The Relationship between Suggestibility and Self

Abstract This report presents the survey aimed at examining the link between self-monitoring as measured by the Self-monitoring Scale and suggestibility, which is measured by the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS). In this study, it is hypothesized that there is a significant difference in the suggestibility scores between the low and high self-monitoring groups.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Relationship between Suggestibility and Self-monitoring specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The study involved 51 participants aged 17-48 years old. The results obtained in this study suggested that there is a significant difference in the suggestibility scores between low and high self-monitors. Furthermore, these findings support previous studies on the same topic. The studies suggest that high self-monitors are more sensitive to interrogative challenges or suggestibility when compared to low self-monitors. Thus, th ey are bound to have high suggestibility scores on the GSS than the later. Therefore, there is a statistically significant difference in the suggestibility scores between the two groups. Introduction Previous research studies on suggestibility are concerned with investing the factors influencing this psychological concept relative to the results of the two forms of GSS, that is, GSS 1 and 2. Self-monitoring has been identified as the major factor influencing suggestibility in the context of a variety of interviews or interrogations particularly in clinical and forensic interrogative practices (Klein et al., 2004). Very few such studies have been conducted on university students in order to explore any significant differences in suggestibility among the two levels of self-monitoring. However, a variety of studies indicate that there is a strong relationship between suggestibility and self-monitoring such that the later influences the various degrees of suggestibility. According to Ba in et al. (2006), high self-monitors score highly in almost all the four categories of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale 1 (GSS 1) relative to low self-monitors. Therefore, self-monitoring entails the practice of paying attention to various personal, situational, and social factors during an interrogative exercise that requires strict memory recall. The personal and social prompts include various beliefs and values held by various individuals relative to the society’s concern for the correctness of an individual’s actions. On the other hand, suggestibility refers to the degree to which, an individual in an isolated social context, accepts and comprehends the content of a query, which prompts the subsequent behavioral changes and responses categorized as suggestible or resistant. Therefore, suggestibility is dependent on self-monitoring in many aspects.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Gudjonsson Clark (1986), self-monitoring is part of the coping mechanisms developed by the interviewee when exposed to various contextual challenges as a result of interrogative suggestibility. The scholars indicate that under interrogative suggestibility, all interviewees have a general apprehension of the situation in relation to the socially acceptable factors affecting an individual’s behavior. In this case, self-monitoring plays a major role in creating a defiant or a gullible behavioral rejoinder to the situational characteristics (Gudjonsson, 2003). In addition, a defiant or negative response to the situation is important in determining the degree of suggestibility in different contexts. The negative response alters any previous feedbacks to a given situation thereby allowing the interviewee to alter their current responses and increase their vulnerability to misinformation during questioning. A recent study investigates the connection b etween self-monitoring and suggestibility relative to the scores obtained on the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale 1 (GSS 1). The survey employs the self-monitoring scale in measuring the degree to which some individuals relate social prompts to certain situations and their susceptibility to misinformation as recorded on the GSS (Gudjonsson, 1997). The study found out that different individuals can be categorized on the basis of self-monitoring into high and low self-monitors. The findings of the study indicate that high self-monitors are more susceptible to misinformation contained on the GSS when compared to low self-monitors. This is attributable to high self-monitors being more sensitive to situational prompts and their influence on the socially acceptable actions rather than the content on the GSS. Consequently, high self-monitors are concerned about the situational demands and the social response to their actions more than misinformation on the GSS. The present research study is aimed at investigating the relationship between suggestibility and self-monitoring on undergraduate psychology students. This population has not been studied in the previous surveys on the same topic. Therefore, this study will give a detailed report of a group which has not been studied in a while in relation to self-monitoring and suggestibility. In this survey, it is hypothesized that due to the influence of external social prompts, there is a statistically significant difference in the suggestibility scores between the low and high self-monitors. Method Design The survey involved a single independent variable, which was categorized into two, low and high self-monitoring.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Relationship between Suggestibility and Self-monitoring specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Participants Fifty one undergraduate psychology students were voluntarily recruited into the study. This sample po pulation consisted of 11 Males and 40 Females aged 17-48 years (Mean= 23.58, SD= 8.21). Materials Self-monitoring This refers to the practice of paying attention to various situational demands or prompts, which influence the socially acceptable behavioral changes in different individuals under a given complex or challenging situation. In the present survey, self-monitoring was measured by the Revised Self Monitoring Scale (Lennox Wolfe, 1982, p. 1). The scale had 13 tabulated statements and 5 optional answers. In this scale, the participants were required to place an X in the square showing the right answer. Furthermore, the scale comprised of statements such as, â€Å"In social situations, I have the ability to alter my behavior if I feel that something else is called for† and â€Å"I have the ability to control the way I come across to people, depending on the impression I wish to give them† (Lennox and Wolfe, 1982, p. 1). Besides the answers to these statements inc luded, â€Å"Never,† â€Å"Occasionally,† â€Å"Sometimes,† â€Å"Often,† and â€Å"Always† (Lennox Wolfe, 1982, p. 1). The scale gave a score range of 0-52 in which scores above 30 indicated high self-monitoring and those below 30 indicated low self-monitoring. Suggestibility This entails the various challenges or pressures to which the participants are exposed to during questioning. Therefore suggestibility is the degree to which these challenges are bound to influence behavioral changes in the participants, which indicates whether they are high or low self-monitors (Gudjonsson, 1997). Suggestibility was measured using the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale, which composed of 20 questions derived from a story that was presented to participants orally (Gudjonsson, 1997). Fifteen of the questions in this scale were leading questions, which had misinformation while the remaining five were true implying that they had no misleading information. The numb er of suggestive questions answered by an individual indicated the suggestibility score. This scale provided a score range of 0-15 in which higher scores indicated a greater degree of suggestibility. Overall, the equipment used in this survey was a questionnaire, which was employed in two surveys, one involving the written questionnaire and the other involved an oral questionnaire.