Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The spread of English and the rise of new Englishes Essay

The spread of English and the ascent of new Englishes - Essay Example While on the investigation of English, thoughtfulness on how English appeared can be explained here. The accompanying figure illuminates the different societies and groups that added to the improvement of English as we see today. The historical backdrop of English is isolated into three periods since its reality path back somewhere in the range of 1000 BCE. In spite of the fact that it is hard to build up the right year, specialists have collectively reasoned that the three periods are alluded to as Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), Middle English, and Modern English. The diagram above shows that the most punctual period is set apart with the relocation of certain Germanic clans from the mainland to Britain in the fifth century A.D., however no records of their language get by from before the seventh century, and proceeded till the finish of the eleventh century or somewhat later. Prior to the furthest limit of the eleventh century, Britain was additionally being impacted by Latin. Old Norse (the language of the Viking intruders), and Anglo-Norman French of the predominant class after the Norman Conquest in 1066, substantially affected the vocabulary, and the very much created inflectional framework that encapsul ated that the sentence structure of Old English had started to separate (Merriam-Webster, 2007)2. We have see 2.0 Executive Summary We have seen that English is currently a famous language spoken by locals of practically all countries around the world. However, does English really meet all requirements to be the worldwide language A feature in 'Globe and Mail' distributed in Toronto in 1997 read, English is the worldwide language. In spite of the fact that very little of ado, title texts of comparative nature have showed up in a great many papers and magazines over the globe as of late. 'English Rules', a feature with a distinction, grandstands the prominence and quality of English in a universe of uncanny all inclusiveness of the language's spread and continuation. So what is saying that a language is a worldwide language Or for what reason is English the language, generally refered to in this association If English became the worldwide language, will it stay inescapable These and more inquiries lead analysts to scrutinize the hypothesis, regardless of whether; English is in truth the primary language of the world If English is one's first language, one may have blended sentiments about the manner in which English is spreading far and wide. From one viewpoint, there is cause for pride, that English language has gotten effective, yet on the other, there could be alarm that a similar language that was inalienable as English, is being impacted by others, who obtain words from dialects other than English to suit themselves (David Crystal, 2003, English as a Global Language)3. A great deal of nations have their own local language or 'native language', as it is prominently alluded to as. If so, which is valid, how does English fit the bill to be proclaimed the authority worldwide language There are two prospects; one, English

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Has racism ceased to be a major problem in the world Essay

Has prejudice stopped to be a significant issue on the planet - Essay Example Is considerably all the more stressing that it isn't confined to the politically-sanctioned racial segregation advancing mainlands and countries alone. It has made its omnipresent path into the very texture of practically all landmasses. Bigotry is a mind boggling marvel and can't be wished away. Separation based on shading, race or religion involves the enslavement or abuse of a segment of individuals inside a network. To have the option to dispense with this social disease one needs to comprehend the reasons that offer ascent to unfair conduct of which prejudice is a significant appearance. Prejudicial conduct can emerge out of sentiments of uncertainty, dread, disdain and an intense want to rule. Individuals who bolster bigotry towards others ordinarily work in packs or gatherings and focus on the individuals who are more vulnerable than them. Government and the ascent of expansionism from the fifteenth century onwards have offered belief to racial predominance and prejudicial pra ctices dependent on this apparent prevalence. This prompted the total distance of the individuals who have been colonized. The pervasiveness of prejudice was knowledgeable about Africa, Asia and America from the start, and afterward spread through imperialism to the remainder of the world. Prejudice is showed through practices that support dissent, disdain among gatherings and racial or strict narrow mindedness. Racists can't acknowledge or potentially endure the eliteness and uniqueness of ethnic or social gatherings other than theirs.

