Do Spanish Speakers Talk Faster than English Speakers

Do people who speak Spanish speak a lot faster than we do, or does it just seem that way? The best answer appears to be that it just seems that way. Although Im sure I have read that Spanish speakers use more words per minute than do English speakers, I have repeatedly searched in vain for any reliable studies to back up that belief. Even if we knew that Spanish speakers in general used more syllables per minute, that might not mean a whole lot, because Spanish syllables tend to be shorter than English ones. It is normal for Spanish syllables to not have more than two consonants, while it is not unusual for English syllables to have three or four — and the one-syllable word strengths has eight consonants with only one vowel. The Spanish equivalent, solideces, may take no more time to pronounce even though it has four syllables. A 2011 study by Franà §ois Pel ­legrino the Univer ­sity of Lyon in France found that Spanish speakers used more syllables per second than speakers of many other languages — but syllables in Spanish also tend to be shorter. The study found that speakers of different languages tend to convey about the same amount of information per minute. Rate of Speech Varies Widely With Context In any case, it is difficult to make comparisons. The rate of speech can very enormously even among individual speakers. I remember watching the Mexican president (then Vicente Fox) give a formal speech, and he spoke at a rate that made him easy to be understood, even by relatively new Spanish speakers. But in an interview later that day, he spoke more rapidly, and I assume that if he were in an animated conversation he would speak at a rate that would make it difficult for non-native speakers to comprehend him. Pay attention to your own rate of speech. In a given day you may speak quite deliberately at times with careful enunciation, while at other times you may speak a mile a minute. The same is true for Spanish speakers. Whatever the differences are, probably the reason it seems like Spanish is so much faster is because you dont know the language. Since you know English well, you dont have to hear every single sound in every single word to know what is said, because your mind is able to fill in the gaps and to determine where one word ends and the next begins. But until you know another language well, you dont have that ability with it. It also seems to be true that the process of elision — the omission of sounds as words run together — is more extensive in Spanish than it is in English (although perhaps not as extensive as in French). In Spanish, for example, a phrase such as ella ha hablado (meaning she has spoken) typically will end up sounding like ellablado, meaning the distinct sound of an entire word (ha) plus part of another word are gone. Also, most Spanish consonants (other than the à ±) can seem indistinct to the ear accustomed to English, making understanding a bit more difficult. I dont know of any fixes for the problem, except that practice makes perfect (or if not perfect, better). As you learn Spanish, try to listen for Spanish phrases rather than individual words, and perhaps that will speed up the process of understanding. Addendum The following letter received after the initial publication of this article raises some interesting points. One of them, about the different formation of syllables in the two languages, make sense, so Im adding the letter here: Somewhere I read the results of a study that concluded Spanish is spoken more rapidly than English. The reason is the typical Spanish syllable is open (meaning consonant-vowel) while in English the typical syllable is closed (consonant-vowel-consonant). Words with more than one syllable in English tend to have two dissimilar consonants together requiring a slowing of speech to sound both of them. We natural English speakers get to be pretty adept at sounding two consonants together, but it is tough for a natural Spanish speaker to do. In Spanish when two consonants are together the natural speaker often inserts an extra (unwritten and soft) vowel sound between them. For example in the Spanish word AGRUPADO, you can hear it pronounced AGuRUPADO. The extra u is short and soft, but separates the consonants. Natural English speakers have no problem sounding GR without inserting an extra vowel, but we do it at a slightly slower rate. Your comments about Vicente Fox are interesting. I have found political figures usually speak so clearly that I can understand them better than the general Spanish speaking public. This is especially true when they are giving addresses. Although I seldom liked what he said, I used to enjoy listening to Fidel Castro because he was so easy to understand. These days his voice has a senile quality that interferes with clarity somewhat. Most ministers have the same clear speech as political leaders, and thus religious services are good places to practice your Spanish listening skills if you are a learner. Key Takeaways It seems to more a matter of perception than reality that native Spanish speakers talk more rapidly than do native English speakers.The rate of speech can vary widely, even for an individual, depending on the nature and purpose of the speech.Formal presentations by political or religious leaders may offer an opportunity for learners of a language to hear slower-spaced speech.

