What is Linguistics - Intro to Branches of Linguistics

[image source] Many students start college with no idea what linguistics is, and it’s possible they won’t even brush past it throughout their entire college career. Today, I’ll demystify and explain exactly what linguistics is and hopefully encourage you to at least take an introductory class! When I tell people that I'm doing a PhD in linguistics, there are three main responses that I hear: 1) So how many languages do you speak? 2) Ooh, you must be a grammar Nazi! 3) What is that exactly? To reply to responses 1 and 2: What linguistics is not: Linguistics is not about learning as many languages as you can; there are many linguists who can only speak one or two languages. There isn't a requirement to learn multiple languages. However, it is true that many (though not all) of us linguists become interested in linguistics because we like learning languages and decide to take an introduction to linguistics course to find out what it's about. Linguistics is also not about prescribing what grammar is â€Å"correct†. Rather, we describe language and its flexibility. If someone is a native speaker of a language, their grammar cannot be â€Å"wrong†. So Southern English, standard American English, African American Vernacular English, London English, Cockney English, etc. are all legitimate grammars with their own regular rules. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s reply to response 3! So what is linguistics? To put it simply, linguistics is the scientific study of language. Linguistics aims to understand how the language faculty of the mind works and to describe how language itself works. Linguists observe patterns within a language and across languages to try to understand what principles drive our brains’ comprehension and production of language. There's a quote by Lynne Murphy that "asking a linguist how many languages s/he speaks is like asking a doctor how many diseases s/he has had". As linguists, languages (and language) are our objects of study. We learn to look at languages as data and recognize their patterns, just as doctors learn to recognize signs and symptoms of diseases. Whether they have had the disease before or not is irrelevant. Many people come to linguistics from other areas: math, computer science, philosophy, anthropology, psychology, and cognitive science, just to name a few popular related fields.Linguistics spans a large number of subfields, each dealing with a different part of the language faculty. Phonetics - the study of the acoustics and sounds of languages A phonetician might, for example, look at how stress manifests in a language. In English, the stressed word in a normal sentence is louder and higher pitched: â€Å"ANna likes bananas.† If we ask a question though, it’s pronounced with a lower pitch: â€Å"ANna likes bananas?† Phonology - the study of sound systems and how they pattern For example, in English, there are many examples of t's in the middle of words that sound quite different from t's at the beginning or end of words. Listen to the t's in "toted" and you’ll hear that they don’t sound the same. The first t is pronounced with a puff of air (put your hand in front of your mouth to check this) but the second is not and it sounds like the d in â€Å"coded.† This sound is called a tap because your tongue taps the roof of your mouth briefly and it is very similar to the tapped r sound in languages like Spanish or Japanese (this leads to misperceptions of the English middle t as an r for speakers of these languages). Syntax - the study of sentence structure English and many western European languages have a phenomenon called â€Å"wh-movement.† wh-words are the question words who, which, what, where, when, why, and how. Think about the sentence â€Å"I eat an apple† as a possible response to the question â€Å"What do you eat?† The word what corresponds to apple, but it shows up at the beginning of the sentence. In many languages, though, the wh-word corresponds to the same position as the word it refers to. For example, in Chinese you would say â€Å"I eat apple† in response to â€Å"You eat what?† We say then that in languages like English, wh-movement has occurred and the structure is: â€Å"What do you eat what?† A lot of other properties of a language are predicted by whether it has wh-movement or not, but we’ll have to leave those to another time! Semantics - the study of meaning and formalizing it into a logical form English and many western European languages have a phenomenon called â€Å"wh-movement.† wh-words are the question words who, which, what, where, when, why, and how. Think about the sentence â€Å"I eat an apple† as a possible response to the question â€Å"What do you eat?† The word what corresponds to apple, but it shows up at the beginning of the sentence. In many languages, though, the wh-word corresponds to the same position (called in-situ) as the word it refers to. For example, in Chinese you would say â€Å"I eat apple† in response to â€Å"You eat what?† We say then that in languages like English, wh-movement has occurred and the structure is: In English, the wh-word moves to the front of the sentence (why â€Å"do† appears in questions is another issue that I don’t have room to tackle here). A lot of other properties of a language are predicted by whether it has wh-movement or not, but we’ll have to leave those to another time Psycholinguistics - the study of how language manifests in the brain Psycholinguists carry out experiments to observe the reaction of the brain’s different areas to different stimuli, and they’ll try to relate the findings to the more abstract linguistic theories. An example is tracking people’s eye movements when they read the sentence â€Å"The old man the boat.