An accent is a manner of pronounciation of a language but it is often confused with dialects. Dialects are usually spoken by a group united by geography or social status. Accent varies from country to country and one is able to identify other peoples' origin by just listening to their accents. Accents could be changed. 1 huge example is when actors and actresses tries to immitate different accents for their roles in movies
This is a video from 1 of my favourite movie the pink panther and it reli catches me. This is prove that the accent of the people from France is relatively different from the American accent
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Language can be a pain...
Greetings and salutations readers, this would mark my first blog post ever as I have never made or kept a blog until this one. On the 3rd week of Human Communications class we learned about Languages in Communication and the topic I'm gonna touch on in this post is Phonological Rules and how it can make communication among humans a real pain (especially in the English language). Phonological Rules are basically the rules that govern words with the same pronunciation and spelling but can have completely different meanings.
Take for example the word object. It can mean an item or a thing you're referring to, or it can mean to disagree or refuse a statement or argument. Every year there is a new meaning to a word that has been used for a long time such as the word apple. To many, an apple is that red (or green) fruit that we eat to keep the doctor away, or as the fruit that dropped on Isaac Newtons head which lead to him discovering gravity. Today apple could mean the Apple Macintosh computer operating system. The same applies for Windows. Next thing you know, there'll be Doors operating system and a new definition of the word door will be added in the dictionary.
As we go on in life, languages tend to become more and more confusing. I recently found an article that revealed 8 everyday words that have very racist meanings. That very article can be found here http://www.cracked.com/article_16967_8-racist-words-you-use-every-day.html. I was especially surprised with the true meaning of the phrase "Hip Hip Hooray" Who knew that people who were celebrating with that phrase was actually saying "Let's go kill some Jews".
Phonological rules are one of the main reasons that foreigners find learning english difficult. Words with dual or more meanings are confusing even to us english speakers. Just imagine how confusing it will be to foreigners who are learning english! The Woodchuck tongue twister alone (How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?) would leave foreigners baffled as to why the word "Chuck" is used so many times. So to end this post, language can be a pain, but it is essential in our daily lives. Phonological Rules may be confusing and could lead to some extremely awkward moments, but it could also lead to some very humorouse moments that you'll probably cherish for a long time.
Take for example the word object. It can mean an item or a thing you're referring to, or it can mean to disagree or refuse a statement or argument. Every year there is a new meaning to a word that has been used for a long time such as the word apple. To many, an apple is that red (or green) fruit that we eat to keep the doctor away, or as the fruit that dropped on Isaac Newtons head which lead to him discovering gravity. Today apple could mean the Apple Macintosh computer operating system. The same applies for Windows. Next thing you know, there'll be Doors operating system and a new definition of the word door will be added in the dictionary.
As we go on in life, languages tend to become more and more confusing. I recently found an article that revealed 8 everyday words that have very racist meanings. That very article can be found here http://www.cracked.com/article_16967_8-racist-words-you-use-every-day.html. I was especially surprised with the true meaning of the phrase "Hip Hip Hooray" Who knew that people who were celebrating with that phrase was actually saying "Let's go kill some Jews".
Phonological rules are one of the main reasons that foreigners find learning english difficult. Words with dual or more meanings are confusing even to us english speakers. Just imagine how confusing it will be to foreigners who are learning english! The Woodchuck tongue twister alone (How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?) would leave foreigners baffled as to why the word "Chuck" is used so many times. So to end this post, language can be a pain, but it is essential in our daily lives. Phonological Rules may be confusing and could lead to some extremely awkward moments, but it could also lead to some very humorouse moments that you'll probably cherish for a long time.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Power of Language
We tend to underestimate the power of language because we don't understand how does that work within our daily life. Words can be added or removed from a conversation to make it more influencial and effective. It also depends on the communicator's capability of conveying the messege. There are two ways of conveying our messege- the powerful language and powerless language.