Friday, August 14, 2020

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation the Right Way

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation the Right Way Is the competition so high that you’re worried whether you’ll get the job or not? Are you wishing that you had someone on the inside to vouch for you as the best candidate?Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many candidates experience the same as they go through the job hunting process.The good thing is that there is always a way out of any situation.For the job you are applying for, there is something you can do to increase your chances of getting hired.What can you do?Get a letter of recommendation.As simple as that sounds, it can be what is needed to get you moving forward.A letter of recommendation can be the small weight needed to tip the scales in your favor.LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION VS REFERENCESLetters of recommendation are currently not as common as they used to be.Different reasons can be given about their supposed demise but the important thing is the role they serve.Did they get replaced by something else?Not really.The biggest reason for their unpopularity is that recr uiters and hiring managers generally didn’t see the need for these letters.As the name suggests, a letter of recommendation is a letter whose contents recommend you for a particular position. It says that you are a good candidate for something.That may be a job position, a college admission or even scholarship.It is written by someone who has interacted with you for long enough to know you. They have watched you or worked with you and can testify to certain strengths which you have. They thus mention these strengths to show your suitability for the job.References on the other hand are a list of people who can be contacted for questions about you.This list is usually a part of your CV or resume.The hiring manager will contact these people and ask them questions which will help determine your suitability.Of the two, hiring managers would prefer references because they will be the ones in control of the conversation. They will be the ones asking the questions.A letter of recommendati on will not give them this opportunity.Instead, it just goes ahead to highlight all your strengths.WHAT LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION DOThe fact that a letter of recommendation works like a one-way street of communication is what really gives it power.More than that, there is also a lot of weight in the content, especially if it’s written by the right person. Although the letter worked well enough for the interviewers initially, it actually served the candidates better.This purpose still stands and is what makes it a worthy tool to consider using.Though your application can still include references, the extra letter will certainly add value. It will have an impact on the mind of those going through your application.Here are three things that a letter of recommendation does for you.Reinforces Your ResumeA letter of recommendation is a serious backing of the truth in your resume. Everything you have said in your resume gets an outsider’s approval mark.It’s one thing to say the right things and answer all the questions as expected. But when someone else, neither family nor friend says good things about you, it’s different.When someone writes a letter of recommendation for you, they are testifying to what you can do. They are saying that they have witnessed you working diligently. They have seen your natural team player or team leader abilities.So when the recruiter sees these things written in the letter and they appear on your resume, they know it is true. As they call your list of references, you already have a good standing in their minds.Sub-consciously, they already expect to hear nothing but similar comments.That means you have been pre-qualified in their minds.Boosts Your ConfidenceA letter of recommendation is a big confidence booster. It is like someone giving you a big compliment when you need it most.Let’s face it. Once you apply for a job, anxiety kicks in.When you get the call for an interview, the anxiety can increase. With every stage in the process, you get closer to the goal. At the same time, you get more concerned about your chances of success.What a letter of recommendation does is to reduce this anxiety. It reminds you of what someone else thinks of your abilities. It reminds you that someone else knows and testifies to your suitability for the job.More importantly, after receiving the requested letter of recommendation, just reading it can give you lots of confidence.When you see what someone else has to say about you, you get motivated to go ahead and prove that as part of your application.And when you know that this is what the interviewer has read, you know that you have achieved some favor in their eyes.Shows Your PersonalityLetters of recommendation have a personal touch to them.This is because the people writing them have spent time with you. There are shared moments, victories and successes.These are what the person writing the letter will be expressing. Take the example of a former supervisor or manager of the department you worked in at your former job. This is someone who enjoyed seeing the results you contributed to.Was happy with your level of sacrifice and accuracy of reports.They loved your communication style and mannerisms.This is obviously assuming that these are the characteristics you portrayed. And also assuming that you left the company while