Should Programming be Considered a Foreign Language?

I believe language is the communication between people. I believe language was created in order to advance as a society and progress to create a better future. Language is a way people communicate, both verbal and non verbal, using body language and gestures. Language should be a dialogue, with either party having zero control or knowledge about the response of the other. There has to be a message that can be decoded and unraveled. Language also can be written and/or spoken to be considered a language. 

Scholars have had many discussions about whether Programming should be considered a language. I personally as an English Language student do not agree with those that believe it should be considered for a foreign language credit just as Spanish or French are. Language should be person to person, and also be able to be personal and unique. As much as I find Programming interesting and something I have learned a little bit of, it is more in the field of Math and Science if anything. I would even say that you use a different part of your brain when learning and retaining information on how to code. 

I learned something startling in class on Monday. American Sign Language was not allowed to be taken as a foreign language in some areas (at universities). I believe ASL is as unique and similar to learning any other language. ASL is versatile, personal, and fascinating. There is not a universal form of Sign Language, which makes learning it in other languages that much more challenging and intriguing. Sign Language also has a vast community, thus making others want to learn ASL and immerse themselves within the Deaf culture. 

People and Scholars need to stop letting their opinions get in the way of facts and evidence. Programming is not a language, it relies on the native language to operate. American Sign Language is indeed like other languages where it has a culture, community, and can be person to person.

Field Observation of Penny

As a student studying how to be a Linguist, I have since done an experiment with a one and a half year old. In the form of questions and statements, I tried to see how many words Penny would say along with the way on which she would say them. Shy at first, Penny only wanted to eat her Fruit Loops, so I asked her something easy. While holding out 2 different colored Fruit Loops, I asked her which one was blue and she grabbed the blue one which I would consider a success. Penny did not use any words, but the comprehension was indeed there.

She was indeed shy so there was not any babbling, mostly silence and looking around. Penny knows what a lion is, and it is also a yellow and orange figure, so she tends to overgeneralize calling "lion" to things that are the same color. She pronounces "lion" and "guy" flawlessly; most likely because they are short words and possibly her favorite objects in the group of toys she plays with. Penny also makes animal noises to associate with other animals such as a cat, lion, or dinosaur.

Let's preserve the "Baby Talk" language, no oppression!

One of the tough words Penny said almost perfect was alligator. She broke up the word into three different parts and said it slowly. Some of the letters in her phrases fade out at the end, such as "Kitty Cat", it turns into"Kitty Ca". Penny also conveys her knowledge of names of her toys by doing motions such as a monkey scratching under armpits motion, and a lion paw scratching motion.

As Penny became more comfortable with the class of college students, she started using telegraphics, for example, saying "a guy" and "a lion". She learned how to say "Peace Out" and rhino as well, which shows she was making progress towards the end of the 50 minute class period. When working with any toddler age child, there are things that factor into the results you are going to get. For example, if Penny ate breakfast, needs to go potty, the time of day, general mood, types of toys she had available, and the type of people in the audience as well as how they are seated. If she didn't get sick that morning, maybe she would feel better to be more cooperative, and also maybe she isn't on her "a-game" in the morning and the afternoon would be the best time to communicate.   My conclusion of this experiment is overall very good, Penny learned 2 new words/phrases, although she needs assistance with over-generalization and maybe more practice naming her toys to distinguish them that way instead of by color, and even then she would be able to incorporate telegraphics frequently.

Considering my nephew is two and a half, and commonly likes to use grunts and motions to explain what he is trying to convey, I would like to be able to teach him a few words that would be really useful in his daily dialogue. I would even consider getting him to use telegraphics on a common basis instead of him responding with one word at a time.

What the Heck is GULZZUM?

Gulzzum- Verb. (3rd person present)

Forms: gulzzum, gulzzuming, gulzzumed

Pronounced (phonetically):  ɡəlzzəm
synonyms: Choke, gag, cough, "went down the wrong pipe".

1. The act of a person choking/ spitting up a liquid to the point where their face turns red.
"Quick, someone help Tom, hes gulzzuming! I think it was from the soda."

2. To fill or obstruct.
"The paste was gulzzumed between the two cracks of the wall"

3. To be engulfed in an emotion or overwhelmed in a negative way.
"I just gulzzumed reading that rejection e-mail."


Originally, gulzzum meant just to choke in general, but since the "gul" sounds like gulp, it was changed to only refer to liquids. There is no other word in the English Dictionary that is specific enough to imply what the person is choking on. This is especially important if someone needs specific help medically. Lifeguards especially and anyone in the medical field can use this word because the procedures to clear the airway would in turn, change. Deriving from the Old English form, gulz (ɡəlz) meaning "to swallow" in turn changed into "to choke/get stuck" after the Middle Ages, more specifically during the Renaissance.