† This is known as a garden path sentence, because readers are led down a â€Å"false path.† The reader does a double take once s/he reaches â€Å"the†, having expected a verb to appear. The second time around, the reader realizes that â€Å"man† is a verb and then parses the sentence correctly. These garden path sentences provide insight into how sentence parsing occurs in the brain. Sociolinguistics - the study of the intersection of language with society Sociolinguists might look at attitudes toward different linguistic features and its relation to class, race, sex, etc. For example, one of the fathers of sociolinguistics, William Labov, carried out an experiment in New York City in which he visited three department stores--a low end one (S. Klein), a mid-end one (Macy’s), and a high-end one (Saks Fifth Avenue)--and inquired where a department was in order to prompt the answer â€Å"fourth floor.† The higher end the store, the more likely the â€Å"r† was pronounced, and when asked to repeat, it was only Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s where the â€Å"r† became much more likely to be pronounced the second time around. The study also had implications for the ability in different communities to code switch to a prestige dialect. Computational linguistics - the study of applying computer science to linguistics Computational linguists might use programming to model linguistic structure or change or for practical applications, such as Natural Language Processing, which has implications both for figuring out and modeling how language acquisition works as well as for translation software. Historical linguistics - the study of how languages change across time Historical linguists may work in language specific areas, carrying out what is called reconstruction. Just as evolutionary biologists compare features of related organisms to reconstruct their common ancestor, historical linguists do the same with related languages, under the important fact that languages change regularly. As a simple example, f’s at the beginning of English words correspond to p’s at the beginning of Latin words if neither is borrowed from another language (father : pater, fish : pisces, pellis : felt, pes : foot). Using reconstructions, historical linguists will try to trace migration patterns and make inferences about the prehistoric culture, triangulating with results by geneticists, anthropologists, and archaeologists. Historical linguists might also look at what patterns exist in language change and seek to explain why these patterns exist. Applied linguistics - the study of applying linguistics to real-life situations An applied linguistic will likely work in fields such as such as language education, translation, or language policy. For example, an applied linguist may also carry out research in first and second language acquisition in order to figure out effective and efficient ways to teach language in school settings. There are various other fields of linguistics but there’s only so much room in this post! As for what you can do with a linguistics degree? Plenty! But, that deserves a post all for itself! Interested in learning more about Linguistics from Tyler? Feel free to ask him a question by writing in the comments section below. For private tutoring in Linguistics, English, or any of our subjects, contact Cambridge Coachingto get a recommendation for a tutor. ;

How You Can Use Expository Essay Samples PDF

How You Can Use Expository Essay Samples PDFIf you want to become an essay writer, you may want to look into purchasing some good expository essay samples PDF. You do not have to search the entire world for it. There are lots of online resources that you can access, and these are some of the best resources that you will need in order to prepare for the world of essay writing. This is something that many students that attend college are doing, and you can too if you decide to get into the field of writing.It is also important to remember that you need to do a lot of reading as well as a lot of practice before you will be able to write an essay. You need to read so much and so many different things so that you will know what works and what does not work. This is important if you want to do well at your college essay exam.I have been known to go through several different books on paper and study the papers that are already sitting on my desk. That has helped me tremendously in my studie s. It also helps when I go to school to go through this material and use what I am reading to help me along. Doing this will make sure that you have everything that you need for the essay that you need to write.You also need to think about your own experience with writing, because it is a skill that you will need to learn and one that will definitely take time to learn. Some people find it easier than others. You might even have one friend who is great at writing and the other one who is not. If you do not have any experience with writing, then you will want to make sure that you get the best that you can in order to be successful.Reading as well as writing together will allow you to develop a bond of trust with one another. This is something that is very important in the process of learning to write as well as to read. It will allow you to get along with one another so that you can become the best essay writer that you can be.You will want to study English composition in college in order to be successful at this. A lot of people are doing this and they are really enjoying it and enjoying themselves in the process.When you do go into the world of paper, there are a lot of resources available that you can use to get through the tasks of writing your paper. You will want to use them, but do not just jump in head first without doing enough research into the area of paper writing.

