Urban Talk free essay sample

A popular trend among Hispanics in the United States, code switching, the interchanging from one language to another in speech (English Dictionary), is a significant indicator that that language influences cultures just as much as cultures are shaped by language. Code-switching is a growing cultural trend among immigrants living in the United States, especially within the Hispanic population.This trend has been around since the colonial period, as people began to settle in North America. The sale of Mexican property, now Southwest United States, where Spanish was the original language, is a significant contributor to the development of such trends. People who had previously known Spanish were forced to adjust to the English language. This tendency occurred world wide as people migrated to other locations (Stavans 1).Although code switching is used in other Spanish-speaking countries such as Spain and Argentina, code-switching thrives more in the United States due to the growth of the Hispanic community in the past decades (Stavans 1). We will write a custom essay sample on Urban Talk or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Also, it is more typical here since the population is in contact with both, English and Spanish, in a more constant manner. The prominence of code-switching in the United States is clearly seen by the expansion of ads, commercials, and entertainment that use code-switching to relate the consumer to the products.Those that criticize the use of code-switching argue that it is not an appropriate use of either language because it is a type of slang. Some believe that using code-switching is a practice that could possibly affect the ability to use proper grammar in either of the languages. Sometimes people who use code-switching may have a hard time expressing themselves in the new language, English, so words are replaced in Spanish. In addition, code-switching is becoming far more ordinary in the Spanish-speaking community, creating a separation between Hispanics in the U.S. and those elsewhere around the globe Casanas 1).People who have more practice with one of the two languages will often use code-switching when speaking in the language that they have less experience with. Since English is the primary language in the United States, it is quite common for bilingual people to use code-switching when they are trying to speak in Spanish because they may temporarily â€Å"forget† the word they are trying to say. This is usually because an individual’s vocabulary in Spanish is more associated with familiar language whereas; English is most commonly used for business-related situations (Casanas 1). However, studies mentioned by Casanas, have shown that the majority of code-switching users are highly developed in both of the languages. Also, code-switching is often used when an individual has a word that is commonly used in their daily life. So, even when a person knows how to say something in English and Spanish, that individual will use the word that is more present in their memory at that given (Casanas 1). Based on my observations, I have discovered that sometimes individuals use code-switching unconsciously as they are speaking to others. Still, bilingual people are able to distinguish if using code-switching is appropriate in the location and those surrounding them. A person who uses code-switching has a broad experience in both, English and Spanish, therefore, if the situation requires it, they are able to adapt to either language (Casanas 1). Although, from my experience, I have noticed that people whose first language is Spanish tend to code-switch more often than thos e who learned English first. This method of communication is also a great way for individuals to practice speaking in both of the languages; improving the use of English, society’s language, as they continue to practice their native tongue (Heredia and Brown 1).It is a practice used by bilinguals to join both of their cultures in some way (Heredia and Brown 1). Since it is necessary to know both languages to speak code-switching, this procedure is used to unite the members of a specific social group. For Spanish-English speakers, code-switching is an additional way to feel a sense of belonging in society because it allows people to unite due to the languages they have in common (Lipski 1).New lifestyles and languages throughout history have had an immense impact on today’s society. Yet, it is incredible how humans are able to adapt to a completely different environment, by combining new-found ideas with the previous lifestyle. Therefore, there is a keen correlation between the transformation of a culture and its language, as it occurred with the utilization of code-switching among Hispanics living in the United States. Works Cited English Dictionary With Multi-Lingual Search. Web. 15 October 2009.Stavans, Ilan. â€Å" ‘Spanglish’ Mixes Spanish and English in the United States.† America:Engaging the World. Web. 15 October 2009.Casanas, Domingo Ivan. â€Å"Spanglish and Code Switching† American Chronicle. Web. 15October 2009.Heredia, Roberto R. and Brown, Jeffrey M. â€Å"Code-Switching.† Code- Switching. Web. 15October 2009. Lipski, John M. â€Å"Language Mixing and Code Switching.† Varieties of Spanish in the UnitedStates. Washington, D.C., 2008. Print. Varieties of Spanish in theUnited States. Web.15 October 2009.

