What Are the Romance Languages

What Are the Romance Languages The word romance connotes love and wooing, but when it has a capital R, as in Romance languages, it probably refers to a set of languages based on Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, but the classical Latin that was written by the literati like Cicero was not the language of daily life. It was certainly not the language soldiers and traders took with them to the edges of Empire, like Dacia (modern Romania), on the northern and eastern frontier. What Was Vulgar Latin? Romans spoke and wrote graffiti in a less polished language than they used in their literature. Even Cicero wrote plainly in personal correspondence. The simplified Latin language of the common (Roman) people is called Vulgar Latin because Vulgar is an adjectival form of the Latin for the crowd. This makes Vulgar Latin the peoples language. It was this language that the soldiers took with them and that interacted with native languages and the language of later invaders, particularly the Moors and Germanic invasions, to produce the Romance languages throughout the area that had once been the Roman Empire. Fabulare Romanice By the 6th century, to speak in the Latin-derived language was to fabulare romanice, according to Portuguese: a Linguistic Introduction, by Milton Mariano Azevedo (from the Spanish and Portuguese Department at the University of California at Berkeley). Romanice was an adverb suggesting in the Roman manner that was shortened to romance; whence, Romance languages. Simplifications of Latin Some of the general changes to Latin were the loss of terminal consonants, diphthongs tended to be reduced to simple vowels, the distinctions between long and short versions of the same vowels were losing significance, and, together with the decline in terminal consonants that provided case endings, led to a loss of inflection, according to Nicholas Ostler in Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin. The Romance languages, therefore, needed another way to show the roles of words in sentences, so the relaxed word order of Latin was replaced with a fairly fixed order. RomanianRoman Province: DaciaOne of the changes to Vulgar Latin made in Romania was that an unstressed o became u, so you may see Rumania (the country) and Rumanian (the language), instead of Romania and Romanian. (Moldova-)Romania is the only country in the Eastern European area that speaks a Romance language. At the time of the Romans, the Dacians may have spoken a Thracian language. The Romans fought the Dacians during the reigns of Trajan who defeated their king, Decebalus. Men from Dacia became Roman soldiers who learned the language of their commanders Latin and brought it home with them when they settled in Dacia upon retirement. Missionaries also brought Latin to Romania. Later influences on Romanian came from Slavic immigrants.Reference: The History of the Romanian Language.ItalianItalian emerged from further simplification of Vulgar Latin in the Italic peninsula. The language is also spoken in San Marino as the official language, and in Switzerland, as one of the official languages. In the 12th to 13th century, the vernacular spoken in Tuscany (formerly the area of the Etruscans) became the standard written language, now known as Italian. A spoken language based on the written version became standard in Italy in the 19th century.References: Italian - Language Information and ResourcesHistory of the Italian Language From a Local Tuscan Dialect to the Language of a New Nation - From Italian at About.comPortugueseRoman Province: LusitaniaOrbilat says that the language of the Romans practically wiped out the earlier language of the Iberian peninsula when the Romans conquered the area in the third century B.C. Latin was a prestige language, so it was in the interest of the population to learn it. Over time the language spoken on the west coast of the peninsula came to be Galician-Portuguese, but when Galicia became part of Spain, the two language groups split.Reference: Portuguese: a Linguistic Introduction, by Milton Mariano AzevedoGallicianRoman Province: Gallicia/Gallaecia.The area of Gallicia was inhabited by Celts when the Romans conquered the area and made it a Roman province, so the native Celtic language mixed with Vulgar Latin from the second century B.C. Germanic invaders also had an impact on the language.Referenc e: Galician Spanish (Castilian)Latin Term: HispaniaThe Vulgar Latin in Spain from the 3rd century B.C. was simplified in various ways, including the reduction of cases to just the subject and object. In 711, Arabic came to Spain via the Moors, and as a result, there are Arabic borrowings in the modern language. Castilian Spanish comes from the 9th century when Basques influenced the speech. Steps towards its standardization took place in the 13th becoming the official language in the 15th century. An archaic form called Ladino was preserved among Jewish populations forced to leave in the 15th century.References:CastilianWhy Is Spanish Sometimes Called Castilian? - About.com Guide to SpanishCatalanRoman Province: Hispania (Citerior).Catalan is spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, Andorra, the Balearic Isles, and other small regions. The area of Catalonia spoke Vulgar Latin but was influenced heavily by the southern Gauls in the 8th century,  becoming a distinct language by the 10th century.Reference: Catalan FrenchRoman Province: Gallia Transalpina.French is spoken in France, Switzerland, and Belgium, in Europe. The Romans in the Gallic Wars, under Julius Caesar, brought Latin to Gaul in the 1st century B.C. At the time they were speaking a Celtic language known as Gaulish. Germanic Franks invaded in the early 5th century. By the time of Charlemagne (d. A.D. 814), the language of the French was already sufficiently removed from Vulgar Latin to be called Old French. Comprehensive List of Romance Languages of Today With Locations Linguists may prefer a list of the Romance languages with more detail and more thorough. Ethnologue, a publication of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc (SIL), contains a comprehensive list of languages of the world, including languages that are dying. Here are the names, geographic divisions and national locations of major divisions of the modern Romance languages given by Ethnologue. Eastern Aromanian (Greece)Romanian (Romania)Romanian, Istro (Croatia)Romanian, Megleno (Greece) Italo-Western Italo-DalmatianIstriot (Croatia)Italian (Italy)Judeo-Italian (Italy)Napoletano-Calabrese (Italy)Sicilian (Italy)WesternGallo-IberianGallo-RomanceGallo-ItalianEmiliano-Romagnolo (Italy)Ligurian (Italy)Lombard (Italy)Piemontese (Italy)Venetian (Italy)Gallo-RhaetianOilFrenchSoutheasternFrance-ProvencalRhaetianFriulian (Italy)Ladin (Italy)Romansch (Switzerland)Ibero-RomanceEast IberianCatalan-Valencian Balear (Spain)OcOccitan (France)Shuadit (France)West IberianAustro-LeoneseAsturian (Spain)Mirandese (Portugal)CastilianExtremaduran (Spain)Ladino (Israel)SpanishPortuguese-GalicianFala (Spain)Galician (Spain)PortuguesePyrenean-MozarabicPyrenean Southern CorsicanCorsican (France)SardinianSardinian, Campidanese (Italy)Sardinian, Gallurese (Italy)Sardinian, Logudorese (Italy)Sardinian, Sassarese (Italy) For more details, see: Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online.

