I daily brainwash myself to convince me that I can continue in this class

          Originally this word was used in an article by Edward Hunter (1902-1978) during the Korean War. Hunter was a CIA propaganda operator who worked undercover as a journalist. The article was titled "Brain-Washing' Tactics Force Chinese into Ranks of Communist Party"; literally taken from the chinese word his-nao that means"to cleanse the mind".
         Later in 1956, Edward Hunter wrote a book titled "Brain-Washing: The Story of the Men Defied It". This book reveals how the coercive system used by the Maoist regimen caused a lot of damage and destruction to the physical and mental health of the prisoners. Finally, Edward Hunter was supported by Robert Lifton and Edgar Schein who made two studies about the Korean War. They concluded that "brainwashing had a transient effect when used on prisoners of war". However, there are other people such as forensic psychologist Dick Anthony who affirmed that the CIA invented the concept of "brainwashing" in order to justify the real reason why "American POWs in Korea expressed sympathy for communism".
          As time passed, this word was used to express other concepts, situations and cultural behaviors. For example, it is currently used to describe the effect that meadia, propaganda, and fashion have on people. Critics argue that advertisement and cartoons for children contain subliminal messages that "brainwash" adults and children in order to sell their products. Peoople also use this word to express their feelings against some religious and sects that brainwash people to convince them to change their beliefs and credos. According to Lifton and other researchers, "certain religious groups use mind control techniques to unethically recruit and maintain members".
          Simultaneously to English that calqued the word "brainwashing" from the chinese word hi-nao, Spanish calqued one saying from English; we say "lavar el cerebro" that is, "brainwashing". That's the reason I chose this word.
         

Abstract

Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language

Author: Robert McCrum

Globish is a book that follows the history and development of the English language step by step. Robert McCrum collected enough information about the origin of this language that as McCrum says, “has travelled and changed through time and space throws up many examples of contemporary craziness”. The author recreates historical events that were relevant to the English language development. The colonization of the British Island by Romans, Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings, and finally Normans, brought many changes to the English culture and language. Therefore, McCrum took these events into consideration and made a clear and complete explanation of the effects they caused in the English culture and language. Ironically, the English language survived all those violent irruptions and became stronger. Latter Globish will be considered as the most relevant language in the world.

            The book also tells us about the global economic, politics and industrialization where the English language plays an important role. America is cited by the author as a powerful country where technology, television and cinematography world “have made of globish the worldwide dialect of the third millennium” (McCrum).

            According to McCrum the English language has a history of violence since its origin. It was exposed to many changes that it acquired from other cultures such as Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans. However, those cultures also have left other important legacies that enriched the English language. Romans for example introduced Latin into the educational system. As McCrum says, during the invasion of Anglo-Saxon, “there was an important cross-fertilization that still makes a powerful contribution to contemporary English culture”. The strong sense of national identity was a legacy of the Vikings.

English was brought to America by the British during the period of colonization. America became a powerful nation that transformed the world through its cinematographic industry, television and advertising. Similar to the English language, Spanish has many characteristics that come from other cultures and languages such as Celtics, Greek, Romans and Arabs. Those were the result of continuous invasions. New words were incorporated to the original language that was based in Vulgar Latin.  Words such as “escuela” (school) or “Huerfano” (orphan) all belong to the Greek tradition. Arabs also left an important lexical legacy that has been incorporated into the Spanish language. Like English language, Spanish language was brought to America by conquers who converted the American territory in colonies that belonged to the old world. Therefore, similar to English language, Spanish language spread throughout the American Continent.

Globish is a book that has a great among of information that could answer many questions about learning a new language. Reading Globish we can understand that language has an intimate relationship with the history of a culture. In other words, language is part of our identity and history. “The sea did more than just define the English; it inspired them to become sailors, merchants, explorers and empire builders. Language and culture reflected this experience and gave English its highly interactive character,” (McCrum).

Reading # 2

In the Beginning

            After reading this chapter I realized that the history of English language is very similar to the history of other languages such as Spanish, German, Russian and French. All those languages confronted many changes because of the invasion of other cultures. They also have a history of violence since their origins.

            In this chapter McCrum cites the Roman historian Tacitus who wrote about the German tribes. He argued that even though those tribes lived simple and uncomplicated lives, they also used to practice certain savage rituals that made others consider them as violent people. For example, they sacrificed slaves, drowning them in a lake in honoring of Nerthus, the goddess Mother Earth. One of those ‘barbarous tribes was ‘the Anglii’, better known to history as the Angles”.( McCrum).

            Little by little McCrum introduced the readers into the story by telling anecdotes that make them understand the process that English language suffered in order to become the world’s language. All those anecdotes were related to the fact that English was influenced by its conquerors who contributed with the development of English culture and language. However, “English was slightly different, by virtue of its location”. English inherited “an European Latin tradition from Roma; an independent vernacular culture from Anglo-Saxons and a strong sense of national identity from the Vikings”.(McCrum).

            Another reason for the English culture and language development was its location. The sea was very important because it gave islanders the opportunity to become “sailors, merchants, explorers and empire builders.”                        