What to Do if You Get Sick in College

What to Do if You Get Sick in College Being sick in college is not the most pleasant of experiences. You likely have no one taking care of you, like you would  at home, while at the same time your responsibilities and obligations continue to pile up as youre stuck in bed. So just what are your options if you get sick in college? Let Your Professors Know If you are a student in a small class, have a big day in class (meaning you have a paper due or presentation to give), or have any other responsibilities where your absence will be both noted and problematic. A quick email letting your professor know youre sick while promising to follow-up with them about how to make up the assignment (including a gracious request for an extension), should only take a few minutes to write but will save you quite a bit of time later. Take Care of Yourself True, you have that midterm to take, a huge event your cultural club is planning, and the concert you and your roommate have had tickets for months. It may be frustrating, but you need to take care of yourself first and foremost. The last thing you need, after all, is to just get even sicker just  because you didnt take care of yourself. It may seem impossible at first, but there really are ways to get more sleep in college. Let yourself sleep! Healthy eating in college can be a challenge- but it also can be accomplished. Think of what your mother would want you to eat: fruits and veggies, things with nutrition, healthy liquids. Translation: no, a donut and a Diet Coke wont work for breakfast, especially when youre sick. Grab a banana, slice of toast, and orange juice instead. Sometimes, common over-the-counter medications like aspirin and DayQuil can make a bad cold or flu manageable. Dont be afraid to ask a friend or roommate to grab you something while theyre out and about! Get a Check-up at the Campus Health Center If youre sick for more than a day or two, have really bad symptoms, or otherwise just dont feel right, utilize what your campus has to offer. Make an appointment- or just walk in- to the campus health center. They can check you out while also offering advice and medication to get you back on your feet. Keep Checking in With Your Professors If youre missing a day of lecture in your chemistry class, you can usually grab notes from a friend or get them online. But if youre missing a few days, especially when theres intense material being covered or discussed, let your professor know whats going on. Tell your professor that youre really sick and  that you might need a little help catching up. Its much, much easier to be in touch early on than try to explain later why you havent been to class, havent been in touch, and havent turned in your assignments. Prioritize Your To-do List If youre sick for more than a day or two, you will likely fall behind on at least something- life in college moves very, very quickly. Take a few moments to write down a little list of what you have to do and then prioritize. Getting to the health center for a Strep Throat test? Priority! Updating Facebook with pictures from last weekends Halloween party? Not a priority. Take care of the most important things now so you can do the other things you want and need to do later. Major Illness or Extended Sick Time If your sick day or two turns into a major illness or youre sick for long enough that your academics suffer, you might need to take more drastic measures. Always Let Your Professors Know Whats Going On Even if you just shoot them a quick email letting them know that youve been really sick for a week and are trying to figure out whats going on, that email is much better than complete silence. Ask them what they need from you, if anything, to justify this much-missed class (a note from the health center? copies of your hospital paperwork?). Additionally, check your syllabi or ask your professors directly about what their policy is if youve missed something major, like a midterm or paper deadline. Check in With Your Campus Health Center If youre sick for more than a day or two, definitely go see the campus health center. On top of a check-up, they can verify with your professors that, indeed, you do have a nasty case of the flu and need to be out of class for another day or so. Keep the Faculty up to Date Check in with your academic adviser, an academic support office, the dean of students office, and/or the dean of faculty office. If youre missing a lot of class, are sick, and your academics are suffering, youll need some help from the campus administration. Dont worry, though: this doesnt mean youve done anything wrong. It just means youve been sick! And everyone from your adviser to the dean of faculty has dealt with sick students before. Life happens in college; people get sick. Just be smart about it and let the appropriate people know so that, as you begin to recover, you can have the support you need academically instead of having to stress  about your situation.

