The Etymology of Words and Their Histories

The etymology of a word refers to its origin and historical development: that is, its earliest known use, its transmission from one language to another, and its changes in form and meaning. Etymology is also the term for the branch of linguistics that studies word histories. Whats the Difference Between a Definition and an Etymology? A definition tells us what a word means and how its used in our own time. An etymology tells us where a word came from (often, but not always, from another language) and what it used to mean. For example, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the definition of the word disaster is an occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe or a grave misfortune. But the etymology of the word disaster takes us back to a time when people commonly blamed great misfortunes on the influence of the stars. Disaster first appeared in English in the late 16th century, just in time for Shakespeare to use the word in the play King Lear. It arrived by way of the Old Italian word disastro, which meant unfavorable to ones stars. This older, astrological sense of disaster becomes easier to understand when we study its Latin root word, astrum, which also appears in our modern star word astronomy. With the negative Latin prefix dis- (apart) added to astrum (star), the word (in Latin, Old Italian, and Middle French) conveyed the idea that a catastrophe could be traced to the evil influence of a star or planet (a definition that the dictionary tells us is now obsolete). Is the Etymology of a Word Its True Definition? Not at all, though people sometimes try to make this argument. The word etymology is derived from the Greek word etymon, which means the true sense of a word. But in fact the original meaning of a word is often different from its contemporary definition. The meanings of many words have changed over time, and older senses of a word may grow uncommon or disappear entirely from everyday use. Disaster, for instance, no longer means the evil influence of a star or planet, just as consider no longer means to observe the stars. Lets look at another example. Our English word salary is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary  as fixed compensation for services, paid to a person on a regular basis. Its etymology can be traced back 2,000 years to sal, the Latin word for salt. So whats the connection between salt and salary? The Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells us that in Rome, a soldier was paid in salt, which back then was widely used as a food preservative. Eventually, this salarium came to signify a stipend paid in any form, usually money. Even today the expression worth your salt indicates that youre working hard and earning your salary. However, this doesnt mean that salt is the true definition of salary. Where Do Words Come From? New words have entered (and continue to enter) the English language in many different ways. Here are some of the most common methods. BorrowingThe majority of the words used in modern English have been borrowed from other languages. Although most of our vocabulary comes from Latin and Greek (often by way of other European languages), English has borrowed words from more than 300 different languages around the world. Here are just a few examples:futon (from the Japanese word for bedclothes, bedding)gorilla (Greek Gorillai, a tribe of hairy women, perhaps of African origin)hamster (Middle High German hamastra)kangaroo (Aboriginal language of Guugu Yimidhirr, gangurru , referring to a species of kangaroo)kink (Dutch, twist in a rope)moccasin (Native American Indian, Virginia Algonquian, akin to Powhatan mà ¤kà ¤sn and Ojibwa makisin)molasses (Portuguese melaà §os, from Late Latin mellceum, from Latin mel, honey)muscle (Latin musculus, mouse)slogan (alteration of Scots slogorne, battle cry)smorgasbord (Swedish, literally bread and butter table)whiskey (Old Irish uisce, water, and bethad, of life)Clipping or Shorteni ngSome new words are simply shortened forms of existing words, for instance indie from independent; exam from examination; flu from influenza, and fax from facsimile.CompoundingA new word may also be created by combining two or more existing words: fire engine, for example, and babysitter.BlendsA blend, also called a portmanteau word,  is a word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two or more other words. Examples include moped, from mo(tor) ped(al), and brunch, from br(eakfast) (l)unch.Conversion or Functional ShiftNew words are often formed by changing an existing word from one part of speech to another. For example, innovations in technology have encouraged the transformation of the nouns network, Google, and  microwave  into verbs.Transfer of Proper NounsSometimes the names of people, places, and things become generalized vocabulary words. For instance, the noun maverick was derived from the name of an American cattleman, Samuel Augustus Maverick. The saxophone was named after Sax, the surname of a 19th-century Belgian family that made musical instruments.Neologisms or Creative CoinagesNow and then, new products or processes inspire the creation of entirely new words. Such neologisms are usually short lived, never even making it into a dictionary. Nevertheless, some have endured, for example quark (coined by novelist James Joyce), galumph (Lewis Carroll), aspirin (originally a trademark), grok (Robert A. Heinlein).Imitation of SoundsWords are also created by onomatopoeia, naming things by imitating the sounds that are associated with them: boo, bow-wow, tinkle, click. Why Should We Care About Word Histories? If a words etymology is not the same as its definition, why should we care at all about word histories? Well, for one thing, understanding how words have developed can teach us a great deal about our cultural history. In addition, studying the histories of familiar words can help us deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words, thereby enriching our vocabularies. Finally, word stories are often both entertaining and thought provoking. In short, as any youngster can tell you, words are fun.

