Language
Todd Rolfingsmeyer

Todd, this is a very sporadic start.  Follow my comments in your revision, but don't restrict yourself to them.  Develop this paper beyond those comments to make it more cohesive. 

There are many aspects of language[introduce by definition, not by subordinating this intro sentence to its associated ideas]. Why does one word mean something in one context and in turn can mean something completely different in another.[reword this into a statement that strengthens and advances your point--lose the question word] Perhaps it is the culture in which a person is raised. [develop this background information in here so that by the time I get to your thesis, I have sufficient background to understand where you are going with your associated ideas] Cultures and sub-cultures definitely have an impact on speech, language, and sound [to what end?]. In the four readings we delve into these topics. [lose this sentence--give me a thesis statement that you can prove using all the associated ideas you have placed in your paper--what is there about this topic that you can prove?  I like the idea you have proposed using cultures and sub-cultures as an agent of fluxuating change...that will work]

In "A Brief History Of English", [put the comma inside the quotations...by whom?] we learn [about] the historic development of language, and how it has been metamorphasized into what we hear and understand today. In the time of the Roman Empire, three different tribes spoke different dialect[s] that would become English. The three tribes consisted of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. [combine this sentence with the one that precedes it--avoid redundancy] Roman traders and merchants traveled with these tribes, therefor[e], mixing their Latin with the Low German dialect. Eventually, the three tribes settled in England. The Jutes settled in the south, the Angles in the east, and the Saxons in the north and west. [link this paragraph with the next one]
There was no record of the English language until after the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons converted to Christianity and were taught the Latin alphabet [not true--there was a great deal of written runic evidence that has long since been uncovered--if this is what your source says, though, quote it and discuss it]. This was considered the beginning of the Old English period. During this period, the Norseman [turn it into the plural] landed an army on the east coast of England. Norse was then significantly encompassed into the English language. [bring closure to this idea by telling me how this idea of the historic development of English supports the thesis statement.]

More changes took place during the Middle English period. The main reason for these changes was the Norman Conquest. [consolidate these first two sentences into one intro sentence in about half the words] The Normans embraced the French language, and invaded England [this might be a misplaced conjunction--what do you mean by the Normans embraced the French language--where had the Normans come from--were they already speaking French by the time of their invasion? if so, then how did this affect the development of English--what did they bring to it?]. The Norm[an]s simplified English’s sound structure and grammar even more [how so?]. For us, Middle English is much easier to understand than Old English because it’s [its, not it's--the latter is a contraction, not a possessive] structure and grammar is similar to our own Modern English. [bring closure to this idea by telling me how this idea of the influx of the French language supports the thesis statement.]

In the Early Modern English era, sound changes caused many of our spelling confusions we have today.[as this paragraph deals with the Great Vowel Shift, introduce the paragraph by explaining what it is, then give me some examples that show it, and then close it off by telling me how that concept is important to the thesis] One of these changes was the vowel sound at the end of certain words, many of these vowel sounds [change 'these vowel sounds' to 'which'] became silent. [for example] Another of these changes was called the Great Vowel Shift. This was the systematic shifting of vowels and diphthongs in stressed syllables. [for example] This shift meant that we needed to use a different set of symbols  [for example] to represent different vowel sounds, thus creating confusion.[bring closure to this idea by telling me how this idea of the influx of the Great Vowel Shift supports the thesis statement.]

In recent developments [years? centuries? clarify] an academy was acquired [established, not acquired] in order to understand and govern the language. Thus, the first dictionary was issued. This dictionary consisted of 2,500 words and definitions. Another development was the invention of "English grammar". [put your period inside the quotation marks, not outside of them] English grammar dictated and analyzed the use of the English language. One of the most significant developments has been the widespread use of the English language. [was this a result of the academy, the establishment of a grammar, or colonial conquest?  clarify--your argument isn't following a logical course here] It is now one of the most used languages in the world, and when more people use a language, more forms of the language occur. [good closure--make sure it ties in to your thesis when you settle on one]

