New Englishes

1.       You didn't see him, is it?

2.       When you would like to go?

3.       That man he is tall

4.       Her jewelleries were stolen

5.       I am understanding it now

6.       They two very good friends.

7.       Sushila is extremely a lazy girl

8.       When you leaving?

In class we worked on a task from a former exam. There are numbers of "New Englishes" - mainly new spoken varieties - developing in today's internationalised world. These have language features that do not exist in the written standards of British, North-American or Australian English. Above you see some examples of non-standard grammar. Below you will find the sentences rewritten in standard written English.

1.       You didn't see him, did you?

2.       When would you like to go?

3.       That man is tall./ that man, he is tall./ he is tall.

4.       Her jewelry was stolen

5.       I understand it now

6.       The two of them are very good friends/ They are very good friends

7.       Sushila is an extremely lazy girl

8.       When are you leaving?/ When will you leave?/ When do you leave?/ When will you be leaving?

 Now I will pick four of the examples above and explain how the structure of each differs from the norms of standard written English.

1.       You didn't see him, is it? Here, the question following should consist of the same verb as in the first part of the sentence. The subjects of the sentence should also be the same. The way the sentence is written does not give the reader the impression that the follow up question belongs to the rest of the sentence.

2.       When you would like to go? Here, the sentence syntax is wrong. For the sentence to be a question "would" have to come before the subject.

3.       That man he is tall. Here, we have two subjects: "that man" and "he". With the unnecessary use of "he", the meaning of the sentence becomes indistinct. We could write the sentence like this: That man, he is tall. When adding a comma in between, we emphasize that that man is tall.

4.       When you leaving?  The use of the -ing ending in this sentence is wrong. This is a common mistake among the spoken and written varieties of English. If you are to use the ing-ending, this sentence has to consist of another verb, for example "are": When are you leaving? You can also add would + be: When would you be leaving? You can also conjugate the verb "leaving": When will you leave?

Varieties of the English language

English is the most widely spoken language in the world. This is not because it is the most international language, but because of the enormous numbers of second and third language speakers of English. Did you know that there are now more learners of English in China than there are native speakers of English in the USA? English has become the gateway to communication in to the globalized international society today. Overall a third of the world's population is learning English. In the multilingual countries where English is not an official language, English is important for historical reasons. India can be mentioned as an example of countries like this. In other multilingual countries English is used solely because it is the lingua franca. But with so many people worldwide speaking and communicating using English, different varieties of English will inevitably develop. Your way of speaking is shaped by the culture and language you grew up with.

In Singapore two varieties of the English language has developed, Standard Singapore English and Singapore Colloquial English (Singlish). They are influenced by Chinese and Malay.  Most of the educated Singaporeans speak Standard Singapore English, mostly because it is not too far from British English grammatically. Examples of how they are similar in this way are the use of the word "tyre" over "tire”, and "shopping centres" over "shopping centers".  The difference between the British and the Standard English is confined to accent and rhythmic patterning. According to the National Institute of Education in Singapore, Singapore English is described as syllable-timed, while British English is more assumed to be stress-timed.

In Asia, English is widely spoken in countries like India and Pakistan. Indian English is somewhat diverse across the different parts of the country, but some features are typical for Indian English all over. The use of -ing forms is one. They write and say:  "She is knowing the answer" when the "correct" way to say it is: "She knows the answer". The rhythm of Indian English is very different from Standard English as well as the pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Therefore Indian English sometimes can be very difficult to understand.

Another country with varieties of English is South-Africa. Wikipedia defines South Africa as an Anglo-American language. English is actually an official language in many African countries; all of whom have developed their own version of the so called Proper English or Standard English. The South-African English is very influenced by Afrikaans, a language with similarities to the Dutch language.

There are hundreds of different varieties of English world over. Despite the enormous support English has among the masses, there are many rivals and rebels against the manifestation of the English language.  How will English develop in the future and what role will English have in society? Is the huge infiltration of the language beneficial for all countries? These are questions I definitely would like to research and reflect more on at some point.

Grand Torino

In class today we watched the movie Grand Torino. It is a 2007 American drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. He also plays the lead acting role, Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran. Kowalski is a bitter, rude, depressed and cranky old man. He lives in a dangerous neighborhood where gang violence is an issue, something he will experience close up. He suddenly finds himself fighting another war, this time a war against the gang members, trying to keep his new neighbors and friends out of harm’s way.

 It all begins when one of Walt's Hmong neighbors, a boy named Thao, is pressured by his cousin to steal Walt's car as his initiation to the cousin's gang. Through a series of events Walt develops a relationship with this boy and his family, which he initially wanted nothing to do with. In a neighborhood filled with gang members, racism, discrimination and an unsafe environment, Walt finds a light in the Hmong family. The more attached he gets to this family, the more we get to know the human being behind the tough and hardened facade Walt puts up. The movie address issues regarding cultural differences and the challenges following, how having different ethnic backgrounds affect human interaction, manners and communication. It is about young people and old people, the respect they have for each other, and how your upbringing defines your values and morals. An example of this is the scene where Walt stands on his porch smoking a cigarette when he sees a gang of punks walking by an old lady who drops all her groceries on the ground. They react by laughing, pointing and making fun of the lady before continue walking. Right before Walt decides that there is no hope for the future generations, Thao comes running cross the road to help the old lady pick up the groceries.