Controlling One’s Environment - 1193 Words

Controlling One’s Environment: What Role Does This Play in Learning Belser Walker According to the constructivism theory of learning, people learn by recognizing meaning in their present knowledge framework. According to believers of this theory, learning is done by the process of assimilation and accommodation. Accommodation refers to the process by which failure leads to further learning; where a new experience that is contrary to ones expectations causes one to change their mental representations. On the other hand, assimilation is the process by which a new experience is integrated into an existing framework. Assimilation when the nature of ones perception of the world is the same as the experiences they go through.†¦show more content†¦In contrast, some may be located in areas that have plenty of geographical, historical and scientific material to learn from. Such natural features make the learning process interesting and this may enhance the learning process. If an individual chooses the wrong social grouping and habits, then chances are they will hinder the learning process. Engaging in anti-social behavior such as drugs may hurt ones learning because it interferes with the minds ability to process information. It also interferes with normal body functions. Additionally, certain people spend too much time engaging in non-constructive behavior such as gambling and may not learn much in the classroom or otherwise. Various social circles may also restrict or encourage learning. It has been reported that people brought up in poor neighborhoods with high crime levels are likely to remain uneducated throughout their lives due to these negative distractions. Some factors may remain largely unknown to particular individuals but they can affect learning. Certain individuals may be brought up in the same culture, come from the same income bracket, they may like the same leisure activities and score the same results in an IQ test but one may still be more knowledgeable than the other. This is because every individual has their own uniqueness and they respond differently to different environments. (Wood, 1998) Some environments may enhance learningShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics of Criminal Offenders810 Words   |  3 Pagesboth believed that â€Å"eugenic thinking in a formula that linked heredity to social, moral, and mental failings and added the implication that bad heredity had been earned by the iniquity of past generations†. Meaning that they believed that a person environment can be they primary reasoning for participating in criminal acts. Explanations of criminal behaviors article states that â€Å"contemporary researchers have searched for support for the genetic transmission of crime by studying criminal families, andRead MorePsychology, Existential And Cognitive Behavioral Therapy1727 Words   |  7 PagesTherapy I would incorporate Beck’s theory of Cognitive Therapy to help clients move towards awareness within themselves by identifying faulty thinking and distortions. Especially in the areas of overgeneralization, personalization and mislabeling in one†™s automatic thought patterns (Corey, 2013). PART 1 - Human nature: Are people essentially good, evil, or neutral? How much of personality is inborn or determined by biological and/or other innate factors? Are there inborn drives, motives, tendenciesRead MorePrivacy Rights : Moral And Legal Foundations1312 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstanding of one’s privacy and what should be protected is rooted in a society’s moral and social norms. What a culture does out of habit or custom and what their environment was like at the time, eventually shape how they view privacy as well as the laws they create. First, norms and habits undergo certain changes through the political, social, technological and economic evolution in a society. Thus, privacy laws are affected or may undergo some change as the societal environment advances. FurthermoreRead MorePrivacy Rights : Moral And Legal Foundations1584 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstanding of one’s privacy and what should be protected is rooted in a society’s moral and social norms. What a culture does out of habit or custom and what their environment was like at the time, eventually shape how they view privacy as well as the laws they create. First, norms and habits undergo certain changes through the political, social, technological and economic evolution in a society. Thus, privacy laws are affected or may undergo some change as the societal environment advances. FurthermoreRead MoreThe Four Tasks Of Management1449 Words   |  6 PagesThe four task of management is: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Think about the four tasks as a process as each step builds on the other. The set of cone activities that defines the role of manager in a business environment. The four functions of management include planning, or deciding upon business goals and the methods to achieve them; organizing or determining the allocation of people and resources; directing, or motivating, instructing and supervising workers assigned to the activity ;Read MoreOur Greatest Influence Come from Our Family Systems Essay587 Words   |  3 Pagesthrough life from conception to, the western idea of adulthood, takes many directions for every person. The