Adult learning and development theories applied to military education Assignment

Adult learning and development theories applied to military education - Assignment Example Established educational programs play an important role in influencing learning processes and program components, moderated by learning and developmental theories, empowers learning processes to success. Examples of learning theories are social cognitive orientation theory, transformational learning theory and self-directed learning theory while Piaget’s theory of cognitive development is an example of developmental theories. Class sessions, tutoring, advising, program evaluation, and mandatory assessment are examples of program components and this paper reviews them subject to learning theories and developmental theories. Transformational learning theory and educational learning components Transformational learning theory is core to adult learning program. The theory’s core construct is the learning approach in which adults transform their existing knowledge, opinions, and assumptions and assume a more open minded and comprehensive scope of their experiences. The theor y relies on meditations, based on positive and negative experiences that motivate an individual and those experiences that develop surprises to adult learners, leading to social change that may be evident in reduced poverty level in the society, enhanced knowledge base in the learners, or reduced level of oppression. Transformational learning also relies on learners’ rationale from which new knowledge constructs are developed from experiences (Merriam, Caffarella and Baumgartner, 2012; Westby, 2007). Class session defines the traditional learning process in which a teacher teaches students belonging to a given class. It is a common approach to adult education, especially because of fixed schedules converges learning time, and constrained facilities. The foundation of class session exposure of the learner to new knowledge and this identifies with diversified aspects of the transformational learning theory. Exposure to new knowledge offers a basis for reflection into the learne r’s experience, a process that triggers the transformational learning theory’s aspect of reconstruction of perspectives. Developed knowledge in class sessions also offer a benchmark for determining the motivational aspect of an experience as lower benchmarks would enlist positive attitude while high benchmarks would identify discouragements in a learner’s experience. Interactive class sessions also exhaust learners’ perspectives and rationale to transform approach to knowledge development and to changed held perspectives (King, 2009; Boylan, Bliss and Bonham, 1997). Unlike class sessions, tutoring focuses on small number of students per educators and may sometimes be done on a one-on one basis. Its scope is similar to the scope of class session and therefore identify with transformational learning theory. The tutor, in a facilitator role, exposes learners to constructs that evoke reflection and meditation upon experience to motivate new perspectives. Lear nt knowledge from the program component also establishes standards that motivate learners into reflections and meditations. Consequently, tutoring identifies with the transformational learning theory through its concepts that promote reflection, among learners, of their experience, meditation upon the experiences, and integration of the experiences and learnt concepts for a new perspective. Advisory and counseling initiatives are other major components of educational programs and apply to adult education. The adult learner prefers an active approach to knowl

An Analysis of the Woolcock Street Investments Case Assignment

An Analysis of the Woolcock Street Investments Case - Assignment Example This case began in 1987 when the Eagle Star Nominees, Inc., designated as trustees for the BSL Growth Trust Company, engaged a company doing engineering work to design foundations for a warehouse and offices in Townsville. When the building’s construction had been finished, the trustee Eagle Star then decided to sell the property to the plaintiff. In the contract of sale, there was no warranty indicating that the building had no defects. Likewise, the buyer did not conduct any building inspection, survey before purchase, or any sort of appraisal to determine whether or not the building had been constructed in an optimal manner. Also, there was no assignment in contract by the vendor of the rights to proceed against others in case of defects. Just more than a year after the property had been turned over, the defects become apparent. The building had unmistakable structural distress and this was because of how the foundations were arranged, as well as the material below the foundations. The buyer filed a case against the engineering company and its employee, stating that the company owed a duty of reasonable care in designing the foundations of the building and ensuring the safety of the premises. In response, the company said that they owed no such duty of care to the buyer and that they were not at fault, because they in fact had asked the trustee to allow them to do soil tests, however they were told that such soil tests were not necessary and to simply use structural footing sizes. A lawsuit for damages was then filed, and the main question that the courts were tasked to respond to was: â€Å"Whether or not a subsequent buyer of commercial property had the right to sue the builder for design malfunctions?