Europeans and their languages

Today I came across a very interesting article- thanks to Mr. Newman, called "Europeans and their languages". It is about the European Union, which is home to 450 million people from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Today, the EU counts 20 official languages and about 60 other indigeous and non- indigenous languages which are spoken over the geographical area.

Broadly speaking, the text refers to the EU becoming a multilingual society in the very near future and its hard times to finally achieve this goal.

As it is also said in the article, I think that a language is the path to understanding other ways of living and opens up the gate to become more tolerant towards other cultures and customs.

However, it's unquestionable that English remains the most widely spoken language throughout Europe. Furthermore, it is mentioned that the motivation of EU citizens to learn a second language or foreign languages in general, is kept within a limit. The reasons for this discouragement might be the lack of time, and the high expenses of languages classes.

Well, as far as I' concerned, I undoubtedly think that learning languages is the key to a wide range of opportunities. Not only, for getting well paid jobs, but also for oneself, to enrich one's life. I'm a language learner, so i can definitely tell you that it's hard work. Apart from studying tons and tons of vocabulary, you really have to put a lot of effort and time into that. You need discipline to sit down and cram all the vocab and grammar sections eagerly.

Remember : "The harder you work, the luckier you get"

Girls just wanna have fun...

Finally, a few of our SUK 4 English group managed to meet at the Propeller to talk solely in English. Although I was a bit skeptical about our meeting, because I didn't expect that it would work out just to talk in English, in the end it was quite a big surprise that we could constrain ourselves to do so. We talked about the weirdest topics like cystitis or whatever for about three hours, which is probably the most important point.

I just can say that all of us had a blast, this night was just awesome.
So, we're planning on our next "meeting" and I hope we'll get together as soon as possible.
I'll definitely let you know

Feeding languages

For today's class we had to read the text "and now..." from our script, which basically provides some information about English, its changes and how other languages such as "Singlish"(Singapore English) are formed. It is said that "untouched and pure" English will solely be spoken by a minority in the future. The acceptance of different Englishes increases, which means that not everything has to be put into "correct and proper" English.

According to scholars, the reason for this might be that the steadily growing number of L2 speakers ( people for whom English is the second language), will shape and forge new forms of English.

However, a new form of English hast just appeared, called Text English. Acutally it was used as a parody, but now has found its way into a used language- text messaging. I'd like to give some examples: Hr tcher 4t it was nt so gr8! (Her teacher thought it was not so great) or 2 mny wds & trs? ( too many words and letters)

Another paragraph discusses dictionaries like slang, dialect, humorous or business dictianaries, but also new words that are knocking on the door to be admitted.
Here some examples of those words which you will propbably will find next in your dicionaries:

• Gaydar: an intuitive sense that enables someone to identify wether another person is gay


• Zorse: an animal that is a hybrid of a zebra and a horse


• Gayby: a baby born to a surrogate mother in behalf of a gay couple


• nestspionage: the theft of confidental information by abuse of the Internet

To end up, I give you a sentence to think about: "The use of the English langugae is enslaving and a danger to native tongues"

Studying

I totally forgot to mention that I worked on some vocabulary for our progress test last Thursday. Johanna and I were having a hard time to elaborate all the "might-be -important" vocab of David Monagan's "Jaywalking with the Irish". Furthermore, we noted down sentences for each of the words- it was hell, because it cost a lot of time. Hopefully,all the hard work has paid off.

Volunteer project

Where is my mind?


I totally forgot to mention the project on volunteer organisation, which we were determined to prepare before the Easter break. My group, constising of Hermine, Johanna, Julia S. and me chose to present a very special and almost unique volunteer project; is set in the Caribbean. Right, in the Caribbean! What you could do there except for sunbathing, I’m going to tell you now.
Actually, the whole project takes place on the island called St. Eustatius, where you have to fullfill some tasks. The main aim is the conservation of the two National Parks (the Marine and the Quill Park), which are located on this island. As well as this, you have to do gardening and work on the trail system.The most exciting or fascinating part of this program might be the monitoring and tagging of the sea turtles during their nesting period.

All the volunteers will be supervised and probably one of the most important points to mention is that you don’t need any specific qualifications AT ALL!- solely self-motivated.
The costs for the two-month project are about € 1446 ,-, ehich covers all program costs, including the food for two months, an organised boat trip to nearby islands as well as the pick up and drop off at the airport. What you have to know additionally is that the flight costs extra, which makes it even more expensive. Before I forget, the participants have to bring their own tent, because they are living on the campside set in botanical garden. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Summing up, I really think that for people who are interested in nature and living in a tent this project is just perfect. I probably wouldn’t do it, although taking care for sea turtles sounds tempting. However, when it comes to sleeping in a botanical garden with nothing around me but the pure and untouched nature,I think that would give me the creeps.