impact of family, friends, everyday people and the stimuli of the various environments you were exposed to all have aided in your maturation. How do you think you turned out after being in your various environments? How did those environmental influences affect how you now behave? These influences are said to start at a young age, the age were, â€Å"preschoolers’ awareness of their ethnic or racialRead MoreEssay about Asdfsdfasdfa964 Words   |  4 PagesThe film â€Å"Maria Full of Grace† contained many aspects related to global planning issues in areas such as neighborhoods and cities, personal space, and immigration. The film demonstrated the effects of social networking in urban environments and the effects it has on personal space. Survival in urban space such a s in cities and neighborhoods is revealed within the film along with the importance of recognizable space. As depicted in the film, immigration and social support can be closely related inRead MoreOrganisational Culture1310 Words   |  6 Pagesorganizational cultures and company performance, with respect to success indicators such as revenues, sales volume, market share, and stock prices.[4] At the same time, it is important to have a culture that fits with the demands of the company’s environment. To the extent shared values are proper for the company in question, company performance may benefit from culture.[5] For example, if a company is in the high-tech industry, having a culture that encourages innovativeness and adaptability willRead MoreThe Art of War Analysis1106 Words   |  5 Pagescauses the people to be in a complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.† (p. #1) This quote makes one believe that there will be no danger under one’s ruler, and they will be led to a safe victory. 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Sonee Hardware Pvt Ltd Change Management

Question: Discuss about theSonee Hardware Pvt Ltd Change Management. Answer: Introduction SONEE Hardware Pvt LTD was incorporated in the 1970s and is the leading hardware supplier in Maldives. The objective of the company is the satisfaction of the customers, employees as well as the general public. The company has adopted a value-added approach with the aim to be the favorite customer hardware store. The success of the company has largely depended on consistency, reliability and quality of services offered to the customers, employees and the general public. SONNEE hardware has a total of six outlets in which it has diversified into different areas of business. With the increased competition the company strives to provide high-quality services to its customers (SONEE Hardware, 2016). This paper will aim to identify the reasons why it is important to manage change in the organization, proposed changes and to discuss the challenges of the change process as well as identify the strategies to overcome those challenges. Discussion Importance of Managing Change in the Organization According to Bhattacharya and Sengupta (2006), the current organization environment necessitates the need for the organization to implement various changes with the aim of enhancing their competitiveness. Change management involves the process of transitioning organization, individuals and teams through the use of the business process, redirecting of resources and budget allocations that significantly reshape an organization. Change management is important in the organizations because of the following reasons; First, enables organization to thrive in the changing environment- organizations are operating in an environment that is influenced by various different factors such as political, economic, social and cultural factors. As such, it is important for the organization to embrace change because the failure of the organization to change can lead to the loss of its market share or make it less competitive. Therefore, the ability to effectively manage changes in the organization will help to deliver results on multiple changes that allow an organization to achieve its strategic vision and thrive in todays challenging environments (Jung, 2013). Second, to improve employee performance- according to Creasey Hiatt (2003), one of the objectives of undertaking changes in the organization is to improve the performance of the employees. Some of the changes in the organization help to ensure efficiency and productivity of the employees; however, there is the likely hood that employees will resist changes even though changes are for their own good. Therefore, change management helps the employees to understand the importance of the changes as well as to focus on helping the employees change how they carry out their activities, thus, improving their performance. Third, help close the gap between results and the requirement- in the argument of Jung (2013) change in the organization helps to meet the requirements through the delivery of the necessary outputs hence enabling the employees to achieve their targets. Managing change in the organization is essential if the management wants to bridge the gap that may exist between results and requirements. Fourth, to increase the likelihood of the organization success- embracing changing in the organization enables it to adapt to the various changes within the environment it operates. If the organization fails to constantly adapt to changes, it is more likely to fail to achieve its mission and