Translation Tools

Translation tools have evolved significantly over the years, helping both human translators and automated systems improve the efficiency and accuracy of language translation. These tools range from machine translation systems to specialized software designed to support human translators in their work. Below is an overview of various translation tools and their functions.

Machine Translation (MT)

Machine translation refers to the use of computer systems to automatically translate text from one language to another. It emerged in the 1950s, but early systems were rudimentary and had limited capabilities. With advancements in computing power, software, and artificial intelligence, machine translation has significantly improved, especially since the 2000s. Modern machine translation can handle basic to complex translation tasks with varying degrees of accuracy.

Approaches to Machine Translation

Machine translation has evolved through different approaches, each with its own methodology and level of effectiveness:

Rule-Based Machine Translation (RBMT)

1. • This approach relies on predefined linguistic rules and bilingual dictionaries to perform translations.
   • It is particularly useful for specific industries where terminology needs to be consistent, such as legal or medical translations.
   • However, RBMT requires extensive manual rule creation and maintenance, making it less flexible than other modern approaches.

2. Statistical Machine Translation (SMT)

   • SMT emerged as a more data-driven approach, analyzing large volumes of existing human translations to identify statistical patterns.
   • Instead of relying on predefined rules, it calculates the most probable translation based on previously translated texts.
   • While it improved over time, SMT often struggled with context, idiomatic expressions, and linguistic nuances.

3. Neural Machine Translation (NMT)

   • NMT is the most advanced form of machine translation, using artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques inspired by the human brain.
   • It relies on artificial neural networks to understand and generate translations in a way that mimics human linguistic patterns.
   • NMT has significantly improved translation quality, especially in handling context, syntax, and natural-sounding language. Examples include Google Translate and DeepL.

Translation Memory Systems (TMS)

Translation memory systems are databases that store previously translated segments, such as sentences, paragraphs, or phrases. When a translator works on a new document, the system suggests previously translated content that matches or closely resembles the current text. This helps improve consistency, speed, and efficiency in translation work, especially for repetitive or standardized content.

Terminology Management Systems (TMS)

Terminology management involves systematically collecting, organizing, and maintaining a standardized set of terms along with their definitions. This ensures consistency across translations, particularly in specialized fields like legal, medical, or technical translations. By maintaining a structured glossary, translators can avoid inconsistencies and ensure accurate translations of industry-specific terms.

Word Processors

Word processing software plays a fundamental role in translation by providing tools for text input, editing, and formatting. Commonly used word processors include:

• LibreOffice Writer – A free, open-source word processor.
• Microsoft Word – A widely used commercial software with advanced formatting and editing tools.
• Google Docs – A cloud-based word processor that allows for real-time collaboration and accessibility.

Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Tools

CAT tools are designed to assist human translators by integrating various technological features that enhance efficiency and accuracy. Unlike machine translation, where translation is fully automated, CAT tools support human translators in the process. Features include:

• Translation memory integration
• Terminology management
• Segment-by-segment translation assistance
• Quality assurance checks

Popular CAT tools include SDL Trados, MemoQ, and Wordfast.

AI translation tools have revolutionized the way we approach language translation, providing fast and efficient solutions for translating text, speech, and even images across multiple languages. These tools primarily use advanced algorithms and deep learning techniques to generate translations. Some of the leading AI-powered translation tools include:

1. Google Translate: A widely used tool that supports over 100 languages and offers translations for text, voice, and images in real-time.
2. DeepL: Known for providing high-quality, contextually accurate translations, especially for complex sentence structures, though it supports fewer languages than Google Translate.
3. Smartling: A cloud-based platform combining machine translation with human post-editing, making it suitable for businesses needing scalable translations.
4. Gemini: Google's multimodal AI that combines text, voice, and image translation with deeper contextual understanding.

Limitations of AI translation tools

AI translation tools have improved greatly, but they still have several limitations. They often struggle with context, making mistakes in idioms, cultural references, and nuanced meanings. Specialized fields like medicine, law, and technology require precise terms that AI may misinterpret. Grammar and syntax errors can make translations sound unnatural or awkward. Since AI models learn from large datasets, they may have biases, leading to errors in less common languages. Privacy concerns are another issue, as many online tools store user data, making them risky for sensitive information. Despite these challenges, AI translation tools remain useful, though human oversight is still needed for accuracy.

Conclusion

Translation tools have revolutionized the way translations are performed, making the process faster, more efficient, and more accurate. While machine translation has made significant advancements, human translators still play a crucial role in ensuring contextual accuracy, cultural relevance, and idiomatic fluency. The integration of translation memory systems, terminology management, and CAT tools continues to enhance the quality of translations across different industries

References:

Giuseppe Palumbo. Key Terms in Translation Studies. continuum International Publishing Group, 2009. 

Koehn, P. (2020). Neural Machine Translation. Cambridge University Press.
Vashee, K. (2019). "The State of Machine Translation: Where We Are and Where We’re Headed."Multilingual Magazine. 

Pym, A. (2010). Exploring Translation Theories. Routledge.

 

Types of Translations

Translation is the process of converting text or speech from one language to another while preserving its meaning, style, and intent. It plays a crucial role in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps, enabling effective communication across diverse societies. Over time, scholars have categorized translation into different types, each serving a specific purpose.

 

Roman Jakobson’s Three Types of Translation

Intralingual Translation: Rewriting or paraphrasing within the same language. This is commonly used for summarizing or simplifying complex text.

Example: Explaining an object’s function in simpler terms, such as "This is a fork; you use it to put food in your mouth."

 

Interlingual Translation: Translating from one language to another while maintaining meaning and cultural adaptation.

Example: The Italian phrase "Sta Piovere a Catinelle" literally means "It’s raining basins/sinks," but a translator would render it as "It’s raining cats and dogs."

 

Intersemiotic Translation: Converting text into another form of communication, such as adapting a novel into a film or representing numerical data graphically.

Example: Turning a novel into a movie or transforming written instructions into infographics.

 

Juliane House’s Translation Types

Overt Translation: Stays faithful to the original text, retaining its cultural context. Readers recognize it as a translation. Such translations are used in literary, historical, religious, and academic texts.

Covert Translation: Feels like an original text in the target culture. It is adapted for the audience and commonly used in advertisements, technical manuals, and journalism.

 

Peter Newmark’s Translation Approaches

Semantic Translation: Focuses on accuracy and cultural fidelity. It is detailed, complex, and best suited for serious literature, autobiographies, or political statements.

