Will English Be The Dominant Language Forever?
There are more than 6800 languages spoken all over the world. Even though English is the global and universal language of today's world, it will not last as a dominant language for more than seventy years. English as a language will expand more in the next thirty years. But as soon as it reaches its climax, it will declaim later on.
English as any other language can be influenced by several factors. A lot of researches have been done in this field. According to some experts in Harvord University, there are basically two pressures on the English language. First, English will be the universal language as long as the United States controls the world. Once U.S.A looses the grip on things, English will be lost. For instance, when the Roman Empire collapsed as a country, its language, Latin, separated into three languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese). Second, there is a theory that the lack of formal grammar teaching in foreign countries contrasting with the formal English grammar teaching to second language learners will lead to a new kind of English.
A language can be imagined as a human being. It grows until it reaches its peak. However, once it reaches the peak, it will go down again and less people will speak that language. Therefore, it does not matter how long a language is going to live because it will die one day.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
THE GREAT LAKES 3
Challenges:
Even though both Canada and the United States have placed a number of regulations in order to protect this valuable natural resource, many challenges threat the lakes. Through the last few hundred years, people have fished from the lakes and depended on them not only as a source for local consumption but also as a major source for international exportation and commerce. As a result, some species are becoming endangered while some have already become extinct. This problem was further amplified due to the removal of the trees covering the nearby streams and channels which provide spawning grounds. It affected the necessary shade, temperature, and moderating conditions which are essential to reserve endangered species. Other ecological problems in the lakes and their surroundings have stemmed from the urban sprawl, sewage disposal, and toxic industrial discharge.
The Great Lakes are a great and valuable resource for the whole planet, and for Canada and the United States in particular. Their unique features and large size make them an important habitat for many of the planet’s unique species. Appreciating and protecting the Great Lakes is a mission of humanity as well as a major part in saving the planet we live on. However, great effort is being made by both neighboring countries, yet much more work needs to be done and further cooperation is essential for guaranteeing a possible future for the Great Lakes.
Even though both Canada and the United States have placed a number of regulations in order to protect this valuable natural resource, many challenges threat the lakes. Through the last few hundred years, people have fished from the lakes and depended on them not only as a source for local consumption but also as a major source for international exportation and commerce. As a result, some species are becoming endangered while some have already become extinct. This problem was further amplified due to the removal of the trees covering the nearby streams and channels which provide spawning grounds. It affected the necessary shade, temperature, and moderating conditions which are essential to reserve endangered species. Other ecological problems in the lakes and their surroundings have stemmed from the urban sprawl, sewage disposal, and toxic industrial discharge.
The Great Lakes are a great and valuable resource for the whole planet, and for Canada and the United States in particular. Their unique features and large size make them an important habitat for many of the planet’s unique species. Appreciating and protecting the Great Lakes is a mission of humanity as well as a major part in saving the planet we live on. However, great effort is being made by both neighboring countries, yet much more work needs to be done and further cooperation is essential for guaranteeing a possible future for the Great Lakes.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
THE GREAT LAKES 2
Their affects:
Due to the fact that the lakes occupy a large area, they have a great influence on their surroundings. This effect can be clearly noticeable on weather, which is referred to as the lake effect. Due to this effect, in winter, the moisture is picked up by the prevailing winds from the west which can produce very heavy snowfall. This effect is especially sensed along the lakeshores in the east such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York. It is not uncommon for heavy snow to occur while the sky is completely clear because of this phenomenon. The lakes also moderate seasonal temperatures somewhat by absorbing heat and cooling the air in the summer. After that, the lakes slowly radiate this accumulating heat during the autumn. This temperature buffering produces ideal areas for fruit growing, especially in the south, which gave these areas their name as the "fruit belts". Furthermore, the area on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan has become a home to many North America’s fine wineries.
