I usually am not a big fan of fantasy and to be honest when I first read the story about Ansarac I was a little bit confused and uniterested. Once we talked about it in class I realized the importance of what LeGuin was writing about. The Ansarac found it very imoprtant to maintain their way of life by restricting visitors to one spot where they can see some of the culture without actually affecting that culture in a way that would change it or lead to its demise. This reminded me of Ishi’s people once hidden away in the mountains to protect their lives from invading settlers and the improtance of maintaining a culture by not allowing people in to change it or destroy it. I also found it very interesting that she included a treck up a mounatin in the story, where the families disperse and leave no trace behind kind of like what the Yahi had tried to do but unfortunately it did not work out for them. The influences the story of Ishi has on Leguin’s story is very clear to see. The importance of preserving a way of life, of preserving diversity and of protection from outside influence were all themes in both stories.
Response to speakers from Engleman Hall
I enjoyed the speakers very much. I love hearing from people with accents because I think that it makes you listen more closely and think harder about what the speakers are saying. I’m not sure if it was the sound system or the heavier accents on some of the speakers but I could not make out every word of what some of them had said. My favorite speaker was probably the one who needed a translator. I couldn’t understand a lot of what he spoke in English but I loved that he did it and I found his attempt at English more exciting than any other attempt I have ever heard. The way he spoke English was so exciting and different. Maybe he was just excited about what he was talking about. Either way I appreciated it very much.
I found Nadeem Aslam’s talk to be the most moving and I will never forget what he said about the meanings of Jihad. I have spoken to a few people about what he said about it sometimes meaning to smile at someone when you don’t feel like smiling. I love that he brought up the power of words in politics and the dangers that come with having such power. I’m glad he spoke about the lives that were lost in drone attacks and those responsible for them. I also like that he is not afraid to talk about these things and focuses on the importance of holding such power in the face of danger to seek the truth.
A Key Into The Language of America
Although the two works from Roger Williams and Rosmarie Waldrop share the same name, they serve two different purposes. Roger Williams intended for his work with the Natives, and this guide, to be a tool for the English to learn more and not be so estranged when it comes to Indian culture. He also believed that the English could learn from the Natives on a moral level. Although he was very disturbed by their religion, he could not help but notice how well the Indians conducted themselves when it came to each other and when it came to the settlers. Inherent in his language are subtle jabs at the supposedly superior English settlers whom, despite being civilized and acknowledging God and Jesus Christ, are unable to exhibit the same kindness and consideration as the so called savages. Rosmarie Waldrop comes from a different time but is able to identify with Roger Williams, the Indians, and even the other English settlers. She identifies with the Roger Williams because she was born the same year as his three hundred year ban in Massachusetts would have ended and they share the same initials, she identifies with the Indians because as a woman she too is conquered by this English society, and she identifies with the settlers because she also was not born in America, and traveled there expecting to find something new and strange. In her “key” she is able to incorporate all of those identifications. Her goal is to show the clash which occurred between the Indians and and the English Settlers, she also adds in the experience of a woman coming to terms with being conquered in the italic paragraphs that accompany each chapter. In a way, it seems like a part two to Roger Williams’ own work had he been able to write one after the loss of the Indian culture, minus the bit about women of course.
Engelman Hall May 2
After having attended the Pen World voices panel, it was interesting to hear what inspires different writers to write what they do. After hearing such a wide cultural group of established authors all speak at the same time I felt very privileged
to be able to attend. All of the writers that were there seemed to be very passionate about their work and everything that they spoke about. The writer that I was most able to relate to was Eduardo Halfon of Guatemala. I also lost a good portion of my secondary language skills at a young age, and I still regret it. His writing style was also extremely unique in a sense that you sort of how to peel back layers of it. Lastly the Scottish writer, I found like mostly everyone there to be extremely funny. He was very blunt, but also humorous and intelligent.
Pen World Voices
The Pen World Voices event was something I would never have thought of attending myself, but after hearing each author speak, I was more than glad to have had the opportunity. I never gave thought to what inspired a writer, in part because I have yet to have to have something in my life that completely inspires me to pursue it. In the back of my mind, I know I want to write, but as for having the motivation to do so, that’s a completely different story. Seeing that most of their inspirations came from reading a certain book, I am inclined to start reading more in my spare time. Perhaps something will just click.
All of the writers were very delightful in their accounts but the one author that stood out to me was Nadeem Aslam. It could have been his youthful appearance that captured my attention, but at the heart of it was his passion. His voice had a hint of nervousness, coupled with an intensity that expressed his willingness to make an impact on those he was speaking to. He said that when he read Bruno Shchulz’ “Street of Crocodiles” that his heart started to beat faster as if he was holding precious jewels. I have never heard someone describe reading a book in such a grand and meaningful way. It seems this novel sparked a fire within him, or ignited a driving force, that allowed him to do amazing things, that I would never do, such as rewriting “Moby Dick” just to learn how many thoughts can go in a paragraph and how many images can be on a full page, and rewriting a handful of other novels just to become a great writer. I was, and am still, in awe of his persistence and hard work.