† The court ruled against the buyer and ruled that the duty of care owed to a subsequent or remote purchaser by the engineer that built the foundation of the building in question does not hold when the defective building is used for commercial purposes. This means that there is no case that can be filed against the engineer by the subsequent buyer because the building was not used as a dwelling, but rather as a commercial establishment. Previous Jurisprudence It is difficult to talk about Woolcock without talking about the progenitor case, Bryan v. Maloney. [(1995) 182 CLR 609, 616–17, 623 (Mason CJ, Deane and Gaudron  JJ) (‘Bryan’)]. In that case, the plaintiff was able to successfully claim damages against the builder, despite the fact that she was a subsequent buyer of a residential property and the sale was concluded seven years after the property had been built. The plaintiff had inspected the house many times before purchasing it, with no observations made that there were any defects. However, after six months, it was discovered that there were cracks on the wall and this was because the builder had constructed footings that were inadequate to withstand the changes in the

Transcendentalism and Romanticism Essay Example for Free

Transcendentalism and Romanticism Essay Romanticism is a literary, artistic, and philosophical movement that began in Europe it shaped all the arts in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In a general sense, romanticism refers to several distinct groups of artists, poets, writers, and musicians as well as political, philosophical and social thinkers and trends of the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Europe. Romanticism generally stressed the essential goodness of human beings. In its intense focus on the individual consciousness, it was both a continuation of and a reaction against the Enlightenment. (Romanticism) Romanticism did emphasize the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, and the transcendental. (Britannica) Romantic literature displayed a number of recurrent motifs: the theme of the individual in rebellion; the symbolic interpretation of the historic past; subjects from myth and folklore; the glorification of nature; faraway settings; sentimentalism; the nobility of the uncivilized man (the Native American, for example); admiration for the simple life; the elevation of the common man; a fascination with Gothic themes, with the supernatural and mysterious, with introspection, melancholy, and horror; and a humanitarian political and social outlook. The romantic impulse played a major role in the mid-nineteenth century blossoming of American literature and art that has been called the American Renaissance. (Cliff notes) Many depict this capacity for human growth as the triumph of the intuitive over the methodical and rational. Some suppose that individual self-culture will lead to social progress, even political revolution. (Romanticism) There were many great romantic writers on is the very well known Edgar Allan Poe who is best known as a literary figure, a writer of short stories and poetry. A surprising amount of his thought was devoted to natural science, with which he seems to have had a love-hate relationship. Poe often regarded himself as a paragon of rational thought but he seems to have held a characteristically romantic view of rationality, seeking to apply an artistic esthetic as the ultimate criterion for scientific truth. He was very well known and did many great works such as â€Å"The Raven† â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† and many more. He is known world wide still today and is very influential he is one of the best if not the best romantic writer of any period. (Math pages) Although another great write would be Emily Dickenson who was also a great romantic poet that wrote about love, death, and the human relationship with God and nature she helps show how romanticism can tie in with philosophy and religion. (Dickenson) William Blake was probably the most singular of the English romantics. His poems and paintings are radiant, imaginative, and heavily symbolic, indicating the spiritual reality underlying the physical reality. (E-topic) The works of James Fennimore Cooper reflected the romantic interest in the historical past, whereas the symbolic novels of Hawthorne and Melville emphasized the movements concern with transcendent reality. (Berklee) The other form of art is â€Å"Transcendentalism which was an American literary