1. CNN: Cable News Network.
2. UFO: Unidentified Flying Object.
3. SCUBA: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
4. IBM: International Business Machines.
5. VHS: Video Home System.
6. DVD: Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc.
7. SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up.
8. LASER: Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
9. RADAR: Radio Detection And Ranging.
10. NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
11. FAQ: Frequently Asked Question.
12. CD-ROM: Compact Disk - Read Only Memory.
13. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
14. JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group.
15. ATM: At The Moment.
16. BCE/A.D. : Before the Common Era /After Death OR Before the Christian Era /After Death.
17. EU: European Union.
18. NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement.
19. 4WD: Four Wheel Drive.
20. AWD: All Wheel Drive.
21. CIA: Central Intelligence Agency.
22. FUBAR: Fucked Up Beyond All Repair or Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition
23. FIDO: Field Integrated Design and Operations. (NASA)
24. ABS: Anti-Lock Brake System.
25. TLC: Tender Loving Care.
jueves, 20 de noviembre de 2008
domingo, 19 de octubre de 2008
Assignment # 4 / Early Modern English & Modern English : Ramírez, Carlos
1. Define and explain, The Great Vowel Shift.
- It was a major change in the pronunciation of the English Language. It was between 1200 and 1600.
During the Great Vowel Shift, the two highest long vowels became diphthongs, and the other five underwent an increase in tongue height with one of them coming to the front.
2. Name 5 dialects of Modern English.
- American English
- British English
- Caribbean English
- South African English
- Indo-Pakistani English.
3. One of the problems with Early Modern English was a lack of uniformity in spelling. Which 2 people (1-English, 1-American) helped establish standardized spelling?
- Samuel Johnson (English) and Noah Webster (American).
4. How many countries in the world have given Modern English official status?
- 53 countries.
5. The most recent statistics show that approximately how many people speak Modern English as a:
I. First language?
- First language: 380 million.
II. Second Language?
- Second language: 600 million.
6. When was Early Modern English spoken?
- From about the end of the Middle English period (the latter half of the 15th century) to 1650.
7. How are the use of Pronouns different between Early Modern & Modern English?
- The pronouns were much the same as today. One difference is that, much as a becomes an before a vowel, my and thy became mine and thine before vowels as well; hence, mine eyes, thine uncle, and so on.
8. Which language families does Modern English belong in?
- Indo-European
- Germanic
- West Germanic
- Anglo-Frisian
- Anglic.
9. Name 4 worldwide uses for Modern English.
- It use in such diverse applications as controlling airplanes, developing software, conducting international diplomacy and business relations.
10. In your opinion, what was the greatest influence on the spread of Modern English around the world? Why?
- The greatest influence of the Modern English is that everyone can learn it, because is an easy language and its helps other parts of the world to stay in contact or maybe make some trades.
11. There has been a lot of controversy over the true authorship of Shakespeare's writings. Which 3 people are also candidates as the possible authors of Shakespeare's plays?
- Francis Bacon
- Christopher Marlowe
- Edward de Vere.
12. Briefly explain The Oxfordian Theory.
- It wrote the plays and poems attributed toWilliam Shakespeare of Srratford-upon-Avon.
13. Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, which according to the Folio Classification, fall into 3 categories. Name the 3 categories.
- Comedies
- Histories
- Tragedies.
14. In which town was Shakespeare born?
- He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
15. Which famous London theatre (built by actors, for actors) is connected with Shakespeare's plays?
- The Lord Chamberlain's Men.
16. Even though Richard III is the most performed play, Hamlet is Shakespeare's most famous play. In you opinion, what does this portion of Hamlet's famous soliloquy mean:
To be or not to be, that is the question;
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,...
- Clearly Shakespeare talks about a crossroad of his life, to die or to live, to smile or to cry, he talks about the two faces of life.
17. Name 5 post-Shakespearean artists whose work was heavily influenced by the writings of William Shakespeare.
- Shakespeare influenced novelists such as:
Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner, Charles Dickens; the American novelist Herman Melville, the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.
18. Which of Shakespeare's plays are included in The Wars of the Roses series?
- Henry VI part 1.
19. Shakespeare wrote most of his works in blank verse composed in iambic pentameter. What is blank verse & iambic pentameter?
- Blank verse: is a type of poetry, distinguished by having a regular meter, but no rhyme. In English, the meter most commonly used with blank verse has been iambic pentamer.