 

Communicative Translation: Reader-focused and designed for clarity and simplicity. Such translations are smoother, simpler, clearer, and more direct. They are commonly used for non-literary, technical, and informative texts.

 

Christiane Nord’s Models

Instrumental Translation: Functions independently of the source text, adapting to cultural and linguistic norms. This type of translation is used in advertising, marketing, localization, and literary translation.

Example: A brand slogan translated to evoke emotions rather than a literal meaning.

 

Documentary Translation: Stays close to the original in structure and style, ensuring accuracy. Such translations are often used for legal, medical, and academic texts.

Example: Translating a research paper from French to English while preserving the academic tone and terminology.

 

Lawrence Venuti’s Strategies

Domestication: produces fluent, natural translations by adapting cultural references to fit the target audience.

Example: In some African Bible translations, "lamb" is replaced with "goat" due to regional familiarity.

 

Foreignization: Retains foreign elements to provide an authentic cultural experience.

Example: Keeping terms like "samurai" or "bento" in English translations of Japanese novels instead of replacing them with English equivalents.

 

Conclusion

Translation is more than word-for-word conversion—it is about preserving meaning, intent, and cultural nuances. Different types of translation cater to various needs, from ensuring legal accuracy to making marketing messages resonate with a local audience. Understanding these approaches helps translators make informed decisions, ultimately enhancing cross-cultural communication.

References: 

    Giuseppe Palumbo. Key Terms in  Translation Studies. continuum International Publishing Group, 2009.

 

Translation-3

Student Showcase: Outstanding Translation Work by Semester 4 Students

I'm thrilled to share the exceptional work done by our Semester 4 students as part of their assignment activity. The task involved translating literary pieces from renowned writers into different languages, and we are impressed by the results.

The Assignment

Students were asked to translate two literary pieces:

1. The one-act play "Locust" by Satish Vyas from Gujarati to English.

2. The short story "Two Friends" by Guy De Maupassant from English to Hindi.

The Outcome

We are delighted to showcase the outstanding work done by our students. Their translations demonstrate exceptional language skills, cultural understanding, and literary appreciation.

Read Their Translations

You can access the links to their translated work under Comment section. 

We commend our students on their hard work and dedication. Their translations are a testament to their skills and knowledge, and we are proud to showcase their work.

Leave Your Feedback

We invite you to review and provide feedback on their work. Your comments and suggestions will help our students grow and improve.

Congratulations once again to our Semester 4 students on their outstanding achievement!

Ode on Solitude- Alexander Pope

Introduction: “Ode on Solitude” by Alexander Pope talks about a simple life close to nature. Pope's poem highlights the beauty of living in harmony with nature and finding happiness in life’s simple pleasures, away from the noise and bustle of the world.

About Poet: Alexander Pope(1633-1744) was an English Poet, Translator and major Satirist of enlightenment era. the poet is best known for his satirical works such as 'Rape of  the Lock' (1714) a mock heroic on elite 18th century English society, 'Essay on Criticism'(1711) A verse epistle on how writers and critics should perform in age of the commerce, 'The Dunciad' (1728-1743). he came to be known as 'Wasp of Twinkenham' because of his stinging satirical attacks on the famous people of the age, especially other writers.

Critical Analysis of the poem:

Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air,
In his own ground.

This first verse of ‘Ode on Solitude,’ seen through the life of an anonymous( man who is described as being an ideal for happiness. His deepest desires, the narrator notes, extend a few acres of his own land, where he is content to live and work. The inclusion of the word “parental” suggests that the land belongs to this man by inheritance and therefore belongs solely to him. “Content to breathe his native air” could also be a commentary on being happy with what a person has, rather than constantly wishing for more.

Blest! who can unconcern’dly find

Hours, days, and years slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind,

Quiet by day,

The narrator considered this farmer blessed! Time almost doesn’t have meaning for this man; his world provides for all of his needs. Hours go by, days go by, years go by, and everything remains the same.

Whose heards with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

This verse simply means that the man is self-sufficient. Whose cows provide him with milk, his crops with food, his sheep with clothing, and whose trees in the summer offer him shade and in the winter provide wood for fire.

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
Together mixed; sweet recreation;
And innocence, which most does please,
With meditation.

At night, the farmer can rest peacefully. In leisure hours, he remains free to study as he chooses and take pleasure in wholesome activities (“Sweet recreation”) which is depicted by the phrase “study and ease Together mixt”. “Innocence” and “meditation” suggest finding happiness in simple, pure thoughts and moments of reflection.So, having a mix of things to do and finding peace in quiet moments helps us feel happy and satisfied.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
 Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

According to the speaker, being seen and known by others is just a burden that gets in the way of this peace and happiness. The speaker thus prefers to live life “unseen [and] unknown” and hopes to die “unlamented” (that is, he doesn’t want to be mourned). For the speaker, life is better this way; the speaker can’t be disrupted by other people’s feelings if they don’t know that he exists!

Conclusion:  This "Ode" praises people who live simple and solitary lives, arguing that the happiest people are self-sufficient and unconcerned with the opinions or recognition of others. The poem ultimately suggests that people are most content when they learn to rely on themselves instead of others.

References:

1] Vallath by Dr. Kalyani Vallath. “Alexander Pope | E@6 Videopedia | TES | Kalyani Vallath | YouTube, 29 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKkmJ9x5EDM.

 2] Walker, Andrew. “Ode on Solitude by Alexander Pope.” Poem Analysis, 13 July 2024, poemanalysis.com/alexander-pope/ode-on-solitude.

3] “Ode on Solitude Poem Summary and Analysis | LitCharts.” LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/poetry/alexander-pope/ode-on-solitude.

3]

 

Translation Studies: History, Definition, And Scope

 Translation Studies: History, Definition, And Scope

Introduction:

Translation studies is an academic interdiscipline dealing with the systematic study of the theory, description and application of translation, interpreting, and localization. As an interdiscipline, translation studies borrow much from the various fields of study that support translation. These include comparative literature, computer science, history, linguistics, philology, philosophy, semiotics, and terminology.

The term "translation studies" was coined by the Amsterdam-based American scholar James S. Holmes in his 1972 paper "The name and nature of translation studies", which is considered a foundational statement for the discipline.(Wikipedia)

History of Translation:

Different theories surround translation throughout history, which gives insight into how, when, and where translation has been used. First, the word "translation" was derived from a Latin phrase that means "to bring or carry across." Second, another explaining phrase is "metaphrasis," which was derived from Ancient Greek, meaning "to speak across." Finally, from the word metaphrasis, the word metaphrase was derived to mean "word for word translation".