Gallimimus Facts and Figures

Gallimimus Facts and Figures Name: Gallimimus (Greek for chicken mimic); pronounced GAL-ih-MIME-us Habitat: Â  Plains of Asia Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (75-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 500 pounds Diet: Unknown; possibly meat, plants and insects and even plankton Distinguishing Characteristics: Long tail and legs; slender neck; wide-set eyes; small, narrow beak About Gallimimus Despite its name (Greek for chicken mimic), its possible to overstate how much the late Cretaceous Gallimimus actually resembled a chicken; unless you know many chickens that weigh 500 pounds and are capable of running 30 miles per hour, a better comparison might be to a beefy, low-to-the-ground, aerodynamic ostrich. In most respects, Gallimimus was the prototypical ornithomimid (bird mimic) dinosaur, albeit a bit larger and slower than many of its contemporaries, such as Dromiceiomimus and Ornithomimus, which lived in North America rather than central Asia. Gallimimus has been featured prominently in Hollywood movies: its the ostrich-like creature seen galloping away from a hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex in the original Jurassic Park, and it also makes smaller, cameo-type appearances in various Jurassic Park sequels. Considering how popular it is, though, Gallimimus is a relatively recent addition to the dinosaur bestiary. This theropod was discovered in the Gobi Desert in 1963, and is represented by numerous fossil remains, ranging from juveniles to full-grown adults; decades of close study have revealed a dinosaur possessing hollow, birdlike bones, well-muscled hind legs, a long and heavy tail, and (perhaps most surprisingly) two eyes set on opposite sides of its small, narrow head, meaning that Gallimimus lacked binocular vision. There is still serious disagreement about the diet of Gallimimus. Most theropods of the late Cretaceous period subsisted on animal prey (other dinosaurs, small mammals, even birds venturing too close to land), but given its lack of stereoscopic vision Gallimimus may well have been omnivorous, and one paleontologist speculates that this dinosaur may even have been a filter feeder (that is, it dipped its long beak into lakes and rivers and snatched up wriggling zooplankton). We do know that other comparably sized and built theropod dinosaurs, such as Therizinosaurus and Deinocheirus, were primarily vegetarians, so these theories cant easily be dismissed!

