Chaucers Canterbury Tales - The Language of Chaucer Essay -- Canterbu

The Language of Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales      Ã‚   With careful study, the language of Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales is usually clarified and understood as the beautiful verse narrative it is. There is, however, the common problem that comes when one is unable to comprehend it in Middle English enough to coherently study it. The question has been raised as to whether it might be more useful to study a translated version of the poem so that it can be understood on first reading. The main problem with this idea is that in nearly every translation, the great beauty of the language is lost in translation, thus subtracting a great deal of the poem's power and charm. Some gloss, however, is required to make it accessible for the average reader. Therefore, the best answer is moderation between translation and language which captures the beauty in a manageable form.    Such a form is presented in The Norton Anthology of English Literature, from which can be pulled the following four lines:    Whan that April with his showres soote The droughte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veine in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flowr; (ll. 1-4)    The above is a mix of the original spelling with some gloss (in side notes) and spelling translations meant to aide in reading, but not change the poem completely. With relatively little study in the pronunciation of Middle English, most readers could understand and read aloud the poem with its intended lyricism. After some getting used to, it reads almost smoothly, and with concentration is certainly coherent.    In the original manuscript, the reading is difficult enough that coherency is less feasible. The original spe... ... pick up the themes, true, but in reality they are only half of the Chaucer experience.    While there are a variety of modern translations which completely reorient The Canterbury Tales for today's readers, most fall short in expressing the impressive control that Chaucer had over his native language. Changes can be made to his text if we want to understand it, but the best of these modifications interferes little or not at all with the authentic reading; this way the rich sound of the original is maintained and upheld.    Bibliography    Brewer, Derek. Tradition and Innovation in Chaucer. London: Macmillan, 1982. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Pp. 3-328. In the Riverside Chaucer. Larry D. Benson, ed. Boston: Houghton, 1987.   Delasanta, Rodney. "Language and The Canterbury Tales." Chaucer Review 31.3 (1997), 209-231.   

