Jim Casy as a Jesus Christ Figure Essay

In John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses several characters and situations to symbol something greater. The character, Jim Casy, is portrayed as an allegorical figure that represents Jesus Christ. Casy’s ideals and beliefs are very similar to those of Jesus Christ. Jim Casy is used to represent Jesus Christ, and to give the people going through a hard time a glimpse of hope and strength. Steinbeck portrays Jim Casy as Jesus Christ. The first notable comparison between them would be their initials. Both Jesus Christ and Jim Casy have the same initials. They also both have a strong love for humanity and saw the good in people. Jim Casy let people around him know that it shouldn’t be God that they should lean on, but on each other. In the novel, he says, â€Å"It’s love. I love people so much I’m fit to bust, sometimes. † (23) This showed that Casy wanted people to lean rely on each other. He believed that people struggling together was by far better than one person struggling alone. Both Jesus Christ and Jim Casy go to the wilderness to get their thoughts and beliefs together. Casy’s main goal was to find the meaning of â€Å"holy†. Casy tells the Joad family, â€Å"An’ I went into the wilderness like Him, without no campin’ stuff. † (81) While in the wilderness, Jim Casy realizes that holy is when mankind is united as one. He believed that every person was just one piece of a universal soul and that people could only be holy if they were united. Both Jesus Christ and Jim Casy also sacrificed themselves to protect others. Tom Joad, who already committed the crime of breaking his parole and leaving Oklahoma, knocked out a deputy. He was then instantly put in the danger of going back to prison. Jim Casy selflessly offers to take the blame and go to jail instead of Tom so that Tom would be able to lead the family. Lastly, both Jesus Christ’s and Jim Casy’s beliefs are spread after their deaths. When Jim Casy is brutally murdered, Tom Joad vows to spread Casy’s beliefs onto more people. Jesus Christ and Jim Casy share many similarities, a few being in their names, their love for humanity, their wilderness experiences, and their sacrifices. Steinbeck portrays Jim Casy as Jesus Christ in order to show that people working together will give them hope and strength. Steinbeck sends the message that people must always look towards a brighter future and stick together. He says, â€Å"But when they’re all workin’ together, not one fella for another fella, but one fella kind of harnessed to the hole shebang-that’s holy. † (81) Although the Okies were being driven off their land, Casy worked hard to get the people to work together. One of the many ways Casy reaches out to people is by taking the blame and going to jail instead of Tom. By doing so, Tom was able to carry on with his journey and guide his family as well. This gave people the incentive to start working together and relying on each other. Casy desperately wanted to give his people some hope and spirit that would allow them to look towards a brighter future. Casy says, â€Å"I gotta see them folks that’s gone out on the road. I got a feelin’ I got to see them. They gonna need help no preacher can give ‘em. † (52) Casy knew that his purpose in life was to help those people in need. Therefore, he took every opportunity he could to help. He organized a group of migrants to picket outside a peach picking camp. By working together, the migrants managed to keep reasonable wages for their work. Even though he knew the risks of going to jail if there was ever a leader, he still did not stop fighting for his people. Jim Casy fought for his people till death. His message, however, remained alive and touched the hearts of many of the Okies. Before Tom leaves his mother, he says, â€Å"But I know now a fella ain’t no good alone. † (418) This showed that Casy was successful in spreading his message. He was able to make Tom realize the importance of a community during desperate times. Though Tom was just one person, he was sure that his people would soon get his message. Steinbeck portrays Jim Casy as Jesus Christ in order to emphasize the importance of unity in a community and also to give people enough hope and strength to allow them to carry on. Jim Casy is a symbol of Jesus Christ. He is used to give his fellow people hope and strength by working together. He has several similarities with Jesus Christ in his life and even in his death. His beliefs and ideas provide hope and strength for those in need. Steinbeck used Jim Casy to give the Okies some spirit to carry on and look forward to a brighter future.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 9

Micha I've slept in my own bed for the past week, even though my body itched to do another maneuver up the tree and into Ella's window. She's been avoiding me ever since we made out in my car. I'm guessing she needs some time to sort through her thoughts; that I was overwhelming her. Ella has always had issues with intimacy and pushed people away, including me if I try to cross the friend line. I actually had to work to become her friend. We've always lived next door, but it took me bribing her with a juice box and a toy car to even get her to let me climb over the fence into her yard. But it was worth the time. Fifteen years later, we're still friends. I can't imagine my life without her, something I grasped that night when I found her on the bridge. Even though I knew she wasn't going to jump, seeing her standing on the ledge made me realize that I want and need her in my life forever. She challenges me, pushes me, and pisses me off, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's late in the afternoon when I wake up. Blinking against the bright sun, I drag my butt out of bed and throw on an old tee and some jeans. Ethan and I are still working on fixing the blown head gasket on my car, so I send him a text that I'm up and ready to go. I head into the kitchen and drink the orange juice straight out of the jug. My mom walks in combing her hair, and scolds me. â€Å"Micha Scott, how many times have I told you not to do that crap?† She snatches the juice away and sets it back in the fridge. I wipe away the juice from my chin. â€Å"I think it's called selective hearing.† She does up the buttons on her jacket, dressed to head off to her day job as a secretary at the dealership. She also has a night job as a hostess at a cafe. â€Å"You are such a smart ass.† She holds up a red lacy bra. â€Å"Okay, so I know I've always been the cool mom, but finding this in my bed is crossing the line.† â€Å"Isn't it yours?† I grab a box of cereal out of the cupboard. She scowls at me as she tosses the bra into the trash behind her. â€Å"I have much more class than that.† Thinking of her trashy dress the other night, I can't help but laugh. â€Å"That's breaking news to me.† She gently slaps the back of my head and I laugh, rubbing it like it hurts. â€Å"If you must know, I had a date that night with a really nice guy, but he's a little younger than me and I was trying to make a good first impression.† â€Å"So that's why you had that trashy dress on.† I scoop a handful of cereal out of the box and stuff it into my mouth. â€Å"I was wondering about that.† â€Å"I didn't look that bad,† she protests, grabbing her keys from the hook on the wall. â€Å"Did I?† I hate it when she asks questions like these; ones that don't have a right answer. I shrug and put the cereal back into the cupboard. She grabs a granola bar out of the cupboard. â€Å"So Ella's back for good I'm guessing?† I crunch slowly on the cereal. â€Å"Yeah, until summer's over.† She waits for me to embellish. â€Å"Are you going to tell me where she was for the last eight or nine months?† â€Å"College,† I say. â€Å"In Vegas.† â€Å"Wow, I'm actually impressed with that answer.† She peels the wrapper off the granola bar. â€Å"Good for her.† I frown. â€Å"Why? She bailed on everyone.† â€Å"I'm not saying how she did it was right, but it's good she's going somewhere in her life.† â€Å"I told you I have plans. I just need to figure out a way to make them happen.† She sighs and pats my head like I'm still a child. â€Å"I worry about you spending too much time chasing her. You might have to realize that maybe she doesn't want to get caught, sweetie. Trust me. It was something I had to learn with your dad.† She hangs her bag over her shoulder and drums her fingernails on the counter. â€Å"Micha, did you think about what I told you the other night?† â€Å"You mean with that random text you sent me?† She sighs heavy-heartedly. â€Å"I'm sorry I broke the news to you like that. It's been sitting on my chest for a while and I just couldn't figure out a way to do it. I panicked.† She hangs her head. â€Å"I'm a terrible mother, aren't I?† I shake my head and give her a hug because I can sense she needs one. â€Å"Being a terrible news breaker doesn't make you a terrible mother. I've always had a roof over my head and food to eat.† She hugs me back. â€Å"Yeah, but sometimes it feels like I should have spent more time with you. I mean, every mother in the world gives more than what I do.† My eyes travel over her head to the window. Ella's house is right outside, looking broken and beaten. â€Å"Not every mother. In fact, some can't help not to.† She steps away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. â€Å"Are you going to call him?† I eye my father's number tacked to the wall next to the phone. â€Å"I haven't decided yet.† She dabs her fingers under her eyes, fixing her makeup. â€Å"Just make sure to think about it from both sides. I know he's been out of your life for forever, but he sounded genuine on the phone. I think he really wants to see you.† I force a smile. â€Å"Alright, I'll think about it.† My father bailed out when I was six and we haven't heard from him since. My mom went looking for him right after he left, but she came back telling me she couldn't find him. I've always wondered if she did find him, but didn't want to tell me the truth. My mom leaves the house and I relax on the couch with my feet kicked up on the table as I wait around for Ethan to show up. I'm surfing through the channels when the home phone rings. â€Å"Hello.† â€Å"Umm†¦ is this Micha?† A voice responds. â€Å"Yeah†¦ why? Who's this?† A long pause fills the connection and I think I've lost the weirdo. â€Å"Are you there?† I ask, getting annoyed. â€Å"Yeah.† He clears his throat. â€Å"This is your father.† I nearly drop the damn phone. â€Å"Micha, this is you, isn't it?† He sounds old and formal and it pisses me off. â€Å"Yeah it's me,† I say through gritted teeth. â€Å"I know your mother was going to have you call me, but there is something I need to talk to you about,† he says. â€Å"And it can't wait.† I consider his request. â€Å"I've been waiting almost fourteen years to talk to you. I think you can wait a little bit longer.† Then I slam the phone down and punch the wall. The sheetrock crumbles to the counter top and the hook holding the keys crashes to the floor. â€Å"Fuck!† I collapse to the ground, hoping no one walks in and sees me falling apart. Especially Ella.