and philosophical movement of the nineteenth century† (phl) founded in New England, which asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. The founders of transcendentalism were Unitarian intellectuals and from them the transcendentalists took a concern for self-culture, a sense of moral seriousness, a neo-Platonic concept of piety, a tendency toward individualism, a belief in the importance of literature, and an interest in moral reform. The transcendentalist’s idealistic system of thought is based on a belief in the essential unity of all creation, the innate goodness of humankind, and the supremacy of vision over logic and experience for the revelation of the deepest truths bound them all together. Transcendentalist writers and their contemporaries signaled the emergence of a new national culture based on native materials, and they were a major part of the American Renaissance in literature. They advocated reforms in church, state, and society, contributing to the rise of free religion and the abolition movement and to the formation of various utopian communities, such as Brook Farm. The transcendentalists became pioneers in the American study of comparative religion. (Transcendentalism) The Transcendentalists also conveyed their philosophy, concerns, and creativity through shorter pieces printed in the periodical publications that were important to the intellectual life of the mid-nineteenth century. (Cliff notes) Emerson was transcendentalisms most philosophical writer and its greatest advocate for unification with the Universal Spirit or the One. (Romanticism) His poems, orations, and especially his essays, such as Nature, are regarded as landmarks in the development of American thought and literary expression. (Emerson) Emerson became close friends with Margaret Fuller an author and revolutionist and introduced her to a wide circle of intellectuals, including the transcendentalists. Fullers argument that women had a universal sacred right to develop their individual natures stemmed from transcendental philosophy, but her radical call to collective action, her attack upon the sexual double standard, and her endorsement of womens entrance into the public sphere earned her a feminist reputation. (Fuller) Another woman who is related to transcendentalism is Elizabeth Peabody who opened the first kindergarten in the United States. Peabody was a teacher, writer, and prominent figure in the transcendental movement, editing The Dial, the chief literary publication of the movement, for two years. (Memory) Romanticism greatly impacted transcendentalists. The Romantic Movement in Britain, Europe, and America provided the broad literary background for the rise of transcendentalism. (Cliff notes) Emerson’s transcendentalism is in some ways an American offshoot of romanticism, but with a greater religious and philosophical emphasis that manifests itself in highly intellectual essays rather than spontaneous lyrics. (cwrl) American Romanticism was powerfully expressed with the anonymous publication of Emerson’s Nature. This manifesto of transcendentalism, based on earlier journal entries, sermons, and lectures, was soon followed by the important addresses â€Å"The American Scholar† and the â€Å"Divinity School Address†. (Cliff notes) British Romantic authors William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Thomas Carlyle greatly influenced the New England transcendentalists by together writing Lyrical Ballads. In these poems, Wordsworth and Coleridge presented personal feeling, employed language that reflected the spoken rather than the stylized written word, and focused on both the supernatural and ordinary experience. (Cliff notes) Romanticism in the form of transcendentalism was communicated foremost through the writings of the faithful. Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller, and others published lengthy works of a range of types on a variety of subjects, each in its own way an expression of romantic ideals. (Cliff Notes) Transcendental movement may be described as a slightly later, American outgrowth of romanticism. (Wikipedia) You have now learned about romanticism and what it is and the impact it has in our culture along with what transcendentalism and the impact made but it as well. I also showed you the impact of romanticism on transcendentalism and how closely they are both related. I hope it was shown that romanticism and transcendentalism are two great forms of art that greatly contributed to literature and made it what it is today. Formun Ustu For literature, Romanticism was just opposite of the Enlightenment: ENLIGHTENMENT | ROMANTICISM | * there is a static vision of the * world * there is conservatism * there is rationality * there is uniformity of ideas * the most important subjects are * physic and maths | * there is a dynamic vision of the * world * there is a revolution * there are sentiments or feelings * there is diversity of ideas * the most important subjects are * biology and, later, genetics|.