Markets and Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Markets and Marketing - Essay Example Socio-cultural factors include health consciousness, age distribution, population growth, individuals’ career tastes, and safety concerns. Statistical data show that UK’s birth rate has increased over the last two years. This increase in birth rate adds value to Tiny Tees. While analysing current UK society, it seems that people are highly concerned about the health of their family members. Hence, people tend to purchase quality cloth materials for their toddlers. Furthermore, trends indicate that people buy more number of baby clothes in order to keep their babies away from the greater risk of getting infections. Secondly, a detailed study of technological factors may aid Tom to assess the risks and opportunities arising out of the UK technological industry. Generally, marketers consider technological factors including research and development activities, technological growth, automation, and innovations. It is obvious that UK’s technological sector has undergon e tremendous changes over the last two decades and hence the country’s technological sector offers a range of potential opportunities to Tiny Tees. The UK government encourages and supports technological innovations. Similarly, automation is very effective in the UK and it has been still developing at a greater pace. UK’s well developed transportation sector also offers better scope to Tom’s planned acquisition project. In short, technological factors can greatly contribute to the positive effects of the proposed acquisition. Thirdly, assessment of economical factors is necessary for Tom to understand the financial scope of the proposed project. Researchers have identified that economical factors including income growth rate, interest rates, inflation rates, and exchange rates play a pivotal role in determining the market success of a company. The global financial crisis 2008 negatively affected the economic growth of United Kingdom despite the monetary measures taken by the Bank of England. The profitability decline (given in Table 1) of the Tiny Tees can be greatly attributed to this economic crisis. Even though the UK economy is rapidly improving its growth status, it has not been completely recovered from the impacts of global recession yet. Therefore, the STEP analysis may assist Tom to forecast the future economic/growth status of the Tiny Teens effectively. Finally, it is necessary for Tom to analyse the political status of the market in which the planned project is going to be launched. The UK’s political spectrum seems to be stable. â€Å"Faster economic development† has become the mantra of the UK politicians and hence they try to promote country’s business sector by every means. As a result, entrepreneurs and other small scale traders get increased financial as well as technical assistance from governmental agencies. This situation will certainly contribute to the development of new ventures. Since the p lanned acquisition project comes under the category of small scale business, Tom would obtain greater support and assistance from the UK government. The UK government’s current business policies also provide the marketer with extensive future expansion opportunities. In short, the STEP analysis will help Tom to determine whether or not to acquire Tiny Teens. Question 2 To define, â€Å"

Marketing Myopia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Marketing Myopia - Essay Example This article helps define a path that should be taken by marketers if they intend to avoid common and destructive mistakes. The management of a company may make several errors that are discussed in the paper. Sometimes, the company’s scope is incorrectly defined, and this creates a restriction for this company which hinders future growth. Furthermore, sometimes the unique selling proposition of the company’s product may become obsolete, and since management does not renew nor revive the proposition, the customers lose interest and soon forget about the product. Baseless assumptions and complacency are also two mistakes suggested by Levitt. A huge problem may arise if management focuses on supply-side policies and overlooks demand-side policies and conditions; if a strong and lasting bond with the consumer is not created, it is likely that the brand or product will not be successful. Another failure on the part of the company’s management is if they become so sing ularly focused on the future that they fail to acknowledge the circumstances they face in the present; with no proper strategy to deal with current issues, the company will not be left capable to deal with the future issues it was focusing on. In a nutshell, management’s main strategy should be one with a visionary approach and one which simultaneously focuses on the company’s customers as the most important asset of the company. This is the only asset which will function as the company’s life jacket during an economic or financial crisis. A second, most critical approach is how the business’s scope is defined; if too restricted and narrow, it will hinder and may even halt growth and progress. As a result of a thorough critical analysis of Levitt’s work, some strengths and weaknesses of his work come to light. Levitt’s article has garnered much praise and critical acclaim over the years. Researchers and scholars of marketing found his work e xceptionally valuable to their study and ground breaking in numerous aspects because the theories presented by Levitt are relevant and applicable across different industries, businesses and even across different times. Originally proposed and modeled on the business environment of the 1960s, theories and scenarios presented in â€Å"Marketing Myopia† are still as relevant and applicable today in the business environment of the 21st century, a half century later. This makes it valuable for researchers studying the business environment and also for students learning about marketing in the corporate world today. Not once do the scenarios, situations and examples presented seem obsolete or irrelevant in anyway. Furthermore, the example scenarios given by Levitt through the course of this essay are further explained through the use of easy to understand, practical examples that increase the validity of the case he is presenting while simultaneously making his point of view clearer by explanation and illustration in the mind of the reader. The policies proposed by Levitt can be applied to real life businesses these days such as supermarkets and oil companies. Supermarkets can use the strategy to create a demand for the products which are becoming obsolete. They can also use it to promote their brand by launching new schemes and thus increasing the

