วันพุธที่ 28 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Be All That You Can Be: The Company Persona and Language Alignment

It's not just CEOs and corporate spokespeople who need effective language to be the message. The most successful advertising taglines are not seen as slogans for a product. They are the product. From M&M's "melts in your mouth, not in your hand" to "Please don't squeeze the Charmin" bathroom tissue, from the "plop, plop, fizz, fizz" of Alka-Seltzer to "Fly the friendly skies of United," there is no light space between the product and its marketing. Words that work reflect "not only the soul of the brand, but the company itself and its reason for being in business," according to Publicis worldwide executive creative director David Droga.

In the same vein, advertising experts identify a common quality among the most popular and long-lasting corporate icons: Rather than selling for their companies, these characters personify them. Ronald McDonald, the Marlboro Man, Betty Crocker, the Energizer Bunny -- they aren't shills trying to talk us into buying a Big Mac, a pack of smokes, a box of cake mix, a package of batteries; they don't even personalize the product. Just like the most celebrated slogans, they are the product.

Walk through any Bookstore and you'll find dozens of Books about the marketing and branding efforts of corporate America. The process of corporate communication has been thinly sliced and diced over and over, but what you won't find is a Book about the one truly essential characteristic in our twenty-first-century world: the company persona and how words that work are used to create and sustain it.

The company persona is the sum of the corporate leadership, the corporate ethos, the products and services offered, interaction with the customer, and, most importantly, the language that ties it all together. A majority of large companies do not have a company persona, but those that do benefit significantly. Ben & Jerry's attracts customers in part because of the funky names they gave to the conventional (and unconventional) flavors they offer, but the positive relationship between corporate management and their employees also plays a role, even after Ben and Jerry sold the company. McDonald's in the 1970s and Starbucks over the past decade became an integral part of the American culture as much for the lifestyle they reflected as the food and beverages they offered, but the in-store lexicon helped by setting them apart from their competition. (Did any customers ever call the person who served them a cup of coffee a "barista" before Starbucks made the term popular?) Language is never the sole determinant in creating a company persona, but you'll find words that work associated with all companies that have one.

And when the message, messenger, and recipient are all on the same page, I call this rare phenomenon "language alignment," and it happens far less frequently than you might expect. In fact, virtually all of the companies that have hired my firm for communication guidance have found themselves linguistically unaligned.

This manifests itself in two ways. First, in service-oriented businesses, the sales force is too often selling with a different language than the marketing people are using. There's nothing wrong with individualizing the sales approach to each customer, but when you have your sales force promoting a message that has no similarity with the advertising campaign, it undermines both efforts. The language in the ads and promotions must match the language on the street, in the shop, and on the floor. For example, Boost Mobile, which caters to an inner city youth demographic, uses the slogan "Where you at?" Not grammatically (or politically) correct -- but it's the language of their consumer.

And second, corporations with multiple products in the same space too often allow the language of those products to blur and bleed into each other. Procter & Gamble may sell a hundred different items, but even though each one fills a different need, a different space, and/or a different category, it is perfectly fine for them to share similar language. You can use some of the same verbiage to sell soap as you would to sell towels, because no consumer will confuse the products and what they do.

Not so for a company that is in a single line of work, say selling cars or selling beer, where companies use the exact same adjectives to describe very different products. In this instance, achieving linguistic alignment requires a much more disciplined linguistic segmentation. It is almost always a more effective sales strategy to divvy up the appropriate adjectives and create a unique lexicon for each individual brand.

An example of a major corporation that has confronted both of these challenges and still managed to achieve linguistic alignment, even as they are laying off thousands of workers, is the Ford Motor Company -- which manages a surprisingly diverse group of brands ranging from Mazda to Aston Martin. The Ford corporate leadership recognized that it was impossible to separate the Ford name, corporate history, heritage, and range of vehicles -- so why bother. They came as a package. Sure, Ford maintains individual brand identity, through national and local ad campaigns and by creating and maintaining a separate image and language for each brand. For example, "uniquely sensual styling" certainly applies when one is talking about a Jaguar S Type, but would probably not be pertinent for a Ford F 250 pickup truck. But the fact that the CEO carries the Ford name communicates continuity to the company's customers, and Bill Ford sitting in front of an assembly line talking about leadership and innovation in all of Ford's vehicles effectively puts all the individual brands into alignment.

The words he uses -- "innovation," "driven," "re-committed," "dramatically," "dedicated" -- represent the simplicity and brevity of effective communications, and they are wrapped around the CEO who is the fourth-generation Ford to lead the company -- hence credibility. The cars are the message, Bill Ford is the messenger, the language is dead-on, and Ford is weathering the American automotive crisis far better than its larger rival General Motors. Again, the language of Ford isn't the only driver of corporate image and sales -- but it certainly is a factor.

In fact, the brand-building campaign was so successful that GM jumped on board. But Ford quickly took it a step further. In early 2006, they began to leverage their ownership of Volvo (I wonder how many readers did not know that Ford bought Volvo in 1999 and purchased Jaguar a decade earlier) to communicate a corporate-wide commitment to automotive safety, across all of its individual brands and vehicles. Volvo is one of the most respected cars on the road today, and aligning all of Ford behind an industry leader is a very smart strategy indeed.

So what about the competition?

General Motors, once the automotive powerhouse of the world, has an equally diverse product line and arguably a richer history of technology and innovation, but their public message of cutbacks, buy-backs, and layoffs was designed to appeal to Wall Street, not Main Street, and it crushed new car sales. At the time of this writing, GM is suffering through record losses, record job layoffs, and a record number of bad stories about its failing marketing efforts.

It didn't have to be this way.

The actual attributes of many of the GM product lines are more appealing than the competition, but the product image itself is not. To own a GM car is to tell the world that you're so 1970s, and since what you drive is considered an extension and expression of yourself to others, people end up buying cars they actually like less because they feel the cars will say something more about them.

Think about it. Here's a company that was the first to develop a catalytic converter, the first to develop an advanced anti-tipping stabilization technology, the first to develop engines that could use all sorts of blended gasolines, and most importantly in today's market, the creator of OnStar -- an incredible new-age computerized safety and tracking device. Yet most American consumers have no idea that any of these valuable innovations came from General Motors, simply because GM decided not to tell them. So instead of using its latest and greatest emerging technology to align itself with its customers, GM finds itself in a deteriorating dialogue with shareholders. No alignment = no sales.

Another problem with GM: No one knew that the various brands under the GM moniker were in fact . . . GM. Even such well-known brands as Corvette and Cadillac had become disconnected from the parent company. Worse yet, all the various brands (with the exception of Hummer, which couldn't get lost in a crowd even if the brand manager wanted it to) were using similar language, similar visuals, and a similar message -- blurring the distinction between brands and turning GM vehicles into nothing more than generic American cars. Repeated marketing failures were just part of GM's recurring problems, but as that issue was completely within their control, it should have been the easiest to address.

When products, services, and language are aligned, they gain another essential attribute: authenticity. In my own market research for dozens of Fortune 500 companies, I have found that the best way to communicate authenticity is to trigger personalization: Do audience members see themselves in the slogan . . . and therefore in the product? Unfortunately, achieving personalization is by no means easy.

To illustrate how companies and brands in a competitive space create compelling personas for themselves while addressing the needs of different consumer groups, let's take a look at cereals. Anyone can go out and buy a box of cereal. But different cereals offer different experiences. Watch and listen carefully to their marketing approach and the words they use.

Most cereals geared toward children sell energy, excitement, adventure, and the potential for fun -- even more than the actual taste of the sugar-coated rice or wheat puffs in the cardboard box. On the other hand, cereal aimed at grown-ups is sold based on its utility to the maintenance and enhancement of health -- with taste once again secondary.

Children's cereals are pitched by nonthreatening cartoon characters -- tigers, parrots, chocolate-loving vampires, Cap'ns, and a tiny trio in stocking caps -- never an adult or authority figure. Adult cereals come at you head-on with a not-so-subtle Food Police message, wrapped in saccharine-sweet smiles, exclaiming that this cereal is a favorite of healthy and cholesterol-conscious adults who don't want to get colon cancer! Ugghhh. Kids buy Frosted Flakes because "They're grrrreat!" Adults buy Special K because we want to be as attractive and vigorous as the actors who promote it. When it comes to cereal, about the only thing parents and kids have in common is that the taste matters only slightly more than the image, experience, and product association -- and if the communication appears authentic, they'll buy.

And cereal certainly sells. From Cheerios to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, more than $6 billion worth of cold cereal was sold in the United States alone in 2005. If you were to look at the five top-selling brands, you would see a diverse list targeted to a diverse set of customers. The language used for each of these five brands is noticeably different, but in all cases totally essential.

In looking at the first and third best-selling brands of cereal, one might initially think that only a slight variation in ingredients mark their distinctions. Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios are both based around the same whole-grain O shaped cereal, but are in fact two very different products, beyond the addition of honey and a nut-like crunch.