If you are looking for further information or even want to apply for this program see: www.workingabroad.com




PS: The volunteer fair was a fantasticc idea, because we all got the opportunity to talk in English and to learn about the numerous possibilites everyone of us has doing a volunteer job.

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

As everthing seemed getting well, the Monagan’s were robbed. What’s more that David was worried about is that the thieves broke into their house while they were sleeping. It is only natural that he was preocupied about the safety of his family. Later he received a call from the police, telling him that his car was stolen and ready for collection at one of the gardaí stations.
Monagan noticed that there has been a dramatic increase in the crime rate, that the police is understaffed and prisons are bursting into seams. Monagan couldn’t sleep anymore, and began patrolling the house with a baseball bat.
In the end the Monagan’s and other victimized neighbours filed a formal complaint with the gardaí against the “uncontrolled” youth in their neighbourhood. Another progress was made when they caught the burglars who stole David’s car.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 16

As Jamie stated to get into projects with the Cork Opera House and Art gallery, David Monagan thinks that they have now ended and overcome their six-month probation period. Angesteckt with the enhusiasm of Jamie, David was pondering about creating his own newspaper. He wanted to launch a provocative, colour monthly magazine to celebrate Cork’s renaissance. The only problem for the realization was – as almost always the money. The kids quickly noted the change in their parents’ spirit. “If you atrat your magazine, Dad, won’t we have to stay here for years and years?, little Laura asked. Well, in fact the children settled in very well, but they claim that they prefer living in America, because it’s “way, way, double hundred times better” and they also miss their friends a lot back home.


CHAPTER 17

In chapter 17 he tries to get in touch with potential investors or advertisers to make his project, the magazine come true. He met Trevor White, the publisher of the “Dubliner”, who warned him that it is very hard to launch a new magazine in Cork. Not wanting to give up, he and his wife drove to County Kerry to visit Noelle Campbell- sharp, a poetential helper for the magazine scheme. Unfortunately she didn’t really give him some useful advice, but solely talked about her achievements in life. When she invited them to stay for dinner, they said goodbye politely with the excuse to get home to their kids.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 12

In this chapter David Monagan talks about the four- day jazz fesival in Cork, which is the “mother of all Irish parties”. It takes place every year at the end of October, and the city turns into a carnival where 50.000 visitors come to hear the offerings of 1000 musicians.
Then the Monagan’s decided to celebrate- after being three months inot their adventure, with a trip to a place in County Kerry called Sneem. They enjoyed the tranquil and peaceful area and savoured the spectacular vista of the mountains. They passed a sixteen- foot, steinlessstell tree sculpture with the sign: “The Way the Fairies Went”. This was a gift of Israel’s president. Apart from that we get more historical information, for instance when he writes about a church where under the altar is said to lay the reamins of one of the laziest and most outlandish priests in history of Kerry, Father Michel Walsh. He rather prefered hunting than preaching sermons.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 8

In this chapter the children started their schooling in Ireland, with topics of private and state schooling or the question of wearing school uniforms or not.
As I have been dealing with the schooling system in England and Ireland for two semesters, I really do not wanna get into this too much again, because I actually cannot hear it anymore. (Sorry!)

CHAPTER 9

In this chapter was that David had to admit his search for work is rather unsuccessfull than anythingelse. We also got to know the three stages of the Irish drunk. For those, who don't know what I’m talking about, here we go: the peacock, the monkey and the pig. (“They all start as peacocks and turn into mnkeys

and the pig comes rrooting around after”)Probably because of his problems finding a job, most of the chapter is set in the “Hi-B pub”.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 7

In chapter 7 the Monagan's are on the way to Clonakilty to visit the Music Fesitval. Apart from the difficulties David has with the roundabouts, he also realizes that the rural roads, where sheep and cows were crossing the streets where now replaced with highways. What I found very interesting was that Monagan gave us an overview where Ireland is set when it comes to driving dangerously or the rate of road fatalities. (Ireland is the seventh most dangerous place to drive on earth and has the second highest rate of road fatalities).
He also mentions the “festival crusties”, whom he had noticed at the festival. “The crusties” are considered to be the Irish hippies, who moved to the secret spaces of Ireland’s west in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 6

As David and his family thought they moved to a safe place, they never closed their front gate.Apart from that they also felt with shutting the gate imprisoned. As a consequence, many of the kids from the neighbourhood made use of the always-open gate, came over and played in the Monagan’s garden. The American family thought that their democratic behaviour would welcome every kid, which was a rather considered to be a naïve thinking by the Irish. One day when a girl spat on Laura, David followed his duties as father and talked to her in a rather unfriendly way. His reaction, talking to the girl straightforward had the consequence that the kid’s garden play furniture had been smashed to bits.
“In Cork, the lexicon of the unsaid runs deep, and conflicts are discussed in parables.”
“A newcomer to Ireland had better learn those nuances”.

