Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction

Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction Introduction Language is a channel of communication that exists to ensure that men and women are able to talk to each other. It allows people to express their thoughts and feelings and to be understood. Without language, whether verbal or non verbal, it may be practically impossible for people to live and work together.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A characteristic of language is the fact that it bonds individuals who have grown together and live within the same geographical area. In many ways, language is defined by the way of life of a group of people. Whereas some languages are almost universal others are very restricted and will only be spoken in a specific region or community. English for example, is one language that is used quite extensively in different parts of the world in education as w ell as in business matters. The importance of language can not be over emphasized and where people are not able to speak a language, they have the option of learning sign languages so as to be able to communicate. Some languages also have variations that may be spoken by an even smaller group of individuals in a subsection of a community. This paper examines language as it relates to gender, cultural background and the goal of interaction. Language and Gender According to Crawford (1995), we live and are linked to different sexes and the big question is always whether or not men and women across the globe use language differently. Although scientists have done enough studies to try and explain the differences, it is quite obvious that the way men communicate greatly differs from the way women convey their ideas and feelings (Crawford, 1995).Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Unlike men, women are much deeper in their talks and most of the time it is never easy for men to easily understand them. Generally, it has been observed that quite a number of women are polite and somehow cautious in their talks than men are. This has led some people to classify women as being weak. Men on the other hand are the complete opposite and usually they are more aggressive in their communications (Crawford, 1995). To try and explain this phenomenon, Crawford argues that a majority of women are not good communicators mainly because they are often controlled by beliefs that do not allow them to effectively express themselves (Crawford, 1995). The differences that exist between men and women are seen as being deeply rooted within individuals and to a large extent they dictate thought and action. Some researchers have gone to an extent considering the talk between men and women as being very similar to cross cultural communication but this view is regarded as being incomplet e by other scholars who strongly believe that there is so much that must be put in perspective whenever one attempts to study gender and how far it affects culture and by extension, language (Crawford, 1995). Sex Differences in Language Crawford (1995) argues that the differences in sex are very critical in understanding the relationship that exists between gender and language usage. There are numerous studies that have been carried out by different scholars to try and establish the associations between language and sex. This is, however, complicated by the fact that it is never that easy for one to comprehend these differences. Apparently, they have been noted to fluctuate from time to and in most of the time, they are never neutral when looked at from a social perspective.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The meanings given to sex difference are to a large extent negotiated from existing systems that are already biased and hence not quite reflective of the actual situation (Crawford, 1995). Crawford also explains that the whole idea about men and women being different becomes clearer when one reads books touching on gender topics also, when we get to watch talk shows facilitated by communication experts through televisions (Crawford, 1995). According to studies that have been done, gender related processes can greatly sway an individual’s behaviour, thought process and feelings (Crawford, 1995). Taking a community in Africa for example, and this also applies to other continents, one notes that children begin to learn the differences between members of the opposite sex from a very tender age mainly through the roles assigned to them and teachings they are subjected to. In a typical African set up, the boy child will be allocated certain tasks that are considered masculi ne in nature while the girl child automatically gets tasks that are more feminine. Boys and girls are also taught how to behave towards the opposite sex and in most cases girls and women in general are seen by most communities as second rate citizens. Shocking as it may be, some cultures will require women to always remain subordinate to men regardless of the status they hold in the society. Things they will do include kneeling or bending when addressing or serving men, remaining silent in various social functions where men are present, and carefully listening to men and following what they are told without questioning. Amazingly, most women seem to have given in and will therefore humbly obey the demands placed on them by the society.Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In some communities, it is not uncommon to find boys being treated in a more special way than the girls; whilst boys are required by all to attend school, this is regarded as a privilege and not a right when it comes to girls. Most girls will be required to remain at home and assist their mothers with different chores as they wait to be married off to partners normally chosen for them. The saddest thing about this kind of unfair treatment for the girl child is that they end up growing in a very timid way and end up not being bold enough to express themselves. Clearly, as these girls move on to maturity, the way they will use language will completely differ from how boys will when they eventually become of age. Crawford (1995) pointed out that it is not right for anyone to presuppose that all women are the same just because they are women. There are obviously some exceptions that may be noted. This being the case therefore, some women will grow up with strong virtues but unfortunatel y a majority will be characterized by poor