BLOGS

This chapter bounces from topic to topic. From how the word "do" meaning nothing, but being applied as an action that holds no concrete meaning, to the usage in -ing and how it  turns a noun into a verb.It goes on to talk about who the originaters of language are and gives most credit to the Celtics. It also goes on to talk about what language did what in terms of how writing was scriptured and how celtified English only came into history by accident.
On page 15 he makes a simple note in stating, " this leaves us with a simple fact about what happens when language comes together, they mix" (15) this reminds me of how we in common english mix and match our words.We coin, borrow, and turn nouns into verbs by using conversion which he also spoke about. Throughout time we have taken words that connected them to food (sushi, pretzel, croissant) and made it common to say things like hoover, xerox and google to describe actions. Its interesting to see these ideas come alive in a seperate work, and he seems to be very passionate about his feelings about all of it.
One thing that I couldnt understand was why the author seemed to have such a love hate relationship with the word do.More hate actually. He was going on and on about it with such conviction, yet he was able to show the word wasnt solely limited to English. He talks about how the ing constitutes for the act of doing but attaches it to a noun and that goes back to the previous paragragh. Still the tone which he uses to discuss this is one that gives a genuine distaste for it.Perhaps this isnt a concept that can be explained in readings, but more a tone that the author set in how he explains language This chapter expressed how some languages don't pick up words from others, but some language grammar is influenced by earlier forms of language from different places. He then introduces the vikings. He talks about the shift in personal and impersonal gender, how last names change in terms of added endings.He goes back to the Celts and the word do. He relates ideals in language to African languages and talks about the level of difficulty with the clicks.(121) It reminds me about when we learned about  how we use our mouths to make certain sounds like in the video in our second power point. What I'm still not grasping is what his objective is in this book. Its not an easy read at all and I just don't understand what exactly what were supposed to grasp. Its just a bunch of random history mixed with his opinions about everything and some examples to back him up. 

just in case
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WpvATW7hEhqnb0h9pQT3BuD4xjsHgdnZCXL1rkg1TSQ/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WpvATW7hEhqnb0h9pQT3BuD4xjsHgdnZCXL1rkg1TSQ/edit
Christ Ramirez First Draft

The linguists

                   After watching “The Linguists”, I felt that one of the themes presented was the fact that many of the people they were able to find that had languages that were “endangered” seemed to only live in people that were very old. In a sense as these people die, the language dies off with them. Within the different regions they explored looking for these rare dialects, there wasn’t one single example of a youth speaking the language. The only somewhat young man was the driver who spoke Chulym fluently. I feel like you see this lot in our times, where more young people tend to gravitate to the most contemporary form of their language, and English. There is less emphasis on the history and culture that resides within these languages and that was also depicted as the film showed. It was interesting to see the faces of these people that spoke and it almost seemed like they were documenting a piece of history. I remember learning that many of these languages don’t have any written form and that is another factor that makes the languages harder to preserve, or even document that they ever existed.(should video or audio not be an option. With any of the languages shown and in almost all languages widely used or not, I find a strong sense of pride connected to it. I know for myself, I feel a great pride in being able to sign and I think ASL is so beautiful. I know many people follow in that same sentiment about their own languages,  perhaps fueling the desire to explore and try to maintain or at least document as many as possible before they perish. Its actually quite amazing the depths to which these men went to explore, and I found it humorous how drunk they got to respect the culture and to obtain what they needed for the film. I enjoyed it all very much (minus the animal sacrifice, even in fast forward)