Film review on “The Matrix: Reloaded”

The main aim for this piece was to persuade with a second aim to entertain the reading audience. I chose this genre because it gave me the chance to explore the language within the genre but also the presentation. My targeted audience was from fifteen to twenty as I feel this age range will read the film review on â€Å"The Matrix Reloaded† which I did my piece on. I looked at a number of film reviews and their style but I decided to create my own with my ideas, which I hope made it, more, creative. Throughout my piece I have tried to add humour as well as adding relevant and consistant points. This is shown in the section â€Å"the story so far†: â€Å"for one, you're stark raving crazy† I have used this humour because I was trying to steer away from the standard review because I wanted to personalise it with my own unique style. Developing on this I didn't want to have too much comedy within the review as I feel it would be hard to sustain it to a high a quality if I persisted with it through out the piece. So I included it in short sharp bursts to add `colour` to the review. When I did add the comedy I wanted to bring the reader back to the point I was trying to get across with phrases like: â€Å"seriously though†. This helps to remind the reader that the most important part of the writing is not the comedy but the actual review. I tried to use the above technique to involve the reader but I also this by using words like â€Å"you're† and â€Å"we†. These pro nouns makes the reader think that you are talking directly to them which keeps them involved in the writing. As the main aim of the piece was to persuade and secondly to entertain I had to choose my language very carefully. So I decided that I would use a lot of positive emotive adjectives to persuade my readers to share my opinion of the film: â€Å"funky† â€Å"cool† â€Å"impressive† The other main thing I had to think about was the audience I was writing for. As I aimed it at fifteen to twenty years old I tried to include some teenage jargon: â€Å"Check out these visuals† I used the phrase â€Å"check out†as I feel that the bulk of the people who would read this would relate to this kind of language as it addresses them in a friendly tone. Finally one of the main features of my piece is the layout and presentation. This is a key part because when people pick up a review of something the first thing that attracts them is how it looks. So I have tried to do this also by including a front cover which I put there to attract the reader and gives them a brief introduction of what the review is about. Where I think theses presentational devices works best was in the main review. I included a picture from the scene with writing wrapped around it. The writing is actually about the picture, which gives the reader a taster to what the film will be like. This in my opinion is the form of persuasion as it makes the reader want to see the rest of the film. In my writing I made a lot of amendments in the presentational side of my review. As you can see from my first drafts, the presentation is bland so I had to change so it was appealing to the eye. I did this buy using appropriate pictures from the film to complement the writing. The other main thing I did to the presentation was to use a background of â€Å"The Matrix code† which is a trademark in the films, but I feel this could only be truly appreciated by a â€Å"Matrix† fan. Regarding the actual writing the first draft I did was the style I was looking for so I only had to fine-tune it which gave me the opportunity to concentrate on how it looked. In my opinion the most successful thing which was included in my piece was the presentation and the way I adapted to my target audience. The presentation in the final draft in my opinion looked really professional and captured the mood of the films. I thought my language in my writing really suited my targeted audience, this is shown here: â€Å"get ready for the ride of your life† I think that the age range that would read this would relate to this in a way they could appreciate. A major problem that faced me when I was writing my review was trying to get my presentation right. I found it hard to produce the picture I had in my mind, which I wanted it to like. But I got there in there in the end with a lot of fiddling around on the computer. Overall I am happy with my final piece as I feel I met all of the criteria for writing to persuade and also adding my own style. If I was to do this piece of work again I would do some more research on the film as I feel this would strengthen my writing further.

Technology in Classroom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Technology in Classroom - Essay Example Since the advent of computers, information revolution is creating tools that promise assistance in the intellectual dimensions of our lives. With the introduction of technology the classrooms which were passive have become active learning centers. The highly interactive nature of computers enables students a high level of involvement in learning. Today's students have mastered a large variety of tools that we will never master with the same level of skill. From computers to calculators to camera phones, these tools are like extensions to the human brain. Educating and evaluating student without these tools makes no more sense to them. (ascd.org, 2007). PowerPoint presentations are easy to obtain, modify, and create. They are versatile and a great asset to any classroom. Good presentations may take time to produce or adapt, but they can be shared and used year after year. They can be used for whole class presentations and reviews, for drills, or for individual work. Data projectors can be used in many locations (e.g. classrooms, conference rooms, lecture theaters, etc) for professional development of staff, sharing of educational resources, students presenting their work to a class. Demonstrating new software. Projecting live video of experiments. Teaching about contemporary internet in general, students will be able to show their work in full screen. Technology helps students in curriculum-free programs such as the common tool-type applications for exploring ideas and relationships with data; engaging in problem solving, locating, organizing data and presenting information; creating reports and various types. With the help of technology in team-based projects can be worked on within the classroom, with increased supervision from the teacher. Many books and journals will be available on-line i.e., in the e-library. Students are getting hands-on experience of concepts that were difficult and impossible in traditional classroom. The data analysis and interpretation is vital in many disciplines. The technology has efficiently solved this problem. Many new fields are possible only through the use of such technology. By the usage of modern technology students have become more familiar with the knowledge-management skills. Technology-usage skills are also developed in the students with a more professional environment offered by the classroom. The presence of technology in the classroom reflects the dramatic rise in the availability of readily-accessible knowledge and communication tools online in the workplace. Faculty can share their discipline specific uses of technology such as the use of online databases. Team-based projects can also be worked on within the classroom, with increased supervision from the teacher. Students are able to develop communication skills within the class. Students have a h abit of relying on a very informal writing style with instant Messaging; the use of notebook computer can be used in the coming future to develop professional writing skills. (itc.udayton.edu, 2006) Regardless of whether it is multiplication or exercises or spelling, there are certain facts that children must learn through memorization in their early education. And the key to learning these is

Social Performance, Part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Performance, Part 2 - Essay Example In this regards, Total Company has some similar code of ethics with other companies. For instance, among the common ethics in most of the companies in similar industry is code of conduct towards the shareholders and the owners. The shareholders and owners should look for a fair way of balancing between capital and work in a manner that employees bet a fair pay in commensurate with work done. It is the duty of the shareholders to design their company as one of the greatest instruments to generate wealth, make their irrefutable objecting of earning a profit in line with sustainable, sound environmentally and social development, and also ensure that all the activities are done responsively and in an ethical manner. In addition, the company shareholders have to define and uphold the values and mission of the company in accordance to its code of ethics (Marianna Sigala, 2012). As in the case of other companies, there have been loop holes when it comes to implementation of their code of et hics. For instance, there has been a conflict of interest between the owners of the company and the company itself. The owners of the company have been using company assets for their own gain therefore leading to lack of transparency. This has led to strained relationship between the shareholders and the management. ... In relation to company clients and suppliers, there has been a continuous strained relationship between the company and its suppliers. The suppliers are not paid in time as expected and have resulted in delays in supplies. The choice of suppliers has been another big problem since some of them could not uphold best business practices and respect human dignity. Good business ethics provides for the choice of suppliers who respects and upholds good business practices (Ladd, 2011). With the issue of competition, the other companies have been using their market position to intimidate companies whose market share is still small. Code of ethics should ensure that there is no abuse of weaker competitors in the market place. There has been also discrimination of employees basing on their nationality, sex and age. After criticizing the shortcomings of other organizations, Total Company has designed the following code of ethics: Prohibition of conflict of interest and bribery- activities of th e company should be conducted with the highest level of integrity. Both the employees and the external stakeholders are expected to reject corruption and bribery in all forms Labor rights- Total Company ensures that its employee operational policies and practices prevent and prohibit forced labour, child labor and discrimination and respect international labour standards Contributions to local development- the company offers employment to local people and also participates in education, economic health development programs and infrastructures. Security and Human rights- the company is committed to respecting the protection of Human rights and implements the generally acceptable

GDP and the circular flow of income and expenditures Research Paper

GDP and the circular flow of income and expenditures - Research Paper Example roductivity, expenditure, or income (gross domestic product of a nation) (Ouanes, Abdessatar, Subhash, Thakur, Lienert, Marciniak and Swiderski, 1997, p.87). Consumption is a primary concept in economics, and many other social sciences also study it. Economists are very much interested in the relationship that exists between income and consumption. According to some economists, consumption entails the final purchase of goods and services by individuals. Other economists define consumption in a much broader manner. They define it as the aggregate of all economic activities that does not include the design, marketing of goods and services and production. An example is the adoption, selection, use, disposal and the recycling of the services and products (Ouanes, Abdessatar, Subhash,Thakur, Lienert, Marciniak and Swiderski, 1997, p.87) According to economists, Investment is the accumulation of physical entities that are newly produced, such as goods inventories, houses, machinery, and factories. Also in macroeconomics, it is the amount purchased per unit time of goods that are not utilized but are employed in at a future date production. It is as a function of interest rates and income. An increase in the amount of revenue will contribute to higher investment and, on the other hand, higher rates of interest may lead to the discouragement of investment since it will be more costly to borrow money. More so if a company decides to use its funds in an investment. The interest rate will represent an opportunity cost of investing the funds rather lending out the money for interest (Ouanes, Abdessatar, Subhash ,Thakur, Lienert, Marciniak and Swiderski, 1997, p.87) According to economists, government spending entails all consumptions of the government, investments, and transfer payments. Government spending can be by taxes, seigniorage, and government borrowing. Changes in the government expenditure are a primary component of fiscal policy which is used to stabilize the

Avon Products or GE Money America Case Study Term Paper

Avon Products or GE Money America Case Study - Term Paper Example These issues convince the public and economists that the CEO of Avon Products, Sherilyn McCoy and the rest of the organisation may fail to resuscitate the company's dwindling fortunes, despite McCoy's exemplary leadership record at Johnson & Johnson and other pharmaceuticals (Goldsmith and Carter, 10). At the same time, the company's need for change and restructuring is based on the very company's uncertainty. This is because, despite the qualifications and performance track record that McCoy possesses, yet it is true that Sherilyn McCoy lacks experience which is directly related to sales. In the same wavelength, McCoy's unfamiliarity with the Avon Products' business model means that she will have to face a seriously steep learning curve (Goldsmith and Carter, 16). It is also pointed out that Avon Products lacks adequate and proper resources and manpower to make it in a dynamic market that is graced with seasoned companies such as L'Oreal, for competitors. 2. Identifying the Model fo r Change Theory Typified In the Case Study of Choice The model that can best change theory that is likely to help Avon Products' situation is the planned model. Change theory will also readily necessitate the need to take on the use of decision theory. This is because decision theory suggests that people satisfice during decision making, as collective participation during decision making amplifies room for change. According to Rossotti, this recommendation above involves making plans for changes that need to be developed in order to: define measurable goals; outline the strategic factors that are determinants of success; detail the steps that are to be taken in organisational implementation; and outlining the manner in which commitment is to be realised from chief decision makers (Rossotti, 75). In regard to the proposition above, it will be important that Avon Products refocuses its energies and focus on its client base. This proposition is necessitated by the fact that Avon Produc ts is clearly turning away from focusing on market-centred exploits. It is only by following the change theory strategy that Avon Products will be able to effectively use emerging social media and technologies to make operations more customer-centric. This exploit will help the company identify the most valuable strategies such as direct contacts with potential and prospective client. Discussing Factors That Led To the Identification of the Model Chosen There are several factors that qualify the need to choose the change/ decision theory. The most fundamental of these reasons is the manner in which market trends are becoming too pervasive to be ignored in market competition. Particularly, the online social media has become an indispensible tool in for sales and marketing. The number of consumers who are buying cosmetics and perfumes online continues to increase by the day, and Avon Products must not ignore this phenomenon. Avon Products' arch rivals such as L'Oreal, Sephora, Beauty, Mary Kay and Drugstore have already gone to online marketing as a way of netting in a bigger clients' base. Avon Products' successful initiatives of developing e-catalogues and android and iPhone applications are not enough to net clients in social media, and those on tablets and smart phones. This will call for the application of change theory in Avon Products' chain and systems policy of communication.

