THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR Essays - Slavery In The United States

THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR Essays - Slavery In The United States THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR "The tragic ?fireball in the night? imagined by Jefferson had finally rung. The Missouri Compromise had failed. Proslavery and antislavery civilians clashed in the streets and took up arms. Thousands of Northerners were willing to die for their beliefs. The Civil War had begun. The states were at war with each other." This dividing battle between the North and the South was unavoidable. The Civil War was caused by economic, political and moral problems. It all started by an alarming increase in a need for cotton, which triggered the building of a barrier between two territories in a growing nation. New Machinery was changing the textile industry in New England and Britain. These mills needed more and more cotton, creating a new demand in the south. For this trade with Europe, after 1812, raw cotton accounted for one-third all cotton exports of the United States. By 1830, it increased to half. Cotton quickly became a big money-making cash crop for the South and North economy alike. But the demand also revived the need for slaves. The plantations had to be worked, and blacks were a cheap, efficient way to get the cotton picked. To make their jobs easier, Eli Whitney took advantage of the new idea, and invented the cotton gin(short for engine). It rapidly cleaned the seeds from the short, sticky fibers of upland cotton, the variety that grew all over the South. The process was simple: a roller carried raw cotton along wooden slats. Sharp metal teeth thrust through the slats and quickly pulled the fibers from the seeds. In 1794, he obtained a patent. Whitney still earned little because it was simple enough for manufacturers to copy. Even though the machine made attaining cotton faster, slaves were still pushed to work harder and produce more. Blacks under captivity certainly led a harsh, unfair life. But that is where the white southerners believed blacks belonged. Northerners knew better. Harriet Beecher-Stowe, a female, black abolitionist was aware of these conditions. She wrote Uncle Tom?s Cabin, which was published in 1852, and described the incredible cruelty and horrors of slavery. Stowe wanted to "write something that would make the whole nation feel what an accursed thing slavery is." Her novel became widely popular, and within a year, readers had bought 300,000 copies. Wherever it went, it carried it?s powerful message of the evils of slavery. She hoped the novel would bring a peaceful end to slavery, but instead it seemed to bring the nation closer to war. Of course, not all Southerners supported slavery, nor did all Northerners oppose it. Yet antislavery feelings were on the rise in the North?few white Southerners went to extremes. Their concern lay in maintaining the plantation system as it existed. With her book she was able to gain many Northerners support in the antislavery race, yet at the same time she outraged the Southerners. Harriet?s novel was one of the many things that sparred mistrust between the North and South. The North didn?t trust the South because they refused to help Southern plantation owners capture slaves. North depended on the South for making money, and the South depended on the slaves to pick their cotton. This created the Northern fear of Competition. The North was afraid that South would gain power of crops and put them out of business. This meant that slavery would double. The North was torn between giving the slaves their rightful choices, or keeping the economy balanced. It was a matter of moral standards. The South wanted to break away from the union, while the North still wanted the two territories to stick together. This conflict was the main cause of the Civil War. The South argued about their state?s rights. They said a state could nullify a federal law it did not consider constitutional. Southern states based their right to leave the union, on the fact the original 13 states had existed separately before they formed together for the United States. The South could break their allegiance to the union because they were not part of the original U.S. If they could form there own confederacy, the South could continue the use of slaves while also