It is said that translation was done in the Mesopotamia era, where Gilgamesh (Sumerian poem) was translated into the Asian language. Other ancient translation works include Buddhist monks translating Indian texts into Chinese. Other ancient translated works include those carried out by Buddhist monks who translated Indian documents into Chinese. In later periods, Ancient Greek texts were also translated by Roman poets and were adapted to create developed literary works for entertainment. It is known that translation services were utilised in Rome by Cicero and Horace and that these uses were continued through to the 17th century, where newer practices were developed.

It is argued that the knowledge and findings of Greek academics was developed and understood so widely thanks to the translation work of Arabic scholars. When the Greeks were conquered, their works were taken in by Arabic scholars who translated them and created their own versions of the scientific, entertainment and philosophical understandings. These Arabic versions were later translated into Latin, during the Middle Ages, mostly throughout Spain and the resulting works provided the foundations of Renaissance academics. Religion played such a critical role in translation development that the church even names Saint Jerome as the patron saint of translation. Saint Jerome created a Latin bible in 4th century AD. 

 In some cases, working as a translator was incredibly dangerous and some even lost their lives because of their work. This included famous translators such as William Tyndale, who was executed in Holland in 1536 because he worked on translating the bible into English. Other famous translators include:

Chinese monk Xuanzang who in 645 AD was credited with having translated 74 volumes on Indian Buddhist scripts into Chinese.(Kwintessential)

Definition of Translation: 

Roman Jakobson, a leading linguist and noted expert in the subject of translation, defined translation as "the interpretation of verbal signs by means of some other language." Through this process of translation, texts in one language are transformed into texts in another language with the same meaning. These materials range from the isolated words in a language to the complex network of sentences of philosophical texts. 

Some scholars define translation as an art or craft and some others call it a science. It is called an art as all good translations are expressions of the creative urge of the translators. Likewise, it is a science because of the technical formalities and complexities involved in its process. 

Oxford University defines translation as ‘The process of translating words or text from one language into another:’ The Cambridge Dictionary also endorses that. This can mean the word to word rendering of the text in one language to another or replacing the equivalents of the words or phrases in one text to another. The translated text may have formal equivalence when the source text and the translated text look alike in form. It may have functional equivalence when the source text and the target text or translated text convey the same sense or perform the same function, though they have formal 4 differences. It is often seen that the idioms and usage of the source language creep into the target language through translations which often enrich and shape the target language.

 Translation is the communication of the meaning of a text in a source language (SL) into a comprehensive version of target language (TL) without causing any loss to the original message. It is often thought that if one is a bilingual s/he can be a good translator, which is not the truth. People having good communicative and writing experiences in both the languages can be good translators, which includes their being bilinguals. While translating, a translator discovers the meaning of a text behind the forms in the source language (SL) and reproduces the same meaning in the target language (TL) with the forms and structures available in the target language. The form changes but the meaning or sense or message remains the same. 

Nowadays we find translators using computers to translate one language into another, but human beings still play the major role in deciding the final output. While translating images/metaphors and emotive expressions in literary texts, computers cannot replace human beings. Translating is more than simply looking up a few words in a dictionary. We cannot confine translation to one or two definitions. It is elastic in nature and depends upon the person who does the translation. It differs from language to language, and from culture to culture. Hence it is not as easy as it is thought to be. While trying to be a different version of the original, it maintains its own uniqueness, an identity of its own. 

Scope of Translation

In the earlier days, translation was considered to be a sub-branch of linguistics. Gradually it developed into an inter-disciplinary field of study. In the last three decades of the 20th century Translation Studies started functioning as an autonomous branch of study. 

Today, in this age of globalization, the scope of translation is immense. It stretches from our immediate environment to every sphere of life. The significance and relevance of translation in our daily life is multidimensional and extensive. 

Translation helps us to know about the developments in the field of creative arts, education, literature, business, science and politics. It has shifted from the traditional conception of the fixed, stable and unchangeable nature of the text and its meaning to a text with wide scope for variations. 

In the post-modern word, translation has become so relevant that people visualize it as a socio-cultural bridge between communities and countries. People now feel the importance of interacting and remaining connected with the people of other socio-cultural communities, both in their respective countries as well as countries across the world. In this backdrop, translation has acquired an increasing importance and satisfies individual, societal and national needs. Let’s take the Indian society as an example. Whatever we see as Indian, be it literature, culture, history, politics, economics, it is a reality only because translation has made it possible for people to understand, interpret and compile the literature, culture, history, politics and economics of the respective states. In other words, we can say that it has become a unifying factor for the country. K Satchidandnandan, eminent poet, critic and former Secretary of the Sahitya Akaedmi, India has rightly said: “Translation has helped knit India together as a nation throughout her history. Ideas and concepts like 'Indian literature', 'Indian culture', 'Indian philosophy' and 'Indian knowledge systems' would have been impossible in the absence of translations with their natural integrationist mission.”

References:

1.Bassnett, Susan. (2002): Translation studies. London: Routledge. 

2. Cronin, Michael. (2003). Translation and globalization. London: Routledge. 

3. Holmes, James S. (1988): The Name and Nature of Translation Studies. In Holmes, J.S., Translated! Papers on Literary Translation and Translation Studies. Amsterdam: 

4. Munday, Jeremy (ed.) (2007): Translation as Intervention. London: Continuum.

 5. Nida, Eugene A. (1964). Toward a science of translating: With special reference to principles and procedures involved in Bible translating. Leiden: Brill. (p.11)

 6. Rodopi, 67-80. Reprinted e.g. in Venuti, L. (ed.) (2000), The Translation Studies Reader. London: Routledge, 172-185.

 7. Will, Frederic (1993). Translation: Theory and Pracitce-Resembling the Tower. The Edwin Mellen Press.P. 187. 

8. Wolf, Michaela/Fukari, Alexandra (eds.) (2007), Constructing a Sociology of Translation. Amsterdam: Benjamins. 

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation 

10. http://ezinearticles.com/?Translation---Significance-and-Scope &id=753318

 11. http://www.translationindia.com/ 

12. http://itaindia.org/

 13. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Translator-as-a-careeroption/articleshow/12893162.cms

 14. http://employmentnews.gov.in/Career_in_Translation.asp 

15. http://www.indiaeducation.net/careercenter/professional-courses/translators-interpreters/

 

Canonization by John Donne- Critical Analysis

Canonization by John Donne 

Introduction:

Canonization was first in 1633 in his posthumous Collection 'songs and Sonnets'. Poem is divided into Five stanzas of nine lines each. 'love' word appears in the first and the last line of each Stanza. Donne Composed 'the Canonization' after his marriage to Anne More.
Here the word “Canonization” means the act or process of changing an ordinary religious person into a saint in Catholic Christian religion. The title suggests that the poet and his beloved will become ‘saints of love’ in the future: and they will be regarded as saints of true love in the whole world in the future. In the poem, the poet demands the complainer to stop hindering their lives and leave them alone so that they can continue loving each other without any hindrance.