Economy:
Both Canada and the United States relay heavily on the Great Lakes for generating energy, for fresh and drinking water, and for their industry and economy. The fishing industry in the lakes alone generates over four billion U.S dollars a year, which includes Sport fishing, commercial fishing, and Native American fishing. Since ancient times, the lakes and their connective and branching rivers were the only practical means of moving people and goods. Later, the main business of many of the passenger liners in the 1800s was the transporting of immigrants. Today, the Great Lakes remain a main traveling route, and it is extensively used for regional transport. However, one of the reasons that helped the lakes to be accessible is the great lakes waterway, also known as the great lakes St-Laurent system.
Due to the fact that the lakes occupy a large area, they have a great influence on their surroundings. This effect can be clearly noticeable on weather, which is referred to as the lake effect. Due to this effect, in winter, the moisture is picked up by the prevailing winds from the west which can produce very heavy snowfall. This effect is especially sensed along the lakeshores in the east such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York. It is not uncommon for heavy snow to occur while the sky is completely clear because of this phenomenon. The lakes also moderate seasonal temperatures somewhat by absorbing heat and cooling the air in the summer. After that, the lakes slowly radiate this accumulating heat during the autumn. This temperature buffering produces ideal areas for fruit growing, especially in the south, which gave these areas their name as the "fruit belts". Furthermore, the area on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan has become a home to many North America’s fine wineries.
Economy:
Both Canada and the United States relay heavily on the Great Lakes for generating energy, for fresh and drinking water, and for their industry and economy. The fishing industry in the lakes alone generates over four billion U.S dollars a year, which includes Sport fishing, commercial fishing, and Native American fishing. Since ancient times, the lakes and their connective and branching rivers were the only practical means of moving people and goods. Later, the main business of many of the passenger liners in the 1800s was the transporting of immigrants. Today, the Great Lakes remain a main traveling route, and it is extensively used for regional transport. However, one of the reasons that helped the lakes to be accessible is the great lakes waterway, also known as the great lakes St-Laurent system.
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Great Lakes 1
The Great Lakes are one of the world’s youngest natural features. They consist of five large lakes, and they connect with each other by either tiny ducts or small rivers. These lakes are located in North America on the Canadian-American border. They are considered a symbol for the two countries. One of the interesting things about the lakes is that it can be seen easily and clearly from outer space. If you could stand on the moon, you could see the lakes and recognize the familiar wolf head shape of Lake Superior, or the mitten bounded by lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie.
The lakes cover over 94,000 square miles and drain more than twice as much land, so they are considered the largest body of fresh water in the world. 20%, one-fifth, of the world's fresh surface water is located in the great lakes. This freshwater holds about 6 quadrillion gallons of water; It is enough water to cover the contiguous 48 states.
The lakes and their formation:
These lakes were formed 10,000 years ago at the end of the ice age. When the glaciers had moved, they dug and carved large holes in the land that formed the shapes of the lakes. As the glaciers melted, the large amounts of fresh water filled the holes. The geological topographical terrain formed five main bodies of water. The first one which is the largest by volume and depth is Lake Superior, which occupies a larger area than Scotland or South Carolina. The second largest one by volume is Lake Michigan, and it is the third-largest one by area. The third one is Lake Huron, which is the third-largest by volume and the second largest in area. The fourth lake is Lake Erie which is the smallest one by volume and shallowest of all the great lakes. The fifth one is Lake Ontario, which is the second-smallest one in volume and in area, yet much lower elevation than the rest.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
From Where Does The Most Expensive Coffee Come From?!
Coffee kopi luwak considers the best coffee in the world. It has a rich, heavy flavour with hints of caramel or chocolate. Also, it is the most expensive coffee. Its price ranges between 200 to 600 $ per a pound. It is difficult to find its beans everywhere. Sometimes, you can drink in coffee shops where the price of a small cup is 46$.
BUT HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE?
BUT HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE?
Did you discover the reason?
This expensive coffee does not come to us immediately form the beans' trees. Instead, they take a long process before we drink them. The beans come out of a mammal's digestive system. These mammals, Asian Palm Civet, carefully choose their food. They eat vegetable and sometimes meat. These little mammals live in trees and one of their favorite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry. They eat this fruit but it does not get digested in the animals' digestive system. The beans go through many processes inside these animals' cavities. The enzymes break down some proteins, which give the coffee its bitter taste. That is why they have a unique flavor.