The Keyboards Every Writer Should Be Using - Freewrite Store

The Keyboards Every Writer Should Be Using - Freewrite Store As a writer, you’ve probably used a variety of different keyboards, and  know that they’re not all created equal. Keyboards come in many different styles and choosing the right one can have a big effect on your typing speed, comfort, and accuracy. Some have traditional solid, clicky keys with switches inside them, some have modern flat, silent keys, and some fall halfway in between. What kind of keyboard should you be using? In this article, we’ll look at the three main types of keyboards, what makes them different from each other, and which one is likely to be best for you. Membrane keyboards These days, most desktop keyboards are membrane keyboards. Their name derives from their construction. Rather than each key being independent with an inbuilt mechanical switch, all the keys sit on top of a single plastic membrane that houses the electronic circuitry. Between the keys and the circuitry is a rubber sheet with domes that give the keys their characteristic bounce-back when you type. They’re popular because they’re light, cheap to produce, are relatively spill-resistant and give you a bit of tactile feedback. Chiclet keyboards If you’re typing on a modern laptop, chances are you have an island-style keyboard, popularly known as a chiclet keyboard because the square keys with radial corners look somewhat like Chiclets chewing gum. While there’s usually a membrane beneath these keyboards too, the rubber domes that are present beneath higher-profile keys are either omitted altogether or replaced with scissor switches or butterfly switches, which enable the use of very low, flat keys that can fit into thinner and thinner devices. Mechanical keyboards The main difference with a mechanical keyboard is that each key is a separate component with its own switch and metal spring. There are many different kinds of switches that can be used in mechanical keyboards, and each type gives a different user experience with varying levels of travel (the distance you have to press the key for it to register a stroke), bump (the level of tactile feedback) and noise (the click the key makes when depressed). Most mechanical keyboards contain Cherry switches. While their patent for the switch design has recently expired, opening the way for other manufacturers to imitate it, Cherry is still considered the industry leader in keyboard switch technology. Their MX switch, which was first introduced to the market in 1983, is one of the most successful ever made. Cherry switches come in different colors, and each color has its own set of characteristics. The full range is wide, but there are three main variants. Cherry MX Blue These switches have a tactile bump and a loud click that occurs when the keystroke registers, and are favoured by those who like a more typewriter-esque experience. They only need to be depressed to the click point to activate the keystroke but require more force than the Red or Brown variants. Cherry MX Red These switches are favoured by gamers because they have no tactile bump or noise and require less force to press, which is an advantage when you’re engaged in a fast-paced cyber-battle. Cherry MX Brown These are an excellent all-rounder switch – they require the lighter actuation force of the Reds but have the nice tactile bump of the Blues. They lack the Blues’ loud click, however, making them perfect for use in offices or coffee shops where you don’t want to annoy those around you with a constant flurry of clacky keystrokes. Why mechanical keyboards are better for writers People who convert to mechanical keyboards often become lifelong fans because of the satisfying typing experience and range of benefits they get from using them. What makes mechanical keyboards so good for writers? 1. Accuracy There’s nothing worse than trying to type fast on a chiclet keyboard where all the keys are flat and close together, and you’re forever hitting the key beside the one you want with the edge of your finger. Like the keys on a traditional typewriter, mechanical keyboard keycaps tend to be nicely contoured to help your finger naturally hit the centre of the key as you type, resulting in fewer typos. 2. Comfort Mechanical keyboards require less force to type, and you don’t need to press the keys all the way down – only to the point of the click or the tactile bump. Membrane keyboards require you to â€Å"bottom out† each key complete the circuit, something that people often describe as a heavy, â€Å"mushy† typing experience, leading to fatigue in the fingers, hands and wrists. 3. Speed Contoured, more responsive keys naturally lead to faster typing. Another benefit of mechanical keyboards is n-key rollover. Rollover is a technical term for how many simultaneous keypresses a keyboard can register accurately. Membrane keyboards often have a much lower rollover which results in â€Å"ghosting†. That’s when you’re typing flat out, your keystrokes overlap, and your keyboard registers extra keystrokes, resulting in additional â€Å"ghost† letters. Keyboards with n-key rollover can accurately register every keypress, regardless of how many keys you strike simultaneously, meaning you don’t have to slow down to improve accuracy or stop to fix ghosting typos. 4. Durability Mechanical keyboards last a lot longer than their membrane counterparts. Rubber dome switches tend to lose their bounce after about five million keystrokes, and you’ll notice that some keys will become unreliable or stop working completely. In comparison, Cherry key switches are designed to last for fifty million keystrokes. 5. Customization If you’ve got Cherry switches on your mechanical keyboard, you can swap out the keycaps for other styles. Gaming? Change your W, A, S, D keys to red, so they’re easier to locate quickly. Swap your function keys or numeric keypad to a contrasting color for extra style and visibility. Want to modify the feel of the keys? Grab a dampening kit to reduce the travel and key noise. Ready to make the switch? If you’re raring to write your next novel, article or poem on a mechanical keyboard, have a look at The Freewrite by Astrohaus - a smart typewriter that incorporates an industry-leading full-size mechanical keyboard into a portable device with an E-ink screen that works perfectly outdoors as well as indoors. A stand-alone writing tool, it contains none of the distractions of your desktop or laptop, but still has the ability to save your work to the Cloud. Designed especially for writers, the mechanical keyboard contains Cherry MX Brown switches which means not only will you be distraction-free, but so will everyone around you. Check out the Freewrite 2nd Generation Smart Typewriter for more information. Related: Laptop vs. Freewrite    About the author: Claire Wilkins is a freelance copywriter and editor from New Zealand. She loves to write about travel, health, home, and proper punctuation. After a career in financial services spanning almost three decades, Claire left the corporate world behind to start Unmistakable - her writing and editing business. She creates website copy, blogs, and newsletters for creative agencies and small businesses, and  specializes  in polishing existing content until it shines. In her spare time, Claire enjoys cloud-spotting, singing in the car and editing video.