How to pronounce my name, “Luz”

            For a linguistic: My first name is only one syllable, “Luz”. Its basic structure is (CVC), a closed syllable. It has the onset of a voiced alveolar liquid [l], with a rhyme of a high back vowel, [u], and the coda of a voiced alveolar fricative [z]; “Luz”.  Transcript to /IPA/, / luz/.

Description to the locals: You start by putting your tongue at the front of the upper of your mouth; just behind your upper teeth. Then let the air comes out through your throat. To pronounce the “u” put your tongue at the back of your mouth and close your lips a little bit as if you want to kiss someone lightly on the cheek. Finally, close your mouth letting your lips separated and let the air comes out between your teeth making friction “z”.

Prologue: ‘Crazy English’

            ‘Crazy English’ is the phrase that better defines the prologue of Globish. Here McCrum describes how the English language has conquered the whole world. English has transcended frontiers, generations, societies, cultures and politics. Countries and societies such as China, Japan, India, Korea and even Germany have recognized English as an important vehicle for business and communication. In China for example, The Renmin University “also known as the People’s University” has promoted a Friday evening routine that allows students to hold English conversation. Flows in the air a question about this phenomenon; why a country such as China that is known for its communist party welcomes English language as a part of its daily life? This phenomenon tells us “a lot about the aspirations of contemporary Chinese- and the state of the nation” (McCrum).

English also has contributed with the unity of nations. No wonder students in Japan practice their speaking repeating fragments from the speeches of President Barack Obama. Asian countries such as Korea, have transformed English in a kind of ‘crazy language’ that allow people to communicate easily in this foreign language. English language has given birth to many hybrids “like Konglish (English in South Korea), and Manglish (Malay and English).” Same phenomenon occurs in other Hispanic countries where spanglish (Spanish and English) has spread throughout the South American continent. In addition, English is used not only in politics but also in media. McCrum mentions in his prologue how President Mikheil Saakashvili “exploited his fluency in English to dominate the international coverage” during the crisis in Georgia (august 2008).

            Finally, the author questions the role that English language plays in different areas of society. Art, literature, sports and business have been contaminated with the ‘virus’ of English. McCrum uses a metaphor to describe this phenomenon, “of English language has always been to adapt itself, like mercury, to every new contour.”

            As McMcrum says, English has conquered all the nations around the world. I could see the phenomenon during my last visit to Colombia; I saw not only the influence of American culture but also the incursion of the American language into our country. The traditional multicolor signs and advertisement disappeared. Nowadays, stores, malls and even small shopping centers promote their merchandise using signs and advertisement in English. T.V and Radio are also influenced by English. Therefore, young people use a kind of ‘crazy English’ or Spanglish ( Spanish and English) that allow them to be involved with the language of the millennium; ‘Globish.’

Book for Research Paper

            “Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language” got my attention because I have always been intrigued about this question.  In the world there are several languages and all of them are grammatically complex and interesting. However, English has developed a powerful role in all worlds’ societies, especially in the world of business. On this book Robert MacCrum starts his presentation talking about the Pre- Roman Britain and its power during the nineteenth century. He also describes how this power spread out to America, a colony of the island nation. America became a military, industrial and business powerful nation and English became “the worldwide dialect of the third millennium.”

My language, My Background, My identity

My Language, My Background, My Identity

            Colombia the country where I was born was colonized by Spanish; therefore, my primary language is Spanish. I grew up in a humble family and neighborhood in Cali- Colombia. I got my first words from my mother and aunts. I believe that being raised by women without a masculine figure at home made the difference not only in the way I developed my personality but also in the way I acquired my primary language. I could prove my theory when I started high school. Even though some of my classmates lived in my neighborhood, they used some words that sounded stronger for me.  The reason for this situation was that they had a father at home. Some years ago men not only played a different roll in a family but also they used some words and vocabulary that women never used. However, I also believe that children, who grew up in the same neighborhood, developed certain language and dialect that characterizes the whole community.

            The relationship with parents and relatives is very important for children in the acquisition of their first words. But the relationships with other members of the community allow children not only to enhance their vocabulary but also to develop a language as part of their identity. In Colombia for example, we recognize people because of their dialect, accent, and particular words used in each region. This means that language is an essential part of our identity.

            Although Spanish was the language I spoke at home and school, it became different when I had to interact with other classmates that came from different neighborhoods and social status. However, I conserved the essence of my mother tongue. At home we learn language by listening to mother and adults. Thus, we incorporate new words throughout sounds. On the other hand, at school we learn grammatical rules that permit us to organize and construct sentences correctly.  At college we start to cultivate our language because we have the opportunity to interact with people who have a high education.

            Learning a new language has been hard for me. Even though I have taken many English courses, the process of learning has been delayed for a long time. I am motivated to learn English but I still have big problems not only with my writing but also with my speaking and pronunciation. I believe that the process of learning a new language involves our brain. Therefore, children learn easily because they are growing interacting and listening to native speakers. On the other hand, adults have to process new information that make their learning more complicated.
           Language happens in the same way as walking or running. It is an inherent process of imitation of others. I wonder what could happens if there was an universal language. Considering different cultures, societies and beliefs, could language be a part of people’s identity? Finally, reading Deutscher I realized that language, culture and identity have an intimate relationship.