Japans Alternate Attendance System

Japan's Alternate Attendance System The alternate attendance system, or sankin-kotai, was a Tokugawa Shogunate policy that required daimyo  (or provincial lords) to divide their time between the capital of their own domain and the shoguns capital city of Edo (Tokyo). The tradition actually began informally during the reign of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1585 - 1598), but was codified into law by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1635.   Actually, the first sankin-kotai law applied only to what were known as the  tozama  or outside daimyo. These were lords who did not join the Tokugawa side until after the Battle of Sekigahara (Oct. 21, 1600), which cemented Tokugawa power in Japan. Many of the lords from distant, large, and powerful domains were among the tozama daimyo, so they were the shoguns first priority to control. In 1642, however, sankin-kotai was also extended to the  fudai  daimyo, those whose clans had been allied with the Tokugawas even before Sekigahara. A past history of loyalty was no guarantee of continued good behavior, so the fudai daimyo had to pack their bags as well. Alternate Attendance System Under the alternate attendance system, each domain lord was required to spend alternating years in their own domain capitals or attending the shoguns court in Edo. The daimyo had to maintain lavish homes in both cities  and had to pay to travel with their retinues and samurai armies between the two places every year. The central government insured that the daimyo complied by requiring that they leave their wives and first-born sons in Edo at all times, as virtual hostages of the shogun. The shoguns stated reason for imposing this burden on the daimyo was that it was necessary for national defense. Each daimyo had to supply a certain number of samurai, calculated according to the wealth of his domain, and bring them to the capital for military service every second year. However, the shoguns actually enacted this measure to keep the daimyo busy and to impose hefty expenses on them, so that the lords would not have the time and money to start wars. Alternate attendance was an effective tool to prevent Japan from slipping back into the chaos that characterized the Sengoku Period (1467 - 1598).   The alternate attendance system also had some secondary, perhaps unplanned benefits for Japan.  Because the lords and their large numbers of followers had to travel so often, they needed good roads. A system of well-maintained highways grew across the entire country, as a result. The main roads to each province were known as the  kaido. The alternate attendance travelers also stimulated the economy all along their route, buying food and lodging in the towns and villages that they passed through on their way to Edo. A new kind of hotel or guesthouse sprang up along the kaido, known as honjin, and built specifically to house the daimyo and their retinues as they traveled to and from the capital.  The alternate attendance system also provided entertainment for the common people. The daimyos yearly processions back and forth to the shoguns capital were festive occasions, and everyone turned out to watch them pass. After all, everybody loves a parade. Alternate attendance worked well for the Tokugawa Shogunate. During its entire reign of more than 250 years, no Tokugawa shogun faced an uprising by any of the daimyo. The system remained in force until 1862, just six years before the shogun fell in the Meiji Restoration. Among the leaders of the Meiji Restoration movement were two of the very most tozama (outside) of all the daimyo - the restive lords of Chosu and Satsuma, at the very southern end of the main Japanese islands.

Quantitative 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quantitative 1 - Assignment Example research study will be based where the aim of the study is to determine the extent to which quantitative research is appropriate and robust in its application to the human and social context. There are different reasons that have been postulated for the conclusion that quantitative research is appropriate and robust when applied to human and social context including the nature of quantitative research (Fassinger & Morrow, 2013, 70). This is the use of models and a scientific methodology that ensures the data or results from the research are objective and there is no personal relation or biasness by the researcher attributed to the lack of association of the researcher to the participants. This is different from qualitative researcher where objectivity is lost from the high association of the researcher with the participants. This allows quantitative research to be preferred and appropriate for human and social sciences research. The ability of getting the one truth that exists in the human perception under investigation is the main reason for the preference of quantitative research as it maintains this objectivity. The other reason for the assertion is the possibility of replicating the results of quantitative research when conducted by different personnel (Bless et al., 2006). Different researchers can be able to come up with the same results as a measure of confirming the results made by previous research is consistent. This is due to the making of the same assumptions in the research and the use of a predetermined format and well laid out methodology in carrying out sampling, data collection, and analysis. This is not possible in qualitative research due to the possibility of different researchers making different assumptions and using different analysis or being biased. There is a clear specification of the dependent and independent variables in quantitative research study of social and human context. This allows for the better understanding of causality