About the Poet: John Donne was born during the Elizabethan age in the year 1572 and lived through 17th century  till the year 1631. he was a roman catholic and he suffered because of that.at the end of his life he became Anglican priest, at this time he also gave sermons which also became popular. he wrote satires, elegies, holy sonnets. he developed a style which came to be known as 'Metaphysical Style'. Metaphysical style means- 'A vigorous, forceful style with conversational elements, often with shocking beginnings.' Donne applied the 'Carpe Diem' concept and syllogism. His well known poems are 'The canonization' 'The relic', 'The sun Rising'. his holy sonnets include 'Death be not |Proud', 'Better my heart'.

Critical Analysis of the poem Canonization:

"For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsy, or my gout,
My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place,
Observe his honor, or his grace, Or the king’s real, or his stampèd face..."

In stanza one, the annoyed lover is giving unnamed person or reader multiple suggestions . He addresses this verse to a complainer. Apparently, he wants to say that one should keep himself busy by doing appropriate work rather than keeping a check on him and his lover. The lover tells the complainer that he can make fun of him as he is suffering from diseases and has grey hair but he won’t gain anything by that. He says that he can criticize his ill health but not his tendency to love. He questions the complainer why doesn’t he work and improve his lifestyle or make some money instead of disturbing or interfering with their lives.

The second stanza contains the elaborate metaphysical aspects of the poem.

"Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?
What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned?
Who says my tears have overflowed his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veins fill
Add one more to the plaguy bill?..".

in the next stanza of poem speaker is posing a rhetoric questions. The lovers are not making any war or spreading diseases in society. They respect others’ property. The poet wants to say that his love injures nobody. It’s harmless. The lover is tactful, full of emotion and witty. He says, his sighs are not responsible for the flood or floating off the ground. Spring won’t go away due to his coldness. Nature has its natural course and the lovers are not harming it. The heat in his vanish has not increased the number of people who die of plague. His love is harmless. The lover says that the soldiers are doing their duty by going to war and the lawyers by fighting cases in court. But what the lover wants is to love his partner.

"....Call her one, me another fly,
We’re tapers too, and at our own cost die,
And we in us find the eagle and the dove.
The phœnix riddle hath more wit
By us; we two being one, are it.
So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit.
We die and rise the same,.."

The lover is making comparison in third stanza  using devices such as Simile and metaphors. Poet does not care if he is called by any name because love has made them so. He says that they are like flies. They have a very short existence. He presumes the life to be short, just like the candle. He compares himself to an Eagle and his lover to a Dove, they are complementary to each other. They love each other from the bottom of their heart. According to the lover, the riddle of Phoenix is their existence. They have two bodies, but they are one. Like the Phoenix, they die and they rise from their ashes.

"We can die by it, if not live by love,

We can die by it, if not live by love,

And if unfit for tombs and hearse

Our legend be, it will be fit for verse

....We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms

And by these hymns, all shall approve

Us canonized for Love"

The poet begins with the thought that, if they cannot live by love, they can die by it. He further says that if their love is not for tombs and hearses, they will find their place in poetry. So basically, they will find their place in the love sonnets. He says that he and his lover will be canonized by his love.He believes love doesn’t die on death. If it is a platonic or desirable love, then it tends to exist even after death. Both their ashes will be amalgamated or merged if kept together.

".....Countries, towns, courts: beg from above

A pattern of your love!”

In the final stanza of ‘The Canonization', John Donner wants to reflect their ideal pattern of love. He says that they will be declared saints and will rewarded sainthood of Love. The lover also says that all the lovers will beg their pattern of love. People from various countries, towns and courts will be praising their love pattern and will ideally follow it.

Conclusion

Thus now we can say that “The Canonization” by John Donne describes a transcendent love that eventually evolves into the idealized base life for all other aspiring

References:

“The Canonization by John Donne | Poetry Foundation.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44097/the-canonization. Accessed 10 July 2024.

Singh, Varhsa. “The Canonization By John Donne | Canonization Poem Summary.” English Literature | English Literature Zone | Free Literature Notes, 14 Apr. 2024, englishliteraturezone.com/the-canonization-by-john-donne. Accessed 9 July 2024.

Vallath by Dr. Kalyani Vallath. “John Donne  | E@6 Videopedia | TES | Kalyani Vallath | NTA NET, K SET, G SET, WB SET, GATE, J SET.” YouTube, 19 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICbs0L-2Ob

English language during Old English Period

 Origin of English Language: The English language is a West Germanic language that originated in England. It is the third most spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. English has been influenced by several other languages over the centuries, including Old Norse, Latin, French, and Dutch. The English language has a rich and complex history, evolving over centuries through various influences. It originated from the Germanic tribes who invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries, bringing with them what we now call Old English. Over time, Old English evolved, absorbing vocabulary and influences from Latin (through the Roman occupation of Britain) and Old Norse (through Viking invasions), among others.

The Different Periods of the English Language

The English language has gone through distinct periods throughout its history. Different aspects of the language have changed throughout time, such as grammar, vocabulary, spelling, etc.

The Old English period (5th-11th centuries), Middle English period (11th-15th centuries), and Modern English period (16th century to present) are the three main divisions in the history of the English language.

Let's take a closer look at each one:

Old English Period: The English language has undergone significant grammatical changes over the centuries, reflecting its evolution and adaptation to various influences. began in 449 AD with the arrival of three Germanic tribes from the Continent: The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. They settled in the south and east of Britain, which was then inhabited by the Celts. The Anglo-Saxons had their language, called Old English, which was spoken from around the 5th century to the 11th century.