Another part of his speech that really left a mark was the political aspect of it, and how he views politics as being a vital component of literature. His affinity for the physical world transformed by the use of words is something that any person with a love of literature can understand. There was a moment when he spoke about Jihad, when tears literally started to stream down my face. He said that Jihad has a number of meanings to those who know the language; it has as many meanings as a rose has petals; to smile at someone when you don’t feel like smiling at them is Jihad, to be kind to someone when your own life is full of meanness, that is Jihad. But the only meaning of Jihad I have seen or heard is religious warfare. I was completely amazed, touched, and in awe of how powerful words can be, and what they can do when used in a certain way. I really just enjoyed all that he had to say.
ABSTRACT!
Discrimination through language in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Although the language Creole, Haitian Creole or sometimes called French Creole was a key element that led the Revolution that helped abolish slavery in Haiti, a French colony a the time, the language has never been a subject of study, or the center of historical studies. It was widely spoken during the colonial era and still spoken by most Haitians. Creole is the demotic of Haiti, thus it is essential for a comprehensive understanding of Haiti’s history, culture, and folk wisdoms. However, Creole has been officially recognized as the official language of the country only about twenty years ago. That being said, one must understand that there has not been a systematic use of Creole in schools in Haiti for many years. To understand Creole’s status today, I offer to go back into time to trace the educational system of Haiti. Consulting authors like Micheal J. Dalsh, and Arthur K. spears, Michel Degraff among others, I propose to collect some interesting facts about the contradictions and ironies that surround the use of this language in Haiti.
Stephanie
“The English Effect” — an exhibit at the British Council
While I was in London this week, I found myself in the lobby of the British Council — an agency of the British government that promotes British culture all over the world. The entire lobby was given over to an exhibit called “The English Effect,” which exemplified a lot of the kind of thinking that we have been talking about in class. The exhibit triumphantly offers statistics about the number of people learning English the world over (nearly 2 billion now), and the growing number of companies that require all employees to speak English (Renault, Nokia, etc.)
Here’s the website for “The English Effect”: http://www.britishcouncil.org/english/english-effect-exhibition-london
Have a look at it and let me know what you think. Is this a form of imperialism? Or is it simply a country justifiably celebrating its major export?
Hopi cultural objects Put out to Auction In Paris
Hi everyone,
On Friday, I was watching the news and this annoucement caught my attention. Since we talked about the Hopi language and culture in class I thought that you might find this interesting.
Despite the Hopi tribes’s demands and the U.S ambassdor to France efforts to discontinue the process, several Hopi masks were sold to a collector; the incident caused quite a stir. They raised about 752,000 Euros by selling these sacred Hopi objects collection. I first saw the news on tv5 Monde, and then I made some resaech and found one interesting article on Reuters. Apparently, even Robert Redford protested against the sales of these objects.
One of the most interesting things in this article is the collector’s comment : “One day I might give some back,” said the collector, who declined to be identified. “But if it had not been for collectors in the 19th century who contributed to the field of ethnology, there would be very little knowledge of the Hopi.
I would like to know what would an anthropologist make of that comment. on one part, we have the Hopi tribes perspective; they think that selling these object is abominable. On the other end, the collector’s perspective; he/she think that their efforts to collect such objects help with the study of the culture. What would be an anthropologist’s viewpoint. What do you guys think ?
There are many other interesting stuff that have been said in regards to the situation. I invite you all to read the article.
This is the link for the article.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/12/entertainment-us-france-masks-idUSBRE93B0AH20130412
Thank you
Stephanie Joseph
My Final Research Paper Topic
For my final research paper topic i am planning on researching the social differences between children who study two languages versus children who only study in one. I myself have experienced both styles of education, as i have written in my memoir paper, for 4 years i went to a Yeshiva where i studied in Hebrew for the first half of the day and than English for the second half. After that I only studied in a typical American public school where everything i learned was in English. I want to research the positive and negative effects of both styles of language. I want to find out the social ramifications of both styles as well as the level of grades that are achieved in both situations.
I recognize that John Quejada was very ambitious to have the prevention of making a language as exact and precise as Mathematics. At first, I relate to Quejada because of his wanting to mix cool aspect of many languages to combine it together. This, by the way, for me would represent an incentive to learn the language. However, from my perspective, removing all metaphors form a language would make the language dull. Even Math has its own metaphors. These metaphors could be either clear : the sum of two and two; which is four. There are others that are more complex the product of the square root of the number 16 by the integer 1, still 4. Metaphors, apparently are intrinsic to languages or communication.
John Quijada probably made a comprehensive effort in forming this language , but, to me, unlike these Ukrainians, the language is not so much appealing.