This brings up the question of prescriptivism[introduce this idea by definition--what is prescriptivism?]. Is one variety of language inherently higher than the others? Should this higher language be imposed as a whole on the entire speech community? [rewrite these questions into the form of statements that strengthen and advance your points--answer them, don't ask them] In the article "The Prescriptive Tradition" these questions are asked. [lose this sentence--if you want to introduce the article, make a definitive statement about some specific point made within it--don't make a general statement that suggests some questions are asked in it.]
[link these two paragraphs to one another.]
Most European languages have been studied perscriptively [spelling], which eventually leads to the writings of grammar and dictionaries[this is actually an idea discussed in the previous paragraph--to repeat it here is redundant--you can move the sentence if you like]. The goals of these grammarians was to codify principles of language, settle disputes over usage, and to point out what were thought of as common errors in order to improve the language. [whenever you quote from anyone, even indirectly, you still have to give credit to that source through a parenthetical citation] It was the job of these grammarians to describe linguistic diversity, not evaluate language change. [careful here--the prescriptivists were not at all concerned with describing linguistic diversity--but with establishing a standard model--you're confusing them with the descriptivists--clarify]

The grammarians can be broke[n] up into two groups, descriptivists and perscriptivists. Descriptive grammarians are perceived as not caring about standards, because they believe all forms of usage is equally valid. This is very important because, it is the only way competing claims of different standards can be resolved. Perscriptive [spelling] grammarians, however, believe that the only right way is the traditional, historical way. This is important [lose the 'also'] also, [as] it provides a focus of linguistic values which everyone possesses, and forms our view of social structure. [good point, but clarify--how so?  this is the heart of your argument, so develop it]

Some countries believe that the best way to control language is to put the language in care of an academy. Many academies had been formed, from Italy to France to the ranks of the church, nobility, and military. From these academies, the first dictionary appeared in 1694. [move this up to the paragraph above it which begins "in recent developments"...it's redundant, so trim it considerably]

When something is controlled, inconceivably [inconceivably?] it must also change. Language change is one of the most criticized linguistic issues. Most people believe that change means deterioration and decay of the language. Older people believe that the schools and public broadcasting institutions are to blame for the casual, decayed speech of young people today. Eventually, language must change, because society changes. [you might incorporate this into the paragraph above beginning with 'the grammarians can be broken...']

When looking and listening to different ethnicity, we can determine why words are spoken differently, and [that] may lead to a change in language. In "Black Children, Black Speech", [put the comma inside the quotation marks] Dorthy [spelling] Seymour studies the dialect of black children. We understand in this study that many of the children’s differences in speech are [change 'because' to 'a result'] because of their roots. When growing up, the children hear their parents and peers talking in a certain dialect, this [which, not this] is how they learn to talk in the beginning of childhood['in the beginning of childhood' is redundant with 'when growing up']. This is also how their parents, and their [grand]parents, and their [great-grand]parents were taught. Since most sub-cultures in our society relate more [to whom?] and tend to live with each other, this cycle may never end. Because of this, language change may be needed [needed? or inevitable?], especially since the population of different ethnic groups keeps on growing. [give me some examples of this throughout this paragraph]

With the population growing, changes in language must be tolerated. These changes can lead to confusion, sometimes one word can mean something to one person, and have a totally different meaning when used in another manner.
[link these two paragraphs to one another]
In the article, "The Meanings of Words", [put the comma inside the quotation marks]Gloria Naylor talks about an experience as a child. She never thought the word "nigger" as bad until someone used it as a cutting remark. She had heard the word often, but it was only heard when black people spoke to each other. She had no idea it was wrong to say, [comma splice, start a new sentence] to her it was just another word. Although, when spoken out of context[in a different context, you mean], she new [spelling] it had to be a put down. [bring closure--how is this idea of toleration important to the thesis?  this paragraph is really about semantics, which is the different meanings a word can have--what does semantics have to do with cultural diversity?  clarify that--]

Language in a very hard thing to dictate, in fact I would say nearly impossible. We must somehow find neutral territory, [and] understand that the English language has many different varieties of the way it is heard, said, and seen. [why is that important?--develop this concluding paragraph along the lines of the impact this issue has on society--give me more than you've given me] The language barrier must be lifted.[how?] Our language must change in order for society to change.

[You're missing your entire Annotated Bibliography--send that to me as soon as possible]

Revision--[Not Micro-Edited]--C

There are many aspects of language. One word may mean something in one context and in turn mean something completely different in another. Perhaps it is the culture in which a person is raised. For example, people of color sometimes speak with a certain linguisic tone, it can sound sloppy compared to our "standard English", thereby creating confussion. Cultures and sub-cultures definitely have an impact on speech, language, and sound, especially if these cultures is all that you are aware of. I believe the surrounding of early childhood effects speach and it's meanings.

