Essays and Research Papers on Linguistics

This 7 page report discusses human biology and human language and the ways in which language has evolved in human beings and the biological foundations of such evolution. The argument being presented is that human language is unique in virtually all characteristics and must be seen as part of the advanced development of human cognition ...

A 6 page paper which examines the history of the English language. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 4 page book review that discusses John McWhorter's fascinating text, which is provocatively entitled Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue, and presents readers with the history of the development of the English language, which includes an intimate look at the grammatical idiosyncrasies that are intertwined with English's history. In so doing, McWhorter debunks popular misconceptions, as ...

6 pages in length. A linguistics overview of Black English (BEV-Black English Vernacular). Gives history, examples, patterns, etc; Cites 5 sources in Bibliography and includes on Appendix/Chart.

This 12 page paper presents a detailed explanation of semantic networks; history, examples and uses are also included. Semantic networks are "brain- like." They allow new knowledge to be deduced. Their operative vocabulary includes the phrase node which equals the idea or concept being examined, and link which will be indicating the relationship of ...

A 5 page paper that provides an overview of Zaragoza's book. This paper supports the premises created by Zaragoza in applying her educational philosophy to classroom constructs. Bibliography lists no additional sources.

A 5 page analytical discussion focusing on teachers of language arts and how to "refresh" their teaching methods after years of being "set in their ways." The writer argues that teachers often become "used" to being ineffective with regard to a set percentage of their students and that they ultimately fail to influence any positive ...

A 4 page article synopsing and critiquing a lengthy article from an educational journal. Specifically, the writer reviews an article about Whole Language written seven years ago and compared it to what has happened in the field. No additional sources cited.

A 10 page paper which offers up five different responses to five essays. The essays are by Amy Tan, Ann Causey, Opal Palmer Adisa, Edward Abbey, and Ellen Ullman. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 5 page paper explores the inherent gendered nature of language and illustrates this concept with specific examples. This paper provides a real-life scenario as well as the outcome of that scenario in which the gendered nature of language played a significant role. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 4 page paper critiques George Orwell’s essay “Politics and the English Language.” Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page essay that discusses the linguistic issue of using the masculine form in English to include both men and women. The writer summarizes the argument presented by Miller and Swift in their essay (bibliographical data not available on this essay), and then goes on to argue that these arguments are correct and non-specific, ...

A 4 page research paper that examines classroom communication from an ethnographic viewpoint. All cultures have social rules that govern what is considered to be appropriate communication. An ethnographic approach to understanding communication focuses on the "cultural specificity of rules of communication and the totality of factors" that affect the communication process (Bonvillain 79). Research ...

A 6 page assessment of communication differences between the genders. This paper explores the historical reasons for those differences and asserts that today there are no longer any relevant social or biological reasons for women to take an inferior role in communication. This is particularly true in the university setting. Bibliography lists ...

This 4 page paper provides an overview of gender communication styles. The paper concludes that something should be done to bridge the gap with respect to male-female communication. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 3 page paper creates a hypothetical conversation regarding the television show American Idol. Some dialog is included. The conversation is evaluated with the help of the book Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page paper considers the ambiguous nature of both verbal and non-verbal communication. This paper provides examples that can be utilized to demonstrate the way in which language is ambiguous and how this is also problematic in interpersonal communication and/or relationships. This paper suggests that increasing communicative competence and increasing our awareness ...

This 10 page paper provides an overview of a cultural comparison important when assessing variations in nonverbal communication. In particular, this paper considers the comparison between Koreans and Americans in the way in which nonverbal communication is manifested, and defines some of the normative cultural differences that exist and can impact the understanding ...

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech I Have a Dream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 celebrating the centennial of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation remains one of his most intelligent and poetic speeches in the American mind. It succeeded at accomplishing this by a dynamically synthesized use of communication techniques while ...

This 4-page paper covers the basics of public speaking, including defining the seven elements of a speech and the need for ethics in public speaking. Bibliography list 3 sources.

An 11 page discussion of the varying styles of communication which is speculated to exists between cultural and racial groups. Reviews the literature regarding the existence and variation of non-verbal communication styles. Conducts an experiment to assess the differences in such aspects of communication as eye contact and bodily distance between African American ...

A 7 page discussion of the importance of communication in the educational environment. The author contends that communication is one of the most formidable obstacles facing non-whites in education. This paper calls for a abolishment of such non-mainstream communication styles as ebonics and an educational environment which inspires and motivates a student to ...

A 4 page paper critiquing an article on organizational communication using a text chapter as a guide. The article classifies communication in the diverse organization as ethnocentric, modernistic and cosmopolitan, reflecting differences in which communicators address diverse groups. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 12 page discussion of the degradation of the English language which has occurred over the past several decades. Discusses this degradation from political and interpersonal communication approaches. Notes the violence, rhetoric, and bias which is becoming a greater and greater component of our societal communication. Concludes that the societal fractionation which ...

A 9 page contention that our perception can have a tremendous influence on our ability to communicate with others. This paper points out that our perception is important not just in verbal communication but also nonverbal communication. Bibliography lists 7 sources.