 We are introduced to the Hmong people, an Asian ethnic group from the regions of Vietnam, China, Laos and Thailand. I had never heard of the Hmong before I watched this movie, therefore I liked that Clint Eastwood chose this ethnic group for his film. The movie also lets us know a little about the Korean War and the hardships it inflicted on Walt. The emotions Walt revealed when talking to Thao about the war and the lives he took speaks for itself. We understand how that part of his past is a significant reason why he behaves the way he does and why he is not at peace with himself and his life. It represents the same emotions and haunting memories thousands of war veterans live with everyday, creating a real and believable character. 

The plot and the conflict of the movie slowly unfold, beginning with the gang trying to initiate Thao, even though he does not want anything to do with them. He is pressured to steal Walt's precious Ford Grand Torino, but ends up fleeing the scene. From there on out Thao becomes their target of harassment. The gang members are determined to make Thao's life very unpleasant unless he joins them. I think the movie reaches a maximum, a turning point, when Sue (Thao's sister) fumbles through the doorway of their little house almost beaten to death and raped by the gang members. After that scene everyone, even the priest, understands that something drastically has to be done and Walt is the one who is going to solve the gruesome conflict at hand. He has to make completely sure the gang members won’t ever hurt someone again. The situation evolves and escalates leading up to the big finish scene where Walt gets shot. He had obviously planned this encounter with the gang members very carefully. He made sure witnesses were watching, he made sure every single gang member had their gun pointed directly at him, and he made sure they would believe he was reaching for his own gun when he went for his jacket pocket, and he made sure every single one of them would fire.

 I say the movie has a dramatic conflict resolution due to how Walt had to sacrifice himself to put all those people away without necessarily killing them.  He had killed enough people in his life. It was absolutely amazing as well as extremely emotional to watch the transformation in Walt as he found something new to value and appreciate. Walt's act and sacrifice can be related to the meaning behind the powerful sentence from "The Kite Runner" by Khalid Hosseini that we read last semester; "There is a way to be good again". Walt had lived a life of bitterness and hatred, haunted daily by his troubled past of war and bloodshed. This was his way to be good again. This was his final redemption.  

My opinion of the film is that it is an excellent one. It focuses on the importance of reaching out and helping others.  I recommend "Grand Torino" to absolutely everyone and I can promise that you will not regret watching this powerful, emotional and inspirational movie. 

A Thousand Splendid Suns

In class we were given an assignment to choose a book to read and write about. In the following weeks I will be reading the phenomenal book ”A thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Hosseini. Last semester I read his first novel ”The kite runner” and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to continue reading books written by him. “A thousand splendid suns” was released in 2007 and became Khaled Hosseini’s second best seller and success, with remarkable reviews and well-deserved praise.

I only just started reading the book, but I have already come to the point where I do not want to put the book down. The beginning is somewhat different in this novel than in his first, “The kite runner”. Whereas “The Kite Runner” goes off to a gripping and emotional start, “A thousand splendid suns” starts off more programmatically and gains speed and power as the story slowly unfolds. Hosseini lures me slowly in to the tumultuous lives of a mother and daughter, two afghan women, and the challenges following their lives. Like I said I have just started reading the book, but so far I like it. I cannot wait to be captivated like I was by “The kite runner”.

If you want to know more about the book “A thousand splendid suns” or about the author Khaled Hosseini you can go to Khaled Hosseini's webpage

Urbanization and megacities



 A megacity is a large city with more than 10 million inhabitants. Through history the rural areas have been the most populated. However, for the first time,  in 2006 more people were living in cities than on the country sides. The book "Worldwide" presents statistics studying the percentage of world population living in urban areas. The growth of the urban areas is rising steadily and constantly as the cities has become the obvious destination for people escaping a poorer life, now searching for a better.

 According to statistics the growth of the urban population in 1800 was estimated to be 2 %. In 1950, 150 years later the percentage had increased up to 30 %. This rise was so large and distinctive because of the tremendous change in society in this period. The industrial revolution with the development of factories and industry as well as an extreme rise in population, led the people from the rural areas to the cities.  In 2000 the urban population growth rated 47 %. They expect the rate to keep increasing in the future. The rate is estimated to be 52 % in 2015 and 60% in 2030. The consequences of rapid population growth are many. Social, economic and environmental changes are inevitable resulting ethnic infiltration and cultural diversity. Some of the global challenges connected to the urban population growth will be overcrowding and lack of resources.  It will probably lead to a non sustainable development and we will ruin the environment for future generations instead of preserving it.

