Comparing the Language of Different Bible Versions

NIV of Genesis:

(1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (2) Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (3) And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (4) God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (5) God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.

King James Version of Genesis:

(1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (4) And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

There are many little differences between the two versions, yet they make a substantial difference in the understanding of the verses. The first verse in the King James Version uses “heaven” instead of “heavens.” “Heaven” implies one and only one heaven, making the statement very direct and defined. The King James Version then uses the word “upon” twice, while the NIV uses “over.” “Upon” implies among the earth, surrounding the lands. “Over” gives the impression of above and separated from the world. The King James Version then uses “moved upon the face of the waters” instead of “was hovering over the waters.” Hovering gives the Spirit a more ghost-like, mystical persona, whereas “moved upon” seems more human and realistic. The NIV says, “he separated the light from the darkness,” but the King James says, “God divided the light from the darkness.” “Separated” gives the impression of perpetual distance, completely distinct from one another. It also implies that the objects that are being separated, in this case darkness and light, do not belong together. “Divided” seems as though they can be put back together in some way, perhaps over time. “Divided” also implies a less organized and less intentional split. It is as though God is just splitting up darkness and light without any concern for which one goes where or for how definite the splitting will be.

Why can’t we get bilingual education right?

There is still a huge debate as to whether bilingual education is positive or negative. But there is also an ongoing debate about how to teach children a second language. Many methods have been developed and used, but some people believe some are more effective than others. Texas has implemented a program called Two-Way Dual Language program that teaches children a second language by using their native language. Some bilingual programs completely immerse students in the new language without speaking in the native language to teach the children. Supporters of the Two-Way Dual Language program claim that children will benefit by being taught the new language in their native language. Also, because this program teaches in both languages, the school can teach students who speak two different languages in the same classroom. By the end of the program, both sets of students will be fluent in both languages. This program also reinforces their native language, and students score better on tests in their native language.

The whole article is here.

Another article discusses this new program in Texas and gives multiple reasons to support it. The program helps students become “bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.” The greatest benefit of this program may be the cultural understanding the students gain from each other. Because students of different native languages are put together in one classroom, they learn to help each other with their respective languages. They become friends with people who are from different backgrounds than their own, and they form strong bonds with each other. A lot of bilingual programs only teach students the language without any emphasis on the culture of the people who speak that language. This program is unique because the students do gain an understanding of the culture because they can interact one-on-one with speakers of a different language than their own.

These students will, in turn, become respectful and more open to people of other cultures and languages in the future. Programs such as these could be the answer to greater problems in the world like racism and prejudice. Although it would take a huge change in the education system to influence enough students, bilingual education can have bigger implications than just proficiency in two languages. The more students learn about and come to appreciate other languages, the more accepting they will be. Learning to accept people different than yourself is an invaluable lesson and can have an enormous effect on future generations.

Is American Sign Language a ‘foreign’ language?

This article brings up many intriguing questions about language and culture. Some universities have declared American Sign Language an official foreign language because it is “distinct from spoken English and that its coursework provides a new perspective akin to the cultural immersion they'd experience in French, Spanish or other traditional language classes.” Critics argue that it is not a foreign language because it is an indigenous language and does not have academic literature. Also, it does not have “the same elements of culture as other foreign language courses.” But deaf people would argue that there is a culture surrounding sign language, including poetry and history. Now, many universities are changing the names of their foreign language programs to “world languages” or “classical and modern languages” to incorporate those languages that were previously rejected from the foreign language program. The article ends with a powerful quote from a professor at Central Connecticut State University: “One of the worst things you can do to a human being is to say, ‘Your language doesn’t count.’”

The article questions the very definition of a language. Even after people have been using language for centuries, there is still a debate surrounding what exactly makes something a language. Additionally, the article questions what culture is defined by. And does language have to be linked to culture? There is no definite answer for any of these questions. A language to one person may not be a language to another; similarly, a culture to one person may not be a culture to another. Who has the ability to define culture though?

The Center for Applied Linguistics defines language and culture, but clearly these topics are still uncertain for many universities that have yet to adopt ASL as a foreign language. The Center for Applied Linguistics discusses many of the concerns surrounding American Sign Language (ASL) as a foreign language. The Center claims that ASL is a language because it is fully developed and has a complex grammatical structure. Some people do not consider ASL a foreign language because it is indigenous to the U.S., but so are many Native American languages that are considered foreign. The Center recognizes the Deaf culture, including history and arts like dance, theater, and poetry that the Chicago Tribune article referred to. It also notes that there is a writing system for ASL, but it is not well known.