But this incident didn’t make the family's lose the faith in the Irish. As one day David lost his sunglasses- not very inexpensive ones, he called Vincent Fahr, a Cork City fireman for help. After “diving and seeking” in the black, thick water-mud is probably the most suitable word, he finally managed to give them back to his proprietor. Having found a hero in Vincent, he also proved that a spirit of selfless dedication still “runs down the Irish backbone”.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 4

In this chapter of jaywalking with the Irish, David Monagan explores the pub- life - the extraordinary public house called "Hi-B", where he- as always, meets a lot of interesting and definitely one-of-a kind people with whom he is chatting .
The author also conveys the situation of the family; getting started in Ireland or making necessary arrangements.

CHAPTER 5

In this chapter he uses the first sentences “the true symbol of Ireland is a circle”, a talisman shape to explain that Irish people very often tend to reminisce about what has happened in the past. (In our English class we also heard that also the songs or conversations are full with nostalgia)
What’s more is that David and his wife visited Paddy, Bun’s son and his wife and stopped at a nearby pub, named Mary Osborne’s, where Jamie could show her talent as a singer. (“a golden noodle…”)
Monagan also mentions the vanishing of magnificent and picturesque places, which are now replaced by bungalows of the rich.

Jaywalking with the Irish

CHAPTER 2

As in chapter one, David Monagan continues to describe the reasons for moving to Ireland, the settling in and the reason why they left America. Furthermore, he depicts the commence of getting to know new people, or meeting their new neighbours. Giving us an insight into the reasons whey they left America, he mentions that they wanted to escape their odd and programmed lives, where people are too busy to interact and socialise with others.

In search of food, he found a supermarket where the first dodgy experience happened: he could not use his credit card for paying the groceries. Secondly, full of confidence he went into a bank to open a checking account, which was then deniend, because of the bank clerk’s saying that “they cannot know how he is who he say he is until six months have passed.”

CHAPTER 3

In chapter 3 David looks back on the time spent in Ireland when he was a student. During this time he rented a gate lodge in the north of Dublin, a few miles from the Trinity College, where he was meant attending the classes. But he rather prefered reading books by Falnn O’Brien than going to College. Furthermore, he mentions his friend and soul mate Bun, with whom he underwent ispiring days going to pubs and drinking “ambrosia and nectar”- carrot whiskey. Receiving the sad news that his dear old friend had died in his sixties, ripped open a wound which never healed.
David Monagan also describes places like Connemara, which he was introduced to through his friend Bun.

Connemara is a distirct in the west of Ireland. Formerly it was divided into North and South Connemara. The coast of Connemara consists of numerous peninsulas. The main town of Connemara is Clifden.

Trinity College
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin or more commonly Trinity College. It was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Ireland’s oldest university.

Flann O’Brien
Flann O’Brien was the best known pseudonym of Brian O’Nolan, who was born in 1911 and died in 1966. He was a 20th century satirist and humorist who also published under the name “Myles na gCopaleen.”

Jaywalking with the Irish

Hurray! I have managed to read „Jaywalking with the Irish” till the very end. Apart from the fact that I feared the book would be as boring as Bill Bryson’s "Lost Continent", I was overwhelmed and surprised by the courage of the Monagan's and by David's funny and intriguing style of writing. Although I got slightly confused through his mix of past and present experiences when reading the first chapters, I finally could follow his thoughts and got totally involved in his traveller story.

Pracitsing

During the first week of our Easter break I finally managed to read the book by David Monagan, „Jaywalking with the Irish“. Furthermore I worked through the grammar books “Grammar in use” and the orange one. To my surprise I did a good job, when it comes to tenses, but ons I definitely need to study more on prepostions. Another section which I focused on were the conditionals, as I am not fully aware when to use the right structure.
Struggling with “when to set a comma” correctly, I unwillingly, but finally sat down and studied the relative clauses, which was absolutely exhausting, but in the end not as difficult as I expected it to be.
Practising or improving my oral skills I called my friend in the US talking to her at least for a few minutes to find out what’s going on and conveying her all the news from my life in Austria. It was absolutely hilarious and exciting because I haven’t talked to her since my stay last February. Unfortunately my phone card was empty then...