vision. Therefore, managing change in the organization contributes to the likely hood of the organization success (Jung, 2013). Fifth, to increase innovation- Sharma (2007) argues that change process enables the organization to embrace innovative activities. The failure to effectively manage change in the organization can lead to increased cost because of failed innovative programs. Therefore, managing change process is important in increasing innovative activities in the organization. Proposed Changes Changes in SONEE Hardware Pvt LTD can better help the organization to effectively compete with its competitors and act as a source of the organization competitive advantage. For this reason, I would propose the following changes to the company; One, structural changes- currently the company has only six outlets which limit its customer base as well as its profitability and success. Structural changes like strategic partnerships would help the company to expand its customer base, reduce its operation cost and increase its profitability. A strategic partnership is the alliance or partnership between two organizations that derive a specified benefit to the companies like reduction on the operation costs through joint innovation programs (Steward, 2009). Two, computerization of its processes- the company should strive to adopt a computerized system not only in the production process but also in all its operations. Computerization of the company operations will reduce the operational costs, increase efficiency and employees productivity as well as profitability. Due to the increased competition, the adoption of the computerized system increases organization competitiveness by ensuring provision and production of high quality services and products, thus, enhancing customer satisfaction (Thong Raman, 2004). Three, cultural changes- organization culture is an important aspect of the organization success. Currently, the organization culture of SONEE Hardware Pvt LTD is focused on providing quality services to the employees, customers and the general public. However, it is important for SONEE Hardware Pvt LTD to also embrace a culture of innovation, productivity and compliance to increase its competitive edge in the global market. Organization culture refers to the shared beliefs, norms, expectations and working habits of the organization. Change in the company culture would help achieve the organization strategic goals (Cox Blake, 2011). Four, change in products, customer relationship and marketing- changes in customer relations, products and marketing is critical to the organization long-run success. Therefore, the management needs to continuously analyze the organization external environment with the aim to developing appropriate strategies that ensure production of the right products that meet the customer needs, improve customer relationships and create awareness of the company products and brand (Jung, 2013). Five, organization restructuring- according to McKinley and Scherer (2009) restructuring will help reduce the operational costs, increase efficiency and profitability as well as reduce wastage of resources. For example, SONEE Hardware Pvt LTD can restructure by reducing its work force and adopting the use of ICT in processing and production. The restructuring process should also involve redefining the roles of the employees and the management levels. Challenges to Change Process Change process is inevitable in the organizations. Despite the numerous benefits of the change, the process is usually faced with challenges. According to Pryor, Taneja and Singleton (2008) some of the challenges of the change process include the following; One, employees resistance- employees resistance is one of the major challenges organization face in the process of change implementation. Employees tend to resist change because of various reasons such as fear of the unknown, lack of participation or poor communication. Employees resistance can derail the change process or contribute to unsuccessful change implementation process Two, planning and managing change- often managers find it challenging to plan and manage change in the organization. The challenge of planning and managing change is usually because some changes are not planned, and it is difficult to accurately project the effects of change in the organization. At times, the managers fail to clearly understand the exact changes that will take place and how those changes will be implemented. Three, lack of consensus- the decision to initiate a planned change in the organization ought to be of all the company board members. However, the board members may fail to agree to the proposed changes which would create a challenge in the change process. The failure to get all the directors or managers on board is a challenge a company is likely to face when implementing changes. Strategies to overcome change implementation challenges and ensure change management success As earlier discussed, change is inevitable in the organizations, and the process is likely to be faced with various challenges. As such, one of the duties of the management during the change implementation process is to develop appropriate strategies to overcome the challenges. In this case, I propose the following strategies to overcome the challenges; One, effective communication- one of the reasons why change process may fail is because of poor