Communication Theory Essay

Introduction Media censorship can be described as a practice where speech or other methods of public communication are considered to be harmful and sensitive or not suitable as determined by the government, media companies or other regulating bodies (West & Turner, 2010). Media censorship has been a common practice in the Arab world, and this has been the case due to cultural and religious influence. Several communication theories have been developed by scholars to try and explain media situations in different countries. This paper seeks to investigate the salient features and applicability of the cultivation communication’s theory to film and television censorship in the UAE (West & Turner, 2010). Hypothesis Film and television censorship in the United Arab Emirates is intended to promote and preserve political, cultural, and religious beliefs. Evidence gathered through the study of television censorship in the UAE According to Watson, every media item that is intended to be broadcasted to the public must cleared by the National Media council, the country’s media regulation body (2008). Television content and all other types of media, particular from foreign countries, must be subjected checks intended to find too content or topics. Television censorship mainly involves three topics that are regarded to be offensive to practices in the United Arab Emirates. The three include: pornography, material deemed insulting to religion (particularly Islam), and material that criticizes the country’s rulers (Watson, 2008). In most cases only material originating from foreign sources is found to be problematic. Local films Local television stations have generally conformed to the censorship requirements. Materials from various sources indicate that local films in the treated differently from the foreign films by the National Media Council (NMC) (Wikidot.com, 2008). During the International Film Festival held in Dubai in 2005, many films from Arab countries were subjected to screening and censorship due to violation of Islamic and other cultural views (Wikidot.com, 2008). All Local films presented during the festival were found to be suitable and none was censored. The conformity of local films to religious, political requirements is achieved in various ways. First, many local film makers are not always in a position to pay for film production. As a result film making requires funding from the Government and other agencies. Censorship is often applied at this stage, as film makers must agree to certain conditions before money is given (Wikidot.com, 2008). Secondly, many local film makers have been raised in a conservative environment that encourages and cultivates conformity to Islamic and political ideals of the UAE. Therefore, they have a way of ensuring that their work is self-censored before it is released into the public domain. They believe in their country and, therefore, cannot produce material that has a potential to affect the country’s religion and political stability (Wikidot.com, 2008). Foreign films All foreign films that come into UAE must be studied by the classification board which uses the guideline obtained from the country of origin (Wikidot.com, 2008). Upon classification, the film is dispatched to the film censorship committee, which examines the film carefully and then decides on what is to be removed. The film is then passed on to sub department that removes the areas that have been recommended by the censorship committee (Wikidot.com, 2008). Additionally, no foreign film will be permitted if it has no Arabic subtitle that conforms to the dialogue in the film (Watson, 2008). One of the most recent censorship activities done in the UAE involved renaming of an animation title. The animation’s title was â€Å"Puss in the Boots† and was renamed to â€Å"Cat in the Boots†. This was also done in Qatar, a gulf state with similar religious values (Salem, 2012, par. 10). Movies that cannot be edited are banned all-together. For instance, â€Å"Mohammed Naser, an official responsible for cinemas in the censorship department explained that when it becomes apparent that the editing required will take a big part of the movie, they conclude that there is no point to release it† (Salem, 2012, par 11). Two movies, Black Swan and Love and Other Drugs were banned because the included a lot of sexual content (Watson, 2008). In most cases, the editing of films that originally contained scenes related to nudity, swearing, political and religious material, the board then asks the agent handing the film to give it a rating of 18 years and over (Salem, 2012). Traditionally, this requirement has drawn criticism from industry players who feel that the  censoring committee should edit the films and allow everyone to watch or leave them as they are and give the +18 rating (Salem, 2012). The film censorship committee is chaired by the National Media Council’s undersecretary who is responsible for censorship activities (Wikidot.com, 2008). The â€Å"censorship committee has other members which are drawn from several ministries such as the ministry of education, justice and Islamic affairs, state security, social affairs, interior and Israel boycott office† (Wikidot.com, 2008). Analysis of the information gathered The Analysis of television censorship in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be conducted using the cultivation communication’s theory. Cultivation theory can be described as social theory that examines the long-effects of TV (West & Turner, 2010). The basic proposition of the cultivation theory states that â€Å"the more time is spend by people living in the Television world, they more likely they are to believe social reality that is portrayed on the Television† (Morgan & Shanahan, 2010). Cultivation theory was developed by Gross and Gerbner, following extensive research work conducted to establish cultural indicators. The purpose of â€Å"cultural indicators† research work was to investigate and establish the cultivated effects of TV on viewers (Morgan & Shanahan, 2010). The investigators were concerned with the implications of TV programs, particularly violent programs on the behaviors and attitudes of Americans. The cultivation theory clearly indicates that an effect of TV watching on viewers occurs after long-term and cumulative exposure. In the modern world, TV has taken a central position in the lives of many individuals and, therefore, has a greater potential impact on the behaviors and attitudes of viewers. The authors who developed the theory believe that because people TV in the United States and other parts of the world contain significant amount of violence, those watch them addictively often develop an exaggerated belief in the violence (West & Turner, 2010). From the evidence gathered in this paper, it can be stated TV censorship in the UAE is intended to prevent a potential negative influence on citizens. Many videos, particularly those originating from foreign sources, are often laced with content that is not acceptable in the UAE. The country has a conservative population that strictly observes Islamic religious rules. Additionally, it has a political system that is  unique to its position and needs, and therefore, cannot allow material that will directly criticize the established political system. UAE as a nation has progressive laws regarding the freedom of speech but this does not allow for dissemination of material that is contrary to Islamic beliefs or its political establishment. In consistent with the theory of cultivation, the UAE government is aware that films and other shows aired on TV have the potential to change the attitudes and behaviors of the masses (Salem, 2012). Therefore, in its endeavor to retain the country’s religious and cultural values, the government must censor all video material that originates from within and outside the borders. Conclusion and summary This research paper sought to use the cultivation theory to establish the how TV and film censorship in the UAE preserves its cultural, political and religious beliefs. It has been established that the country has a conservative population that observes Islamic beliefs that do not agree with the content in most foreign films, and therefore, strict censorship must be conducted before the material is allowed into the public domain. Censorship is also extended to material that contravenes the country’s political establishment. References Morgan, M., & Shanahan, J. (2010). The State of Cultivation. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 54(2), 337-355. Salem, B. (2012, May 13). Censorship: Great for pirates, bad for business. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from Variety Arabia: http://www.varietyarabia.com/Docs.Viewer/6ad7629a-a64a-4cea-9723-01f8f4f68a40/default.aspx Watson, I. (2008, January 22). Dubai’s Media Censors Tackle News, Sex and Politics. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18292869 West, R., & Turner, L. (2010). Introducing Communication theory: Analysis and Application. New York: McGraw Hill. Wikidot.com. (2008, January 10). Censorship: United Arab Emirates . Retrieved December 14, 2012, from