How to write an essay Essay Example for Free

How to write an essay Essay 1. An introduction-introducing the topic generally, and then identifying your main or controlling idea (the point of your essay, your view of the assigned topic statement). 2. Middle paragraphs that develop and support the controlling idea. Each paragraph gives a different point or argument supporting the thesis. One point per paragraph, and one paragraph per main point. Don’t forget to give good concrete examples with descriptive details, facts and arguments to support each of your arguments. Develop the paragraph fully and logically with these details, facts and arguments. 3. Conclusion-re-states the controlling idea, summarizes the supporting arguments and provides a closing statement. Title Your title should relate to your main topic to establish the focus of the essay. It should be concise and informative. Examples: â€Å"Reasons for the Fall of Rome† or â€Å"The Emancipation of the Tibetan Nation† The Introduction The introductory paragraph tries to interest the reader, name the subject of the paper, indicate what idea will be expressed about it, and perhaps show how it will be handled. There are many ways to begin an expository essay: Begin with a quotation. It may be directly or indirectly related to the subject. Begin with an interesting fact or statistic. Begin with a short anecdote or narrative. A short narrative is particularly effective for adding a touch of variety to an expository paper. Begin with a paradox. Begin with relevant background material. Background material should, however, be concise and clearly related to your thesis. Begin by stating a long-term effect or effects without immediately stating the cause. Begin with an analogy. Begin with a definition of a term that is important to your topic. This should not be a simple dictionary definition but an explanation of the term as it applies to your topic. The thesis statement A thesis statement alerts your reader to the main argument of the essay and prepares him or her, in a general way, for the content that is to follow. The statement should be brief; there is no point in supplying an outline of everything that a short paper is going to say. But the thesis statement should not merely announce the author’s general interests or plans. Examples: Preliminary thesis statement: I intend to discuss the reasons for the fall of Rome. Revised thesis statement: The major reason for the fall of Rome was bad economic policy. Preliminary thesis statement: I think that Tibet should be its own free nation. Revised thesis statement: Tibet should be its own free nation. Development Your development should have at least three points or arguments supporting your thesis. Each point should take up a whole paragraph. Paragraphs are composed of three elements: Topic sentence: This sentence presents in general terms the subject of the paragraph. The topic sentence may occur anywhere in the paragraph, but is generally the first sentence of the paragraph. Supporting sentences: These sentences form the body of the paragraph. The content of the supporting sentences comprises specific facts or specific arguments which demonstrate the validity of the generalizations presented in the topic sentence. Concluding sentence: This sentence concludes discussion of the point which is the topic of the paragraph and often makes possible the transition to the topic of the next paragraph.

Drama Performed to Others :: Drama

Drama Performed to Others Our drama group was given the task of introducing a year nine class to the play 'Macbeth'. Apart from the obvious, there were five themes in the play that the group as a whole thought needed exploring: insanity; good versus bad; the supernatural; guilty conscience; and murder. We looked into each of these topics individually and decided on how we could include them in our final performance, in each lesson we learned more and more about both 'Macbeth' and the skills needed to teach a younger year group the basics of the play. We decided that the first thing that needed to be learned was the creation of atmosphere on stage. We did this by lowering the lights, putting just a candle in the centre of the room, and playing the sound effect of rain and howling gales. We each had to find one word that summed up the 'feeling' in the room. The key words that came up were remembered throughout our development of the piece of drama and we tried to capture these feelings on stage. Keeping in role and developing a convincing character was essential for the task and I learned this over the period of time building up to our final performance. We had decided to show five still-images to the year nines and, along with a narration, tell the story as an introduction. In groups we picked out the five points that seemed most significant: the meeting of the witches on the heath; the 'persuasion' scene (between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth); the banquet scene; the second witches scene (the premonitions); and the scene where Macduff finally kills Macbeth. In these groups we performed the still-images and showed what each character was thinking through thought-tracking, which added depth to the image. In pairs we performed our own versions of 'the persuasion scene', with one playing Macbeth and one playing Lady Macbeth. Through manipulation, Lady Macbeth always beats Macbeth one way or another, and we learned to create the right mood on stage, this improvisational work helped develop characterisation. After discussing the scene we were to study (the 'banquet scene' [Act Three, Scene Four]) and read through the original script, we began improvisation of a modern-day remake of the scene. Our class decided to work in just one group and we were sure we wanted to bring the scene to a modern-day setting so we could come up with our own interpretation. As a group we had to decide on who the Macbeth of the 21st century would be, and came up with plenty of suggestions. The one we finally decided on was a night-club owner, the night-club

Smartphones Effect on Teenagers

Josh Frint Lawrence ENG 1113 26 September 2012 Essay #1 Smartphones Impact on Todays students Today, smartphones are in the hands of almost every student. It has become so common that young children are starting to ask their parents for one. Although nobody can deny the ability to find and use information fast on a smartphone, many people feel students should not have one. These smartphones are effecting verbal communication, writing skills, as well as increasing laziness in our students. Verbal communication is increasingly becoming a problem in today’s society and it is because of smartphones.Our generation is known as the â€Å"texting generation†. These days, students talk to their friends using text messages or calling. This takes away our ability to talk to someone face to face. It affects college graduates not being confident enough to present themselves properly in an interview with a future employer. Texting interaction leaves out basic skills like, clear speak ing, body language, eye contact with the person to whom they are speaking too, and the ability to listen and stay focused on what the person is saying.More and more these days students go to their phones or computers when needing to write an essay. Students search Google and various other search engines to help find the most up to date information, although the information is handy and very tempting, it is creating pure laziness in todays society. These smartphones contain encyclopedias, dictionaries and as we all know, the internet. There is no exerted effort into collecting this information, students are too lazy to read a book and quite frankly, some just don’t have time.Also, students are being distracted by cellphones. It is causing lack of focus and discipline. Often times students will sit down to study and all of the sudden hear their phone go off, and they’ll get self-indulged into the conversation and no longer continue to study. Students are becoming unable to concentrate on the task at hand would rather be using their phones to be texting friends, updating their Facebook statuses or even Re-Tweeting what their best friend ate for dinner.Writing skills are on the free fall, and it is all because of our students’ use of smartphones. Think about it, back in the day, society would take pride in being able to read and write, it was a hobby and many people did it for fun. Today, writing is frowned upon by any student. Our writing skills have vanished due to our lack of proper English usage. Students send text messages that would even confuse Shakespeare like â€Å"OMG† or â€Å"LOL†. Essays are now a problem for students because they lack the ability to think in depth.Through text messages we get straight to the point and do not have the meaningful, in depth conversation that people have face to face. Smartphones are here, and aren’t going anywhere. In fact, the technology will likely become more advanced and mor e easily accessible to our students, which is fine, as long as those advancements aren’t being abused by our students. Parents and schools play a vital role in fixing this problem, parents must show children the appropriate use of smartphones, and schools must continue to create ways to move around the path of technology.