Powerful language tend to be used when we are ordering, instructing or demanding, and usually leads to an unsatisfy outcome. This language is usually use by authorities or elders and is seldom use when we are communicating with our friends. Unless, we are intend to offend them. An example of powerful language: 'Collect the plates and cups from the table!', this can usually hear from our mother/father/granny after taken our meal. We will grumble and mumble the unwillingness; or we even pretend not to hear anything. These will be the unsatisfy outcome. Outcome is less satisfying therefore it's less effective.
Powerless language is usually used when we are speaking to the elders or somehow begging for something. Words like 'please', 'thank you', 'excuse me' do contribute in the final outcome. It sounds more repectful and acceptable especially when we are appealing for an application or requesting something. An example of powerless language: ' Could you please collect the plates and cups from the table?', an additional 'please' would change the effectiveness of this statement. Reciever are more willingly to do what he/she offered.
In my opinion, the power of language does make a big different in communication. We don't instruct our friend to do something but we ask politely instead because we knew that different person may need a different level of language power.
Powerful language tend to be used when we are ordering, instructing or demanding, and usually leads to an unsatisfy outcome. This language is usually use by authorities or elders and is seldom use when we are communicating with our friends. Unless, we are intend to offend them. An example of powerful language: 'Collect the plates and cups from the table!', this can usually hear from our mother/father/granny after taken our meal. We will grumble and mumble the unwillingness; or we even pretend not to hear anything. These will be the unsatisfy outcome. Outcome is less satisfying therefore it's less effective.
Powerless language is usually used when we are speaking to the elders or somehow begging for something. Words like 'please', 'thank you', 'excuse me' do contribute in the final outcome. It sounds more repectful and acceptable especially when we are appealing for an application or requesting something. An example of powerless language: ' Could you please collect the plates and cups from the table?', an additional 'please' would change the effectiveness of this statement. Reciever are more willingly to do what he/she offered.
In my opinion, the power of language does make a big different in communication. We don't instruct our friend to do something but we ask politely instead because we knew that different person may need a different level of language power.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Culture Differences
Distinct cultures do build us a different person. Lets start with education.From the day we are born, we had been told the dos and don'ts. Parents tend to teach us be humble to everyone; we are supposed to thank whoever that help us; respect the elders. Sometimes parents too form us an irresponsible person. For instance, how many parents will scold their children of littering? Or would they even ask them to pick up the rubbish and throw it to an appropriate container? The answer would be a NO. Do we thank to people like servant, waiter, toilet cleaner or even a taxi driver? Well, we don't, as a asian culture. We often thought that those people should serve us because those are their job and they get paid. As a western culture, they are likely to appreciate them even though their job level seemed to be low. P.S. in western countries, they get high payment =/.
Culture do shape us a different character too. A simple example will illustrate this. Imagine, well you don't have to, it happens in everyday in fact =/. A lecturer may ask us questions during lecturers, or he/she may ask us to write it on whiteboard, to show everyone the answers. You would observe the Asians put their heads down all the time and mumble, 'Not me please!'. Whereas you might found the Westerns answer the lecturer with details. They are more open-minded, you can say so. They don't think making a mistake is embarrassing, they eventually learn things from failures. Yet, Asians are afraid to lose.
Another issue that we can always see in Asia countries is grown up and married children used to live with their parents, especially the sons. This do not practise in western countries. In fact, they usually leave their parents at the age of 19 to 21. They will then have their home and life separately. They are more independent since they live with their own in a young age. In contrast, Asian parents still think that the age of 19 is young and immature to live in their own. It is obvious when you compare a 19 year old Malaysian and an Europian. The Europian is far more mature in both mindsets and characters.
Yesterday, I saw an article posted up in internet and it says that London Evening Standard(London newspaper) apologizes to the public by pasting slogans like 'Sorry for being negative', 'Sorry for taking you for granted', 'Sorry for being complacent', 'Sorry for being predictable' at everywhere. Londoners can find all these posters all along TUBE(the trains), on the sides of buses, wall and so on. According to UK news, the new owner of London Evening Standard is trying to reconstruct their readership because recent research shows that Londoners no longer feel positive to their paper and they failed the capital's needs. Full stop. After reading this, instead of evaluating whether this action is neccesary, do think of whether this happens in Malaysia. We can hardly see people apologize in local. Well, is that true that we don't trained to apologize?