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Procedure At the beginning of the survey, the narrative was read to the participants. The participants then filled out a questionnaire on the basic demographic questions and the self-monitoring measures. Subsequently, the participants were asked to answer the 20 questions about the narrative that had been read to them earlier. In order to allow for measurement of the suggestibility scores, the immediate recall procedure was employed. At the end of the experiment, the participants were debriefed about the nature of the study. The self-monitoring scale provided two scores in which a score is given for the wrongly answered suggestive question. High suggestibility scores indicated high self-monitoring while low scores indicated low self-monitoring. On the other hand, the GSS measured the memory recall in which the correct score was awarded for the right answer to the questions about the narrative. This was based on the answers being the same as the original idea or meaning contained in the story. High scores indicated a higher vulnerability to suggestibility while low scores indicated lower sensitivity. Results According to the scoring protocols describes above, 24 participants were categorized as low self-monitors because they scored lowly in both the self-monitoring scale and on the GSS. On the other hand, 27 participants were categorized as high self-monitors because they scored highly in the two scales. The mean score for the low self-monitoring group was 5.1833 (SD= 2.00603) and that of the high self-monitoring group was 8.0370 (1.83410). Moreover, an independent-groups t-test showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the suggestibility scores between the low and high self-monitoring groups, scores (t(49) = 20.17, p 0.001). Consequently, low suggestibility implies that there was a low tendency for the participants who had low suggestibility scores to pay attention to the situational demands while high suggestibility implies that the degr ee of sensitivity to situational demands and perceptions was high among the participants who scored high suggestibility scores (Boon Baxter, 2004). Discussion This study was designed to investigate the relationship between self-monitoring and suggestibility. It was hypothesized that there is a statistically significant difference between the low and high self-monitoring groups. The findings of the study confirmed that the hypothesis was correctly stated. It was noted that the high self-monitors had high suggestibility scores compared to the low self-monitors as shown in fig. 1 below. Fig. 1  Self-monitoring score Group n Mean Standard Deviation Low Self-monitors 24 5.1833 2.00603 High Self-Monitors 27 8.0370 1.83410 t-test score (t (49)= 20.17, p0.001) The results indicate that high self-monitors are more susceptible to the challenges on the GSS, which include leading questions and negative or defiant responses. Studies indicate that paying attention to various situatio nal and social prompts determines whether an individual will provide an impressionable or resistant feedback to a GSS question (Boon Baxter, 2004). Therefore, these individuals tend to treat all the information obtained under different situations relative to the situational and social cues that influence behavioral changes. Additionally, studies indicate that high self-monitors display initial behaviors characterized as being uncertain and success-oriented. Therefore, they are bound to be more attentive to various external social prompts. The findings of the present study support these theories in many aspects. It is evident that high self-monitors experience higher degrees of uncertainty when faced with complex situations that require them to pay attention to the content rather than their perceptions of the situation. Consequently, these individuals fail to notice misinformation because they are unable to recall. This is contrary to the low self-monitoring groups who are attentive to the content rather than the social cues (Boon Baxter, 2004). Despite that the study provides strong evidence showing the link between suggestibility and self-monitoring, a number of limitations are notable. Firstly, the experimental design may not be appropriate in investigating the link between the two concepts. Since the study employed a single independent variable, it is impossible to explore the effect of other external factors on the results obtained. Therefore, inclusion of additional variables would have made the study statistically sound. Secondly, the sample selected may have been inappropriate and biased. Inclusion of an equal number of males and females would have made the study more practical. Future studies should include a different experimental design comprising of both independent and dependent variables in addition to an equal number of males and females. This kind of study can allow the experimenter to assess the effect of other factors on the relationship bet ween self-monitoring and suggestibility. Additional studies are also required to determine whether there are any significant differences between boys and girls relative to the relationship between suggestibility and self-monitoring. Conclusion The report presents the findings of a survey aimed at investigating the link between suggestibility and self-monitoring among 51 undergraduate psychology students. In this study, the self-monitoring scale and the GSS are used to measure the degree of self-monitoring and suggestibility respectively. In this study, it is hypothesized that there is a significant difference in suggestibility scores between the low and high self-monitoring groups. From the discussions above, it is indicated that high self-monitors are more susceptible to suggestibility compared to low self-monitors because they scored highly on the GSS. Therefore, it is evident that there is a significant difference in the suggestibility scores between the two groups.a Reference Li st Bain, S.A., Baxter, J.S. Ballantyne, K. (2007). Self-monitoring style and levels of interrogative suggestibility. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 623-630. Boon, J. C. W., Baxter, J. S. (2004). Minimizing extraneous, interviewer-based interrogative suggestibility. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 9(2), 229–238. Gudjonsson, G. H. (1997). The Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales Manual. Hove: Psychology Press. Gudjonsson, G. H. (2003). The Psychology of Interrogations and Confessions: a  Handbook. Chichester: Wiley. Gudjonsson, G. H., Clark, N. K. (1986). Suggestibility in police interrogation: A social psychological model. Social Behavior, 1, 83–104. Klein, O., Snyder, M., Livingston, R. W. (2004). Prejudice on the stage: Self monitoring and the public expression of group attitudes. British Journal of Social Psychology, 43(2), 299–314. Lennox, R.D. Wolfe, R.N. (1982). Concern for appropriateness as a moderator variable in the statistical expl anation of self-reported use of alcohol and marijuana. Journal of Personality, 53(1), 1-16. This report on The Relationship between Suggestibility and Self-monitoring was written and submitted by user Danika O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Rumble in the Jungle