Old English was a Germanic language, and as such, it was very different from the Celtic languages spoken by the Britons. It was also a very different language from the English we speak today. It was a highly inflected language, meaning that words could change their form depending on how they were being used in a sentence. There are four known dialects of the Old English language:

1. ·         Northumbrian in northern England and southeastern Scotland,
2. ·        Mercian in central England,
3. ·        Kentish in southeastern England,
4. ·        West Saxon in southern and southwestern England.

Old English grammar also had a complex system, with five main cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental), three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter), and two numbers (singular and plural).

The Anglo-Saxons also had their own alphabet, which was known as the futhorc. The futhorc consisted of 24 letters, most of which were named after rune symbols. However, they also borrowed the Roman alphabet and eventually started using that instead.

The vocabulary was also quite different, with many words being borrowed from other languages such as Latin, French, and Old Norse. The first account of Anglo-Saxon England ever written is from 731 AD – a document known as the Venerable Bede's ‘Ecclesiastical History of the English People’, which remains the single most valuable source from this period.

Another one of the most famous examples of Old English literature is the epic poem Beowulf, which was written sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries. By the end of the Old English period at the close of the 11th century, West Saxon dominated, resulting in most of the surviving documents from this period being written in the West Saxon dialect.

The Old English period was a time of great change for Britain. In 1066, the Normans invaded England and conquered the Anglo-Saxons. The Normans were originally Viking settlers from Scandinavia who had settled in France in the 10th century. They spoke a form of French, which was the language of the ruling class in England after the Norman Conquest.

The Old English period came to an end in 1066 with the Norman Conquest. However, Old English continued to be spoken in some parts of England until the 12th century. After that, it was replaced by Middle English. (A Brief History of the English Language: From Old English to Modern Days)

Bottom Line: Overall, the Old English period was characterized by a highly inflected language with complex grammatical structures. It laid the foundation for the subsequent development of Middle and Modern English, influencing vocabulary, syntax, and grammar in profound ways. Despite its differences from contemporary English, Old English remains a fascinating linguistic legacy, offering insights into the evolution of the English language over time.

To appear in an online quiz on Old and Middle English Period, Click here

References

A Brief History of the English Language: From Old English to Modern Days. (n.d.). Retrieved from Langster: https://langster.org/en/blog/a-brief-history-of-the-english-language-from-old-english-to-modern-days

(ChatGPT, personal communication, February 11, 2024).

 

 

 

Comparative analysis of story The Heathen and life of Pi movie

This blog is a classroom task assigned to Students to check their understanding. Students shall compare and contrast the story Heathen with Movie life of pie. 

"The Heathen" is a short story by the American writer Jack London. It was first published in Everybody's Magazine in August 1910In the story, two people, from different cultural and racial backgrounds, are the only survivors of a ship that encounters a hurricane in the Pacific, and they remain together.

Life of Pi is a Canadian philosophical novel by Yann Martel published in 2001.The protagonist is Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, an Indian boy, He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger which raises questions about the nature of reality and how it is perceived and told.later in the year 2012 it was adapted into a movie directed and produced by Ang Lee and written by David Magee.

To Watch the movie click here:

Post viewing task

(Give responses to these questions in the comment section below this blog-post)

1. What similarities and differences did you found between the story and Movie? 

2. How far does the character of Otto and Richard Parker is influential in character development of protagonist? 

3.Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?

4. What is the role of religion in both movie and story? 

5.Was there any particular scene or moment in the movie that you will cherish lifetime?

Book Review: Totto-Chan The little girl at the Window

શીર્ષક: તોત્તો-ચાન

લેખક: તેત્સુકો કુરોયાનાગી

અનુવાદ: રમણ સોની

મૂળ જાપાની ભાષામાં લખાયેલું  આ પુસ્તક બીજી અનેક ભાષાઓમાં અનુવાદિત થયેલ છે. 

તોતો-ચાન પુસ્તક ની નાયિકા તેત્સુકો કુરોયાનાગીએ પોતાના શાળા- જીવનના સંસ્મરણો અને સત્ય ઘટનાઓ નાની નાની પ્રસંગ કથાઓ રૂપે રજૂ કરી છે. વાત છે નાયિકા તેત્સુકો કુરોયાનાગી એટલે કે તોતો-ચાનની 'ખરાબ, નઠોર છોકરી' માંથી 'તું સાચે જ ખૂબ સારી છોકરી છે' સુધીની સફર. 

નટખટ, ચંચળ અને જીજ્ઞાસુ તોતો-ચાનના મનમાં  'તોમોએ' નામની નવી શાળાના બે ઝાડનું બનેલું પ્રવેશદ્વાર તથા રેલવેના ડબ્બામાં ચાલતા વર્ગખંડ જોઈને આનંદ તથા અચરજનુ મોજું ફરી વળે છે. શાળાના હેડમાસ્તર  કોબાયાશી ખૂબ જ પ્રેમાળ અને કલ્પનાશીલ હતા. બાળકોને મુકત વાતાવરણ અને સમતોલ આહાર મળે એની ખાસ કાળજી લેતા હતા. શ્રી કોબાયાશીના જાપાન અને અમેરીકાના યુધ્ધની વિષમ પરિસ્થિતિમાં પણ શાળાનું વાતાવરણ જીવંત અને ભયમુક્ત રહે એવા પ્રયત્ન રહેતા. 

ઈ.સ. ૧૯૪૫ માં ટોકિયો પર હવાઈ હુમલો થયેલો ત્યારે આગ લાગેલી ને એમાં તોમોએ શાળા ભસ્મીભૂત થઈ ગયેલી, ત્યારે શ્રી કોબાયાશી ફરી પોતાની આદર્શ શાળા સ્થાપવાનું સ્વપ્ન સેવે છે પરંતુ એ સ્વપ્ન વાસ્તવિકતા માં પરિણમે એ પહેલાં ઓગણસિત્તેરની વયે અવસાન પામે છે, પરંતુ શ્રી કોબાયાશી, એમનો સ્નેહાળ સ્વભાવ અને અનેરી શિક્ષણ પધ્ધતિ એમના વિધ્યાર્થીઓમા  તથા એમની જ વિધ્યાર્થી દ્વારા લખાયેલ પુસ્તક સ્વરૂપે જીવંત રહેશે. 

એક વિધ્યાર્થીએ એના શિક્ષક વિશે લખેલું પુસ્તક દરેક શિક્ષકે અચૂક વાચવા જેવું છે!