Expert explains debate body language

Last Thursday, Britain had its first televised debate with the leaders of the three main political parties. David Cameron is the leader of the Conservative party, who is currently in the lead but not far enough to gain an overall majority. Gordon Brown is the current Prime Minister for the Labour Party, and Nick Clegg is the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who have not yet controlled Parliament but are making considerable gains in this election.

In recent weeks there has been speculation on the effect the debates will have on the voters. Some political scientists argue there is no electoral effect, while others say debates can make a huge difference. For Americans, the first debates that come to mind are the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debates. These were America’s first televised debates and perhaps the most remembered (next to Reagan and Carter). Kennedy was viewed as a young, inexperienced candidate, and he was behind in the polls. Nevertheless, Kennedy was made for television. He was suntanned from campaigning in California, he wore a suit that nicely contrasted with the background, and he was able to use language to put Nixon on the defense. The result of the four debates between the two candidates was Kennedy’s huge jump in the polls and eventual win.

Here is a short YouTube clip describing the debates, including images of how the candidates appeared on television. And here is an image of Kennedy (left) and Nixon (right) on television.

But not all debates are as influential on the public as the Kennedy-Nixon debates. Political scientists in Britain have not yet had enough time to determine the effects of their first debates, and even after the campaign, there will probably still be much disagreement. However, the body language expert from this article describes the candidates: “Nick Clegg was the nice guy, David Cameron was the well-rehearsed but nervous performer, while Gordon Brown was the alpha male.” These conclusions did not come from their debate skills but rather from their body language during the debates.

The expert claims that Clegg came off as relaxed, while his gestures made him seem like a friend to the audience. Brown seemed like a “born leader” and was very strong, with expressive body language. Cameron looked “anxious and worried.” He also seemed detached from the audience.

Often times, the audience focuses on body language cues more than the actual issues. This could be a problem because people are voting for a personality rather than the candidate that represents their views. A candidate that is a natural performer, like Kennedy was, can overtake a more qualified candidate who may have been better for the country. Nevertheless, the fact that image becomes more influential in a voter’s decision is very telling of the power of body language. We often think of spoken language as our main way of communicating, but this is not always true. The subtle clues we give off as we speak are able to communicate much more information and maybe more accurate information. Often, we can tell if people are lying if they look nervous or do not look someone in the eye. We can tell if people are sincere by their gestures and tone. In terms of politics, maybe it is better that people are judging politicians by their performance on television. Politicians are notorious for bending the truth to help their position or leaving out or stressing certain facts that benefit their own campaign. If people have the ability to decipher the most genuine candidate, maybe they are picking the best leaders.

This is a topic that political scientists will debate forever. Britain is just now joining the argument. Campaigning has undoubtedly become a performance, but is this good for politics and for the country as a whole?

U.S. Reviews New York Police Dealings With People Who Don’t Speak English

The Justice Department is looking into how the New York Police Department handles cases involving people who do not speak English. The Justice Department, who says the investigation is routine and not sparked by a problem, wants to make sure the police are following all civil rights laws. The Department wants to find out if the language barrier affects the way police treat non-English speakers. The review will take about six months, and the federal government could reduce grants if the Department finds problems with the NYPD. The police department claims it has been trying to find ways to better the interactions with police and immigrants. They have many officers who speak foreign languages, and they have a “multilingual line” for callers who do not speak English.

In July of 2008, Mayor Bloomberg signed the language access plan that promises immigrants “a meaningful ability to take advantage of police services.” However, some groups will present cases in which the police officers did not take care of the needs of immigrants. These groups accuse officers of labeling non-English speakers as “uncooperative” because they do not understand the police. The NYPD does not agree with these accusations but still plans to improve its program as best it can.

Here is the full article.

Language Access Plan

The language access plan gives police the ability to use either a Department interpreter or the Language Line for translation over the phone, which is the most efficient. The NYPD attempts to “provide timely and meaningful access” for non-English speakers. The language services are free and available upon request.

The police found Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Italian to be the most widely spoken languages in New York City, so “essential public documents” are available in these languages, and these languages are the basis for the language access plan. Nevertheless, the Language Line is still available in all languages.

The NYPD considers its language services for crime victims to be the most important. Bilingual members in the community assist in these cases before an interpreter is found from the Volunteer Language Program, which has almost fourteen thousand members and can translate fifty languages.