in good terms with him.When such a person writes a letter recommending your suitability, it’s going to communicate these things perfectly. The letter will tell your prospective employer the real value you brought to the team.Hiring managers can pick your personality from such a letter. And this can go a long way in showing them how much of a fit you are for their company.When later asked about your personality later, it will be more of confirming what they have already read.HOW TO ASK FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATIONAt this point, there are many questions which will naturally cross your mind.Who will write a good letter for me? What will they say? Will they be willing to do it?Depending on your relationships and even your personality, you may have more questions. But it all comes down to how to go about asking for the letter.Who will you ask?This letter serves as a testimony of your suitability. As such, it is not just anyone who will be willing to write it for you.You should therefore be ready to have the request turned down.It’s important that you don’t take such a response personally.There might be various reasons for the reluctance. Maybe someone is just not comfortable putting his name on the line. Maybe he has been requested to do it for several other people.Maybe he has written letters for others then they did something wrong.For this reason, it is wise to come up with a list of people to communicate your request to. From the list, you can be sure that not all of them will say no.But at least, if some of them do, there will be others who will do it . Don’t rely only on one person.It is best to ask for a letter of recommendation from people who are in some way, above you.This might be in age, in position at work, social status etc.The more prominent the person is in the eyes of the hiring manager, the better the chances of their testimony being embraced.These people can be anyone from doctors, former bosses, a professor in college, business associates, customers, the list is endless.While making this list, keep the following in mind:1. They should know you and your work.The person must have some evidence for what they will write. You cannot have positive comments from, say, a neighbor who only knows you because you live next door.This person must have interacted with you, hopefully, at a personal level. They must know what working with you is like. What communicating with you is like.How reliable you are. Whether you finish what you start.These are the things which matter in a practical relationship of any kind.2. They should be people who like you.This is quite obvious and should not be ignored in an attempt to get a letter from the most notable person.That most notable person may not have had a particular liking for you. That can be dangerous.Just because you worked in his organization and he promoted you doesn’t automatically mean he liked you.Check what kind of relationship you had with him.If all you did was get instructions and give reports, that is probably not the best person to write a letter for you.3. Consider their position.The position of the person writing the letter can have an impact on your letter’s admission.For example, you may be applying for a job as a logistics officer. A letter from a logistics manager will have more weight than one from a finance director.The former will be able to state relevant facts which your potential new logistics manager will relate with. This will make it easy for the company you are interviewing for to consider the letter’s contents.4. Call them up .It’s interesting how the uptake of technology has blurred formalities in communication.It is not rare for recruiters to come across resumes containing slang and abbreviations.The language used in chatting finds its way into formal communication.In other cases, the casual nature of workplace relations makes some approach serious matters casually. Requesting for a letter of recommendation should not be done via text.This is an indication of the little value you put on the work the person will put in.Even if you are close friends, it is important that you call that person up. This is even before you send them an email.A phone conversation will work better in explaining your need and provide an opportunity for questions.Then you can follow up the request with an email.Appreciate Them Before Making Your RequestYou have to consider that writing a letter of recommendation is not a small thing. As mentioned, the person will be putting their name on the line for you.As such, don’t just go straight into asking for the letter. Let the person know why you chose him.Tell the person that you appreciate the relationship you have enjoyed with him. Tell him that you are asking him for the letter since you value his opinion.Let him know that you have considered him vital for your career growth.Note that this is not flattery. And do not flatter. If what you intend to say is not true, don’t make the request to that person. You don’t have the relationship to back it.As humans, we love being appreciated.And when you appreciate the person before he writes you the letter, he feels the value you put on him. If he grants your request, he will do it knowing that his opinion has a lot of value to you.Tell Them What to HighlightWriting a letter of recommendation is not an easy task. The person may not know what exactly you want them to write. This can be confusing and turn a desire to help you into a burden.To avoid this, you need to help them by pointing out what to talk about i