- Iambic pentameter: is a type of meter that is used in poetry and drama. It describes a particular rhythm that the words establish in each line. That rhythm is measured in small groups of syllables; these small groups of syllables are called "feet". The word "iambic" describes the type of foot that is used. The word 'pentameter' indicates that a line has five of these 'feet'.
20. Name 4 actors from Shakepeare's original company.
- Richard Burbage
- William Kempe
- Henry Condell
- John Heminges.
martes, 23 de septiembre de 2008
Assignment # 3 / Middle English : Ramírez, Carlos
1. Approximately when was Middle English spoken?
Between the Norman invasion of 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century.
2. What were the major factors which led to the development and the spread of Middle English?
When the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, began to become widespread, a process aided by the introduction of the printing press into England by William Caxton in the 1470s, and slightly later by Richard Pynson
3. Match the following Old English words with their Anglo-Norman equivalent:
A. Pig = Pork
B. Cow = Beef
C. Wood = Forest
D. Sheep = Mutton
E. House = Mansion
F. Worthy = Honourable
G. Bold = Courageous
4. Compare & contrast the structure of nouns, pronouns and verbs, between Middle English & Modern English.
Nouns:
Despite losing the slightly more complex system of inflectional endings, Middle English retains two separate noun-ending patterns from Old English.
The strong -s plural form has survived into Modern English, while the weak -n form is rare.
Verbs:
As a general rule (and all these rules are general), the first person singular of present tense verbs ends in -e (ich here - "I hear"), the second person in -(e)st (þou spekest - "thou speakest"), and the third person in -eþ (he comeþ - "he cometh/he comes"). (þ is pronounced like the unvoiced th in "think"). In the past tense, weak verbs are formed by an -ed(e), -d(e) or -t(e) ending. These, without their personal endings, also form past participles, together with past-participle prefixes derived from the old English ge-: i-, y- and sometimes bi-. Strong verbs form their past tense by changing their stem vowel (e.g. binden -> bound), as in Modern English.
Pronouns:
First and second pronouns survive largely unchanged, with only minor spelling variations. In the third person, the masculine accusative singular became 'him'. The feminine form was replaced by a form of the demonstrative that developed into 'she', but unsteadily – 'ho' remains in some areas for a long time. The lack of a strong standard written form between the eleventh and the fifteenth century makes these changes hard to map.
5. How is pronunciation different between Middle English and Modern English?
All letters in Middle English words were pronounced. (Silent letters in Modern English come from pronunciation shifts but continued spelling conventions.) Therefore 'knight' was pronounced /ˈknɪçt/ (with a pronounced K and a 'gh' as the 'ch' in German 'Knecht'), not /ˈnaɪt/ as in Modern English.
In earlier Middle English, all written vowels were pronounced. By Chaucer's time, however, final -e had become silent in normal speech, but could be optionally pronounced in verse as the meter requires (but normally silent when the next word begins in a vowel). Chaucer follows these conventions: -e is silent in 'kowthe' and 'Thanne', but pronounced in 'straunge', 'ferne', 'ende', etc.
6. What is the Chancery Standard, and how did it come into effect?
Chancery Standard was a written form of English used by government bureaucracy and for other official purposes from the late 14th century. It is believed to have contributed in a significant way to the development of the English language as spoken and written today.
Because of the differing dialects of English spoken and written across the country at the time, the government required a clear and unambiguous form for use in its official documents. Chancery Standard was developed to meet this need.
7. Who wrote the Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
8. Describe the medieval pilgrims who journeyed from Canterbury to London.
Religious characters, such as a monk and a pardoner, travel alongside a sailor, miller, carpenter, and a knight, among others. When the group stops for the night, the host of the pilgrimage proposes that they all tell stories to each other along the way. The pilgrims agree to tell four stories each, two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way back. The person who tells the best story, as determined by the host, will have his way paid by the rest of the group. The tale-telling begins with the knight and proceeds as the pilgrims near Canterbury, each person telling a story that reflects their social position, and some telling stories which are intended to make fun of others in the group. No winner is chosen by the host in the end, and only a few of the pilgrims have told their tales by the time the story ends. Chaucer ends the work with a retraction apologising for anything in the stories which may have been inappropriate.
9. Why did the pilgrims take this journey?
A group of medieval pilgrims set out on a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury to pay their respects to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
10. It is thought that some of the stories in The Canterbury Tales originated in Italy. What was the name of the Italian book and who wrote it?
The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio
11. The Canterbury Tales is considered an extremely important book, both in terms of English Literature & in the history of English writing. In your opinion, why is this book so important?
Because The Canterbury Tales is among the first English literary works to mention paper, a relatively new invention which allowed dissemination of the written word never before seen in England. And also the religiuos importance that this story has.
