating, certainly with other members of their own species. Is it possible that a creature could learn to communicate with humans using language?”(The Study of Language, George Yule)
This quote will essentially be used to introduce the topic and to make the reader think to himself, “can animals really communicate with humans? I wonder.”
Quote 2: “Riders can say Woah to horses and they stop"(The Study of Language, George Yule)
This quote shows that animals can understand human speech. It shows the possibility that humans can understand some form of language that an animal would be capable of using.
Quote 3: “Some of the forms appear to have been inventions by Washoe, as in her novel sign for bib and in the combination water bird, which would seem to indicate that her communication system had the potential for productivity.”
This quote proves that animals, chimpanzees in this instance, are capable of communicating with humans and developing their own form words that they have not been taught.
Engl 1101
Dr. Hughes
Blog 5
Thesis Statement- Many people don’t think that animals are capable of communicating with the human race. Animals can indeed communicate with humans through various methods other than speech. The inability to speak does not stop many animals from communicating with humans; especially if they are taught to communicate using sign language or some other method of communication.
Quote 1: “Yet we know that creatures are capable of communicating, certainly with other members of their own species. Is it possible that a creature could learn to communicate with humans using language?”(The Study of Language, George Yule)
This quote will essentially be used to introduce the topic and to make the reader think to himself, “can animals really communicate with humans? I wonder.”
Quote 2: “Riders can say Woah to horses and they stop"(The Study of Language, George Yule)
This quote shows that animals can understand human speech. It shows the possibility that humans can understand some form of language that an animal would be capable of using.
Quote 3: “Some of the forms appear to have been inventions by Washoe, as in her novel sign for bib and in the combination water bird, which would seem to indicate that her communication system had the potential for productivity.”
This quote proves that animals, chimpanzees in this instance, are capable of communicating with humans and developing their own form words that they have not been taught.
How do we learn language? Is language biological, cultural, or a combination of both?
Carmen Solis
Engl 1107
Thesis:
Pinker and Dalrymple explain thoroughly in their writing how language is developed in a human-being. Pinker states that language is something that comes naturally; while, Dalrymple explains that the cultural environment that one lives in has a great influence on the language. As a matter of fact, language's development is a combination of biological and one's surrounding.
Quotes:
“Indeed, you can posses all these advantages and still not be a competent language user, if you lack just the right genes or just the right bits of brain” (Chatterboxes, pg 54 by Pinker)
I will use this quote to state what Pinker thinks of how language is developed. This quote shows that Pinker takes the side that language comes from biological meaning. This quote has facts and it will give me a chance to combine with one of Dalrymple’s quote explaining how the cultural and biological are linked together to form and develop language.
“Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex…..process information or behave intelligently” (An instinct to acquire an Art, pg 18 by Pinker)
This quote gives an insight into why Pinker thinks language comes naturally. This quote explains exactly what he thinks. It would help the readers to understand his strong point of view. I will paraphrase and supply examples of his point-of-view. I will explain this quote more extensively and provide more information of why he thinks that way.
“It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents (or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration, but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking children…it is a sociological truism that a children tend to speak not merely the language but the dialect of their parents” (The Gift of Language, pg 4 by Theodore)
I will use this quote to explain what Theodore thinks about language. He is saying that if a child is around Chinese speaking parents, of course, he is going to learn Chinese because that is the language he is hearing. Basically, the environment that a child is surrounded by and the language that he/she is hearing will cause some effect on her language.
Engl 1107
Thesis:
Pinker and Dalrymple explain thoroughly in their writing how language is developed in a human-being. Pinker states that language is something that comes naturally; while, Dalrymple explains that the cultural environment that one lives in has a great influence on the language. As a matter of fact, language's development is a combination of biological and one's surrounding.
Quotes:
“Indeed, you can posses all these advantages and still not be a competent language user, if you lack just the right genes or just the right bits of brain” (Chatterboxes, pg 54 by Pinker)
I will use this quote to state what Pinker thinks of how language is developed. This quote shows that Pinker takes the side that language comes from biological meaning. This quote has facts and it will give me a chance to combine with one of Dalrymple’s quote explaining how the cultural and biological are linked together to form and develop language.
“Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex…..process information or behave intelligently” (An instinct to acquire an Art, pg 18 by Pinker)
This quote gives an insight into why Pinker thinks language comes naturally. This quote explains exactly what he thinks. It would help the readers to understand his strong point of view. I will paraphrase and supply examples of his point-of-view. I will explain this quote more extensively and provide more information of why he thinks that way.
“It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents (or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration, but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking children…it is a sociological truism that a children tend to speak not merely the language but the dialect of their parents” (The Gift of Language, pg 4 by Theodore)
I will use this quote to explain what Theodore thinks about language. He is saying that if a child is around Chinese speaking parents, of course, he is going to learn Chinese because that is the language he is hearing. Basically, the environment that a child is surrounded by and the language that he/she is hearing will cause some effect on her language.
Learning Language: Biological or Cultural
Mary Elizabeth Lowe
English 1101
Hughes
2/25/2009
Thesis Statement:
While a number of individuals believe undoubtedly that language is purely biological or learned, a more logical conclusion is in the blending of both inheritance and learning of language. A biological neural program in each human beings head is an innate essential for future language; however, it is equally vital to hear the voices of language in order to fully communicate and reach one’s linguistic potential.
Quotes:
“Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in a child spontaneously without conscious effort or formal instruction”
(Pinker, 3)
This quote will provide credibility due to the fact he is a well educated and published writer. This statement will be used to argue that language is an innate ability in all people. One does not necessarily need a formal education to communicate, but it is obviously quite helpful.