communication skills and in most cases, they will settle for less than what they are worth. Language and Culture Generally, culture is concerned with the way people live and is mostly responsible for strengthening the relationships that are noticeable among men and women in a community or a certain region. Among many other things, culture also governs people’s way of thinking, how they live, eat, dress or even relate to one another. Those who are controlled by the same culture will usually act based on some principles regarded as being acceptable within the community. The effect of language and culture may be seen in various areas of life. Here, I will look at how language and culture affect operations at the work place. Culture and Language at Workplaces For any organization to move forward there has to be unity among all employees. The vision and mission that guides the organization must be clearly communicated to everyone. Without effectively communicating to everyone and ensuring that all are on the same page, the desired growth of the organization may be hindered. A language that does not make this communication possible will simply put the organization at risk and most of the time the communication may not be sent out and received the way it should. Given that culture determines to a very large extent how language is used in talks, it follows that communication may suffer greatly because of cultures that do not help to create language that make communication easy. A study done by Howes (2011) showed that in so many ways, controls the behaviour of individuals; how people work and relate with one another is a product of their cultural background. Some cultures are so strong and the languages associated with them are equally very strict and this tends to complicate the entire process of communication (Howes, 2011). There are times that people turn to the use of a foreign language simply because it is not pos sible to get words they can use to effectively express themselves in their own language. English is one language that has offered solutions for many who are challenged in this manner. Howes (2011) cites Thai as an example of a language that is based on a very strong culture to the extent that it makes it quite difficult for people to relate with one another in various circumstances. A language that is so full of formalities and often without a means of communicating important matters to employees may only lead to a complicated work environment where ineffective communication could be blamed for poor performance (Howes, 2011). Considering that the demands of running businesses in the present world are so high, many people are forced to adjust to new cultures so as to cope with demands at work. This may subject different people to varying stress levels based on their cultural backgrounds as they seek to discover the best way to communicate with colleagues (Howes, 2011). English is con sidered to be a very flexible language and seems to be offering a way for people to act in line with modern business requirements. Unlike many other languages spoken across the world, English does not have so many formalities and makes it possible for people to communicate in a more direct manner. Language and Goal of Interaction Life has so many demands and more often than not people get to interact with the intention of achieving certain goals. Reasons for interaction may include things like learning, teaching, politics etc. According to Francis and Hester (2004), the society is characterized by numerous activities that define that in one way or another make life possible. At the centre all these is language which plays the important role of promoting healthy social interactions that eventually enable men and women to meet their social goals (Francis Hester, 2004). In this section, I will look at language as used in the education system and in activism. Language and Education Unl ike in the olden days when education was seen as a privilege, today it is a standard requirement for everyone. To stay abreast with the changes taking place globally, one should at least attend school as a basic requirement. It has become practically impossible for people to live and interact in the present world without some level of education. As people pursue education, they will often be compelled to learn certain languages so as to benefit from the education system. Even though some countries have tried to reinforce the use of local languages in some areas of their education systems, English has remained the favorite language and hence widely used in most schools as a medium of communication. Language and Activism There are times that people have had to come out strongly to champion a course and to be heard by the relevant authorities. Many times when this happens, it is done to get the government to respond to a problem that may be affecting the public or a group of people. Th e leaders of these activities are usually faced with a big task of rallying a huge group of aggrieved people who also want to be heard. To attract followers, the leaders must use language in a persuasive way so as to lure people to action. In this case, language is basically used to ensure that one has a group of followers wishing to be heard. Conclusion It is very clear that language extensively determines a number of things in our lives. The success of our social interactions is very much dependent on how effectively we are able to make use of language. It is, however, important to note that the way we learn and use language is controlled to a greater extent by our cultural backgrounds and gender. Based on culture and gender, individuals are bound to think and act in a certain way when interacting with others. Gender is further understood well by analyzing sex and the processes that are associated with it not only impact the way we relate but also contribute in deciding how social institutions are organized (Crawford, 1995). Finally, language is also a very useful tool when it comes to accomplishing different things and in most cases, people will use language with specific goals in mind. References Crawford, M. E. (1995). Talking difference: on gender and language. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Francis, D. Hester, S. (2004). An Invitation to Ethnomethodology: Language, Society, and Social Interaction. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Howes, P. (2011). The Impact of Culture on Language. China: Soft is Hard. Web.

