The English language
What is meant by “English is a Lingua Franca”?
A term that describes the situation when two people who do not have English as their native language use English to communicate with each other.
In other words, a bridge language.
How many indigenous children were placed into residential schools in Canada and when was the last school closed?
About 150 000 children.
1996.
Explain the literary device 'personification' and give an example
Giving inanimate objects human qualities.
Ex: 'home chases you', "the trees unloose their soft arms from around you"
What was the main function and purpose of having a colony in the Caribbean?
Economic incentive: It was the heart of the slave trade, and colonizers had tobacco and sugar plantations that profited from slave labor.
What is the name of the first Native American to serve as a cabinet member of the American government? (Secretary of the Interior)
Deb Haaland.
Mention the different language periods of the English language. All are needed if you want any points.
1. Old English (475-1000)
2. Middle English (1000-1500)
3. Early Modern English (1500-1800)
4. Late Modern English (1800-Present)
What is cultural appropriation? Mention two controversies regarding this term and indigenous people.
The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one person or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.
Names of sports teams such as the Washington Redskins, "Indian" costumes (ex. use of headdresses, sexualized and often stereotypical clothing), dreamcatchers, lacrosse, etc.
What is the importance of storytelling?
An individual’s identity is comprised of the stories he or she tells, the stories they listen to and the stories they hold to be true. So, what we tell ourselves and others become the truth.
This also relates to a wider perspective on how the culture and structure of a society can be seen as an accumulation of all the stories that are recognized and privileged by the individuals in that society.
Thomas King is adamant that “once a story is told, it cannot be called back... So you have to be careful with the stories you tell. And you have to watch out for the stories you are told”.
Further on, he claims that “(i)f you want to change society, you change the stories you tell.”
A society that is based on stories that focus on dichotomies will arguably never breed unity and peace. Therefore it is possible to use King’s question “Do the stories we tell reflect the world as it truly is, or did we simply start off with the wrong story?”
Why did many colonies choose to keep English as their official language?
Practical for communication: In some countries, groups of people who speak different languages use English to understand each other
Diplomatic: choosing a “neutral” language to avoid causing conflicts between rivaling groups
What do these different terms mean: 'Pidgin', 'Creole', and 'Patois'?
‘Pidgin': a simplified language spoken among people who do not share a common language.
'Creole': Starts off as a pidgin language. Can be the native language of a group of people. Non-standard language, but with grammar, vocabulary, and specific pronunciation.
'Patois': Non-standard language, can also be used to describe a creole. Used to describe the creole you find in Jamaica.
Mention the most important reasons why English has become a global language.
- British power: trade and colonization
- Industrial revolution
- American cultural imperialism, economic and military power
- Established as an official language in post-war international organizations: UN, EU, NATO
- Once in power = easy to maintain power
- English is used because English is of use
What is cultural genocide and how is it linked to forceful and aggressive assimilation policies?
Cultural genocide is a term used to explain how families are prevented from transmitting their cultural values and identity from one generation to another. The result is that the culture will over time disappear.
Cultural genocide is linked to forceful assimilation policies because it is a consequence of the process where people were forced into acquiring certain habits, attitudes, and modes of life. This process also involved removing everything and anything that connects Indigenous people (very often children) to their Native identity
What is the message in the poem "Home"?
Did you make a valid point based on supporting arguments taken from the text?
If yes, congratulations! You are able to analyze the literature on our reading list.
Why has Nigeria been called "the mistake of 1914" or "a mere geographic expression"?
The merger of two British protectorates on the African continent was not based on what was best for the people in those areas or because they had more in common than what kept them apart. It was a decision made because it made sense, practically and financially, for Britain.
For the people of Nigeria, this merger has resulted in decades of conflict and instability.
What is the most significant/memorable thing you have learned so far?
Answer to be judged by your teacher :)