Rumble in the Jungle On October 30, 1974, boxing champions George Foreman and Muhammad Ali faced off in Kinshasa, Zaire in â€Å"the Rumble in the Jungle†, an epic match widely recognized as one of the most important sporting events in recent history. The venue, the politics of the two fighters, and the efforts of its promoter, Don King, made this heavy-weight championship into a fight over competing ideas of black identity and power. It was a multi-million dollar anti-colonial, anti-white dominance exhibition, and one of the grandest spectacles of Mobutu Sese Seko’s long reign in the Congo. The Pan-Africanist versus the All American The â€Å"Rumble in the Jungle† came about because Muhammad Ali, the former heavy-weight champion, wanted his title back. Ali opposed the American Vietnam War, which he saw as another manifestation of white oppression of other races. In 1967, he refused to serve in the US Army and was found guilty of draft evasion. In addition to being fined and jailed, he was stripped of his title and banned from boxing for three years. His stance, though, earned him the support of anti-colonialists world-wide, including in Africa. During Ali’s ban from boxing, a new champion emerged, George Foreman, who proudly waved the American flag at the Olympics. This was a time when many other African-American athletes were raising the black power salute, and white Americans saw Foreman as an example of powerful, but unthreatening black masculinity. Foreman supported America, because he himself had been lifted out of grinding poverty by governmental programs. But for many people of African descent, he was the white man’s black man. Black Power and Culture From the start the match was about Black Power in more ways than one. It was organized by Don King, an African-American sports promoter in an era when only white men managed and profited from sporting events. This match was the first of King’s spectacle prize fights, and he promised an unheard of $10-million-dollar prize purse.   King needed a wealthy host, and he found it in Mobutu Sese Seko, then leader of Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In addition to hosting the match, Mobutu brought in some of the most renowned black musicians in the world at that time to perform in a massive three-day party to coincide with the fight. But when George Foreman was injured in training, the match had to be postponed. All those musicians could not postpone their performances, though, so the concerts ended up being held five weeks before the fight itself, to the disappointment of many. Still the match and its fanfare were a clear statement about the value and beauty of black culture and identity. Why Zaire? According to Lewis Erenberg, Mobutu spent   $15 million dollars on the stadium alone. He got assistance, reportedly from Liberia, for the music concerts, but the total sum spent on the match is equal to at least $120 million dollars in 2014, and probably far more. What was Mobutu thinking in spending so much on a boxing match? Mobutu Sese Seko was known for his spectacles with which he asserted the power and wealth of Zaire, despite the fact that by the end of his rule, most Zairians were living in deep poverty. In 1974, though, this trend was not yet as evident. He had been in power for nine years, and during that time Zaire had witnessed economic growth. The country, after initial struggles, appeared to on the rise, and the Rumble in the Jungle was a party for Zairians as well as a massive marketing scheme to promote Zaire as a modern, exciting place to be. Celebrities like Barbara Streisand attended the match, and it brought the country international attention. The new stadium gleamed, and the match drew favorable attention. Colonial and Anti-Colonial Politics At the same time, the very title, coined by King, â€Å"the Rumble in the Jungle† reinforced images of Darkest Africa. Many Western viewers also saw the large images of Mobutu displayed at the match as signs of the cult of power and sycophantism they expected of African leadership. When Ali won the match in the 8th round, though, it was a victory for all those who had seen this as a match of white versus black, of establishment versus an anti-colonial new order. Zairians and many other former colonial subjects celebrated Ali’s victory and his vindication as the heavy weight champion of the world. Sources: Erenberg, Lewis A. â€Å"Rumble in the Jungle†: Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman in the Age of Global Spectacle.Journal of Sport History  39, no. 1 (2012): 81-97. https://muse.jhu.edu/  Journal of Sport History 39.1 (Spring 2012) Van Reybrouck, David. Congo: The Epic History of a People. Translated by Sam Garrett. Harper Collins, 2010.   Ã‚   Williamson, Samuel. Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1774 to present, MeasuringWorth,  2015.