Culture do shape us a different character too. A simple example will illustrate this. Imagine, well you don't have to, it happens in everyday in fact =/. A lecturer may ask us questions during lecturers, or he/she may ask us to write it on whiteboard, to show everyone the answers. You would observe the Asians put their heads down all the time and mumble, 'Not me please!'. Whereas you might found the Westerns answer the lecturer with details. They are more open-minded, you can say so. They don't think making a mistake is embarrassing, they eventually learn things from failures. Yet, Asians are afraid to lose.
Another issue that we can always see in Asia countries is grown up and married children used to live with their parents, especially the sons. This do not practise in western countries. In fact, they usually leave their parents at the age of 19 to 21. They will then have their home and life separately. They are more independent since they live with their own in a young age. In contrast, Asian parents still think that the age of 19 is young and immature to live in their own. It is obvious when you compare a 19 year old Malaysian and an Europian. The Europian is far more mature in both mindsets and characters.
Yesterday, I saw an article posted up in internet and it says that London Evening Standard(London newspaper) apologizes to the public by pasting slogans like 'Sorry for being negative', 'Sorry for taking you for granted', 'Sorry for being complacent', 'Sorry for being predictable' at everywhere. Londoners can find all these posters all along TUBE(the trains), on the sides of buses, wall and so on. According to UK news, the new owner of London Evening Standard is trying to reconstruct their readership because recent research shows that Londoners no longer feel positive to their paper and they failed the capital's needs. Full stop. After reading this, instead of evaluating whether this action is neccesary, do think of whether this happens in Malaysia. We can hardly see people apologize in local. Well, is that true that we don't trained to apologize?
This is an picture of the posters that shows on the sides of undergrounds.
In conclusion, cultures and custom are not only stucture a person's character, perceptions, and as well as mindset. Usually we can't compare which of these cultures are way better than another. But it will be better if we learn the down and positive sides from each other. As I mentioned above, we should learn to apologize to whoever, whatever and wherever.
Life without human contact
Have you ever wondered about life without any form of communication?? Well, I feel that communication plays a very important role in our lives. We may not notice it as it has been part of us since we were born. Communication comes to us easily just as it is in our nature to breath. What will happen to us if we cannot communicate? I heard of this story once so I would like to share the story with all of you.
There was an old fashion house sitting in the middle of the countryside. The house had been abandoned for about 4 years as everyone thought the house was haunted. Shrills and cries could be heard from time to time in the house. When they checked the house, they could not find anything in there. One day, there was a family that decided to move into the house. That night itself, they heard weird scratching noises from under the house. It was like someone was under the house. Without thinking twice, they ran out of the house and put up a night in the nearest motel.
The next day, contractors were asked to come and tear up the floors of the house. Under the house, they found an old room. When they checked the underground room, they found a mattress, and some old toys there. To their dismay, they saw dried up blood and rat carcasses everywhere. Then they heard a whimper from the corner of the room. A contractor shone his torchlight in that direction. He screamed with fright when he saw her. She was as pale as a ghost with dark circles under her eyes and her hair was so messy. She screamed in pain and crouch into a tight ball when she saw the light. She had been so used to the dark that her eyes burned when she saw the light. Her head twitched to the side when she heard the squeaks of a little rat. Her hearing was as sharp as a bat. She got into a crouch and pounced on the rat. With her bare teeth, she ripped the rat apart and ate hungrily.
The contractors ran out of the house in fright and called for help. That woman was sent to the hospital. It was said that her mother was raped by her grandfather and got pregnant. Her grandfather was ashamed of his pregnant daughter so he locked her in her room for nine months until the baby was born. Since the mother was locked up all by herself, she had depression and committed suicide. She hung herself after the baby was born. Soon after the baby was born, the grandfather created a room under the house and the baby was locked in there. He would send food down to her every meal. When her grandfather died, she had no food so she had to live on rats to survive.