In "A Brief History Of English," by Paul Roberts,we learn about the historic development of language, and how it has been metamorphasized into what we hear and understand today. In the time of the Roman Empire, three different tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, spoke different dialects that would become English. Roman traders and merchants traveled with these tribes, therefore, mixing their Latin with the Low German dialect. Eventually, the three tribes settled in England. The Jutes settled in the south, the Angles in the east, and the Saxons in the north and west. According to Mr. Roberts, there was no record of the English language until after the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons converted to Christianity and were taught the Latin alphabet. This was considered the beginning of the Old English period. During this period, the Norsemen landed an army on the east coast of England. Norse was then significantly encompassed into the English language. This is an example of how people's suroundings effect their speach.

The Norman Conquest made more changes take place during the Middle English period. The Normans embraced the French language when they invaded England. The Normans simplified English’s sound structure and grammar even more by injecting their speach. For us, Middle English is much easier to understand than Old English because its structure and grammar is similar to our own Modern English. As you can see, the enfluences of the English dilect is changing with the times.

In the Early Modern English era, sound changes caused many of our spelling confusions we have today. One of these changes was the vowel sound at the end of certain words, many of these which became silent. Another of these changes was called the Great Vowel Shift. This was the systematic shifting of vowels and diphthongs in stressed syllables. This shift meant that we needed to use a different set of symbols to represent different vowel sounds, thus creating confusion. Confusion can be created just by simple vowel shifts.

In the last two centuries, developments an academy was established in order to understand and govern the language. Some countries believe that the best way to control language is to put the language in care of an academy. Thus, the first dictionary was issued in 1694. This dictionary consisted of 2,500 words and definitions. Another development was the invention of "English grammar." English grammar dictated and analyzed the use of the English language. One of the most significant developments has been the widespread use of the English language due to colonial conquest. It is now one of the most used languages in the world, and when more people use a language, more forms of the language occur.

This brings up the question of prescriptivism, is on variety of language inherently higher than the others, and should this higher language be imposed as a whole on the entire speech community? Most European languages have been studied prescriptively, which eventually leads to the writings of grammar and dictionaries. The goals of these grammarians, according to David Crystal, was to codify principles of language, settle disputes over usage, and to point out what were thought of as common errors in order to improve the language. It was the job of these grammarians to describe linguistic diversity, not evaluate language change, and create a standard form..

The grammarians can be broken up into two groups, descriptivists and perscriptivists. Descriptive grammarians are perceived as not caring about standards, because they believe all forms of usage is equally valid. This is very important because, it is the only way competing claims of different standards can be resolved. Prescriptive grammarians, however, believe that the only right way is the traditional, historical way. This is important, as it provides a focus of linguistic values which everyone possesses, and forms our view of social structure. When something is controlled, it must also change. Language change is one of the most criticized linguistic issues. Most people believe that change means deterioration and decay of the language. Older people believe that the schools and public broadcasting institutions are to blame for the casual, decayed speech of young people today. Eventually, language must change, because society changes. Change in langusge may be needed, but should not get out of hand.

When looking and listening to different ethnicity, we can determine why words are spoken differently, and that may lead to a change in language. In "Black Children, Black Speech," Dorothy Seymour studies the dialect of black children. We understand in this study that many of the children’s differences in speech are a result of their roots. When growing up, the children hear their parents and peers talking in a certain dialect, which is how they learn to talk. This is also how their parents, and their grandparents, and their great-grandparents were taught. Since most sub-cultures in our society relate more with each other and tend to live with each other, this cycle may never end. Because of this, language change may be inevitable, especially since the population of different ethnic groups keeps on growing.

With the population growing, changes in language must be tolerated. These changes can lead to confusion, sometimes one word can mean something to one person, and have a totally different meaning when used in another manner. In the article, "The Meanings of Words," Gloria Naylor talks about an experience as a child. She never thought the word "nigger" as bad until someone used it as a cutting remark. She had heard the word often, but it was only heard when black people spoke to each other. She had no idea it was wrong to say. To her it was just another word. Although, when spoken in a differrent context, she new it had to be a put down. This is an example of the way words mean different things to different cultures.

Language in a very hard thing to dictate, in fact I would say nearly impossible. We must somehow find neutral territory, and understand that the English language has many different varieties of the way it is heard, said, and seen. I believe that Modern English should be used more efficiently in the business world today. Thereby releaving the confussion of dialect of different cultures. However, the language barrier must be lifted by tollerating and learning the differences in cultures. Our language must change in order for society to change.

Annotated Bibliography

Theses Statement: There are many aspects of language. Why does one word mean something in one context and in turn can mean something completely different in another. Perhaps it is the culture in which a person is raised. Cultures and sub-cultures definitely have an impact on speech, language, and sound.

This article studies the speech of the black community.

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