An Individual Reflection Paper Philosophy Essay

An Individual Reflection Paper Philosophy Essay We live in a day and age where everyone constantly focuses on data, numbers, and scientific findings, but what is often over looked is the philosophy of everyday life, the impact it has on decision-making, and the direction of professional careers and its relationship to life. Philosophy and the concepts within philosophy impact many avenues in my life such as my professional career, life, and my education (Warburton, 2004). First of all, what is philosophy? Philosophy means love of wisdom. Philosophy goes beyond facts, measurements, and scientific findings and it depends on judgment, reflection, and intuition. In the case of the direction of my professional career, philosophy plays an important role in determining what I want to do as a career (Warburton, 2004). I have done a lot of reflecting lately using judgment of different courses I have taken to help direct me towards a suitable career. Instead of focusing on how much money I would make, how much power I would have, or objective feelings I have towards a career, philosophy has taught me to use intuition as a guide to what is the right decision. Philosophy helps me to view situations in a subjective manner where I dont have to use data to determine what is right or wrong; I instead use my feelings as a guide to my judgment of that situation. For example, right now I am debating on whether I want to continue on and get my masters degree or if I will be satisfied with a bachelors degree. When I posed this question to my good friend, he asked why not just get your Ph. D.? I will use my philosophy and reflect on these important decisions by using judgment and discernment (Brinkmann, 2010). What does philosophy mean to my life as a whole? Philosophy allows me to look past all of the facts and data and lets me focus on what I feel. As a human being, there is more to life than scientific measurements. How can science describe faith, spirit, or soul? Faith is the belief in the unproven with complete trust. Philosophy allows me to have faith in things that are otherwise unproven. I am a very spiritual person and try to find the connection between mind, body, and soul, but without philosophy this couldnt be possible because everything else would be based on data or facts. Philosophy is important to my life because it allows me to have subjective thoughts and feelings as well as the ability to seek connection between mind, body, and spirit and feel the holism that relates. As a physical educator, its important to be able to understand and know how to pursue philosophical answers. It would be easy for me as a physical education teacher to create lessons in which students have the most success in terms of results e.g. calories burned, VO2 max increase, or how long a student stayed in their target hear rate, however, these results or data do not show the whole picture which is an argument against linear causation. Linear causation suggests that human behavior has multiple aspects that impact anything and everything we do. What this data wouldnt represent would be the various individual influences that each student has such as family history, gender, age, aspiration, genetic makeup, or their past experiences. Students may have great results because of these lessons, but the various parameters each student has will influence whether or not they will find value in these lessons and continue them throughout life. As a physical education teacher, I will consta ntly ask myself to take all of these parameters into account when teacher so I can avoid linear causation. To answer philosophical questions regarding linear causation, single direction causation, missing information, reductionism, and common sense I will refer to the different types of philosophical reasoning such as inductive reasoning which uses concrete examples to create abstract understanding, deductive reasoning which uses several broad premises to create a few concrete conclusions, and/or intuitive reasoning which the ability to view something direct and be able to describe it faithfully. In life I would pursue philosophical answers very much the same way. For example, when faced with a problem, it wouldnt be enough to form a conclusion based solely from personal opinion. Instead, I would need to develop a thesis and focus on gathering information so that I could clarify the problem. It is only then that I will be able to use inductive or deductive reasoning to make a sound decision. I will try to avoid arguments such as the missing information argument which generally suggests that someone is either uninformed or misinformed about a certain subject. Before making decisions I will make sure that I am well informed on the subject and have viewed both sides of the arguments with an open mind so I dont make a bias decision. When reflecting on metaphysics, otherwise known as the nature of things, I focus on reality and the question of what is it, why is it, and how can we understand it. In life, as I come across anything I am unfamiliar with, such as a different religion than my own, I ask myself these questions. It not enough to merely dismiss what is unknown without first trying to understand it. Philosophy has reinforced the importance of taking on tasks with an open mind and trying to understand the differing concepts by asking critical questions. In life I will use this philosophy when I am greeted with unfamiliar forms of thinking or new ideas. When it comes to my professional career as a physical education teacher and metaphysics I think of life-long learning and how important it is. As I grow as a professional, there will be new methods of doing things and new information that is beneficial to all physical education teachers. It is important for me to desire to gain this knowledge so I can be the best educator I can be. It is almost certain that after I graduate college and become a professional that new information or findings about being physically active will be discovered. As a teacher I need to ask those three crucial questions the define metaphysics and the nature of things; what is it, why is it, and how can I understand it. In the end it will be my attitude and my desire to soak up this knowledge that will project me to be the educator I know I can be. The connection between body and mind is important in physical education as well as