Paper #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paper #1 - Essay Example As such, at a personal level, epistemology guides individuals in knowing the truth of their natural surrounding and having justified beliefs on senses of the past lives, as well as natural environment and science. An example of this is the fact that human beings have direct experiences in the process of knowledge gaining. Hence, knowledge of description and gaining are important in human life. Personal position on ethics is that it is an effective tool for offering meaning to social moral concepts. Such includes right of action, justice and obligation of an individual member in society. As such, people are able to make moral decisions in both private and public life and can understand what constitutes validation for the wrong-doing and acceptable moral behavior in society. Such is illustrated by the perception of logical positivists when they developed the theory of non-cognitivism or emotivism that focus on the expression of preferences and attitudes of individuals. The consideration of these is the morality of objectivity and subjectivity. A key lesson from Socrates is the need for happiness. Socrates illustrated this by making two points, which are; happiness constitutes the desires of people and happiness is not dependent on external things, but on how such things are used. Hence, a wise person uses the money in the best way to ensure that life is better, but an ignorant individual uses money in a poor way ending up with a worse lifestyle. Happiness is essential since it makes an individual to have a stress free life and enjoy the each and every second spend on planet earth. Plato and Socrates also offer another essential life lesson, which is happiness and virtue are two things that are linked together. As such, an individual cannot enjoy one under forget about the other. Hence, virtue and knowledge pleasure contributes in satisfaction and full-filling a complete human life. Such is

American History Essay -- History, British Colonies, War

From 1754 to 1763, the French and Indian War cost Britain greatly. Feeling that the colonists benefitted the most from this war, Britain decided to tax the thirteen colonies to help pay for it. After all, the war provided the colonists with greater protection from the natives, and now had more land that had been conquered from France. Colonists in the early 1700’s were English subjects. As Englishmen, they were entitled to certain rights. One of these rights was there was to be â€Å"no taxation without representation†. Due to the vast distance England was from the colonies, it was impossible to have a colonist represent the colonies in Parliament; therefore they should not have to pay taxes that Parliament dictated. Having Parliament dictate taxes was not merely a breach of rights, but was basically an indirect way of utterly controlling the affairs of the colonists. By getting taxes from the colonists, Britain could directly give these taxes to their governors, who o ften did not have colonist’s best interests in mind. By taxing themselves, the governor would have to go through their representatives to get money, and in so doing, would have to â€Å"play nice† I order to pay for things he wanted done. Colonists were afraid they would lose their self-governing abilities, and ultimately suffer at the hands of tyrannical governors. (As an analogy, it would be like Ohio having no senators, and Washington making all of our laws for us.) Britain did not take colonist arguments against taxation as valid. Britain began this fight by revamping the Molasses Act, into the Sugar Act 1764. By increasing the enforcement of the new act, and by reducing the percentage from 6 to 3 %, Britain hoped to keep colonists in line. Perhaps if the colonists wer... ...these acts, the first continental congress was formed. Among the leaders were Patrick Henry, George Washington, Samuel Adams, and John Adams. They believed that the Thirteen Acts of Parliament were not only unconstitutional, but went against basic human rights. They didn’t want to have war, but they did make a stand. They decided the best idea was to completely boycott all British goods, and to stop all export of colonial goods to Britain. They were able to stop the import and export by having each county, city, and town select a committee to oversee that the colonists were all in accord (Faragher. pg. 145). These committees are what enabled the colonists to organize retaliation from British troops. â€Å"On September 1, 1774, General Thomas Gage sent troops to seize stores of gunpowder and arms from several storehouses on the outskirts of Boston† (Faragher pg. 145)

