Netspeak Is Something Completely New English Language Essay

Netspeak Is Something Completely New English Language Essay In this essay, I will briefly identify the key features of Netspeak outlined by Crystal and subsequently attempt to evaluate his assertion that Netspeak can be classed as a fourth medium. In his book, Language and the Internet, Crystal states, Netspeak relies on characteristic belonging to both sides of the speech/writing divide I aim to decide whether this is the case or whether it is simply an aggregate of written and spoken characteristics. To begin his analysis, Crystal first establishes the key differences between written and spoken language and the criteria for each; he then applied each to Netspeak with reference to different areas of the internet. Table 1 illustrates the application of spoken language, with Table 2 doing the same for written. Table 1: Spoken language criteria applied to Netspeak (Crystal, 2006, p. 45) Web Blogging e-mail Chatgroups Virtual worlds Instant messaging Time-bound No No Yes, but differently Yes, but differently Yes, but differently Yes Spontaneous No Yes, but restricted Variable Yes, but restricted Yes, but restricted Yes Face-to-face No No No No No No, unless camera used Loosely structured Variable Yes Variable Yes Yes Yes Socially interactive No, with increasing options No, with increasing options Variable Yes, but restricted Yes, but restricted yes Immediately revisable No No No No No No Prosodically rich No No No No No No A key point in favour of Crystals argument is the lack of likeness to spoken language, however some features of spoken language is present for example, short constructions, phrasal repetition and looser sentence construction (Crystal, 2006). Nevertheless, there are crucial differences, including the absence of kinesics and proxemics that are essential for expressing personal opinions and attitudes in spoken language, as well as moderating social relationships to avoid disambiguation. Smileys or emoticons are used, particularly on social media sites, chat groups and in online messaging, in an attempt to replace these language features as without the common courtesies of spoken language, online messages may well be construed as impolite or offensive. However, the semantic role of emoticons are limited and can lead to misunderstanding themselves (Crystal, 2006), especially as they often appear in different formats. Further attempts have been made to replace paralinguistic features in instant messaging or on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Exaggerated use of spelling and punctuation, capitals and repeated letters and/or punctuation marks such as, NOOOOO!!!!, aaaaaah and woooooo are all common. Nevertheless, although capable of expressiveness, the range of meaning from these exaggerations is limited to emphasis, surprise and puzzlement. (Crystal, 2006) Spontaneity is probably the most obvious distinction between spoken language and Netspeak. A web page is never spontaneous as it is written, published, and then can be viewed years later. If an article from an online newspaper, or a blog, were viewed, it would not be unusual for said article to be a couple of years old. In terms of written language also, it could have been edited, with its content updated, layout altered or, if it is one of the larger newspapers, its advertising sponsor may have changed. An article on the Guardian website for example could have been written in 2007, yet been updated in 2011 to be relevant to current affairs. During these 4 years, the Guardian may have changed their sponsor from 02 to Hilton Hotels and so the adverts down the side will have changed too, and so on. Whilst these changes will have been made online, the same article printed in the Guardian newspaper in 2007 will remain un-edited in print form. Even instant messaging lacks the spontaneity of speech; a face-to-face conversation normally runs at 5 to 6 syllables a second, instant messaging however, must include time for the recipient to read and type their reply. An email could take even longer to respond months, although unusual , is not impossible. Table 2: Written language criteria applied to Netspeak (Crystal, 2006, p. 47) Web Blogging e-mail Chatgroups Virtual worlds Instant messaging Space-bound Yes, with options Yes Yes, but routinely deleted Yes, but restricted Yes, but restricted Yes, but moves off-screen rapidly Contrived Yes Variable Variable No, but with some adaption No, but with some adaption No Visually decontextuali-sed Yes, but with considerable adaption Yes Yes Yes Yes, but with some adaption Yes, unless camera used Elaborately structured Yes Variable Variable No No No Factually communicative Yes Yes Yes Variable Yes, but with some adaption Variable Repeatedly revisable Yes Variable Variable No No No Prosodically rich Yes, but differently No, with increasing options No No Yes, but differently No We must also consider that a large proportion of the language on the internet is written with the intention an audience of more than one will read it. Emails, along with other messages, are normally, but not always revised before sent, and web pages or articles from online magazines for example are edited before publishing. It is clear from Table 2 that there are a greater number of similarities between Netspeak and written language than Netspeak and Spoken. Equally, there is still a large number of further dissimilarities not yet discussed, for example, a user can interfere with a text from a web page through copy and paste, downloading or other methods not possible using traditional written texts. Thus, it is clear that Netspeak is closer to written language than spoken although there are still dissimilarities; this is where Netspeak has been described as written language pulled towards spoken. Whilst I am prepared to agree with this, I feel that Crystals assertion that Netspeak is a new medium is more accurate. Yes, Netspeak displays characteristics of both written and spoken forms of language, there are too many dissimilarities, at the moment, to enable us to categorically state to which category Netspeak belongs. The internet is constantly growing, likewise language evolving, so this may change. However with language as it currently stands, I feel Crystals assertion that Netspeak is a fourth medium is accurate.

