Where Is English the Official Language

The English language developed in Europe in the middle ages. It was named after a Germanic tribe, the Angles, that migrated to England. The language has been developing for over a thousand years. While its roots are Germanic, the language has adopted many words that originated in other languages.  With words from many different languages making their way into the modern English lexicon as well.  French and Latin are two languages that had a large impact on modern English. Countries Where English Is an Official Language AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaAustraliaBahamasBarbadosBelizeBermudaBotswanaThe British Virgin IslandsCameroonCanada (except Quebec)Cayman IslandsDominicaEnglandFijiGambiaGhanaGibraltarGrenadaGuyanaIreland, NorthernIreland, Republic ofJamaicaKenyaLesothoLiberiaMalawiMaltaMauritiusMontserratNamibiaNew ZelandNigeriaPapua New GuineaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesScotlandSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSolomon IslandsSouth AfricaSwazilandTanzaniaTongaTrinidad and TobagoThe Turks and Caicos IslandsUgandaUnited KingdomVanuatuWalesZambiaZimbabwe Why English Is Not the Official Language of the United States Even when the United States was made up of various colonies, multiple languages were commonly spoken. While most colonies were under British rule, immigrants from all over Europe chose to make the New World their home. For this reason, during the first Continental Congress, it was decided that no official language would be chosen. Today many think declaring an official National language could violate the first amendment, but this has been untested in the courts. Thirty-one states  have chosen to make it the official state language. English may not be the official language of the United States, but it is the most widely  spoken language in the country, with Spanish as the second most common language. How English Became a Global Language   A global language is one that is spoken by millions of people around the globe. English is one of these languages. But as an ESL student will tell you, English is one of the hardest languages to master. The sheer size of the language and its many linguistic oddities, like irregular verbs, can be challenging for students. So how did English become one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world? After World War  II, technological and medical advances in English speaking nations made the language a popular second choice for many students. As international trade grew larger each year, the need for a common language also grew. The ability to communicate with clients all over the world is a valuable asset in a global economy. Parents, hoping to give their children a leg up in the business world, also pushed their children to learn the language. This helped propel English towards being a global language. The Language of Travelers When traveling the globe, its worth noting that there are few places in the world where a little English wont help you out. While its always nice to learn some of the language of the country youre visiting, having a shared common language to fall back on is great. It allows speakers to feel like they are a part of the global community.