Bilingual police applicants are given an advantage in the hiring process. All city agency websites are translated into the six most spoken languages. Signs that tell the public about the language services are translated into twenty-two languages. Chosen police forms are also translated into a variety of languages. The records of language services will be kept and reviewed every year to ensure proper cooperation with the language access plan.

I have always thought that the United States does not take adequate measures to preserve the native languages of its immigrants. As such a dominant and successful country in the global market, I also understand why people strive to learn English. However, an instance like the language access plan gives immigrants a chance to use their native languages in their every day lives. Above all, this plan ensures the safety of all people of New York City. I could not imagine not getting help from the police department because they could not understand the language I am speaking. In a time of an emergency, all people should have access to the help they need.

Acquiring language confidence

This article introduces the 4S Accelerated English Programme, which seeks to teach the English language to people in a short time span. Keith Wright developed this program, and now people with backgrounds in many different languages are using it to become proficient in English. There are two categories of skills to learn English: Receptive and Productive. For this program, Receptive includes reading, listening, and viewing, and Productive includes speaking, writing, and interpretation. The program recognizes the fact that people gain information by looking, not just reading or listening. After people look at something, they interpret it in writing or speech, so this program takes that into account.

There are three things that a person needs to be competent in English: pronunciation and spelling, understanding words and sentence structure, and grammar. People must know the unique characteristics of English, why words are spelt and mean what they do, and the basic rules of grammar.

People still learning English usually do not use correct pronunciation or grammar. To improve pronunciation, people must learn the characteristics of English. Wright’s program has thirty characteristics, which include how syllables are stressed differently, the different sounds that symbols make, words that can be used for different parts of speech, and words that have many definitions. After people master these skills, they can become proficient in the English language.

Keith Wright wrote another article that explains how best to teach his program. A teacher must determine the individual needs of new English speakers, including their ages, genders, and cultures.

People learning English have to learn sounds, words, and concepts that their languages do not have. This means that teachers have to understand the learners’ culture so that they will be able to reconcile the differences between their native language and English. Wright also believes technology is a huge advantage to learning English, including computers and DVD players.

He gives some tips to mastering the language. Learners should speak the language as much as possible, teachers need to guide learners and give them helpful feedback, learners need to make connections between concepts, and learners should be exposed to stimulated real-life situations. Also, learners should enjoy learning the new language.

Here is the full article.

These articles interested me because I tend to forget how difficult it is for foreign speakers to learn English. Where I live (Los Angeles area), there are many immigrants, mainly Hispanic, who try to speak English, but it is often very broken English. I forget that there are so many different things, like stressing the correct syllables, to overcome when learning English.

It also surprises me that there is such a systematic way to learn a language, like Keith Wright has developed. If more programs like this are created and perfected, assimilation could become much easier in the future. Language barriers would be knocked down, and people would be able to relate to each other more easily. However, this program makes it seem as though all people learn languages in the same way. I do not find this to be true, so I wonder how the program takes that into consideration.

Articles about Plane Crash

Here are the links to the articles (I didn’t know how to save them as a PDF). These are the most read daily newspapers from the United Kingdom, and they are all in English. The circulation is the total readership of January 2010.

The Sun (3,006,565)

Polish President killed in air crash

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2927480/Polish-President-killed-in-air-crash.html

Daily Mail (2,120,347)

A nation in mourning: Poland’s president and wife among 97 dead as their plane crashes in Russia

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1265016/Polish-president-Lech-Kaczynski-dies-plane-crash-Russia.html

Daily Mirror (1,218,425)

Polish president dies in jet disaster

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/04/11/polish-president-dies-in-jet-disaster-115875-22176576/

Polish President Lech Kaczynski killed in plane crash in Smolensk, Russia

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/04/10/polish-president-lech-kaczynski-killed-in-plane-crash-in-smolensk-russia-115875-22175659/

Daily Star (779,376)

UK Poles Mourn Disaster Victims

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/04/10/polish-president-lech-kaczynski-killed-in-plane-crash-in-smolensk-russia-115875-22175659/

Daily Telegraph (691,128)

Poland in shock as president dies in air crash

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/7574238/Poland-in-shock-as-president-dies-in-crash.html

Polish president’s plane crashes

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/7574180/Polish-presidents-plane-crashes.html

Poland declares week of mourning after president among 96 dead in plane crash

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/7575553/Poland-declares-week-of-mourning-after-president-among-96-dead-in-plane-crash.html

Indian Tribes Go in Search of Their Lost Languages

Two hundred years ago, Long Island was home to Indian tribes that spoke the languages of Shinnecock and Unkechaug. Stony Brook University in New York is now trying to bring back these extinct languages. They want the tribes’ members to continue speaking these languages because they believe language helps understand a tribe’s culture and history. Chief Harry Wallace is the leader of the Unkechaug Nation and says that children of the tribe are more successful academically when they have a linguistic and cultural basis.