Essay on DBQ declaration of independence - 665 Words

Declaration of Independence In the mist of 1776-1877, did the United States carry out all the goals that were stated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? The Declaration of Independence and Constitution had many different goals and ideas in mind for the United States at the time. The United States partially realized the some of the values stated in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but also did accomplish some the goals mentioned in the documents. The principles in the Declaration of Independence were applied to some, and the major goals in the Constitution were not wholly realized. Some of the goals that were partially realized were equality and women’s rights, some might say that these†¦show more content†¦For example in the letter Abigail Adams wrote to John Adam she stated that â€Å"I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous to them then your ancestors.† (Doc B). This document explains how Abigail Adams wrote a letter to the President, her husband john Adams explaining her view on how women should have rights. It’s important because they had an idea that the women should have rights to get an education so that they can educate the children (men) to become better citizens. From the Declaration of Seneca falls women’s rights convention Elizabeth Cady Stanton was quoted saying â€Å"The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward women.†(Doc J). This means that the ideas of equality, liberty, and inalienable rights were battling in American civilization with common laws and religious traditions of the agreement of husband and wife. It is important because this goal was not realized until after this time. Women wanted rights as same as everyone else. In the court case Dred Scott v. Sanford the US Supreme Court chief justice Roger Taney was quoted saying â€Å"[blacks] had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and the Negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery.† (Doc L). This quotes means that even though blacks had no rights, the whites should still have respect for them, they are people too. It’s important because it’s another goal that the declarationShow MoreRelatedThe Declaration of Independence and the Struggle for Equality DBQ1000 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Declaration of Independence and the Struggle for Equality DBQ† â€Å"In what way and to what extent does the Declaration of Independence serve as a benchmark for the actions of disenfranchised or otherwise oppressed citizens of the United States of America?† The Declaration of Independence, since July 4th, 1776, has continued to always become a guideline to protect those who are oppressed. â€Å"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, â€Å"that all Men are created equal,† that they are endowed by theirRead MoreMath Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesInformation on the DBQ The required DBQ differs from the standard essays in its emphasis on your ability to analyze and synthesize historical data and assess verbal, quantitative, or pictorial materials as historical evidence. Like the standard essays, however, the DBQ is judged on its thesis and argument. Although confined to no single format, the documents are unlikely to be the familiar classics (such as the Emancipation Proclamation or the Declaration of Independence), but their authorsRead MoreWhich Ideal of the Declaration of Independence Is the Most Important?699 Words   |  3 PagesDBQ Our American government became independent from Great Britain, on July 4, 1776. There was a committee of five people who wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration has a structure of an introduction, a statement of ideals about government, a long list of grievances against the British, and a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Yet the four ideals; consent of governed, Equality, Unalienable Rights, and the right to alter or abolish, are the foundation of our governmentRead MorePhilippine Annexation