Languages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Languages - Essay Example Language assumes many forms the most common of which is the spoken language which human beings used because they have the brain structure and vocal tracts to do it. Other members of the animal kingdoms also use other forms of communications. Language is not only limited to the spoken language. Animals can also communicate with each other by sounds to survive. The vervets utter and respond to sounds appropriately in order to avoid predators. Animals mode of language is not only limited to sounds. They could also use symbols. Bonobos for example communicate with each other using road signs built of smashed plants. Most animals communicate through sounds and symbols but there are also indications that animals could also understand languages just like human does. There are indications that other animals could also learn to understand languages just like human beings. Studies were made with baboons if they could communicate using a keyboard of 400 symbols and found that they could learn to understand languages just human beings. Study showed that baboon can pick up words in a normal conversation. Researcher found Kanzi’s (a baboon) â€Å"understanding of new sentences to be about equal to that of a two-and-a-half-year-old-child. Noam Chomsky may disagree with this perspective saying that animals does not have the brain structure. Studies however showed that with the aid of keyboard, baboons can also communicate just like human beings albeit it is limited. Other animals learn language just like human beings although not as complex as our spoken words. Language can indeed assume many modes and forms because communication is necessary for living things not only to survive but to understand each other. Language comes in many forms because it is necessary for survival just like the vervets who need to communicate to avoid their predators. They are also

The Truth Behind the Elgin Marbles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Truth Behind the Elgin Marbles - Essay Example With all these in mind, Elgin marbles indeed represented rich scenes of Athens history. His controversial acquisition of which happened in Athens between 1801 and 1805, when he claimed to have obtained a permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove some of which from the Parthenon (British Museum, n.d.). The issue on the Elgin Marbles came about when Elgin starts to remove about half of the remaining Parthenon sculptures by transporting it by sea to Britain. The collection which includes objects from other buildings of Acropolis such as the Erechtheion, the Propylaia, and the Temple of Athena Nike were housed in the Elgin Room at the British Museum where it remained until the Duveen Gallery was built. Here, he faced some criticisms, associating his actions to vandalism or stealing. On the other hand, there were some people who supported him. This resulted to the growth of a public debate reaching the courts of the Parliament as to whether the Marbles should remain in the British Mus eum since it was purchased by the British government or to be returned to Athens (British Museum, n.d.). ... However, though Elgin claims that he was given permission by the Sultan to do so, he is not able to show the original document that proves the truth to it, although there are said to be translated versions of which in Italian, the authenticity of which are being doubted upon. To confirm the legality of Elgin’s action, he requested to have an examination of the documents that would make the purchase authorized. In the process of doing so, they found out that the claimed document was an accurate translation of an Ottoman firman that is dated July 1801. According to Elgin, he took this as an authorization to remove the marbles from Athens. Now, the question is if any of the Ottoman’s party was informed by this activity of Elgin when it is alleged that the said Italian copy of the firman was not presented to them by Elgin or anyone from his party. According to one of his associates, named Rev. Philip Hunt, he was not able to bring the document because he was not informed th at he was going to testify as a witness to this agreement. The issue gets trickier when William St. Clair, a biographer of Lord Elgin attests to have Hunt’s Italian document and guarantees the accuracy of the English translation when the document presented to the committee actually did not have any signature or the Ottoman’s firman that automatically nulls its validity. Also, the lines contained in the document pertaining to the removal of the marbles in fact only holds a permission for Elgin’s team to fix scaffolding, make drawings, and measure the remains of the ruined buildings and nothing was said about taking it all away (British Museum, n.d.).