She had been staying in that underground room for all her life and she had never seen light or had any human contact. She was like an animal. She even acted like one. Many tried to help her but she didn’t know how to talk or communicate. In the hospital, she would just start screaming and screaming if any light was turned on. At times, she would be sitting by the corner of the room, rocking away. If anyone tries to talk to her, she would just utter cries and she would attack them for no apparent reason. This is what happens when someone is kept from all means of communication. They would not know how to speak or what you’re saying. They would also act like an animal and they do not know that they themselves are human beings.
There was an old fashion house sitting in the middle of the countryside. The house had been abandoned for about 4 years as everyone thought the house was haunted. Shrills and cries could be heard from time to time in the house. When they checked the house, they could not find anything in there. One day, there was a family that decided to move into the house. That night itself, they heard weird scratching noises from under the house. It was like someone was under the house. Without thinking twice, they ran out of the house and put up a night in the nearest motel.
The next day, contractors were asked to come and tear up the floors of the house. Under the house, they found an old room. When they checked the underground room, they found a mattress, and some old toys there. To their dismay, they saw dried up blood and rat carcasses everywhere. Then they heard a whimper from the corner of the room. A contractor shone his torchlight in that direction. He screamed with fright when he saw her. She was as pale as a ghost with dark circles under her eyes and her hair was so messy. She screamed in pain and crouch into a tight ball when she saw the light. She had been so used to the dark that her eyes burned when she saw the light. Her head twitched to the side when she heard the squeaks of a little rat. Her hearing was as sharp as a bat. She got into a crouch and pounced on the rat. With her bare teeth, she ripped the rat apart and ate hungrily.
The contractors ran out of the house in fright and called for help. That woman was sent to the hospital. It was said that her mother was raped by her grandfather and got pregnant. Her grandfather was ashamed of his pregnant daughter so he locked her in her room for nine months until the baby was born. Since the mother was locked up all by herself, she had depression and committed suicide. She hung herself after the baby was born. Soon after the baby was born, the grandfather created a room under the house and the baby was locked in there. He would send food down to her every meal. When her grandfather died, she had no food so she had to live on rats to survive.
She had been staying in that underground room for all her life and she had never seen light or had any human contact. She was like an animal. She even acted like one. Many tried to help her but she didn’t know how to talk or communicate. In the hospital, she would just start screaming and screaming if any light was turned on. At times, she would be sitting by the corner of the room, rocking away. If anyone tries to talk to her, she would just utter cries and she would attack them for no apparent reason. This is what happens when someone is kept from all means of communication. They would not know how to speak or what you’re saying. They would also act like an animal and they do not know that they themselves are human beings.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Pictures of the types of communications
MASS COMMUNICATION
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
INERPERSONAL/ DYADIC COMMUNICATION
INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
communication among humans
This is the 2nd week I have entered my Human Communications class and this is my 1st post. Human communication is not new to us as we communicate with each other all the time. After entering a few classes, I feel that my perception of communication may be shallower than I thought and the lectures have told me that there are more to human communication that meets the eye.
Human communication as a subject is new to almost everyone so I will start by saying a little bit about human communication as an introduction. Like Mr Murali said, human communication is a process. It is not something we can do by ourselves and it is never a one way thing. We have to address one another to begin a conversation. If there is no response, then its no longer a conversation.
As we all know, there are many different varieties of communication, which are, the intrapersonal communication, the dyadic communication, the small group communication, public communication and mass communication. By the end of my post, you will definitely know more about the different types of communication.
Firstly, we have the intrapersonal communication. From the word intrapersonal, you would have guessed that it means one person. Many people talk to themselves and I know that you are no different. People talk to themselves to give themselves some encouragement and to gain confidence.Next, we have the dyadic communication which is also called the interpersonal communication. It is a communication between two people like when you are talking to a friend.
The third type of communication is the small group communication. A small group cannot be define as the perspective of the word "small group" varies from one persone to another. To us, a small froup range between 3-5 people. On the other hand, a public communication is when an individual tries to communicate and reach out to a crowd. For example, it could be a motivator giving a speech to a hall full of people or a lecturer teaching a class.The final type of communication is the mass communication where an individual communicates and reach out to millions of people. It could be via electronic or printed media.
I have explained the types of human communication so I hope you will understand more about human communication.
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