“It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents ( or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration , but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking children, and Portuguese parents Portuguese-speaking ones”. (Dalrymple, 3)
This remark about Chinese speaking children having Chinese parents provides a great amount of evidence that language is learned rather than solely biological. I was raised by English speaking parents and I speak English. If language was purely biological as some people think, why did I not learn Chinese instead of English?
Noam Chomsky basic argument is that there exists an innate language acquisition device, a neural program that prepares them to learn language (Kandel 638). http://www.duke.edu/~pk10/language/neuro.htm
This quote provides scientific evidence that in the brain there is the capacity to learn language. It is not so much that we are born speaking, but when we hear others speaking, the “neural program” in our minds enables us to pick up, repeat, and form unique sentences. Thus, a combination of biological and learned aspects are at work.
"No child would ever talk unless he were taught; and no child could be taught unless he already possessed, by inheritance, a particular series of nervous arrangements ready for training"(Marshall, 41). http://www.duke.edu/~pk10/language/neuro.htm
This is an expert opinion that states a child must be ready in his mind, with the needed “nervous arrangements” in order to further that already possessed skill of language through further instruction and teaching. Both steps are needed in language, inheritance and teaching.
English 1101
Hughes
2/25/2009
Thesis Statement:
While a number of individuals believe undoubtedly that language is purely biological or learned, a more logical conclusion is in the blending of both inheritance and learning of language. A biological neural program in each human beings head is an innate essential for future language; however, it is equally vital to hear the voices of language in order to fully communicate and reach one’s linguistic potential.
Quotes:
“Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in a child spontaneously without conscious effort or formal instruction”
(Pinker, 3)
This quote will provide credibility due to the fact he is a well educated and published writer. This statement will be used to argue that language is an innate ability in all people. One does not necessarily need a formal education to communicate, but it is obviously quite helpful.
“It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents ( or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration , but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking children, and Portuguese parents Portuguese-speaking ones”. (Dalrymple, 3)
This remark about Chinese speaking children having Chinese parents provides a great amount of evidence that language is learned rather than solely biological. I was raised by English speaking parents and I speak English. If language was purely biological as some people think, why did I not learn Chinese instead of English?
Noam Chomsky basic argument is that there exists an innate language acquisition device, a neural program that prepares them to learn language (Kandel 638). http://www.duke.edu/~pk10/language/neuro.htm
This quote provides scientific evidence that in the brain there is the capacity to learn language. It is not so much that we are born speaking, but when we hear others speaking, the “neural program” in our minds enables us to pick up, repeat, and form unique sentences. Thus, a combination of biological and learned aspects are at work.
"No child would ever talk unless he were taught; and no child could be taught unless he already possessed, by inheritance, a particular series of nervous arrangements ready for training"(Marshall, 41). http://www.duke.edu/~pk10/language/neuro.htm
This is an expert opinion that states a child must be ready in his mind, with the needed “nervous arrangements” in order to further that already possessed skill of language through further instruction and teaching. Both steps are needed in language, inheritance and teaching.
American Language Authority
Jonathan Dishon
ENGL 1101
Dr. Hughes
September 25, 2009
The United States has no official language to date. It also has no authority to consult when new words are formed. So as a citizen I believe that a national language should be developed, but at the same time we should not get rid of the diversity of languages we already have in existence in the United States. So a language authority in the United States that could establish a standard, but not obliterate the other languages, would greatly benefit the country.
Quote 1: “Every country struggles with the issue of “good language”- what constitutes the standard by which people can model their speech and writing, and judge that of others. Some countries have established official bodies, such as an academy or government agency, to provide guidance through pronouncements and publications.” (“Language Authority in America: In Grammar and Webster We Trust” by Russell Tabbert)
I will use this quote to back-up my decision to have a language authority established. The language authorities of other countries do not get rid of languages, but only set the standard of their own. They also establish pronunciations for words that are new so that they can incorporate them into their language.
Quote 2: “In the United States we have not followed this route, but have instead evolved something of a free-market academy. It operates through two highly competitive segments of the publishing industry. One of them produces monolingual dictionaries, many of which have Webster in their titles. The other publishes numerous books, articles, and columns dealing with the points of usage, that is, the sorts of things that many people refer to with the term grammar.” (“Language Authority in America: In Grammar and Webster We Trust” by Russell Tabbert)
This quote will allow me to show that the United States is already on the way to establishing an authority over language. While it is in the very early stages, it is a good start to becoming an academy or agency that could regulate the language.
Quote 3: “Today English is governed by a loose network of “language authorities,” whom linguist Steven Pinker calls “language mavens”: English teachers, editors, journalists, columnists on language, authors/editors of dictionaries, grammar and usage books, and style guides.”("Language and Authority" by Curzan)
This is another quote that shows how the United States is trying to establish an authority over its language. This shows the type of people who would most likely be considered to be assigned to the academy or agency that would govern the language of the United States.
ENGL 1101
Dr. Hughes
September 25, 2009
The United States has no official language to date. It also has no authority to consult when new words are formed. So as a citizen I believe that a national language should be developed, but at the same time we should not get rid of the diversity of languages we already have in existence in the United States. So a language authority in the United States that could establish a standard, but not obliterate the other languages, would greatly benefit the country.