Social Developments During The 20th Century - 1607 Words

Ever since the early history of humanity, an event was considered as an occurrence that marked an important part of one’s life or one of many significant occasions. The majority of those rituals were sport based as it was something that provided a mutual joy that people could share and honour important religious figures, such as the ancient Gods. One of the first massive religious festivals that showed this were the Olympic Games, held in Greece, dating back to 8th century BC. Even though the first experiences were not as pleasant with having people sleeping in tents and squeezing in tight crowds, the relevance of this festival signified and marked the importance of events in people’s lives. However together with social developments and the rapid formation of societies and communities, the primary purpose of an event was complemented by new forms and approaches. ‘During the twentieth century a technological revolution changed work practices and transformed economies’ (Yeoman, Robertson, and McMahon-Beattie, 2014, p. 14) state Yeoman, Robertson, and McMahon-Beattie and suggest that modernisation of a society resulted in an increase in entertainment and leisure activities. Suddenly there was a demand for something that could bring together individuals who became engaged in a common interest. This is how events became occasions that began to require intensive planning. The significant creation of the Internet and social media offered new opportunities to people’s lives in theShow MoreRelatedThe Concept of Nationalism in the 20th and 21st Century1228 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Nationalism in the 20th and 21st Century: The concept of nationalism is in essence an odd organization that has had significant impacts in world history through shaping the political and social aspects of the society. As an important aspect in the development of the society, the concept of nationalism has basically been analyzed based on its impact on the emergence of nation-states across the globe. In most cases, these analyses have been conducted to determine the influence of nationalism onRead MoreProblems Associated With Geography And Economic Development Across Countries1431 Words   |  6 PagesDo you agree that twentieth century divergence in economic development across countries was largely the result of geographic factors? The traditional view associated with geography and economic development across countries is that distance has played a huge role in creating disparities in terms of location . However, this interpretation is questioned by some who note that the failure of developing economies can be attributed to the persistent problem of institutional failure, which prevents individualsRead MoreChinas Fast Entry into the Fashion World after the 20th Century1825 Words   |  7 PagesChina’s fast entry into Fashion World after the 20th Century The dawn of the 20th century brought in many challenges in China such as cultural, political, economic, and social. The social changes increased its push after the 1911 revolution which caused in the passing of the Qing Empire. Social improvement led to amendment in dress codes as well. The head shaving and queue (long plait) men had been compulsory to wear, to validate their subservience, gradually vanished. The practice of foot compulsoryRead MoreThe Role And Professional Position Of The School Principal944 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstanding the need for ethical and/or moral leadership, it is important to present the development of the role of school principals and its eventual need for the inclusion of ethics and moral into school leadership. The role and professional position of the school principal began to be shaped during the early 19th century with the development of â€Å"head teacher† (Brown, 2011). Next, at the turn of the 20th century, the position of school princ ipal began to gain both stature and authority (Sullivan andRead MoreThe During The Mid 20th Century1657 Words   |  7 Pagesthe spate of transformation that started during the mid 20th century is: how can the history of the mid 1900s be construed in one, single, wholly encompassing idea? The past 70 years since the end of World War II have seen momentous changes to numerous countries all around the world. Each country have experienced developments, both negative and positive, to the social, political, and economic state of themselves. The history of the later twentieth century can be defined with the idea of reformationRead MoreThe First Glimpse Of Globalization1573 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization is the process in which a world-wide circulation of goods, ideas, and people takes place. Historically, there were two periods of profound expansion, the 15th and 16th century and 20th and 21st century. In both cases, these eras of globalization were preceded by periods of enriched t hinking, sharing, and scientific revolutions. The renaissance is a prime example of an era when ideas and knowledge flourished and spread throughout Europe. This newfound age of discovery resulted in globalRead MoreCareer and Work: Cesare Beccaria1219 Words   |  5 Pagesof the career and works of Cesare Beccaria, as well as the influence of those works, reveals that the author and social thinker was unabashedly the father of the field of criminology. Central to the support of this claim is the definition of the term criminologist which is simply a person who studies the inter-workings and ramifications of crime, and its effect on the penal and social systems in place. In this respect, Beccaria advanced a number of notions that were fairly revolutionary for his timeRead MoreCities in US History: 20th century We all come across with the term globalization. The developing1300 Words   |  6 PagesCities in US History: 20th century We all come across with the term globalization. The developing countries have battled with increased globalization. But be careful, the effects of globalization are very complex as well as far-reaching. No doubt there are certainly some positive effects, but one cannot overlook the negative consequences of globalization over the area like cultures in the widespread developing world. Globalization is a nothing but the concept that symbolize the contested visionsRead More 20th Century Essay827 Words   |  4 Pages Music written since 1900 is called twentieth century music. There have been more types and styles of music written in the twentieth century then ever before. In the twentieth century, the only limit is the composers imagination. This great variety of musical styles reflected the diversity of life during the early twentieth century. More people were free to choose where to live, how to earn a living, and how to spend their time. The car, airplane, telephone, phonograph, mo vies, and radio all madeRead MoreEffects Of Sustainable Development967 Words   |  4 PagesSustainable development surfaced in the early 19th century as a result of concerns about the social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth, and consumption of natural resources. Sustainable development is defined as â€Å"development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.† This meaning, in order to hand down the planet to the next generation and to live in sustainability