n the letter.This will also make sense because you want the letter to be relevant to the job you are applying for.You don’t want a letter showing your prowess in sports going to a recruiter for a job in software programming.If it’s a while since you communicated, it will be good to update them on your life.Have you taken new courses? Have you gone through other jobs? Whatever information is necessary, share it with them.More importantly, remind them of any projects you undertook under their leadership. Or in partnership with them.Mention the success and allow them to remember the mutual joy of working with you. These are the things you want in that letter.Promise to email them a list of the things you would like them to highlight and do so. Check the description of the job you are applying for.From it, pick the important factors and let them inform the list of what is to be highlighted.Give Them TimePeople are busy and the last thing they might prioritize is someone else’s pro blems. With all the challenges of life, you shouldn’t rush anyone to sort you out.Giving some time to the people who have agreed to write you a letter of recommendation is a necessity. Otherwise you might be labeled pushy.You might get someone angry and make them change their mind about what they had gladly decided to do.Alternatively, they may still do it but not as well as they would have done. You want the best words on that letter so facilitate it.As much as possible, make your request as early as 2 months prior to your need for it. Since jobs are advertized daily, you might consider this as a tactic for the long-term.This will however only work if the job you are applying for has a long deadline. When that is not the case, this will not work.You can however try to request the letter and explain the urgency. If the person is willing, he can prioritize it.For the sake of saving time, you can ask for the letter and use it for future job applications.This means having the letters at hand and using them for jobs where they are relevant.All you need to do is make your request to specific people and have them right specific things. It will then be a matter of picking the right letter for the right job.Send a ReminderAfter calling up the person and sending them an email with details of what to write, don’t just sit and wait.You might wake up on the last day only to realize the person has traveled and is unavailable.Be proactive.Set reminders on your calendar and send a reminder email to him. You can do this 2 weeks after the initial communication. That will be a perfect duration to have waited.In case you don’t get the letter within 2 other weeks, you can send him a follow-up email. In these emails, be careful not to jump straight into the reason for writing.Cultivate your friendship further and ask to also know how they are fairing.Depending on what they give as the reason for the delayed writing, you can choose to call them up next time. Or even visit the m in their office.Thank ThemThe importance of practicing gratitude can never be over-emphasized.Just as you appreciated him before making the request, do the same thing after getting what you wanted. And remember to be honest in your appreciation. Since you will have read the letter they wrote, mention how well they have communicated your strengths.Mention something specific about the letter and thank them for their time and effort.Thanking them can take various forms. The more physical the better.If you can buy a card, that would be great. Nothing will remind him of his kindness better than this.In case this isn’t very viable, you can easily do an email. But just as you had to call them up at the beginning, make sure you also make a “Thanks You ”call.Example Email of How to Ask for a Letter of RecommendationWith the above tips to follow, it will be best to show you how to put it into practice.Below is an example you can use. You can also use it as a template to make things ea sier for you.Dear [Title and Name e.g. Prof. Higgins],I trust that you are doing great.Following our conversation two days ago, here is the email I promised to send you. Receive once again my appreciation for agreeing to write a letter of recommendation for me.Since graduating three years ago, I have worked at [Company Name] starting as an assistant sales manager. I currently hold the manager’s position thanks to the concerted effort the team puts in. I can’t help but remember how you urged me to become the class representative during my course. That definitely helped instill leadership skills in me.As for the job I’m applying for, these same skills are needed. But more than that, specific requirements are mentioned in the job advertisement. These are what I request that you touch on as you base your comments on my performance while in campus.Ability to lead a group to achieve a common goalCreativity in developing solutionsCommunication skillsProblem-solving skillsCritical thi nking skillsThe position I am eyeing is higher than my current one and requires reporting directly to the CEO. As such, communication and critical thinking skills are important. I think the person hired may be involved in developing policies for both the department and the company.Considering your busy schedule, I would not want to rush you into this. I would obviously appreciate a response as early as possible though won’t have a problem checking with you in around two weeks.Once again, I am grateful for the honor of receiving a letter of recommendation from you. I pray that your days ahead will be full of joy and satisfaction as you instill wisdom into your students.Kind Regards,[Your Name].CONCLUSIONA letter of recommendation can provide an unexpected boost to your chances of getting hired.And since they aren’t utilized so much nowadays, it means there won’t be many candidates presenting them. You might even be the only one.So go ahead and get one or several for your job ap plication. Keep copies for possible future use and see yourself trample the competition.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Baseball Of The Nfl - 1342 Words