Quote 1: “Every country struggles with the issue of “good language”- what constitutes the standard by which people can model their speech and writing, and judge that of others. Some countries have established official bodies, such as an academy or government agency, to provide guidance through pronouncements and publications.” (“Language Authority in America: In Grammar and Webster We Trust” by Russell Tabbert)
I will use this quote to back-up my decision to have a language authority established. The language authorities of other countries do not get rid of languages, but only set the standard of their own. They also establish pronunciations for words that are new so that they can incorporate them into their language.
Quote 2: “In the United States we have not followed this route, but have instead evolved something of a free-market academy. It operates through two highly competitive segments of the publishing industry. One of them produces monolingual dictionaries, many of which have Webster in their titles. The other publishes numerous books, articles, and columns dealing with the points of usage, that is, the sorts of things that many people refer to with the term grammar.” (“Language Authority in America: In Grammar and Webster We Trust” by Russell Tabbert)
This quote will allow me to show that the United States is already on the way to establishing an authority over language. While it is in the very early stages, it is a good start to becoming an academy or agency that could regulate the language.
Quote 3: “Today English is governed by a loose network of “language authorities,” whom linguist Steven Pinker calls “language mavens”: English teachers, editors, journalists, columnists on language, authors/editors of dictionaries, grammar and usage books, and style guides.”("Language and Authority" by Curzan)
This is another quote that shows how the United States is trying to establish an authority over its language. This shows the type of people who would most likely be considered to be assigned to the academy or agency that would govern the language of the United States.
Learning Language: Biological or Cultural?
Jennifer Conley
Ms. Hughes
25 September 2009
Thesis Statement: Throughout time linguist have studied how language has evolved. Although there have been many observations theory suggests that language is learned through biological and cultural experiences.
Quote 1:
"Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is complex, specialized skill, which develops in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more general abilities to process information or behave intelligently."(Pinker, 18)
In this quote Pinker is stating that language is not learned through culture but is a biological makeup in our brain. I will use this as evidence of some credibility and as a counterarguement.
Quote 2:
"It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents (or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration, but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking childern, and Portuguese parents Portuguese-speaking ones. I find it difficult to believe that this is entirely a coincidence and that imitation has nothing to do with it. Moreover, it is a sociological truism that childern tend to speak not merely that language but the dialect of their parents." (Dalrymple, 4)
As Dalrymple implies in this quote, childern learn to speak their language through their parents. I will use this as evidence and credibility that childern have to start learning some where, and they mostly around their parents at such a young age.
Quote 3:
"Childern learn to talk, using the language of their parents, siblings, friends, and others as sources and examples- and by using other speakers as testing devices for their own emerging ideas about language." (Daniels, 19)
This quote is be used to sum up my arguement that language is learned through both biological and cultural experiences. As stated in the quote above we learn from our parents, which is considered biological. Then on the other hand, we learn from friends and other sources around us which would make up for the cultural experienes devoted to our language.
Ms. Hughes
25 September 2009
Thesis Statement: Throughout time linguist have studied how language has evolved. Although there have been many observations theory suggests that language is learned through biological and cultural experiences.
Quote 1:
"Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is complex, specialized skill, which develops in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more general abilities to process information or behave intelligently."(Pinker, 18)
In this quote Pinker is stating that language is not learned through culture but is a biological makeup in our brain. I will use this as evidence of some credibility and as a counterarguement.
Quote 2:
"It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents (or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration, but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking childern, and Portuguese parents Portuguese-speaking ones. I find it difficult to believe that this is entirely a coincidence and that imitation has nothing to do with it. Moreover, it is a sociological truism that childern tend to speak not merely that language but the dialect of their parents." (Dalrymple, 4)
As Dalrymple implies in this quote, childern learn to speak their language through their parents. I will use this as evidence and credibility that childern have to start learning some where, and they mostly around their parents at such a young age.
Quote 3:
"Childern learn to talk, using the language of their parents, siblings, friends, and others as sources and examples- and by using other speakers as testing devices for their own emerging ideas about language." (Daniels, 19)
This quote is be used to sum up my arguement that language is learned through both biological and cultural experiences. As stated in the quote above we learn from our parents, which is considered biological. Then on the other hand, we learn from friends and other sources around us which would make up for the cultural experienes devoted to our language.
The Recipe for Learning Language
Bekah Medford
English 1101
Hughes
2/25/2009
The Recipe for Learning Language
Thesis statement: Looking into the recipe of learning language one will find two types of ingredients: biological and cultural. Many people believe that learning language is strictly biological, while others believe language is learned culturally. In reality, the biological and cultural elements are blended together to create a unique, personal, learned language.
Quote 1: “Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more several abilities to process information or behave intelligently… I prefer the term ‘instinct’.” (From “An Instinct to Acquire Art,” by Pinker)
I choose this quote because it is an example of how many people believe language is biological. Language is descriped fully biological in this quote. One main reason I choose this quote was the conclusion. Pinker calls language “instinct.” I agree that language is part instinct.
Quote 2: “Children tend to speak not mearly the language but ther dialect of their parents.” (From “The Gift of Language” by Theodore Dalryme.)
Though not as long as my first quote I pulled out this quote because I think it brings up a great point. This is an example of children getting part of language culturally. A child cannot be born is a certain dilact just because they are born in a certain place. They are trained by listening to people talk in their surrounding environment. Learning languae culturally is describe in this quote.
Quote 3: “ Its factous to expect most complex of human faculties, language, requires no special training to develop it to its highest possible power.” (From “The Gift of Language” by Theodore Dalryme.)
This quote is showing the contrasting opinon to quote 1. I thought it would be a good idea to bring this quote in to convey that diversity. I think this quote makes a lot of since. It has another comprehensible point on why language is somewhat culturally learned. A child with a higher education from a different cultural may be trained better than a child with no education. This will lead the first child to be more effiecent in talking with his language or using his language.