Movie Review 3 "Idiocracy"

Idocracy is an extrememly thought out and artistic interpretation of what the future of society may look like. Similar to scenes from the movie Wall-E. This film shows a totally dramatized view of how people will live. In this film humanity does not have to do anything themselves, even basic thinking. Many people do not know how to do math or even cook without the assistance of technology. I would recommend this to anybody because it confirms the notion that America is the fattest country. Everyone should enjoy this movie simply because it gives you the actual visual to the idea that technology will rule the world and nobody will be able to think for themselves. After taking an IQ test Joe who is from another time period, is named not sure after answering a question "incorrectly". Military experiment gone wrong...definitely should be put on your "to watch list".

Short Review 2 "Identity Thief"

Identity Thief   is a film that I could say that I could have gone without watching. The main male character named Sandy Patterson who lives an incredibly boring life thus making the notion of his identity being stolen not exciting at all, considering there is nothing on the line for him to lose. The character stealing Sandy Patterson's identity named Debbie, is actually very interesting considering she is buying things most people would if they were to win the lottery. Not surprisingly, she also had people on her back for more financial reasons, although the extremes that were taken by the enemy characters was extremely unrealistic and pushed me away from wanting to find out what happens even more...mostly because it is easy to predict the plot. Overall the movie was not very funny and I would not recommend it if you are looking for a quick laugh. I expected better from the movie and it's actors.

Short Film Review 1 "This Is 40"

This Is 40  is a film that caters to the parents of the world, dealing with children, family, your romantic relationship with your spouse, your health, and your finances. This may sound normal, but there is nothing normal about this family who on the outside seems like a normal happy family. Debbie (Leslie Mann) and Pete (Paul Rudd) play a couple who is slightly discombobulated and disconnected from one another. As most married couples know, it is not easy to balance your family and work along with a successful and blossoming marriage.

The married couple has little quirks about themselves. Pete, is addicted to eating cupcakes and it annoys Debbie, wanting her husband to be healthier for their family now that they are 40, needing to make better choices to prolong their life. On the other hand, Debbie secretly smokes cigarettes, which also annoys Pete. This comedy shows how even if there doesn't seem to be a balance in life, you can get through your most stressful times if you open up to your loved ones and work as a team. If there is one thing to take away from this film, don't have kids because they seemingly make life hectic when it doesn't have to be. "Accidents" are almost at a constant throughout this film, providing drama and comedy at its finest.

Movie Review for "Why We Ride" (Critical Review)

I have just recently watched the movie "Why We Ride" as I enjoy riding passenger with my boyfriend on his motorcycles, and I am involved and interested in the culture itself. Little did I know that the people featured in this film are not just riders, but addicted to riding. It is easy for me to understand why. Despite the fact that I ride as passenger, I can easily relate to these people based upon how they describe their riding experience not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically. This film magically reaches out to all people, whether they ride or not, involving an element that is persuasive, making the audience addicted to the thrill and community that riding brings.

Why We Ride is a documentary that brings forward new angles of viewing motorcycles and the people riding them. There are scenes highlighting the rider, passenger, and spectators point of view, with narrations as to how each person is influenced by this culture. The people the choose for particular interviews are of all age ranges and are both men and women. Different from motorcycle riding being just a hobby or a thrill, it was described as something they cannot live without in their life, and more importantly it would not shape them the same way if they weren't riding. Many parents shown in the documentary describe motorcycle riding as a discipline element  for their children whether it be to get them to learn a skill or something to take away as a disciplinary action, not letting them ride.

The sense of community is ever prevalent in the documentary, showing that there is a sense of unity unlike automobile drivers. The friendly wave to the other motorcyclist is a commonality and shows the camaraderie between family, friends, and even people you don't know that pass you on a bike. Riding is more than it seems to the outside community to people who do not ride. For example, riding tends to make people more social. You can start out riding alone, and then notice another biker going the same way as you, and along the way make a life long friend.

Most people forget about the numerous generations of the motorcycle. Therefore, if you are a rider watching this documentary you can learn  about the different types of motorcycles and how they have evolved along with the rider throughout time. The images used in this documentary make the viewer feel as if they are in the action and part of it, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment and importance, provoking you to start riding and enjoy everything motorcycling has to offer such as physical, emotional, and psychological release with the great bonus of becoming part of the biking community.