The Canterbury Tales can also tell readers much about astrology.
12. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is:
D. A medieval romance poem, with Arthurian themes.
13. Who is Sir Gwain?
He is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table.
14. What is the challenge that The Green Knight proposes to the Knights of the Round Table?
He offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day.
15. What is the similarity between Sir Gwain and the Green Knight and the Irish tale of Cúchulainn?
The beheading challenge.
16. What is the importance of the pentagram/pentangle in the poem?
The poem describes the pentangle as a symbol of faithfulness and an "endless knot". It is described as "a sign by Solomon". Solomon, the third king of Israel, in 10th century B.C. was said to have the mark of the pentagram on his ring, which he received from the archangel Michael. The pentagram seal on this ring was said to give Solomon power over demons.
The symbol was also associated with magical charms which, if recited or written on a weapon, would call forth magical forces. However, concrete evidence tying the magical pentagram to Gawain's pentangle is scarce.
Gawain’s pentangle also symbolises the “phenomenon of physically endless objects signifying a temporally endless quality.
Gawain’s pentangle also symbolises the “phenomenon of physically endless objects signifying a temporally endless quality.
17. How are numbers used to symbolize events in the poem?
He poet highlights number symbolism to add symmetry and meaning to the poem. For example, three kisses are exchanged between Gawain and Bertilak's wife; Gawain is tempted by her on three separate days; Bertilak goes hunting three times, and the Green Knight swings at Gawain three times with his axe. The number two also appears repeatedly, as in the two beheading scenes, two confession scenes, and two castles. The five points of the pentangle, the poet adds, represent Gawain's virtues, for he is "faithful five ways and five times each". The poet goes on to list the ways in which Gawain is virtuous: all five of his senses are without fault; his five fingers never fail him, and he always remembers the five wounds of Christ, as well as the five joys of the Virgin Mary. The fifth five is Gawain himself, who embodies the five moral virtues of the code of chivalry: "friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety". All of these virtues reside, as the poet says, in the "Endless Knot" of the pentangle, which forever interlinks and is never broken. Thus, the poet makes Gawain the epitome of perfection in knighthood through number symbolism.
18. What is the significance of Sir Gwain's neck wound?
During the medieval period, the body and the soul were believed to be so intimately connected that wounds were considered an outward sign of inward sin. The neck, specifically, was believed to correlate with the part of the soul related to will, connecting the reasoning part (the head) and the courageous part (the heart). Gawain's sin resulted from using his will to separate reasoning from courage.
19. Which actor played The Green Knight in the film adaptation, Sword of the Valiant?
Sean Connery.
20. In many ways this poem is, in the modern sense, a soap opera. Compare Sir Gwain and the Green Knight with a modern Chilean teleseries.
I can’t compare those soap opera’s with a Chilean teleseries because i don’t watch it.
Between the Norman invasion of 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century.
2. What were the major factors which led to the development and the spread of Middle English?
When the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, began to become widespread, a process aided by the introduction of the printing press into England by William Caxton in the 1470s, and slightly later by Richard Pynson
3. Match the following Old English words with their Anglo-Norman equivalent:
A. Pig = Pork
B. Cow = Beef
C. Wood = Forest
D. Sheep = Mutton
E. House = Mansion
F. Worthy = Honourable
G. Bold = Courageous
4. Compare & contrast the structure of nouns, pronouns and verbs, between Middle English & Modern English.
Nouns:
Despite losing the slightly more complex system of inflectional endings, Middle English retains two separate noun-ending patterns from Old English.
The strong -s plural form has survived into Modern English, while the weak -n form is rare.
Verbs:
As a general rule (and all these rules are general), the first person singular of present tense verbs ends in -e (ich here - "I hear"), the second person in -(e)st (þou spekest - "thou speakest"), and the third person in -eþ (he comeþ - "he cometh/he comes"). (þ is pronounced like the unvoiced th in "think"). In the past tense, weak verbs are formed by an -ed(e), -d(e) or -t(e) ending. These, without their personal endings, also form past participles, together with past-participle prefixes derived from the old English ge-: i-, y- and sometimes bi-. Strong verbs form their past tense by changing their stem vowel (e.g. binden -> bound), as in Modern English.
Pronouns:
First and second pronouns survive largely unchanged, with only minor spelling variations. In the third person, the masculine accusative singular became 'him'. The feminine form was replaced by a form of the demonstrative that developed into 'she', but unsteadily – 'ho' remains in some areas for a long time. The lack of a strong standard written form between the eleventh and the fifteenth century makes these changes hard to map.