Assess the Value of Formal Investment Appraisal Techniques Essay

Assess the Value of Formal Investment Appraisal Techniques - Essay Example The central themes of all three writers under review have therefore been to look into how best practices in formal investment start up have been adhered to; particularly with the cases of acquisition of venture capital. Below, there is a detailed discussion of the three themes of the essay as presented from the perspectives of the three writers. Formal Investment Appraisal as Part of a Businesss Plan (Ashmalla et al.) Ashamalla, Orife and Abel (2008) who pointed to venture capital as a formal investment type in today’s contemporary world, they point to the designing of business plans as the most viable formal investment appraisal to use to secure venture capital and also assess the progress of the ventures that come out of the venture capital investment. Ashamalla, Orife and Abel (2008 p. 385) take the meaning of formal investment from the perspective of venture capital. The writers therefore undertake exclusive research on how business owners perceive venture capital and how they go about the subject. The writers explain that venture capital is an aspect of formal investment whereby business owners and investors seek for source of funding to start up their businesses and ventures. This is has indeed been an ongoing phenomenon in contemporary business setting for a very long time. Primarily, investors and entrepreneurs seek for capital to start up their businesses because of the belief they have always had in their abilities to make revenues, amass profits and pay off the sources of their capital. Because the search for capital to start up any venture results in an eventual amassment of wealth, Ashamalla, Orife and Abel (2008, p. 386) regard the practice as an important investment pattern in contemporary business scenarios. Generally, investments are undertaken to make profits. To this extent, the writer agrees with Ashamalla, Orife and Abel (2008) on this point that venture capital is now regarded as an important source of formal investment for business owners and investors. The writer however criticizes the situation whereby investors have to look for other form of funds to pay off their debts. This is because it is not always certain that the ventures they start will be profitable. The writers therefore collected data on how different respondents who were all business oriented personnel viewed and envisioned the use of business plan as an appraisal technique. In the larger sense, there were several respondents who agreed to the importance of business plans in helping investors secure venture capital. The reason given by such respondents has to do with the fact that business plans helps the creditors in assessing the real strategies and visions of the capital seekers. In this way, the capital seekers are put in a better position to convince creditors that they have put enough plans in place to pay off the debts should it be granted. There were respondents who also held the view that business plans are only cosmetic and that they do not actually raise the chances of capital seekers of securing capital. From the estimation of the writer, an investor who has not started a venture yet could have nothing more tangible in proofing his lot than a business plan. Business plans are there very important appraisal techniqu

Analysis of Ducatis Success Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of Ducatis Success - Case Study Example Minoli’s turnaround was attributed to the company’s identification of its core competencies which were used for the turnaround. To this end, significant resources and money were devoted. Furthermore, In addition to the creation of Ducati stores in particular markets, the company has expanded its customer base which was once restricted to a handful of expert bikers. Ducati can sustain its position in the sports segment if it manages to remain focused on this niche segment and continues to innovate. This is because the company already enjoys a strong position in this segment by virtue of its unique valve control system which has an unmatched sound (see Appendix 1). Furthermore, it can capitalize its already strong reputation owing to its high performance in the international racing circuit symbolized by the â€Å"dramatic victory† of its 750 Super Sports model (Gavetti, 2002). This, added with favorable press coverage and the company’s branding strategy of collaborating with various players in the racing market, can increase the demand for Ducati’s products and strengthen its image (see Appendix 1). Considering that most authors have vouched for the significance of competitive human resources as a source of competitive advantage (Kleiman, 2010), Ducati to has a team of top class engineers that shall enable it a continued success in the segment. Ducati faces threat from Japanese manufacturers that were more reliable and efficient than the motorcycles developed by Ducati. Although Honda and other Japanese manufacturers pose a threat to the survival of Ducati in this segment, they cannot stop Ducati’s growth in this segment. This is because Ducati possessed top class engineers that were adamant at defeating Japanese competitors.  Ã‚  