American Football was voted the most popular sport in America by 20% over baseball(ESPN Harris Poll). The NFL today has tv ratings off the charts, breaking records every Super Bowl(Coming Soon.com). But what started out as an American staple, actually was a mix of different sports. The first â€Å"football† game was actually just an altered soccer game between Rutgers and Princeton, but no one would realize the revolution it would bring to America. It then evolved with the help of rugby. Twenty years later the NFL was born and football went from a simple college game to a professional sport. The NFL today began as a simple concept which blossomed into an American tradition. The National Football league was founded on August, 20, 1920 by a†¦show more content†¦Lombardi revolutionized the game with his leadership, and maybe the most famous play drawn up in NFL history, the â€Å"Packers Sweep†. The NFL was growing to be something huge in America then, a new league came along. The American Football League began in 1959, looking to become a rival league to the NFL(Pro Football HOF). The American Football League or AFL, was founded in 1959 by Lamar Hunt, a sportsman(Pro Football HOF). He looked to create a rival league to the already emerged NFL after failed to gain ownership of an NFL franchise. The NFL first looked at the AFL as if the would be a yet just a pest on their arm, and a waste of time. Although, the AFL lived past the expectancy the NFL gave them and they had a bit of growth in their league with new teams and relocations. But, the NFL and AFL got into a big disagreement over college players entering the draft. The NFL thought they d haul them in like nothing until surprisingly the AFL Kansas City Chiefs signed Heisman Trophy winning running back, Mike Garrett. This turned out to be huge for the AFL because Garrett would end up helping the Chiefs reach the AFL championship, and a Super Bowl berth. With the surprising rise of the AFL, the NFL ended up shockingly asking for a merger agreement to become 1 league. This

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Essay about Alexis de Tocqueville Democracy in America

Democracy in America has been a guiding principle since the foundation of the country. Many over the years have commented on the structure and formation of democracy but more importantly the implementation and daily function within the democratic parameters that have been set. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French political thinker and historian born July 29, 1805. He is most famously known for his work Democracy in America. Democracy in America has been an evolving social and economic reform, and has continually changed since it’s founding. America’s form of representative democracy came as a result of the transgressions Britain committed against their colonies. Several hundred years of salutary neglect served well for those living an†¦show more content†¦As a result Tocqueville was astonished at the working of democratic processes yet, was still skeptical of the possibilities the free market economy could lead to. Nations differ in language, faith, culture, trad itions and views. Thus, each government created distinctly different and formulated to best govern its constituents. This causes nations to function in a variety of ways as well as have varying public opinion. The differences represented in America at the time Tocqueville visited and wrote his book were what shaped his opinion of the differences between the United States and other countries. The first major difference Tocqueville observed upon arriving in America is the role faith played amongst the inhabitants especially Christianity. Tocqueville writes in Democracy in America, â€Å"here is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility† (de Tocqueville). The principle of faith taught those in America morals and beliefs in which guided their actions for hard work and prosperity. These principles led to an ultimate betterment for the community and nation as a whole or ‘utility’. Utilitarianism is the greatest good for the most people. Thus, this utilitarian aspect of America is what brought the country together under the revolution, the formation of the constitution and the continual construction ofShow MoreRelatedDemocracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville1300 Words   |  6 PagesThe Consideration of Democracy, Blacks, and Slavery Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, dwells on the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy. When discussing race relations, he recognizes that the presence of the black race in America and the occupation of blacks in slavery could threaten the continuation of the United States as a Union and a republic. As a Union, the United States could be torn apart by the disparities between the North and the South and tensions between blacks and whitesRead MoreSummary Of Democracy Of America By Alexis De Tocqueville1314 Words   |  6 Pages In† Democracy of America† chapter