Essay for Gothic Genre - 817 Words

â€Å"How do your texts relate to the characteristics of the Gothic Genre?† The Gothic literature movement began in the late 19th century and was a derivative of the Romantic Movement. Writers of the Gothic Genre were focused on drawing on the emotions of the reader and creating an atmosphere of suspense, mystery, terror and dread. The writers also emphasized the supernatural, and how horror can be present in many everyday situations. Gothic texts also place emphasis on emotions such as agitation, hysteria, mystery, venerability, suspense and panic. Many Gothic texts are based in places that are decaying, deserted, abandoned, isolated or that have a have a history of death, war and family feuds. The short story The Adventure of the Speckled†¦show more content†¦The use of non-diegetic sound (3:18- 3:26 minutes) enhances the feeling of suspense and somewhat prepares the viewer for another series of events that with the non-diegetic sound have a high chance of being horrific. The impact of mise en scene (3:53) provides the viewer with a sense of panic . As this is viewed through the eyes of a doll the shadow on the background of the dolls develops a slight feeling of hysteria this is created by the darkness and shadowing of the image. The short film Alma relates to the characteristics of the Gothic Genre as it develops the viewers feelings of fear, desertion, panic and hysteria. The short story The Adventure of The Speckled band and the short film Alma relate to the characteristics of the Gothic Genre primarily through the use of both film and poetic techniques. Therefore range of emotions and sounds in both texts build a strong relationship to the GothicShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Gothic Genre and What it Entails6177 Words   |  25 Pages 1800. Gothic literature has been an area of critical contention since Horace Walpoles seminal Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, was published in 1764. 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This isRead More Nineteenth Century Short Stories and the Gothic Genre Essay808 Words   |  4 PagesNineteenth Century Short Stories and the Gothic Genre The three short stories that I have chosen to compare and contrast are: The Signalman by Charles Dickens, An Arrest by Ambrose Bearcy and Napoleon and the Spectre by Charlotte Brontà «. All these stories were completed by the mid to late eighteenth hundreds. The Signalman is set by a railway in Britain, along a lonely stretch of a railway line in a steep cutting. An Arrest is set in America and for the most part in a forest. NapoleonRead MoreThe Vampire Tale as a Sub-genre of the Gothic Essay examples981 Words   |  4 PagesSub-Genre of The Gothic Here I will expound upon how the vampire tale is undoubtedly a sub-genre of the Gothic Genre. I will also attempt to tackle the tricky question of whether the vampire tale falls within the subsection of the terror gothic or the horror gothic. In order to emphasize my points and observations I will refer to two scenes in the short story appropriately titled The Vampire, by John Polidori. In the Vampire several elements of the Gothic are readilyRead MoreThe Genre of Southern Gothic in A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesSouthern gothic.† Southern gothic comes from the genre of gothic fiction, and has some type of supernatural or unusual events in it. It is characterized as having a grotesque quality yet still having enough good in it to keep readers interested. The short story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Mary Flannery O’Connor, is often considered a perfect example of Southern gothic writing. In â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find†, O’Connor has characters typical of Southern gothic. Characters in this genre are â€Å"riddledRead More Gothic Genre: The Red Room versus The Monkeys Paw Essay1798 Words   |  8 Pagesthe late 19th century by H.G Wells. During this time the gothic genre was incredibly popular with every type of person as it was a great form of entertainment due to the fact they didnt have a television or a computer back then. The gothic genre started becoming most popular in 1837 and continuing untill 1901 during the Victorian period, they appeared in magazines as short,cliffhanger ending,eerie stories. The most famous examples of gothic stories are Frankenstein by Mary Shelly and DraculaRead Moreâ€Å"the Yellow Wallpaper† an Opinion on the Critical Essay â€Å"Haunted House/Haunted Heroine: Female Gothic Closets in â€Å"the Yellow Wallpaper†Ã¢â‚¬  by Carol Margaret Davison1177 Words   |  5 Pagesthe critical essay â€Å"H aunted House/Haunted Heroine: Female Gothic Closets in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†Ã¢â‚¬  by Carol Margaret Davison Rebecca Olds V00698066 English 125 Y. Levin April 2nd, 2009 â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a short story written in the late 1800’s about a woman with post-partum depression who becomes increasingly mad because of society’s, as well as her husband’s, repression. The critical essay â€Å"Haunted House/Haunted Heroine: Female Gothic Closets in â€Å"TheRead MoreFrankenstein as a Gothic Novel Essay1332 Words   |  6 Pagesthemes: these are elements of a Gothic novel. Though Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, written in the early 19th century, certainly contains many components of a Gothic novel, can it be correctly grouped under that genre? A definition of a Gothic novel; according to Tracy, is a description of a fallen world. We experience this fallen world though the aspects of a novel: plot, setting, characterization, and theme (De Vore, Domenic, Kwan and Reidy). As well, early Gothic novels have characterized themselvesRead MoreTheme Of Domestic Violence In Wuthering Heights1060 Words   |  5 Pages(1847), there are multiple genres, notably Gothic and Domestic. The usually very distinct genres of Domestic and Gothic are mixed together so well in the book that it makes it impossible to categorise it properly as only one or the other. Emily Rena-Dozier makes the claim that â€Å"Wuthering Heights†¦carefully breaks down [the] opposition between gothic and domestic [genres] by illustrating the ways in which the domestic is predicated on acts of violence† (760). This essay will examine the story inRead MoreFemale Gothic The Monsters Mother Essay1534 Words   |  7 PagesFemale Gothic: The Monsterâ⠂¬â„¢s Mother In Ellen Moers’ critical essay Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother (1974) on Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she argues that Mary Shelley’s story is greatly influenced by her experience of motherhood. This essay uses the historical approach, biographical, and formalist approach at point. Moers references the cultural context of the novel, Mary Shelley’s experience as a woman and mother and how that influenced her writing, and focuses on the genre of the novel

Boy overboard context/quote/explain paragraphs free essay sample

A context/quote/explain paragraph is like a body paragraph from an analytical essay. You need to reword the statement given, find the quotation that best suits the context and then explain the quotation. Each paragraph needs to be between 50-100 words long. You may write more than the required limit but should not write less than the 50-word minimum. You need to write a minimum of 10 paragraphs to meet the required standard. Of course, writing more than the required number would be a way to increase your marks! The asterisked chapters are mandatory- (you must do these) You are free to select the other chapters of your choice, including one of the last 5 chapters. Chapter 12 That disobeying the Taliban has serious repercussions. In chapter 12 of ‘Boy Overboard’, it is obvious that defying the Taliban regulations, by having a secret school, will have life threatening results. When Jamal and Bibi enter the soccer stadium, they notice an army truck and soldiers with guns aimed at women. We will write a custom essay sample on Boy overboard context/quote/explain paragraphs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The children realise this is not an average soccer match, and maybe â€Å"†¦this isn’t such a good idea,† (pg 61)as soldiers with guns held the power of life and death. Jamal and Bibi are shocked as they recognise a woman, who desperately tries to escape from the soldiers, as their mother. Two soldiers pounce on her, as â€Å"They point their rifles at the back of Mum’s head. † (pg 62) Jamal instantly realises that â€Å"The government must have arrested Mum before they blew up our house. † (pg 63) He desperately wants to save his mother, but stops as his father’s taxi, flies into the soccer stadium, bravely slamming into soldiers. He urges for Mum to rush inside and speeds off, leaving Jamal and Bibi feeling frightened. Not only now is their mother in serious trouble, but also their father. They know to challenge and disobey the Taliban is to invite serious repercussions, or even death, for all the family. This will have massive effects on the family for the rest of their lives.