English 1101
Hughes
2/25/2009
The Recipe for Learning Language
Thesis statement: Looking into the recipe of learning language one will find two types of ingredients: biological and cultural. Many people believe that learning language is strictly biological, while others believe language is learned culturally. In reality, the biological and cultural elements are blended together to create a unique, personal, learned language.
Quote 1: “Language is not a cultural artifact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more several abilities to process information or behave intelligently… I prefer the term ‘instinct’.” (From “An Instinct to Acquire Art,” by Pinker)
I choose this quote because it is an example of how many people believe language is biological. Language is descriped fully biological in this quote. One main reason I choose this quote was the conclusion. Pinker calls language “instinct.” I agree that language is part instinct.
Quote 2: “Children tend to speak not mearly the language but ther dialect of their parents.” (From “The Gift of Language” by Theodore Dalryme.)
Though not as long as my first quote I pulled out this quote because I think it brings up a great point. This is an example of children getting part of language culturally. A child cannot be born is a certain dilact just because they are born in a certain place. They are trained by listening to people talk in their surrounding environment. Learning languae culturally is describe in this quote.
Quote 3: “ Its factous to expect most complex of human faculties, language, requires no special training to develop it to its highest possible power.” (From “The Gift of Language” by Theodore Dalryme.)
This quote is showing the contrasting opinon to quote 1. I thought it would be a good idea to bring this quote in to convey that diversity. I think this quote makes a lot of since. It has another comprehensible point on why language is somewhat culturally learned. A child with a higher education from a different cultural may be trained better than a child with no education. This will lead the first child to be more effiecent in talking with his language or using his language.
Linguistic Origins: Culture vs Nature (?)
Thesis:
The debate over linguistic origin has been ongoing throughout the era. Dr. Pinker and Mr. Dalrymple have both made compelling arguments for biology and culture respectively. In spite of this, my verdict stands: human linguistic development originates from a fine blend of biological and cultural influences. No matter how well Pinker and Dalrymple’s arguments are, they do not stand strong enough to justify that language originates from just nature or culture alone.
Quotes:
1. Dr. Pinker talks about the rules of language being somewhat hardwired into children, and how if they are brought up in a language that does not have those grammatical rules, they will create them. Honestly, I cannot fine his exact quote right now, but I will….
I will be using this quote as evidence, credibility, and a counterexample.
2. “It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents (or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration, but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking children, and Portuguese parents Portuguese-speaking ones. I find it difficult to believe that this is entirely a coincidence and that imitation has nothing to do with it. Moreover, it is a sociological truism that children tend to speak not merely the language but the dialect of their parents.”
I’ll be using this quote as well for evidence, credibility, and counterexample
3. “But everyone ought to have the opportunity to transcend the limitations of his linguistic environment, if it is a restricted one—which means that he ought to meet a few schoolmarms in his childhood. Everyone, save the handicapped, learns to run without being taught; but no child runs 100 yards in nine seconds, or even 15 seconds, without training. It is fatuous to expect that the most complex of human faculties, language, requires no special training to develop it to its highest possible power.”
Again, used for credibility, evidence, and counterexample
Further thoughts:
The quotes in general I plan to use to “describe” the views of natural and cultural linguistic origin, so that I may take ideas from each and show how they can cooperate.
I feel that once I have established a fairly strong background of Pinker, Dalrymple, and their views, I can then show how their ideas in fact can sync quite nicely, into a very thoughtful theory of language.
The debate over linguistic origin has been ongoing throughout the era. Dr. Pinker and Mr. Dalrymple have both made compelling arguments for biology and culture respectively. In spite of this, my verdict stands: human linguistic development originates from a fine blend of biological and cultural influences. No matter how well Pinker and Dalrymple’s arguments are, they do not stand strong enough to justify that language originates from just nature or culture alone.
Quotes:
1. Dr. Pinker talks about the rules of language being somewhat hardwired into children, and how if they are brought up in a language that does not have those grammatical rules, they will create them. Honestly, I cannot fine his exact quote right now, but I will….
I will be using this quote as evidence, credibility, and a counterexample.
2. “It is utterly implausible to suggest that imitation of parents (or other social contacts) has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of language. I hesitate to mention so obvious a consideration, but Chinese parents tend to have Chinese-speaking children, and Portuguese parents Portuguese-speaking ones. I find it difficult to believe that this is entirely a coincidence and that imitation has nothing to do with it. Moreover, it is a sociological truism that children tend to speak not merely the language but the dialect of their parents.”
I’ll be using this quote as well for evidence, credibility, and counterexample
3. “But everyone ought to have the opportunity to transcend the limitations of his linguistic environment, if it is a restricted one—which means that he ought to meet a few schoolmarms in his childhood. Everyone, save the handicapped, learns to run without being taught; but no child runs 100 yards in nine seconds, or even 15 seconds, without training. It is fatuous to expect that the most complex of human faculties, language, requires no special training to develop it to its highest possible power.”
Again, used for credibility, evidence, and counterexample
Further thoughts:
The quotes in general I plan to use to “describe” the views of natural and cultural linguistic origin, so that I may take ideas from each and show how they can cooperate.