Conflicts Caused by Differences among Groups Essay

Conflicts Caused by Differences among Groups Throughout history differences among groups have often led to conflict. Two specific conflicts were the persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire and the Armenian massacres. These two conflicts were caused by differences among groups. The persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire was caused by differences in religion. In 1914 the conflict between the Turks and the Armenians led to the Armenian massacre which was caused by political differences. The persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire was caused by differences in religion. The Roman Empire was quite tolerant in its treatment of other religions. The imperial policy was generally one of incorporation; the local gods of a newly conquered area were simply added to the Roman pantheon and often given Roman names. Even the Jews, with their one god, were tolerated. For the Romans, religion was first and foremost a social activity that promoted unity and loyalty to the state, a religious attitude the Romans called pietas, or piety. Cicero wrote that if piety in the Roman sense were to disappear, social unity and justice would perish along with it. The Roman distaste for Christianity then, arose in large part from its sense that it was bad for society. The effect of this conflict was that it led to the persecution of Christians. Secondly, the Armenian massacre was another conflict that happened because of differences among groups. In 1914, the Turks entered World War I on the side of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Military leaders began to argue that the Armenians were traitors. If they thought they could win independence the Armenians would be eager to fight for the enemy. As the war intensified Armenians organized volunteer battalions to help the Russian army fight against the Turks in the Caucasus region. These events and general Turkish suspicion of the Armenian people led the Turkish government to push for the removal of the Armenians from the war zones along the Eastern Front. On April 24, 1915, the Armenian genocide began. That day the Turkish government arrested and executed several hundred Armenian intellectuals. After that ordinary Armenians were turned out of their homes and sent on death marches through the Me sopotamian desert without food or water. Frequently, the marchers were stripped naked and forced to walk under the scorching sun until they dropped dead. People who stopped to rest were shot. In conclusion, differences among groups have  often led to conflicts. Two main conflicts were the persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire, which was caused by differences in religion, and the Armenian massacre, which was caused by political differences

Personal Characteristics of Nick Thomas, Charles Henry, and Chairman Lup In Wisdom Sits in Places