Identifying a problem “Drug trafficking” Essay Example for Free

Identifying a problem â€Å"Drug trafficking† Essay This paper studies two different opinions on the impact of drug trafficking laws. One school feels that current laws on drugs have been effective and efficient in containing drug use problem and should be retained. Others see the laws as unjustifiably harsh and skewed against certain groups in society. They argue that drugs should be legalized to help solve abuse problem. The first article gives an open assessment of the impact drug laws have had on drug use problem. The Successes And Failures Of George Bush’s War On Drugs (Check, Dan, 1995). Successive U. S presidents have delivered a plan to fight off drug abuse. President Bush campaign against drug trafficking was similar to that of Ronald Reagan before him. According to Check, their emphasis was on reduction of demand of drugs at home. This was a shift away from curtailing supply in foreign markets. The bush was campaign according to Dan Check targeted the offender rather than the problems. This plan emphasized the incarceration of offenders over rehabilitate and campaigns on avoidance of drug use. The administration boosted its drugs war kitty with the drug law enforcement getting the loin’s share. The penitentiary system also got a substantial amount leaving only a relatively small amount for rehabilitation and a version. Prevention would be carried out through the existing program called DARE. This program targeted school kids. States were bound by this plan and any diversion would attract financial sanctions. This plan has some positive results in that there was significant reduction in cocaine abuse. This effort was felt mainly in the middle class. Check partly attributes this to new realization by the middle class of the efforts of cocaine. The plan however failed in curbing drug use among the poor. According to Dan Check, drug abuse among the poor actually rose with the introduction of the plan. He adds that severe crack down of uses over burdened the prison system. It did not address the root cause of drug trafficking The Drug War on Civic Liberties (Dan Baum, 1992) According to Baum, the war on drugs is an infringement on one’s rights. The laws are unreasonably harsh and hysterical and hence should be done away with. New laws introduced follow the precedence set by the first drug laws. First drug laws on marijuana and cocaine were retrospective as they were made with a certain group of people in mind. The more recent drug legislation is also made with the black community in mind. This community is the biggest victim of drug law enforcement. These laws are racially motivated. There are more black youth in prison than any other group despite their minority status on drug grounds. They make easy targets of law enforcers. He feels that the drug laws have become petty and harsh to ‘offenders’. Mere possession of drugs even without the intent earns one a maximum sentence. First offenders are not given lighter sentences. Past drug offenses continue to haunt the offender as he or she is labeled as a threat to society and is closely monitored. However what is surprising is that, while the legislations theoretically target drug pusher, it is mainly those who are found in possession who are found in jail. According to Baum, the courts are skewed against offenders in drug cases. The drug laws ensure rather harsh judgments are dished out in federal courts, leaving the judges very small room to maneuver. They also give prosecutors the right to challenge the ‘light’ decisions, which is normally the prerogative of the accused. The cases are not heard in state courts but in federal courts. The penitentiary system does not aim at rehabilitation of drug offenders rather it is pre-occupied with punishment. Expenditure on rehabilitation program fades in comparison with expenditure on drug enforcements laws. Law enforcers unfairly target drug offenders because of the hefty bonuses they earn when they successfully present evidence that leads to conviction of the drug offender. They employ heavy surveillance of past offenders and carry out warrant less searches on a suspect’s property or cars. Baum feels that drug offenders do not enjoy civil right enjoyed by other defendants in courts of law. Their property can be attached along with legal fees of the defense attorney. They are also denied bail to keep the streets risk free. He adds that, the drug enforcement agencies evaluate their success on the basis of overblown value of seized drugs in the black market rather than level of emancipation of the people from drug dependency. The federal government has enhanced its budget on drug law enforcement with the sole aim of jailing offenders over prioritizes the war against drugs over other crucial areas such as environmental degradation. This campaign has bloated the prison system while the judicial system is overworked. More officers are employed to deal with the perceived threats of drug use. Most tax payers are content on increased government expenditure in the war against drugs. This, Baum points out, is as a result of the amount of public information that is available to the taxpayers. The media gives war on drugs a lot of coverage and puts much emphasis of drugs. This is in addition various public campaigns against drug use. Few people express a different opinion on the issue is due to victimization on anybody who speaks out on the injustices of the system by law enforcers. Baum urges that convictions of drug possession are conviction of a crime without a victim. He adds that it is wasting away of productive labor force in the young men held up in prison. Most of those serving time for drug possessions are responsible and peace loving individuals.