Strength and Weaknesses of Classical Realism free essay sample

Classical Realism, with its implication that humans are intrinsically evil, is often characterized as a pessimistic analysis of human nature. While this characterization is undeniably true, Classical Realism should not be reduced to merely a cynical view of politics. Philosophically, Classical Realism is the epitome of the modern philosophical departure from ancient Greek philosophy, especially under Aristotle who contends that human nature is a â€Å"tabula rasa. † As our worldview changes, so do our views pertaining to politics. In this essay, we examine some of the strengths and weaknesses of Classical Realism in international affairs. One the greatest strengths of Classical Realism is that it recognizes the similarities between the domestic political sphere and the global political sphere. In both, community and a sense of common values are pre-conditions for stability. Thus, Classical Realism gives us insight as to why violence has decreased dramatically since the beginning of the 20th century. Classical Realists contend that the decreased violence is the result of identity shifts through liberal democracies’ forceful integration of states into the liberal democratic â€Å"world community. In contrast to Liberalism, Classical Realism asserts that the deterring of conflict is not correlated to the material effects of economic integration. Instead, it has to do with the shared feeling of community within the liberal democratic states. Democracies and advocates of liberal economies tend to expand and sustain this community through exercising their power in the name of justice and differentiating themselves from outsiders. Given the decreased amount of conflict in today’s world, there is still violence from those who oppose the liberal democratic â€Å"world community. One may ask, how would a Classical Realist explain the â€Å"irrationality† behind these aggressors? Unlike Liberalism, Classical Realism recognizes the need for theory to be in touch with concrete realties and distinctive contexts for different events. The expansion of democracy and liberal economy is in reality the exercising of power of a group of people who hold distinctive values. On the other hand, there will be other people, including the aggressors who hold different values that also will struggle for power. Thus, international relations is shaped by distinct communities with different values, history, culture and ideological doctrines etc. Owing to this division, there is no â€Å"universal rational† that explains aggression against the â€Å"world community. † Therefore, Classical Realism also warns us against the fragility of the balance of power and all other international arrangements. With such uncertainty in the behavior of states, states can easily miscalculate their capabilities and the capabilities of their adversaries, which could lead to nuances. Take the Japanese’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 for instance. The Americans were thoroughly shocked because the Japanese attacked while negotiations were still ongoing. Using the lens of Classical Realism, perhaps it is not all that shocking that the US who rose into a hegemon during the period, was targeted by the weaker Japan. Because Classical Realism takes into account the essential strength and weaknesses of human collectives, it discourages any form of destruction to mankind in alleged efforts to establish human utopias on a mass scale. Take Stalin’s Soviet Union for instance. In contrast to Stalin who justifies his revolution as necessary for the transition from capitalism to socialism, a Classical Realist would dismiss such thought as propaganda. The propaganda is merely a tool that Communists use to expand their own power and challenge the hegemony of the US. While Classical Realism helps explain some of the contentious issues in international relations, its weaknesses stem from its emphasis on the struggle for power. Human’s passion for power can neither be measured nor validated. Without empirical evaluation of such passion, the Classical Realist analysis would be largely based upon uncertainty. Take China’s current rise as an illustration. Scholars find it difficult to predict its effects on the world because of the unknown intentions of the Chinese Communist Party. In contrast, liberalism explains China’s rise and increased openness to the world, stating that its involvement in international organizations and interdependence with other countries contributes to its stability. This also brings us to another weakness of Classical Realism, which is that it neglects non-state actors such as international organizations and multi-national corporations. Also, Classical Realism does not focus enough on contemporary non-military issues with security implications as refugees, environmental issues, and political economy issues that can weaken the state. Take China’s rise as an example again. With China’s economic growth, its subsequent environmental issues have also led to global attention. It is a known fact that Beijing, the nation’s capital suffers from immense air pollution. Scholars such as Bruce Dickson claim that while the costs of China’s environmental issues are not obvious in the short run, these problems will eventually weaken the state. Moreover, with China’s growth gradually decreasing, economists predict a housing crisis in China with the same level of volatility as the credit crisis that devastated the US in 2008. In contrast to Liberalists who would account for these weaknesses of China, Classical Realists would disclaim the importance of non-military issues that might weaken the state. Another often-criticized facet of Classical Realism is its recognition of the relevance of justice to effective interaction internationally is subject to abuse. Claims of justice can serve as a rationale for unjustified and unnecessary interventions. Take the United States’ intervention in the Middle-East as an illustration. George W. Bush, calls his war on â€Å"Terrorism† a â€Å"moral imperative† to justify his sending of US troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. However, justice and morality are societally based and interpreted differently. Thus, for an Afghan whose family had been killed in the war, George W.Bush’s war on â€Å"Terrorism† would be the opposite of justice. In all, despite its strengths in explaining the conflicts of the world, Classical realisms stress on the cyclical nature of history with conflict is overly pessimistic. Just as Classical Realism suggests that we should not overly emphasize scientific methods in our rationale, we should not over-indulge in human nature’s passion for power to explain the events of international relations. Rather, we should see the world pragmatically, using Classical Realism when appropriate and Liberalism when it is apt.