The significance of place-names is compounded in the personal characteristics of Nick Thompson, Charles Henry, and Chairman Lup. Although their personal characteristics differ significantly in terms of attitudes and approach to reality, their behavioral orientation are relatively the same. The subscription to a single set of norms (the rules attached to the place-names) ensures a relatively predictable pattern of behavior from the three characters.Hence, one can assume that the behavioral orientation of the three characters stemmed not from their intrinsic characteristics but rather to their personal interpretations of ‘reality. Here, reality takes the form of adjunctive reference to the past, the legacy of place-names. There is a need, however, to look into the personal characteristics (behavioral) of the characters to provide credence to the above-mentioned proposition. Charles is a traditionalist, an individual who clings to the general beliefs and rules of ancient customs. His minimal exposure to the vagrancies of modern life did not affect his behavioral orientation towards customs and tradition. In fact, most of his actions indicate a persona that embraces the beauty and glorious existence of place-names.In page 10 of the book, Charles said to Mosley: What he’s doing isn’t right. It’s not good. He seems to be in a hurry. Why is he in a hurry? It’s disrespectful. Our ancestors made this name. They made it just as it is. They made it for a reason. They spoke it first, a long time ago! He’s repeating the speech of our ancestors. He doesn’t know that. Tell him he’s repeating the speech of our ancestors. Charles’ obsession with mental images and speeches of his ancestors created a personal impression of sturdiness in his character.He refuses to allow changes that will affect his beliefs on place-names. Nick Thompson behavioral orientation is similar to that of Charles Henry. An old man who delighted in telling humorous and often embarrassing stories, his expression is quite mischievous and intimidating. In the tribe though, he is known as the true â€Å"Slim Coyote. † Thompson’s character can be described in four words: serious, generous, intelligent, and outspoken. In anthropology, the character of Nick Thompson exemplifies the character of an ideal elder who teaches the younger generation the essence of existence.In page 43 of the book, he said, â€Å"Start with the names. I will teach you like before. Come back tomorrow morning†¦ White men need paper maps. We have maps on our minds. † Due reference again is made to the highly revered place-names. The Western Apache’s reverence to place-names are generally rooted from the historical value of the place-names themselves. This historical value is imbued in the personal beliefs of every Apache. It can be said that Nick Thompson, by virtue of his age, has strong personal attachment to this histori cal value.In fact, his understanding bear more influence to his behavioral orientation than his actual belief in the place-names themselves. His motto in life is: â€Å"Learn the names† (a deep understanding of the place-names). Chairman Lup’s character is generally similar to that of Thompson. His obsession with stories about place-names is the primary foundation of his behavioral orientation. For the most, an understanding of his character forces one to assume that he is a strict traditionalist. His personal belief about place-names is actually greater than Charles Henry and almost equal to that of Nick Thompson.