Exam Study Guide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Exam Study Guide - Essay Example Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was a major piece of a legislation in the Progressive Era that was signed by the then President, Theodore Roosevelt which recognized the U.S. pharmacopeia and the national formulary as the standard authorities for drugs. Lewis Hine was an American sociologist and a photographer who used pictures and the camera as a tool for bringing social reforms to the U.S. his photographs played a key role in in changing the labor laws of the United States. Conservation Movement was aimed at preserving and protecting the American wildlife, , wild lands and other natural resources that took place between 1890 and 1920. The War of 1898, sometimes referred to as the Spanish-American War was a conflict between the Spain and the United States which resulted from the American intervention in the Cuban war of independence. Philippine War, commonly referred to as the Philippine war of independence was an armed conflict that took place between the United States and the Filipi no revolutionaries between 1899 and 1902. W.E.B. Dubois, a co-founder of the national association for the advancement of colored people was an American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist, a pan Africanist, who coupled as both an author and an editor, born in February 23 1868. NAACP in an abbreviation for the national association for the advancement of colored people, which was an organization founded in 1909, to advocate for African-American civil rights Ida Wells Barnett was an African-American journalist, a newspaper editor, a suffragist, a sociologist and an early leader of the civil rights movement famous for documenting the article, lynching in the United States which showed how the blacks who chose to compete with the whites were punished. Committee on Public Information during World War I, was an independent agency of the government of the United States that was created with an aim of influencing the public opinion of the citizens of the American participation in the First World War. Post World War I â€Å"Red Scare† signified the increase of fear of imminent rise of communism or racial leftism that was commonly used by anti-leftist proponents, which in the United States was marked by revolution of the workers and the political radicalism. Immigrant Restriction Act of 1924 also referred to as the Johnson-Reed Act was a federal law of the United States which was enacted in 1921 that limited the number of people who could be admitted from any country in the world. Ku Klux Klan is an ongoing racist and anti-semantic movement that uses extreme violence to achieve the goals of racial segregation and white supremacy, founded in mid 1860s, whose members adopted white robes, masks and hats that were purposed at scaring people. Great Migration was the mass movement of more than 6 million African-Americans out of the rural states of southern America that took place for the most period of 20th century to the Northeast, Midwest and the West. H arlem Renaissance was a phase of larger New Negro movement which emerged in the early 20th century, and which ushered in the civil rights movement of the late 1940s and early 1950s, which blossomed in African American culture that mostly used creative arts. American automobile was the name given to the vehicles that were produced in America

Court Decision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Court Decision - Essay Example Therefore, just like his wife, Joseph was supposed to readily relinquish his parental rights because he had failed to meet the legal requirements of a parent. As a father, he was not expected to spend such a long period of time without getting in close contact with his biological daughter. By failing to do this, he was demonstrating his abandonment for Annette. Despite the prevailing conditions, he would have tried as much as he could to look for Annette wherever she had been taken by her mother. As a man, he was to take all the necessary measures to ensure that he traces his daughter and get acquainted with her whereabouts. Further more, he was the biological parent to Annette. Meaning, he had a lot of parental duties to perform to her. Hence, by claiming that he had tried, he was not proving any point. In this regard, it is my considered opinion that, based on the ruling, the decision of the court would remain the same even if Annette’s foster parents were not interested in adopting her. Since the Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS) became a party to this case, Joseph has never been anywhere to be reached. Therefore, it is obvious that he had failed to visit and communicate to his daughter although he was in a better position of doing so (Robertson, 2013). As the constitution clearly stipulates, a parent can be declared to have abandoned a child when they fail to communicate and be in a close contact with a child for a period of six months prior to the time in which the case was filed in the Family Court to be decided upon. Definitely, the determination of such a case should be primarily considering the interests of the child. Before making any decision regarding the termination of parental rights, the court should ensure that it acts in the best interests of the child. The court decision should consider

Busines stratgt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Busines stratgt - Essay Example SWOT analysis is a management tool that allows managers to view the company’s at a wider picture thus enabling them to designing both short-term and long-term plan that may improve business performance. The following SWOT analysis identifies the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In other words, the analysis tries to identify the company’s problems and recommends the best strategic moves for the company to remain competitive. Strengths One of the company’s greatest strength is its business model. The company sells its products directly to consumers. In other words, there are no intermediaries i.e. retailers and wholesalers. This has assisted the company in bringing down distribution cost significantly. Because of this, the company is able to charge lower prices than its competitors thus acquiring a competitive advantage. The time lag between the customers’ orders and delivery is less compared to competitors’ time. Th is is because of lack of wholesalers or retailers in the distribution channel. This has contributed a lot in strengthening the company’s relationship with its customers, as well as, enhancing the customer satisfaction. Additionally, the business model supports customization of the company’s products and services especially the personal computers. The direct contact between the company and the customers enables the company to tailor-make its products to meet the customers’ needs. The company is also able conduct the market research effectively thus focusing on enhancing the customer satisfaction. The company’s high stock turnover is, as well, its strength. Because of this, Dell Inc has a good relationship with its suppliers since it has a healthy liquidity that enables it to pay the suppliers as early as possible. Because of this, the company is able to obtain supplies at lower prices compared to if it would pay later, thus reducing the cost of manufacturi ng. The company’s other strength is that it does not only sell to individual consumers, but also to businesses and government organizations. Consequently, Dell is able to supply a large number of personal computes and other related products thus increasing the profitability. Another Dell’s strength s product differentiation that enables customers to simply identify the company’s products. Weaknesses One of the company’s strength, customization, is also its weakness. A customer would have to wait for more time before receiving his or her computer from a delivery than when he or she goes direct to a retailer store, buys a computer, and acquires it as soon as he or she pays. Additionally the customers are not given an opportunity to physically touch the products and test them before they purchase them. The customers should have an opportunity to go to the retail shop and compare different products before deciding the ones to purchase. For the case of Dell, t he company expects consumers to order their products direct from the company without comparing them with competitors’ products, in the market. Another weakness is that the company focuses more on businesses and government organizations as customers in expense of individual consumers. Jenster states, â€Å"every market segment is equally important for every business meaning that he focus should be on all customers (52)†. To eliminate the weaknesses the company should segment its

Judicial Corruption in the US Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Judicial Corruption in the US - Research Paper Example A censor of the previous judge of the Michigan Supreme Court, Justice Betty Weaver, which was termed as â€Å"a formal censure without any adjudicative proceeding† (Zernik, 2011), for her role in criticizing the judiciary and calling for its reform is a true revelation that corruption has taken strong roots in the US judiciary. Justice Weaver has for long been an advocate of judicial reform in the USA, arguing that corruption has exacerbated to levels that are completely threatening to erode the credibility and confidence in the USA justice system (Zernik, 2011). The USA judicial system is now characterized by discrimination and prejudice, where the richer are favored at the expense of the poor, while the whites are treated different in the interpretation of the law, from the Blacks (Konzy, 2013). Needless to say, the corruption in the USA judiciary started as early as 1803, when the judiciary was barely 15 years old, as can be traced in the ruling of the Marbury vs Madison, i n which the District of Columbia ruled that Marbury as the plaintiff was entitled to his claimed commission, but the ruling further denied him the commission, on the basis that the court did not have jurisdiction to such cases, yet it had previously issued rulings in similar cases and circumstances (Kozy, 2013). It is such precedents that have now become the norm of the current USA judicial system, as can be traced in the recent rejection of an application by the USA Supreme Court, filed by over two million subscribers, seeking to have Comcast Corporation be charged for overcharging the subscribers for far too long, through unfairly eliminating competition (Konzy, 2013). The Supreme Court surprisingly rejected the proposed legal action against the company, on the grounds of technicality, notwithstanding the case entailed an injustice perpetrated against 2 million people. The incidences of corruption in the judiciary have significantly increased, and the system seems to be forming a cartel of judges and lawyers, who collude with wrongdoers to perpetrate these injustices (Zernik, 2011). No wonder that major companies have managed to apply taxation gimmicks to avoid taxation, and have placed the burden on the already suppressed tax payers. Causes of corruption in the USA Judiciary The causes of corruption in the judiciary is the established culture of reshuffles within the judiciary, where the office holders of different official capacities in the judiciary have remained there for long, and the only thing that effectively happens as a change is a reshuffle from one office to the her, creating a fertile ground through which such individuals continue to perpetrate corruption (Cruz, 2013). Further, the ability of the different parties in the judicial system to operate as a cartel has made the culture of corruption in the judiciary continue to breed, considering that the lawyers and the judges who have worked together for many years are now able to establish their ow n system of injustice, through which they can collude to deny victims their justice, while favoring those they feel are responsive to their needs and demands (Cruz, 2013). Finally, corruption in the USA Judiciary has arisen and continued to thrive, courtesy of an increasingly backtracking of the American Nationalism that was

Virtues and Vices Essay Example for Free

Virtues and Vices Essay Would you sacrifice your identity just to fit into a certain crowd? Higher social class increases unethical behavior. Social class confuses Pip into believing his vices are really his virtues. In a study by Paul K. Piff, Daniel M. Stancato, Stephane Cote, Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, and Dacher Keltner, they found that people of higher social class were more likely to cheat, steal, and break the law. Why does Pip feel the need to be a gentleman, or in a higher social class? Pip grew up in a low social class in England around the Mid-nineteenth century. Joe, Pip’s father figure and brother in law, taught him the importance of kindness and generosity. You can recognize this in Pip’s fundamental inclination to help. Pip gets invited to Miss Havisham’s home; also know as the Satis House. Miss Havisham, Estella’s adoptive mother, plays Pip in one of her sick, twisted games by harassing Pip into seeing how beautiful Estella is. The only reason Estella does what Miss Havisham wants of her is because she is bribing her with family money and gems. Miss Havisham manipulated Pip by making him fall in love with Estella just so Estella can, metaphorically, rip his heart out. Miss Havisham was left on her wedding day by her fiance; therefore she has made it her life’s mission to destroy any man in her she can get away with. Because of Miss Havisham’s influence, Estella gives Pip the impression that she will only like him if he would be a gentleman. To become a gentleman Pip mixed vices and virtues by believing that education, dress, and manners was the most important thing over love, appreciation and hope. No matter what Joe taught Pip, the new beginning that could behold him captivated him. Joe was not enough to hold Pip’s virtues, but if Pip had more people who cared for him when he was younger, he would have never succumbed to Estella. A virtue is a positive trait of quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. A vice is opposite of a virtue, it is a practiced behavior or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, depraved, or degrading in the associated society. Pip practices both in this novel, however somewhere in the middle of all that was going on, he couldn’t differentiate between vices and virtues.