Dbq : A Primary Cause Of World War I Essay829 Words   |  4 PagesNovember 2016 Philippine Annexation DBQ Scholars typically cite imperialism as a primary cause of World War I, and though controversial, America was no stranger to the practice. In 1898, the United States won the Spanish American War, resulting in the Paris Treaty. America gained several formerly Spanish colonies from their victory, and through the Treaty of Paris, they annexed the Philippines. Filipino insurgents, who had fought for the Philippines independence, rebelled against the annexation.Read MoreCauses of the Revolutionary War DBQ1077 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Ryan Hsin 10/17/14 US History Period 2 Causes of the Revolutionary War DBQ A great things started somewhere. For a powerful, free, and role model country like the United States of America started somewhere. The journey of our storied revolution and transformation to one of the world’s premier powers have its roots derived from Great Britain. Unjust colonial rules implanted by the King of England acted as the catalyst for revolution amongst the colonies. Once a happy family, key events triggeredRead MoreDbq: the Enlightenment Essay1184 Words   |  5 Pages October 11, 2012 DBQ: The Enlightenment The Enlightenment known by many as the Age of Reason was a turning point in history. Man people believe that without the Enlightenment, many of the laws, and rules would exist. For example the United States Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were greatly influenced by the Enlightenment. For example, John Locke, an Enlightenment thinker highly influenced the Declaration of Independence by stating that the natural rights ofRead MoreEssay on Development of the American Identity Between 1750 and 1776919 Words   |  4 PagesKeum Yong (Andrew) Lee DBQ – Score 8/9 (95) In what ways and to what extent did the â€Å"American identity† develop between 1750 and 1776? Though the American colonists had not achieved a true, uniform sense of identity or unity by 1776, on the eve of Revolution, the progress towards unity and the inchoate idea of an â€Å"American† between 1750 and 1776 is inevitable in both existence and significance. Previous to the French and Indian War, America as a whole had been, more or less, loyal mercantile-basedRead MoreDBQ 23 Decolonization and Revolution964 Words   |  4 Pages DBQ 23: Decolonization and Revolution From 1945 and beyond, leaders have selected different paths to affect change. Some encouraged independence through violence, peaceful actions, diplomacy, and the commitment of their struggling nation. Others sparked revolutions by appealing to the peoples’ needs. Through policy, and sometimes uniting a people, trailblazers changed the face and structure of their nation. A column from a journalist during the time period would help to see a broader perspectiveRead More AP HISTORY-Jacksonian Democracy Essay676 Words   |  3 PagesDBQ: Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian democracy was created during the antebellum America. The Jackson democrats made an attempt to grant power to the lower classes while decreasing the influence of the rich and potent. The Jacksonian democrats viewed themselves as saviors of the common people and ruled by the means of a powerful executive branch who attempted to destroy aristocracy in America. In reality, they were typically very wealthy, they disregarded the capability of the federal governmentRead MoreMiddle East Dbq Essay1026 Words   |  5 Pages Modern Middle East DBQ Edmund Burke once said â€Å"Those who dont know history are destined to repeat it.† Unfortunately, it seems that many people who have impacted the world have had a bad history teacher, as history continues to repeat itself to this day. One of the most prime examples of this is seen in the Middle East; where the Palestinian people are fighting against the Israelis over territory in which they both believe belongs to them. It has been a dispute which has resulted in loss of homes

The Effects Of Emotional Intelligence On Teaching And...

