Language Research Essay Example for Free

Language Research Essay It is true that Northrop Frye’s ideas about the way we speak and the function and levels of our language gives us something to think about and brings up the question of why different languages present such huge problems when there is a language barrier between those who are trying to communicate. Northrop demonstrates his own ideas about how to communicate better as he talks about language on a societal, individual and worldwide level. For those who have only spoken one language their entire life, to be presented with a new language can be thoroughly frustrating and confusing. One language can be so different from the other and trying to speak a new language can take a huge amount of time in studying the pronunciation of new words and trying to relay them to others with the same rhythm that they speak. A good example of the frustration and confusion of a language barrier, I witnessed in a shopping mall. The foreigner was trying so hard to get their message across to the sales clerk and only ended up leaving the store with disappointment. I noticed that the foreigner spoke slowly and tried to pronounce their words slowly and clearly as the sales associate just spoke in their usual manner and not putting any effort into speaking more slowly and clearly or even trying to use other, more simpler words which would have helped the foreigner, tremendously. Instead of opting to try other methods of communicating, the clerk only let the customer leave without hesitation. It seemed that the associate would rather lose money for the company, let the customer leave with frustration and avoid the entire incident, completely, rather than finding a better way to communicate. Another example of a racial language barrier, I witnessed at a gas station. This time the foreigner spoke loudly and quickly and the group in our immediate area only looked away or stared at the individual as if they were saying nothing at all. The foreigner this time, forgot to find a better way to communicate. I wondered if there was an emergency or a problem with this person that needed immediate attention from the people around, since they seemed desperate and frightened. There was not a single person in the area that spoke the same language as the person rambled on about something that we had no idea what they were speaking about. To me, this language barrier was extremely frustrating, as well and I felt bad that I couldn’t understand the message they were trying so hard to convey. They left the scene, without any help, just as the individual in the shopping mall who wasn’t able to communicate clearly enough and who didn’t have the proper listener who was willing to use a different method for communicating. In order to break the language barrier, it is so important that we learn to adapt to other cultures and become more patient and educated for different languages to be used and understood. Newcomers to a region are not always equipped with the proper language skills that they need to function properly in society and it is important for them to study the new language and practice for success in speaking the new language. They must learn to achieve goals by listening to people talk and adapting to the new speech. It will take patience and tolerance in learning the new language and with this in mind, they will become good speakers and will also be capable of learning to speak the language which will end the constant frustration and confusion.

Animals are Valuable in Behavioral Research :: Behavioral Research Essays

From the dawn of time, when the first human killed an animal for food, or drove it from a fruit patch so that he could eat instead, there has been competition with animals for basic resources. Likewise, over the ages, humans have contemplated their relationship with animals. Ancestral societies worshipped the animals they used recognizing that the lives they took fueled their own lives. Further introspection on humanity's place in the world resulted in the development of codes of morality and ethics and subsequently the first modern religions. While biblical views of animals are primarily those of utility rather than of moral value, early scholars argued that animals should be treated kindly because animal cruelty represented a flawed morality and was ultimately detrimental to the moral development of humans. This view that humans may ultimately be judged based on their treatment of other lives exists to this day, and for many, is a strong argument for stewardship toward animals. Interestingly, advances in biology that began in the 1800's have provided some of the strongest arguments for imbuing animals with an enhanced moral value. By recognizing that the nervous systems of all vertebrate animals are very similar, it is assumed that activities that will cause a human pain or distress will likewise cause pain or distress to other animals. It is for this reason that current animal use regulations require the use of analgesics, anesthetics and sedatives for any procedures on animals that may cause more than momentary pain or distress. Animal experimentation is an essential component of biomedical and behavioral research, a critical part of efforts to prevent, cure, and treat a vast range of ailments. As in the past, investigators are using animals to learn about the most widespread diseases of the age, including heart disease and cancer, as well as to gain basic knowledge in genetics, physiology, and other life sciences. Animals are also needed to combat new diseases, of which AIDS is currently the most prominent example. As Miller (1985) pointed out in a trenchant defense of animal research in psychology, behavioral research on animals has laid the foundation for breakthroughs in the treatment of drug addiction, anxiety disorders, phobias, urinary incontinence, and ruminative vomiting. At the same time, behavioral researchers are drawing on animal studies to learn more about such major causes of human suffering as mental illness, and senility. Teaching machines and programmed learning have evolved out of experimental work on animals (Skinner, 1958) and are being used to increase the efficiency of instruction by the armed forces and by industry.