From English to chinglish Essay

Christ Ramirez
Essay
    

               In the articles “From English to Chinglish , and” How English Is Evolving Into a Language We Way not Know”, the idea that English is finding itself being placed into many languages, but the end result of what is being said is making a mockery of languages.  The author states that English is considered a neutral language for many countries not to have to choose one dialect over another, and there is almost this fear that the language itself, in essence, be lost.
                  One thing I noticed was the phrase used in both Articles that read, “Deformed man laboratory” was that the translation was literal. I connected that with the visual aspects used in language that is quite common in ASL. Although the words don’t make sense and seem almost insulting the picture is being painted in reference to the general space and who its intended for in a visual way. This structure is the same in signing. Where if like the other sentence used “if you’re stolen, call the police” was used in ASL, it would be deemed acceptable. The reason for this is because one sign can mean the same thing but English is what changes the word used. So the sign for stolen would be the same one used as kidnapped, as thief, and as robbed.  So you would actually sign “If man you he steal, police (you)call (you).” Either way is acceptable.  You’re literally painting the picture of what is happening with words.  Because of that idea, I kind of related to this article in a different way than perhaps others did, thinking to myself…ok, so what’s the big deal? I feel like English literally butts its way into every language, and forces other languages to conform to its structure. Why does everything have to make sense according this particular language’s standards?
             I feel like this is one of the main reasons that so many languages are being lost. It seems like no matter where you go, somehow or another, you’re seemingly forced to speak or know or at the very least entertain some form of English. Even here in the US, with Native Americans that resided here far before us, places that are still inhabited by the real “owners” of that land are prevented from preserving their indigenous language. Children are taught to speak English and this is a primary reason that language becomes lost. People are starting to see this and fighting for the right to keep their mother tongue alive, and I respect that. In Deaf culture, when a person signs in English,  a Deaf person will most likely respond and understand what is being signed, but you don’t get the same “respect” for your ability to sign because you’re merely signing English, you’re not speaking the language of ASL, which has its own rules of grammar, structure and facial and body language.
           I understand within the words of these articles that they are trying to alter language so it makes sense when translated into English. I’m just saying, who died and decided to make English the boss?

How you ate all my good snacks &left me all the cheap ones??! Thats odee?!

             I had to think twice before I chose this, because it contains so many different meanings, and its not really a word, but more like an expression.Still, it has a meaning, so it is, in context a word.  I wanted to pick something fun that can be used in almost any conversation, in many different ways according to the context of the sentence. It's a fad word, and probably won't be used long term in the way that I'm presenting it in, but I'm documenting it, whether to track it in history, or to make this fun for the person reading it. Both sit just fine with me.=)

        The term "O.D." (in this particular blog), stands for overdose,over doing it, overdone, but does not mean fatal, just in excess.  the phrase is used as is. You O.D'd or you odee right now depending on how you feel like writing it I suppose, but that's how you say it. 

Examples;

 "You put on the earrings, AND the necklace, AND the rings?! um, that's O.D. 

 "I told her she was welcome to use some of my shampoo, and she O.D'd and used like half the damn bottle!"  " Ugh, why did I have to O.D. on the pasta, my stupid dress is too tight now." 

Of course you can't skip the dramatics...

" O.M.G. she cheated on her boyfriend AGAIN?! That's O.D.EE .." (lol)

  

  It is an acronym, (O.D),  but can also potentially be a back formation because u can change it into a verb, depending on how  you use the "word", which technically would also make it a conversion. You can use it in present tense, and past tense, and add -ing, and -'d.

Study questions Chapters 4 and 5

Christ Ramirez
Study Questions Chapter 4

1.       What is the difference between a phoneme and an allophone?
The difference between phonemes and allophones is that substituting one phoneme for another will result in a word with a different meaning.

2.       What is an aspirated sound and which of the following words would normally be pronounced with one: kill, pool, skill, spool, stop, top?
A aspirated sound is a puff of air and would be pronounced with pool, spool, and stop.

3.       Which of the following words would be treated as minimal pairs?
goat vote,   fat far,  bun ban,  chain sane,  heel heat,  bet bell,  pat fat,  pit pat,  vet bet.

4.       What is meant by the phonotactics of a language?
The permitted arrangement of sounds In a language.

5.       What is the difference between an open and a closed syllable?
An open syllable means the word ended with a vowel, whereas a closed syllable means the word ended with a consonant.

6.       Which segments in the pronunciations of the following words are most likely to be affected by elision?

Government- /n/ - gʌvərmɛnt

Postman- /t/ as in “tuh”- poʊstmæn

Pumpkin-   /p/ in second part of pumpkin -pʌmkən

Sandwich - /d/ sænwɪtʃ

Victory-/t/ as in “tour” vɪktoʊri

Christ Ramirez
Chapter 5 Study Questions

1.       What is the difference between etymology and entomology?
Etymology is the study and origin and history of a word and entomology is the study of insects.

2.       Which of the following pairs contain an example of calque? How would you describe the others?

A)     Footobooru (Japanese)-football (English) -Borrowing

B)      Trening (Hungerian)- training (English)-Borrowing

C)      Luna de miel (Spanish “moon of honey”) honeymoon (English) -Calque

D)     Jardin d’enfants (French “garden of children”)- Kindergarden (German) “children garden”-Calque

3.       Can you identify the different word-formation processes involved in producing each of the underlined words in these sentences?

