Saturday, January 25, 2020

Gravity By Sara Bareilles | Review

Gravity By Sara Bareilles | Review Sara Bareilles is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She grew up in Eureka, CA, and at the age of 18 she moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue her career (Sara Bareilles). According to She is a graduate of UCLAs Communication Studies Department. While in high school, she performed in community productions and also high school events. Although she was involved in numerous singing acts, she never had any training in either voice or piano. Bareilles has been a songwriter for almost all of her life. Her two first works, Star Sweeper and I Love a Parade, didnt win her any Grammies, but they are a representation of the fact that she has been song writing for a very long time (Sara Bareilles). According to Bareilles biography on Vh1.com, she began to perform in local bars and open-mic nights after she graduated college. After gaining enough confidence to feel comfortable on stage, she began to perform at local venues and musical festivals. She had made a CD, and began to shop it around and eventually signed a deal with Epic Records in April of 2005. A produced by the name of Eric Rosse worked with her the following February to help perfect her record. They worked on the record just over a year. Sara Bareilles second album was titled Little Voice and released in July 2007. Her first single Love Song and the album reached the Top Ten after being released (Sara Bareilles). She has been awarded four Grammies; two in 2008 and two in 2009. Historical Context Gravity was originally written for Bareilles first album entitled Careful Confessions (Careful Confessions). After she was signed to Epic Records and teamed up with Eric Rosse, the single was added to the track list for the album Little Voice. Gravity was written in the early 2000s. During this time there were many events happening which included George W. Bush being president, the major terrorist attack in New York, George Harrison died and the war in Iraq began (United States Timeline). These events probably didnt have much effect on Sara Bareilles reason for writing Gravity. Not much was found for her reasoning, but it was possibly based on past relationship that she has had, or a reflection on either one or multiple relationships. Analysis The overall theme of Gravity is how one can be drawn toward another person in their life, even if they dont want to. Sara Bareilles starts the song by Something always brings me back to you, It never takes too long, No matter what I say or do, I still feel you here til the moment Im gone (lines 1-4). Here she is saying that there is a force that is making her return to someone in little time, and it doesnt matter what she does to stop this or go in a different direction because there is always a feeling that she has that wants to be near, lets say, this man that is drawing her near. The second verse is You hold me without touch, You keep me without chains, I never wanted anything so much, Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain (lines 5-8). When she says You hold me without touch, she is saying that she can feel him even though he is not there. You keep me without chains, means that he can control her without him even trying to. The last two lines can be translated into that she has a strong feeling to want to be embraced in his love and not feel like she cant have it. The reason for this is because when you are drowning, you are fully covered in water, and when you are being rained on, you just get glimpse of water and youre not fully drenched in it. The chorus of the song is Set me free, leave me be, I dont wanna fall another moment into your gravity, Here I am and I stand so tall, Im just the way Im supposed to be, But youre on to me and all over me (lines 9-13). When the song goes into the verse, it seems that the song is switching gears a little bit. She wants to be set free from this force that she is feeling. She doesnt want to be pulled into him anymore. She wants to be her own person without him, but she feels it may be impossible to stop this force. The third verse is You loved me cause Im fragile, When I thought that I was strong, But you touch me for a little while, And all my fragile strength is gone (lines 14-17). She is saying that she thought she was strong enough to not need a man in her life, but she was actually weak, and all the strength she thought she had went away when the man came into her life. After the third verse the chorus repeats. The hook is I live here on my knees, As I try to make you see, That youre everything I think I need, Here on the ground, But youre neither friend nor for, Though I cant seem to let you go, The one think that I still k now, Is that youre keeping me down, Youre keeping me down (lines 18-26). This is the climax of the song. She is explaining that maybe she thinks she needs to have him in her life. He is not a friend or an enemy, but she cant let him not be a part of her life, because he is what keeps her sane. This song goes through multiple ups and downs. The artist seems to not be sure what this man is to her in her life, but in the end she comes to the conclusion that he is what keeps her grounded.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Linguistics research Essay