Hitler: Planner or an Opportunist?

Hitler: Planner or an Opportunist? In order to reasonably construct an argument, it is first necessary to elucidate the question slightly. Specifically, it would seem that the question infers planning and opportunism to be mutually exclusive by asking if Hitler was a planner or an opportunist in his foreign policy. To adapt ones actions in order to achieve wider predefined goals contains elements of both planning and opportunism, so it should be borne in mind that one does not necessarily exclude the other; he may have been both. Since Taylors controversial The Origins of the Second World War (Taylor, 1961) was first published, intense debate has raged in the historical world as to whether Hitler was simply an opportunist, a view propounded by Taylor (1961), or if his actions were well planned and strategised, as suggested by Hillgrubers Stufenplan (Hillgruber, 1965) and others. This essay addresses the question by considering key events in German foreign policy from 1933-1941, analysing each in terms of opportunism and planning. Particular attention shall be given to events prior to the German invasion of Poland and the resulting declarations of war upon Germany by France, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. After these declarations were made, Hitlers foreign policy would need to be more opportunistic and fluid if it was to be successful; in any war victory requires constant reappraisal of the situation at hand. It shall also be suggested that Hitlers actions in the period 1940-1941 were, though forced to adapt due to circumstance, ultimately motivated by a greater plan built on strong ideological beliefs, a view shared by Hillgruber (1965) in Hitlers Strategie. The question of the existence of a Stufenplan, as proposed by Hillgruber (1965), is somewhat harder to answer. Certainly such a plan may be constructed from analysis of Mein Kampf. However, it is difficult to say if such a plan genuinely existed, or if it is merely a construct built upon a foundation of selected statements from the book. Such a plan is also suggested in Nazism 1919-1945, A Documentary Reader (Noakes Pridham, 1988, p. 617): â€Å"from the comments and arguments contained in Mein Kampf one can construct a foreign policy programme which essentially consisted of five stages † However, this is somewhat within the realm of conjecture and with the benefit of hindsight. Mein Kampf is by no means a step-by-step work, but there are key principles embedded within the text which may be extracted and compared to Hitlers actual foreign policy actions. Through this it shall be argued that at least some level of planning, some attempt to achieve pre-defined goals, did in fact exist. In the broadest sense, the foreign policy advocated by Hitler in Mein Kampf is quite clear, namely to expand Germany to become a world power through the acquisition of territory or ‘living space. In Mein Kampf Hitler (1926, p. 557) states: â€Å" without consideration of ‘traditions and prejudices, it (Germany) must find the courage to gather our people and their strength for an advance along the road that will lead this people from its present restricted living space to new land and soil † Furthermore, it should be noted in the above quote that Hitler not only expresses his desire for lebensraum, but goes further in suggesting that it is reasonable to acquire territory without â€Å"consideration of ‘traditions and prejudices†. From this it may be inferred that Hitler is largely unconcerned by any ethical argument that might counteract the expansion of Germany. This view is compounded by Hitlers (1926) further statement â€Å"Germany will either be a world power or there will be no Germany†. Although A.J.P. Taylor (1961) argued that Hitler did not have any real blueprint for his foreign policy, which consisted of nothing more than taking opportunities as they offered themselves, that Hitler was nothing more than â€Å"a traditional European statesman† (Taylor, 1961), the above comments from Mein Kampf seem to suggest a higher motivation, the desire to expand Germanys borders and present Germany as a world power by non-traditional means, without, as Hitler (1926) states, â€Å"consideration of ‘traditions or prejudices†. In order to expand Germany and gain lebensraum it would first be necessary to somehow remove the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. It is already apparent that in 1926 Hitler saw no use in any future delegations regarding the removal of the sanctions imposed by Versailles, dismissing the treaty as an act of â€Å"highway robbery against our people† (Hitler, 1926). He further stated in Mein Kampf: â€Å"One must have the simple mind of a child to believe that the revision of the Versailles Treaty can be obtained by indirect means and by beseeching the clemency of the victors The sword is the only means whereby a nation can thrust that clutch from its throat† (Hitler, 1926, p. 554). Taylor (1961) would have us believe Mein Kampf to be nothing more than the ramblings of an imprisoned man, yet already we see an element of forward planning; what was outlined here would be realised by Hitler years later. In March 1935, Hitler introduced compulsory military conscription, openly flaunting the Treaty of Versailles, although his army had already been growing in secret since 1933, when Hitler ordered his Generals to treble the size of Germanys army to 300,000. This was the ‘sword with which Hitler intended to vanquish the ‘clutch of Versailles. A year later, on March 7, 1936, German troops remilitarised the Rhineland, again flagrantly violating the Versailles Treaty. Were these actions merely opportunistic, lacking any real planning? Had Hitler simply, to paraphrase Taylor (1961), leaned on the door of the Rhineland hoping to gain entrance? One could argue that, due to the poor British economy following the Depression, Hitler was opportunistic in his timing of these treaty violations, perhaps sensing that military retaliation was unlikely. However, he had undoubtedly expressed his intentions to violate Versailles by forceful means almost ten years earlier, as evidenced above in Mein Kampf. Rather than simple opportunism, it would seem that Hitler was shrugging away the shackles of Versailles at a prudent juncture, just as he had intended. Furthermore, this may be seen as the first step in his wider quest for lebensraum. To acquire territory, to become a world power, required military strength prohibited by Versailles. In March 1938, German troops annexed Austria. This was at least in part opportunistic. Hitler knew very well that the Nazis enjoyed strong support in Austria; four years earlier Dolfuss had been assassinated by pro-Nazi sympathisers within Austria who actively desired Austro-German unification. Such was the influence of the Austrian pro-Nazis that Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg was ultimately forced to resign, due to pressure from within Austria and from Hitler himself. Following Schuschniggs resignation, German troops were able to enter Austria without resistance. In the case of Austria, perhaps it is reasonable to entertain the idea of Hitler simply acting as a statesman rather than following any great plan. Since such strong support for the Nazis existed within Austria, it could be argued that any prudent statesman in a similar position would take advantage of such a situation. However, there is also evidence in Mein Kampf that this event was planned: â€Å"German-Austria must be restored to the great German Motherland. And not indeed on any grounds of economic calculation whatsoever. No, no. Even if the union were a matter of economic indifference, and even if it were to be disadvantageous from the economic standpoint, still it ought to take place. People of the same blood should be in the same Reich† (Hitler, 1926, p. 11). Hitler appears to hold the union of Austria and Germany in particular regard, a matter of principle and genetic unity rather than merely a stepping-stone in Germanys expansion. Taylor (1961) would have us believe that Hitler merely took advantage of the situation in Austria and that this situation was â€Å"produced by Schuschnigg not Hitler† (Taylor, 1961). This view seems somewhat myopic. Hitler may have been acting opportunistically to restore or strengthen Germany through alliance with Austria, but his primary motivation would appear to be something more esoteric, the unification of blood or race. To counteract the above argument, one might say that there were many far-right individuals with similar beliefs, that Hitler was not unique and thus the annexing of Austria was still simply an opportunist act. Opportunist in timing, perhaps, but it cannot be denied that as early as 1925, when the first volume of Mein Kampf was published, Hitler already intended to unite the two countries. How and when he did so may be a matter of opportunism, but the fact that he intended to do for ideological reasons remains. In view of this it seems difficult to renounce the unification of Germany and Austria as purely opportunistic. The evidence presented so far in support of the view that Hitlers foreign policy was not entirely opportunistic is largely rooted in Mein Kampf. However, when considering the Sudetenland and Czech Republic there is further evidence of possible planning on Hitlers part in the form of the Hossbach Memorandum, minutes of a meeting that took place on November 5, 1937 between the Fuehrer and several highranking Nazis (of these the majority were military officials rather than politicians). It is interesting that Hitler chose not to hold a full cabinet meeting, given the gravity of the topics discussed. Hitler himself attributed this to the importance of the matter, but one might also infer that he was reluctant to include too many politicians in the meeting in order to minimise the abstraction of military planning from himself and thus maintain more precise military control. This in itself may be said to evidence a certain level of planning on Hitlers part; discussing such matters within a full cabinet would seem to be the logical course of action for the typical statesman. What is especially interesting about the meeting is that the subject of Czechoslovakia as a tactical foothold is specifically addressed. Hossbach (1937) specifically notes: â€Å"If the Czechs were overthrown and a common German-Hungarian frontier achieved, a neutral attitude on the part of Poland could be the more certainly counted on in the event of a Franco-German conflict. Our agreements with Poland only retained their force as long as Germanys strength remained unshaken. In the event of German setbacks a Polish action against East Prussia, and possibly against Pomerania and Silesia as well, had to be reckoned with† (Hossbach, 1937). Almost a year later, German troops occupied the Sudetenland, with the blessing of both Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier. In fact Lord Runciman, sent by Chamberlain to attempt reconciliation between the Germans and Czechs prior to the cession of the Sudetenland seemed to positively endorse the action as ‘natural: â€Å" the feeling among the Sudeten Germans until about three or four years ago was one of hopelessness. But the rise of Nazi Germany gave them new hope. I regard their turning for help towards their kinsmen and their eventual desire to join the Reich as a natural development in the circumstances† (Runciman, 1938). Reading Lord Runcimans comments above, one might consider it reasonable to view the acquisition of the Sudetenland as opportunistic; after all the British and French were willing to appease Hitler with the Munich Agreement. However, a year earlier, Hitler and those present at the meeting documented by Hossbach had realised the advantages occupying Czechoslovakia would present; Hitlers desire to take Czechoslovakia was already evident in 1937. Shortly after signing the agreement Hitler complained â€Å"That fellow Chamberlain spoiled my entrance into Prague†. Three weeks later, Hitler told generals to prepare for the â€Å"liquidation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia†. Undoubtedly Hitler was opportunistic in signing the Munich Agreement, though it is clear that both before and after signing his ultimate goal was to take Czechoslovakia. It is also apparent that two years before finally annexing Czechoslovakia in March 1939, Hitler saw an advantage in Czechoslovakia beyond immediate opportunistic gain; namely the improved position of Germany with regard to possible aggression on the part of Poland in the event of Franco-German conflict. Taylor (1961, p. 152) dismisses all this, saying â€Å"Even more than in the case of Austria, Hitler did not need to act The crisis over Czechoslovakia was provided for Hitler† and claims that Anschluss in Austria had led German Czechs to â€Å"ungovernable excitement† (Taylor, 1961, p. 152). However, even if Hitler was taking advantage of the crisis, to dismiss his actions as pure opportunism seems churlish; the plan to take Czechoslovakia existed in 1937, before the annexation of Austria took place. This plan also had a wider strategic purpose, even if the execution may have taken advantage of opportunity, particularly in the form of the Munich Agreement. The Pact of Steel also held a higher tactical purpose than mere opportunistic allegiance. In Nazism 1919-1945 A Documentary Reader, it is heralded as a â€Å"diplomatic success in his (Hitlers) preparation for war with Poland securing at long last an alliance with Italy† (Noakes Pridham, 1988, p. 736). Hitler knew that the French and British would not support the invasion, in fact in his Zwitte Buch he makes it quite clear that France shall always be an enemy of Germany: â€Å"In any conflict, regardless on what grounds, regardless for what reasons, France will always be our adversary† (Hitler, 1928, p128). Thus the Pact was important to Hitler, it levelled the field somewhat regarding the issue of Poland. With France and Britain likely to oppose Hitler in this matter, Italy became an important ally. Taylor (1961) counters this view saying â€Å"The Germans attached less weight to the Pact (than the Italians). They took it almost by accident†. Here it seems hard to logically support Taylors comments. The Pact was proposed by the Germans themselves in 1938, so to suggest that it was taken â€Å"by accident† simply does not make sense. Even if it is argued that the Pact was not direct preparation for war with Poland, it was proposed by Germany in 1938 and became reality in 1939. It did not fall to Hitler by accident, it was an opportunity Germany made for itself. Even if one chooses not to see the Pact as preparation for war with Poland, the invasion of Poland itself was preparation for a greater war in Hitlers view. In May 1939 he stated: â€Å"It is not just the Danzig that is at stake. For us it is a matter of expanding our living space in the East and making food supplies secure and also solving the problem of the Baltic States† (Noakes Pridham, 1988, p. 737). Thus the tactical importance of the Danzig and Poland was paramount to Hitler. Not least it represented preparation for a greater conquest; Russia. Furthermore, this principle of expansion into the East was not a new dream of Hitlers, being laid out quite clearly in Mein Kampf: â€Å"When we speak of new territory in Europe today we must primarily think of Russia. This colossal empire in the East is ripe for dissolution. And the end of Jewish domination in Russia will also be the end of Russia as a state † (Hitler, 1926, p. 557) As evidenced above, in 1926, Hitler was convinced that Russia should be Germanys primary goal in terms of land acquisition. Thirteen