A)     Don’t you ever worry that you might get AIDS?-acronyms

B)      Do you have a Xerox machine?- backformation

C)      That’s really fandamtastic!-infixes

D)     Sheil still parties every Saturday night.-backformation

E)      These new skateboards from Zee Designs are kickass.-compound

F)      When I’m Ill, I want to see a doc, not a vet.-clipping

G)     The house next door was burgled when I was babysitting the Smiths’ children.-conversiom and compound

H)     I like this old sofa, it’s nice and comfy. hypocorisms

4.       Identify the prefixes and suffixes used in the these words:
 a) misfortune-prefix (mis)

b) terrorism-suffix (ism)

c) carelessness-2 suffix (lessness)
d)disagreement-prefix (dis)
e)ineffective-prefix (in)
f)unfaithful- both prefix and suffix (un/ful)
g)prepackaged -prefix( pre)
h) biodegradable-
i)reincarnation -prefix (re)
j)decentralization-prefix (de)

      5. In Kamhmu, the word sal means “to put an ornament in the ear.” What would be the word for a “an ear ornament”?
        A srnal.

     
  6. More than one process was involved in the creation of the forms underlined in these sentences, Can you identify the processes involved in each case?
          A) Are you still using that old car-phone?-compound & backformation          B) Can you FedEx the books to me today?- coinage and conversion          C) Police have reported an increase in carjackings in recent months.conversion&compounding           D)Welcome, everyone, to karaokenight at Cathy’s Bar and Grill! -borrowing&compounding           E) Jeeves, could you tell the maid to be sure to hoover the bedroom carpet? -conversion&coinage 
          F) Would you prefer a decaf?-clipping &derivation

Let's talk about my name! -Kraɪst

Kraɪst 
The name Christ begins with the onset of the voiceless stop of the letter "K" that begins in the velar and continues into a liquid voiced "R" stemming from the alveolar, followed by the dipthong "AI", (which beings low and ends high) exactly the same as the word eye, and closes with the fricative voiceless "S', that comes from the alveolar and lends itself to the easy finish of the stop in the voiceless "T", also formed in the same part of the mouth.

From the back of your mouth like "kuh" push out the sound of the letter "k" then round your lips and flatten your tongue against the bottom of your mouth, and let the air release the sound of "R" rrrr like the r in rice, and make the hissing s sound and finish it with the snap of your teeth like something annoyed you.

Study questions chapters 1 and 2

Christ Ramirez
Study Questions for Chapter One
1. Why is it difficult to agree with Psammetichus that Phrygian must have been the original human language?
The children were only exposed to goats and the word for bread was close to the sound the goats make.
2. What is the basic idea behind the “bow-wow” theory of language origin?
The bow-wow theory states that people tried to imitate the sounds and used it to refer to the object they associated it with.
3. Why are interjections such as “ouch” considered to be unlikely sources of human speech sounds?
These sounds are produced with sudden intakes of breath, and are considered expressive noises people make in a reaction.
4. Where are the pharynx and how did it become an important part of human sound production?
The pharynx is a cavity under the larynx (the vocal cords)that acts like a resonator for increased range and clarity of the sounds produced via the larynx and the vocal tract.
5. Why do you think that young deaf children who become fluent in sign language would be cited in support of the innateness hypothesis?
Regardless of how the language is “spoken” this hypothesis shows that language is genetic.
6. With which of the six “ sources” would you associate with quotation?
The quote would be associated with the tool-making source.


Chapter 2

1. Why is reflectivity considered to be a special property of human language?
Humans are the only ones that use language to think and talk about language itself, making reflexivity a distinguishing human feature.
2. What kind of evidence is used to support the idea that language is culturally transmitted?
We acquire language in culture and not parental genes. The books example was a baby born in Korea and having the features of a Korean but raised in America will ultimately speak English.
3. What is the difference between a communications system with productivity and one with fixed reference?
The difference between is a communications system with productivity and one with fixed reference is that productivity allows infinite sounds, where as fixed reference is a signal in the system of language that is fixed, and aren’t manipulated.
4. How did the Gardner’s try to show that Washoe was not simply repeating signs made by interacting humans?
The Gardner’s showed that Washoe was not repeating signs by showing that the monkey was able to take these forms and combine them to produce “sentences”, that lent itself to the idea the communication system had potential for productivity.
5. If Sarah could use a gray plastic shape to convey the meaning of the word red, which property does her “language “ seem to have?
The property seems to be arbitrariness.
6. What was considered to be the key element in Kanzi’s language learning?
He was not being directly taught, but exposed to, and observing the language from a very young age.
　