I feel that once I have established a fairly strong background of Pinker, Dalrymple, and their views, I can then show how their ideas in fact can sync quite nicely, into a very thoughtful theory of language.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Defining human and Animal Communication
THESIS:
Humans have domesticated a good number of animals over their span of history, among these are pets. As humans with emotions, we tend to get so attached to that fluffy dog or cat that we start to give them human characteristics that only belong to us. We are all guilty of this, including myself. We want that animal to be a part of our family so much that we begin to mistake simple animal behavior for something way beyond. Animals cannot communicate with human beings; they can only do sophisticated tricks for things like food and comfort. They do not understand what the words of our language are, but they can do certain things when they hear the placement of our sounds, tones, gestures, and even facial expressions. Animals are just adapting to where they can survive and be comfortable.
Quotes:
“The Standard explanation is that the animal produces a particular behavior in response to a particular sound-stimulus or ‘noise’, but does not actually ‘understand’ what the words in the noise mean.” (From “The Study of Language” by George Yule)
I plan to use this quote to explain to my audience that animals merely respond to a noise that they have been trained to. For example: A human trains its dog that “come” means to go to the position of its master with means of food and comfort. The animal sees this as a good thing, as it helps it survive, and will follow the noise that it is trained to. The dog does not understand the meaning of come, but it knows it will be rewarded so it obeys.
“ As in may critical studies of animal learning, the chimpanzees are cleaver creatures who learn to produce a certain type of behavior (signing or symbol selection) in order to get rewards and are essentially performing sophisticated ‘tricks’.” (From “The Study of Language” by George Yule)
This quote is perfect for me to begin my rant about how the animals that are able to sign or use symbols are merely just doing what the dog, in my latter example, is doing. The only difference is that the chimpanzee has found a more clever way to accomplish what the dog is trying to do.
“Therefore, in a number of cases, vocal interactions in animals do conform to the basic
requirements of turn-taking organization, both in its general context-free aspects
and in contextual flexibility.” (From “Evolution of Communicative Flexibility: Complexity, Creativity, and Adaptability in Human and Animal Communication” by Oller, D. Kimbrough. Griebel, Ulrike.)
I am using this quote to argue with it of course….animals only show turn based organization because that’s how everything flows. All causes have an effect, and to be honest humans are more of a disordered turn system. We talk to each other all the time while the other is talking, so this theory that humans and animals share a turn based system of communication is wrong.
Humans have domesticated a good number of animals over their span of history, among these are pets. As humans with emotions, we tend to get so attached to that fluffy dog or cat that we start to give them human characteristics that only belong to us. We are all guilty of this, including myself. We want that animal to be a part of our family so much that we begin to mistake simple animal behavior for something way beyond. Animals cannot communicate with human beings; they can only do sophisticated tricks for things like food and comfort. They do not understand what the words of our language are, but they can do certain things when they hear the placement of our sounds, tones, gestures, and even facial expressions. Animals are just adapting to where they can survive and be comfortable.
Quotes:
“The Standard explanation is that the animal produces a particular behavior in response to a particular sound-stimulus or ‘noise’, but does not actually ‘understand’ what the words in the noise mean.” (From “The Study of Language” by George Yule)
I plan to use this quote to explain to my audience that animals merely respond to a noise that they have been trained to. For example: A human trains its dog that “come” means to go to the position of its master with means of food and comfort. The animal sees this as a good thing, as it helps it survive, and will follow the noise that it is trained to. The dog does not understand the meaning of come, but it knows it will be rewarded so it obeys.
“ As in may critical studies of animal learning, the chimpanzees are cleaver creatures who learn to produce a certain type of behavior (signing or symbol selection) in order to get rewards and are essentially performing sophisticated ‘tricks’.” (From “The Study of Language” by George Yule)
This quote is perfect for me to begin my rant about how the animals that are able to sign or use symbols are merely just doing what the dog, in my latter example, is doing. The only difference is that the chimpanzee has found a more clever way to accomplish what the dog is trying to do.
“Therefore, in a number of cases, vocal interactions in animals do conform to the basic
requirements of turn-taking organization, both in its general context-free aspects
and in contextual flexibility.” (From “Evolution of Communicative Flexibility: Complexity, Creativity, and Adaptability in Human and Animal Communication” by Oller, D. Kimbrough. Griebel, Ulrike.)
I am using this quote to argue with it of course….animals only show turn based organization because that’s how everything flows. All causes have an effect, and to be honest humans are more of a disordered turn system. We talk to each other all the time while the other is talking, so this theory that humans and animals share a turn based system of communication is wrong.
Learning Language: Biological, Cultural, or Both?
Tyler Gunnin
English 1101
Dr. Hughes
9/25/09
Thesis Statement- As we develop and mature as humans into the full perspective of the world and the languages it has to offer, the genes given to us from our parents that give us the knowledge of language, is also supported through the outside surroundings giving us our education of speaking through both biological and cultural methods.
Quote 1
Children will learn their native language adequately whatever anyone does, and the attempt to teach them language is fraught with psychological perils... But happily, since every child is a linguistic genius, there is no need to do any such thing. Every child will have the linguistic equipment he needs, merely by virtue of growing older. -Theodore Dalrymple "The Gift of Language"
I plan to use this in my essay to show that he is describing that we learn language as we grow older in a biological and cultural sense. He notes children learn adequately whatever anyone does, and by the virtue of growing older. The fact that he states this shows that I can have a counterargument and credibility.
Quote 2
If so, why choose language of all the gifts that they gave him? Presumably, he means that they gave him the opportunity to learn standard English, even if they did not speak it themselves. -Theodore Dalrymple "The Gift of Language"
I plan on using this in my essay by showing that this quote states that our parents give us the opportunity to not only learn english, but it also says that even if they did not speak the language that is being learned, the culture affects our knowledge of language. This also gives a nice counterargument to the matter at hand.