Reliability Standards&Regulations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Reliability Standards&Regulations - Essay Example t establishes a framework for eco-design requirements for Energy-using-Products which aims to contribute to sustainable development by increasing energy efficiency and protecting the environment while increasing the security of the energy supply. ‘Action should be taken during the design phase of EuP since it appears that the pollution caused during a product’s life cycle is determined at that stage, and most of the costs involved are committed then. If products have a standby mode, this is likely to be affected with a maximum consumption level in this mode. Standby mode is used where the equipment needs to be reactivated remotely or is required to carry out a function as displaying a clock. The maximum power consumption in standby mode depends on the equipment’s function and 1 watt decreasing to 0.5 watts is being proposed for products that use standby as a re-activation function only.. Televisions, microwave ovens, computer monitors, etc will need to be designed to ensure that this is not exceeded. This requirement has far-reaching implications as every function within a product circuitry will need to be reviewed to determine how the power consumption can be reduced. Many products cannot be completely shut down as the off-switch disconnects the input power supply from other parts of the equipment but does not disconnect the power supply from the mains. This is termed â€Å"Off-mode† and it is proposed to restrict power consumption of equipment in this mode initially to 1 watt and, two years later, to 0.5

Finance and Accounting Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Finance and Accounting Concepts - Essay Example It consists of financial activities which include collecting, recording, analyzing and communicating the financial information to others. The financial data is a collection of facts which is expressed in numerical symbols and characters. The major task of the accountant is to records the financial transactions and converts data into financial information. The study will deal with the various accounting concepts that have helped the accountants in dissemination of financial information. Accurate financial presentation helps in the systematic recording of the financial transactions and also helps in identification of errors in the accounting procedure. The author of the study will able to give an insight into the basic accounting concepts and its impact on the business activities. Finally, the study will conclude with the various accounting concepts and its practical applications. Accounting Concepts & Procedures Accounting is definitely concerned with the recording of transactions tha t affect the business activities and is also related to preparation of income statement and the balance sheet. As per the AICPA committee of terminology accounting is regarded as a process of recording, classifying, summarizing and in systematic and significant manner. It is called an information system which helps in the identification, measuring, and communication of economic financial information which permits rationale and judgmental information among users. 1) Art of recording the business transactions: The systematic method of recording financial transactions in the books of accounts which helps in the fulfilment of the objective of the user and the accountant. 2) Systematic Process: Recording financial transactions is regular in nature and is done in methodical and chronological manners. Accounting is done through the application of various rules, regulations, principles and expertise. 3) Measurable in terms of money: The accounting transactions are measurable in terms of mon ey and need to be recorded in the books of accounts. These accounting events are measurable in terms of money. The events which are not measurable in terms of money are not recorded 4) Information Systems: It is information systems that measures the accounting process and communicates about the financial information through an economic entity. It also supplies financial information to the decision makers. 5) Medium: It is also regarded as an important medium for communicating the financial information and their interpretations. The main objective of the financial accounting would be to provide the necessary information to the user in a systematic process. There are various branches of accounting; cost, managerial and financial accounting procedures. It helps in ascertaining the results of the business transactions and also assessing the true financial position of the company. The major functions would be to identify and record the financial transaction of the organization which can be measurable in terms of money, grouping transactions that are similar in nature of a particular place which is done in ledger, summarizing the financial transactions which involve the preparation of income statement, trial balance and balance sheet and interpretation of financial statements by ascertaining the financial position of the company. Some of the major objectives of accounting would be to ascertain the results of a business organization within a particular time period ascertain the true financial position of a business organization and provide the necessary financial information to the users. The different types of users of accounting wo