Charles Chestnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition Essay

Charles Chestnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition Based on historical events, Charles Chestnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition, gives human details to produce a vivid picture of life in the south after the failure of reconstruction. His work has many underlying themes among which are the use of the press to stir already volatile emotions through propaganda, class structure not only along color lines but within races, and the effects of the white supremacists’ agenda on the integrity of those who claimed to be morally advanced. Through this story, Chesnutt allows the reader to enter the minds of the characters to show how change will not take place until both whites and blacks detach themselves from traditions that seem to be engraved on their†¦show more content†¦These men convicted him based on circumstantial evidence and race (181). After their conference, Major Carteret put to press Sandy’s death warrant in the form of an extra addition that convicted him without due process of the law. It would later com e out that the true murder was not even a black man, but the grandson of a white aristocrat whose debauched behavior had let him to commit murder. But because he was from a respectable family, his guilt was swept under the rug. Another theme evident in Chesnutt’s novel concerns the class system religiously adhered to in the post-Civil War south. As the plot develops, it becomes evident that each of the major characters is contrasted with a counterpart, clearly showing which class each belonged to. An example can be found when comparing Major Carteret and Captain McBane. Major Carteret boasts a proud heritage of original plantation owners in the state. Pryor to the war, his family was quite wealthy. Despite his lack of financial resources, his name alone earns him respect in the community. He is well educated and carries himself in a dignified manner. Conversely, Captain McBane is the son of an overseer. He was representative of the lower class whites who took advantage of opportunities involving questionable politics that earned them considerable money. Having attained considerable wealth, he expected to become one of the elite. He dressed the part of theShow MoreRelated Charles W. Chestnutts The Mar row of Tradition Essay823 Words   |  4 PagesCharles W. Chestnutts The Marrow of Tradition      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Clearly, one can expect differing critical views of a novel; from the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   authors perspective we see one view, from a publishers another, and from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the reviewers yet another. This is especially true of Charles W.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Chesnutts   The Marrow of Tradition. If one observes both the contemporary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   reviews of the novel and letters exchanged between Chesnutt and his   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   friends and publisher, Houghton