5. How is pronunciation different between Middle English and Modern English?
All letters in Middle English words were pronounced. (Silent letters in Modern English come from pronunciation shifts but continued spelling conventions.) Therefore 'knight' was pronounced /ˈknɪçt/ (with a pronounced K and a 'gh' as the 'ch' in German 'Knecht'), not /ˈnaɪt/ as in Modern English.
In earlier Middle English, all written vowels were pronounced. By Chaucer's time, however, final -e had become silent in normal speech, but could be optionally pronounced in verse as the meter requires (but normally silent when the next word begins in a vowel). Chaucer follows these conventions: -e is silent in 'kowthe' and 'Thanne', but pronounced in 'straunge', 'ferne', 'ende', etc.
6. What is the Chancery Standard, and how did it come into effect?
Chancery Standard was a written form of English used by government bureaucracy and for other official purposes from the late 14th century. It is believed to have contributed in a significant way to the development of the English language as spoken and written today.
Because of the differing dialects of English spoken and written across the country at the time, the government required a clear and unambiguous form for use in its official documents. Chancery Standard was developed to meet this need.
7. Who wrote the Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
8. Describe the medieval pilgrims who journeyed from Canterbury to London.
Religious characters, such as a monk and a pardoner, travel alongside a sailor, miller, carpenter, and a knight, among others. When the group stops for the night, the host of the pilgrimage proposes that they all tell stories to each other along the way. The pilgrims agree to tell four stories each, two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way back. The person who tells the best story, as determined by the host, will have his way paid by the rest of the group. The tale-telling begins with the knight and proceeds as the pilgrims near Canterbury, each person telling a story that reflects their social position, and some telling stories which are intended to make fun of others in the group. No winner is chosen by the host in the end, and only a few of the pilgrims have told their tales by the time the story ends. Chaucer ends the work with a retraction apologising for anything in the stories which may have been inappropriate.
9. Why did the pilgrims take this journey?
A group of medieval pilgrims set out on a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury to pay their respects to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
10. It is thought that some of the stories in The Canterbury Tales originated in Italy. What was the name of the Italian book and who wrote it?
The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio
11. The Canterbury Tales is considered an extremely important book, both in terms of English Literature & in the history of English writing. In your opinion, why is this book so important?
Because The Canterbury Tales is among the first English literary works to mention paper, a relatively new invention which allowed dissemination of the written word never before seen in England. And also the religiuos importance that this story has.
The Canterbury Tales can also tell readers much about astrology.
12. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is:
D. A medieval romance poem, with Arthurian themes.
13. Who is Sir Gwain?
He is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table.
14. What is the challenge that The Green Knight proposes to the Knights of the Round Table?
He offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day.
15. What is the similarity between Sir Gwain and the Green Knight and the Irish tale of Cúchulainn?
The beheading challenge.
16. What is the importance of the pentagram/pentangle in the poem?
The poem describes the pentangle as a symbol of faithfulness and an "endless knot". It is described as "a sign by Solomon". Solomon, the third king of Israel, in 10th century B.C. was said to have the mark of the pentagram on his ring, which he received from the archangel Michael. The pentagram seal on this ring was said to give Solomon power over demons.
The symbol was also associated with magical charms which, if recited or written on a weapon, would call forth magical forces. However, concrete evidence tying the magical pentagram to Gawain's pentangle is scarce.
Gawain’s pentangle also symbolises the “phenomenon of physically endless objects signifying a temporally endless quality.
Gawain’s pentangle also symbolises the “phenomenon of physically endless objects signifying a temporally endless quality.
17. How are numbers used to symbolize events in the poem?
He poet highlights number symbolism to add symmetry and meaning to the poem. For example, three kisses are exchanged between Gawain and Bertilak's wife; Gawain is tempted by her on three separate days; Bertilak goes hunting three times, and the Green Knight swings at Gawain three times with his axe. The number two also appears repeatedly, as in the two beheading scenes, two confession scenes, and two castles. The five points of the pentangle, the poet adds, represent Gawain's virtues, for he is "faithful five ways and five times each". The poet goes on to list the ways in which Gawain is virtuous: all five of his senses are without fault; his five fingers never fail him, and he always remembers the five wounds of Christ, as well as the five joys of the Virgin Mary. The fifth five is Gawain himself, who embodies the five moral virtues of the code of chivalry: "friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety". All of these virtues reside, as the poet says, in the "Endless Knot" of the pentangle, which forever interlinks and is never broken. Thus, the poet makes Gawain the epitome of perfection in knighthood through number symbolism.