The language behind Cheerios is remarkably simple and all-encompassing -- "The one and only Cheerios." Could be for kids . . . could be for young adults . . . could be for parents. Actually, Cheerios wants to sell to all of them. As its Web site states, Cheerios is the right cereal for "toddlers to adults and everyone in between." The subtle heart-shaped bowl on each box suggests to the older consumer that the "whole-grain" cereal is a healthy start to a healthy day. But the Web site also has a section devoted entirely to younger adults, complete with testimonials and "tips from new parents" talking about how Cheerios has helped them to raise happy, healthy children. The language behind Cheerios works because it transcends the traditional societal boundaries of age and adds a sense of authenticity to the product.

While you could probably live a happy and healthy existence with Cheerios as your sole cereal choice, there is a substantial segment of the cereal market that demands more. For the cereal-consuming public roughly between the ages of four and fourteen, a different taste and linguistic approach is required. Buzz the Bee, the kid-friendly mascot of Honey Nut Cheerios, pitches the "irresistible taste of golden honey," selling the sweetness of the product to a demographic that craves sweet foods. While the parent knows that his or her child wants the cereal because of its sweet taste (as conveyed through the packaging), Honey Nut Cheerios must still pass the parent test. By putting such statements as "whole-grain" and "13 essential vitamins and minerals" on the box, the product gains authenticity, credibility, and the approval of the parent.

Two different messages on one common box effectively markets the same product to both children and parents alike, helping to make Honey Nut Cheerios the number three top-selling cereal in 2004. So with the addition of honey and nuts, General Mills, the producer of the Cheerios line, has filled the gap between toddlers and young adults, and completed the Cheerios cradle-to-grave lifetime hold on the consumer.

To take another example, if you want people to think you're hip and healthy, you make sure they see you drinking bottled water -- and the fancier the better. No one walking around with a diet Dr Pepper in hand is looking to impress anybody. These days, there's almost a feeling that soft drinks are exclusively for kids and the uneducated masses. There's a cache to the consumption of water, and expensive and exclusive brands are all the rage. Now, there may be a few people who have such extremely refined, educated taste buds that they can taste the difference between Dasani and Aquafina (I certainly can't), but the connoisseurs of modish waters are more likely than not posers (or, to continue the snobbery theme, poseurs). You won't see many people walking around Cincinnati or Syracuse clutching fancy bottled water. Hollywood, South Beach, and the Upper East Side of New York City are, as usual, another story.

There's one final aspect of being the message that impacts what we hear and how we hear it. How our language is delivered can be as important as the words themselves, and no one understands this principle better than Hollywood.

At a small table tucked away in the corner of a boutique Italian restaurant on the outskirts of Beverly Hills, I had the opportunity to dine with legendary actors Charles Durning, Jack Klugman, and Dom DeLuise. The entire dinner was a litany of stories of actors, writers, and the most memorable movie lines ever delivered. (Says Klugman, an Emmy Award winner, "A great line isn't spoken, it is delivered.") Best known for his roles in The Odd Couple and Quincy, Klugman told a story about how Spencer Tracy was practicing his lines for a movie late in his career in the presence of the film's screenwriter. Apparently not pleased with the reading, the writer said to Tracy, "Would you please pay more attention to how you are reading that line? It took me six months to write it," to which Tracy shot back, "It took me thirty years to learn how to say correctly the line that took you only six months to write."

Spencer Tracy knew how to be the message -- and his shelf of Academy Awards proved it.

Excerpted from WORDS THAT WORK by Dr. Frank Luntz. Copyright 2007 Dr. Frank Luntz. All rights reserved. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever Books are sold.

วันอังคารที่ 27 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

How Language and Words Affects Our Behavior

What and how we say things can have an effect on us as well as others. It all depends on the content and context. Language has enabled humans to survive and to thrive. We have been able to communicate to others solely based on the words used. Yet those same words can create tension as well as love.

Though the words may have meaning, it's only the meaning each person gives it. Change the words around in a sentence and they can have a completely different meaning. One word can move someone to action and another word can stop a person in their tracks. Even the words you're reading in this article may have meaning to you - it all depends on how I write it and what you take from it.

Single words can be given additional meaning by using other words. Eventually they form a sentence. How they are structured within the sentence gives it meaning one way or another.

Now here's the kicker regarding words and Language. Many people tend to say a word as the thing they are referring to. For example, saying the words "Statue of Liberty" as it is the Statue of Liberty. The words are only words and not the thing. It's the same with a map. The map is not the territory. It may be a representation, but not the area it represents.

Yet, people will get emotional when a certain word is mentioned as if the word was real. This can affect how we behave. Many advertisers will use words (and language) to affect our behavior so we will buy what they offer. Politicians will use words to have an effect on how we vote. Poets have long used words to connect with us emotionally, so have storytellers. This happens in every language.

Making the words we say to ourselves can help us or hinder us. What if I tell you to "try to do something" does that make you want to take action? But what if I say "you will do something, now" is that more powerful? It's the structure of how the words are used that can have an influence on your behavior.

Now if I say the word "dog" to you, what meaning does it have to you? You may think of a pleasant memory of a family dog you had as a child. Another person may have a fearful memory of being mauled by a dog. It's the same word with different meanings to different people. Think about these words and what meaning would you give them: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, Green Party, and Socialist Party? How about California, Alabama, New York, Kansas, Montana, Texas, and Washington D.C.?

What if I changed a sentence and said, "Dog bites man." What meaning does that express to you? How about if I say "Man bites dog?" Does change things even though the same words were used?

As you can see, each one will have a different meaning from different people. Each one may even bring about a behavioral change in each person. Yet, they are only words, aren't they? The only meaning they have is what each one of us gives them. Additionally, the how the sentence is structured will give the words a different meaning.

Look at the words you use in your own life. What meaning are you giving them? What emotions do they bring out in you? Do they create some behavior in you? If you were to think rationally about this, then you'll know the words for what they are for, only words. You are the meaning and the behavior resulting from the words, not the words themselves. Language and words can have a profound effect on our behavior as long as we don't know the reality behind them.

วันจันทร์ที่ 26 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Understanding Body Language When Dating

It happens all too often that a guy comes back from a date telling his friends that he thinks it went really well, just to find out a few days or weeks later than the woman hasn't agreed to going out with him again. He often wonders where he went wrong, thinking back to the conversations he had on his date. The classic mistake he's making is that he's focusing on what the woman said instead of how she reacted to different things. Basically, he has no understanding of body Language.

Understanding body Language can really help you become a better date and have a better dating life. By looking at the actions or reactions of a woman instead of listening to what she says, you can better determine how a date or relationship is going. It isn't that they mean to lie, but in order to be polite, plenty of women will say they had a good time when they didn't. Because of this, you have to look for the cues that tell you she really had a good time.

When on a date, there are two kinds of body language you need to watch out for. These are negative and positive. Let's look at the negative signs:

1) She's Holding Something Between You

When a woman his holding something between you, maybe her drink or her phone, or something else, she is putting distance between you. She is creating a barrier. This is very telling. What she's trying to do is make sure you don't come too close. Perhaps she isn't comfortable with how the night is going or the conversation. Pick up on this sign.

2) She's Turned Away

If a woman is turned away while you're talking to her, if her face is at an angle facing outward, or maybe you notice that she keeps glancing elsewhere, she might be bored. This isn't a good thing when you're on a date. Try changing topics or suggesting a change in location. You still may be able to recapture her attention.

3) Her Arms Are Crossed

This is a sign of defense, and a very obvious sign that she isn't comfortable. Many people who are upset with someone they are speaking to, cross their arms. It's psychological, but it's a way of protecting themselves. If this happens during your date, try to figure out what might be the problem.

When understanding body language, it is important that you also pick up on cues that suggest she may need something or may need more attention. For example, if a woman is hugging herself (different from crossing her arms) she may be cold. Offer her your jacket. If you see that she is fidgety, playing with her fingers, or has her hands on her lap, she may be nervous. Ask her if she's okay and suggest a change in location if she's not digging the scene. See? Simply by understanding body language, you can become a more attentive and a better date!

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 25 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Gematria, Language of the Illuminatus

We have seen that Pi is the "Omnific Word" as used by Western Occult Systems. Specifically, the first 32 decimal digits of Pi.

3.141592653589793832464338327950...

So what is Gematria? It is the willful encrypting of a word fused to a mathematical value in order to provide the word with an encoded significance. This definition is a radical departure from profane discussions on this subject, but the definition is far more accurate and clear. Furthermore, the "encoded significance" is further comprised of two primary encoded realities: words that have an absolute truth encoded into them, and words that are encoded to reveal "esoteric significances".

An "absolute truth" may still be compound in nature, meaning that the word has an "esoteric significance" even as it encodes a literal truth. An "absolute truth", often will be set against some astronomical calculation, or some mathematical constant. This principle is set forth in "The Beginning of Masonry, page 24",

If the ultimate and all sustaining secret of Freemasonry may be openly expressed in a few words, it will be these:

The entire course of nature is manifested in cycles. Some of these are scientifically real, others are but appearances based on the presence and position of the observer upon the Earth, away from which they have no true existence. For instance, there is no night except as we are temporarily on the shadow side of our globe during its diurnal rotation. There is this movement of the Earth upon its axis; there is the annual revolution that we term the year; and there is the stupendous cycle called the precession of the equinoxes, which requires nearly 26,000 years for its accomplishment.