Most of these coffee beans are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Ethiopia. Workers collect them from forests. They take the beans and clean them. Then, they give them a light toast in order not to destroy the complex flavor that has developed through the long process inside the mammals' digestive system. Finally, they pack the beans in fancy boxes. So, they can be ready to be shipped to other countries.
This expensive coffee does not come to us immediately form the beans' trees. Instead, they take a long process before we drink them. The beans come out of a mammal's digestive system. These mammals, Asian Palm Civet, carefully choose their food. They eat vegetable and sometimes meat. These little mammals live in trees and one of their favorite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry. They eat this fruit but it does not get digested in the animals' digestive system. The beans go through many processes inside these animals' cavities. The enzymes break down some proteins, which give the coffee its bitter taste. That is why they have a unique flavor.
Most of these coffee beans are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Ethiopia. Workers collect them from forests. They take the beans and clean them. Then, they give them a light toast in order not to destroy the complex flavor that has developed through the long process inside the mammals' digestive system. Finally, they pack the beans in fancy boxes. So, they can be ready to be shipped to other countries.
BONNE PETIT
Friday, March 14, 2008
WHO IS RASPUTIN
A biography documentary, The Bad Monk, was very gripping and interesting. It tells a story of an unusual doctor, Rasputin. Nevertheless, he is considered the most devilish man in the Russian history. This story happened over two hundred years ago. He had both powers and influence, from curing people and animals to a consultant in the royal family. However, many people did not like him. His life had different stages. I am going to divide his life to three stages; his early years, middle years, and last years.
Rasputin’s early years began when he was born in 1869 in Siberia. He was raised like a normal child, working in fields and taking care of cattle. At that time, people began noticing that Rasputin had something special hidden within him, he was gifted the power on healing. This gift led the villagers to bring their animals to him to cure or bless them.
In his middle years, Rasputin was very sexuality active. Even though, he got married, he was still a playboy which led his wife to say that he was a man for more than one woman. Despite of his problems, he had three children from his wife. Because of his behavior, his family didn’t accept him so he had to leave the village. Quickly, he moved to be among high society level. He met the royal family of Russia, Zare Nicolas and his wife Dozalin Alexandra, but they didn’t know that this meeting would lead to their doom. During that time, the royal family was hiding a secret; their son was fighting a deadly disease, hemophilia. The son become very sick and no body could treat or even help him. This changed when Rasputin helped him the son. This paved the way for him to become a consultant to the queen, and the queen got emotionally attached to him.
In his last years, Rasputin’s reputation became so bad that the royal family decided to kill him. However, killing him wasn’t as easy as they thought. They desperately tried several times by several ways, but he did not die. The first time was in a train by his x-lover, she stabbed him thinking that he would die. The second time was by a prince from the royal family, but Rasputin did not die. In the third time, Rasputin died. The royal family thrown him into a river which caused him to freeze and die. Before his death, Rasputin wrote a letter telling that if he got killed by the royal family, the royal family would die within two years. It was only 14 months later, where the Zare, and all the royal family including their children were tragically killed.
Rasputin’s early years began when he was born in 1869 in Siberia. He was raised like a normal child, working in fields and taking care of cattle. At that time, people began noticing that Rasputin had something special hidden within him, he was gifted the power on healing. This gift led the villagers to bring their animals to him to cure or bless them.
In his middle years, Rasputin was very sexuality active. Even though, he got married, he was still a playboy which led his wife to say that he was a man for more than one woman. Despite of his problems, he had three children from his wife. Because of his behavior, his family didn’t accept him so he had to leave the village. Quickly, he moved to be among high society level. He met the royal family of Russia, Zare Nicolas and his wife Dozalin Alexandra, but they didn’t know that this meeting would lead to their doom. During that time, the royal family was hiding a secret; their son was fighting a deadly disease, hemophilia. The son become very sick and no body could treat or even help him. This changed when Rasputin helped him the son. This paved the way for him to become a consultant to the queen, and the queen got emotionally attached to him.