Love For Life Essay -- essays research papers

Raised with strict family values, I cringe to phrases like, "I can’t wait to get my children out of the house," or "As soon as my children reach 18, they are on their own." I become shocked to discover that age defines the release date in which children are no longer supported by parents. Children are the offspring to which parents give birth to in life. Regardless of the age, an individual will always be a child to one’s mother or father and should receive support until, and beyond, the age of being released into the world. Support is the assistance provided on earth. In order to live happily in this world, one must be supported or support themselves with food, a house, finance, security, approval, acceptance, and love. These, all of which are determined by Abraham H. Maslow, a well- respected psychologist, are the "hierarchy of needs." These are needs that everyone should have the ability to acquire. Unfortunately, the much needed support from many parents are being cut off too early. As a college student entering adulthood, I witness many peers facing very stressful times of their lives. At this time of their lives, a number of peers have been "released" from parental support, hoped to have been given to them until individual security was found. Instead, many peers have found themselves desperately "on their own." This early release from parental support comes at a crucial time to many, because it disrupts the need to prepare themselves completely for society. To too many of my fellow students, education and support is replaced by financial and emotional burdens. The weight of the many hardships that arrive, restricts a clear thinking mind, necessary for education and personal development. A child must have full support from the parents to gain knowledge and security in the world. Immature detachment of parental support, will result in the disturbance to acquire personal potential. Parents should think about the needs of the children and continue to support them through the many lengths and levels throughout life. We live in a complex society where love, care, advice, and assistance are of priceless value. Because living is about learning, parents should be available to their children for under... ...l become useful in this world. An uneducated and unemotionally stable individual may experience much hardship and struggle. Timeless support from parents is all that one needs to find the development of our potentials and full understanding of the world. Through parents we learn to love, to care, to find acceptance, and to protect ourselves from the physical and social environment. We learn from what is right and wrong as a child, to understanding confusing situations to life as adults. While seeking love and support as infants, adolescents, and adults, we return to our love back to our parents as they reach old age and are of need to our care and acceptance. Through timeless love and support we are brought up as responsible, caring, and competent people to society because of our well developed and mature knowledge. Only when, as a young adult, I see well-established love and support from parents to my peers, do I really see the love and appreciation felt from my peers towards the mother and/or father. This unconditional, untimed love and support are all that is necessary to breed happiness in both parent and child. Put your paper here.

Yellow Fever

1.) Three diseases that could possibly be related to Todd's case are Malaria, Yellow Fever, and Typhoid Fever. All of these included the same symptoms, such as: fever, headache, chills, vomiting, bleeding of some type(gums or nose†¦. even though â€Å"nose bleeding† wasn't a symptom of Todd's†¦ it still threw up a red flag to me), joint pain(could be related to back pain), liver symptoms(yellow skin/jaundice – Malaria doesn't have â€Å"liver symptoms†, but it does have ‘anemia' as a symptom, so this still placed it as a â€Å"contender† for me)†¦etc. 2.) The pathogen most likely affecting Todd is the genus Flavivirus, which is transmitted by the vector Masoni africana. I believe this to be the pathogen & vector not only because it is the primary carrier of yellow fever(which matches the signs & symptoms Todd was experiencing), but also because it is found in tropical areas(they were in the rain forests of Ghana). 3.) The clinical name for Todd's condition is Jungle/Sylvatic Yellow Fever(Coquillettidia fuscopennata). It is usually spread from infected monkeys to humans by the bite of a female mosquito. It is most commonly found in tropical rain forests(aka ‘jungles')†¦. this is where the â€Å"jungle† part of the name of the condition derives from. – The â€Å"yellow† part of ‘Yellow Fever' comes from the fact that as the virus enters the later(toxic phase), the liver is damaged, causing jaundice(YELLOWing of the skin). 4.) There are two types of Yellow Fever†¦ Urban Yellow Fever and Jungle/Sylvatic Yellow Fever. The Urban Yellow Fever is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is spread when the mosquito bites an infected person and then carries that virus to another human. The Jungle/Sylvatic Yellow Fever usually originates in monkeys and is typically spread to humans when they enter a rainforest in Africa(or any other tropical atmosphere) via the Masoni africana. -This virus can't be spread from person to person†¦ only by mosquito bite. 5.) If Kevin wasn't bitten by a mosquito with this specific virus, he won't have the virus(or any symptoms of this virus). He should, however, be tested for this virus because the first symptoms don't appear until 3-6 days after being bitten by the mosquito. 6.) The virus is endemic in the tropical areas of Africa, due to the fact that the Masoni africana is found in African rainforests AND most of the residents of this area have built up an immunity to this virus†¦ but it could possibly become an epidemic if large numbers of non-Africa-residing people continue to visit this area and become infected OR if the mosquitos that carry this virus are brought out of Africa to other areas of the world and begin to infect numerous individuals. 7.) Yellow Fever is very UNcommon in the United States†¦ the incidence rate is approximately 1:272,000,000. 8.) There is no specific treatment for Yellow Fever. The infected individual is usually hospitalized and signs and symptoms are treated as they arise†¦. Such administering fluids for dehydration, pain relief medications, dialysis for kidney failure, blood transfusions due to massive blood loss†¦etc. 9.) It IS possible that Todd will die from this virus. It is estimated that there are 30,000 deaths out of the 200,000(worldwide) total cases of Yellow Fever annually. 10.) The Yellow Fever vaccine is available and is the single-most important preventative measure against this virus. It has been shown to provide immunity for 30-35 years or more and begins to provide immunity within one week. This immunization is required prior to arriving in Ghana(Africa).