Locke, Hobbes, Mill, Thoreau Essay Example for Free

Locke, Hobbes, Mill, Thoreau Essay John Locke explains the state of nature as a state of equality in which no one has power over another, and all are free to do as they please. He notes, however, that this liberty does not equal license to abuse others, and that natural law exists even in the state of nature. Each individual in the state of nature has the power to execute natural laws, which are universal. I believe that Locke is correct in his analysis of the state of nature however; Locke? s theory includes many assumptions. First is the assumption of a system of morality, the natural law derives from a theory of justice, a set of rights. No one would have any rights at all in the absence of a moral code applicable to human actions, nor would there be any standard of just punishment. Locke frequently uses the term rights and appeals to conscience and calm reason, all of which reflect his assumptions about justice and morality. For individual property to exist, there must be a means for individuals to appropriate the things around them. Locke starts out with the idea of the property of person; each person owns his or her own body, and all the labor that they perform with the body. When an individual adds their own labor, their own property, to a foreign object or good, that object becomes their own because they have added their labor. This appropriation of goods does not demand the consent of humankind in general, each person has license to appropriate things in this way by individual initiative. Locke then places a bound on this type of acquisition, a person may only acquire as many things in this way as he or she can reasonably use to their advantage. One can only take so much as one can use. Lock applies these rules to land: a person in a state of nature can claim land by adding labor to it, building house on it or farming on it, but only so much as that person can reasonably use without waste. Locke then defines labor as the determining factor of value, the tool by which humans make their world a more advantageous and rewarding place to inhabit. Locke states that in order for a civil society to be established, the individuals must forfeit some of their rights that they have in the state of nature. This needs to be done so everyone can live together in peace. If everyone had the right to take whatever he or she could use, this might infringe on another members right to take whatever he or she could use. This consent to the laws in put upon the society in an indirect way. The people didnt actually say I will not take that mans land but it is inferred through the agreement that the other man wont take my land. This way we can all live in harmony together. Locke points out that any society has the right to rebellion. In order to justify this, Locke says a society must be in a very poor state. The state must be infringing on the natural rights of the people. A society couldnt rebel for the sake of rebellion, this would cause chaos and in order to return chaos to order tyranny would follow. Locke is very opposed to tyranny for obvious reasons. The voice of the people doesnt get heard and causes injustice. This eventually leads into a cycle. This justifies rebellion but since the people have to be strictly controlled, a rebellion couldnt get organized and there is no way out of the circle. John Stewart Mill Mill writes a majority may consciously try to oppress a minority. He also states that this concept of a tyranny of the majority has come to be accepted by major thinkers. What ever the general will of the majority dictates is what gets done. This is illustrated in the United States Congress. It doesnt necessarily consciously try to oppress the minority, but if the US didnt have the balance in power, what ever the majority wanted would get done without the consent of everyone. Mill discusses why silencing opinions hurts humanity. His first argument is that the suppressed opinion may be true. He writes that since human beings are not infallible, they have no authority to decide an issue for all people, and to keep others from coming up with their own judgments. Mill asserts that the reason why liberty of opinion is so often in danger is that in practice people tend to be confident in their own rightness, and excluding that, in the infallibility of the world they come in contact with. Mill contends that such confidence is not justified, and that silencing potentially true ideas hurts all people. This brings us to the next argument Mill makes. He observes that if an opinion is true, it will survive persecution. This is generally true; however when history is written, it might conveniently forget the truth for many generations. A perfect example of this is Nikola Tesla. He was considered one of the greatest if not the greatest scientist in his time, but his opinion (the truth) was silenced because he was thought to be crazy. Mill tries to show the contingency of popular beliefs about truth while going to great lengths to not actually state that any popular views about things like religion are wrong. Galileo and Copernicus are just a few of the examples of people getting persecuted for religious reasons for what is now believed to be true. Henry David Thoreau Thoreau says that while everyone recognizes the right to revolution when faced with an intolerably tyrannical or inefficient government, most people say that such a revolution would not be warranted under current conditions. However, Thoreau argues that we have not only the right, but also the duty to rebel. He uses an example from the Mexican-American War. He argues Americans must stop the slavery and war with Mexico even if it costs them their existence. He believes the war is unjust and the people have the duty to rebel against the government to protect their conscience. One of the most important themes throughout Thoreaus work is the notion of individualism. Deeply skeptical of government, Thoreau rejects the view that a person must sacrifice or marginalize his values out of loyalty to his government. He believes individualism is the most important virtue in humanism. Furthermore, he argues that if an individual supports the government in any way, even by simply respecting its authority as a government, then that person is implicated in the injustices committed by the government. For example, if a German in Nazi Germany let the injustices against the Jews go by because he feared retribution from the government, he is just as responsible as the people who actually executed the Jews. However, a person couldnt withdraw his consent because withdrawing would be morally unjust. This is where a persons duty to rebel comes into play. A person must actively try to change what they dont agree with. Thoreau believes a very heavy responsibility should be placed on the individual to make sure the individual consents to everything. Thomas Hobbes It can be understood from Hobbes the state of nature is what would exist if there were no government, no civilization, no laws and no common power to restrain human nature. The state of nature is a war of all against all, in which human beings constantly seek to destroy each other in an incessant pursuit for power. Life in the state of nature is nasty, brutish and short. From this one can infer Hobbes believes human nature is inherently evil and corrupt. To prevent the ensuing chaos, Hobbes believes a social contract must be created. To inter into a social contract the individual must give up some of his rights in order to preserve the peace. This becomes obvious when the laws of nature are looked at. Hobbes states The right of nature, which writhers commonly call jus naturale, is the liberty each man hath to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his one life; and consequently, of doing anything, which in his own judgment and reason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto. People must surrender part of this right in order to live in harmony. Obviously when Hobbes discusses right to do anything in order to preserve ones life, this cant mean killing someone to preserve ones life.