In his last years, Rasputin’s reputation became so bad that the royal family decided to kill him. However, killing him wasn’t as easy as they thought. They desperately tried several times by several ways, but he did not die. The first time was in a train by his x-lover, she stabbed him thinking that he would die. The second time was by a prince from the royal family, but Rasputin did not die. In the third time, Rasputin died. The royal family thrown him into a river which caused him to freeze and die. Before his death, Rasputin wrote a letter telling that if he got killed by the royal family, the royal family would die within two years. It was only 14 months later, where the Zare, and all the royal family including their children were tragically killed.
Monday, March 3, 2008
ICLAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND
I saw a documentary and I wanted to share it with you. I summarized it.
Two islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean. The first one, Iceland, is an example to a very positive isolated country that has succeeded, developed, and improved. It is considered also one of the richest countries. On the other hand, Newfoundland is like Iceland which has the same resources, yet it went to another movement. In fact, it is the second poorest state in Canada even though they have the same geological formation. WHY IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM?
Since the beginning, the two islands have gone in different directions. When Iceland declared its independence in 1944, Newfoundland joined Canada and became a province in 1949. Later, Iceland has become part of the European Union growing economy, while it is highly unlikely for Newfoundland, which has won baby bonus, age pensions, and orange juice and coca molt for children as being a part of Canada. While Iceland has its own language, which is called Icelandic, Newfoundland lost its language and adopted English. Today, Icelandic people are placing great faith on their small island and feel proud of their products, and everything in their small shops has been locally made. This is opposite to Newfoundland.
The two islands have the same geographical structure; they are isolated rocky islands in the far north edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Their only way to the outside-world is the sea. At the same time, the sea is their economical resources, due to the fact that it is difficult to grow any thing in their lands. Even though Newfoundlander taught Icelandic fishing, they couldn’t fight for their own fish when Irish and England were fishing in their coast. However, Icelandic fought for their fish. When the British started fishing in their own coast, they cut their fishing nets. Today, Iceland is considered one of the biggest fish exporters in the world, yet Newfoundland can’t fish as a result of over fishing from other countries. Therefore, Newfoundlanders have had the option of moving elsewhere in Canada to find work. Icelanders haven't had the similar option.
Looking towards the future, it is interesting to note that the two counties have a bright future. That is going to happen if only Iceland kept moving and improving toward, and Newfoundland changed its attitude and behaved to which is better for its people not for what Canada’s government decides and wants for them.
Two islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean. The first one, Iceland, is an example to a very positive isolated country that has succeeded, developed, and improved. It is considered also one of the richest countries. On the other hand, Newfoundland is like Iceland which has the same resources, yet it went to another movement. In fact, it is the second poorest state in Canada even though they have the same geological formation. WHY IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM?
Since the beginning, the two islands have gone in different directions. When Iceland declared its independence in 1944, Newfoundland joined Canada and became a province in 1949. Later, Iceland has become part of the European Union growing economy, while it is highly unlikely for Newfoundland, which has won baby bonus, age pensions, and orange juice and coca molt for children as being a part of Canada. While Iceland has its own language, which is called Icelandic, Newfoundland lost its language and adopted English. Today, Icelandic people are placing great faith on their small island and feel proud of their products, and everything in their small shops has been locally made. This is opposite to Newfoundland.
The two islands have the same geographical structure; they are isolated rocky islands in the far north edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Their only way to the outside-world is the sea. At the same time, the sea is their economical resources, due to the fact that it is difficult to grow any thing in their lands. Even though Newfoundlander taught Icelandic fishing, they couldn’t fight for their own fish when Irish and England were fishing in their coast. However, Icelandic fought for their fish. When the British started fishing in their own coast, they cut their fishing nets. Today, Iceland is considered one of the biggest fish exporters in the world, yet Newfoundland can’t fish as a result of over fishing from other countries. Therefore, Newfoundlanders have had the option of moving elsewhere in Canada to find work. Icelanders haven't had the similar option.
Looking towards the future, it is interesting to note that the two counties have a bright future. That is going to happen if only Iceland kept moving and improving toward, and Newfoundland changed its attitude and behaved to which is better for its people not for what Canada’s government decides and wants for them.
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