XVII written by Alexis de Tocqueville, he discusses the plight of indians(natives). Tocqueville talks about how he believed the fate of Native Americans would be to completely deprived of liberty. In addition to what he believed, Tocqueville says, â€Å"The success of the Cherokees proves that the Indians are capable of civilization, but it does not prove that they will succeed in it†(page 401).Whenever the Indians were able to submit to civilization they were neverRead MoreAmerican Traditional Politics: Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville1207 Words   |  5 Pageslike myself, believe and support that equality as well as liberty are vital features to a sustainable democracy. But how strong the two features are together is where the doubt lies. Alexis de Tocqueville was convinced that liberty and equality would always cause tension between the two never letting each reach its full abilities. This was Tocqueville’s main reason behind his problems with democracy, and which through his book I can agree with his concerns of the two in tension. With the developmentRead MoreAn Exploration of Individualism as Described by Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America1312 Words   |  6 Pages As Described By Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy In America The classic work Democracy In America by Alexis de Tocqueville has been the reason for scholarly pursuit as well as strife within that same community. Through a brief examination of this text, several of Tocqueville’s arguments helped to define many of the constructs that made America what it was as well as those that have led to what it has become today. Of the many themes and ideas presented by Tocqueville, his thoughts on individualismRead MoreEssay on Democracy in America664 Words   |  3 Pages Democracy in America By: Alexis De Tocqueville Democracy in America, by Alexis De Tocqueville is a book about how the American States and the federal government would grow politically and socially under the umbrella of democracy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexis De Tocqueville sees the United States as a unique entity because of how and why it started as well as its geographical location. Alexis De Tocqueville explains that the foundations of the democratic process in America are completely different from anywhereRead MoreAlexis de Tocqueville: Weaknesses of Democracy1813 Words   |  8 PagesAlexis de Tocqueville: Weaknesses of Democracy Most of the researches consider publications of Alexis de Tocqueville as longsighted and even prophetic. That actualizes the issues which Tocqueville investigates in his publications and books. For instance, Tocqueville in his â€Å"Democracy in America† foresees the future confrontation of Russia and United States. The reason for that is two different perception of life – for Americans the motive is a freedom, for Russians - service. Another significantRead MoreCritical Analysis of Alex de Tocquevilles Democracy in America1366 Words   |  6 PagesCosby Analysis of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville’s visit to the United States in 1831 prompted his work Democracy in America. This was supposed to be a chance for him to take a look at the American prison system. However, it was obvious from his writing that he looked at every aspect of American culture. In Democracy in America, he takes a look at how democracy works and the pitfalls that could bring about the downfall of democracy. Throughout his travelsRead MoreTyranny And The Social Wellbeing Of Citizens1750 Words   |  7 Pagesconcerned themselves at some point with the issue of tyranny in society. Such writers spanned from Alexis de Tocqueville, to John Stuart Mill, to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The interpretations and approaches taken to the subject of tyranny and how to protect against it, though, were as varied as the collection of authors who addressed it. From de Tocqueville’s stringent observations in Democracy in America, the concept of a purely political tyranny is de lineated. In contrast, Mill’s essay On LibertyRead MoreEssay about Alexis deTocqueville2501 Words   |  11 PagesAlexis deTocqueville Alexis de Tocqueville was born in Paris on July 29th, 1805. Growing up in Metz, France, the youngest child of Hervà © Tocqueville and Mlle. De Rosanbo, he showed great intellectual promise from his earliest days. By the age of 16, his academic career was a brilliant one, his schoolwork earning him a special prize and two first prizes. He was an avid reader, reading books hardly accessible to a boy of his young age. It was during these years that he developed his criticalRead MorePolitical Freedom: Arendt and de Tocqueville Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesPolitical Freedom: Arendt and de Tocqueville Freedom in America emanates from the state of political freedom held by the citizens. Both Hannah Arendt and Alexis de Tocqueville provide criticism of the apparent shape freedom maintains in America as well as insight regarding how they perceive true political freedom. By using the observations and criticisms of de Tocqueville and the vision of Arendt, the position of modern America and its relation to the ideals

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Zen of Listening Free Essays