18. What is the significance of Sir Gwain's neck wound?
During the medieval period, the body and the soul were believed to be so intimately connected that wounds were considered an outward sign of inward sin. The neck, specifically, was believed to correlate with the part of the soul related to will, connecting the reasoning part (the head) and the courageous part (the heart). Gawain's sin resulted from using his will to separate reasoning from courage.
19. Which actor played The Green Knight in the film adaptation, Sword of the Valiant?
Sean Connery.
20. In many ways this poem is, in the modern sense, a soap opera. Compare Sir Gwain and the Green Knight with a modern Chilean teleseries.
I can’t compare those soap opera’s with a Chilean teleseries because i don’t watch it.
miércoles, 10 de septiembre de 2008
Assignment # 2 / Old English : Ramírez, Carlos
1. When was Old English spoken?
- Old English was spoken between the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century.
2. Name 4 language groups which influenced the development of Old English.
- Germanic
- Latin
- Viking
- Celtic
3. In the Phonology section, name 5 phonetical differences between Old English & Modern English.
- Nominative
- Accusative
- Genitive
- Dative
- Instrumental
4. Are there any similarites between Old English and Modern English? Name them.
- The word order of Old English is widely believed to be subject-verb-object (SVO) as in modern English and most Germanic languages
5. In the Orthography section, enlarge the picture of the runic alphabet. How many letters (runes) are there in this alphabet?
- 34 Letters (runes)
6. Which epic poem was originally written in Old English?
- Beowulf
7. In the See Also section, click on: Beowulf. Appoximately when was Beowulf written?
- Between the 8th to the 11th century
8. Even though Beowulf was written in England, the story takes place in which countries?
- Denmark and Sweden
9. In the poem, which 3 antagonists does Beowulf battle or fight against?
- Grendel
- Grendel’s Mother
- Unnamed Dragon
10. What happens to Beowulf at the end of the story?
Beowulf is fatally wounded in the final battle, and after his death he is buried in a barrow in Geatland by his retainers.
11. Who was the author of Beowulf?
- Anonymous
12. What were the titles and the dates of the two film versions of Beowulf?
- Beowulf (1999)
- Beowulf and Grendel (2005)
miércoles, 3 de septiembre de 2008
Assignment # 1 / Biography : Ramírez, Carlos
Carlos F. Ramírez
I was born here in Chile, in Santiago at the same place that actually i live.
In 2005 i started my university studies at Universidad Andres Bello with Business Managment, then when i was finishing my 2nd year i decided to study traduction because when i was a child i learned English at the School so that helps me to feel that English was what i really like to study and use in the future.
In 2008 i begin with Traduction at UCINF, i really like it, the teachers are very friendly and i have a very good time with my classmates (Section D1 rocks)
I live with my Mom, Dad, Sister and my Dog in Providencia, about 20 minutes from UCINF by walk in Antonio Varas street between the two Universidad de las Americas buildings.
In my free time i like to play the guitar or just listen to music, especially Iron Maiden or Heavy Metal bands.
jueves, 3 de julio de 2008
Interesting places in Santiago
Here in Santiago you can go visit The San Cristobal hill, there you can find the Metropolitan Zoo and a botanical garden or if you want a panomaric view of Santiago you can use the funicular.
If you want to know some importants things of the Chilean history you can go to Santiago Downtown for a walk and visit "Plaza de Armas" because in that place you can find Historical Museums and some important typical customs to enrich your knowledge.
Now if you want to taste our typical food you can go to "Mercado Central", there you can find delicious fishes and shellfish.
And finally if you want some night entertainment you can go to "Suecia" or "Bellavista" to have a good time because there is a lot of pubs, discotheques and restaurants.
martes, 24 de junio de 2008
Beer Addict?
So, you love drinking beer. Think about a hot day and imagine a cold beer waiting for you, it's a nice way to clean your mind after a bad day of work. Drinking beer it's not a bad influence but if you can't control yourself maybe could bring bad moments.
Researchers says that the 70% of the students over 17 years old drinks beer after class or in the weekends, Fridays It's the best day to drink a beer say the students.
Some of them drinks beer only because they like it, but other ones to forget their problem and maybe a lot of stress
1- Do you spend a lot of money buyings beers? Yes No
2- Do you think about drinking beers? Yes No
3- Are all your friends “drinkers”? Yes No
4- It’s the beer a good method to relax your life? Yes No
5- Do you ever miss appointments becausa your are drinking beer? Yes No
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