the overall quality of life. Dualism focuses on primarily two aspects, thought and matter. Matter is easy to describe for it has shape, color, taste, texture, and smell whereas thought has no shape, color, taste etc. It is somewhat difficult to actually describe thought or mind because it has no physical properties. This is important to my career because there are so many benefits that come from physical activity. These benefits can include becoming stronger, losing weight, or gaining muscle mass all of which can be measured or seen. But what about those benefits that cannot be seen such as the release of endorphins? As a physical education teacher, it is important for me to find the linkage between the mind and body so that my students get the best overall experience and benefits. To understand physical education and improve students performance, students deal with two different situations, human move ment, central nervous system, circulatory system on one hand, and ideas, intuitions, and trepidation on the other. This is where dualism is valued greatly in my field, because where other fields may have just focused on the objective aspects, dualism takes motives, perception, and experience as well as objectivism into account (Quay, 2008). Dualism also plays an important role in my personal life. Dualism creates a link between what I see or feel objectively and what I think or dream subjectively. It is hard for me to believe that anyone is a pure objectivist whom only believes what he sees, feels, hears, taste, or smells. In my life, mind and body dualism separates ideas and thoughts from objective experiences while creating a connection between mind and body at the same time. I will use this philosophy to describe my feelings and intuitions I have that cant be explained in objective terms. It is important to note that mind and body affect and interact with one another but mind and body dualism doesnt describe which or if one is more important than the other. Dualism has also helped to use reflective practice to instill the importance of the mind and the body and their ability to coincide with one another (Kinsella, 2010). The idea that anything and everything we do has an impact on later decisions is known as holism. As an elementary student, I couldnt see the connection between different subject areas. For example, I thought music was just singing and mathematics was just numbers, but as I got older and music became more complex, there was the need to be able to count the different notes. In my life holism ties every decision I have ever made with every decision I will ever make. This is important to remember because I may make a decision thinking it will only affect one aspect on my life, when in reality it is interconnected with everything else in my life. As a physical education teacher holism is even more important. Holism deals with three different levels that all interconnect. The first level deals with the physicality and how it is connected with aspects of everyday life. This is important to me as an educator because it puts emphasis into relating physicality to everyday life. The second level deals with practical usefulness. This is important to me as an educator because students want have practical reasons for doing certain things. By developing practical usefulness, students will find physical activity more meaningful. The third level of holism deals with improving the quality of life as a whole. As an educator this is the most important aspect of holism because in ties everything together and doesnt put more emphasis on one single aspect. This philosophy class has really helped me find the linkage or connection between all subject areas I am studying or have studied. I further developed my critical thinking skills through the different approaches in philosophy (common-sense argument, missing information argument, the argument against reductionism, linear causation, and single causation). I learned the importance of lifelong learning and the impact that being surrounded by great minds can have on success in life. Having a positive attitude can have a big influence on whether I succeed or fail in anything I may do in life. Everything we have talked about can be used in some way or another in our lives. It doesnt matter if we are physical education majors, exercise science majors, physical therapy majors, art majors, or history majors the information presented to us can be used in any life situation that we may stumble upon. I will leave you with one final quote that influences my life everyday and drives me to always wa nt to be better. There is nothing noble in being superior to fellow mankind. The true nobility is being superior to your previous self (Chin, 2010).

The Decision: Finding the Right College Essay -- Informative, College

A student sifts through stacks of once enticing, but now monotonous mail. They all seem to have the same message, pleading with the student to consider attending their school. The letters outline details about certain features the school has that may make them stand out among the crowd. Most of the schools are ones that the student has never even heard of. The student, tired of looking through these boring letters, decides to go online and look at some of the colleges that caught their eye. A student and his parents sit across from each other at the dining room table. Laid out in front of them are papers detailing different college’s financial outlook. They discuss the pros and cons of each school, and talk about how money is a factor to where he goes. Somewhere across the country, a prospective student-athlete is on the phone with a coach from the basketball team. The coach is telling the student all about what the school offers for their major and what kind of players they a re trying to recruit. The coach also asks the student questions about normal life as well, trying to establish a solid relationship which can make or break the recruitment process. Leaves are falling on the sidewalk as a different student tours a potential college. He tours all the main buildings while tossing questions at his tour guide about life on campus. The future can be frightening. For many high school students around the world, the future contains going on to college. This decision of where to go to college can be a time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and plain difficult decision. There are multiple