Whether your title is professor, instructor, lecturer, adjunct or other, your responsibility to your students is to teach. Your students look to you for the wisdom you have gained from your research, your educational background or your practical experience and your overall intelligence. However, being an effective instructor does not solely depend on your intellectual quotient (IQ); it also depends on how well you can use your emotional intelligence (EI). From my experience teaching in higher education, I have observed that not every student learns through the same methods, is motivated in the same manner, or acts in the same way in a classroom (live or online). So, it seems apparent that recognizing differences in teaching and learning†¦show more content†¦Do not get frustrated if some students are not learning the material as quickly as you expect. A major part of emotional intelligence is showing empathy. Try to put yourself in your student s shoes and remember what it wa s like when you were learning a new concept and how it made you feel. If you can try a different teaching technique or a different way of explaining a concept, this could alleviate some of the stress of learning. 2) Manage your emotions while taking responsibility. There will be situations that frustrate you, but not only should you obviously learn to hold back visible anger, you should also take responsibility for your emotions without placing blame on your students. Focus on using I instead of You when making a statement. For example, instead of saying, You are not working hard enough to understand this concept, say, I am confused about what is making this concept difficult to understand. Let s try together to understand what is not making sense. Avoiding putting the students on the defensive may help open their minds to learning. 3) Be honest and own up to your mistakes. If a student asks you a question and you do not know the answer, honesty can be the best policy. Tell the student that you will do some research and get back to them regarding the correct answer. Also, if you make a mistake, apologize and correct yourself and then move forward. By setting a good example of honesty in the classroom, you will hopefully be encouragingShow MoreRelatedMusic Education And Emotional Intelligence1607 Words   |  7 Pagesmusical growth the emotional demands require guidance by a teacher and self-exploration from the participant. Once success in this area becomes apparent, musical benefits emerge and the journey the individual undertook also helps shape their emotional intelligence. By answering the question of how music education affects an individual’s emotional knowledge of music and themselves, it will become possible to see the benefits of teaching music students with an emphasize on emotional learning. T he first taskRead MoreAn Individual s Level Of Emotional Intelligence1524 Words   |  7 PagesAn individual’s level of emotional intelligence can have an impact on their performance as a teacher? There is a great deal of individuals that boast the intellectual intelligence to become teacher’s, but an alarming number of them are failing to sustain the emotional strength required to maintain excellence in their careers. Nobody can deny that teaching is a highly stressful, demanding and challenging profession, but how much of this stress and fatigue can be relieved by teachers managing theirRead MoreWhat Factors Play Into Students Academic Success?1363 Words   |  6 Pagessetting their own learning goals. They only need the correct push and back ground to develop and flesh out their own thoughts. I began to think, what factors play into students academic success and how can we as educators help students in achieving their academic goals? What factors are at play that hinders students from reaching these academic goals and how can we as educators assist in alleviating these factors and foster growth in students to overcome. Chris Emdin’s Co-teaching model in Hip HopRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Leadership And Leadership887 Words   |  4 PagesAlso, contingencies, such as relationships, structures, and power impacts the leaders’ ability to facilitate accomplishment of goals. Cavazotte, Moreno, and Hickmann (2012) spoke about the importance of leader intelligence, personality and emotional intelligence. Each investigates the effects and the approach to leadership. Whether a leader is a transformational leader, selective approach is transpired in order to become an important leader. A set of characteristics is essential for an individual toRead MoreEssay on My Personal Perspective of Coaching1659 Words   |  7 PagesPersonal coaching as defined by Biswas – Diener (2009) is a professional relationship in which coaches work with clients to facilitate experiential learning and improve functioning and performance, of in the context of working toward specific goals. Some core a ssumptions that people have an innate capacity to grow and develop a focus on mutually agreed upon goals, and an understanding that the relationship is relatively equal and collaborative as stated by the author (2009). Some techniques thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Howard Gardners Theory Of Multiple Intelligences In The Classroom908 Words   |  4 PagesWe all learn knowledge and use our educations in a variety of ways. One flaw found in the educational system is that it doesnt always recognize different learning styles and instead teaches students using limited methods. According to Gardners theory, this is a problem that needs to be fixed. He details seven different types of intelligence to show the various ways human beings learn. Howard Gardner says that we are all able to know the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis,Read MoreNew Styles of Instruction Essay1304 Words   |  