Ethics Framework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics Framework - Research Paper Example In organizations, six sigma refers to the process of measuring quality, which works to beat perfection. This model aims at eliminating defects since it is a data-driven and a methodology on its own. Additionally, the model aims at achieving the organization’s initiatives using its tools and processes. These organizational initiatives include reduction of scrap and costs, an improvement on quality production, and reduction in market duration and cycle durations. Six Sigma has three main components that help to achieve the organizational initiatives. These include goals of Six Sigma quality, tools of six sigma, and processes of six-sigma model. Despite being part of Six Sigma components, quality is the least important component in this model. This is because most organizations focus on costs and schedules of the organization since their objective is to obtain the bottom line. This shows that Six Sigma is just one of the possible focuses. In most cases, each product has defects. However, each defect is a good opportunity for the organization. At this point, an organization can lay strategies to eliminate such defects in the future. This will enhance ethics of the organization since quality is achieved. On the other hand, six-sigma influences the already available tools. Since Six Sigma tools is another component of Six Sigma model, organizations have not been utilizing these tools to the fullest. Six Sigma focuses on getting these tools and putting them into action to achieve the set targets. Some of the six-sigma tools include means of analysis, variance analysis, confidence interval, contingency table among others. Organizations must integrate on these tools to make six-sigma an effective model (Ferrell, Fraedrich , and Ferrell, 2013). The third component of six-sigma is the processes. This includes putting the six-sigma tools into other frames so as to diversify the importance. Six-sigma model does not focus on learning how to use the tools only but incl udes applying them into necessary sequences to achieve better results.

Pub industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Pub industry - Case Study Example Certainly, this measure was applauded by the owners of the pubs and there are good reasons to expect the increase in the number of the customers. Another legislative initiative might more detrimental to the industry of pubs. Labor party has proposed to introduce total ban on the smoking in pubs, though it is still a proposal and is widely debated. In current edition of the proposed legislature smoking will be allowed only in those pubs that do not serve the food. One of the impacts is undoubtedly possible negative consequences for the business of the pubs. If this initiative is accepted, the pub industry will have to adapt itself to new environment and devise new ways to lure their steadfast customers. It can do it either by shifting to new pubs that will provide clients with drinks (new strategy should be devised in this case) or by reorganizing its chain of the pubs ( as Wetherspoon is large company it might try to reorganize its chain by establishing two types of the pubs- those which serve the food and those that do not. This reorganization should be based after thorough investigation of geographical and social factors, once the company has obtained a reliable data on where it would be more appropriative to open the pubs mentioned). Economic factors. The UK has one of the most developed economies in the world, with the annual growth rate of 1.7% percent in 2005. (Prediction). The GNP per capita is one of the highest in the world; it is one of the most important factors as it means high purchasing power of Britons, who enjoy going out and currently have less time, possibilities and inclinations to cook meal at home. Strong economy also means the possibility for expansions on the market and provides the company with stable environment to plan...Economic factors. The UK has one of the most developed economies in the world, with the annual growth rate of 1.7% percent in 2005. (Prediction). The GNP per capita is one of the highest in the world; it is one of the most important factors as it means high purchasing power of Britons, who enjoy going out and currently have less time, possibilities and inclinations to cook meal at home. Strong economy also means the possibility for expansions on the market and provides the company with stable environment to plan its future operations. Several import restrictions on the technological equipments or raw materials used in the production of the beer, might hamper the development of the industry. The industry might also suffer from low import duties on alcoholic drinks, which encourage customers to purchase the drink abroad. Social factors. Several social factors such as late marriage, increasing number of divorces and growing number of persons with high incomes as well as more hours spent at the workplace might influence the business of the pub industry. More and more people prefer to go out to dine at the pubs; the majority of them simply do not have enough time to cook the meals at home. That is why the company should study these factors thoroughly in order to understand what forces are driving people to dine out. There are no grounds to expect any technological innovations or breakthrough in the industry in the nearest future, neither there is a possibility for the breakthrough in the long-term.