There were three hundred indigenous languages in the U.S., but there are now only one hundred and seventy-five. The Indigenous Language Institute believes that only twenty indigenous languages will be spoken by 2050. Many American Indians have been trying to revive languages because “language is a cultural glue that holds a community together, linking generations and preserving a heritage and values.” Bruce Cole is the chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and views language as “the DNA of a culture.” Language often gives insight into ancestors’ minds and lives.

It is difficult to bring a language back because so few people speak it, and new generations must continue to speak it. A society must use the language to function in order to sustain it. For example, the Hebrew language was unspoken for two thousand years, but the creation of the State of Israel instigated its revival and is often used in Jewish societies.

Shinnecock and Unkechaug will be especially difficult to revive because there are few records of the language. They have to rely on the family of Algonquian languages, of which Shinnecock and Unkechaug are a part, to fill in the missing gaps. They are aiming to discover the sound, vocabulary, and structure of the language before they introduce it to the community.

The full article is here.

Here is a map of where many Indian tribes lived in the Northeast, including the Shinnecock and Unkechaug Nations on Long Island.

The Unquachog Tribe is one of the four Quiripi tribes that share a similar language. There are only four documents left that use their language, so researchers are not positive if they all used the same language or related languages or different dialects of one language. European diseases devastated Indians in the Northeast of the United States, so the survivors came together and lost the identities of their individual tribes.

This website has links to more information about the Quiripi tribes, samples of their language, and maps of where they lived.

The Shinnecock Indian Nation created a computer program that will help revive and store the Shinnecock language so that it can be taught to future generations. The woman who owns the company that created the software has ties to the Shinnecock Nation all the way back to the seventeenth century. She is doing all she can to help restore the language because she knows that most Indian tribes are losing their last native speakers. The program can record words, phrases, songs, videos, and illustrations. Now, speakers of other languages than Native American languages want to purchase the software to retain their languages as well.

The full article about the computer program is here.

This website has more information, including the history and culture, about the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

This story is unique because it discusses a language that has been lost in the United States. Many Europeans that immigrated to the United States adopted English, but their languages are still spoken in their respective countries. The Native Americans, on the other hand, have completely lost their languages because the United States was their original home. I wonder if the Indians’ efforts have come too late. Now that the younger generations are speaking English and society is functioning around the English language, it will be much harder to bring back the Shinnecock and Unquachog languages. Also, the computer system seems very fabricated and impersonal. If they want to retain the language in order to understand the culture of the tribes, will a computer program be able to express the language in a way that also conveys cultural meaning? And will the people who learn the language feel the same connection to their roots as those who grew up speaking the language?

Government should be required to use clear language

The Plain Language Act has already been passed by the House of Representatives but is still being debated in the Senate. This legislation would require that all government documents be written in “clear, concise, well-organized” language. Bill Clinton tried to encourage easily readable documents, but most federal documents cannot be clearly understood. The article cites the example of SUV safety labels. The federal government requires that SUVs have a rollover-warning sticker, but the old label was so long that people did not read it. Now, a new label has been created that uses bullet points, pictures, and colors. This legislation would benefit the citizens of the United States, for they would be able to understand what the government is doing, what changes are being made, and how the government is functioning. Less ambiguous language would prevent confusion and save time for politicians, bureaucrats, and citizens. There would be less disagreement and greater knowledge of government actions.

The full article is here.

The Supreme Court has been guilty of using ambiguous language for landmark cases as well, namely Brown II. When the Supreme Court decided how and when to proceed with desegregation, they used the phrase “with all deliberate speed.” Nobody knew exactly what this phrase meant, and the words “deliberate” and “speed” seemed to contradict each other. “Deliberate” can mean planned, carefully weighed, and slow in deciding, while “speed” calls for quickness of action. Courts, schools, and citizens could, therefore, understand the Court’s ruling very differently and take action in different ways. Supporters of Brown v. Board were unhappy with the Court’s handling of the implementation of desegregation. Opponents of Brown could use the Court’s ambiguous language to resist change and delay integrating schools. The Plain Language Act would prevent future documents from being misinterpreted and would ensure that government decisions are followed.