years later, he is intent on annexing the Danzig to expedite this goal. It is difficult to deny a certain clarity of vision here. Hitler still seems to be following his original wider plan of expansion, namely to reach a position where it becomes feasible to attack Russia. On 23 August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is signed, facilitating Hitlers invasion of Poland with help from the Soviets. This could be argued as an opportunistic Pact, simply expediting the attack on Poland, expanding German territory and presenting a stronger united enemy to the French and British, allowing Hitler to fight a stronger war in the West if need be. Conversely it could be argued that Hitlers conviction that Germany must expand into living space in the East remained. In this case the non-aggression pact with the Soviets and the subsequent invasion of Poland can be seen as opportunism with a further goal, the invasion of Russia itself. Since Hitler had maintained this attitude towards Russia since 1926 and reiterated it only months before signing the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact, it would seem that, opportunistic or not, Hitler had signed the Pact with Russia ultimately to facilitate action against Russia herself. Operation Barbarossa further supports the view that action against Russia was always intended, with Hitler invading the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. If anything it could be argued that a more opportunistic leader would have sought to maintain the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and concentrate on what was available in Western Europe, rather than risking a war on two fronts. However, Hitler was not only opportunistic but idealistic, seemingly determined to end â€Å"Jewish domination in Russia†. From a purely opportunistic point of view, starting a war with Russia would not seem the most prudent course of military action given the current conflict in the West, so one can only assume that Hitler did so due to anti-Semitic ideals and his ongoing belief that Russia should ultimately provide lebensraum. To summarise, it is difficult to label Hitler or his foreign policy as either purely planned or purely opportunistic. Taylor (1961) seems to do the latter at the expense of evidence to the contrary, yet equally it cannot be doubted that Hitler often took advantage of fortuitous situations such as the Austrian Crisis, whilst also creating his own, one example being the Pact of Steel. Ultimately it would seem that Hitler had several definite goals in mind as set out in Mein Kampf; to breach Versailles, to build military strength, to unite Germany and Austria, to invade Russia and ultimately to establish Germany as a world power. Whether or not these goals were intended to be accomplished step-by-step, a Stufenplan, or were simply tackled on a more ad-hoc basis, the key aims established in Mein Kampf do seem to persist in later German foreign policy and many of them were achieved. Rather than simply a planner or an opportunist, it would seem that Hitler was both; taking advantage of opportunity to bring him closer to his planned objectives. Henigs (1985) interpretation of Bullocks argument articulates this view extremely well, and it is with this that the discussion shall be drawn to close: â€Å"He combined consistency of aim with opportunism in method and tactic† (Henig, 1985, p. 39). Are Metropolis and 1984 Cautionary Tales? Are Metropolis and 1984 Cautionary Tales? Both Metropolis and 1984 can be viewed as cautionary tales. The concerns communicated within the texts directly align with the concerns of their respective authors and their contexts. Discuss this statement. Texts are fundamentally expressions of the composers contextual concerns, where differing perspectives upon similar issues provide insight into the values prevalent in the composers time. Fritz Langs expressionist film Metropolis (1927) and George Orwells dystopian satire novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) (1949) are linked by their shared exploration of technological advances and social structures that restrict individual autonomy. Lang is optimistic about societal reform whereas Orwell completely rejects the possibility of a cohesive world, revealing the shift in context from Weimar optimism to post-war nihilism. Therefore, a thorough study of the conceptual connections between these texts ultimately allows us to attain an enhanced appreciation of their composers intertextual perspectives on universal concerns. Despite their differing contexts, both composers highlight the dehumanising nature of totalitarian regimes within society. Langs depiction of German expressionism in Metropolis displays the extensive disparities of class that occurs due to the existence of autocratic power. Set in a dystopian future world, Master Joh Fredersons complete control of the capitalistic Metropolis is exemplified through the juxtaposition of the underclass labourers in the Depths, a subterranean workers city while the aristocratic, wealthy industrialists high in the heavens rule over them tyrannically, symbolically representing the oppression of the inferior lower class. This notion parallels the social inequality in 1920s Germany where hyperinflation induced by the Weimar Republics poor economic management led to immense social disparity. Furthermore, the hedonistic behaviour of the upper class in the Golden 20s is epitomised in the privileged life of Freder, depicted by the extreme long shot of the Eterna l Gardens. In contrast, the mise-en-scene coupled with the slow, uninspiring body language of the workers during shift change illustrates the lack of individuality within the working class. Thus, Lang skilfully allows the audience to empathise with the workers by highlighting this perspective, allowing for insight into how totalitarian regimes necessitate conformity as shaped by the context. Orwell mirrors the ramifications of harsh political regimes on the individual and echoes the qualities of the prevalent communist ideology as he examines the psychological impacts of politically enforced conformity on the individual, emphasised by his personal experiences with fascism and his socialist agenda. The totalitarian rule of Oceania, governed by the omnipotent and omniscient Party employs the use of propaganda such as Big Brother and Newspeak to manipulate people, leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept propaganda as reality, similarly represented during Stalins arbitrary governance in Soviet Russia. The complete suppression of independent thought is described through anaphora in Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death provides parallels to the contextual deprivation of freedom of speech as facilitated by Soviet governance. Orwell employs the protagonist, Winston Smith, to rebel against the Party s doctrine, paralleling the mass uprising in Metropolis, through his blow struck against the Party political act as his subversion culminates in a sexual relationship with Julia which challenges how the Party, and similar dictatorships in Orwells context, suppress human sexuality and relationships. However, Winstons attempt is rendered futile as the psychological and physical torture instigated by the Party in the novels poignant culmination results in Winston succumbing to the totalitarian rule when he states with an accepting tone of voice that He loved Big Brother. Talent Management and Acquisition: Human Resource Management Talent Management and Acquisition: Human Resource Management Before going into the discussion on Talent Management, it would be apt to understand the word Talent. Talent in general terms refers to the capabilities, skills or the art, a person possess in a particular field. It also refers to those people who have high potential, scarce knowledge and skill or who can successfully bring about transformation and change in the organization. Talent management refers to the process of developing and integrating new workers, developing and retaining current workers, and attracting highly skilled workers to work for a company. Coming to the word Talent Management in an Organisation, it refers to those special steps an organization adopts to recruit, develop and retain its pool of top talent. The steps adopted should normally be creative and should not project bureaucracy. Talent Management also denotes a deliberate approach taken up by an organization to attract, develop and retain people with the aptitude and abilities to meet not only the current requirements but also future organizational needs. In todays talent-hungry market scenario, one of the greatest challenges that organizations are facing is to successfully attract, assess, train and retain talented employees. Talent Management encompasses in itself the entire process of Planning, Recruiting, Developing, Managing, and Compensating employees throughout the organization. Organizations have realized the need for talent management and are now focusing to develop and retain the existing talent in their organization rather than trying to acquire a new talent because the cost of identifying, developing and retaining the talent internally is more cost effective instead of replacing the talent which is lost from external market. Though it may appear initially that in the process of retaining talent, we are spending more in terms of increased wages, rewards and recognition, when we practically analyse, the cost of acquiring a new talent is higher. Apart from higher cost of acquiring the new talent it has to additionally face the initial hiccups of this new employee getting along with the organizational goals and strategies. Every business unit is making sure that they can respond and withstand the challenges of talent crisis by developing an effective talent management strategy like identifying the key talented people in the organization, cultivating and developing the skill of their present workforce and retaining highly talented employees by protecting them from competitors. HISTORY OF TALENT MANAGEMENT The origins of Talent Management can be traced to the 1990s with the realization of the immense value of the Human Asset for organizational success surpassing every other resource. Today it is a very widely used terminology with Google returning about 26,300,000 results. Many companies commit the mistake of putting a herculean effort in attracting the best employees but fritter away this valuable resource by not making any effort to develop or retain them. Companies have initially thought of talent management as a means to solve high employee turnover. In course of time it has become part and parcel of the corporate strategy itself with a key responsibility placed on the line managers. One cannot wish away the fact that these managers have to play a pivotal role in nurturing the talents and skills of those reporting to them. In other words, it is a case of joint trusteeship between the line and staff functions. However, in Indian Companies, talent management is of fairly recent origi n. Talent Management Process Organizations are made up of people: people creating value through proven business processes, innovation, customer service, sales, and many other important activities. As an organization strives to meet its business goals, it must make sure that it has a continuous and integrated process for recruiting, training, managing, supporting, and compensating these people. The following chart shows the complete process: Creative ways to innovate Talent Acquisition There are seven creative ways to innovate Talent Acquisition which is mention here:- Talent Acquisition Strategy Outsource Internally: A clever way is to get someone else to do your job. Its a clever way of finding the right person for a position while adding to the insurance of a successful hire. Involve the hiring manager, the superiors, the subordinates this persons work will affect. Collect their ideas for increasing productivity, satisfaction and success. What skills are required? What personal traits will be helpful? What strengths are already on the team? Which might be missing? Translate this input into the skills and personality attributes that tell you exactly what to look for in a candidate. Market your openings in ways you may not have tried before, and build relationships to reach people youve never reached before. Set up an employment interest station in your lobby, at tradeshows, or conferences. Give your business cards to salespeople, or anyone who can evangelize employment, or who may come across colleagues, or even customers, interested in employment with your company. Think like a talent scout, and open your recruiting efforts up to extend beyond the familiar grounds for sourcing talent. Create a widespread referral network that works continuously. Recent hires, association colleagues, retirees and high performers who have left your company are all excellent points of reference. Consider putting up wanted posters, describing your ideal candidate, complete with a cash reward. The reward gets split among all referrers in a line that lead to a successful hire. There can also be other incentive referral programs, like points awarded for referrals, with redemption for prizes, travel, or paid vacation days. However its implemented, the key ingredient is people reaching out to other people. Really interact with people who show interest in joining your company. Job seekers, both active and passive, are a fountain of information about your business, your industry, your competition and your customers. If you develop the approach of treating your interested job seekers like you would treat prospective customers, this can become second nature. Forget about auto-responders on email, or generic postcards. These can actually confirm an applicants suspicion of being a number rather than a valued prospective employee. Create an easy, non-intimidating talent collector that makes it easy for people to explore your company, what its about, what its like to work for. The best place to do this is your company website, with its global reach, and endless possibilities for communication and relationship building around the clock. Move the Careers area to a prominent position on your site. Turn around your application process, reduce your workload and find the right people for open positions fast by having interested job seekers create a profile of themselves. You can collect more information specific to your companys hiring objectives, and also begin to turn the workload in your favour by not having to respond to each individual application. This way, you can build your talent pool exponentially to always have a ready source to search for current and coming position openings. REVIEW OF LITERATURE OF TALENT MANGEMENT AND TALENT ACQUISITION While study of talent management and talent acquisition. I have been read some articles; Review of literature some mentioning her Business Editors High Tech Writers,Dec4,1998 We are a marketing and communications company with Internet and interactive businesses at our core, said Werner Haase, co-chairman and chief executive officer of Exceed, Inc. Whether our clients are looking for ecommerce solutions, or communication strategy and execution for mergers, acquisitions, corporate branding, Web development, human resources or consulting services, weve got the talent to deliver. Ian Cunningham,2007 This paper explores ways in which organizations can take a systemic stance on talent management. The article is based on work done in a variety of organizations plus research in HR functions. The need is for a systemic approach to talent management. Just focusing on talent