Divorce Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Divorce - Case Study Example Judge: Let this not be a discourse, but I advocate divorce mediation as an eminent step to be taken as a marriage buttress before a couple comes to court. Often marriages are saved when divorce mediators arbitrate and collaborate to get couples back together. So rather than making divorce mediation sound as a defect in the system, I would insist the lawyer to cohere to the specific case. Please divulge the details endemic to the case. Lawyer: Yes, your honour. As you state, the issue of divorce mediation is an arbitrary one. My client seeks a divorce from her husband, after their five year marriage as a dire resort. The basis for the divorce is that her marriage is devoid of the main ingredients: trust and love. Her mental and physical torture has been chronic and justice has been dilatory. The distraught lady deferred divorce till now and lived with the fear of physical attack. She went through physical abuse for simple reasons like not setting the plate right or for bungling up cooking. Kim put her through hell and all she wants is an affable life and equitable justice, which the mediation firm failed to provide. Lawyer: Jackie is a victim of the system, and we have all the evidence the court needs to prove the case. However, let me delineate from the issue and take you to the time of Kim's schooling. School reports constantly emulate Kim to be a rough child. He records show a delinquent affectation through his college days also. He had been denounced by his affluent parents on account of his drug addiction and other vices. Moreover Kim is constantly in and out of clandestine love affairs. I put forth the court an assimilation of his anomalies. Judge: Please also pass the details to the jury so that they can check that there is no disparity and the facts cohere together. Also I would suggest you as a lawyer to abstain from such strong statements. Judge: (After viewing the documents with a discriminate eye) A circumspect view of the records of violence does appall me. However, Kim's records also show that he was quite dextrous and diligent at his work as a mechanic. But let me not deviate from the issue. Was Jackie aware at the time of her marriage that the situation was askew and Kim was a charlatan husband Did she know the situation she would get herself into, with the marriage Lawyer: Jackie's marriage to Kim was more of an arrangement by Kim's parents, who sought a bride from an affluent family. His agile nature led no clue in the first year of marriage. She soon knew about his duplicity and drug abuse, a caustic issue, but thought marriage would cure it. After the first happy year, there was anarchy especially when Kim tried to curb her academic pursuits. Jackie is a devout catholic, and tried to circumvent the situation by attempting to talk to Kim about the issues their marriage was facing. But his behaviour just became increasingly cantankerous and her life was effete with physical and moral abuse. I thus elicit the court to apprehend Kim not just for divorce but also rendering circuitous moral and personal injury to my client. Judge: Jackie could you articulate the

