1) Subject
In this research paper, I would like to look at the Canadian perspective on the war in Iraq. Through my research paper, I would like to show that Canada’s decision not to go to war to Iraq along with the United States does not represent a new trend in Canada’s foreign relations. Although it was a very surprising decision, the United States and Canada are still close. The title to my project will probably be “The 2003 Iraq War: A Challenge for the Canada-United States’ Relation”. I am not sure yet of which approach I will choose: it will either be examine and analyse or compare and contrast.
2) Audience
Since I am dealing with a non-specialist audience I will probably include in my research paper a chronological description of the Iraq war since it started in 2003. I might also include detailed maps of Iraq. Finally, I think it would be interesting to include a chronological series of important events in the Canada-United States relation.
3) Defence
I think this subject is very important since Canada and the United States have most of the time had good relations and Canada’s economy relies heavily on the United States. It is frequently said that when the United States cough, Canada catches a cold. Thus, it is interesting to look at the impacts of Canada’s decision not to go to war in Iraq. The war in Iraq is of actuality and is on everyone’s lips. The recent decision made by the President of the United States, George W. Bush, to send other troops in Iraq has even made it more “popular”. On January 27th, 2007 there were demonstrations in Washington. My topic is worth considering since Canada’s decision has not really been looked at because people concentrate on the war itself.
4) Methodology
In order to write an interesting paper, I will start by looking for sources at University Laval’s library, in the bases de données and I will also search for speeches made by Canada’s Prime Minister of the time, Jean Chrétien, and the President of the United States. Then, I will read and take notes on each of these sources. After doing all that, I will begin to write my research paper.
dimanche 28 janvier 2007
mercredi 24 janvier 2007
Practical English Usage
Based on what I read in the book Practical English Usage, I will try to answer a few questions:
a) What are the most important differences between British English and American English (provide a few examples)?
The first difference between British English and American English that I can think of is the pronunciation. It is sometimes very different even though most British and American speakers can understand each other. There are also a few differences of grammar and spelling. Concerning grammar, there are frequently two possibilities in one variety of English and only one in the other variety. For example, American speakers can either say: "He just went home" or "He’s just gone home" whereas British speakers can only say "He’s just gone home". The spelling of certain words is not the same in both varieties. A few words ending in –or in American English end in –our in British English such as labor/labour. Also, some words ending in –er in American English end in –re in British English such as meter/metre. Moreover, a number of verbs end in –ize in American English and either –ise or –ize in British English such as organize/organize or organise. Finally, there are also a few differences in vocabulary. For example, American speakers say cookie or cracker whereas British speakers would say biscuit.
b) What is standard English?
According to the book Practical English Usage, standard English is “the form of English generally accepted for use in government, the law, business, education and literature.” Standard languages are mostly the result of historical accident. The origin of standard English is in 878 following King Alfred’s victory over the Vikings. London became Southern England’s capital. Thus, the English spoken in London became the standard English. So, the standard English is the dialect that was chosen for official purposes.
c) What is a dialect?
Dialects have their own systematic grammars. Dialect forms are not incorrect and are not corrupt versions of the standard language since the standard language is simply a dialect that was chosen for official purposes. Finally, all dialects have a long history.
d) What are the characteristics of formal English as oppose to informal or spoken English?
Firstly, grammar is different in formal and informal English. Contracted auxiliary verb and negatives are common in informal speech and writing. For example, in a formal letter, one should write "It has gone" whereas in an informal letter, one could write "It’s gone". Also, in informal languages, prepositions come at the end of certain structures: "Which century did he live in?". In formal English, one should say: "In which century did he live?" Moreover, some relative structures are different: in formal English one should say: "The man whom she married…" but in informal English one could say: "The man she married…" Another difference concerns the use of singular verb forms in formal English and plural forms in informal language. For example, in formal language one should say: "Neither of us likes him" whereas in informal English one could say: "Neither of us like him". Also, subject and object forms of pronouns (I and me) are used differently in formal and informal language. Lastly, in informal language, ellipsis is more common: "Have you seen Mr Bush?" in formal English and "Seen Paul?" in informal English. Secondly, vocabulary differs in formal and informal English. For example, in formal language one should say: "I beg your pardon?" Whereas in informal language one could simply say: "What?"
e) Do languages change over time (explain how and why)?