Chapter 3
1. What is the difference between acoustic phonetics and articulatory phonetics?
Acoustic phonetics deals with the physical properties of speech as sound waves in the air, and auditory phonetics deals with perception via the ear of speech sounds.
2. Which of the following words normally end with voiceless(-V) sounds and which end with voiced sounds (+V) sounds?
a) bang (+V)
b) crash (-V)
c) ding (+V)
d) fizz (+V)
e) rap (-V)
f) smack (-V)
g) splat (-V)
h) thud (+V)
I) wham (+V)
3. Try to pronounce the initial sounds of the following words and identify the place of articulation of each one ( bilabial, alveolar, etc.)
a) calf (Velar)
b) chin (palatal)
c) foot (labiodental)
d) groin (velar)
e) hand (glottals)
f) knee (alveolar)
g) mouth (bilabial)
h) pelvis (bilabial)
I) shoulder (palatal)
j) stomach (alveolar)
k) thigh (dental)
l) toe (alveolar)
4. Identify the manner of articulation of the initial sounds in the following words (stop, fricative, etc)
a) cherry (affricatives)
b) crazy (stops)
c) dizzy (stops)
d) funny (fricatives)
e) holly (fricatives)
f) loony (liquids)
g)merry (nasals)
h)silly (fricatives)
I)wimpy (glides)
5. Which written English words are usually pronounced as they are transcribed here?
a) bake
b) bought
c) enjoy
d) face
e)howl
f)hoping
g) who
h) cloak
I)mine
j) ??
k)chip
l)oh
6. Using symbols introduced in this chapter, write a basic phonetic transcription of the most common pronunciation of the following words.
a) catch kæt͡ʃ
b) doubt daʊt
c) gem d͡ʒm
d) measure mɛ~ʒr
e) noise nɔɪz
f) phone foʊn
g) shy ʃɑɪ
h) these θiz
I) thought θat
) tough tʌf
k) would wʊd
l) wring riɳ

My Language story

                 I am trilingual. I am fluent in English Spanish and A.S.L. I was raised in a
Hispanic household, and didn’t learn to speak English until I began elementary school. Throughout most of my life I went back and forth using both languages depending on who I was around, easily transitioning or combining both. (Spanglish). I read and wrote in both languages, and was able to translate for my mom whenever she didn’t understand something.

              When I was 25, I had a rare form of cancer in my saliva glands. A relatively large tumor was removed from my mouth leaving me with a severe speech impediment, and I had to relearn how to speak using the muscles in my face, tones, and voice differently.  As a result of my aftercare treatment, I lost partial hearing, labeling me “hearing impaired/hard of hearing”. I state this because it changed the way I used language, as well as the way I received it. Where I was once very vocal and spoke, sang and relished in oral speech, I’m now very quiet and reserved, not because I’m shy, but because it’s sometimes frustrating to talk. I’m not able to use language in the same way, and had to learn to communicate differently because I simply wasn’t being understood. I thrive using alternative forms of communications and ASL is one of the primary ways I “speak”.

.                          Sign Language was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I love the visual aspect of the language and the fluidity that makes it feel like an art form to me when I could no longer sing. It gave me the freedom to express myself without the strain of trying to speak and be understood. The process has been challenging, and because it is a completely different language, with its own set of rules, grammar, and structure, proves a little confusing at times. After all, I didn’t grow up using this language, I’ve never been exposed to it on a consistent level, and I’m learning it later on in life. The signs are so close one sign can mean several different words. There are different “dialects” of ASL, including slang and ever-changing signs that update according to the times. ASL which is much more rigid, adheres strictly to the rules of proper language. English ASL, which is often used among younger people now that are more exposed to main stream, merges the languages. (This is very controversial in the Deaf world.)

               In the present time most of the people in my immediate world speak English or Spanish. Anyone that knew me before I got sick hardly ever have communication issues with me; they’ve been through the journey and have evolved to understand my progressing form of speech. I’ve made friends with many people in the Deaf community to make my transition smoother. It has been stellar in its ability to aid me in speaking freely, without the stares, questions, blank faces, or having to repeat myself ten times. A few of my friends have learned to sign, to better understand me in different situations where it proves itself difficult. I have taken the initiative to offer anyone that plays a role in my life free lessons in basic sign because in the end it benefits me and opens the door for them to decide if they want to continue learning a new language. I now live alone so I can easily go days without orally speaking and function just fine texting, signing or simply being quiet around people I don’t know. Because I struggle with people that don’t know me my situation and/or aren’t accustomed to the way I speak, if I have to interact with them, I often mouth and sign at the same time, and that’s how I communicate on a day to day basis.