Quote 3
Over and over again, Pinker stresses that children do not learn language by imitation; rather, they learn it because they are biologically predestined to do so. “Let us do away,” he writes, with what one imagines to be a rhetorical sweep of his hand, “with the folklore that parents teach their children language.” It comes as rather a surprise, then, to read the book’s dedication: “For Harry and Roslyn Pinker, who gave me language.” -Theodore Dalrymple "The Gift of Language"
I plan on using this in my essay as another counterargument and for establishing credibility. Pinker states that we are predestined to learn language. Although he says this in his writing, he dedicates his book to his parents who gave him language. By doing this, it shows that Pinker is in agreement that although we may be influenced by the culture around us, we are also given the genes to learn and speak language by our parents.
English 1101
Dr. Hughes
9/25/09
Thesis Statement- As we develop and mature as humans into the full perspective of the world and the languages it has to offer, the genes given to us from our parents that give us the knowledge of language, is also supported through the outside surroundings giving us our education of speaking through both biological and cultural methods.
Quote 1
Children will learn their native language adequately whatever anyone does, and the attempt to teach them language is fraught with psychological perils... But happily, since every child is a linguistic genius, there is no need to do any such thing. Every child will have the linguistic equipment he needs, merely by virtue of growing older. -Theodore Dalrymple "The Gift of Language"
I plan to use this in my essay to show that he is describing that we learn language as we grow older in a biological and cultural sense. He notes children learn adequately whatever anyone does, and by the virtue of growing older. The fact that he states this shows that I can have a counterargument and credibility.
Quote 2
If so, why choose language of all the gifts that they gave him? Presumably, he means that they gave him the opportunity to learn standard English, even if they did not speak it themselves. -Theodore Dalrymple "The Gift of Language"
I plan on using this in my essay by showing that this quote states that our parents give us the opportunity to not only learn english, but it also says that even if they did not speak the language that is being learned, the culture affects our knowledge of language. This also gives a nice counterargument to the matter at hand.
Quote 3
Over and over again, Pinker stresses that children do not learn language by imitation; rather, they learn it because they are biologically predestined to do so. “Let us do away,” he writes, with what one imagines to be a rhetorical sweep of his hand, “with the folklore that parents teach their children language.” It comes as rather a surprise, then, to read the book’s dedication: “For Harry and Roslyn Pinker, who gave me language.” -Theodore Dalrymple "The Gift of Language"
I plan on using this in my essay as another counterargument and for establishing credibility. Pinker states that we are predestined to learn language. Although he says this in his writing, he dedicates his book to his parents who gave him language. By doing this, it shows that Pinker is in agreement that although we may be influenced by the culture around us, we are also given the genes to learn and speak language by our parents.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Blog Prompt for Friday, Sept. 25
Dear All,
This week for your blog you will be preparing to write your first formal paper. Here is what you need to do.
The title of your blog should be your topic. That is, in the "Title" block should be something like: "Learning Langauge: Biological or Cultural?," "Defining Animal and Human Communication," or "Language Authority in the United States."
Write your thesis statement/s. Remember that it should be CLEAR, PRECISE, and DEBATABLE. As discussed, sometimes, a thesis "statement" can be more than one sentence.
Record and cite (author, page number!) three quotes from the reading that you think you could use as material to establish credibility, as evidence for your argument, or as a counterargument that you will address.
After each quote, explain in a few sentences what the quote means and how you plan on using it in the essay (credibility, evidence, counterargument).
I will not be checking the length of your blog, but this is not an invitation to slack off. Your explanations of the quotes will take some effort! I will be grading you on how well you followed directions, and how well you pulled the material together as the basis of your paper. Your writing should be in formal Standard English -- I will mark down for poor or sloppy grammar.
We will be going over these blogs in class on Friday!
This week for your blog you will be preparing to write your first formal paper. Here is what you need to do.
The title of your blog should be your topic. That is, in the "Title" block should be something like: "Learning Langauge: Biological or Cultural?," "Defining Animal and Human Communication," or "Language Authority in the United States."
Write your thesis statement/s. Remember that it should be CLEAR, PRECISE, and DEBATABLE. As discussed, sometimes, a thesis "statement" can be more than one sentence.
Record and cite (author, page number!) three quotes from the reading that you think you could use as material to establish credibility, as evidence for your argument, or as a counterargument that you will address.
After each quote, explain in a few sentences what the quote means and how you plan on using it in the essay (credibility, evidence, counterargument).
I will not be checking the length of your blog, but this is not an invitation to slack off. Your explanations of the quotes will take some effort! I will be grading you on how well you followed directions, and how well you pulled the material together as the basis of your paper. Your writing should be in formal Standard English -- I will mark down for poor or sloppy grammar.
We will be going over these blogs in class on Friday!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A reliable dictionary???
Sam Redden
September 19, 2009
“Word of the Day”
The English language is a forever growing language. Words are added to our vocabulary everyday; most of these words being slang, of course. I was unaware that there was an online dictionary that held all of the modern day slang. The Urban Dictionary is polar opposites of the Oxford English Dictionary printed in 1989. This dictionary has all the term that you would see in a standard research paper. Both of these dictionaries have a “word of the day” posted on their website. By just looking at these two words and analyzing the differences of the meanings, I had a clear interpretation of the two dictionaries.
My interpretation of The Urban Dictionary is that it has the credibility of Wikipedia, the encyclopedia where people can write their own takes on words and events. This dictionary is written by whoever feels like writing a word that day. Dictionaries are typically more trusted when they are written by lexicographers that devote their life to produce definitions that society agrees with. The only time I would use this dictionary is if someone called me a foul name that I did not recognize. For example, the “word of the day” for this dictionary is “pirate bath” which is “The process of washing just the arm pit area and the private area with a wash cloth or handful of water.”