Military Free Essays

The average civilian or recruit coming into the Army often misunderstands the meaning of the words military discipline. He thinks of them as being connected with punishments or reprimands which may result from the violation of some military law or regulation. Actually, discipline should not be something new to you for you have been disciplined all of your life. We will write a custom essay sample on Military or any similar topic only for you Order Now You were being disciplined at home and in school when you were taught obedience to your parents and teachers, and respect for the rights of others. On your baseball or other athletic team you were disciplining yourself when you turned down the chance to be a star performer in order that the team might win; you were acquiring discipline in the shop, or other business when your loyalty to your employer and your fellow employees was greater than your desire to secure your own advancement. All of this was merely the spirit of team play; that is, you were putting the interests of the â€Å"team† above your own in order that the â€Å"team† might win. The word â€Å"company,† or â€Å"troop,† or â€Å"battery† is merely the name for a team, and military discipline is nothing more than this same spirit of team play. It is the most important thing in the Army. In civil life lack of discipline in a young man may result in his getting into trouble which will cause his parents and teachers regret or sorrow; it may cause a member of an athletic team to be â€Å"sent to the bench,† or cause an employee to lose his job. In the Army it is far more serious. Here lack of discipline in a soldier may not only cost him is life and the life of his comrades, but cause a military undertaking to fail and his team to be defeated. On the other hand a team of a few well-disciplined solders is worth many times a much larger number of undisciplined individuals who are nothing more than an armed mob. History repeatedly shows that without discipline, no body of troops can hold its own against a well-disciplined and well-directed enemy. In your work in the Army you may wonder why the officers and noncommissioned officers insist on perfection in what appears to be minor details. Why do rifles have to be carried at just the same angle; why do you have to keep accurately in line; why must your bed be made in a certain way; why must your uniform and equipment be in a prescribed order at all times; why must all officers be saluted with snap and precision? These things are a part of your disciplinary training. Their purpose is to teach you obedience, loyalty, team play, personal pride, pride in your organization, respect for the rights of others, love of the flag, and the will to win. So you see that being disciplined does not mean that you are being punished. It means that you are learning to place the task of your unit – your team – above your personal welfare; that you are learning to obey promptly and cheerfully the orders of your officers and NCOs so that even when they are not present you will carry out their orders to the very best of your ability. When you have learned these things and prompt and cheerful obedience has become second nature to you, then you have acquired military discipline – the kind of discipline which will save lives and win battles. In addition to rank, courtesies and customs visibly distinguish the military from academic, medical, and other professions. When officers and Soldiers display military customs and courtesies, they demonstrate to themselves and others their commitment to duty, to their country and colleagues, and their tradition of service to others. Military courtesies are extended to a person or thing that is due recognition and honor. The most basic of military courtesies is the salute. A custom is a traditional social convention. Military rank, as a visible mark of responsibility and leadership, is due recognition and respect. The customary way of recognizing an officer of superior rank is by saluting him or her. First, a Noncommissioned officer is an officer which has not been commissioned by the President of the United States. Second, a Noncommissioned officer has through his or hers experience, been placed in a position to lead, supervise and train soldiers. Third, the Noncommissioned Officer Corp is the backbone of a professional army. Through real â€Å"hands on† experiences, and progression through the enlisted ranks, the NCO should be in a position of self confidence and esteem, that their position alone should demand respect from both enlisted soldiers and our officers. Fourth, The Noncommissioned Officer represents the United States Army (Marine Corps, Navy, AirForce). There very existence allows the officers to plan, organize, lead, and direct combat operations. The NCO responsible for the preperation, training, and readiness of our soldiers. This is a NCO leadership role, not an officers. Fifth, basic soldier skills (rifle marksmanship, first aid, navigation, law of land warfare, small unit tactics, NBC) are thoose skills mastered by the Noncommissioned Officers. Sixth, they have proven themselves in combat since the Revolutionary War. In the absence of commissioned officers, NCOs have been commissioned on the battlefield to continue the mission, and lead our soldiers. Remember, it is not necessarily the man or woman wearing stripes that you are respecting (BUT IT SHOULD BE) but the magnificent history that has been contributed to the Noncommssioned Officers. â€Å"Follow Me† should be the creed of every NCO NCOs do it all. These leaders have their hands in every aspect of the Army from the simplest daily activities to the most complicated strategic planning. Let’s get reacquainted with the â€Å"backbone of the Army. NCOs are responsible for the daily activities of the Army. These sergeants are the first-line supervisors for the majority of the work completed by Soldiers. These actions can be as simple as physical training or motor pool maintenance on vehicles or as complicated as leading a combat patrol in war. Chances are high that every activity from processing pay documents to medical services a t the hospital are being executed and supervised by sergeants. They touch every aspect of our Soldiers and our Families’ lives. Need an MP for an emergency? Here comes a sergeant. Who is teaching at the Warrior Leader Course? A sergeant is instructing right now. Our sergeants find us before we are in the Army: recruiters. NCOs — drill sergeants — mold us from civilians into Soldiers. Career counselor NCOs keep us in the Army. Sergeants teach us at advance individual training, airborne course, Ranger course and other specialty courses. It is sergeants who develop the future NCOs in the Noncommissioned Officer Educational System. From WLC to the Sergeant Major course, NCOs are developing the next generation. And guess who executes large portions of Officer Candidate School? NCOs do! Sergeants enforce the rules, regulations, and policies of the Army. NCOs don’t make policy, they enforce them. Many have heard me say, â€Å"I don’t make the rules; I get paid handsomely to enforce them! † The Army says what is proper and then empowers sergeants to enforce it. So the key aspect to this notion is not the rule, but rather the discipline to enforce the standard. NCOs have the discipline to do the right thing and set the example. So, Sergeant Major, what is the big deal about wearing my patrol cap to the PX? It is quite simple. A commissioned officer wrote the rule making t a legal order — a simple and minor one some could argue. I support the officers, therefore I support their rules and sergeants enforce both simple and complicated ones. Convenience and comfort have never been military priorities. If a Soldier or leader cannot enforce the simple rules, how will they tackle the complicated ones? It is a slippery slope of selective en forcement when individuals only correct the regulations they agree with. What makes our Army different from others? The NCO! Armies from around the world send their officers to visit the United States to see how we run our Army. No one argues the commissioned officers are in charge. A recurring theme comes up, though, when foreign officers see our NCOs doing so much. The comments sound something like this, â€Å"How can you trust these sergeants to do so much? † Or, â€Å"only our officers do that! † And it is this decentralized implicit trust of our NCOs that creates a huge advantage over other Armies. Decisions and therefore actions take place where no officer is present. NCOs are combat multipliers. Our Army learned years ago that NCOs can be trusted to execute tasks that might have been historically linked to officers. And historically, NCOs are officers. Sergeants are officers without a commission. There are several sources to refer to this topic and I won’t give a history lesson here. Read â€Å"Guardians of the Republic† by Earnest F. Fisher Jr. for a detailed narrative on the history of the NCO. For here and now, we need to know that the NCO is more â€Å"bang for the buck† for our Army than anyone else. Sergeants train individuals, teams and crews. NCOs focus on all the single and small unit requirements that support the collective tasks of platoons and companies. Sergeants ensure Soldiers are physically fit to arrive at the leading edge of battle. These same sergeants teach Soldiers how to shoot their weapons effectively. NCOs teach our Soldiers when not to shoot, which is sometimes more important than shooting. Sergeants take the theory of being a Soldier and apply it to people to make them Soldiers. NCOs advise and mentor officers. Starting at the platoon level, our Army â€Å"marries† an officer and a seasoned NCO to accomplish missions. And it works. The combination of commission and noncommissioned officer is powerful and a critical difference in our Army. Senior NCOs advise senior officers about all enlisted issues and concerns. Officers count on NCOs for recommendations on their most critical decisions. Want the truth, ask an NCO. NCOs preserve the traditions, customs and courtesies of the Army. From standing at attention or parade rest to drill and ceremonies, NCOs must preserve these â€Å"lost arts† of a war-time Army. Respecting the flag at retreat is an NCO function. Politeness, respect and courtesy are historic indicators of discipline in our service. Who is preserving this tradition of the Army? The NCO must! When an NCO sees an infraction and makes no correction, a new standard has been set. So if NCOs follow their creed, they will do two things. Sergeants will accomplish their mission. Not only the ones they choose, but the ones the Army gives them. NCOs enforce all of them. And they must ensure the welfare of their Soldiers. Soldiers are a valuable commodity to be protected. To send untrained, undisciplined Soldiers to war is to kill them. NCOs save lives! They do all the dirty work and are quiet professionals who seek no reward other than the satisfaction of making a difference. They are the working class of the Army and the unsung heroes of our nation. In this year of the NCO, have you thanked a sergeant today? How to cite Military, Papers