There are relative velocities and courses of the planets, the axial revolution of the sun, their angles of inclination, the atomic weights of metals, the phenomena of light, color, crystallization, and gravitation. When the results are expressed in their simplest forms, the latter prove to be some rudimentary geometrical figures that supply the structure of crystals, and all blend together into the marvelous triangle (pythagorean theorem or "golden triangle") that caused old Pythagoras to cry "Eureka!" when the beauties burst upon him."

By careful computation we are able to reconstruct this really divine system, and we find that the exact proportions relating to the celestial correlations in question were lavishly and exclusively employed in the architecture of the temples of old, in all the culture lands of the world, both east and west.

He goes on to explain at the beginning of a Chapter entitled "The Letter/Number System" on page 33: "The next step beyond that of embodying the sacred proportions in architecture and art was to contrive their vocal expression."

"To contrive their vocal expression" is the encoding of particular constants into the words, returning the words back to "the golden triangle of Pythagoras", or Pi. This is the reality of what is "gematria", and hence the definition as defined at the start this article is that "gematria" is "the willful encrypting of a word fused to a mathematical value in order to provide the word with an encoded significance."

Hence "Gematria", provides us with literal hidden essences into the words not contained within the dictionary. This reality, too, is by design, for contrived nature of the words reveals their esoteric, or hidden, meanings, such meanings being either "absolute truths" or purely "esoteric significances" based on a conceptual truth via the process of observer location and observed phenomena.

For example. Higgins mentions "the stupendous cycle called the precession of the equinoxes". This cycle is the primary purpose to the Royal Arch Degree. However, this cycle is purely illusory. Observing the Sun at its location at the Equinox, the Sun appears to traverse in reverse through the Zodiac, forming a "circle in the sky". This "circle" is oft referred to as "the pie in the sky", yet "pi" and "pie" really are encoding the same thing - a Circle, hence the ration of this circle to its diameter.

So the word ZODIAC can be inferred to then be a part of the "contrived vocal expression", and indeed it is, for the anagram of ZODIAC is CADOIZ. Return the Letters to Numbers, and C=3, A=1, D=4, O=15, I=9, Z=26

ZODIAC = CADOIZ = 3.1415926

We can refer to this "contrived word" as both an "absolute truth" and an "esoteric truth", depending on our purpose for the encoding. By revealing that ZODIAC is an anagram for Pi = 3.1415926, we begin to formulate "the structure of crystals" that "all blend together".

Absolute truths, for all intents and purposes, however, we define as words that encode particular constants based on observable astronomic phenomena. For instance, the word EARTH reveals E+A+R+T+H = 5+1+18+20+8 = 52 Weeks. This is an "absolute truth" that clearly defines the Earth relative to its position in the solar system. The word says, "I, the planet Earth, maintains an orbit of 52 weeks around the Sun."

Esoteric truths are really quite different. An overly simplistic analysis of "esoteric truths" assumes that words of same value as "added" together necessarily imply an esoteric equivalency to other words. Many quack analysts assume this to mean "pseudo-numerology" equally, but most quack analysts, themselves, are not educated or versed enough to comment on such matters and are in generally wholly clueless that there is a contrived constructed element to the Language.

Bernard Pick, as quoted in "the Ancient Cipher", a Masonic inspired text released in the 1930's, said, "The art of discovering the hidden sense of the text by means of numerical equivalence of the Letters" was an apt definition of what was "Gematria". In this manner, which really is what "profane Gematria" as been reduced to, Letters are given values based on their "ordinal placement in the Alphabet", and words are then added to find their total value, and words that have the same value are said to have esoteric equivalencies. This process is extended to whole phrases.

Examples of this might be, "The Ancient Word of God = 206 = The Word of Numbers", or "The Number Within the Letter = 302 = Written Beneath Visible Word = 302 = Wisdom Hidden Under the Letter", or "Miraculous Cipher = 191 = God's Spell in Cipher = 191 = The Supreme Miracle = 191 = The Pure White Magic = 191 = Words as Numbers = 191 = The Super Words = 191 = The Silent Words = 191 = Written in Cipher = 191 = The Letters Double = 191 = Letters-Numbers = 191 God-Word Revealed = The Word of Power".

Some of my students have even come to me to reveal that the phrase, "I, Fetch, speak the words of the Gods." = 314 (3.14) itself has an "esoteric significance" in that indeed, what is being revealed is the underlying nature of Pi as the framework to the English Initiated (Illuminatus) System.

However, what is important to note is that contrived or crafted words set against numerical equivalences is a critical component, indeed, THE CRITICAL COMPONENT, to understanding the nature of the Construct, a construct wholly based on, and set against, Pi.

วันเสาร์ที่ 24 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Interpreting Body Language Attraction Signals and Gestures of the Opposite Sex

Did you know that the body Language of both males and females will change dramatically when in the presence of the opposite sex. For instance, a man will automatically straighten up his body, stand a little taller, and avoiding all those common slumping or slouching postures.

When a man is in the company of a woman he's interested in, he will try his best to appear more dominant by pulling in his stomach and expanding his chest out.

Let's say coincidentally the woman he likes here shares the same interest and is taking a fancy to this man, she will also automatically display herself being submissive by gestures like turning and exposing her wrists, tilting her head a bit, and touching her hair.

The interesting thing is the gestures of this man and woman were delivered subconsciously on an automatic response mode. Well, there are of course those intended and coordinated attraction and flirting gestures that were made consciously.

What Type of Attraction Gestures Men Use

Men basically do not have a large inventory of attraction and flirting gestures compared to women. When a man is interested in a woman, he will just focus his gestures to display his masculinity and the macho-man image.

His gestures normally will begin with patting his hair into place, smooth and straighten his clothes, adjust his tie if he is wearing one, and often thrust his chin forward. At the same time, he will extend out his chest, straighten his back, and draw in his stomach as mentioned earlier on.

A man normally will display his masculinity and dominance by tucking his thumbs into his belt, and pointing them at his crotch. This is in fact a very common sight of men using gestures to emphasize on his manhood.

What Type of Attraction Gestures Women Use

On the contrary, when a woman is interested in a guy, she will blast out tons of signs and signals to notify him of her feelings. Unfortunately on the down side here is that many men are totally oblivious to these signs and signals. Making things worse, women sometimes unintentionally send out mixed signals when trying to manipulate the men into displaying their feelings for her. Very often this will end up with the men confused and resulting with them avoiding and not approaching her.

In a room, when a woman finds the man she is attracted to, she will normally gaze at him until she seizes his attention and thus forming the first visual contact. She will then hold on to this eye contact for two to three seconds before looking elsewhere. Subsequently, she will further display other gestures to express her interest in this particular guy.

One of the gestures most commonly used by a woman around a man she is attracted to is the hair flicking gesture. What happens here is that the woman will flick her hair away from a face or over her shoulder in a sensual way. Surprisingly, this gesture is also performed by many women with short hair.

When a woman slowly and suggestively caress her neck or thigh, she is implying to the man that he might be able to touch her in these ways too if he can captivate and mesmerize her to her delight. This is the self stroking gesture which is frequently used by women.

Another gesture to watch out for is the droopy wrist gesture. This gesture is often used for the maximum effect when fondling a cylindrical item. Women like to use this gesture to make a guy feel that he could have full control of her. This droopy wrist gesture is perceived by many men as a submission signal.

A similar seductive gesture used by women to draw in the man will be the neck baring gesture. This is another submissive gesture seen by men in the same way as the droopy wrist gesture. As how it is suggested here, the woman will bare her neck to the man by tilting her head to one side of her shoulder.

Is He/She Already Seeing Someone Else?

When a person sees someone they are interested in, most often the reason that is stopping them from walking over to that person to chat up is the thought that maybe this particular person is not single and already seeing someone else. Hence, bringing forth the notion of maybe that someone else is around there, or might be arriving soon.

Picture this scenario at a bar, a beautiful lady is attracted to this charming and good looking guy within a group of people standing across the room. She then uses the gazing technique to establish eye contact indicating she is interested in him.

The guy seemed to be a bit oblivious to her signals, or maybe he's just a little bit on the shy side. So the lady decides maybe instead she should go over there and give this shy guy the opportunity to strike up a conversation with her. As she was about to move, a lovely lady joined the group and is now standing next to the charming guy. Apparently this lovely lady seems to be from that same group too, and she appears to be quite close to that guy.

Now the question "Are they a couple?" pops up in this beautiful lady's mind. She's contemplating whether should she just stay put where she is, or still proceed to go over there? Most often and most likely, just to play it safe, the decision will be to stay where she is to avoid any awkward or embarrassing situation.

My Own Intimate Zone

Not only it's natural, but also a proven scientific fact that how much closer two people sit, stand, or lie next to each other, is very much akin to how close and intimate they are emotionally to each other.