Is Hong Kong an Ideal Place

Is Hong Kong an ideal place? According to the Global Urban Competitiveness Report (2007-2008) Hong Kong dropped 7 places to 26 as a competitive city for investment. If it's any consolation, Hong Kong remained one of the most affluent cities in the world and one of the top 5 in Asia in term of economy, infrastructure and freedom of speech. Yes, Hong Kong is undoubtedly achieved so well with flying color, having a stable economy, good job market and good accessibility to anywhere due to intra-city transport network. However, the quality of life in this cosmopolitan city does not completely meet the expectation of its people in terms of social, economical and environmental indicators. Firstly, Hong Kong is particularly shot of flat land for building purpose. Owning to the scarcity of land and the large population, housing has often been a grave problem in Hong Kong. Indeed, many Hong Kong people aspire to own a better home. However, due to spiraling rent and house prize, more and more people are unable to afford the high value. Sandwich class suffers the most. As they are not eligible to public housing, the only choice for them is to endure extremely high prize. Reasonably good housing accommodation within the means of the average Hong Kong people is often seriously lacking—- the government should exert themselves. Secondly, serious air pollution spoils the quality of our life and threatens our very existence. In fact, the problem of air pollution has been particularly acute in recent year and the number of days with foggy condition per year also increases. Those lingering exhaust fumes leave a bad impression on the minds of visitors. This turn down the tourism industry, as they are unsatisfied the view of the Victoria Harbour. Thirdly, as Hong Kong follows a â€Å"small government† traditional thinking, one of the important reasons for having an unprecedented surplus is a simple tax system and lower tax rate, attracting businessman to invest and tourists to spend here. Behind the government’s bumper harvest, a large demand to share the fruits of economic development is pushing on Financial Secretary. After the fiscal budget is launched, the policy remains the same as the previous budget, showing that they have no sense of improving the quality of living of the citizens and strengthen the competitiveness of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has best of the west and east blended here. Hong Kong people are proud of having such advantages. When the housing problem and air pollution are solved, Hong Kong will surely become a more stable and prosperous city. Hong Kong government should take more concern from society to get benefits from flourishing economy.