ways this can be done. Every school has an on-line website and sends out mail. By scanning through these, students can get a feel for the school is like... ...d it. By having a plan, the student can save themselves hours of stress because they will not have to go through and research every little detail as their senior year comes to a close. The smartest way to go about making a decision is to make at least one college visit. No letter, web page, or phone call can supersede actually experiencing the college. This is not to say the only item a student should worry about taking tours of colleges. It takes a combination of multiple items to come to a solid and final conclusion on where to go to college. While it may be formidable for a student to think about choosing where to continue college, it can also be an enjoyable process because they student can, for the, decide what kind of experience they want. Students should not be afraid, they need to embrace the process and be ready to enjoy the next four years of their lives. The Decision: Finding the Right College Essay -- Informative, College A student sifts through stacks of once enticing, but now monotonous mail. They all seem to have the same message, pleading with the student to consider attending their school. The letters outline details about certain features the school has that may make them stand out among the crowd. Most of the schools are ones that the student has never even heard of. The student, tired of looking through these boring letters, decides to go online and look at some of the colleges that caught their eye. A student and his parents sit across from each other at the dining room table. Laid out in front of them are papers detailing different college’s financial outlook. They discuss the pros and cons of each school, and talk about how money is a factor to where he goes. Somewhere across the country, a prospective student-athlete is on the phone with a coach from the basketball team. The coach is telling the student all about what the school offers for their major and what kind of players they a re trying to recruit. The coach also asks the student questions about normal life as well, trying to establish a solid relationship which can make or break the recruitment process. Leaves are falling on the sidewalk as a different student tours a potential college. He tours all the main buildings while tossing questions at his tour guide about life on campus. The future can be frightening. For many high school students around the world, the future contains going on to college. This decision of where to go to college can be a time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and plain difficult decision. There are multiple ways this can be done. Every school has an on-line website and sends out mail. By scanning through these, students can get a feel for the school is like... ...d it. By having a plan, the student can save themselves hours of stress because they will not have to go through and research every little detail as their senior year comes to a close. The smartest way to go about making a decision is to make at least one college visit. No letter, web page, or phone call can supersede actually experiencing the college. This is not to say the only item a student should worry about taking tours of colleges. It takes a combination of multiple items to come to a solid and final conclusion on where to go to college. While it may be formidable for a student to think about choosing where to continue college, it can also be an enjoyable process because they student can, for the, decide what kind of experience they want. Students should not be afraid, they need to embrace the process and be ready to enjoy the next four years of their lives.

Good vs. Evil in John Cheevers The Five-Forty-Eight Essay -- Five-For

Good vs. Evil in John Cheever's The Five-Forty-Eight John Cheever was an award winning American author of the twentieth century. His work often possessed 'psychological and religious vision' with central themes of 'sin, deception, and redemption' (Kennedy, 551). Cheever's short story entitled 'The Five-Forty-Eight' portrays a struggle of good vs. evil. Following the themes of sin, deception, and redemption, we read of a young woman (good) seeking revenge for the evil done to her. Through the course of the story the reader can distinguish between the traits of good and evil. The Webster's dictionary defines evil as 'that which is morally wrong.' Blake has some distinct morality issues. Blake, the evil force in the story, possesses many character flaws that are indicative of the force he portrays. He is self-absorbed, manipulative, and shallow and has isolated himself from his friends and family. Blake sacrifices his relationships to give into his sexual desires, which is our first indication of his evil streak. He sleeps with Mrs. Dent, his secretary, and proceeds to fire her. As a result of Blake?s many one night of stands, in which he manipulates women to sleep with him, he loses his wife, son, and friends. He is so incredibly shallow and self-involved that he married his wife for her beauty alone; he has no attraction to her in her old age. He does not even pretend to love his wife ?the physical charms that had been her only attraction were gone? (554). His neighbors and friends hear of the evil Blake has done to his own wife, and as a result they rej ect Blake as a friend. His self-involved attitude prevents him from caring that he has no companions. When his neighbor, Mrs. Compton, cannot give him a genuine smile, we r... ...relationship. Cheever?s preoccupation with sin and deception is played out in the story. Works Cited Cheever, John. ?The Five-Forty-Eight.? Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 8th ed. New York: Longman, 2002. 550-561. Chesnick, Eugene. ?The Domesticated Stroke of John Cheever.? Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 7 of 46. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1980. 48. Oates, Joyce Carol. Article on John Cheever. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 11 of 46. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1980. 119-120. The New Webster?s Dictionary. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc., 1990. 135. Tyler, Anne. Article on John Cheever. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 11 of 46. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1980. 121.