Refund: One act play by Fritz Karinthy

characters:  

• wasserkopf

• The Principal 

• The teachers of various Subjects  ( History, geography,mathematics, Physics)

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Refund Play Summary:  

Refund is a one act play by famous Hungarian writer Fritz Karinthy.Fritz Karinthy is a well known short story writer who wrote the one act play “Refund” in 1938. This is the story of a former student Wasserkopf, who demands that his tuition should be refunded because he feels his education was worthless. But he loses his fight when he is tricked by the mathematics master.  The play “Refund” is full of humour which deals with an extraordinarily absurd situation.

Wasserkopf is forty years old. He could not get any job and wherever he goes people tell him that he is fit for nothing. One day he meets Leaderer and asks him about his business. When Leaderer tells him about foreign exchange and Hungarian money, he is not able to understand anything and starts asking questions about foreign exchange. Leaderer says when Wasserkopf does not know the silly thing then what had he studied? He better can go to the school and get his tuition fees back. Wasserkopf who is jobless and does not have any finance, thought this idea as something beneficial. So he went to the school where he studied once.

Wasserkopf wanted the refund of his tuition fees which were paid eighteen years ago because he was taught badly. When he asks for it, the principal is shocked. The principal is in a peculiar situation now and he calls for an urgent meeting with all other staff members. The masters realized that Wasserkopf’s real intention was to fail in the exam and claim the refund. Therefore, they decided to outsmart the old student by proving all his answers right. The Mathematics Master said that they had to be united and ought to help each other in implementing their plan. The exam was an oral one as Wasserkopf’s refusal to write. They decide that whatever answers he gives whether it is right or wrong they will prove him right.

The first question was from the History Master. The Master asked him how many years the ‘Thirty Years’ war lasted. The answer was in the question itself. But Wasserkopf, who was keen on giving wrong answers, said that the ‘Thirty Years war’, lasted seven metres. The History Master did not know how to prove this answer right. Fortunately for him, the Mathematics master aided him by proving that the answer was right on the basis of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. The Master argued that time and space are relative terms and therefore years can be represented in terms of meter. The war took place during half of each day, three hours a day to eat, hours given up to noon day, so totally seven years.  The actual time spent in fighting was seven years and it has been by Einstein’s equivalence of seven meters. Wasserkopf called the History Master a numskull.

 The Physics Master asked Wasserkopf whether clocks in church become smaller if one walks away from it or is it because of optical illusion.  He called The Physics master an ass.  The master says that the answer is correct because the ass does not have any illusion of vision. Therefore, Wasserkopf has given a metaphorical explanation. Wasserkopf called him a cannibal.

     The Geography Master asks Wasserkopf for the name of a city which has the same name as the capital of German Province of Brunswick.  He replied as ‘Same’.  Master said it as the correct answer.  There was a legend that once as the emperor Barbarossa was riding in the city, he met a young peasant (farmer) girl, who was munching a bun mouthful.  He called out to her God Bless you and asked her the name of the city, she answered the same to you sir for his wishes, and the Emperor mistook the city name as ‘Same’.

One by one each teacher justified his wrong answer to be the correct one and they marked him excellent. Though Wasserkopf gives wrong answers and uses abusive words to each teacher, they don't show their anger because they have to prove him as an excellent student.

At last the mathematics master asks him a difficult question and an easy question. For the easy question he gives the wrong answer and the master gets angry and says that he has failed in his examination so he should be given his tuition fees back. The master says that they have decided to give him his tuition fees back and asks for the exact amount which he has to get. Wasserkopf without knowing that he is going to fall into their trap gives them the list of exact amounts. The mathematics master says that was his difficult question and he gave the right answer. Now he is proved excellent in the entire subject and they throw him out without allowing him to say anything further. It shows the ability of the teachers to manage the situation and how they tackle Wasserkopf without spoiling the reputation of their school.

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laugh and be Merry by John Masefield

Laugh and be Merry

About Poet :

John Masefield was born in Ledbury in Herefordshire in the year  1878. It was at an early age of sixteen, Masefield joined the merchant navy. He remained the Poet laureate of United Kingdom from 1830 until his death, 1867. Masefield developed his passion for writing and reading while he was on his voyage! Today, he is popular for his classic children’s novels like The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delight.

 About Poem:

Here, we are attempting an analysis of Laugh and Be Merry by John Masefield. The poem is written in plain verse with a rhythmic style. The theme of Laugh and Be Merry is to have a constructive outlook in life. Yes, the purpose of creation is to make this better and discover happiness! Anything we create or do, is an attempt to make ourselves happy! When God created this Earth and gave life to us, his main purpose was to see us happy! Our happiness would actually make God happy! While we forget the very purpose of creation, Masefield attempts to express the same through his poetic  verse!

 Poem analysis :

Laugh and be merry, remember, better the world with a song,

Better the world with a blow in the teeth of a wrong.

Laugh, for the time is brief, a thread the length of a span.

Laugh and be proud to belong to the old proud pageant of man.

 

“Laugh and Be Merry” is actually the symbol of being human! The phrase is used as a tagline and the very purpose of our life. Hence the poet commences the poem with this phrase! The world becomes better with every song! The song actually refers to the inner voice when happy!

“Blow in the teeth of a wrong”

If you do something wrong, make a mistake, punishment is inevitable! Yes, the poet says, a blow (punishment) makes the world better because it saves you from “the bigger punishment”.

…Time is brief,

Our time on Earth is very limited and actually can be measured with a thread! In this  little life, is there any scope to sit and repent! Well, that’s a no-no!

Laugh and be proud to belong…

This is again a very sweet expression that reflects the notion of being humane. It’s not that we’d only be happy throughout our life! We equally need to be proud of our existence and the place from where we belonged.

Laugh and be merry: remember, in olden time.

God made Heaven and Earth for joy He took in a rhyme,

Made them, and filled them full with the strong red wine of

His mirth

The splendid joy of the stars: the joy of the earth.

In this stanza Masefield expresses his opinion about the creation of Earth! According to him, God made Heaven and Earth for joy and took in a rhyme! Mark, there is no mention of Hell! The poem is actually an attempt to look into the brighter side of creation without depicting instances of the sleuth.

… filled them full with the strong red wine of

His mirth

 

The phrase ‘red wine’ is used to express the feeling of authority, celebration and merry-making! In the next line, the poet conveys, as the heaven and the star rejoice, so does the earth!