Philosophy- Locke Hume and Kafka

1. Explain how Locke and Hume view personal identity, or the â€Å"Self†. How do you see Kafka’s â€Å"Metamorphosis† as exemplifying these philosophical themes? You may choose Locke or Hume or both, or argue why you see neither of their theories as showing up in Kafka’s work. Locke’s theory of personal identity does not rely on substance to explain personal identity. Locke’s theory is person one at time two is the same person as person two at time one if and only if person one and person two are both persons and person one can remember at time two (his doing) what person two did or felt or what have you at time one.Hume’s theory of the self-held that the self is nothing but a bundle of experiences or perceptions linked by the relations of causation and resemblance; or, more accurately, that the empirically warranted idea of the self is just the idea of such a bundle. In â€Å"Metamorphosis† Kafka takes on Locke’s view of the self. Kafka illustrates that Gregor Samsa is the same person as he was when he was human even though he has changed into a bug.Kafka does this by showing that Gregor still has the same thoughts, memories, and tries to continue the same routine even though he has become a bug. Gregor stills tries to wake up and catch the train for work, he still knows how his sister, parents, and boss will act, and he still has the same feelings and emotions towards his life and the people who are in it. All of these explain go along with Locke’s view of the self verses Hume’s theory.

Examination of SportsScotland and Inactivity in women in Scotland The WritePass Journal