Yes, languages change over time. This process begins when younger people adopt new expressions. While they do, older people usually resist change. So, these two groups do not speak in the same way even though they live at the same time. This change can be explained by communicative need, influence from other dialects (for example, British English is influenced by American English), languages simplify themselves, small distinctions are confused or disappear, new forms and uses spread through the language, “underground” forms become respectable, mistakes become part of the language and some phonetically weak forms disappear.
a) What are the most important differences between British English and American English (provide a few examples)?
The first difference between British English and American English that I can think of is the pronunciation. It is sometimes very different even though most British and American speakers can understand each other. There are also a few differences of grammar and spelling. Concerning grammar, there are frequently two possibilities in one variety of English and only one in the other variety. For example, American speakers can either say: "He just went home" or "He’s just gone home" whereas British speakers can only say "He’s just gone home". The spelling of certain words is not the same in both varieties. A few words ending in –or in American English end in –our in British English such as labor/labour. Also, some words ending in –er in American English end in –re in British English such as meter/metre. Moreover, a number of verbs end in –ize in American English and either –ise or –ize in British English such as organize/organize or organise. Finally, there are also a few differences in vocabulary. For example, American speakers say cookie or cracker whereas British speakers would say biscuit.
b) What is standard English?
According to the book Practical English Usage, standard English is “the form of English generally accepted for use in government, the law, business, education and literature.” Standard languages are mostly the result of historical accident. The origin of standard English is in 878 following King Alfred’s victory over the Vikings. London became Southern England’s capital. Thus, the English spoken in London became the standard English. So, the standard English is the dialect that was chosen for official purposes.
c) What is a dialect?
Dialects have their own systematic grammars. Dialect forms are not incorrect and are not corrupt versions of the standard language since the standard language is simply a dialect that was chosen for official purposes. Finally, all dialects have a long history.
d) What are the characteristics of formal English as oppose to informal or spoken English?
Firstly, grammar is different in formal and informal English. Contracted auxiliary verb and negatives are common in informal speech and writing. For example, in a formal letter, one should write "It has gone" whereas in an informal letter, one could write "It’s gone". Also, in informal languages, prepositions come at the end of certain structures: "Which century did he live in?". In formal English, one should say: "In which century did he live?" Moreover, some relative structures are different: in formal English one should say: "The man whom she married…" but in informal English one could say: "The man she married…" Another difference concerns the use of singular verb forms in formal English and plural forms in informal language. For example, in formal language one should say: "Neither of us likes him" whereas in informal English one could say: "Neither of us like him". Also, subject and object forms of pronouns (I and me) are used differently in formal and informal language. Lastly, in informal language, ellipsis is more common: "Have you seen Mr Bush?" in formal English and "Seen Paul?" in informal English. Secondly, vocabulary differs in formal and informal English. For example, in formal language one should say: "I beg your pardon?" Whereas in informal language one could simply say: "What?"
e) Do languages change over time (explain how and why)?
Yes, languages change over time. This process begins when younger people adopt new expressions. While they do, older people usually resist change. So, these two groups do not speak in the same way even though they live at the same time. This change can be explained by communicative need, influence from other dialects (for example, British English is influenced by American English), languages simplify themselves, small distinctions are confused or disappear, new forms and uses spread through the language, “underground” forms become respectable, mistakes become part of the language and some phonetically weak forms disappear.
dimanche 21 janvier 2007
The War in Iraq: The Canadian Perspective
In 2003, the relations between Canada and the United States were challenged by Canada's refusal to go to war in Iraq. Following this decision, the President of the United States, George W. Bush, cancelled a visit to Ottawa which shows that the United States were disappointed by Canada's decision. According to some experts, by making this decision, Canada broke with its historic allies, the United States and Great Britain (Noble, http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/may03/noble.pdf).