In my opinion, the Oxford English Dictionary is a more trusted dictionary. It is not vulgar, and I would feel completely comfortable buying it for my grandmother as a Christmas gift. It is impossible to go online and edit the definitions. The word of the day for this dictionary is “festivity” which is “Festive quality, condition, or nature; fitness for occasions of rejoicing; mirthfulness, cheerful urbanity; also (of writing, etc.), agreeable elegance.” This definition is descriptive because it assumes that the reader already knows the meaning of “festive.”
If I had to choose between the dictionaries, I would choose the Oxford English Dictionary because the Urban Dictionary just strikes me as a joke. I admit to using some of the words and phrases that make up the Urban Dictionary, however I would not use it in formal writing.
September 19, 2009
“Word of the Day”
The English language is a forever growing language. Words are added to our vocabulary everyday; most of these words being slang, of course. I was unaware that there was an online dictionary that held all of the modern day slang. The Urban Dictionary is polar opposites of the Oxford English Dictionary printed in 1989. This dictionary has all the term that you would see in a standard research paper. Both of these dictionaries have a “word of the day” posted on their website. By just looking at these two words and analyzing the differences of the meanings, I had a clear interpretation of the two dictionaries.
My interpretation of The Urban Dictionary is that it has the credibility of Wikipedia, the encyclopedia where people can write their own takes on words and events. This dictionary is written by whoever feels like writing a word that day. Dictionaries are typically more trusted when they are written by lexicographers that devote their life to produce definitions that society agrees with. The only time I would use this dictionary is if someone called me a foul name that I did not recognize. For example, the “word of the day” for this dictionary is “pirate bath” which is “The process of washing just the arm pit area and the private area with a wash cloth or handful of water.”
In my opinion, the Oxford English Dictionary is a more trusted dictionary. It is not vulgar, and I would feel completely comfortable buying it for my grandmother as a Christmas gift. It is impossible to go online and edit the definitions. The word of the day for this dictionary is “festivity” which is “Festive quality, condition, or nature; fitness for occasions of rejoicing; mirthfulness, cheerful urbanity; also (of writing, etc.), agreeable elegance.” This definition is descriptive because it assumes that the reader already knows the meaning of “festive.”
If I had to choose between the dictionaries, I would choose the Oxford English Dictionary because the Urban Dictionary just strikes me as a joke. I admit to using some of the words and phrases that make up the Urban Dictionary, however I would not use it in formal writing.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Trippin'
Tyler Gunnin
English 1101
Dr. Hughes
9/18/09
Language has continually changed throughout the years. The meaning of any certain word can stir up mixed debate. Today the internet presents access to multiple dictionaries, including two of the most well-known: The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the Urban Dictionary. These two sites allow us to see a "proper" definition, coming from the OED, and a "not-so-politically-correct" definition, branching from the Urban Dictionary. The word I chose to examine from these two sources is "trip". By viewing the OED and Urban Dictionary, the alteration in a single word's meaning becomes apparent through the prescriptive and descriptive definitions.
The OED offers a prescriptive view of the various words in the English language, because it presents the definitions in the way that they technically "should" be presented. "Trip" is a common word, and when searched in the OED, the definition is presented as: The action or an act of tripping or moving lightly and quickly; a light lively movement of the feet. It also gives the definition: A short voyage or journey; a ‘run’. The term used as an act was first used in 1600, and in it was later used in 1691 as a short voyage. The OED is presented by scholars in this prescriptive version, therefore, when trusting a dictionary definition, it is always the smart choice to access the site that produces words approved by the renown scholars themselves.
The Urban Dictionary presents an extremely differed definition of a word. The site is descriptive in the sense that anyone can write their own meaning to a word in the way we think they should be used. First, a point that feels necessary to mention, is the fact that people may sometimes underestimate the OED. For example, when researching the word "trip", I had no clue that it was first used as a slang word in 1959. Although the OED may present the definition as a slang term, the Urban Dictionary displays the term in the way I expected it to be shown. "Trip", according to the Urban Dictionary's definition, is: A noun that refers to a single complete experience of using acid (LSD, which is a powerful hallucinogenic drug), or any other powerful hallucinogenic drug. It is also stated: Can be used fuguratively in a way that is very often used to describe things that are crazy, chaotic, cool, or ,esp., figuratively capable of inducing hallucinations. The Urban Dictionary can be accessed by anyone, and whoever chooses to do so, may post their very own definition, therefore, it is never wise to follow any information linked from the site.
The OED and the Urban Dictionary both have their strong points. The OED presents prescriptive information, because the English scholars research, write, and approve the definitions on the site. The Urban Dictionary presents descriptive information, because "everyday" people write the "everyday" definition in the way that we may be more comfortable with. Although it may be true, the obvious dictionary that is "better" and more accurate is the OED. It may not be the descriptive definition that we may be use to, but it presents the appropriate information in a descriptive manner in the way we should be use to.
English 1101
Dr. Hughes
9/18/09
Language has continually changed throughout the years. The meaning of any certain word can stir up mixed debate. Today the internet presents access to multiple dictionaries, including two of the most well-known: The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the Urban Dictionary. These two sites allow us to see a "proper" definition, coming from the OED, and a "not-so-politically-correct" definition, branching from the Urban Dictionary. The word I chose to examine from these two sources is "trip". By viewing the OED and Urban Dictionary, the alteration in a single word's meaning becomes apparent through the prescriptive and descriptive definitions.