1. Linguistics: Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language. 2. Phonology: The study of how sounds are put together and used in communication is called phonology. 3. Syntax: The study of how morphemes and words are combined to form sentences is called syntax. . 4 Design features: it referred to the defining properties of human language that tell the difference between human language that tell the difference between human language and any system of animal communication. 5. Psycholinguistics: The study of language with reference to the workings of mind is called psycholinguistics. 6. Language: Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. 7. Phonetics: The study of sounds which are used in linguistic communication is called phonetics. 8. Morphology: The study of the way in which morphemes are arranged to form words is called morphology. 9. Parole: it referred to the actual phenomena or data of linguistics. V. Answer the following questions as comprehensively as possible. Give examples for illustration if necessary: 1. Language is generally defined as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Explain it in detail. First of all, language is a system, because Elements of language are com ­ bined according to rules. Secondly, language is arbitrary because there is no intrinsic connection between form and meaning, or between the sign and what it stands for. Different languages have different words for the same ob ­ject in the world. This fact is a good illustration of the arbitrary nature of language. This also explains the symbolic nature of language: words are just Symbols; they are associated with objects, actions, ideas, etc. by conven ­ tion. Thirdly, language is vocal because the primary medium is sound for all languages, no matter how well developed their writing systems are. The term â€Å"human† in the definition indicates that language is possessed by human beings only and is very different from the communication systems of other living creatures. The term â€Å"communication† means that language makes it possible for its users to talk to each other and fulfill their commu ­ nicative needs. 2. What are the design features of human language? Illustrate them with examples. 1) Arbitrariness As mentioned earlier, the arbitrary property of language means that there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. For instance, there is no nec ­ essary relationship between the word elephant and the animal it symbolizes. In addition, different sounds are used to refer to the same object in different languages, and even within the same language, the same sound does not refer to the same thing. However, language is not entirely arbitrary. There are words which are created in the imitation of sounds by sounds, such as crash, bang in English. Besides, some compound words are also not entirely arbitrary. But the non-arbitrary words are quite limited in number. The arbitrary nature of language makes it possible for language to have an unlimited source of expressions. 2) Productivity Language is productive or creative in that it makes possible the con ­ struction and interpretation of new signals by its users. This is why they can produce and understand an infinitely large number of sentences, including sentences that they have never said or heard before. They can send messages which no one else has ever sent before. Productivity is unique to human language. Most animal communication systems appear to be highly restricted with respect to the number of different signals that their users can send and receive. 3) Duality The duality nature of language means that language is a system, which consists of two sets of structure, or two levels, one of sounds and the other of meanings. At the lower or the basic level, there is the structure of sounds, which are meaningless, discrete, individual sounds. But the sounds of language can be combined according to rules into units of meaning such as morphemes and words, which, at the higher level, can be arranged into sentences. This duality of structure or dou ­ ble articulation of language enables its users to talk about anything within their knowledge. No animal communication system has duality or even comes near to possessing it. 4) Displacement Displacement means that language can be used to refer to things which are present or not present, real or imagined matters in the past, present, or future, or in far-away places. In other words, language can be used to refer to contexts removed from the immediate situations of the speaker. Animal calls are mainly uttered in response to immediate changes of situation. 5) Cultural transmission Human beings were born with the ability to acquire language, but the details of any language are not genetically transmitted or passed down by instinct. They have to be taught and learned, but animal call systems are genetically trans ­ mitted. 3. How do you understand the distinction between a synchronic study and a diachronic study? The description of a language at some point in time is a Synchronic study; the de ­ scription of a language as it changes through time is a diachronic study. A synchronic study of language describes a language as it is at some particular point in time, while a diachronic study of language is the study of the historical development of language over a period of time. 4. Why does modern linguistics regard the spoken form of language as primary, not the written? First, the spoken form is prior to the writ ­ ten form and most writing systems are derived from The spoken form of lan ­ guage. Second, the spoken form plays a greater role than writing in terms of the amount of information conveyed and it serves a wider range of purposes finally, the spoken form is the medium through which we acquire our mother tongue. 