And the Earth Did not Devour Him by Tomas Rivera

As a nation of immigrants, American history cannot be written exclusively in a single perspective particularly of the dominant ethnic group. A comprehensive depiction of our history requires the inclusion and accommodation of the experience of every member of modern American society.Tomas Rivera’s â€Å"And the earth did not devour him†, is a literary piece that provides an supplemental presentation of the US history in the perspective a beleaguered group of Mexican farmers albeit obliquely creating the impression that the US government and its business capitalist partners are the oppressors.The story was set sometime between the 1940’s and 1950’s during which many Mexicans came to the US to work as farmers under the Bracero (manual labor) Program.This program which was instituted by both the Mexican and US government to cover the need for workers lost during the previous world wars, became a channel for the exploitation and social discrimination of the te mporary manpower imported from Mexico instead of providing for the fair treatment of Mexicans workers in the US.   Many transient Mexican workers (braceros) illegally entered the US instead of returning to Mexico after the expiration of their work contracts.This prompted the US government to deport over 3 million Mexican migrants without proper regard to their individual rights, without effectively differentiating legal   and illegal migrants and without due consideration to the disintegration of family relations.  In a series of different stories often with unnamed characters, Tomas Rivera’s novel generally captures the struggles and challenges in the lives of Latino migrant workers in their employment in America.The Struggle of the Mexican AmericanMexico leads in the Latino immigration to the U.S. The sharp rise of illegal immigrants from Mexico especially with the Braceros program created political tensions between the US and Mexico. History would almost always recou nt the illegal immigration of Mexican farmers by reporting the series of steps used by the US government in combating illegal immigration.For example, aside from the massive deportation of illegal Mexican immigrants (i.e. Operation Wetback) initiated by the Eisenhower administration, the US government instigated a U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement with the objective of generating jobs in Mexico in order to prevent, discourage and decrease the pour of Mexican workers illegally entering the US soil.Strict laws that called for tighter restrictions on legal and illegal immigration to regulate the U.S.-Mexico border were implemented.Later on, many American states adopted the English only policy which delegates English as the exclusive official language. The standardization of language was accordingly intended to warrant the integration of Mexican immigrants in the American community. (Stacy, p 609-613)This example of historical account along with similar and related events tends to reduce the incidence of immigrant farm workers in the United States in American history as a mere issue of illegal immigration without due consideration and recognition to the unique experience and socio-political circumstances of Mexican migrant workers in South Texas.By recording the lives and recounting the traditional trails of an immigrant population, the novel produces in an artistic yet authentic literary piece the spiritual history of a people thereby providing them a distinct cultural voice.In light of their family’s struggle to become part of America,   Ã‚  the protagonist in the novel undergoes intimate and spiritual moments of resolving one's identity, family and society beyond the sheer politics of defying the dominant culture. In one instance, he even questioned God‘s wisdom in their plight.â€Å"God could not care less about the poor. Tell me, why must we live here like this? What have we done to deserve this? You’re so good and yet you have to suffer so much† (Rivera, p 189)The stories in the novel practically served to support and confirmed the hardships and brutalities that the immigrant Mexican farmers faced at work. In the story, â€Å"That It Hurts†, one boy was expelled from school because he was Mexican.In another terrifying story, â€Å"The Children Couldn't Wait†, a boy was killed because he couldn’t comply with the boss’s insistence that the workers should wait to drink water, a privilege freely endowed to cattle but not to the Mexican workers.   The farmers bear long hours of intense work, modest food and deficient accommodations in their camps for a meager pay.The children needed to join their parents in working in the fields to improve family earnings at the expense of not being able to attend school.   Ã‚  Younger children incapable to work were left to fend for themselves which made them vulnerable to poor health conditions and other environmental risks.While the predicament of the Mexican migrant workers is comparable to the slavery of the blacks earlier on in the history of America, the novel depicts a young man’s struggle for self identification which ended with a reaffirmation of his bicultural predisposition as well as his patrimony and allegiance with America. The novel did not necessarily represent resentment against the Anglo culture and resistance.Thus, people should reconsider the maltreatment of immigrant workers and the discrimination of ethnic minorities in general. For instance, the novel did not directly criticize the Anglo culture but only uses it for comparative discussion of differences aimed to create a sense of pride and community among the oppressed Mexicans.In the anecdote entitled â€Å"The Night before Christmas†, the Mexican mother tells her children that, â€Å"In Mexico, it’s not Santa clause who bring the gifts, but the three wise men. And they don’t come in the sixth of January, that’s the real date†.(Rivera, p130) In this example, the novel is not directly criticizing American culture but is   surreptitiously protesting against a social imposition of the dominant culture that utterly disregards the religious beliefs of Mexicans.