Each and every person has got their own intimate zone. The size of this zone may vary a little bit from one person to another person but only at a minimal rate. It begins with the body itself, extending as far as one and a half feet/half a meter from it. To that person, everything within this intimate zone "belongs" to them, or considered as "theirs".

Parents, siblings, spouses, lovers, children, close relatives and very close friends will normally stand within 18 inches/50 centimeters of each other. Like them, only those who are considered as emotionally close to us may be allowed to break through this space barrier and enter the intimate zone. Any uninvited stranger that enters this zone will be look upon as an act of intimidation and hostility, prompting the person to move away from the intruder immediately.

This is perhaps the main reason why people will stay for years with the same doctor, or dentist, even traveling miles to get there, rather than subject themselves to the stress of allowing a stranger into their intimate zone.

High Touch Properties

Generally people will touch things, or lean against something that they feel is theirs. They do this in many different ways using fingers, arms, feet, and even buttocks. For instance, a person will sometimes lean on the walls with their back and shoulder, or lean on the tables with their buttocks when they are at their own home. However, you will not be able to witness these behaviors if they are in the homes of people they are unfamiliar with.

The same rules apply here with couples holding hands, brushing each other's arms as they walk, or tidying and adjusting each other's clothes. One of the most common signals that you will always notice everywhere will be the way women demonstrates ownership to her man by placing her palm flat on his chest. The same kind of display can also be seen here when a man places his hand on the waist or back of his partner.

Beauty, They Say, Is In The Eye of The Beholder

There is a great difference between what is attractive to men and women, which are believed to be originated from our prehistoric ancestors of hunters (male) and food gatherers (female).

Women in general tends to be attracted to men who are powerful, assertive and independent, the qualities which highly suggest the person as a capable provider and a reliable father for their children. On the other hand, what men find attractive in women is usually based more on their visually attractive exterior.

In both cases, as men or women, by emphasizing on these qualities, we would always hope to make ourselves more attractive (beauty or personality) to the opposite sex and have a wider selection of possible mates to chose from.

While interest in others is demonstrated by body Language, we should never use it to manipulate others. Truly attractive people are those who see themselves as who they really are, and always believing in themselves.

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 22 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Can You Download Rosetta Stone Language Free?

Perhaps you are interested in learning a new Language, and you have heard of the remarkable Rosetta Stone Language software. You may also be wondering if you can download Rosetta Stone Language free. Well, there are many issues and restrictions that can arise if you try and get it free and I am going to outline just a few.

Rosetta Stone is one of the most widely accessed Language learning programs worldwide. Fortune 500 companies have been using this software for years, as well as the U.S. Army. So what does this tell you? It tells you that this language learning program is a highly effective tool for learning a new language.

If you want to try and get it free, you will be no doubt limited. You can access a few of the language modules for free or on a trial basis. The issue is that you will be very limited on what you can learn from your free download. You are far better off to actually purchasing the lessons in the language you want to learn, rather than accessing the free program.

There are, of course, many alternatives, such as torrent sites where you can download Rosetta Stone language free, but these can be problematic. First of all, using a torrent download site is not legal. Second, these torrent sites can load up your computer with Trojans, spyware and adware. These kinds of "downloads" can infect your computer, and cause it to run slowly or not run at all. Aside from slowing your computer down, your registry keys will be affected, and it may possibly cause issues with start up and with other programs that you normally run on your computer.

Basically, you get what you pay for, and if you are going for free, then you won't get much, in all honesty. Unless you consider the head ache and the time involved in trying to resolve all of the new "issues" you will have with your computer, then don't bother trying to download Rosetta Stone for free. If you are uncertain about the benefits of purchasing this program, try the trial version from the actual website, but stay away from free downloads from sites that cannot be trusted.

The benefits that you will get from this program far outweigh the costs. It can be rather expensive to sign up for a physical course at a college or night school, and you will have to adhere to their teaching schedule in order to learn. With Rosetta Stone, you are totally free to learn at your own pace. I would also always recommend researching other similar style program that can be more affordable before trying to download Rosetta Stone Language free.

วันอังคารที่ 20 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Two Poems, with Figurative Language

Says Mr. Dennis Siluk, when asked to review his poetry somewhat, for he hesitates all the time when I ask him to so; I can tell you. Anyhow, he said to me (responding more on poem #728, "Derivative Echoes"): "Figurative Language, meaning words used to refer to something that you don't really mean, is used here to make noises, as are metaphors sometimes. Probably the reason I used figurative Language imagery here was to tie the ideas and feelings my poem [s] expresses [ness] to the physical world in which I want it to exist." He lost me somewhere along the line, but it sounded good when I read the poems. Rosa Penaloza.

The Bear-men of Qolqepunku

(or: the magical ice of Peru)

(Foreshadow)

High up in the Andes of Peru

The Ukukus wander on

Glacier, frost and snow

Dressed in furry clocks and masks

They trek to find the mountains ice

Of sacred healing powers

The Bear-men, they are called:

In the old language of the Quechua;

Guardians of the ice

They cut the ice in solid blocks

Carried on backs, down mountain paths,

To family, friends, and livestock

Ah! Sixteen-thousand feet high, comes

A pilgrimage Qoyllur Rit i' ...

Year, after year, after year.

The Bear-men--, silently watch

Their glacier, slowly disappear

As if in thin air!...

They've now decide to leave the ice

The magical ice of Peru, in place

As warming temperatures rise...

This is helping the Ice Cap

Evaporate, in the 21st Century--

Perhaps this is a whisper...

"Is this the world's end?"

#731 6/17/05

Derivative Echoes

I would show you love in a handful of clouds--

Could I find the clouds, and find the love;

And is it love one is really looking for?

Fallen angels had love from heaven,

And chose lust in place, on earth...!

In hell one loves lust and thus, would be

Unhappy in Heaven I imagine...;

Ah! Maybe allusions is the strand we're

Looking for...? We're living for...

We live in the age of imagined howling

...with aches and pains in the mind

Fear of death--nymphs (well dressed)

Schoolmasters serving children a blotted

Light; perfect pitch, more questions than

Answer; disrupting the harmonic balance!...

#728 6/2005

วันจันทร์ที่ 19 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

How to Read Body Language to Understand People Better

Body Language is non-verbal communication, but is used along with verbal communication. It expresses our emotions, conveys our attitudes, demonstrates our personality traits and supports out verbal communications. Everyone uses this whenever we communicate with each other.

Many non-verbal behaviors vary across cultures, such as the thumbs up to signify "way to go" or "good job". However, the six primary emotions, happiness, surprise, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust are common amongst all cultures. These six are instinctual and are not body Language we are taught, but come from within us naturally. When we talk about body expression coming from within us we mean it comes from the subconscious level. And because it comes from the subconscious it tells a great deal about the person we. Let's look to fear for an example.

Fear is a natural human emotion and serves a purpose related to our safety and security. But let us imagine a person who has witnessed a serious auto mobile accident, but rather than running to the aid of the injured; they run frantically in the opposite direction. This frantic running away is body expression that certainly infers some kind of fear. Specifically what that fears might be we cannot know without talking to the person. But it is obvious that the fear has nothing to do with immediate safety. Through this example you should be able to see how we can read another's personality through the lens of his body Language.

Here's an experiment you can try at home to see just how much information people give about themselves through body communication. While someone is talking to you observe the body language they use as they talk. After a few moments of observation, close your eyes while continually listening to the other person. You won't be able to see their hand gestures, facial expressions, or other bodily movements. Notice how much information is not available to you because your eyes are closed. It is very difficult to read and understand someone without seeing the body expression that accompanies their verbal communication.

One sure-fire way to learn how to read someone's body talk is to observe and get to know your own. Remember, we all have six common kinds of instinctual body language. Of course they vary in degree of expression, but we all have them. There are also non-verbal communications that are common among certain cultures, societies and families. Because of this fact two different people can have very similar behaviors that are expressed through similar kinds of body communication. By knowing your own body language you can read similar ones in others, and therefore give you insight into another person's personality and who they are.

As you learn your own body language try to relate those behaviors to your subconscious thinking. Try to regulate or over analyze your subconscious thought though. The only goal here is to match those thoughts with the body language you use to express those thoughts. This not about judging yourself, but it's about learning to read your body language so you can read the body language of others. You can use this information to improve your understanding of the many different interactions you will become involved with.

Now that you recognize some of your own body language you can begin to read people with more accuracy. When in conversation with someone you can identify such things like mixed messages. Mixed messages are identified when a person says one thing, but their body communication says something else.

A good example is when someone lies to you. They tell you, "I didn't do it!", but the tone of voice, the looking away, and the slight nervousness lets you know that something is not quite right in what they are telling you. This conflict between verbal language and body language could signal deception. Mixed messages are most certainly related to insincerity and point to that person as having something to hide.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 18 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Geographical Study of Where Hebrew Language Is Spoken

Hebrew is a Language that is spoken in Israel. It is a Language that was in existence over 2,000 years ago in the time of the Bible, the Jewish Scripture. However, the version of Hebrew spoken in those times was a more ancient form and is commonly referred to as Biblical Hebrew, or Ancient Hebrew. The more modern form of the Language is now possible and convenient to learn thanks to Hebrew lessons.