Douglas, Susan. (2004). The Zen of Listening, in Listening in  : Radio and the American Imagination (22-39). We will write a custom essay sample on The Zen of Listening or any similar topic only for you Order Now Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press. Abstract Radio is examined here as a shaper of generational identities, as a uniting force for the creation of’ †imagined communities† or nations, and as a nostalgic device with associational links in our past. In addition, it is portrayed as a powerful aural gadget that stimulates us cognitively not only through our imagination; our creation of images or ideas based on listening, but also through music, which engages us emotionally. Further discussed is a comprehensive history of radio in America and its contrasting relationship with newspapers and literacy, and television and its visual component. This contrast, and the existence of the radio and the ways we listen have important temporally bound characteristics that are important in understanding times, the medium itself and our relationship with it as it becomes engrained or interwoven into our everyday lives. The text examines the social implications and reasons for being of radio and refers to various scholars who have examined the form and its effects of this revolutionary device which unites listeners through simultaneity of listening and the physical responses listening engenders. Through the physiological, social, cultural, and technological spheres of this medium, it is obvious that it is much more complex than commonly believed, and the text brings to light the ramifications of its introduction into a literary, visual culture, creating a hybrid America  : a conservative, literate society entwined with a traditional, preliterate. ral culture. Word Count  : 230 Keywords  : nostalgia, radio, imagined community, modes of listening, music, ritual Response †With radio, the interior †I† began oscillating with the voices of those never met, never even seen (31). † The permeating qualities of the †voices of radio† in the minds of listeners is an iss ue, in my opinion, that clearly implicates radio as a persuasion tool, which is an element of the medium that appears to be neglected in the text. This neglect to fully examine the implications of the medium and the various elements that are quintessential to the formation of a complete and comprehensive understanding of the workings and complexities of radio presents a rudimentary portrait of the form which should definately be corrected. I argue that Susan Douglas presents an incomplete account of the rise of radio in her idealization of the medium and that, like the listener who is †inclined to remember [radio] at its best†, she fails to examine the intention of radio messages and focuses more on the experience of listening to the radio (Douglas, 2004, p. 5). Firstly, with a basis on the above sentence, she idealizes the form and effects of radio by overlooking or barely touching on the idea of the commercial hand that plays a rather large role in the medium, and affects the intentions and motives of the speakers and the content they disclose. Furthermore, the pervasiveness of these voices is cause for concern fo r listeners as they are prey to subtle influence from these †familiar voices† who infiltrate themselves into the very thoughts of individuals. Susan Douglas’ article addresses many ideas that revolve around radio, but does not seem to pay much attention to the commercialization of the medium despite her mentionning that †by the 1930’s, with the highly commercialized network system in place, a great majority of these voices—which sought to sound familiar, intimate, and even folksy—represented a centralized consumer-culture (Douglas, 2004, p. 31). ‘ Beyond the idealized concept of the †imagined community† and the positive unity it creates among the listeners, the commercial hand in the medium of radio implies a certain intention in the scale of the medium; one that seeks numbers. Douglas does mention that in an effort to maximize profits, the network and advertisers aimed for the largest possible audience, promoting the medium of radio as a †nation-building technology (Douglas, 2004, p. 24). ‘ This emphasis, however, on the maximization of profits casts doubt on the integrity and the intention of radio. The oscillating voices of †those never met, never even seen† which interact with the inner voice of the listener are tainted by an underlying struggle between social consolidation and betterment, and commercialism. This leads to the need to examine content and intention in radio, and to the need for a critical assessment of this revolutionary device. Secondly, these voices which penetrated our minds, spoken by unknown radio personalities, did more than allow us to free our imagination. In effect, these voices which now interacted with the inner voice of the individual could become subtle influences of our ideas, and beliefs without our even knowing. This danger, which I greatly believe is applicable in this mass medium, especially when taking into consideration the novelty of the device in the 1930’s, could leave listeners unguarded against potential manipulation or influence. The idea that the voices of the radio speakers have a certain familiar or intimate quality illustrates this desire to identify with the listener, which leaves that latter to fend for himself in the identification of the veracity of messages, and in the intention of the speaker who is trained to please an audience. The various personalities that would speak to the nation through radio—the †politically powerful and the rich, [†¦ ministers, educators, [†¦] comedians, singers and actors†Ã¢â‚¬â€could have various intentions in their speeches; they could seek to sway auditors