The Plain Language Act can be read in its entirety here. This website gives the background of the bill, beginning with Representative Bruce Braley’s (D-IA) initial introduction in February 2009. Also, the current status of the bill in the Senate is updated regularly. Details about the roll call vote to pass the bill in the House are also on the website.

Braley commented on his bill, saying the Plain Language Act will increase understanding but also “increase government accountability.” He argues that clear language allows the public to understand the actions and services of the federal government. Mainly, the Plain Language Act simplifies tax forms, federal college aid applications, Veterans Administration forms, and other common government documents. This website gives the guidelines for plain language, which include short words, the use of “you,” short sentences, avoiding legal language, and avoiding double negatives. The website also has examples of federal documents before the Plain Language Act and how they would be rewritten.

Although this bill may not translate to Supreme Court decisions, it is a necessary step in the right direction. Government transparency has become a topic of debate and was included on Obama’s agenda when he took office. Opening up the government to the public will lessen the partisan attacks by giving people the facts instead of leaving it up to politicians to inform the public of what is happening in Washington.

This bill is just another example of how language creeps into every aspect of our lives. Even language on such documents as tax returns can create confusion because of the different understandings of the words. The government must be aware of how it is using language and how the public interprets this language.

Hyenas use a laughing language to communicate

A new scientific report has found that the hyena’s laugh relays information about the family hierarchy. After determining the hyena’s age and status in the hierarchy, scientists compared the sounds and found that the pitch and timbre is an indication of the hyena’s status. The pitch relates to the hyena’s age, while the frequency of sounds relates to its dominance in the group. Hyenas often laugh when eating, but they also make noise when they are frustrated or need help from other hyenas when faced with a predator. When other member’s of the hyena’s clan hear the sounds, they can distinguish if the laugh is a call for help or if it can be ignored. Their sounds can be heard up to three miles away, providing an effective defense skill.

The full article can be found here.

Other animals, like whales, have also been shown to communicate through their own language. With the help of a computer program, researchers have discovered that whales are the only other animals that use hierarchal structure in language, incorporating syntax into their communication. Before the development of this program, scientists wondered if the previous analyses were too subjective, but now scientists can objectively analyze sounds. Their songs are complex and can last from six to thirty minutes. The sounds can be used for a variety of reasons, including attracting females. Still, whales’ sounds are very different than human language, and there is still much to be learned.

You can also listen to the sounds of whales on the article website.

The fact that so many other animals have developed a form of communication, or their own language, says a lot about the importance of language for every species. Animals rely on language for survival above all. I wonder how enormously different the world would be without language. Undoubtedly, some species would cease to exist, others would not have an effective way of living in a group, and the animal kingdom would be far different than it is currently.

Caldwell takes off with dual language pilot

Caldwell Elementary in Texas has just announced that it will implement a new program that teaches Kindergarten students both Spanish and English. Students will be taught in English one day, with the follow up lesson in Spanish. The program is only beginning with the Kindergarten level now but will expand to higher grades each year.

Most parents are supportive of the program, and parents are even pushing other schools to adopt the program. The area around Caldwell Elementary is bilingual, so this program will greatly help the students inside and outside the classroom. Students that receive the bilingual education will no doubt have an advantage over other students, so the school is becoming more competitive to attend.

The whole article can be found here.

McKinney Independent School District includes Caldwell Elementary and notes on its website that the bilingual program has many positive effects. Students perform better academically when they are proficient in two languages. The program makes sure that the children are learning in a supportive setting so that they will have confidence and greater success in life.

Click here for the McKinney website.

The public is beginning to realize how important bilingual education is and the extraordinary benefits of speaking more than one language. This program is a strong indicator of how people’s attitudes towards learning multiple languages are changing. Language education is now a beneficial and valuable asset to education and can greatly enhance students’ worldviews and cultural understanding. They will be exposed to diversity and come to appreciate the linguistic differences of the world.

The United States lags behind other countries in the number of bilingual and trilingual citizens. Instituting more bilingual education programs such as this one can change this unfortunate reality. Also, this type of program is a simple and effective way to make schools more competitive and improve education for students. Starting this program in more schools would only be a positive contribution to the education system.