Cost Of Capital And Equity Example For Free - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 959 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? A firm or a business can source its capital either by raising debt or through equity. The composition in which the firm finances its assets through debt or equity forms the Capital Structure of a firm. Therefore , when we talk about a companys capital structure we are basically talking about how a company has set up its financing. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Cost Of Capital And Equity Example For Free" essay for you Create order This can be seen at the right side of the balance sheet of a company. A company can finance itself by borrowing money i.e. through debt or through equity i.e. ownership of one or more than one owners and many of owners in case of a public company. Definition: A mix of a companys long-termÂÂ  debt, specific short-term debt, common equity and preferred equity. The capital structure isÂÂ  how a firm finances its overall operations and growth byÂÂ  using different sources of funds. The capital structure also tells us how risky a company is, as generally a company which is financed by debt extensively tends to be more risky. Thus, a firms capital structure is then the composition or structure of its liabilities. For example, a firm that sells $30 billion in equity and $70 billion in debt is said to be 30% equity-financed and 70% debt-financed. The firms ratio of debt to total financing, 70% in this example, is referred Figure showing Capital Structure of a company to as the firms leverage. In reality, capital structure may be highly complex and include tens of sources. Gearing Ratio is the proportion of the capital employed of the firm which come from outside of the business finance, e.g. by taking a short term loan etc. ASSUMPTIONS There is no income tax, corporate or personal. The firm pursues a policy of paying all of its earnings as dividends ie 100% dividend payout ratio is assumed Investors have identical subjective probability distributions of operating income(earnings before income and taxes) for each company The operating income is not expected to grow or decline over time A firm can change its capital structure almost instantaneously without incurring transaction costs. The reasons for taking the above mentioned assumptions are to remove the influence of taxation, dividend policy, varying perceptions about risk, growth and market imperfections so that the influence of financial leverage on cost of capital can be understood with more clarity. DEBT FINANCE EQUITY FINANACE What is it? Money is borrowed from the bank or any other financial institution An investor buys stake in your business ex. shares Pros You retain complete ownership of your business and the profits it generates. Interest payments are generally tax deductible. The investor shares the risk. If business fails, theres no need to pay back to the investor. There are no interest payments investors need to be paid a share of profits, which could be more than interest. Cons You have to pay interest on your borrowings. You have to repay the amount you borrowed, even if your growth plans dont come off. In most cases, youll need to offer security for your loan, so this option is difficult if you dont have assets. You share ownership of your business so if its successful, a share of that success goes to someone else. You lose control of your business. An investor may ask to sit on the board and take part in decision marking. Depending on the option you choose, your investor may take a share of profits. COST OF DEBT, COST OF EQUITY AND AVERAGE COST OF CAPITAL Assuming that the debt is perpetual, rD represents the cost of debt. rD = I / D = Annual interest charges / Market value of debt When the dividend payout ratio is 100% and earnings constant, rE represents cost of equity rE = P / E = Equity earnings / Market value of equity rA is the overall capitalization rate of the firm. rA = O / V = Operating income / Market value of firm where V = D + E Since rA is the weighted average cost of capital, it can also be expressed as: rA = rDD / (D + E) + rEE / (D + E) NET INCOME APPROACH According to this approach, the cost of debt, rD, and the cost of equity, rE, remain unchanged when D / E varies. The constancy of rD and rE with respect to D / E means that rA declines as D / E increases. This happens because when D / E increases, rD, which is lower than rE, receives a higher weight in the calculation of rA. NET OPERATING INCOME APPROACH According to the net operating income approach, the overall capitalisation rate and the cost of debt remain constant for all degrees of leverage. Hence rA and rD will be constant for all degrees of leverage. Hence cost of equity can be expressed as: rE = rA + (rA rD) (D / E) The critical premise of this approach is that the market capitalises the firm as a whole at a discount rate which is independent of the firms debt-equity ratio. As a consequence, the division between debt and equity is irrelevant. An increase in the use of debt funds which are apparently cheaper is offset by an increase in the equity capitalisation rate. This happens because investors seek higher compensation as they are exposed to greater risk arising from increase in the degree of leverage. They raise the capitalisation rate rE, as the degree of leverage increases. David Durand has advocated that the market value of a firm depends on it net operating income and business risk. The change in the degree of leverage employed by a firm cannot change these underlying factors. It merely changes the distribution of income and risk between debt and equity without affecting the total income and risk which influence the market value of the firm. Hence the degree of leverage per se cannot influence the market value of the firm.