So we must laugh and drink from the deep blue cup of the sky,

Join the jubilant song of the great stars sweeping by,

Laugh, and battle, and work, and drink of the wine outpoured

In the dear green earth, the sign of the joy of the Lord.

The stretch of the sky is endless! The poet appeals us (…so we must laugh and drink) to lead our life much like the sky which knows no barrier and constraint! You shouldn’t to constrained to any feeling!

Star actually is referred to ‘Us’ and the way we should see our life refers to the “sky”.

In life, it’s ok to fight, laugh, get wounded, or anything! But you should laugh because “to be sad is not an option for you”

Theme of Laugh and Be Merry Revealed

In these very lines …. Laugh, and battle, and work, and drink of the wine outpoured

In the dear green earth, the sign of the joy of the Lord… lays hidden the theme of the poem!

Actually, the words “laugh”, “battle”, “work” are associated with “drinking of the wine”

The words, “work and battle” here symbolize all human actions! In a battle, lives are lost, but still the poet tells you to laugh because if battle is inevitable, you have to develop the feeling of accepting the loss happily! That’s the way of creation! Only if nine others fail, one becomes successful – this is the truth! To love and laugh even after failure is the theme of the poem! Because, that actually is the greatest win! When all the ten are happy, that’s the sign of the joy of the Lord.

Laugh and be merry together, like brothers akin,

Guesting awhile in the rooms of a beautiful inn,

Glad till the dancing stops, and the lilt of the music ends.

Laugh till the game is played; and be you merry, my friends.

The final stanza ignites the feeling of brotherhood because we all are eventually going to die! The purpose of hatred or separation withers upon realizing the ultimate end of each being! We are in our individual rooms of a beautiful inn. Anytime the music can stop, and then it actually ends! So, let there be a happy beginning, happy journey and a happy ending!

Analysis of the poem

The poem “Laugh and be Merry” by John Masefield examines the theme of living ‘Life’ to the full. In this poem he urges us to be cheerful and be merry and live the ‘Life’ to the fullest. The primary idea of the creation of entire universe is for happiness of man. The poet reminds us that life is not a bed of roses. There may be challenges and sufferings and the moments of sorrow or unhappiness in the life of each person but they are all passing things. The joy that we derive from the universe and from the Nature of the Earth is everlasting. Men will not do well to have recourse to Nature, which is an embodiment of God’s beauty and grandeur. So, the poet advises us to laugh and be merry.

Life is brief and it is not to be wasted away in sorrow and despair. He advocates us to get pleasure from our lives in this world, since the universe itself is a manifestation of the joy of God. Each moment of our life should be cherished and rejoiced. The celestial bodies like moon and stars are created for the happiness of man. So we should be enlivened by God’s purposeful creation. The poet compares the world with an inn where all human beings are temporary guests. We should enjoy life till it comes to an end and the lilt of music of life ends. So man should make use of his short and brief stay on Earth by laughing away his troubles and sorrows. The entire universe is created with the sweet pattern of music and filled them with intoxicating red wine that is His extreme joy and delight. He must draw happiness and inspiration from everything around him. The joy of life is very basis of our brotherhood and mutual love. Man must live happily with fellow men like brothers residing in an inn. He must play game of life cheerfully and pass through the journey of joy till he reaches his ultimate goal or destination. Similarly, we should enjoy our life to the last breath; and the song finishes. Life is compared to a game also. While playing we must enjoy the game without fretting about victory or defeat. Let us play the game of life cheerfully till to the end.

Game of Thrones

                              “When you play a game of thrones you win or die”

Yes, your guess is right this blog is about famous television series game of thrones which is an adaptation of George R.R.Martin’s A song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels from which A game of thrones is the first novel. This Series got humongous fame from all around the world. This series had created whirlpool of different emotions in me. What is most captivating about this series is cinematography dialogue and characters. When I say cinematography I mean to say it is splendid until season 6 (that doesn’t mean other two seasons were bad, but not as satisfying as earlier seasons) When it comes to dialogue I would say that dialogues are the soul of this series when dialogue is being said it lefts deep effect on viewer.

(This series has 8 season and 73 episodes, each episode is about 1 hour and 30 minutes long, there is plenty character out which I have selected few of them to discuss here, Trust me this series has many more interesting character and Dialogues apart from which are discussed below)

Dialogues were never a common communication between two people rather it indicates what is coming next. Dialogue between Varys and Tyrion were always indirect yet direct plus interesting:

    

Varys: Power is a curious thing, my lord. Are you fond of riddles?

Tyrion: Why? Am I about to hear one?

Varys: Three great men it in a room, a king, a priest and a rich man. Between them stand a common sellsword. Each great man bids the sellsword kill the other two. Who lives, who Dies?

Tyrion: Depends upon sellsword.

Varys: does it? He has neither crown, nor gold, nor sword, nor favor with the gods.

Tyrion: he’s got the sword, the power of life and death!

Varys: But if it’s swordsmen who rules, why do we pretend king hold all the power? When Ned stark lost his head, who was truly responsible- Joffrey, the executioner, or something else?

Tyrion: I have decided I don’t like riddles.

Varys: Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick, a shadow on the wall and a very small man can cast a very large shadow

When a lie being told again and again it becomes truth, We have another interesting conversation between Varys and Lord Baelish (Littlefinger) where this two are talking about their differing views: Varys on peace of realm, and littlefinger about embracing chaos, both acknowledging that, like in chess, the king are the weakest pieces.

Varys: I did what I did for the good of the realm.

Bealish: The realm. Do you know what the realm is? It’s the thousand blades of Aegon’s enemies- a story we agree to tell each other over and over, until we forgot that it’s a lie.

Varys: But what do we have left’ once we abandon the lie? Chaos? A gasping pit waiting to swallow us all.

Bealish: Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fails, and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, given a chance to climb, they refuse. They cling to the realm, or gods, or love. Illusions, only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.

Male Characters:

Dialogues always lefts character with two choices and there will always rest a question “to be or not to be” it can be seen at very first episode of first season where Catelyn warns Ned stark about arrival of Robert Baratheon and his intention about this sudden arrival from all the way Kings landing. It was all in his hand and he had to make a choice. Further about Ned Bran stark is that his first impression was decent until we came to know about his bastered son John Snow. We couldn’t believe it to be possible because of his decent character and it was a moment we knew that there is something odd about the existence of John snow himself as a bastered of Ned Stark. HE KNEW NOTHING, The boy had long way to go.