Linguistic Typology

Linguistic Typology Linguistic Typology is the analysis, comparison, and classification of languages according to their common structural features and forms. This is also called cross-linguistic typology.   The branch of linguistics that studies the structural similarities between languages, regardless of their history, as part of an attempt to establish a satisfactory classification, or typology, of languages is known as typological linguistics (Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics, 2008). Examples   Typology is the study of linguistic systems and recurring patterns of linguistic systems. Universals are typological generalizations based on these recurring patterns.Linguistic typology took off in its modern form with the ground-breaking research of Joseph Greenberg, such as, for example, his seminal paper on a cross-linguistic survey of word order leading to a series of implicational universals (Greenberg 1963). . . . Greenberg also attempted to establish methods for quantifying typological studies, in order that linguistic typology could meet scientific standards (cf. Greenberg 1960 [1954]). Furthermore, Greenberg re-introduced the importance of studying the ways languages change, but with the emphasis that language changes give us possible explanations for language universals (cf., for example, Greenberg 1978).Since Greenbergs pioneering efforts linguistic typology has grown exponentially and is, as any science, continuously being enhanced and redefined as to methods and approac hes. The last few decades have seen the compilation of large-scale databases with the help of ever more refined technology, which have led to new insights as well as given rise to new methodological issues.(Viveka Velupillai, An Introduction to Linguistic Typology. John Benjamins, 2013) Tasks of Linguistic Typology Among the tasks of general linguistic typology we include . . . a) the classification of languages, i.e., the construction of a system to order natural languages on the basis of their overall similarity; b) the discovery of the mechanism of construction of languages, i.e., the construction of a system of relationships, a network by means of which not only the obvious, categorial mechanisms of language can be read but also the latent ones.(G. Altmann and W. Lehfeldt, Allgemeinge Sprachtypologie: Prinzipien und Messverfahren, 1973; quoted by Paolo Ramat in Linguistic Typology. Walter de Gruyter, 1987) Fruitful Typological Classifications: Word Order In principle, we might pick on any structural feature and use it as the basis of classification. For example, we could divide languages into those in which the word for a canine animal is [dog] and those in which it isnt. (The first group here would contain exactly two known languages: English and the Australian language Mbabaram.) But such a classification would be pointless since it wouldnt lead anywhere.The only typological classifications which are of interest are those which are fruitful. By this, we mean that the languages in each category should turn out to have other features in common, features which are not used to set up the classification in the first place.[The most celebrated and fruitful of all typological classifications has proved to be one in terms of basic word order. Proposed by Joseph Greenberg in 1963 and more recently developed by John Hawkins and others, word-order typology has revealed a number of striking and previously unsuspected correlations. For example, a language with SOV [Subject, Object, Verb] order is highly likely to have modifiers that precede their head nouns, auxiliaries that follow their main verbs, postpositions instead of prepositions, and a rich case system for nouns. A VSO [Verb, Subject, Object] language, in contrast, usually has modifiers that follow their nouns, auxiliaries that precede their verbs, prepositions, and no cases.(R.L. Trask, Language, and Linguistics: The Key Concepts, 2nd ed., edited by Peter Stockwell. Routledge, 2007) Typology and Universals [T]ypology and universals research are intimately related: if we have a set of significant parameters whose values none the less show a high degree of correlation, then the network of relations among these parameter values can equally be expressed in the form of a network of implicational universals (absolute or tendencies).Clearly, the more widespread the net of logically independent parameters that can be linked in this way, the more significant is the typological base being used.(Bernard Comrie, Language Universals, and Linguistic Typology: Syntax and Morphology, 2nd ed. The University of Chicago Press, 1989) Typology and Dialectology There is evidence from linguistic varieties around the world, including Greek dialects, to suggest that the distribution of structural characteristics over the worlds languages may not be entirely random from a sociolinguistic point of view. For example, we have seen indications that long-term contact involving child bi-lingualism may lead to increased complexity, including redundancy. Conversely, contact involving adult second language acquisition may lead to increased simplification. Furthermore, communities with dense, tightly-knit social networks may be more likely to demonstrate fast-speech phenomena and the consequences of this, and more likely to experience unusual sound changes. I would like to suggest, moreover, that insights of this type can complement research in linguistic typology by giving an explanatory edge to the findings of this discipline. And I would also suggest that these insights should give some sense of urgency to typological research: if it is true that cert ain types of linguistic structure are to be found more frequently, or possibly only, in dialects spoken in smaller and more isolated communities, then we had better research these types of communities as rapidly as we can while they still exist. Source Peter Trudgill, The Impact of Language Contact and Social Structure. Dialectology Meets Typology: Dialect Grammar From a Cross-linguistic Perspective, ed. by Bernd Kortmann. Walter de Gruyter, 2004