Hebrew is a language spoken in Israel, a small country located in the Middle East with a population of about 7.5 million. It borders the Mediterranean Sea and is sandwiched between Egypt and Lebanon. Israel is a country located in the desert and suffers from the same dry and arid conditions as other desert countries. However, the utilization of the drip irrigation system developed by Simcha Blas, which has affected the way plants are grown, has contributed to the agricultural development of Israel.

Israel is a country in which the famous River Jordan is located. It is the longest river in Israel and flows into the Sea of Galilee. This is also the boundary between the Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. The Sea of Galilee is the largest freshwater lake in the country and is a great tourist attraction.

Israel is divided into four main geographical regions, which are the Coastal Plain, the Gallilean-Samarian-Judean Highlands, the Negev Desert, and the Jordan Rift Valley. The Coastal Plain is one region in Israel that has several names. Known as the Plain of Sharon in some areas, it is also called the Plain of Zebulun and the Plain of Judea. With a few exceptions, this region is known for its very fertile soil and is also Israel's most populated region.

The Gallilean-Samarian-Judean highland is a mostly hilly area that has Mount Meron, the highest mountain in Israel. The popular city of Beersheba is located in the Negev Desert region, which is a desert region but has a mountainous topography. The highest point of the mountains is known as Mount Ramon. The Jordan Rift Valley is the region in which the Sea of Galilee is located. All of these regions are located within the country that is known as Israel and the language spoken in these regions is majorly Hebrew.

When a newcomer comes to Israel with plans to settle in and integrate into the community, that person would probably decide on one of the regions to call home. To fully feel at home, however, it would be necessary to take Hebrew lessons in order to learn the language. This is because Hebrew is the language spoken in Israel and was in fact the language that was spoken 2,000 years ago in ancient times.

Learning Hebrew is possible thanks to system that organize Hebrew lessons for newcomers to Israel. These lessons can now be taken over the Internet for added convenience. These systems has been successful and is continually tweaked to further improve the success rate. There is no better way to learn Hebrew and also about the culture and history of the people who speak the language.

วันเสาร์ที่ 17 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

How to Tell If a Guy Likes You by His Body Language

Want to know whether a guy is flirting with you or serious about you; get tuned to his body Language. Yes his body Language which plays an important role in telling you what a person thinks about you his eyes, the way he talk, gives you signals are reliable means of knowing what a person thinks about you from inside. Eyes are mirror of a person's heart and they tell the truth inside your heart. That is why they play an important role in communicating two people. The facial expressions of a guy tell you about his love.

There are several signals which show whether he is interested in you or not, some of them are as follows:

1. If a guy is attracted towards you he raises his eyebrows and as you will see towards him he will start looking here and there. He stares at you and give a surprised expression.

2. He will try to move out from the crowd to grab your attention for this he may give throng movements or gestures, he may move apart from his friends and change his position

3. If you are very beautiful, lips of guy will automatically get apart for few seconds along with slightly opened nostrils

4. The guy interested in you will try to impress you by standing in cow boy style with tilted head and also rubs his chin, cheeks; he may smooth his hairs to make them more attractive

5. Adjustment of socks shows his 100%interest in you and it is the biggest preening signal

6. He will try to have a conversation with you even if you don't want and simultaneously ask your name

7. He may laugh loudly or clap to grab your attention

WHEN A GUY IS FLIRTING

You yourself will come to know when a guy is flirting with you if you don't know him but he brings flowers for you and is desperate to talk you,when he do everything you like and want to make you smile. He speaks good things about you that means he is flirting

WARNINGS


If a guy is already in relationship, he may tell to leave his ex-girlfriend for you but never say yes to such people because you might be another victim
If you like seeing someone and he sees back to you that does not mean he likes you and especially if he is having a jerking behavior towards you that means he is saying no to your likings
If a guy wants to meet you or go out for a lunch make sure whether it is a date or not so that there are no chances of later confusion
You should be careful of not getting misused by that guy.The guy may tell you that he likes you without meaning it just to make himself important in his friends
You should be able to differentiate between a friend talk and a lover talk.few people just tell that they like you intentionally to hurt you but not all are same
You should be aware of those people who at first sight or first meeting try to come closer or touch you. A guy is flirting with you if he has never met you before but he brought flowers for you.

Thus by this we come to know importance of a body Language

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 15 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Literature in an ESL TEFL TESOL Classroom - Teaching Literature to English Language Learners

Professor Colin MacCabe of the University of Exter School of English says that to truly know a Language, you must know something of the literature of a Language.

Literature is intellectually stimulating because a Book allows a reader to imagine worlds they are not familiar with. This is done through the use of descriptive language. In order to understand, the reader will create their vision of what the writer is saying. In this sense, the reader becomes a performer or an actor in a communicative event.

Using literature versus a communicative textBook changes the learning approach from learning how to say into learning how to mean (grammar vs. creative thinking). Conversation-based programs tend to focus on 'formulas' used in contextual situations so there is little allowance for independent thought and adaptation of language. On the other hand, literature-based programs focus on personal interpretation of the language so students begin to experiment with the language. This experimentation can be especially helpful to the students for use in different subjects such as science.

Per Carter and Long, the 3 main approaches to using Literature in a language classroom are:

1. Cultural model


Based on the notion that literature is the expression of:

Socio-cultural attitudes.

Aspirations of individual societies.

Mythic and universal values.

Text is regarded as finished product.
Associated with teacher-centered approach

2. Language model


Literature is taught for the promotion of:
Vocabulary
Structure
Language manipulation

Puts students in touch with the subtle and varied creative uses of language.
Emphasizes language observation.
Student-centered methodology.

3. Personal growth model


Concerned more with student's:
Maturity as individuals
Progress as individuals through reading

'Literature for life' approach
Promotes individual evaluation and judgment.
Learner-centered approach.

When adding literature into the classroom remember to choose some good Books that students can relate to. Visual books are very helpful to help spark interest in children. For older students, you can incorporate questions into the reading process that require thought and expression from the students. In addition, set aside specific times for reading. Don't worry if students don't respond well when you begin because they will start to enjoy it more (and therefore interact more) as they relate to the stories and experiences shared.

Some Literature School Basics by Lorraine Curry of the Easy Homeschooling Companion

1) Select a number of well chosen books.

2) Set a particular time to read each book.

3) Let nothing interfere with your scheduling.

4) Use discussion and research to create interest.

5) Process, by writing or narrating.

Each child should have the opportunity to read aloud each day to encourage pronunciation practice. During this time you can note and correct mispronounced words.

Older Students

*Present questions that require thought. Some questions may not have one perfect answer. Some may not have an answer at all. Nevertheless, thought is stimulated and learning takes place.

*Copy challenging writing in order to practice English skills and increase comprehension.

*Do extensive research in order to understand deeper writing such as poems. *Research authors, times and places.

*Report by presenting orally or compiling results of research in writing. The quantity and quality of written assignments should increase with older students.

*Solidify language-learning with a formal grammar course and a formal writing course

Some good online literature teacher resources:

Total ESL Resources: totalesl.com/resource.php

Total ESL Lesson Plans: totalesl.com/lesson.php

The Children's Literature Web Guide: career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/TEACHER.htm

Literature.org: literature.org

English Literature on the Web: lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/EngLit.html

The Literature Network: online-literature.com

Bibliomania: bibliomania.com

Literature Learning Ladders: eduscapes.com/ladders

BBC Arts and Books: bbc.co.uk/arts/books

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Use and distribution of this article is permitted subject to no changes being made to the content and the original author's information (About the Author) must be included with appropriate hyperlinks/URL references in place.

วันพุธที่ 14 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Is She Interested? - Women's Body Language

"Your actions speak so loudly I can hardly hear what you say!" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Body Language - The Key to Reading People

Body Language, such as non-verbal gestures, postures and expressions, is a subject you have heard about but you probably do not use. It is still as valid as ever and can definitely give you an advantage in the dating game.

You communicate much more non-verbally than verbally. Women are more expressive in body Language and better at reading it. However men can learn and develop these skills.

There is a great deal of very deep analysis of body Language in all sorts of social situations and a great many Books. For your use however, there are two aspects that you need to concentrate on -


Observing women's body language so when you see ten women in a bar you can tell which one is eager to meet you, and
Reinforcing your own body language messages to ensure that you are welcoming, open and congruent, so your physiology matches what you are saying.

Body language can help you be more successful in dating. Women are often only being friendly not initiating an approach - if there is no invite then rejection is inevitable. Hence you can improve the odds by working out which women are open to being approached. Learn how to read women's body language so you know when you're in with a chance and can press on with confidence, or when you are wasting your time and should cut your losses and run.

Body language is fascinating to watch and study. Understanding the signals and messages your body is sending out and reading the signals others are sending you is one of the most useful dating skills to master.