to favor certain ideologies, to act in certain ways, or could misdirect or misinform listeners (Douglas, 2004, p31). Furthermore, the ability for radio to adjust to various circumstances of listening makes it even more alarming as it becomes the background music of our daily lives, making these voices that much more likely to become a part of our interior dialogue (Douglas, 2004). In conclusion, as mass media of various sorts—newspapers, television and radio—become national, and all-encompassing, the need for critical analysis of every aspect of each medium becomes necessary to understand the limitations of each, and their intentions. Since there are many underlying motives to every medium, especially commercial or political ones, and since mass media have developed into such huge social entities with powerful nfluence, it is important to think by ourselves, without the implication of unknown others in our reasoning; to question why we believe certain things, and how we came to so as to remain individuals in the mass, and to be able to ward off unwanted influences which may find their way into our subconscious. Word Count  : 782 How to cite The Zen of Listening, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Interface Design project for the Museum Guided Exhibition

Question: Task You are to prepare the project scope and initial requirements and assumptions for a new Interface Design project for the Museum Guided Exhibition as outlined in the Museum Guided Exhibition problem case study. You are to prepare a Project Brief for this project. The project brief will set the basis for the rest of your assignment work in ITC504. You should approach this project as a "blue sky" project. That is, you are going to design and develop an interface that is different to those that you have previously worked on. Your project brief should include the following sections: 1. Overview 2. Vision 3. Scope 4. Outcomes 5. Key assumptions 6. Objectives, Outputs and Targets 7. Success Criteria Answer: 1. Overview The state museum wants to build a multimedia based infrastructure to provide information about their items and exhibitions to the visitors. The management wants to implement a new way of delivering this service to the visitors. Instead of information kiosks set up during exhibitions, the management wants to provide tablets with pre-loaded information about the information of items, way outs through exhibitions information about the arrangement of exhibition, location of food stalls, toilets etc. They also wants to provide Multilanguage support to the visitors and platform for visitors of all ages. As a part of their project, they have hired some professional to design tablet interfaces for them. This project is focused on designing tablet interfaces for the state museum. 2. Vision The vision of this project is to provide some unique and personalized interface to users for accessing information about an exhibition. The user experience to the visitors will be highly personalized. It will eliminate the requirement of manual or kiosk based guidance through an exhibition. Visitors can enjoy exhibitions on their own. 3. Scope The scope of this project is limited to the designs of tablet interfaces only based on the functionalities and requirements suggested by the state museum management. There is no scope of suggesting any new functionality but there is full scope to design some innovative and unique tablet interface design. 4. Outcomes The outcomes of the project will be a set of tablet interface design. The tablet designs should meet usability criteria and constraints of interface designing. The designs will also meet the following aspects, The designs should be easy to use. There should be enough supports and instructions for non-technical users. There should be support for old people so that they can access the information easily from the tablet interface. 5. Key Assumptions The project is only focused on design aspects of the tablet interface. There will be no consideration of the technical details and coding for the interfaces and the functionalities. The targeted users will be from different socio-cultural background. Also there will be people from all ages and from various languages. The designs will be done by considering the above mentioned user groups only. There will be audio-visual support, multi-language support etc. The cost for providing tablets to every visitor is not a consideration of this project. 6. Objectives, outputs, targets The objectives of the project is to design highly usable tablet interfaces for the targeted visitors of the state museum. The outputs from the project will be these interface designs. The targets are meeting the requirements of the visitors and supporting all required functionalities stated by the state museum management. 7. Success Criteria The success criteria are not clear in this stage of the project. However, the success criteria identified so far are, Meeting requirements of the visitors Meeting requirements of the functionalities described by the state museum authority. Providing support for multiple language selection. Easily accessible and usable interface designs. A detailed and effective project plan development. Effective project management. References Galitz. (2009). The Essential Guide To User Interface Design. John Wiley Sons. Kloppenborg, T. (2014). Contemporary Project Management. Cengage Learning. Tidwell, J. (2010). Designing Interfaces. O'Reilly Media, Inc. Young, T. L. (2013). Successful Project Management. Kogan Page Publishers.