The OED offers a prescriptive view of the various words in the English language, because it presents the definitions in the way that they technically "should" be presented. "Trip" is a common word, and when searched in the OED, the definition is presented as: The action or an act of tripping or moving lightly and quickly; a light lively movement of the feet. It also gives the definition: A short voyage or journey; a ‘run’. The term used as an act was first used in 1600, and in it was later used in 1691 as a short voyage. The OED is presented by scholars in this prescriptive version, therefore, when trusting a dictionary definition, it is always the smart choice to access the site that produces words approved by the renown scholars themselves.
The Urban Dictionary presents an extremely differed definition of a word. The site is descriptive in the sense that anyone can write their own meaning to a word in the way we think they should be used. First, a point that feels necessary to mention, is the fact that people may sometimes underestimate the OED. For example, when researching the word "trip", I had no clue that it was first used as a slang word in 1959. Although the OED may present the definition as a slang term, the Urban Dictionary displays the term in the way I expected it to be shown. "Trip", according to the Urban Dictionary's definition, is: A noun that refers to a single complete experience of using acid (LSD, which is a powerful hallucinogenic drug), or any other powerful hallucinogenic drug. It is also stated: Can be used fuguratively in a way that is very often used to describe things that are crazy, chaotic, cool, or ,esp., figuratively capable of inducing hallucinations. The Urban Dictionary can be accessed by anyone, and whoever chooses to do so, may post their very own definition, therefore, it is never wise to follow any information linked from the site.
The OED and the Urban Dictionary both have their strong points. The OED presents prescriptive information, because the English scholars research, write, and approve the definitions on the site. The Urban Dictionary presents descriptive information, because "everyday" people write the "everyday" definition in the way that we may be more comfortable with. Although it may be true, the obvious dictionary that is "better" and more accurate is the OED. It may not be the descriptive definition that we may be use to, but it presents the appropriate information in a descriptive manner in the way we should be use to.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Superior definition?
Mary Lowe
ENGL 1101
Dr. Hughes
In our world everyone has their own opinion about many different subjects. For this reason various outlets such as Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia have been created to foster to the human need of being heard. While these avenues of information might provide an opinion on a certain topic, how credible are they? The Urban Dictionary is composed of non- authoritative sources who simply provide the “street” definition which makes this dictionary a descriptive source. Anyone with internet access can provide a definition which means the “facts” on these sites are likely not up to par compared to a prescriptive authority such as the Oxford English Dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary has been composed by a number of esteemed scholars who have climbed the ladder of education toward scholastic superiority. Some though, have criticized this Dictionary by saying, “ it has become, like the English monarchy, virtually immune from criticism in principle”. The Urban and Oxford dictionaries stand as polar opposites concerning authority, but such a subjective decree regarding which one is “better” is a difficult judgment to make.
I believe that there is a time and a place for everything and I think this is no less true pertaining to these dictionaries. For example, the word “lame” has a different definition on the prescriptive and descriptive sites. The definition on the Oxford English Dictionary is “disabled in the foot or leg, so as to walk haltingly or be unable to walk”. This is the common understanding of the word which has dated all the way back to 1000 C.E. The Urban Dictionary on the other hand defines “lame” as “just plain stupid, un-original, or lifeless”. Both of these definitions are useful in different circumstances but in formal writing or speaking I would certainly opt to use the Oxford Dictionary and I would dare not obtain information from the Urban Dictionary.
In the majority of our lives we flounder about resorting to slang for various reasons such as ease, comfort and conformity. We are the Urban Dictionary and the realm above who we aspire to be is the Oxford Dictionary. Both are accepted as valid in their own circles but I, and many others, believe the standard is definitely the Oxford for it has endured through the good times and the bad; time evokes respect.
ENGL 1101
Dr. Hughes
In our world everyone has their own opinion about many different subjects. For this reason various outlets such as Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia have been created to foster to the human need of being heard. While these avenues of information might provide an opinion on a certain topic, how credible are they? The Urban Dictionary is composed of non- authoritative sources who simply provide the “street” definition which makes this dictionary a descriptive source. Anyone with internet access can provide a definition which means the “facts” on these sites are likely not up to par compared to a prescriptive authority such as the Oxford English Dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary has been composed by a number of esteemed scholars who have climbed the ladder of education toward scholastic superiority. Some though, have criticized this Dictionary by saying, “ it has become, like the English monarchy, virtually immune from criticism in principle”. The Urban and Oxford dictionaries stand as polar opposites concerning authority, but such a subjective decree regarding which one is “better” is a difficult judgment to make.
I believe that there is a time and a place for everything and I think this is no less true pertaining to these dictionaries. For example, the word “lame” has a different definition on the prescriptive and descriptive sites. The definition on the Oxford English Dictionary is “disabled in the foot or leg, so as to walk haltingly or be unable to walk”. This is the common understanding of the word which has dated all the way back to 1000 C.E. The Urban Dictionary on the other hand defines “lame” as “just plain stupid, un-original, or lifeless”. Both of these definitions are useful in different circumstances but in formal writing or speaking I would certainly opt to use the Oxford Dictionary and I would dare not obtain information from the Urban Dictionary.
In the majority of our lives we flounder about resorting to slang for various reasons such as ease, comfort and conformity. We are the Urban Dictionary and the realm above who we aspire to be is the Oxford Dictionary. Both are accepted as valid in their own circles but I, and many others, believe the standard is definitely the Oxford for it has endured through the good times and the bad; time evokes respect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)