acquisition is misguided and unhelpful. The article has real practical implications for leaders/managers and learning and development professionals in setting up a functional strategy for talent management. The article will be of value to managers and learning specialists who are involved in talent management strategy. Business Finance Week, Atlanta, Feb 18, 2008 In the paper, McCoy says that in both good economies and in times of economic uncertainty, it is incumbent upon senior management and human resource (HR) leaders to be smart about the resources they hire and ensure their organizations workforce is structured for flexibility and maximum productivity. PR Newswire, New York, Mar 5, 2008 A January 15, 2008 Wall Street Journal article (Demand Rises for Talent Management Software) identifies one of many issues that shine a spotlight on the looming talent crisis: a labour shortage in industries across the board caused by the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and a decline in worker satisfaction. The Banker, London, Jul 2008 Outsourcing requires the same commitment to understanding organisational goals, due diligence and governance as a merger, acquisition, or strategic partnership. Before any outsourcing initiative is undertaken, there needs to be a clear vision of how the project enhances stakeholder value. Infosys finds that its most successful clients have a well-thought-out, long-term, strategic sourcing plan that focuses less on cost savings and more on leveraging global talent and industry expertise. This article discusses location strategy while considering global sourcing. Steven Land berg, Jan 2010 Positions on what can a corporate hiring executive learn from sports teams an approach to talent acquisition is answered. When pursuing talent acquisition, executives can observe some interesting analogies and learn some lessons from sports teams. First, talent selection and acquisition is recognized as one of the most critical aspects for success in a sports organization. Sports teams frequently acquire free agents that have moved amongst a number of teams with the understanding that many of those moves are not necessarily the choice of the player. Chris serres,Jan24,2010 Two years of brutal downsizing and consolidation on Wall Street, combined with the disappearance of such storied firms as Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, as well as a slew of regional investment banks, have given Piper the opportunity to play on a bigger stage, according to industry analysts. Piper declined to comment for this article, citing a company policy against discussing its financial performance or other material non-public information in advance of earnings. PR Newswire, New York, Apr 26, 2010 Media Link LLC has launched an Executive Search Practice and hired Christopher Nutile, one of the most respected professionals in the executive search and talent acquisition sector, to run it as Director of Executive Search, it was announced today by Media Link Chairman CEO Michael Kassan and President COO Wenda Harris Millard Business Wire, New York, Apr 28, 2010 In creating i-GRasp 3.0 we incorporated many of the features that customers said were vital to them in terms of increasing recruiter productivity, reducing operating and IT costs through enhancing self-configuration capabilities, and providing a great candidate experience as they step up recruitment activity in the face of economic recovery. Step Stone Solutions on-demand (SaaS) software and services enable organisations to implement efficient processes, including: attraction and hiring, post-hire talent management, performance management, compensation management, skills and competency management, career and succession planning, training and development management. Recent trends in talent management Attracting qualified talent is the critical first step in the talent management cycle. Jobs are plenty, finding the right candidate is the challenge. The need is to sell a job. Having sold the job well, retaining good employees is the next challenge that arises. And the companys brand image makes these tasks easier. Hence the marriage of compulsion arises between HR and marketing principles-employer branding. As we know that we get good customers with a good brand. In the same way companies must develop their image in the society by implementing the best practices in each and every aspect. Employer branding therefore helps a company attract, recruit, and retain employees that if wants and is becoming increasingly important in attracting and retaining star performers in a talent-tight market. Employer branding is not different from (branding a product or service and the payoff are identical. Some of them are product service branding customer acquisition is easier Increased retention possible Loyal customers Less price sensitive customers Employer branding Recruiting people is easier Reduced employee churn Committed employees Less CTC sensitive employees Selecting Talent An effective retention strategy begins at the earlier stages of the recruitment selection process. This is true because most of the employee turnover happens due to poor chemistry or bed fit. The research indicates that most of the people leave organizations due to the mistakes made during the hiring phase. For this reason some smart companies are adopting the strategy of hire for attitude train for skill. They have realized that it is easier to develop the skills capabilities that an employee needs than to attempt to change the employees personality or mind set. For instance, although Infosys receives about twice the number of application as its competitors it is very selective in recruiting employees. In the financial for 2004-2005, it received close to one million resumes which went through rigorous selection process and offers were made to about 1.5% of the applicants. Infosys looks at candidates who display a high degree of learnability. Indian company was selecting a senior marketing manager after the candidate had gone through several rounds of interviews. The company had identified the person they thought was the right one for the job and was on the verge of making an offer. Retaining Talent In present scenario people choose companies which have congenial atmosphere and prefer change if they dont get desirable, as it may hinder the growth and success of the company. Hence retention is vital than recruitment. The attrition rate of employees in organization is alarming. Take any industry, any sector, any organization and you can find more than enough examples of employees joining and leaving their workplace. All this adds to the worry of HR managers who are only left with the option of scratching their heads and singing no mercys all-time hit-where do you go? Thus it is an organizations ability not only to recruit, but also to cultivate and retain, talent that will ultimately determine its longevity. Two major trends point to the growing importance of employee retention as an important HR issue. Cost of Employee Turnover Turnover is important because it costs the organization money in direct expenses to recruit and train new hires and indirect expenses to pay overtime for remaining workers, when necessary, and in opportunity cost of lost production. With a 10 per cent turnover rate per year and on average individual pay level of $40,000 might be expected to spend between $ 4 million and $ 8 million per year on turnover-related costs. Talent management involves in 1. Recruiting- Does the firm have a formal recruitment processes to recruit internally or externally? 2. Career Management- Is there clarity in the career path for the employees? 3. Succession Planning- Are there clear-cut plans for who steps into which position at which time. This involves matching current potentials with future organizational demands. 4. Performance Management- This should be able to tell us how each staff performs in his/her present responsibilities. A very good performance Management should be able to unfold the following; those who need to be rewarded, those who need to be cautioned, those who need additional responsibilities, Staff training and development needs, Promotions, Demotions etc. 5. Reward Management- Talent Management will not succeed without a system that clearly defines performance results. Average, Superior and Outstanding performers in an organization should be rewarded differently otherwise outstanding performers for instance will not be motivated to work harder. Todays Top 10 Talent-Management Chalenges Attracting and retaining enough employees at all levels to meet the needs of organic and inorganic growth All three companies are facing a talent crunch. Essar, for example, has grown from 20 thousand employees to a staggering 60 thousand in the past 3 years. Fifty-five per cent of their employees have less than two years of tenure. Creating a value proposition that appeals to multiple generations With four generations in todays workplace, most companies are struggling to create an employee experience that appeals to individuals with diverse needs, preferences and assumptions. Developing a robust leadership pipeline I believe one of the biggest potential threats to many corporations is a lack of a robust talent pool from which to select future leaders. This is in part a numbers issue. Rounding out the capabilities of hires who lack the breadth of necessary for global leadership Its relatively straightforward to identify and assess experts in specific functional or technical arenas, but much more difficult to determine whether those individuals have the people skills, leadership capabilities, business breadth, and global diversity sensibilities required for the nature of leadership today. Transferring key knowledge and relationships The looming retirement of a significant portion of the workforce challenges all companies, but particularly those who are dependent on the strength of tacit knowledge, such as that embedded in customer relationships, a key to Mercers business success. Stemming the exodus of Gen Xers from corporate life A big threat in many firms today is the exodus of mid-career talent-people in whom the organization has invested heavily and in whom it has pinned its hopes for future leadership. Redesigning talent management practices to attract and retain Gen Ys The challenge of calibrating talent management practices and programs to attract and engage our young entrants is critically important to all firms. Creating a workplace that is open to Boomers in their second careers. Age prejudice still exists, but smart companies are looking for ways to incorporate the talents of Boomers and even older workers in the workforce. In many cases, this requires rethinking roles and work relationships. Overcoming a norm of short tenure and frequent movement Some industries, such as specialty retail, are known for having a very disposable view of talent. Companies intent on changing that norm, such as The Gap, must address both external influences in the marketplace and an internal mind set. Enlisting executives who dont appreciate the challenge Many talent executives complain that business leaders still believe that people are lined up outside the door because of the power of the companys brand. The challenge of enlisting the support of all executives for the transition from a talent culture that has traditionally operated with a buy strategy to one that places more emphasis on build is widely shared. CRITICAL APPRAISAL Firstly I want to discuss about Critical appraisal. It is the process of carefully and systematically examining research to judge its trustworthiness, and its value and relevance in a particular context. When I study some the articles of talent management and talent acquisition then I find something which is helpful in company to solve the problem related to talent management and talent actuation issue. 1. Costs The costs of having to replace someone with scarce skills are considerable. Firstly, the Recruitment costs are substantial. Qualified staffs, especially Blacks and Women, are not freely available in the market place. This means that agencies or search consultants are required to find such talent and they are expensive. Further costs are incurred during the first 3 6 months of employment during which new staff are seldom fully functional 2. Risk Despite every attempt to follow effective selection practices, there is always a risk that new staff will not perform as expected. It is often said that while organisations select people on their competence and experience, they fire or lose them due to lack of cultural fit. A highly competent professional who is unable to fit the organisational culture is unlikely to be effective or remain for long. This is particularly true in respect of HDIs entering a firm which has been historically white and or male dominated. Client Service and Opportunity Costs In a service organisation service excellence relies largely on personal relationships. It demands that clients feel confident in the people providing the service and that service providers have a memory of client needs and issues. If that relationship is broken as a result of key talent leaving the organisation, the capacity of the firm to provide sustainable service is severely compromised. This has the potential to compromise future business with the associated opportunity costs Lack of Capacity Lack of people with suitable skills and talent is a key restraint in terms of service capacity. This manifests itself at 2 levels. Firstly, firms soon reach a state of overload. Deadlines are missed, standards and quality of work drop and a vicious cycle emerges and feeds on itself. This is a very common phenomenon with small and medium sized professional firms. They do not have the capacity to manage their growth or the peaks and valleys associated with the modern business world. Secondly, the firm is so consumed with meeting operational deadlines that it loses its ability to keep up to date with latest best practice, legislation or other issues demanding new skills. In this case clients will soon recognise that mistakes are made due to lack of currency of skills. These are some of the more visible risks to firms who do not pay attention to the attraction, growth and retention of key talent. Beyond the visible, other manifestations of the problem arise. Staff morale declines because leadership talent is absent and this energy drop is transferred to the client. Internal politics and protection of territory or unwillingness to share information and surface problems affect the functioning of the firm. All of these things affect the ability of the organisation to offer great service and take advantage of opportunities to grow Conclusion When I study then I decided that the attraction, growth and retention of talent are a key success factor for modern service based knowledge organisations. To be known as an employer of choice is considered a key organisational goal with direct benefits. Whether is a small accounting firm or a large consulting organisation there are certain processes that need to be applied for effective talent management. However, research has shown consistently that the most important factor that influences a persons decision to stay or leave an organisation is the relationship with their boss. Other key factors are opportunities for personal growth and career development, the culture of the organisation in terms of facilitating innovation and the nature of the work itself South African organisations, large or small, have an obligation to the country and to themselves to grow the professional skills required for economic growth and competitive advantage.