5. What are the major distinctions between langue and parole? The distinct, ion between langue, and parole was made by the famous Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure early this century. Langue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community, and parole refers to the realization of langue in actual use. Langue is the set of conventions and rules which language users all have to follow while parole is the concrete use of the conventions and the application of the rules. Langue is abstract; it is not the language people actually use, but parole is concrete; it refers to the naturally occurring language events. Langue is relatively stable, it does not change frequently; while parole varies from person to person, and from situation to situation. 6. (1) What if there were no language? (2) What if there were only one language the world over? (3) What can we learn from this Bible story? Language is powerful as a tool of human communication. 7. (1) What measures do you suggest for protecting dialects as well as languages? (2) Do you think that someday people all over the world will speak only one language, or someday no dialect will exist? 8. Can our pets learn human languages? Why or why not? No. They are genetically not endowed with the 9. What role does body language play in language commun

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Leach and Leech - Commonly Confused Words

The words leach and leech are homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings. Definitions The verb leach means to empty, drain, or remove. The noun leech refers to a bloodsucking worm or to a person who preys on or clings to another. As a verb, leech means to bleed with leeches or to act as a parasite. Examples Batteries are difficult to dispose of and contain harmful heavy-metal compounds that may leach into the soil.The river water was more corrosive than the Detroit systems and caused more lead to  leach  from its aging pipes. Lead can be toxic, and children are especially vulnerable.(Reuters, Michigan Attorney General Sues Frances Veolia in Flint Water Crisis. The New York Times, June 22, 2016)Similar to bloodletting, leeches were used to draw out the bad blood that medieval physicians believed caused many of their patients ailments.The sun rose in a cloudless sky, the same as before. We passed a large island without grass or tree or bush.  The sun  was a leech  that sucked the moisture from our flesh.(Scott ODell, The Kings Fifth. Houghton Mifflin, 1966)She  called him a leech, said hes always sponging off the rest of us.(Swati Kaushal, A Girl Like Me. Penguin, 2008) Idiom Alerts The expression leach away (something) or leach (something) away means to gradually erode or wash away.- Normally the excess salt would be  leached away  as rainwater percolates down through the soil. In dry climates, however, where there isnt enough rain or irrigation to drive the water down that far, salts can accumulate in the root zone.(Ann Larkin Hansen,  The Organic Farming Manual. Storey, 2010)- Nathan? Are you awake? The sweetness quickly  leached away  at the touch of Roiphes nasal voice, leaving a sourness tinged with anxiety, which, Nathan understood, was his default reaction to Roiphe.(David Cronenberg, Consumed. Scribner, 2014) Practice: Leaches or Leeches? (a) Its not pollution that makes the water so black; tannic acid naturally _____ into the river from cypress and pine trees growing along the shoreline. (Bruce Hunt)(b) In modern medicine, _____ are used in reconstructive surgery to provide a vacuum effect that helps stimulate blood circulation. Answers to Practice Exercises (a) Its not pollution that makes the water so black; tannic acid naturally leaches into the river from cypress and pine trees growing along the shoreline.(Bruce Hunt)(b) In modern medicine, leeches are used in reconstructive surgery to provide a vacuum effect that helps stimulate blood circulation.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Leader Amongst the Banned Censorship and Fahrenheit 451 - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1040 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/04/10 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Fahrenheit 451 Essay Ray Bradbury Essay Did you like this example? Imagine a life where you had no thoughts of your own, no control over what you read, watch, and listen to. Imagine a world where youre not even a real person, but a pawn. Imagine the government having complete control in the world around you. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Leader Amongst the Banned Censorship and Fahrenheit 451" essay for you Create order This is called censorship. Censorship can be defined as the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security(Censorship). In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury introduces the idea of censorship, the art of banning and burning, and what might become of a society should the censorship grow like a forest fire. He shows us firemen paid to destroy knowledge. He shows us a society that becomes too enamored with technology, refusing to grow their minds and expand their own personal knowledge. Instead, they let the government force-feed them all they need to know while having a burning desire for entertainment. The need for entertainment becomes explicitly apparent. He shows us a selfish society where life moves a pace so fast, you have no time to think. The sad thing is that technology is not inherently bad, but too much of anything can quickly turn into a bad thing. Through Fahrenheit 451, we see a transformation in the protagonist and anti-hero, Guy Montag. We see the importance of individuality and free-thinking rather than vanity. Even with all their advanced technologies, we see government censorship in what they read rather what they dont read -, what they listen to, and what they watch on television. Even in todays society we can see the dangers of censorship, the dangers of a free-thinking society. In a world full of hackers, fake news, and turmoil it is easy to distract yourself with technology. Its easy to unplug yourself from society and plug yourself on the couch. In the age of binge-watching television on streaming networks such as Netflix and Hulu, we lose touch with our own society. We forget to take in nature for all that it has to offer. Were obsessed with not losing time, causing us to speed off to work, to read headlines instead of diving deep into articles. We believe everything we read without doing proper research ourselves. Technology has changed what our society values, how our relationships are formed. We see this with Mildred with her three television walls, constantly with her Seashells in. She is sucked into her own little world with her own little family. And because of this, we see that Montag has no real value for her, at least none that compares to her technology. Her interactions with Montag have a striking opposition to Montags interactions with social outcasts such as Clarisse, Faber, and Granger which implies that Fahrenheit 451 is, obviously, anti-censorship. In this world of censorship, we also see a blatant disregard for life that isnt theirs. We see this when Beatty and Montag discuss Clarisse, a social outcast and someone who enjoyed looking at the world without technology. She didnt want to know how a thing was done, but why. That can be embarrassing. You ask Why to a lot of things and you wind up very unhappy indeed, if you keep at it. The poor girls better off dead (pg 58). Clarisse can be described as out-of-the-box, someone who takes time to observe her surroundings and see the true and effortless beauty in life. She tells Montag of the dew on the grass, the moon in the sky, and how billboards have to have been stretched out because people speed everywhere. She knows she different and makes not effort to hide it. She points out to Montag that maybe he could be different, too. She essentially becomes the catalyst for Montags change of view. We also see how Beatty reacts versus how Montag reacts when they find that a woman would ra ther be burnt alive with her books than be alive without them. We see how shaken up Montag gets and how Beatty brushes it off under the rug. We see how Mildred has no care for animal life, suggesting that killing dogs is a good thing. We see that nothing has a significant consequence on her life. Leisure activities and meaningless ideas have taken up the entire populations time and thought processes. Yet somehow we think we can grow feeding on flowers and fireworks, without completing the cycle back to reality (pg 79). Faber becomes Montags guide, the one to teach him the value and importance of books. He gives him his guidelines and the comprehension to absorb the information in it. Through this, Montag discovers that the society he believed cared about him, the society he didnt question suddenly had a lot of questions to answer. The general public lives these light-hearted lives, in an untroubled society were relaxation is essential. In fact, we dont really hear of many other professions, especially among women. Not only is this society censored, it is stunted in growth. Of course, it is key to remember that this stunted society can be credited to the era this book was written, where women did not have to work and televisions were becoming a new thing. Philosophical musings are dismissed as crazy talk, and to suggest that books have the answers would be considered blasphemous. The moment books are mentioned, a fire alarm and everything goes up in flames right before your eyes. History becomes rewritten to emphasize why the government had banned books. In doing so, they never have to give a clear and concise answer to why books have been banned. There is a collective loss of memory within the society, making the population easy to manipulate. They live a life where they believe the government would have no reason to lie to them or hurt them. Yet, as the story goes on, we see that the government does not value free-thinkers, intellectuals, and radicals. Ironically, we see that once Montag is forced out of town, he is not seen as a threat anymore, that without society, without big brother watching him, he would have no chance of survival. Fahrenheit 451 will forever remain one of the best-known warnings against the art of censorship and the loss of identity and originality.