The Character of Ophelia in Shakespeares Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

The Character of Ophelia in Hamlet      Ã‚   Of all the pivotal characters in Hamlet, Ophelia is the most static and one-dimensional. She has the potential to become a tragic heroine; to overcome the adversities inflicted upon her, but she instead crumbles into insanity, becoming merely tragic. This is because Ophelia herself is not as important as her representation of the duel nature of women in the play. Ophelia serves a distinct purpose: to show at once Hamlet's warped view of women as callous sexual predators, and the innocence and virtue of women.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The extent to which Hamlet feels betrayed by Gertrude is far more apparent with the addition of Ophelia to the play. Hamlet's feelings of rage against his mother can be directed toward Ophelia, who is, in his estimation, hiding her base nature behind a guise of impeccability. Through Ophelia we witness Hamlet's evolution, or de-evolution into a man convinced that all women are whores; that the women who seem most pure are inside black with corruption and sexual desire. And if women are harlots, then they must have their procurers. Gertrude has been made a whore by Claudius, and Ophelia has been made a whore by her father. In Act II, Polonius makes arrangements to use the alluring Ophelia to discover why Hamlet is behaving so curiously. Hamlet is not in the room but it seems obvious from the following lines that he has overheard Polonius trying to use his daughter's charms to suit his underhanded purposes. In Hamlet's distraught mind, there is no gray area: Polonius prostitutes his daughter. And Hamlet tells him so to his face, labeling him a "fishmonger", even if Polonius cannot decipher the meaning behind Hamlet's words. As Kay Stanton argues in her essay Hamlet's Whores:    Perhaps it may be granted...that what makes a woman a whore in the Hamlets' estimation is her sexual use by not one man but by more than one man.... what seems to enrage [Hamlet] in the 'nunnery' interlude is that Ophelia has put her sense of love and duty for another man above her sense of love and duty for him, just as Gertrude put her sense of love and duty for her new husband above her sense of love and duty for her old. Gertrude chose a brother over a dead Hamlet; Ophelia chooses a father over a living Hamlet: both choices can be read as additionally sexually perverse in being, to Hamlet, 'incestuous'.