Abortions in the World - 1301 Words

Abortions are becoming a pervasive issue taking place in many countries. Women subjecting themselves to an abortion are deliberately terminating their pregnancy. Taking such a choice is an intimate decision women are willing to take in order to avoid several complications that they will encounter in the future. Societies have developed opposing elaborate determined views regarding the controversial issue of abortion. While many people known as â€Å"Pro-Life† believe that abortions should not be allowed under any circumstance, other individuals know as â€Å"Pro-Choice† believe that abortions should be allowed and legalized. Abortions are unethical and should be banned in society due to the fact that abortions kill innocent lives and cause health drawbacks to women who have undergone this operation. Abortion existed a long time ago and it was a widespread method used to end pregnancies in many cultures in which women used to help each other abort. Abortions used to take place in the past by using different techniques like ingesting abortifacient herbs, using sharpened instruments or even by applying abdominal pressure. With time, abortion techniques developed and so did its status; from legal to illegal and vise versa. The prohibition of abortions started in the 19th century specifically in the year 1803 in which Britain Law stated that an abortion is a crime (Keown 26). The United States of America followed and by the year 1880 most abortions were prohibited excluding the onesShow MoreRelated Abortion Around the World Essay1336 Words   |  6 PagesToday, 76 percent of the worlds people live in countries where induced abortion is legal, at least for health reasons, and 39 percent reside in nations where abortion is available upon request. The procedure is legal in nearly every developed country, and although a majority of developing countries prohibit abortion, 67 percent of the residents of the developing world live in countries where it is permitted at least for health reasons. The other 33 percent-more than one billion people, most of livingRead MoreThe Matter of Abortion Around the World2112 Words   |  8 PagesOver a period of time, women around the world have gained greater freedom of choice in their respective societies. The factors that may affect the freedom a woman can get in a certain society may depend on factors such as education, literacy rates and overall mindsets and norms that prevail in a certain society. However, there is a similar stance in both developed and developing societies alike that can be clearly observed when it comes to the topic of Abortion. Both the categories of the societiesRead MoreThe World Needs Abortion Essay3087 Words   |  13 Pagesimportant philosophical issues ever concerns the definition of a person and who is able to feel. Abortion, which is a deliberate termination of pregnancy, is one of the most important practical applications of that issue. Life on Earth is threatened with destruction from overpopulation and the poverty that overpopulation causes. Fortunately, abortion can prevent overpopulation. The question about whether abortion should be done is primarily the question about whether the embryo or fetus is a person. InRead MoreAbortion Should Be Legal Around The World1698 Words   |  7 PagesAbortion, the sound of the word can cause an environment to go from cheerful and relaxed to tens and edgy in seconds. Abortion is one of the major controversial topics of all time. Many consider abortion to be murder and criminal procedures should be brought forward, they consider it to be immoral and unethical regardless of the circumstances. They believe the reason why women exist is to bear and raise children; their body is only a host to the unborn child and should not be tempered wi th to enableRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Topic Of The World For Decades Essay1068 Words   |  5 PagesAbortion has been a controversial topic of the world for decades. In 1973, Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court case, made abortion legal. During this case, Roe, a single woman, wanted an abortion in Texas. At this time, Texas had a law that women could only have an abortion if the pregnancy endangered their life. However, Roe’s life was not put at risk by any means. Wade, the Dallas County district attorney, argued that an abortion was prohibited. Roe established that abortion was found in the ConstitutionRead MoreAbortion Should Be Illegal Around The World1568 Words   |  7 Pagesalone 1.06 million women had abortions. This was down slightly from previous years. 85% of these women were unmarried (Surveillance). 18% of women having abortions were teenagers (Rebecca). Nearly 30% of women will have an unintended pregnancy which results in an abortion. 20% of all pregna ncy’s will end in abortion (Surveillance). Abortion is an important topic effecting a huge percentage of our population. As such, Abortion should be illegal around the world because it damages relationshipsRead MoreAbortion Is A Major Issue All Over The World Essay2056 Words   |  9 PagesAbortion is a major issue all over the world. Most of the women obtained abortion as a result of unsuccessful relationship or because of the abnormality of the fetus, while some other reasons are because the women are financially not able to support the new born or the other partner is not being supportive. The most common reasons are unplanned pregnancy or sexual assault. In the mid of nineteenth century abortion was criminalized in the United Sates (Leslie, c1997). However, abortion can be definedRead MoreThe Issue Of Abortion During World War II2323 Words   |  10 PagesAbortion is one of those topics that most people feel very strongly about, and it’s also something that not a lot of people enjoy talking about. Under the communist rule of Nicolae Ceausescu, abortion was illegal in Romania. The import of contraceptives was halted as well because Ceausescu believed that increasing the number of babies born in Romania during his rule meant more Socialist citizens. While this was true, abortion did not become obsolete during his regime. In fact, abortions were stillRead MoreAbortion now a days has been increasing over the world. This is caused by economic and social2700 Words   |  11 PagesAbortion now a days has been increasing over the world. This is caused by economic and social factors. What is abortion? Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. This is the removal of a fetus before it’s viable. This proc ess is done before the fetus is 25 weeks old. It can be spontaneous or abortion induced. Abortion is legal in developing countries, but in most developing countries do not permit abortion. Further more, abortion causes over 70,000 maternal deaths world wide.Read MoreArgumentative Essay On Abortion701 Words   |  3 Pages Unsafe abortion as a global health problem Olivia Yanely Valdez Zamudio, 84194 Writing Academic 2 Jaculine Savarimuthu June 6, 2017 Women in all countries have induced abortions. Abortion involves terminating a pregnancy by the removing or expelling of a fetus or embryo from the uterus (First Coast Women Services, 2017). Several countries still have restricted abortion laws that have forced women to use unsafe primitive methods for inducing abortion. Unsafe methods today can be