How does Brian Friel establish the theme of language Essay

How does Brian Friel establish the theme of language and its effects on communication, power and identity in Act one? In the play Translations, language and its effects is clearly one of the central themes. This is evident because the characters all show what language means to them ranging from Hugh who uses his knowledge of languages as a form of power over the British to Owen who does not show any concern for his language and identity and allows the British to call him Roland. Furthermore the title of the play Translations is ironic because although one of the themes of the play is keeping your identity the book itself looses its identity. This is because although the play is written by an Irish author and set in Ireland, it is written in English. Thus the title foreshadows the outcome of the play. One of the ways Brain Friel establishes the theme of language is by using Sarah as a device to convey the bare minimum of language. Her limited knowledge of language limits her communication. However this could also be a benefit to her as she is able to have secrets without being expected to share them. Sarah is first introduced in the play by the stage directions which say â€Å"Sarah shakes her head vigorously and stubbornly† this is because Manus wants her to speak so she has an identity in the world. This could foreshadow that the Irish, who do not want to speak English will be forced too for there own good as it will help their country prosper. The character Sarah can be interpreted as the symbol of Ireland due to the play opening with her trying to claim her identity by saying â€Å"My name is Sarah†. This achievement of Sarah saying her name at the start of the play shows just how powerful language can be as just a few words can turn you from someone who is unknown to a person who has status in the world. Manus understands this and reacts by saying â€Å"nothing’ll stop us now†. This can either be interpreted as nothing will stop Sarah from learning Gaelic now or that the â€Å"now† in the quote refers to all of Ireland and that as long as people are still learning Gaelic the British will not stamp out their language. The character Manus is Hugh’s eldest son and is a teacher at Hedge School. The relationship that Manus has with his father is made very clear by Brain Freil when Hugh first enters the play as he treats Manus like a slave by handing him his hat and coat â€Å"as, if to a footman†. Brain Friel shows that due to Manus’s lack of communication with his father and his willingness to do all the things his father asks of him, that he has become a servant. Out of all the characters in the play it is only Manus who really sees the British as an enemy in the First Act. This is likely to be because Manus clearly loves his country and his language and sees these two things as part of his identity. Also although the play is not overtly political, political issues do run under the surface. For example when Dan Doalty moves the British’s poles Manus says this is just a â€Å"gesture† to indicate a â€Å"presence†. However when analysing Doalty’s character it can easily be seen that it is highly unlikely he was doing it for this reason and was more likely just looking to make fun of the British. Furthermore Manus is the only one who sees Owen’s job as traitorous to Ireland. All the other characters do not even mention it. However although Manus feels this way about Owen, he himself is guilty of betrayal as he â€Å"ignores† Sarah when she tells him that she said her name. As Sarah symbolises Ireland’s identity ignoring her is like a betrayal to Ireland. The character Jimmy, although contributing to the comedy in act one when Doalty and Bridget are making fun of him. I believe also that this represents just how different the British and Irish culture was in the nineteenth century as his character reveals that in Ireland even the most poor man can speak Greek and Latin. In England it is most likely only the richer upper class people would be able to speak these languages revealing that language doesn’t represent status in Ireland. Furthermore Jimmy’s character is also the only character that stays true to his identity as he is unable to speak English and shows know signs of wishing to learn English â€Å"I have only Irish†. However although Jimmy shows know signs of wanting to learn English his love of Latin and Greek have caused him to be unable to communicate properly with other characters as they only speak Gaelic. Thus Jimmy portrays what could happen to Ireland if they do not learn English as they will be cut off from the world. Additionally Jimmy’s character also uses his knowledge of languages as a power over the British as he mocks captain Lancey for not being able to speak Latin â€Å"Nonne Latine loquitur?