Explain the Operational Issues in Relation to the Use of Business Information

In this assignment I will be explaining the operational issues in relation to the use of business information. Businesses have to store and manage lots of information. All information systems have two fundamental issues of ensuring that, one is the organisation receive information it requires and the other is that appropriate members of staff receive the information. A number of policies and procedures have to be put in place concerning security of information, backups, health and safety, organisational policies, business continuance plans, costs and increasing sophistication.Security of information can be an operational issue. It is all about maintaining the integrity and availability of organisational information and knowledge. Managers need to have the right information available at the right time to make good decisions. The reliance on technology to store information increases which means the risk posed by system failure and malicious attack from viruses also increases. IT securi ty policy should take into account common risks to information the business relies upon. This policy should include secure login id for IT systems and controls that limit access to information.Backups are also an operational issue these are stores on separate hardware from the live versions of the information. Health and safety can be an operational issue. There are many regulations concerning health and safety. The Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 this is the minimum requirements for work stations and includes the extent to which employers must ensure that workstations meet the requirements laid down in this schedules, the equipment, the environment and the interface between the computer and operator.Another is the Management of Health & Safety At Work Regulations 1992 this is that every employer shall provide his employees with comprehensible and relevant information on the risks to their health and safety, the preventative and protective measures and th e identity of the persons nominated by him in accordance with regulation. Another possible operational issue is organisation policies. These relate to the use of business information that can help make sure decisions affecting staff are understandable and consistent, they meet legal requirements, they take full account of their mpact and they contribute to productive working relationships.Manual Handling Training policies help make sure staff have guidance to help them comply with legislation. Business continuance plans can be an operational issue. These are the steps to make sure a company can survive a worst case scenario ensuring essential backups are kept. The business must consider natural disasters for example fires or floods or accidents for example malicious attacks or human error.As a result of the plan employees may need to change the way they work for example instead of saving on the company hard drive they should save it to a USB or external hard drive. Costs to the busi ness can be an operational issue. Many aspects of information can cost money; businesses must consider costs v benefits when deciding what policies to adopt and measures to take and whether the benefits are going to be worth the cost of it.They must take into consideration the cost of development and the additional resources needed. Another possible operational issue is increasing sophistication. Increasing reliance on technology and increasing complexity of technology means employees need to be trained to use equipment and software required to do their job. Without training, staff might not record customer contact correctly or may miss out information making a new system less effective.

Company Analysis Huayi Brothers Media Corporation Essay

Founded by the two brothers of Zhongjun Wang and Zhonglei Wang in 1994 in Beijing, Huayi Brothers Media Corp. is a widely known comprehensive media group in China. It grew into a large-sized media group within ten years after venturing into the media field in 1997. At present, Huayi Brothers Media corporation consists of Huayi Brothers International Film Distribution Company, Huayi Brothers Advertising Company, Huayi Brothers Film Investment Company, Huayi Brothers Cultural Brokerage Company, Huayi Brothers Music Company, and Western Film Huayi Brothers Film Distribution Company. These subsidiaries have different business lines but are closely connected in management. The combination of these companies in the media industry has made Huayi Brothers become a true entertainment conglomerate in China. (Frater, 2014) Among them, Huayi Brothers International Film Distribution Company, was founded in October 31, 2004. It is a professional distribution company in the Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. The current distribution is mainly in the direction of the film, drama and music. Business Assets 1. Film Business Since its first investment in the film of Sorry Baby, directed by Xiaogang Feng, in 1998, Huayi Brothers International Film Distribution Company has developed a complete film business operation chain, including investment, distribution and marketing. 2. TV Business This distribution company also focuses on the investment and distribution of domestic TV series. It has