Spread of Buddhism in China

During the spread of Buddhism in china, three popular views were that the spreading of Buddhism should be stopped, society benefited from it, and it was the way of salvation (afterlife). One of the responses to the spread of Buddhism was that it should be stopped. Many officials believed that Buddhism was harmful to china because Buddhism was discordant with the already established Chinese traditions, culture, and aristocracy.The leading scholar and official at the Tang imperial court, Han Yu, writes to his leader (document ) â€Å"Your servant begs leave to say that Buddhism is no more than a cult of the barbarian people spread to china†¦ The Buddha was a man of the barbarians who did not speak Chinese†¦ your servant is deeply ashamed and begs that this bone from the Buddha be given to the proper authorities to be cast into fire and water, that this evil be rooted out, and later generations spared this delusion. Han Yu was a Confucian scholar, so it is no surprise that he is opposed to Buddhism which clashes with Confucianism in many aspects including how Confucianism promotes one fulfilling his duties to his lord and country, where as Buddhism promotes detachment to avoid sorrow.The Tang Emperor Wu wrote (document 6) â€Å"Buddhism has transmitted its strange ways and has spread like a luxuriant vine until it has poisoned the customs of our nation†¦ Buddhism wears out the people’s strength, pilfers their wealth, causes people to abandon their lords and parents for the company of teachers, and severs man and wife with its monastic decrees†¦ Having thoroughly examined all earlier reports and consulted public opinion on all sides, there no longer remains the slightest doubt in our mind that this evil should be eradicated. . Emperor Wu did not want the spread of Buddhism to continue because it advocates one to focus on reaching nirvana, and in order to reach nirvana people would join monasteries and â€Å"abandon their lords and pare nts for the company of teachers. † Obviously any leader such as Wu would not want his subjects to stop contributing to the country and focus on reaching enlightenment. This explains why he would write in opposition of the spread of Buddhism. Another response was that the spread of Buddhism was good for both the community and society.A leading Buddhist scholar, Zong Mi, wrote (document 5) â€Å"Confucius, Laozi, and the Buddha were perfect sages†¦ All three teachings lead to the creation of an orderly society and for this they must be observed with respect. † This scholar and many others agree that Buddhism is good and that it contributes to an orderly society. One reason for this belief is that Buddhist try to achieve self-peace, and then become bodhisattvas and help others achieve nirvana.This document also shows us that Buddhism is in perfect harmony with the already existent philosophies, and that the three (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism) come together to s upplement each other and together create a peaceful society. Zong Mi wrote in favor of Buddhism because of the fact that he is a Buddhist scholar and wanted others to see that Buddhism is good for the people as a whole. An Anonymous Chinese scholar wrote (document 3) â€Å"To compare the sages to the Buddha would be like comparing a white deer to a unicorn or a swallow to a phoenix†¦ The [Buddhist] monk practices the Way and substitutes that for worldly pleasures.He accumulates goodness. † Through the tone of the anonymous scholar, it seems evident that he reveres the Buddhist to be peaceful and of good-natured. The author wrote this in response to a few proposed problems, and he showed that the supposed â€Å"negatives† are not bad at all, but simply misunderstandings of the goods of Buddhism. The third response was that because of the spread of Buddhism many more people would be able to reach nirvana and get away from sorrow.In the first sermon preached, Buddha said (document 1) â€Å"The first Noble Truth is the truth of sorrow. Birth is sorrow, age is sorrow, disease is sorrow, death is sorrow, contact with the unpleasant is sorrow, separation from the pleasant is sorrow, and every wish unfilled is sorrow. The second Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of the Arising of Sorrow: it arises from craving, which leads to rebirth, which brings delight and passion, and seeks pleasure. The third Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of Sorrow.It is the complete stopping of that craving, so that no passion remains, leaving it, being emancipated from it, being released from it, giving no place to it. The fourth Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of the Way that Leads to the Stopping of Sorrow. † By acknowledging the four noble truths and then following the eightfold path, one is able to reach nirvana. Because these are the words of the creator of the Buddhism philosophy, it is clear to see that he is trying to show that through Buddhism, one can find peace from within.A Chinese scholar, Zhi Dun, wrote (document 2) â€Å"whosoever serves the Buddha and correctly observes the commandments, recites the Buddhist scriptures, and furthermore makes a vow to be reborn without ever abandoning his sincere intention, will at the end of his life be miraculously transported thither. He will behold the Buddha and be enlightened in his spirit, and then he will enter nirvana. † The Author wrote this when northern china was invaded by central Asian steppe nomads, and his tone is very optimistic.A possible reason for this him writing this with such hope is that during a time of unrest he was able to achieve partial or complete peace through Buddhism, and thus he is writing this to encourage others to follow Buddhism and obtain peace as he did. It would have been helpful for a map of how Buddhism spread into/around china or a map of the percentage of Buddhist every 10 years. This would have helped because one would have been able to see what are as were affected first and what areas were affected the most. From that, one would better be able to better comprehend the differences in responses to the spread of Buddhism.