A Language Without Limits

In this text we can read about language and its variations, in this case, Arabizi, Hinglish and Chinglish in the Greater Toronto Area (first sentence). The purpose of this text is to inform everyone (extracted from the newspaper), especially English Speakers from Toronto about the dynamic changes that language suffers, in this case, English. It is said that this changes are a special and remarkable feature of English as it "has always been a sponge language" because of the "direct consequence of international scope, the fact that English has traveled so far around the world and mixed with so many cultures and has absorbed influences from all those cultures". Many of this changes in English are due to immigrants also, and that affects the way they speak at home and with friends.
At the end of the text there are some examples of these modifications of language: Shoofihada, mezeiwan? (Look at this, it's nice).
As this is a text taken from the Toronto Star of the 19th of August 2008, it is a non-fiction text with just facts expressed in an objective,academic and formal way.
The author supports the ideas in the text with quotes from experts, expressing the point of view about the "creation" of new types of  English due to the facts mentioned before about nationalism, culture and family.

Extract from the Toronto Star Online:

English has always been a sponge language. Since it was written down in the year 700, it has adopted words from Norse, French and Latin, among others. English now has up to 700,000 words – more than almost any other language, according to Chambers.

"That's a direct consequence of international scope, the fact that English has travelled so far around the world and mixed with so many other cultures and has absorbed influences from all those other cultures. It has been an amazingly tolerant language."

Week 16
Politically Correct Language is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts, and, as purported by the term, doing so to an excessive extent. This is an example in which the man could have used other words to describe the other person.


 Language and Community
Communities are created by people to produce knowledge, authority, and language. This Communities create different types of language by using slang and colloquialisms. When you are part of a community, you get used to speak in a certain way, but what happens if you belong to many different communities?

Ebonics: Black English
In the following video you'll be able to see what Black English is, how it is used and the effect it produces. This language could be considered as part of a community because of the "slang" and words used:

 Online communities: group of people with common interests who use the Internet (web sites, email, instant messaging, etc.) to communicate, work together and purse their interests over time

When being part of an online community, you start using different language that you wouldn't normally use when talking to your friends face to face.

1. What is the issue with identity on the Internet? 

When you are in the internet, you don't always use your real name so when talking to someone you don't really know who that person is.

2. Can you be anyone you want on the Internet?

Yes, you can create a name and use it as you want.

3. Can you be indentified by your use of language?
Many times your friends will know how you write and express yourself, but when you are in the internet, with any name you want, it's easy to change the way you write.

Week 12-13-14-15: NEW ZEALAND, British Week and Winter Holidays

Week 13 was the British week, but as some of us were in New Zealand, we didn't participate in activities such as the trip to Valparaiso, Public Speaking Competition, Literary Fair or Cricket.
During the two last weeks of the first term, and the 2 weeks of winter holidays, we visited New Zealand.
Starting this trip on the 24th of May, we arrived there to Auckland and stayed there for only one day. Next day we went to Wellington, place where we would spend 3 weeks of our lives, living with a host family and immersed in the Kiwi Culture.

I stayed with the Parsonson family and went to school with Will. We visited too many places, like Kapiti Island, Museums, WWII tunnels and guns, the Zoo, Bird Sanctuaries where we saw 3 kiwis, and so many other places that is difficult to name them all.
At first it was difficult to feel comfortable in another house, with another family, but the second and third weeks were the best. It was almost like my own house.
I hope to go back if possible and I hope that Will comes next year to Chile.