6 PagesiPod Touch can be integrated to customize the learning experience for all (Banister, 2010). Laptop computers are also being used more in the classroom. Educators are not merely using laptops as a means to plan and deliver instruction, rather as tools for authentic learning where students use the computers during lessons (Kemker, Barron Harmes, 2007). There are several web-based programs, such as Education City, Study Island, and Compass Learning, to promote achievement in diverse disciplinesRead MoreWorking with Students who have Learning Disabilities Essay examples1481 Words   |  6 PagesWorking with Students who have Learning Disabilities Over the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. I need to be aware of how to help those students who have learning disabilities and teach to the best of my ability. I also need to be supportive and understand not every student learns in the same way which is why it is important for me to be flexible in my own style of instruction. I need to be knowledgeableRead MoreIntroduction. What Is God’S Way In A Classroom?Reflecting1717 Words   |  7 Pagespositive learning environment that is productive and incorporates both nurturing and Biblical teachings. Proverbs 22:6 â€Å"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.† Children are so innocent and open-minded and they love to learn. They are human sponges and will soak up anything that is in their surroundings. It is paramount that a child is nurtured with guidance of the Biblical teaching s. An effective teacher should incorporate biblical teachings in theRead MoreEssay on Effects of Teaching According to Student Learning Style2495 Words   |  10 PagesLiterature Review: The Effectiveness of Teaching According to Student Learning Styles In the Classroom Jenna Scifo Liberty University Abstract In the last 20-30 years, learning styles has been a heavily debated topic in the field of education. Many teachers and schools have adopted the learning style approach into their classrooms. The idea of teaching students according to their preferred learning style is attracting to many, yet some believe it is another generalized theory that has

Dubois Surname Meaning and Origin

The ancient French surname duBois derived from the Old French bois meaning wood and was a French topographical name given to a man who lived or worked in the woods, or who worked as a woodcutter. Similar in origin to the WOOD surname in England and America. DUBOIS is the 8th most popular surname in France. Surname Origin:  French Alternate Surname Spellings:  BOIS, DUBOS, DUBOST, DUBOISE, DEBOSE, DUBAIS, DUBAISE, DESBOIS, BOST, DUBOICE, DUBOYS, DUBOSC, DUBUSK Where Do People With the DUBOIS Surname Live? WorldNames PublicProfiler identifies the largest population of individuals with the DuBois surname in France followed, as you might expect, by Belgium and Switzerland, and then Canada. Within France, the surname is most prevalent in the northern regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardie, followed by the Wallonie region of Belgium. The name in France is also fairly common throughout the central part of the country, from Paris stretching north, east and west. Data from Forebears agrees, ranking DuBois as the 4th most common surname in France and 17th in Belgium. It is also prevalent in French territories and collectives such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia, as well as countries which formerly belonged to France, such as The Ivory Coast. The Dubose surname variant is most commonly found in the United States. Famous People With the Surname DUBOIS Allison DuBois - American psychic/mediumW.E.B. duBois - African-American writer, historian and socialistAntoine DuBois - French surgeonCharles Frà ©dà ©ric Dubois - Belgian naturalistLouis DuBois -  Huguenot colonist in New NetherlandShirley Graham Du Bois - American writer, composer and civil rights activist Genealogy Resources for the Surname DUBOIS Common French Surnames Their MeaningsUncover the meaning of your French last name with this free guide to French surnames meanings and origins. DuBose-DuBois DNA ProjectOver 100 group members belong to this Y-DNA surname project, working together to combine DNA testing with traditional genealogy research to sort out DuBose and DuBois ancestral lines. Includes individuals with DuBoise, DuBoice, DuBoys, DuBosc, DuBusk and similar surname variants.   Dubois Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Dubois family crest or coat of arms for the Dubois surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   DuBois Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Dubois surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Dubois query. FamilySearchAccess over 1.7 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Collins surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. DUBOIS Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Dubois surname.  You can also browse or search the list archives to explore previous postings for the Dubois surname. The DuBois Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Dubois from the website of Genealogy Today. References Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967.Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Bergenfield, NJ: Avotaynu, 2005.Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia.  Bergenfield, NJ:  Avotaynu, 2004.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.Hoffman, William F. Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings.  Chicago:  Polish Genealogical Society, 1993.Rymut, Kazimierz. Nazwiska Polakow.  Wroclaw: Zaklad Narodowy im. Ossolinskich - Wydawnictwo, 1991.Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Theories On The Causation Of Homosexuality - 3098 Words