The Standard American-English

The Standard American-English American English also known as United States English, or U.S. English) is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two thirds of native speakers of English live in the United States.[2] English is the most common language in the United States. Though the U.S. federal government has no official language, English is considered the de facto, in practice but not necessarily ordained by law, language of the United States because of its widespread use. English has been given official status by 30 of the 50 state governments.[3] There are no official rules for Standard English because, unlike some other languages, English does not have a linguistic governance body such as the Accademia della Crusca, Real Academia Espaà ±ola, the Acadà ©mie franà §aise or the Dansk Sprognà ¦vn to establish usage. The English language, which originated in England, is now spoken as a first or second language in many countries of the world, each of which has developed one or more national standards of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. As the result of historical migrations of English-speaking populations and colonization, and the predominant use of English as the international language of trade and commerce (lingua franca), English has also become the most widely-used second language,[1] and is therefore subject to alteration by non-native speakers. Numerous non-native dialects are developing their own standards- those, for example, of English language publications published in countries where English is generally learned as a foreign language.[citation needed] In countries where English is either not a native language or is not widely spoken, a native variant (typically British English or North American English) might be considered standard for teaching purposes.[2]. The effects of local native languages on the creation of creoles or pidgins have contributed to the evolution of the many local and regional varieties of English. But they were not considered to be part of the language until the people that spoke them said that they should be. African American Vernacular English African American Vernacular English (AAVE is an African American variety (dialect) of American English. Non-linguists sometimes call it Ebonics (a term that also has other meanings or strong connotations) or jive or jive-talk. Its pronunciation is, in some respects, common to Southern American English, which is spoken by many African Americans and many non-African Americans in the United States. There is little regional variation among speakers of AAVE.[1] Several creolists, such as William Stewart argue that AAVE shares so many characteristics with creole dialects spoken by black people in much of the world that AAVE itself is a creole. On the other hand, others maintain that there are no significant parallels.[2][3][4][5][6][7] As with all linguistic forms, its usage is influenced by age, status, topic and setting. There are many literary uses of this variety of English, particularly in African-American literature. AAVE includes many of characteristics of other nglish language-forms spoken by people throughout much of the world. AAVE shares pronunciation, grammatical structures, and vocabulary in common with various West African languages.[8] Many features of AAVE are shared with English dialects spoken in the American South. While these are mostly regionalisms (i.e. originating from the dialect commonly spoken in the area, regardless of color), a number of them-such as the deletion of is-are used much more frequently by black speakers, suggesting that they have their origins in black speech.[9] The traits of AAVE that separate it from Standard American English (SAE) include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢changes in pronunciation along definable patterns, many of which are found in creoles and dialects of other populations of West African descent (but which also emerge in English dialects that may be uninfluenced by West African languages, such as Newfoundland English); à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢distinctive vocabulary; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢the distinctive use of verb tenses. Phonology of African American English The near uniformity of AAVE pronunciation, despite vast geographic area, may be due in part to relatively recent migrations of African Americans out of the South as well as to long-term racial segregation.[19] Phonological features that set AAVE apart from forms of Standard English (such as General American) include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Word-final devoicing of /b/, /d/, and /É ¡/, whereby for example cub sounds like cup.[20] à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduction of certain diphthong forms to monophthongs, in particular, /aÉ ª/ is monophthongized to [a] (this is also a feature of many Southern American English dialects). The vowel sound in boil (/ɆÃƒâ€°Ã‚ ª/ in Standard English) is also monophthongized, especially before /l/, making it indistinguishable from ball.[21] (This is also characteristic of some white speakers from eastern Arkansas, and the vowel is actually the same as that in file, as shown by the transcription of American folksong lyrics, Bile em Cabbage Down, in Standard English, Boil Those Cabbages Down (see Branson[vague]).) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ AAVE speakers may not use the dental fricatives [ÃŽÂ ¸] (the th in thin) and [ÃÆ' °] (the th of then) that are present in SE. The actual alternative phone used depends on the sounds position in a word.[22] (This, too, is a common substitution is many regional dialects, including parts of the South, and in New York, as readily heard in movies and television shows set in these areas.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Word-initially, /ÃŽÂ ¸/ is normally the same as in SE (so thin is [ÃŽÂ ¸Ãƒâ€°Ã‚ ªn]). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Word-initially, /ÃÆ' °/ is [d] (so this is [dÉ ªs]). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Word-medially and -finally, /ÃŽÂ ¸/ is realized as either [f] or [t] (so [mÊŒmf] or [mÊŒnt] for month); /ÃÆ' °/ as either [v] or [d] (so [smuv] for smooth). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Realization of final ng /ņ¹/, the velar nasal, as the alveolar nasal [n] in function morphemes and content morphemes with two syllables like -ing, e.g. tripping is pronounced as trippin. This change does not occur in one-syllable content morphemes such as sing, which is [sÉ ªÃƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¹] and not à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ [sÉ ªn]. However, singing is [sÉ ªÃƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒâ€°Ã‚ ªn]. Other examples include wedding à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ [wɆºÃƒâ€°Ã‚ ¾Ãƒâ€°Ã‚ ªn], morning à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ [mɆÃƒâ€°Ã‚ ¹nÉ ªn], nothing à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ [ˈnÊŒfÉ ªn]. Realization of /ņ¹/ as [n] in these contexts is commonly found in many other English dialects.[23] Such substitutions are so common throughout the American South that, for example, a sign urging customers to enter a store in Greenville, Texas, was printed, Dont just be setten, come on in! (1985).[citation needed] Grammatical aspect marking for African American English Example Name SAE Meaning / Notes He workin. Simple progressive He is working [currently]. He be workin. Habitual/continuative aspect He works frequently or habitually. Better illustrated with He be workin Tuesdays. He stay workin. Intensified continuative (habitual) He is always working. He steady workin. Intensified continuative (not habitual) He keeps on working. He been workin. Perfect progressive He has been working. He been had that job. Remote phase (see below) He has had that job for a long time and still has it. He done worked. Emphasized perfective He has worked. Syntactically, He worked is valid, but done is used to emphasize the completed nature of the action.[34] He finna go to work. Immediate future He is about to go to work. Finna is a contraction of fixing to; though is also believed to show residual influence of would fain (to), which persisted beyond the late 16th century in some rural dialects spoken in the Carolinas (near the Gullah region). Fittin to is commonly thought to be another form of the original fixin (fixing) to, and it is also heard as fitna, fidna, fixna, finto, and finsta.[35] I was walkin home, and I had worked all day. Preterite narration. Had is used to emphasize complicating points of narration. Although similar in form, it is not semantically equivalent to the past perfect. As its name suggests, it is a preterite, or simple past, form. Affects of African American English in the Classroom The Oakland resolution declared that AAVE was not English or even an Indo-European language, asserting that the speech of black children belonged to West and Niger-Congo languages and are not merely dialects of English.[64] This claim is inconsistent with the current linguistic treatment of AAVE as a dialect of English and thus of Indo-European origin. Also, the differences between modern AAVE and Standard English are nowhere near as great as those between French and Haitian Creole, which are considered separate languages. The resolution was widely misunderstood as an intention to teach AAVE and elevate it to the status of a written language.[65] It gained national attention and was derided and criticized, most notably by Jesse Jackson and Kweisi Mfume who regarded it as an attempt to teach slang to children.[66] The statement that African Language Systems are genetically based also contributed to widespread hostility because genetically was popularly misunderstood to imply that Afri can Americans had a biological predisposition to a particular language.[67] In an amended resolution, this phrase was removed and replaced with wording that states African American language systems have origins in West and Niger-Congo languages and are not merely dialects of English.[68] Chicano English Chicano English is a dialect of American English used by Chicanos. One major variation of Chicano English is Tejano English, used mainly in south Texas. It is mistakenly referred to asSpanglish, which is not a recognized dialect of English but rather a mixing of the Spanish and English languages. Phonological features Chicano English has many features, especially in the phonology, that show the influence of Spanish. Consonants variations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The devoicing of [z] in all environments: Examples: [isi] for easy and [wÊŒs] for was. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The devoicing of [v] in word-final position: Examples: [lÊŒf] for love, [hɆºf] for have, and [wajfs] for wives. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Chicano speakers may pronounce /b/ instead of /v/: Examples: very [bɆºÃƒâ€°Ã‚ ¹i], invite [imbajt]. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Absence of dental fricatives so that think may be pronounced [tiņ¹k], [fiņ¹k] or [siņ¹k]. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Poor distinction between /j/ and /dÊ’/ so that job may sound like yob and yes may sound like jes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Poor distinction of nasals in the syllable coda so that seen and seem are pronounced alike. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ /tʃ/ merges with /ʃ/ so sheep and cheap are pronounced alike Vowels variations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Chicano English speakers merge [à ¦] and [Ɇº], so man and men are homophonous. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ [É ª] and [i] merge into [i] so ship and sheep are pronounced like the latter. Final consonant deletion Only certain consonants occur at the end of words. All other single consonants in English would thus be unfamiliar to Chicano English speakers in this environment. Most becomes mos; Felt becomes fell, Startbecomesstar. Hawaiian English Pidgin (or Hawaiian Creole) originated as a form of speech between English speaking residents and non-English speaking immigrants in Hawaii.[4] It supplanted the pidgin Hawaiian used on the plantations and elsewhere in Hawaii. It has been influenced by many languages, including Portuguese, Hawaiian, and Cantonese. As people of other language backgrounds were brought in to work on the plantations, such as Japanese, Filipinos, and Koreans, Pidgin acquired words from these languages. Japanese loan-words in Hawaii lists some of those words originally from Japanese. It has also been influenced to a lesser degree by Spanish spoken by Mexican and Puerto Rican settlers in Hawaii. Presently, Pidgin still retains some influences from these languages. For example, the word stay in Pidgin has a form and use similar to the Portuguese verb estar, which means to be but is used when referring to a temporary state or location. At times, the structure of the language is like that of Portuguese grammar. For example, You like one knife? means Would you like a knife?. The reason why the word one is used instead of a is because the word um in Portuguese has two meanings: um translates to one and a in English. The way people use the phrase No can (nà £o pode) is Portuguese grammar, as well. In Portuguese, the phrase Vocà ª nà £o pode fazer isso! comes out in Pidgin as You no can do dat!, and in English as You cannot do that! Pidgin words derived from Cantonese are also spoken in other parts of the United States. For example, the word Haa? is also used by Chinese Americans outside of Hawaii. The meaning is Excuse me? or What did you say?. Another word is chop suey, a popular dish throughout America. In Hawaii, it can also mean that someone is a variety of ethnicities. Another word in pidgin that was derived from the Chinese which is also seen in America is lie dat, which means like that but in Hawaii it is pronounced lidat.[citation needed] In the 19th and 20th centuries, Pidgin started to be used outside the plantation between ethnic groups. Public school children learned Pidgin from their classmates, and eventually it became the primary language of most people in Hawaii, replacing the original languages. For this reason, linguists generally consider Hawaiian Pidgin to be a creole language. Pronunciation Pidgin has distinct pronunciation differences from standard American English (SAE). Some key differences include the following: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Pidgins general rhythm is syllable-timed, meaning syllables take up roughly the same amount of time with roughly the same amount of stress. Standard American English is stress-timed, meaning that only stressed syllables are evenly timed. Some Western languages, including English, are stress-timed, while most Romance and East Asian languages are syllable timed. Many pronunciation features are shared with other colloquial language forms or pidgins/creoles from other parts of the world. Even when a person is speaking Standard English, they will tend to pronounce syllables in the same manner, and this is often considered as having a local or Hawaiian accent. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The voiced and unvoiced th sounds are replaced by d or t respectively-that is, changed from a fricative to a plosive (stop). For instance, that (voiced th) becomes dat, and think(unvoiced th) becomes tink. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The sound l at the end of a word is often pronounced o or ol. For instance, mental is often pronounced mento; people is pronounced peepo. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Pidgin is non-rhotic. That is, r after a vowel is often omitted, similar to many dialects, such as Eastern New England, Australian English, and English English variants. For instance, caris often pronounced cah, and letter is pronounced letta. Intrusive r is also used. The number of Hawaiian Pidgin speakers with rhotic English has also been increasing. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Falling intonation is used at the end of questions. This feature appears to be from Hawaiian, and is shared with some other languages, including Fijian. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The distinctive pronunciation of Hawaiian Creole is sometimes called Portagee. The exact reason for this is unknown, as the full extent of the Portuguese contribution to local pidgin modes of speech and vocabularies was probably not great, compared to the Chinese, Hawaiian or Japanese inputs over the years. The Portuguese arrived rather late to The Islands compared to others, and Pidgin was well established by then, especially in the countryside. One possible reason may be the position of authority the Portuguese often had in plantation life as overseers and so on, although what exactly this connection may have been is unclear. How difficulties/limitations become barriers to assistance and how they affect further learning in English, especially in writing Many linguists and teachers claim that written English, as the lingua franca of international business, is evasive and deceptive. SAE speakers in the dominant (primarily middle-class EuroAmerican) culture readily grasp the subtle signals of standard English, whether spoken or written. But children from minority and lower SES groups who speak a dialect of English often do not learn, at an early age, the subtle codes of SAE. As a result, they are often at a disadvantage when it comes to quickly deciphering the implicit cognitive meanings associated with words, phases, and grammatical structures in SAE. Moreover, their body language sometimes contrasts markedly with that of middle class Whites in their age group. The correlation between the lack of mastering SAE and low mean IQ scores in African Americans is well documented. Language skills enter the equation as one of the most profound mediating variables in determining intelligence performance, or IQ scores (note that intelligence performance is not necessarily tantamount to innate intelligence). Behavioral geneticists have argued that African American children reared in the dominant Euro-American culture or adopted into Euro-American families become more familiar with the subjects of school and intelligence tests. As a result of their early exposure to SAE, these children tend to perform on par with White children adopted into higher SES families. Because of its deviation from SAE, Black English Vernacular can be (but does not have to be) a severe impediment to literacy and to understanding basic concepts, even those taught in elementary school. And it puts up a barrier to grasping the fundamentals of inductive thinking, certainly a prerequisite for learning science. However, students cannot overcome the limitations of Ebonics as a communications device in writing unless their teachers are able to effectively translate (both for themselves and their students) Black English Vernacular into standard English (and vice versa) and translate not only words and phrases, but also concepts and cognitive structures. Limitations vary amongst the dialects. For example, fewer obstacles exist for L1 speakers of Chicano English than for those whose L1 is Black English Vernacular. Some suggest that when teachers realize that Black English Vernacular is in fact a distinct variant of the English language, composed of a systematic grammar and syntax , they will consequently acquire an appreciation for the origins and principle features of this dialect. Hence, these teachers will be less inclined to disrespect Black students, and less likely to label them as ignorant and cognitively impaired. If teacher appreciation and, by implication, teacher effectiveness lie at the crux of the Ebonics issue in the Oakland Public Schools, then indeed this issue has merit. Negative attitudes about speech start with the belief that vernacular dialects are linguistically inferior to standard versions of the language. In fact, the language systems of various groups of speakers may differ, but no one system is inherently better than any other. Research clearly supports the position that variation in language is a natural reflection of cultural and community differences (Labov, 1972). Despite linguistic equality among dialects, students language and cultural backgrounds may influence their chances for success. When children from nonmainstream backgrounds enter school, they are confronted with new ways of viewing the world and new ways of behaving. Uses of language, both oral and written, are centrally involved in this new culture (Farr Daniels, 1986). Many studies addressing Chicano youth have found a detailed account of language and culture patterns in various rural working class communities. This, many claim, demonstrates clearly the conflict between language and cultural practices in the community and in the school. To move toward school expectations, children may have to adapt to language structures and patterns of usage that are different from those they have been using: for example, saying or writing They dont have any instead of They dont have none in school settings.