Robert Sengstacke Abbott Biography

Robert Sengstacke Abbott Biography Abbot was born in Georgia on November 24, 1870. His parents, Thomas and Flora Abbott were both former slaves. Abbott’s father died when he was young, and his mother remarried John Sengstacke, a German immigrant.   Abbott attended Hampton Institute in 1892 where he studied printing as a trade. While attending Hampton, Abbott toured with the Hampton Quartet, a group similar to the Fisk Jubilee Singers. He graduated in 1896 and two years later, he graduated from Kent College of Law in Chicago. Following law school, Abbott made several attempts to establish himself as an attorney in Chicago. Due to racial discrimination, he was unable to practice law. Newspaper Publisher: The Chicago Defender In 1905, Abbott founded The Chicago Defender. With an investment of twenty-five cents, Abbott published the first edition of  The Chicago Defender  by using his landlord’s kitchen to print copies of the paper. The first edition of the newspaper was an actual collection of news clippings from other publications as well as Abbotts reporting.   By 1916,  The Chicago Defender’s  circulation was 50,000 and it was considered one of the best African-American newspapers in the United States. Within two years, the circulation had reached 125,000 and by the early 1920s, it was well over 200,000.   From the outset, Abbott employed yellow journalistic tactics-sensational headlines and dramatic news accounts of African-American communities. The paper’s tone was militant. Writers  referred to African-Americans, not as black or negro but as the race. Graphic images of lynchings, assaults and other acts of violence against African-Americans were published prominently in the paper. These images were not present to scare its readers, but rather, to shed light on lynchings and other acts of violence that African-Americans endured throughout the United States.  Through its coverage of the  Red Summer of 1919, the publication used these race riots to campaign for anti-lynching legislation. As an African-American news publisher, Abbott’s mission was not only to print news stories, he had a nine-point mission that included: American race prejudice must be destroyedThe opening up of all trade-unions to blacks as well as whites.Representation in the Presidents CabinetEngineers, firemen, and conductors on all American railroads, and all jobs in government.Representation in all departments of the police forces over the entire United StatesGovernment schools open to all American citizens in preference to foreignersMotormen and conductors on surface, elevated and motor bus lines throughout AmericaFederal legislation to abolish lynching.Full enfranchisement of all American citizens. Abbott was a supporter of The Great Migration and wanted southern African-Americans to escape the economic disadvantages and social injustice that plagued the South. Writers such as Walter White and Langston Hughes served as columnists; Gwendolyn Brooks published one of her earliest poems in the pages of the publication. The Chicago Defender and the Great Migration   In an effort to push the Great Migration forward, Abbott held an event on May 15, 1917, called the Great Northern Drive. The Chicago Defender  published train schedules and job listings in its advertising pages as well as editorials, cartoons, and news articles to persuade African-Americans to relocate to northern cities. As a result of Abbott’s depictions of the North, The Chicago Defender became known as â€Å"the greatest stimulus that the migration had.†Ã‚   Once African-Americans had reached northern cities, Abbott used the pages of the publication not only to show horrors of the South, but also the pleasantries of the North.

3 questions - statistics related Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

3 questions - statistics related - Assignment Example According to the table above, the mean average miles per gallon are 28.3792 when the total sample of purchasers is 24. In the same manner, out of the 24 sampled data, the sample variance is 8.859 whereas the sample standard deviation is 2.97643 as shown in the SPSS output table above. Under the sample of 24, which is below 30, the most appropriate statistical test, using the 0.5 significance level is the student’s t-distribution test. Under this test, the sample must be 30 or less, and the arithmetic mean is not normally distributed. According to the output table above, the Adjusted R squared is 0.030, meaning that only 3% of the variables explain the dependent variable Int. 2. The adjusted R squared helps in predicting how the regression model predicts responses for the explained observations. In this case, it is the fraction by which the variance of the errors that depends on the sum of squares is less than the variance of the dependent variables. Thus, as argued above, only 3% of the independent variables can predict the dependent variable statistically. When the ANOVA test is run in determining the means among populations, the f statistical value versus the critical value are determined. Under the corrected model, the f statistics is 3.227. Under the assumptions of the hypothesis tests, when the f statistic in attest is lower than the critical f value, then the null hypothesis is rejected. The value obtained means that under the purchase intensions implied by the data above, the null hypothesis is accepted and the independent variables in the states sampled explain the purchase variations. Also as shown in the second table, the means of the states in terms of consumptions are 37.0.18, 50.357, and 51.459 for the states IL, LA, and TX respectively. The standard error is also 4.339, 4.965, and 4.597 respectively as shown in the table