Body Language Basics

You need to think about your and her body signals. Concentrate on her; observe her - her appearance, her personality, her connection.

It is said the eyes are the window to the soul. This works both ways - your eyes reflect your innermost thoughts, her eyes indicate what she's thinking. You communicate more with your eyes than any other body part - it is impossible to flirt without making eye contact.

Your hands send powerful messages. Are they open or closed, apart or touching, in our pockets or waving wildly around? Open hand gestures indicate openness, genuineness and friendliness.

Your posture can signal a wide range of messages to whoever cares to look. It can indicate your interest or otherwise, whether you feel defensive or open and whether you really want to be there. All these are valuable signals being given to you in your quest for a date.

Her Body Language

The most important point to remember when trying to read her body language is that you can't determine what she is feeling by observing just one body language sign. You need to look for groups of behaviour signs. Folded arms might mean she is putting up a barrier. Alternatively it might be that she is cold, she has spilt something down her blouse and is attempting to cover it up or it's just the way she always sits. In addition it is not how she looks which is important but more often it is the change in body language that is most telling. If she goes from leaning forward, gazing into your eyes and smiling to leaning back, arms folded, frowning and avoiding eye contact then she has changed her mood and it is up to you to understand why and react.

Is She Interested in You?

There are two stages in using body language to improve your odds of success. Firstly you need to identify which women in a situation are on the look out for a man. Next you need to interpret signals directly sent to you. In a social situation to determine which women you have a chance with first of all observe how they are behaving. Are they looking around, checking out the men, scanning the surroundings? If so this is an indication they are available and looking. There are a number of key signals that may indicate she is interested in you and in any advances you might make. The key to improving your success is learning to read these signals. The way she looks at you, stands, smiles or grimaces. Learn to read her like a Book then act when you see a green light.

Your Body Language

The points above apply equally well to you. Be aware of the messages each part of your body and posture are giving out. In addition the key area to work on is your physiology as you approach people. The basic rule is to maintain eye contact, smile and appear friendly. Eye contact can be deemed aggressive, particularly if you maintain an unwavering stare! So when you are working out if a woman is interested just hold the gaze for a second or two longer than you normally would. Don't stare without blinking - she will think you are a lunatic and don't grimace - you will look as though you are in pain! If you get a response, act immediately. If you don't she knows you are nervous and all is lost!

"It is the way we react to circumstances that determines our feelings" (Dale Carnegie)

วันจันทร์ที่ 12 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Listening

Several years ago I taught a Dun and Bradstreet course titled, "Listening." It revealed faulty listening habits and worked to improve them.

The students were all adults ranging in education from high school through college.

At the outset I tested their listening retention. The average was 26% retention.

The older, or more educated a person was, the poorer their retention at the start.

Curious I taught the course to my children. The youngest at the time was about 9 years old. She did much better with retention than her older brothers.

Conclusion is that as we grow older, and learn more, our mind is stuffed with information and it interferes with what we are hearing. The result is a "tainted" retention that misses, alters, or loses what one is hearing by information not a part of what one is hearing.

All lessons in the course were audio, then immediately tested. No audio presentation was longer than 5 minutes, and presented by a good speaker. Easy to retain everything heard? Right? Wrong. The reality was that about 75% is lost within 5 minutes after hearing it.

By the way, this is one reason ministers, preachers, and other speakers, repeat, and repeat, lessons.

In one lesson, the presentation was about religion where everyone had their "toes stepped on" with obviously untrue materials. The result was high emotions in the mind, and retention went out the window!

The students in the course achieved about 70% retention.
They became quicker learners at whatever they did for they got it the first time.

To be a good listener one must: control emotions so that focus is best; one must keep at bay their own knowledge and information already stored in their mind; external noises must be ignored; and the mind should be focused on the speakers words. One other action can help and that is to take notes.

After hearing a message the mind can then consider it the facts and truths heard with all the knowledge it commands.

By these efforts listening with retention will go up.

วันเสาร์ที่ 10 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Urdu - The Origin and History of the Language

The term 'Urdu' and its origin

The term Urdu derives from a Turkish word ordu meaning camp or army. The Urdu Language developed between the Muslim soldiers of the Mughals armies who belonged to various ethnicities like Turks, Arabs, Persians, Pathans, Balochis, Rajputs, Jats and Afghans. These soldiers lived in close contact with each other and communicated in different dialects, which slowly and gradually evolved into present day Urdu. It is for this reason that Urdu is also referred to as Lashkari Zaban or Language of the army.

During its development Urdu Language also assumed various names like the term Urdu-e-Maullah meaning the exalted army which was given by Emperor Shah Jahan and the term Rekhta meaning scattered (with Persian words) which was coined by the scholars for Urdu poetry.

History and Evolution of Urdu Language

Evolution and development of any language is dependent on the evolution and development of a society where that language is spoken. Various invasions and conquests on a place affect the development of its language. Urdu is no exception as it also underwent various stages of development.

Urdu belongs to the Indo-Aryan family of languages. Urdu by origin is considered to be a descendent of Saur Senic Prakrit. The term Prakrriti means root or basis. It is a later version of Sanskrit. As Prakrit language began to develop, it was influenced by Western Hindi dialects of Khari Boli, Brij Bhasa and Haryanvi.

With the coming of Insha's Darya-e-Latafat*, a need was felt to differentiate Urdu with other languages especially Hindi. It became a Hindi-Urdu controversy and as a result Khari Boli and Devanagari became the identity of Indians while Urdu and Persian of Muslims. In this context, Persian and Arabic words replaced with Sanskrit served the purpose of differentiating Hindi from Urdu.

Urdu emerged as a distinct language after 1193 AD - the time of the Muslims conquest. When the Muslims conquered this part of the continent, they made Persian the official and cultural language of India. As a result of the amalgamation of local dialects and the language of the invaders - which was either Persian, Arabic and Turkish, a new language evolved which later became Urdu. During the Mughals reign, Urdu was spoken in palaces and court and till the end of the Mughal rule; Urdu was the official language of most of Mughal states. This was the time when Urdu had become Persianized and enriched with Persian words, phrases and even script and grammar. With the coming of the British, new English words also became part of the Urdu language. Many English words were accepted in their real form while others were accepted after some modifications.

Currently, Urdu vocabulary contains approximately 70% of Persian words and the rest are a mixture of Arabic and Turkish words. However, there are also traces of the French, Portuguese and Dutch language in Urdu. But these influences are little.

Urdu was taken to other parts of the country by soldiers, saints and sufis and by the common people. As a result of the political, social and cultural contacts amongst the people of different speech and dialects, a mixed form of language formed called 'Rekhta' (Urdu and Persian in mixed form). Soon people started to use the new language in their speech and in literature which resulted in the enrichment of Urdu language and literature.

Urdu Literature

The origin of Urdu literature dates back to the 13th century in India during the Mughal rule. One of the most eminent earliest poets who made usage of Urdu in his poetry is Amir Khusro who can be called the father of Urdu language. In literature, Urdu was usually used along side Persian. Mughal kings were the great patrons of art and literature and it was under their rule that Urdu language reached its zenith. There used to be a tradition of 'Sheri Mehfils' (poetic gatherings) in the kings' courts. Abul Fazal Faizi and Abdul Rahim Khankhana were the famous Urdu poets of Mughal court. Likewise, Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, Hakim Momin, Ibrahim Zauq, Mir Taqi Mir, Sauda, Ibn-e-Insha and Faiz Ahmed Faiz have contributed to the evolution of Urdu language through their literary works.

It is indeed true that Hindi and Urdu are descendents of the same language i.e. Prakrit, but where the Hindi took influence from Sanskrit and adopted Devanagri script of writing, Urdu absorbed words from Persian, Turkish and Arabic languages and adopted Persian-Arabic script and Nastaliq calligraphic style of writing and emerged as a separate language. But beside common ancestry, the two languages are as different as can be. There are marked grammatical, phonological and lexical differences in both languages.

Urdu was also used as a tool by the Muslims for freedom struggle and for creating awareness among Muslim communities in South Asia to unite under the banner of Independence from British Raj. For this, services of Maulana Hali, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Allama Iqbal are notable, who through their poetry and prose provoked the necessary spark in the lives of the Muslims. Urdu was chosen to become the national language of Pakistan at the time of Independence from British. Urdu is now the national language of Pakistan, spoken and understood thoroughly by majority of the population.

Notes:
* A Book by Ibn-e-Insha, dealing with phonetic and linguistic characteristics of Urdu and a variety of work formations and rhetorical expressions.

