Languages and Dialects: A matter of recognition

Being a controversial subject as it is, the distinction between language and dialect often sparks heated debates not only among linguistics experts but also throughout the entire society. What makes a language to be considered a language instead of a dialect? When and under what circumstances can a dialect thrive and become a national language?

In linguistics, a dialect can be defined as a variant of a given language which is spoken by a specific group or in a particular location, but whose distinctive features – e.g. vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation – are “not distinctive enough” to be recognized as a separate language. Experts analyze mutual intelligibility among speakers in order to distinguish languages from dialects. In other words, if two speakers can understand each other although they don´t recognize the use of some words or their pronunciation is different, they must be speaking two different dialects of the same language.

Poem: Burning by Sean Hopwood

Burning

By Sean Hopwood

A light bulb with never be able to replicate the beauty

In the pure and simple randomness of a flame

Be it a simple flicker

Or a roaring blaze untamed

From a simple spark it burns

With passion, love, and life

And creates in the room a presence

That you can cut with a knife

A flame burns long and strong

As long as you give it air

And warms the heart and mind

Of all those who are there

It glimmers, twinkles, and flashes

In a delicate battle of wind and flame

As you stare at it in worry

Of this odd and precarious game

It lives to burn and burns to live

Strong as life and the beat of the heart

But if comes a strong gust and blows it out

There is always a match and chance to restart

Famous December Celebrations: Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa

The number of festivals around the world is too many to determine, in truth hitherto, the count goes on and accumulates. They run from age-old religious ceremonies, commemoration of historical events, homage to distinguished persons, to arbitrary secular festivities (national, communal or cultural). As societies change through time, some festivals become less popular or they diminish altogether, most of the long-standing ones continue to thrive and refashioned to fit the modern times, while others evolve and spawn new or altered traditions. Nevertheless, some basic points remain, and wherever these festivals are observed, they share common elements, like food and big banquets, special clothing, gaiety activities, parades, amongst the rest. As to the answer on how and why they have emerged in the first place varies, it can be to preserve customs and folktales, or oftentimes it’s a matter of opinion (and decision) of those at the helm.

Spanish edition of Garry Hoyt's "Isla Verde" novel to be released.

Garry Hoyt, a recognized designer and sailing innovator, is also an author of four books. One of his books titled "Isla Verde" will soon be published in Spanish, a wonderful news to all his international readers. For updates about the book, please visit amazon.com or Garry Hoyt's website.

Excerpts from Amazon.com (English version):

Phrase of the day August 27th 2010

A wonderful poem by Octavio Paz:

Space

By: Octavio Paz

No center, no above, no below
Ceaselessly devouring and engendering itself
Whirlpool space
And drop into height
Spaces
Clarities steeply cut
Suspended
By the night's flank
Black gardens of rock crystal
Flowering on a rod of smoke
White gardens exploding in the air
Space
One space opening up
Corolla
And dissolving
Space in space
All is nowhere
Place of impalpable nuptials

Octavio Paz