Spanish Language Varieties in Spain and in Mexico

Spanish Language Varieties in Spain and in Mexico Spanish language varieties in Spain and in Mexico. George Bernard Shaw regarded Great Britain and America as ‘two countries divided by a common language’. This viewpoint can be also applied to Spain and Mexico, the Spanish-speaking countries with different language varieties and dialects that have been formed under the influence of specific historical, cultural, political and social events. Despite the fact that Spanish is spoken in many countries, the major varieties of Spanish can be observed in Latin America and Spain, where the language, according to Clare Mar-Molinero (2000), â€Å"is buoyant and secure† (p.18). Spanish belongs to the Indo-European language family and comes from Vulgar Latin language, although Spanish vocabulary consists of Italian, French and Arabic words. Spanish language in Latin America has five major varieties: the Caribbean, the South American Pacific, the Argentinian-Uruguyan-Paraguayan, the Central American, and the Highland (or Standard) Latin American. However, this classification is too generalised, as it is based only on the differences in pronunciation. Due to â€Å"the immensity of the territory where Latin American Spanish is spoken† (Lipski, 1994 p.3), linguists analyse language varieties â€Å"along geographical, political, ethnic, musicological and social lines† (Lipski, 1994 p.3). The residents of Mexico mainly use the Caribbean and Highland Latin American dialects that emerged after the formation of Peruvian Spanish. Nahuatl dialect that belongs to the Uto-Aztecan language group (Andrews, 1975) and has â€Å"the greatest influence in centra l Mexico† (Lipski, 1994 p.6) is an ancient Spanish dialect. About one million Mexican people speak Nahuatl dialect nowadays. In Spain there are also two principal language varieties – the Castilian and the Andalusian dialects that were formed in the middle ages, although some regions of Northern and Southern Spain create other specific dialects. As Spanish language descends from Castile, the Spanish region that became a centre of political significance since the thirteenth century, the Castilian dialect is one of the most widespread varieties and is accepted as a national criterion in Spain. Mar-Molinero (2000) considers that the phenomenon of ‘Castilianisation’ was initiated by the Visigoths; however, it was only in the eighteenth century when the Castilian dialect displaced other language varieties as a result of Charles’ III 1768 declaration, demonstrating a profound impact of political prevalence on linguistic prevalence. Mar-Molinero (2000) also states that the Andalusian dialect considerably influenced the formation of the Standard Latin American (pp.36-37), although this viewpoint is strongly opposed by sociolinguists. Other crucial language varieties in Spain are Euskara, Galician and Catalan; these dialects have some parallels with Portuguese and French languages, although they do not belong to the Indo-European language family. The emergence of these three Spanish varieties is closely connected with the spread of nationalism. The Levantine varieties also constitute an important group of dialects utilised in such Spanish regions as Alicante, Valencia and Castellà ³n. People in these areas currently use Catalan/Valencian, Murcian, Andalusian, Aragon, and La Manche/Castile dialects. The differences in all these Spanish language varieties attribute to pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar (Penny, 2000). In particular, pronunciation of the Standard Latin American differs from the Castilian, similar to the dissimilarities between British English and American English. In the Castilian dialect the sounds ‘ce’ or ‘ci’ are changed into ‘th’: ‘gracias’ (thanks) appears as ‘gratheas’; however, in the Standard Latin American the word ‘gracias’ is pronounced as ‘gras-see-as†. Such separate pronunciation of the word ‘grasseeas’ is a characteristic feature of the Standard Latin American dialect. In the Castilian dialect some words are ended in a vocable vowel, losing their last consonants, while two Mexican dialects are characterised by the pronunciation of final consonants. Overall, the speech in Mexico is slow in comparison with the speech in the majority of Spanish regio ns (Hill Hill, 1986); however, the Caribbean, or Lowland dialect is defined as a rather prompt and informal variety of Spanish language. In addition to the differences in pronunciation, there are some differences in grammar. In Mexican Spanish ‘ustedes’ (you) is utilised both for formal and informal address, while in Castilian Spanish there are two words for formal and informal address – ‘ustedes’ and ‘vosotros’, respectively. Some verbs in the Caribbean and Highland Latin American dialects have changed their initial forms, acquiring certain Anglicisms and Americanisms. In particular, Mexican residents say, â€Å"Apliquà © a la Universidad† (I applied to the university), while Spanish people utilise a more precise form – ‘Postulà © a la universidad’. Similarly, Spaniards in Spain prefer to utilise pasado perfecto (the compound tense that is similar to English Present Perfect tense): ‘Yo he viajado a los Estados Unidos’ (I have travelled to the USA). Mexican people use a more simplified tense – pretà ©rito indefinido (Englis h Past Indefinite), for example, â€Å"Viajà © a Estados Unidos† (I travelled to the USA). According to Julia Kristeva (1989), â€Å"Language is so intimately linked to man and society that they are inseparable† (p.3); thus, the utilisation of Anglicisms and Americanisms in Mexican Spanish reflects historical and social differences between Spain and Mexico. Duncan Green (1997) points at the impact of the United States on language and identity of Mexican population; in particular, the author states that â€Å"The mass media has become a battleground in the struggle to define Latin American’s identity† (pp.98-99). The simplification of Spanish language in Mexico reveals that various social changes modify language, and language shapes the identity of Mexican people. As Mar-Molinero (2000) states, â€Å"Not only does language have an instrumental role as a means of communication, it also has an extremely important symbolic role as marker of identity† (p.3). Due to the fact that social identities of Mexican and Spanish people differ, Spanish language of Mexico and Spain is characterised by a rather diverse vocabulary. For instance, the word ‘Okay’ is translated as ‘Sale’ in Mexico, and as ‘Chungo’ – in Madrid; similarly, the word ‘work’ is rendered as ‘chambear’ in Mexico and as ‘currar’ – in Spain. Another difference that distinguishes Mexican Spanish from Spanish in Spain is the preservation of archaisms in the Caribbean and Highland Latin American dialects. Such words and expressions as ‘Órale’ (All right), ‘Ya mero’ (almost) or ‘Quà © pedo?† (What is going on?) are normal for Mexican Spanish, but they are not utilised in Spain. John Lipski (1994) considers that these language varieties emerged as a result of cultural and social interactions of Spain and Mexico with other countries. The Standard Latin American dialect was considerably influenced by Italian and African immigrants who arrived in Latin America at the end of the nineteenth – the beginning of the twentieth centuries (Lipski, 1994 pp.11-12). Skidmore and Smith (2000) reveal the similar viewpoint, claiming that in Latin America â€Å"languages, food, sports, and music all show profound and continuing African influence† (p.356). Simultaneously, the Standard Lat in American and the Caribbean dialects reflect native roots, especially Indian roots that are rather distinct in Mexican Spanish. For instance, the language of the Mayans serves as the basis for more than thirty dialects in Mexico, let alone the language of the Aztecs. In particular, many modern Mexican dialects preserve initial and final sounds tl- in certain words, like ‘Nahuatl’, ‘Quetzalcoatl’, the god of Aztecs, or ‘Tlaxcala’, Mexican state. As Skidmore and Smith (2000) point out, â€Å"Aside from the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas, there were many other Indian cultures. In the area of modern-day Mexico alone there were over 200 different linguistic groups† (p.14). However, the impact of the Castilian language on the formation of Mexican Spanish is the greatest, as the Castilian was the only language taught in Mexican schools with the arrival of Spanish settlers. Thus, three major aspects aggravated the differences between Spanish spoken in Spain and Spanish spoken in Mexico: Spanish settlements in Mexico, immigration of English, Italian and African people, and finally, linguistic drift. Analysing Spanish language varieties in Mexico and Spain, the essay demonstrates that the differences mainly exist in spoken language, influencing such linguistic aspects as vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. The Caribbean and Highland Latin American dialects in Mexico and the Castilian and the Andalusian dialects in Spain are characterised by diverse accent, idioms and unique words, but these variants are integral parts of Spanish language. As a result of various social and political changes, modern Mexican Spanish has been exposed to the process of Americanisation, which considerably simplifies vocabulary and grammar of Spanish dialects in Mexico and intensifies the differences between Mexican Spanish and Spanish spoken in Spain. The spread of travels and mass media changes Spanish language in both Mexico and various areas of Spain, revealing unique cultural identities of different Spanish-speaking groups.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography Andrews, J. R. (1975) Introduction to Classical Nahuatl. Austin, University of Texas. Green, D. (1997) Faces of Latin America. Nottingham, Russell Press, Latin American Bureau. Hill, J. H. and Hill, K.C. (1986) Speaking Mexicano. Tucson, University of Arizona Press.   Kristeva, J. (1989) Language: The Unknown An Initiation Into Linguistics. London, Harvest Wheatsheaf. Lipski, J.M. (1994) Latin American Spanish. London, New York, Longman. Mar-Molinero, C. (2000) The Politics of Language in the Spanish-Speaking World from Colonization to Globalization. London, New York, Routledge. Penny, R. (2000) Variation and Change in Spanish. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Skidmore, T. E. and Smith, P.H. (2000) Modern Latin America. 5th edition. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Redefine by Incubus Essay -- Music Bands Incubus Musicians Essays