Examination of SportsScotland and Inactivity in women in Scotland Introduction Examination of SportsScotland and Inactivity in women in Scotland IntroductionFundingLinks to Elite Sport and Mega EventsInclusionConclusionReferencesRelated Introduction Inactivity in girls and young women is an increasing public health issue in Scotland. 65% of 14 year old girls do not reach recommended levels of physical activity and 43% of adult women do little or no exercise (Sportscotland, 2011). It is therefore understandable that the government is striving to tackle this problem by implementing initiatives such as Fit for Girls (FFG) in secondary schools across Scotland. The Fit for Girls programme is a joint initiative between the Youth Sport Trust and sportscotland, aimed at increasing physical activity participation among girls aged 11 to 16 years. The programme was piloted in 2008 and is being delivered to 296 mainstream and 11 additional support needs (ASN) schools across Scotland, over a 3 year time schedule. The primary objective of the programme is to bring about sustainable change in schools that moulds a positive future for girls’ participation in physical activity. Fit for Girls aims to achieve this by providing an interactiv e environment for participants, emphasising the importance of consulting girls, working with them to establish reasons for disengagement and developing strategies to enhance future participation. The principles of respect, empowerment and participation are inherent of the programme. Girls who are currently inactive or have low levels of participation are encouraged to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas in a real and honest way. It is hoped that the Fit for Girls programme, coupled with the engagement of PE staff and Active Schools Coordinators, has the ability to make a significant impact on girls’ physical activity levels as well as their perception of physical activity and sport. Funding Sportscotland is a Quango, that is, an organisation that is funded by taxpayers, but not controlled directly by central government. Sportscotland are provided with a budget from the government and they choose how, and where to distribute the funds. A sum of  £530, 000 was invested into the Fit for girls programme in 2008.   This would finance the roll out of the program over a 3 year period. Each participating secondary school was entitled to apply for a  £700 start up grant. There was flexibility in how the grant was spent. However, funding could be used to employ staff or coaches to deliver sessions as this was not viewed as being sustainable in the long term however, the funding could be spent to train staff, volunteers, parents and senior pupils, to provide them with the essential skills and confidence required to deliver the activities. Other uses included modernising changing facilities, upgrading equipment, and providing development pathways for senior pupils. Whilst man y acknowledge the importance of sport and its potential to greatly impact on a nation’s health, culture and pride, it can be argued that for a country in severe economic crisis, the  £46,257,000 savings, which could be achieved from cutting sportscotland may be better invested elsewhere in the public sector. It is due to this controversial issue that many organisations and projects such as FFG are hanging in the balance. They are completely dependant on funding and as FFG has reached the end of its three year schedule, it is not yet known whether their funding will be extended. Links to Elite Sport and Mega Events The links between Fit for Girls and elite sport is limited. It is unlikely that a project of this nature and capacity will unearth a substantial amount of new talent, of the standard to perform at an elite level. The links between this project and events such as the 2012 and 2014 Olympic and commonwealth games appear to be relatively minimal.   These mega events are elite sport and competition at the highest possible level and see countries and athletes from all over the world participate whereas, FFG is sport at a basic, introductory level and is a national strategy within Scotland, exclusive to girls of a certain age. However, by focussing on the foundation principles and objectives of both events, links can be made. â€Å"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.† (Olympic creed). Whilst the Olympic Games and FFG appear to be at polar opposites on the sporting spectrum, they both share a similar philosophy which places great importance on participation and personal achievement. It is evident that hosting the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth games provides the nation with a great opportunity to capitalize on the hype and publicity of the games and foster this as a catalyst for change and sporting development. This is recognized by reaching higher which acknowledges that â€Å"Major sporting events such as the Olympic, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games provide electrifying experiences for competitors and spectators. If such events are to provide an enduring legacy, they must be used as catalysts for chang e.† – (Reaching Higher, 2007). In FFG’s 1st year, participation levels in P.E and extra- curricular activities rose from 18- 27% This increased participation, expands the national pool of elite sporting talent for events such as the commonwealths, illustrating that FFG does link to elite sport and its major events. In the same way, these mega events greatly benefit schemes of this nature.   Reaching higher states that, â€Å"Volunteers and professional staff are core to the delivery of our vision. Without their expertise people will not get enthused and involved and our sportsmen and women will not reach their potential.†- (Reaching higher, 2007). Whilst it is unlikely that the programme will produce a wealth of new elite sporting talent, FFG does have the potential to produce girls who are passionate about sport and may pursue a career in the sport and leisure industry, in a voluntary, coaching or management and development capacity. This is perhaps the most prominent link to elite sport and mega events and the project   has a framework in place to promote and develop this. The level 1, Sports Leader Award is offered to s4 core pupils, this allows them to gain leadership experience, work with Active Schools Coordinators and Sports Development, as well as working with talented girls who are at risk of becoming disaffected. Additionally, the ‘Heartstart’ Training, British Heart Foundation program is offered, teaching pupils emergency aid such as CPR and how to recognise heart attack symptoms. It can therefore be drawn that whilst the links between this program with elite sport and mega events are indirect they are still significant. Inclusion The most prominent issue regarding inclusion with this program is that it excludes boys. Through FFG, the young women are receiving higher quality equipment and changing facilities, as well as having a greater deal of input and choice into the curriculum structure. It is evident that this may result in the boys feeling jealous and overlooked, which could have a detrimental effect on male participation levels and motivation. However, Reaching Higher illustrates that with regards to female participation in the 16+ age group: rates stand at 59% against 68% of young men additionally, 40% of girls have dropped out of all sports activity by the time they reach 18 (sportscotland participation survey. 