References:
1. George Cardona & Dhanesh Jain (eds). The Indo Aryan languages. Routledge Publishers. London. 2003.
2. Ram Babu Saksena. A History of Urdu Literature. Sind Sagar Academy. Lahore. 1975.
3. Dr. Tariq Rehman. Peoples and Languages in Pre-Islamic Indus Valley. [Online] [Cited 2009 April 4]. Available from: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/scad/archivedwebsites/archivedwebsites/LanguagesInPreIslamicPakistan.htm
4. Mirza Khalil Ahmad Beg. Urdu Grammer: History and Structure. Bahri Publications. New Delhi. 1988.
5. Zoya Zaidi. Urdu: The language and Poetry. [Online] 2006 [Cited 2009 April 4]. Available from: http://www.sikhspectrum.com/082006/urdu.htm

วันศุกร์ที่ 9 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

The Seductive Ways that Women Use Their Body Language to Flirt

You can learn a lot about a woman simply by observing her body Language. When a woman knows she's being watched by you, she'll do certain things in the hopes that you'll notice and approach her.

By paying attention and look for these body Language cues, you'll know if she wants you to come over and initiate a conversation. So if you've made eye contact with a woman and she knows she's being observed, look to see if she does the following:

Flirt Signal #1- You see her touching and caressing her hair

Women typically demonstrate their interest by touching or caressing their hair. While it's a subconscious preening mechanism, a woman will do this as way to look her best. For a lot of women, their hair is a source of their confidence. By caressing her hair, a woman is attempting to act in an alluring and seductive manner.

Flirt Signal #2- You see her emphasizing her legs and feet

There is a lot of flirting power in a woman's legs. In fact, you can learn a lot about a woman just from the way she positions her legs.

For instance, if you see her feet pointed towards you, that usually means she has an interest in you and wants you to notice her legs. Another thing is woman often point her feet towards men they like. So when you're observing a woman, take a quick glance at her feet.

Another sign that a woman is flirting is when she crosses and uncrosses her legs while you're watching her. This typically happens when a girl is unsure of how to act when she knows a guy is looking at her. Once you see this, you know she's having a nervous reaction from your glances.

Finally if you see a woman is dangling a shoe off her foot, she's probably trying to be a little sexy in the hopes to get you to approach.

Flirt Signal #3- You see her licking her lips

For many women their mouth is a constant source of pleasure. In addition, it's human nature to get dry mouth whenever nervousness sets in. So if you see a girl licking her lips, this shows she's trying to emphasize her lips.

Also many women know that licking their lips is something that men find sexy. When she does this, a woman is telling you that she likes you and wants you to go talk to her.

Flirt Signal #4- You see her exposing her neck, wrists and other intimate parts of her body

Finally you can tell a woman is flirting when she exposes the intimate parts of body. When see a girl exposing her neck, wrists or inner thighs in your direction, this means she wants you to take a look at your erogenous areas.

A woman exposing the sensual parts of her body is one of the most classic signs of flirting.

These four flirting signals provide insight into what women are feeling and if they want you to come approach them. If you pay close attention, you'll pick up on these flirting cues.

When you seem these signals from a woman, you're getting an invitation to go talk to her.
So don't hesitate- go approach her!

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 8 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

12 Tips for Reading Her Body Language Signals

Want to know what she is really thinking and feeling? How to read her body Language gestures to get it right. Understanding her body Language has never been easier.

1: Her chest. When indulging in foreplay, a pinkish flush will colour the skin of her chest, this is known as a "sex flush". This occurs as a result of changes in her blood pressure and circulation, as well as her respiration and pulse rates. This is her subtle way of telling you that you could get lucky if you keep on with what you are doing. Another positive sign that you are doing it right is when her breasts start to enlarge. Women's breasts will increase by as much as 25% when they are sexually aroused.

2: Her pupils. A woman's pupils will dilate when she is stimulated by you. Subconsciously, her body is made to want to see more of whatever is pleasing her visually. To do this, her irises have to let in more light. At this point she is also starting to look hotter to you as well, as research has shown that guys are more attracted to girls with larger pupils. A win-win situation!

3: Her eyelashes. Look her in the eyes for a minute. She should be blinking about 15 times per minute. Research has shown that women on the Pill blink 32% faster than those who aren't. How does this help you? Due to the shift in her hormone levels, women on the Pill are more sexually attracted to guys with rugged features and strong wide jaws. Strive for the confident, strong and hard image.

4: The small of her back. As a woman nears orgasm she will start to arch her back. Clasp her tightly around her waist and pay attention to just how much arching she is doing. Do not stop now. Keep everything going until she climaxes. Yours is coming.

5: Her nose. A woman's sense of smell is best first thing in the morning. Maybe you should clean your teeth if you are feeling amorous. Cooking her meal first thing in the morning is the best way to impress her with your cooking skills. Why? Because 90% of the taste of the meal is in the aroma. According to one study, warm banana bread is best if you have loving on your mind because it has an aroma that increases the blood flow to her vagina.

6: Her fingernails. Body-focused repetitive behaviours such as nail biting and cuticle picking are strong signs of anxiety or depression in women. Try not to nag her to stop; this can just make it worse. Try taking her hand, gently squeeze or massage it, and then keep holding it.
You should be able to feel the tension leave her hand.

7: Her hands. Cold hands, warm heart. Does she always seem to have cold hands? Research shows that her hands are at least 3 degrees colder than yours. This drops even further when she is stressed. Women's bodies have been programmed to keep their body core temperatures warmer than their extremities. The best way to warm up her hands is to wrap your arms around her waist, thereby increasing her body core temperature and allowing the blood to flow back into her hands.

8: Her brain. Women's brains respond to alcohol differently to men's. While men lose their inhibitions with alcohol, women tend to become more sedated. If you want to get her in the party spirit you should turn up the music. Mid to fast tempo music will put her in the mood and have her feeling more sociable.

9: Her ovaries. Female sexual motivation is at its peak when she is ovulating. This occurs two weeks after her period started. When a woman is most fertile, she is most libidinous. Careful.

10: Her Hair. When a woman starts playing with her hair she is sending strong sexual body Language signals that she is available. Stroking her hair is a good sign, but the best of the lot is the hair flick. This is said to be the surest signal that she is sexually attracted to you.

11: Her Neck: Stroking her neck or playing with her necklace are also very strong flirting body language signs, By doing these things she is drawing attention to her breasts. Throats and necks are lover's only zones, and if she is also arching her neck the signal is even stronger.

12: Her Mouth: When a woman starts to think sexual thoughts, she touches her mouth. Licking her lips, sucking on the straw or spoon suggestively, and sticking things in her mouth are all indicators that she could be up for it. Eating, drinking, and smoking faster are also great body language gestures indicative of erotic thoughts.

Use your observation skills! Read those body language signals to seduce your lover.

Here's looking at you, Coco Swan.

วันอังคารที่ 6 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Sexy Body Language Tips for the First Date

You are on your first date with your dreamdate. Sexual body Language signals to tell you they are hot for you. Tips on flirting for the successful dating game.

1: Gazing adoringly. When attracted to someone, we all have problems shifting our gaze. Even when the object of our lust has ceased speaking, the lustful stare is still happening. To be a little provocative, use this to your advantage, and during a pause in conversation, keep your eyes on your date to the silent count of five. Conversely, the more often your date blinks, the more nervous they are.

2: Hands. Clenched fists, tightly knitted hands or hands pressed against the mouth indicate nervousness and tension. Worse still, is if their hands are holding up their head as this shows total boredom, or they are about to collapse with fatigue or alcohol. Anxious people tend to
hold their own hands or fidget with objects on the table. Hands placed openly with palms facing upwards on the table indicate a more relaxed open person. If you are terribly nervous, try having your hands loosely clasped on the table, as this gives off better vibes than gripping your fingers together or folding your arms. Placing your hands on your chest while speaking makes you appear lively and truthful.

3: Volume of speech. If they consider you their equivalent, their tone won't be too high or too low. Very loud voices tend to belong to dominant personalities and very soft veer to the meek.

4: Subconscious autoerotic touching. Sexy thinking leads us to subconsciously touch ourselves, for several reasons. Firstly, to gain attention to various body parts. Guys and girls will both stroke their lips and girls will rub their upper arms, thighs, hips and waists. Secondly, we touch ourselves to tease the other. Thirdly, when sexually excited, blood is rushing around engorging extremities, making everything supersensitive. Touching ourselves then feels good.

5: Mouth. A very strong sexual body Language gesture is when your date starts to eat, drink or smoke faster. Thinking about sex gets you touching your mouth. Putting things in your mouth can imply that you are interested sexually. Girls lick ice cream cones, play with spoons and suck their fingers.

6: Her Hair. Interested girls will start playing with their hair. Fluffing her hair, stroking her hair, and the strongest of all, the flick of the hair, are all body Language signals of availability or flirting. However, if she should start to hide behind her hair she is showing disinterest.

7: Fiddling Guys. As guys become more sexually excited they start to give off their own flirting signals. These can include rubbing his nose, playing with his tie, sliding rings over fingers, and fiddling with loose coins in his pocket. Adjusting his hair is a sign that he is wanting to look good for you.

8:Checking out your butt. If you catch your date checking out your butt when you leave the table to visit the bar or bathroom, then they are having lustful thoughts.

9: Symbolically stripping. Undoing buttons, loosening ties, removing jackets and pushing up sleeves are all strong sexual body Language gestures. Publicly undressing without realizing it ,is mother nature's way of getting us naked with someone we share sexual chemistry with.