Mexican slum

According the executive Director of City Majors Society, the world's population will grow from 2.86 billion in 2000 to 4.89 billion by 2030. High-income countries will account for only 28 million out of the expected increase of 2.12 billion. This means that the majority of people probably will end up in the poorer cities where the conditions are challenging and hard. The proliferation of slums has never been so huge ever. Which parts of the world have the highest urban and rural population? Statistics in "Worldwide" show that North America in 1995 had an urban population of 231 million and a rural population of 67 million. By 2015 the urban population is rated to be 301 million and the rural population 59 million.  From 1995-2015 South America will experience an urban population increase of 157 million and a rural population decrease of 6 million. The urban population in Europe will increase with 14 million in contrast to the rural population who will decrease with 21 million. Africa and Asia however are the only two out of our five continents that will experience an increase of both the urban and rural population. The urban with 790 million, the rural with 131 million. The reason for this is not clear to me.  Africa and Asia are the two largest continents as well as the two most populated. The constant and extreme growth in population must be the main factor behind.

The worlds rapid urbanization is a reality. Frequently cities become new megacities. This brings both hope and insecurity. Insecurity because of the peril of overpopulation, pollution, poverty and lack of resources. The constantly increasing demand for energy that is impossible to fulfill will set our modernized and materialized world back millions of steps. Some people fear that all this will result in a collapse of the megacities. But there exists hope as well. Hope that urbanization can potentially improve the world's standard of living. Some theorists are actually convinced the migration to cities may in fact save our planet. But whether it will destroy or improve our planet is dependent on how the urbanization is managed and controlled.

The ten largest megacities in 2010:

1. Tokyo (Japan): 36.7 million
2. Delhi (India): 22.2 million
3. Sao Paulo (Brazil): 20.3 million
4. Mumbai (India): 20.0 million
5. Mexico City (Mexico): 19.5 million
6. New York City (USA): 19.4 million
7. Shanghai (China): 16.6 million
8. Calcutta (India): 15.6 million
9. Dhaka (Bangladesh): 14.6 million
10. Karachi (Pakistan): 13.1 million

Nelson Mandela

The life of one of the world's most admirable statesman since the World War 2, began in a little village  in South Africa 18. Juli 1918. On this date Nelson Mandela was born. Nelson Mandela was the first South African President to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, and served as President from the period 1994-1999. The story of Nelson Mandela, his adversity and achievements through the years, is very significant and admirably impressive. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944, fighting against the ruling National Party's apartheid policies. In 1960 the ANC was banned and Mandela started a campaign that became the beginning of the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the nation). This group represented the military part of the ANC that fought against the African apartheid government and was  categorized as a terrorist group.  Mandela was convicted for treason in June 1964 and arrested for his involvement and activism as an anti-apartheid activist. He spent 27 years in prison, most of them at Robben Island.  He was released on February 1990. But the years in captivity did not wear Mandela down. He came out stronger then ever. With his party he started the negotiations that would lead to the multi-racial democracy in 1994.

It is clear how Mandela's political involvement has been of great and vital importance regarding the abolishment of the apartheid government. But what amazes me is how he came back after 27 years in prison with a fresh and innocent mind, filled with forgiveness, goodness and hope for the future. During his presidency he frequently gave priority to reconciliation.  In 1994, at the election that would make him President, he said:

"This is for all South Africans an unforgettable occasion. It is the realization of their hopes and dreams that we have cherished for decades. We are starting a new era of hope, of reconciliation, of nation-building." I like this paragraph because the message is peace and reunion of South-Africa as one nation.  I believe Mandela's ability and willingness to forgive his captors and oppressors after his  release was absolutely  decisive to what would happen next. He became the better man, he became a good example and role-model for his people. How would things have turned out if Mandela came back from Robben Island with hate, fury and revenge on his mind? Thankfully, we will never know. 

The Kite Runner, a powerful tale

The Kite Runner is a novel by Khalid Hosseini. The book was first published in 2003 by Riverhead Books and is Hosseini’s debut novel. We are reading this book in class. I just recently started reading it and I have already found my self in love with the story, like so many others before me. The Kite Runner takes us back to the 1970s Afghanistan and we are presented to the country’s history from the 1970s to year 2002. We follow the story of Amir, the son of a wealthy and highly respected businessman, and Hassan, the son of the father’s servant and Amir’s best friend. Hassan and Amir are peers and through their childhood, inseparable. They grow up in the so what stabile Afghanistan in the early 1970s, playing in the trees, making up stories and running kites, living an uncomlicated and idyllic life. Until one life changing moment.

The two things that first got my attention while reading, was the relationships between the characters in the story. They are so complex in so many ways. First we have the relationship between Amir and his father, Baba. It has, since the birth of Amir, been strained and difficult because Amir’s mother did not survive the birth. Baba somewhere inside of himself blames his son for the pain he has had to live with ever since the loss of his wife. He showed more attention and affection for the servants and business partners than for Amir, while Amir, as a little boy struggled to make his father proud and to make him love him.

Another relationship worth mentioning is between Amir and Hassan, the servants’ son. They grew up together and they are the closest you can come to best friends. But all the while, Hassan is Amir’s servant and he is a Hazard. Back then you did not normally treat a Hazard and servant like your equal. How they balance their bond to each other is quite intriguing. I have not read enough to go any deeper than this, but what I’ve read so far is GOOD!
Picture found here