2002-2004). This demonstrates that drop out and participation levels are a greater problem in girls than boys. Studies have suggested that the main reasons for girls drop out in P.E are lack of skill, and feeling embarrassed (Fit for Girls Workshop: Bucking the Trend, 2010). On average, girls e nter sport at 7.4 years of age in comparison to boys at 6.8 years old. 47% of girls are reported to be involved with some kind of organized sport by age 6, while 60% of boys of the same age are  participating. (Women’s Sports Foundation Research Report 2008). This illustrates that on average, boys have a head start on girls with regards to sports participation and skill development. Research into the sociological dimensions of girls’ physical activity participation concluded that the â€Å"traditional subject matter of physical education†¦privileges boys while disadvantaging girls†. What is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"hidden curriculum† in physical education, places great importance on skill level and ability, as well as emphasizing competition, rather than promoting sport and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. (Garrett, R. 2004). The curriculum centre’s around team games and competitive activities and this learning cli mate, in turn, has often favoured male pupils due to their greater level of experience in a sports environment. Additionally, their confidence to perform athletic skills, which they are both competent and familiar with lead them to enjoy and excel in P.E classes, while girls often experience anxiety and marginalization. Literature also states that women are far more self-conscious than men when participating in sport and physical activity. (Brudzynski, L., William, E. 2010). The Fit for Girls program aims to combat this by adapting the curriculum to include more expressive and artistic activities, in conjunction with this, evidence suggests that the female only environment assists in reduce anxiety and body image concerns â€Å"Female PE staff makes me feel more comfortable taking part in activities, especially trampolining and dance.† (Bannockburn High School, S3 pupils.) Many would champion the program for seeking activities and teaching environments which increase female p articipation in P.E however, it can be argued that with regards to the modernized changing facilities, which include hair dryers and straighteners, the boys are being unfairly discriminated against and are disadvantaged. In today’s society, young men feel the pressure to look a certain way and conform as well as girls, this could be seen as a luxury which if anything, nurtures stereotypical views and creates an even greater sense of segregation and conflict between male and female pupils. Alternatively, Evidence suggests that whilst boys do care about their appearance and would like upgraded facilities, it has a stronger influence on the take-up of females than their male counterparts. Fit for Girls’ runs in 296 of 376 mainstream high schools, which equates to 79% and only 11 out of 193 ‘ASN’ high schools, equivalent to 6%. Whilst disabled pupils are not completely excluded from this scheme, the figures clearly illustrate that the provision is severely limited. â€Å"People with a disability, who equate to one in five of our population, are also less likely to participate in sport† (Reaching Higher, 2007). Therefore, it can be argued that if anything, they are at a greater need for exposure to projects such as this. Conversely, it is evident that there are many children with additional need who do not attend an ASN school, instead they are included in the mainstream schooling system,(Scottish Education Report 2007), suggesting that whilst the program is only operating in 6% of ASN schools, it is likely to be reaching a larger percentage indirectly. A further issue regarding the inclusion of this program is that it is only delivered in secondary education. It can be postulated that FFG would achieve even greater results if it was to engage with the girls at a younger age i.e. primary school. By interacting with the girls at a younger age, there is more chance of positively influencing their perception of sport and instilling good habits and attitudes however, It has been identified that between the age of 14-18 is the period in their life when most girls drop out of sport, with 40% being completely disaffected by the time they reach 18. With projects such as this, which rely heavily of funding, there is always going to be issues of inclusion. This is a project which undeniably targets a very specific population, thereby excluding many others however, by analyzing the scheme and what they are striving to achieve, it is difficult to condemn or pick fault in their strategy. The nations’ disengagement with sport and the problems that this creates cannot be tackled with one sweeping solution, whilst FFG may isolate certain groups; it is likely to have a greater success rate by focusing on its target demographic and their specific needs, rather than attempting to reach a larger population on consequently limited funding and resources. Whilst the reasons to target such a specific population are justifiable, the project could be made more sustainable and inclusive if it was integrated into the curriculum for excellence. This appears to be the next logical step forward and would enable the program to flourish and prog ress without the requirement of additional funding. Conclusion In today’s society a physically active lifestyle is recognised as an essential component of healthy living. In addition to the long term health benefits, physical activity during childhood supports holistic development, assisting to prevent overweight and obesity and the health concerns associated with these conditions, as well as enhancing psychological wellbeing. With adolescent girls being identified as at risk of becoming disaffected, The Fit for Girls project set out with clear objectives to increase the participation in sport of this population and improve their experience of sport. There is limited literature evaluating the success of the project to date however, from initial figures and case studies, the project appears to have been a success in achieving its primary objectives. With regards to elite sporting pathways and links to mega events, the connections are extremely limited, only by analysing the basic foundation principles can any parallels be drawn and even th en, they are still weak. Undoubtedly there are issues of inclusion with this scheme, by targeting such a specific demographic; it inevitably isolates a wider population. With everything considered, it can be drawn that whilst its links to elite sport are limited and it may be subject to scrutiny over issues of inclusion, the project was successful in achieving its objectives and is a small, but significant stepping stone towards increasing female sports participation. Despite acknowledging the success and importance of this project it could be concluded that the best way forward does not require an extension to the funding, instead, the principle and structure of the project should be addressed and integrated into the curriculum for excellence. References Bailey, R., (2005). Evaluating the relationship between physical education, sport and social inclusion. Education Review, 57, (1), 71-90. Brudzynski, L., William, E. (2010) Garrett, R., (2004). Negotiating a physical identity: girls, bodies and physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 9 (2), 223-237. Ferguson, M., (2009). Call for Scottish PE overhaul after damning report. Future Fitness. Sport and Fitness for today’s youth, July. p.5. Fit for Girls Workshop: Bucking the Trend, (2010) Hardman, K. (2007). Physical Education: â€Å"The future ain’t what it used to be!† University of Worcester, UK. Hardman, K., (2008). The Situation of Physical Education in Schools: a European Perspective. Human Movement, 9 (1), 1-14. Scottish Executive (2003). Let’s make Scotland more active – A Strategy for Physical Activity. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh. Scottish Education Report. (2007) Wallace, J ., Homes, A. (2007). Fit for the Future? Young people’s participation in physical activity in Scottish secondary schools. Scottish Consumer Council, Glasgow. Women’s Sports Foundation Research Report. (2008) Reaching Higher. (2007) www.scotland.gov.uk www.sportscotland.co.uk. www.youthsporttrust.org