†. Brain Friel also shows that due to Jimmy’s reading of Greek stories such as the â€Å"Odyssey† he has created an alternative reality for himself in which figures of myth are as real to him as the people he sees everyday. This is revealed as he imagines situations when he would have to choose between Athene, Artimis and Helen. Due to these fantasies Manus calls Jimmy â€Å"a bloody dangerous man† suggesting that living in the past is dangerous. Thus foreshadowing that Manus, who does not embrace the English language in his country, may be dangerous as he is still living in the past The characters captain Lancey and Yolland although both working for the British army have very different views on what they have been ordered to do in Ireland. This is apparent by the way that they act when they first meet the Irish people. Captain Lancey who clearly symbolises England as his manner is polite and imperative, is very patronising when he talks, thinking that if he just talks slow and loud as if to a child the Irish will some how be able to understand him â€Å"a picture- you understand picture?†. However even though he uses this patronising tone it is clearly unjustified because when jimmy asks him â€Å"Nonne Latine loquitur?† he mistakes it for Gaelic showing that he is not as intelligent as them. Furthermore the language used by Lancey although already in English is very political and imperialistic and it is likely some British people wouldn’t understand what he was saying. In comparison Yolland although a soldier has few characteristics normally associated with the military as he is shy and awkward. This is shown when Yolland says â€Å"I – I – I’ve nothing to say – really -â€Å". The quote reveals that he is not uncomfortable being in Hedge Schools as he stutters. Furthermore unlike Lancey, Yolland is uneasy about not being able to speak Gaelic as he says â€Å"Sorry – sorry† when he can’t understand Maire. Additionally Yolland shows very clearly that he values language and identity as he wishes to learn G aelic. The â€Å"strong-minded, strong bodied women† Maire is a very pragmatic character as she will do things to better herself. This is shown by her willing to embrace the future and learn English so that she can move to America as it is the land of opportunities. This reveals that learning English to Maire is a form of power as it will allow her to escape her poor life in Ireland. However although she desires this, there is a clear uncertainty in what Maire wants as she speaks approvingly of â€Å"modern progress† but on other occasions finds comfort in the belief that things will never change. This is shown when she talks about Baile Beag’s potato crop never failing. The repetition of the word â€Å"never† suggests that her willingness to embrace the future is idealistic and selective showing that she wants some things to change while finding a misplaced assurance in the belief that something’s will never change. This could suggest that although she is willing to give up part of her identity, she is comforted by the fact that it is unlikely to happen. The character Owen is Hugh’s youngest son an presents a striking contrast to Manus, as he is lively and charming. Furthermore although Owen is the son who left his father to pursue his own ambitions he is treated more warmly then Manus. This could be why Owen and Manus’s relationship is uneasy. Owen can either be interpreted as a traitor or as a pragmatic character like Maire. This is because although Owen is helping the British â€Å"standardise† Irish place names, he could just be doing this as he believes embracing English is the only way Ireland will prosper. However due to Owen allowing the British to call him Roland, which is a common British name it is likely that the former is true. This is further apparent as when questioned by Manus about why the British call him Roland he replies with â€Å"It’s only a name. It’s the same me isn’t it?†. This quote reveals that Owen places know value in his identity. Owen’s translation of what Lancey is saying on pages 31/32 also show how Owen uses his ability to communicate with the English as power over the Irish. This is because his mistranslation of what Lancey is saying to the Irish allows Owen to make it seem that the British are in their country to help them, not remove their language. The character Hugh although conveyed as a figure of dignity in Baile Beag is ironically a heavy drinker and is shown little respect by characters such as Daolty as he mocks him behind his back by impersonating the way he acts. Hugh, who is fluent in English, Latin, Greek and Gaelic is very critical of the British language referring to it as a language for traders. Furthermore the distain with which he speaks of Lancey for not knowing any Gaelic, Latin and Irish shows how he uses his knowledge of languages as a weapon against the British as he is able to show his superior intelligence. In conclusion Brain Friel’s uses characters, dramatic setting and many other devices to show how language plays a key role in this play. Furthermore his use of characters in the play to convey the bare minimum of language (Sarah) and the height of language (Hugh) add to the effect of how he uses language.