Running head: CAUSATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY 1 Theories on the Causation of Homosexuality Luke Thomas The University of Alabama CAUSATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2 Abstract There are two main schools of thought regarding the causation of homosexuality. The first, which is examined in this research, is biological cause. Three main categories of thought exist under biological theory: hormone theory, brain theory, and genetic theory. Each category contains convincing evidence as to why its respective variations should be attributed to provoking homosexuality. Hormone theory maintains that abnormal levels of testosterone expose—whether too great or too little—is responsible for masculinizing or feminizing the fetus and thus altering its†¦show more content†¦The study of its causation, however, has been greatly expanded only within past two centuries. Many theories have been formulated to attempt to explain what causes sexual variance, and in particular, homosexuality. These theories can be grouped into two main categories: nature and nurture. The theories which fall under the nature category maintain that homosexual behavior results from biological, innate differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals. The nurture theories, in contrast, state that homosexual tendencies form as a result of one’s sociological environment, and that homosexuality is an acquired trait. Recent research, however, indicates a stronger assumption towards biological causes of homosexuality and leads one to question the validity of the nurture theories in influencing homosexual behavior. Nature Theories Theories crediting homosexual behavior to natural, biological factors take many different routes. The three main subcategories of biological theories include hormone theory, brain theory, and genetic theory. Although neither the nature nor the nurture theories are entirely conclusive, recent research suggests more of a correlation between biological theories on the causation of homosexuality as opposed to sociological theories. Hormone Theory Several studies have been conducted in an attempt to prove the

God On Trial The Controversy Behind The Existence Of God

The film God on Trial explores the controversy behind the existence of God and his goodness, in terms of the Jewish people and the Holocaust. One argument that is presented is that God cannot exist because he allowed the suffering of the Jews, despite the covenant that they shared; and if God did exist, then he could not possibly be good for the same reason. The other side of the trial that is presented is that God does exist, suffering is merely a test, and through faith the Jews and the Torah will prevail as shown in history. In actuality, this argument can be summed up in one sentence: God cannot be both all powerful and just. If God were all powerful then He would be able to put an end to suffering, and because he does not, He is not†¦show more content†¦God may have delivered them from evil, but He was also the creator of said evil and the one who placed the Jewish people in the center of it. God was the one who created their famines, placed them in the hands of the Eg yptians when he should’ve been aware of their intentions, and subjected them to numerous genocides like the Holocaust and pogroms. If they were His people, why must they constantly suffer under His watch? Another example of this is the fact that not only did the Jewish people suffer at the hand of God, those around them had to suffer as well. This is similar to the wasp that Jacques mentions in the film; it lays its eggs inside a caterpillar and then eats its way out, which kills the caterpillar. Sometimes in nature, in order for one to survive, another must die. In his article â€Å"The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence,† Collins says, that the book of Deuteronomy â€Å"repeatedly tells the Israelites to be compassionate to slaves and aliens, and to remember that they were slaves in the land of Egypt.† Therefore, God’s inclination towards violence does not make sense. God wanted all of humanity to be good and preach goodness, despite whatever hardsh ips they had faced. In His eyes, everyone was deserving of love and no one should be forced to have faith in Him. The reason for this was quite simple, if one has to be forced by threat of violence to believe and trust in a higher power, then they are not being faithful for their own sake but only out of fear. GodShow MoreRelatedThe Myth Of Evil By Phillip Cole1384 Words   |  6 PagesEvil has been a topic that has always been discussed with some amount of controversy—especially in the religious aspect. People who have the Judeo-Christian-Islamic perspective wrestle with the notion of how there can be an omniscient, omnipotent, and perfect God who allows such atrocities to happen in the world. It is also difficult to understand how God also allows natural evils — like hurricanes or cancer— to ruin people’s lives and harm people in any way. However, the discussion of evil expandsRead More Creationism vs. Evolution Essays1663 Words   |  7 PagesCreatio nism vs. Evolution This paper will focus on the huge controversy between Creationism and Evolution. I will provide two opposing viewpoints on this subject. First, the discussion will focus on the question of why many people believe that God created the universe and all living things. On the other end of the spectrum, scientific information will be presented that substantiates the evidence against the existence of God. This creationism counter-argument known as evolution has itsRead MoreReconciliation Between Victims And Perpetrators1640 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the course of human history, violence has been a reoccurring theme in the conquest for power in countries across the planet. 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