Landscape

Landscape Landscape Landscape By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, What is the meaning and usage of landscape in [phrases] like emerging media landscape or emerging distribution landscape? First I’ll address traditional meanings of the noun landscape as it refers to scenery. Although Old English had the word landscipe, meaning â€Å"a tract of land† or â€Å"a region,† the word landscape entered modern English in the early 17th century from another Germanic language, Dutch. It was borrowed as a technical term for a painting or drawing that represented natural inland scenery–as opposed to a portrait or a seascape. By the 19th century, landscape had also come to mean â€Å"a tract of land with its distinguishing characteristics and features, especially considered as a product of modifying or shaping processes and agents.† The features could be the result of either natural processes or human design. Here are current examples of both meanings: William Turner (1775-1851) was an English Romantic landscape painter, water-colorist, and printmaker. Running for 186 miles, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes you through a rich assortment of different landscapes along Wales’ west coast, from limestone cliffs to red sandstone bays and lush, glacial valleys. The New California Landscape promotes a balance between urban landscapes and the environment, includes diverse and beautiful aesthetic qualities, and facilitates the efficient use and management of resources, especially water. The phrases â€Å"emerging media landscape† and â€Å"emerging distribution landscape† reflect landscape’s new use in the vocabulary of marketers and bureaucrats. The Ngram Viewer shows that â€Å"media landscape† appeared in the 1960s, but didn’t soar until the 1980s. â€Å"Distribution landscape† emerged in the 1990s. The â€Å"media landscape† refers to the way people get their news and entertainment. In earlier times, we read newspapers and books, listened to the radio, watched television, collected records, and went to the movies. That was the â€Å"old media landscape.† Now we have smart phones, electronic notebooks, digital books, home theaters, and the Web. Distribution in â€Å"distribution media† is a business term referring to the way vendors get their products to consumers and how consumers pay for them. One channel of distribution is the simple transaction of buying a set of dishes at a yard sale: the seller of the dishes puts them outside with a price on them; the buyer hands over cash and takes them home. A more complicated channel of distribution is involved in buying a computer. The buyer places an order–in a store, on the telephone, or online. Payment is made in advance–by cash or check in the store, by credit card in the store or online–or by some other method, such as PayPal. The computer is then transported–likely from China–by air and by truck to the point of purchase. The â€Å"new distribution landscape,† moves beyond traditional methods of delivery. For example, it’s possible to buy a product such as software or music online and have it delivered by download. This figurative use of landscape has nothing to do with the physical world. It seems to be a trendy replacement for the once-fashionable paradigm as an inflated synonym for pattern or model. This abstract use is trickling into other contexts: The Changing Content Distribution Landscape Reflections on the New Compliance Landscape Navigating the New Rural Banking Landscape The New â€Å"Meaningful Use† Landscape: A Transition from Incentives to Penalties A brief discussion about  the new lending landscape In the context of printing, landscape is used as both adjective and adverb in reference to shape (oblong) and directionality (horizontal). The opposite of landscape in this context is portrait (vertical): Should I design my illustrated kindle ebook for portrait or landscape mode? AOL pages print Landscape Instead of Portrait Print set-up shows portrait but prints landscape. As a verb, landscape means to beautify an outside area by making it part of a continuous and harmonious scene. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?"Latter," not "Ladder"7 Other Types of Pronouns

International Business Strategy term paper Essay

International Business Strategy term paper - Essay Example Nokia and Apple are major smartphone multinationals based in the Finland and the United States respectively with operations in other parts of the world including Asia, Europe and Africa. However, when Apple and Nokia introduced their smartphone products into the United Kingdom, the response was varied and this contributed to the success and failure of the products. While Apple smartphone received a positive review and was widely accepted by the customers in the UK, Nokia smartphone received a negative review and this affected the sales of the products in the UK. Nokia was forced into the drawing board to determine the causes of the failure and evaluate its strategies to enable it reintroduce the product again. In this paper, a comparison of the tow multinationals will be done to determine the factors that contributed to the success and failure of the two multinationals in the sale of their smartphone devices in the United Kingdom (Stevenson, 2012). Nokia, being a Finish based multinationals has had significant impacts in the mobile telephony industry especially in Europe with previous studies indicating its dominance in the overall mobile market. However, the introduction of smartphones by Apple and Samsung pushed the company into venturing into the market in an attempt to protect its hold on European markets. However, the response that the company received from the market did not favour the continued production of the smartphones and this led to the failure of the initiative. A number of factors contributed to the failure of Nokia in the United Kingdom, a market that was predominantly controlled by the multinational before apple introduced its smartphones (Donnelly, 2008). In 2007, Nokia introduced its first iPhone into the European market in a response to the emerging mobile telephony in the region and in other markets