Project Management Paper free essay sample

Some projects can last for a period minutes, months, and hours, days, and weeks, or even years. Projects are unique meaning the product or service is new and never been done before. For example: Hoover is in the business of manufacturing vacuum cleaners. Each new model of vacuum cleaner that Hoover redesigns, and manufacture is seen as a new project. The newer models will differ from older models in their features, performance, and possibly cost. Project Management Paper 3 When objectives and goals are accomplished the project is completed. A project could end when it is determined that the objectives and goals cannot be accomplished or when the service or product is no longer a need (Davidson Frame, (1995). The three basic requirements of a project are performance, time, and cost. The five features of a project are people are usually involved (2) Uses specifically allocated resources to the work (3) Defines approach, beginning, schedule, and end (4) follows an organized and planned approach and (5) result have goals (cost and quality). We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What are the basic phases of the project lifecycle and their purposes? To achieve a projects objectives and goals logical order is needed. The basic phases of a project lifecycle are initiation phase, planning, execution phase/ controlling phase, close-out phase, and post-implementation phase. Careful planning s a key component of all projects to ensure that deliverables are achieved in a timely, professional manner. Project managers dealing with todays economy must ensure that every allocated resource is used in an efficient manner. During the initiation of the project must be Project Management Paper 4 accounted for or considered such as (time allotment and budget) and other items not mandatory to the success of the project must be excluded. This must be done to stay on track with the budget, time, and the stakeholders expectations ((Lewis, 2010) The initiation phase is the risk phase of the project life cycle. The projects variables must be determined, if not and the wrong budget, timelines or resources are implemented it could throw the entire project off and risk discontinuance. The planning phase, which the detailed planning occurs and the tasks of completing the plans are set in action. This phase of the planning is about the creation of project plans to guide the team or team to successful completion. The longest portions of a project life cycle are the execution phase/controlling phase. The execution and controlling phase of a project consumes the most amounts of resources. This phase hows the progress of the manager processes to ensure that time; risk, quality, change, and other concerns are addressed. This phase of the project also shows that physical deliverables are achieved and the project plans are met. The close-out phase is also referred to as the wrap-up phase. Formal closure of the project began to take place. Final Project Management Paper 5 summarized reports are submitted to the stakeholders detailing the success and learned lessons of the project. The close-out phase also shows transfer of reports to stakeholders Customers, return of all equipment and the closure of human resources ontracts. The last phase post-implementation phase is a phase that many companies choose to include or add to the project life cycle. Usually one to three months after a project is completed a post-implementation report is done to evaluate the success of the project (Lewis, 2010). Project management is very important for any organization to use to accomplish task because most organizations suffer many of the following problems inaccurate estimates, conflicting priorities, inability to deal with skills of the staff, changing levels of work conditions and no project reporting. Through project management rganizations have experienced better control, higher work morale, higher profit margins, lower cost, better customer relationships, and many other benefits. With the positives comes some negative organizations have also experienced such as higher cost, low personnel utilization, management difficulties, and other problems. In todays society the use of project managers continues to expand. In 1969 The Project Management Institute was Project Management Paper 6 created to develop the professionalism and growth of projects. In many businesses project management is recognized as a career path and a means to gain valuable nowledge and experience within the workplace. Although not problem-free project management is a good way to accomplish project goals. Most projects will have a project management main challenge would be to achieve all project objectives and goals while honoring project constraints (Phillips, 2003). The project constraints consist of time, scope, and budget. In conclusion planning, controlling and scheduling are involved in project management and are part of project activities to achieve performance, time objectives, and cost. The best way to ensure the success of an organization is to minimize the risk with better planning.