10: Touching. Unsure where the date is going? Try the touch test. Touch their hand, arm or shoulder. Unless they are shy, they should return the touch within 10 minutes if they like you.
On a good first date , there should be three sets of touching for three seconds each time.

11: The wineglass. The date is a winner if he is rubbing the rim of his glass with his fingers. Likewise, if she is stroking her glass up and down. If she is also making direct eye contact and playing with her straw she is definitely flirting. However, wine glasses held at chest height or higher are a sign that there will not be a second date. Likewise, if your date wraps both their hands around their glass.
The wineglass test. This is a great subconscious body language test to gauge that first date. Start playing with an object from your side of the table eg: wineglass, spoon etc. Lean forward just slightly and subtly move it just onto your date's side of the table. Remove your hands, lean back and keep talking. If your date absentmindedly pushes it back to you they are not interested. If they leave it where it is, or hold it, you are in luck. To take it further, push another object their way and leave your arms on the table. The keen date will now lean forward as well and push something from their side of the table over to you.

12: Kiss, kiss. All these are strong signals that your date is receptive to a kiss: touching their mouth, licking their lips, putting their head close to yours, eating and drinking seductively, and tilting their head while looking at you.
Start the kiss with a soft light brush against their lips. If they pull back, clench their lips or slap your face, you should stop! If they lean in, part their lips or touch the back of your neck they are happy to continue.

The art of flirting through nonverbal communication has never been easier! Use this dating advice for interpreting body language and sending out your own sexual signals. Flirt that first date into a second date!

Happy Flirting! Coco Swan.

วันจันทร์ที่ 5 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Overcoming Communication Barriers Between People

When you send a message, you intend to communicate meaning, but the message itself doesn't contain meaning. The meaning exists in your mind and in the mind of your receiver. To understand one another, you and your receiver must share similar meanings for words, gestures, tone of voice, and other symbols.

1. Differences in perception

The world constantly bombards us with information: sights, sounds, scents, and so on. Our minds organize this stream of sensation into a mental map that represents our perception or reality. In no case is the perception of a certain person the same as the world itself, and no two maps are identical. As you view the world, your mind absorbs your experiences in a unique and personal way. Because your perceptions are unique, the ideas you want to express differ from other people's Even when two people have experienced the same event, their mental images of that event will not be identical. As senders, we choose the details that seem important and focus our attention on the most relevant and general, a process known as selective perception. As receivers, we try to fit new details into our existing pattern. If a detail doesn't quite fit, we are inclined to distort the information rather than rearrange the pattern.

2. Incorrect filtering

Filtering is screening out before a message is passed on to someone else. In business, the filters between you and your receiver are many; secretaries, assistants, receptionists, answering machines, etc. Those same gatekeepers may also 'translate' your receiver's ideas and responses before passing them on to you. To overcome filtering barriers, try to establish more than one communication channel, eliminate as many intermediaries as possible, and decrease distortion by condensing message information to the bare essentials.

3. Language problems

When you choose the words for your message, you signal that you are a member of a particular culture or subculture and that you know the code. The nature of your code imposes its own barriers on your message. Barriers also exist because words can be interpreted in more than one way. Language is an arbitrary code that depends on shared definitions, but there's a limit to how completely any of us share the same meaning for a given word. To overcome language barriers, use the most specific and accurate words possible. Always try to use words your audience will understand. Increase the accuracy of your messages by using language that describes rather than evaluates and by presenting observable facts, events, and circumstances.

4. Poor listening

Perhaps the most common barrier to reception is simply a lack of attention on the receiver's part. We all let our minds wander now and then, regardless of how hard we try to concentrate. People are essentially likely to drift off when they are forced to listen to information that is difficult to understand or that has little direct bearing on their own lives. Too few of us simply do not listen well! To overcome barriers, paraphrase what you have understood, try to view the situation through the eyes of other speakers and resist jumping to conclusions. Clarify meaning by asking non-threatening questions, and listen without interrupting.

5. Differing emotional states

Every message contains both a content meaning, which deals with the subject of the message, and a relationship meaning, which suggests the nature of the interaction between sender and receiver. Communication can break down when the receiver reacts negatively to either of these meanings. You may have to deal with people when they are upset or when you are. An upset person tends to ignore or distort what the other person is saying and is often unable to present feelings and ideas effectively. This is not to say that you should avoid all communication when you are emotionally involved, but you should be alert to the greater potential for misunderstanding that accompanies aroused emotions. To overcome emotional barriers, be aware of the feelings that arise in your self and in others as you communicate, and attempt to control them. Most important, be alert to the greater potential for misunderstanding that accompanies emotional messages.

6. Differing backgrounds

Differences in background can be one of the hardest communication barriers to overcome. Age, education, gender, social status, economic position, cultural background, temperament, health, beauty, popularity, religion, political belief, even a passing mood can all separate one person from another and make understanding difficult. To overcome the barriers associated with differing backgrounds, avoid projecting your own background or culture onto others. Clarify your own and understand the background of others, spheres of knowledge, personalities and perceptions and don't assume that certain behaviors mean the same thing to everyone.

If you would like to get custom-made advice about your communication problems, please feel free to email me at martinmim21@hotmail.com All requests will be handled professionally and your communication problem will be handled in strict confidence.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 4 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Cute Boyfriend Quotes - 15 Romantic Love Quotes

There's nothing like young love, I'm sure you agree.

Cute boyfriends quotes and romantic love quotes are truly important to a young person's experience - in fact, important to each and every one of us. So, I've gathered 15 quotes that you can use to let him or her know how much you care, or how much you are in the throes of passion, or to just convey how cute and adorable he or she is.

Leave a handwritten note under the pillow or hide the quotations in his gym bag. For her you can place romantic sayings in her lingerie drawer.


"Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever."

~Unknown

"Within you, I lose myself. Without you,
I find myself wanting to be lost again."

~Unknown

"I love you not because of who you are,
but because of who I am when I am with you."

~Unknown
"All I can do is smile as I watch you lay sleeping".

~Unknown

"If love is a Language of the heart, my heart speaks volumes"

~P. Colby

"Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things."

~Corinthians 13:4-8

"How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and
height my soul can reach."

~Elizabeth Barrett browning

"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be."

~Robert Browning

"Thank you for your sweet, sweet love

You'll never truly know

Just how happy that you make me

And how much I love you so."

~Unknown

"You are all that I have longed for

You have made my dreams come true.

There is no greater gift to have

Than being loved by you."

~Unknown

"Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?"

~Christopher Marlowe

"Made up my mind to make a new start.

Going to California with an aching in my heart.

Someone told me there's a girl out there

With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair. "

~Led Zeppelin - Goin' to California

"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven."

~Karen Sunde

"Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away;

and all the things I want to say can find no voice.

Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart."

~Robert Sexton

"I become a waterwheel, turning and tasting you, as long as water moves."
~Rumi

These quotes whether cute boyfriend quotes or just plain romantic love quotes, capture the soul of passion itself. Feel free to use them to light your lover's torch or as a modern day love potion, just remember to pay tribute to the author, when listed, whose words are served as inspiration.

วันศุกร์ที่ 2 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

What is a Communicative Approach to English Language Teaching?

A Communicative Approach?

There are a variety of approaches to teaching English as a second or foreign Language. One aspect of English and foreign Language teaching involves using a Communicative Approach. But what exactly does using a communicative approach mean?

Well for me, a Communicative Approach to Language teaching includes several distinct aspects. We'll mention two of them here. Applying these aspects means that language teaching and learning become far more than a series of grammar lessons and vocabulary lists. For language teaching and learning to be truly communicative, it must not only be in context, but used to convey ideas, preferences, thoughts, feelings and information in a way that is addressed to reach others. Usually, I address communicative language teaching through the use of two approaches:

o Content-Based Instruction (CBI)

o Task-Based language teaching (TBLT)

Definitions of CBI vs. TBL in ELT

In CBI (Widdowson, 1978), the focus of classes is not on the language and structure itself, but rather on learners acquiring skills or knowledge using English as the language of instruction. If you teach a learner how to repair computers, for example, and use English as the language of instruction, the learners improve their language communicative skills while learning foremost the skill of computer repair.

Task-Based Learning in ELT

In the TBLT approach (Willis, 1996), the focus is on providing communicative activities needed for English language learning, performing tasks using the target language (English) and using the English language in other ways for learning tasks. Examples would be having learners buy postage to mail a letter by first teaching them the structures and language needed to perform the task, then actually having them do it. Another example would be teaching learners the needed English to order a meal in a restaurant, or make a shopping purchase, then allowing them to complete such tasks on their own using unguided or free speech.

In the publication, "Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching" by Jack C. Richards and Theodore S. Rodgers (CUP, 2001) more than a dozen approaches to ELT are explored in depth. From the now defunct Grammar-Translation and Situational approaches to Total Physical Response (TPR), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Lexical approaches to the Communicative approaches, the Natural approach and Cooperative Learning, English and foreign language teachers world wide have a much greater language teaching approach repertoire than ever before.

So, what's it going to be then?