It always happens when director or writer kills the person we root for. Ned’s elder son Robb Stark was talented and in every way was capable of becoming a good king but soon was killed which was second shocking scene after the death of Ned stark and shock was doubled with the death of Catelyn stark where we lost three strong characters of the series.(The death of three Starks left audience in tears)

Bran stark was also left with choices were his decision of becoming Three eyed Raven led us to the reality of John snow. One reason behind Robb’s character was killed very soon so that John’s character can emerge. But John had his own limit like he was the person, who can sway away by emotions; his emotions will always come in his way of making decisions. Besides the fact the he was true heir of the Iron throne he decided to support Daenerys.

Tyrion was an imp and was disgusted by his own sister calling him monster, she believed that he killed their mother because she died giving birth to him and which arouse pity in viewer for him. He was always successful in making himself safe with his wordplay; his character development is impressive along with Sansa Stark. His wordplay led him to become hand of king for the rest of his life, where first it was for his survival while in the end of the series it was a punishment for him.

Lord Varys’s character was perplexed from the beginning where I couldn’t really know his intention of doing and saying. He was revealed to be person who wants good for the people of realm. I find his character very similar to professor Snape from Harry potter where he was believed to be a villain but in reality he was trying to protect harry in every possible way. Whereas Varys wanted to protect realm. Even if he didn’t know about John being a Targaryen he still would have chosen John over Daenerys as a king of Iron throne.

Female Characters:

When it comes to the female characters of the series on one hand director successfully did justice to female characters that we can see from characters like Catelyn Stark, Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Lady Olenna( Trust me this old lady was Badass even till her death) but on another hand he didn’t failed to show how women are being used as mere an object with such characters like women in whore house named Rose and Shae.

Catelyn was a loving mother to her children and wife to her husband, her character was a combination of wise and fierce. She knew from the beginning that what will be the result when Ned will accept the proposal of Robert Baratheon which will bring a storm upon their family and will destroy their nest.

On the other hand Cersei was also Mother but the difference is that she can go to any extent for her children. I find her character very selfish because she never drops her weapon no matter what happen. This attitude of her led Daenerys lost her one dragon to a Night King and almost all kings landing was burned down. Thousand innocents were turned in to ashes.

Arya is most loved character in whole series. From childhood she wanted to learn sword. After knowing about the death of her parents and brother she goes Braavos and uses her new skill to bring those who have wronged her family to justice. She left everyone in awe when she killed Night king.

Human can grown only when they walk on a way full of thorns- Sansa’s journey in whole series tells the same thing, her Journey from being innocent little dove to being Queen in the North is very satisfying to watch.

Daenerys rules the whole series, her ambitions of being queen leads to her own end. Her belief of being right in every situation becomes the reason of her own death. Her character was really feeding my woman ego until last season, the way her character was twisted in last episode blew audiences mind. But again what we root for never happens because there will be no thrill if there is no twisted end right?

Ending:

And pack survived!!!..

To be honest I kind of expected this ending where I knew one of the stark will sit on the Iron throne. Director be like “Nah I’m not gonna make king as per your wish” (for those whished for John or Daenerys to sit on the Iron throne) where he made a crippled boy a king and an Imp his hand and he really didn’t disappointed audience by making Sansa queen in the North and of course Arya being Arya not interested being in being lady of anyone goes on a Journey to west from Westeros. Whereas Johns end up again being in Night’s watch. This series bring so many emotions where you will feel overwhelm, emotional, thrilled, furious, disappoint yet happy in the same situation. Best series I have ever watched!!!

Language Lab review

                                               

What is Language lab?

A room Equipped with audio and visual equipment to aid people learning a foreign language. Language lab majorly favors the Audio – lingual method, it stressed listening and speaking more than readin and writing skills. The original language labs are now very outdated. They were using tapes based system using reel or cassette.

History of Language Lab:

Ralf Waltz is usually credited with cong the term language laboratory .The History of the American Language laboratory can be divided into five periods,

(1) The beginning period, before World War 2

(2) The Establishing period, until 1958 when the national defense education Act(NDEA), which supplied large amounts of money for education, was passed

(3) The developing period, until the end of the 1960’s

(4) The diminishing period, until the end of the 1970’s and,

(5) The revival period, until today.

Language laboratories have become practical use since around 1950. Edison’s tin foil phonograph, invented in 1877, is the origin of our deluxe language laboratories with all their complex equipment. Edison’s phonograph was used in a foreign language class for the first time at college of Milwaukee n 1891.

Rafael Diez de la Cortina thought the method of teaching a foreign language using a phonograph for the first time. (Kitao) Unquestionably the 1960s were the golden years of language laboratory. According to Hocking by 1962 there were approximately 5000 installation in secondary schools another 1000 secondary school had labs by 1964.

Advantages of Language Lab:

· It is self assisted learning; student is in the center of the learning process.

· Possible to listen to many speakers

· Not to hear other student’s bad pronunciation

· To listen to the records many times and practice

· To listen the teacher’s drills

· To prepare for the class enjoyably

· Able to test listening and speaking



· Can learn same lesson repeatedly



· Teachers gets tired but not machine



Disadvantages of Language Lab:

· Student needed to study reading most

· Student can not repeat correctly by themselves

· Repetition of same instruction leads to boredom

· It can improve only listening and speaking

· One can’t learn all LSRW skills with Language lab software

· It requires electricity; software can’t work without it

· Somewhere we feel need of teacher for proper instruction, teacher can give more explanation and examples for better understanding we can’t expect this from language lab.

Language lab Past Present and future:

As we have already discussed past of the language lab, what is the present situation of language lab? We are living in digital era. PCs have replaced the old language labs, every student have tablet or android phones they can watch learning videos or can record their inputs and upload it. In future there will be no need of big room equipped with language lab software. One can carry lab in his/her pocket.

Works Cited

BARRUTIA, RICHARD. THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF LANGUAGE LABORATORIES. n.d. 21 February 2018. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/338842 .>.

Khampusaen, Dararat. "Past, Present and Future: From Traditional Language Laboratories to Digital Language Laboratories and Multimedia ICT Suites." n.d. 21 February 2018. <http://www.ijcim.th.org/SpecialEditions/v21nSP2/02_08_14E_Dararat.pdf>.

Kitao, Kenji. The History of Language Laboratories Origin and establishment. n.d. 21 February 2018. <https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED381020>.

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