In this research paper, I would like to look at the Canadian perspective on the war in Iraq. Why has Canada decided not to get involved in the war in Iraq but to do so in Afghanistan? Does this decision represent a new trend in Canada's foreign relations? Did this decision hurt Canada?
I think this subject is very important since Canada and the United States have most of the time had good relations and Canada’s economy relies heavily on the United States.
Here are some interesting Internet sites on this subject:
Iraq Council on Foreign Relations: http://www.cfr.org/region/405/iraq.html
Iraqi War Debate: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/iraqwar.html
Iraq - Global Policy Forum: http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/irqindx.htm
Canada and the War Against Iraq: http://www.mapleleafweb.com/education/spotlight/issue_20/index.html
Guerre en Irak (this one is in French, but is very interesting):
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/special/nouvelles/irak/irak/index.shtml
In this research paper, I would like to look at the Canadian perspective on the war in Iraq. Why has Canada decided not to get involved in the war in Iraq but to do so in Afghanistan? Does this decision represent a new trend in Canada's foreign relations? Did this decision hurt Canada?
I think this subject is very important since Canada and the United States have most of the time had good relations and Canada’s economy relies heavily on the United States.
Here are some interesting Internet sites on this subject:
Iraq Council on Foreign Relations: http://www.cfr.org/region/405/iraq.html
Iraqi War Debate: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/iraqwar.html
Iraq - Global Policy Forum: http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/irqindx.htm
Canada and the War Against Iraq: http://www.mapleleafweb.com/education/spotlight/issue_20/index.html
Guerre en Irak (this one is in French, but is very interesting):
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/special/nouvelles/irak/irak/index.shtml
vendredi 12 janvier 2007
A new semester!
Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog!
My name is Julie Goulet. I am now starting my 6th semester in Laval University and finishing my degree this year in International Studies and Modern Languages. For those who do not know what this program is about, let me explain. Each student must choose two languages, in my case they are English and Portuguese. Then, we also need to choose a focus, the one I have chosen is politics. This degree is very interesting as it gives you a good background on what is going on in the world. However, it is very hard to know where to search for a job once the degree is finished.
So, I begin this new year and new semester very very nervous. Not only am I finishing my degree, but I also need to make a lot of choices. And I want to be sure to make the good ones. I have a lot of projects in mind and I do not know where to begin!!
However, this semester should be very interesting and challenging! I have not yet decided on what I want to work on in this course. I am interested in politics and history so I might work on Canadian or American politics. I would be maybe like to work on the role of the governor general in Canada or on the role of the First Lady in the United States...I am not sure yet. I am planning on reading a lot this weekend until my mind is clearer.
Have a nice day!
My name is Julie Goulet. I am now starting my 6th semester in Laval University and finishing my degree this year in International Studies and Modern Languages. For those who do not know what this program is about, let me explain. Each student must choose two languages, in my case they are English and Portuguese. Then, we also need to choose a focus, the one I have chosen is politics. This degree is very interesting as it gives you a good background on what is going on in the world. However, it is very hard to know where to search for a job once the degree is finished.
So, I begin this new year and new semester very very nervous. Not only am I finishing my degree, but I also need to make a lot of choices. And I want to be sure to make the good ones. I have a lot of projects in mind and I do not know where to begin!!
However, this semester should be very interesting and challenging! I have not yet decided on what I want to work on in this course. I am interested in politics and history so I might work on Canadian or American politics. I would be maybe like to work on the role of the governor general in Canada or on the role of the First Lady in the United States...I am not sure yet. I am planning on reading a lot this weekend until my mind is clearer.
Have a nice day!
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