Can Foreign Speakers Help The Irish Language Survive - Essay Example

Anthropology of Can Foreign Speakers Help The Irish Language Survive? By Kate Dailey Summary of the Article This article is concerned with the need to preserve the Irish language from diminishing. Moreover, it analyzes efforts made by foreign learners to preserve Irish language. To this extent, this author sees the need to cater for the already existing Irish speakers besides encouraging others as the best alternative to preserve Irish language. This author further suggests that the continuous use of internet can boost the rate at which people become familiar with the extinctive languages and even help individuals trace their roots. How the Article Relates to Class This article relates to class work in that it states the need to preserve language rather than let it diminish. In this case, individuals learn that failure to continuously practice and use any language can lead to its loss. It, therefore, emphasizes the need to practice all languages, so that individuals can familiarize themselves with all the appropriate dialects in order to maintain its purity. It also assesses a number of language skills learned in class, for instance, language structure, and writing skills. Critique The aim of writing this article is not indicated. However, from a scholarly angle, one can guess the aim as the preservation of Irish language from extinction. Further, the materials and language used are clear and very easy to understand, making his work easier to be understood from all perspectives. However, the author of this article could have elaborated on the use of the Internet to learn languages, as this may lead to the rise of slang, which may further complicate language development. This article has much strength in that it is based on analysis from typical examples with individuals chipping in various points. Nevertheless, it leaves a loophole for various an array of interpretations due to the author’s failure to state his aim for writing it. Assessment of the Article From my assessment, this material may be very resourceful in my future career on analyzing the rise and loss of various languages. For instance, the use of digital techniques such as internet and Facebook to facilitate the learning of a particular language as mentioned in this article may ease my future research. This article is a clear analysis of the current problem of language loss among the contemporary generation who feels that using native language is a primitivism. Besides, it is an encouragement to learners on the need to preserve languages for future identifications. It is, therefore, one of the best as far as anthropological research is concerned. Lingua Globa: How English Became Globish by Robert McCrum Summary of the Article McCrum, the author of this article, explains the various ways in which English language developed and spread to the entire world. He asserts that English never developed from one language group, but rather a contribution of various languages such as Celtic and Anglo-Saxon words. However, the author attributes democracy to the widespread use of English language than other languages such as French. In this case, he asserts that English was never imposed on people by the government from top to bottom like was the German language. Rather, it developed from down to the top. How the Article Relates To Class This article relates to the class in that it can address the rise of various dialects among various language groups. Further, it indicates that language development and acquisition requires some process, which may take some process in order to be mastered by a particular group. Moreover, the article shows that phonetics used in various languages are a combination of various words developed from different languages. It affirms that language development is marked by borrowing from other languages for areas where there may be deficiency. Critique The main objective for writing this article is implied in the title. The article is about language development. One can note that it analyzes the way and process through which English language developed and later spread to other parts of the world. In this case, the material has been presented in a simplest language possible with little technical language and direct anthropological concepts. However, the author could have elaborated on how the languages of the unearthed human remains could scientifically be proved to help cultural history of the various people of the world that interacted with English as a language. Lastly, this article had some strength in that it touches most of the findings from the known geographical world. Therefore, it gives room for further investigation in case of any doubts. On the other hand, lack of stating its aim may make it subject to many interpretations. Assessment of the Article The article is quite important in studying the development of a language. One of the most important areas it underscores is the indication that a combination of various languages can lead to the rise of a new language. Secondly, the determination of human language using their remains can give clear scientific findings if fully developed. Therefore future research on languages may be accurate. Nevertheless, the information concerning the rise and spread of English language is not very new in the academic field, as many scholars of languages have tried to give its clarity. In short, this article gives a clear indication to the way in which languages have always developed. Rather than mere speculations, its material findings are based on the empirical facts that may encourage further investigation. For instance, it talks of some preserved human remains that can further be studied in order to arrive at facts based on truth. Sit. Stay. Parse. Good Girl! By Nicholas Wade Summary of the Article This article discusses the fact that human being and animals have varying degrees of language acquisition. For instance, dogs as shown in this experiment, acquire language through brute methods. On the other hand, human beings are indicated to be capable of acquiring knowledge through abstract concepts of nouns. This process mainly sticks to the learner’s mind even when the nouns cease to exist. How the Article Relates to Class This article relates to the class work in that it provides an explanation of how human beings differ from animals when it come to the level of a developed language. In this case, one may realize that that human language is well developed with clear and organized syntax that make it appear unique. This is contrary to the animals. Secondly, the article shows that abstract ideas form part of human language. Critique The author of this article has clearly indicated his objective as that of teaching basic grammar to the dogs. In this sense, his aim is to teach receptive language to dogs, and in other words enhance communication between dogs and human beings. Moreover, this article has been presented in a manner that is very easy to understand without straining with language problem or anthropological concepts. On the other hand, the author seems to be accurate in giving and elaborating his points. Further, the article seems to be having more strength because, all points have been elaborated. The fact that the author has tried to state his aims for writing this article makes it easier for researchers to understand it. However, the only weakness of this article is that its experiments, as used, do not appear practical. Assessment of the Article The materials in this article are of much importance especially to individuals who would like to tame animals like dogs and use them for various purposes such as the provision of security. In fact, in the most developed world, sniffer dogs are trained and used for security. Further clarification is that most of the information in this article is not exclusively new because they are common in the social media. Summarily, this article is quite educative and, therefore, good in giving clarification on the best methods that can be useful in taming domestic animals and making them productive to the human beings. References Dailey, Kate. Can foreign speakers help the Irish language survive? BBC News Magazine 2013 March 16. Accessed from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17373880 McCrum, Robert. Lingua Globa: How English Became Globish. JUNE 04, 2010. Accessed from: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127221336&sc=fb&cc=fp Wade, Nicholas. Sit. Stay. Parse. Good Girl! The New York Times, 2011 January 17. Accessed from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/science/18dog.html?_r=2&WT.mc_id=SC- SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-DMP-011811-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click Read More