Redefine by Incubus "Redefine" is the perfect song to represent us in the time capsule. The song supports using your knowledge to empower yourself, and be an individual. It also emphasizes using your knowledge and intelligence to make the world a better place. The song also reminds us to be wary of abusing our power. We can use our power to make the world a better place, but we can also use our power to the wrong ends and destroy our planet and our lives. Redefine is a rock song, and therefor part of the pop culture. For this reason it is not tied down to any cultural roots, making it accessible to people of all creeds and colors. Brandon Boyd, vocalist for Incubus, starts the song with an interesting analogy. He tells us to "imagine [our] brain as a canister filled with ink...now think of your body as the pen where the ink resides." In effect he is telling us that we each are a well of knowledge and we should use it. College is widely regarded as not only institution to give us knowledge, but also a place to give us the skills to use it. We should not just lear...

Cell Phone in Life Essay

In modern life, cell phone is an indispensable tool to all people. To everyone, a cell phone is a magic tool, which is a mean of telecommunication, an entertainment device and a great work supporter. To me, I cannot imagine how I can live without my phone. The basic function of a cell phone is to connect people. We use our cell phones to communicate with the other ones. For example, we can talk to parents and send our love to them in a thousand mile away in a second. We can help people who are in an emergency with a finger. Or simply, we can gather our friends to hang out have fun with easy calls or texts. A cell phone is a magic tool, which can help us contact people only with a hand. Moreover, a cell phone is an excellent tool we need for our studying and business. At school, some applications of cell phone help us solving the problems in class. For example, we can record the lectures of professors in class and watch his lecture again at home in order to better understand the knowledge, or when applying knowledge, we can take some pictures in the lab class to observe our lab results better. At work, our cell phones can be a USB to store data, or a mini computer to send our report, and even a small portable computer to surf the Internet, which is essentially important to every businessman. A cell phone is vital to an entrepreneur or a student‘s career. Finally, another advantage of cell phones is to entertain. In our cell phones, we can store our favorite songs to listen to when feeling sad, videos and pictures of our beloved ones to view when we miss them, which makes us happier. We can also play games in our cell phones, helping us burning off stress and starting to feel happy again. Without cell phones, our life would be much less enjoyable. For instance, your best friend is upset about problems of her or his family. You can comfort her or him by your favorite songs, and then look for something fun, like game or funny video to relax. With a cell phone, we will never have to be sad for a long time. Today, everybody prepares himself or herself with a cell phone, like a vital thing in his or her modern life. As the cell phones are improved with advance functions, they will make our lives more convenient and comfortable. People are advised to equipped themselves with a cell phone to improve their lives.

Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel essays

Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel essays Many consider Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to be the greatest achievement in Western art, having inspired countless artists to use its styles and motifs in their own work. Since its unveiling 490 years ago, this complex masterpiece has transfixed countless viewers through its historical illustrations and predominant themes of the human experience. Michelangelo's decoration of the ceiling is a monument to the extraordinarily creative and integrative capacities of the mind (Oremland,1). Many of the historical records which traced its progress, technique, cost, and time spent on it have been lost or destroyed. Thus, the questions of how, when, and why Michelangelo painting the ceiling have been the topic of much debate over the centuries. Recently, even more controversy arose when the ceiling was cleaned and restored to its original color and beauty. Nevertheless, as the work is better understood, the universality of themes which give it vitality and endu rance is better appreciated. The Sistine Chapel was begun by Pope Sixtus IV probably in 1475, the year Michelangelo was born. It was built to serve functional and symbolic purposes. Functionally, it was to be a fortress into which the pope and important members of the clergy could find a safe retreat. It was also to be the main ceremonial chapel of the Vatican Palace. Its most important function was to house the congregation during its selection of the papal successor (Oremland, 33). Pope Sixtus's nephew, Julius II, was certainly the greatest of patrons to Michelangelo. Elected pope in 1503 at the age of 65, Julius decided to tear down St. Peter's in order to build a larger one. He also wanted to place his own tomb in the new church, with some forty large marble sculptures by Michelangelo. Julius changed his mind about the sculptures when a barge carrying a shipment of marble blocks sank into the Tiber River. In 1508 he later commissioned Michelangelo t...

The Grapes Of Wrath Essays (1216 words) - U.S. Route 66, Dust Bowl

The Grapes Of Wrath Essays (1216 words) - U.S. Route 66, Dust Bowl The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930's live under. The novel tells of one families migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The Joad family had to abandon their home and their livelihoods. They had to uproot and set adrift because tractors were rapidly industrializing their farms. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loan. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California. How they survive the cruelty of the land owners that take advantage of them, their poverty and willingness to work. The Grapes of Wrath combines Steinbeck adoration of the land, his simple hatred of corruption resulting from materialism (money) and his abiding faith in the common people to overcome the hostile environment. The novel opens with a retaining picture of nature on rampage. The novel shows the men and women that are unbroken by nature. The theme is one of man verses a hostile environment. His body destroyed but his spirit is not broken. The method used to develop the theme of the novel is through the use of symbolism. There are several uses of symbols in the novel from the turtle at the beginning to the rain at the end. As each symbol is presented through the novel they show examples of the good and the bad things that exist within the novel. The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of the situation facing the drought-stricken farmers of Oklahoma. Dust is described a covering everything, smothering the life out of anything that wants to grow. The dust is symbolic of the erosion of the lives of the people. The dust is synonymous with "deadness". The land is ruined ^way of life (farming) gone, people ^uprooted and forced to leave. Secondly, the dust stands for ^profiteering banks in the background that squeeze the life out the land by forcing the people off the land. The soil, the people (farmers) have been drained of life and are exploited: The last rain fell on the red and gray country of Oklahoma in early May. The weeds became a dark green to protect themselves from the sun's unyielding rays....The wind grew stronger, uprooting the weakened corn, and the air became so filled with dust that the stars were not visible at night. (Chp 1) As the chapter continues a turtle, which appears and reappears several times early in the novel, can be seen to stand for survival, a driving life force in all of mankind that cannot be beaten by nature or man. The turtle represents a hope that the trip to the west is survivable by the farmer migrants (Joad family). The turtle further represents the migrants struggles against nature/man by overcoming every obstacle he encounters: the red ant in his path, the truck driver who tries to run over him, being captured in Tom Joad's jacket: And now a light truck approached, and as it came near, the driver saw the turtle and swerved to hit it. The driver of the truck works for a large company, who try to stop the migrants from going west, when the driver attempts to hit the turtle it is another example of the big powerful guy trying to flatten or kill the little guy. Everything the turtle encounters trys its best to stop the turtle from making its westerly journey. Steadily the t! urtle advances on, ironically to the southwest, the direction of the mirgration of people. The turtle is described as being lasting, ancient, old and wise: horny head, yellowed toenails, indestructible high dome of a shell, humorous old eyes. (Chp 1) The driver of the truck, red ant and Tom Joad's jacket are all symbolic of nature and man the try to stop the turtle from continuing his journey westward to the promise land. The turtle helps to develop the theme by showing its struggle against life/ comparing it with the Joad struggle against man. The grapes seem to symbolize both bitterness and copiousness. Grandpa the oldest member of the Joad family talks of the

Mid term Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Organized Crime Gangs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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