communication. It is important for the management to ensure all the stakeholders are informed of the reasons for change and the consequences of the change process as well as how the management intends to address any negative impacts (Dent Goldberg, 2009). Two, employee participation- according to Aladwani, (2011) the participation of the employees is crucial in reducing resistance to change. Employee participation creates a feeling of trust and belonging in the organization. Employee participation significantly influences the success of the change implementation. Three, effective planning- Goksoy (2016) argues that proper planning provides a blue print of how the change process will be conducted and the strategies to be implemented to overcome any challenges. Effective planning of the change process is crucial because it ensures all the stakeholders are involved in the process hence reducing possible resistance. Four, understanding the current state- implementing change without understanding the current state is a challenge faced by many organizations introducing change. To overcome this challenge, the management should critically and carefully analyze the current organization state before introducing the required changes. Understanding the current state helps the management indentify the areas that need changes and develop appropriate change strategies (Goksoy, 2016). Five, education- according to Cummings and Worley (2009) employees resist change because they fail to understand the benefits and need for change process. As such, educating the organization employees is one the best strategies that management can use to overcome resistance. Educating the employees on the reasons and benefits for the change process helps employees understand the logic for change efforts, hence reducing incorrect and unfounded rumors that could disrupt the process. References Aladwani, A. M. (2011). Change management strategies for successful Change implementation. Business Process management journal, 7(3), 266-275. Bhattacharya, M. S., Sengupta, R. N. (2006). Managing change in organizations. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. Cox, T. H., Blake, S. (2011). Managing cultural diversity: Implications for organizational competitiveness. The Executive, 45-56. Creasey, T. J., Hiatt, J. M. (2003). Change management: The people side of change. Madison, Wis: Prosci Learning Center Publications. Cummings, T. G., Worley, C. G. (2009). Organization development change. Australia: South-Western/Cengage Learning Dent, E. B., Goldberg, S. G. (2009). Challenging resistance to change. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 35(1), 25-41. Goksoy, A. (2016). Organizational change management strategies in modern business. Jung, C. (2013). Importance of change management in organisations. Place of publication not identified: Grin Verlag McKinley, W., Scherer, A. G. (2009). Some unanticipated consequences of organizational restructuring. Academy of Management Review, 25(4), 735-752. Pryor, M. G., Taneja, Singleton, L. (2008). Challenges facing change management theories and research. Delhi Business Review, 9(1), 1-8. Sharma, R. R. (2007). Change management: Concepts and applications. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill SONEE Hardware - Home. (2016). SONEE .com.mv. Retrieved 28 October 2016, from https://www.SONEE .com.mv/ Steward, C. (2009). Developing strategic partnerships: How to leverage more business from major customers. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Gower. Thong, J. Y., Raman, K. S. (2004). Effect of computerisation in small business. European Journal of Information Systems, 3(3), 191-206.

Chris McCandless free essay sample

Have you ever heard the phrase, â€Å"better safe than sorry†? This idiom’s truthfulness is proven in Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild. In the book, Christopher McCandless, a young man who follows his dreams, learns to never overestimate oneself, for arrogance can lead to bad decisions and therefore bad consequences. Christopher McCandless decided early in the book that his ambition was to live completely off the land for a while, with only the help of ten pounds of rice for food. His adventure was not fated to end well though, for the Alaskan wilderness is perilous and he was not well prepared. Although many of the people who offered him rides had offered advice and told him how to be better prepared, Chris still â€Å"came into the country with insufficient provisions, and he lacked certain pieces of equipment deemed essential by many Alaskans †¦ He was green and overestimated his resilience†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (180, 182). We will write a custom essay sample on Chris McCandless or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Christopher had neglected to follow much of the advice, thinking he was prepared after having survived his hitchhiking days. He showed lots of ignorance when walking into the wilderness so underprepared and with such little knowledge of the specific area. He is so overconfident he decides to throw most of his ammunition into the lake, an action he regrets later on, when hinting becomes too important for him to have disregarded it so. This lesson proves useful both two centuries ago, with Sir John Franklin, and a hundred years later, when a new lawyer neglects to gather as much evidence as was needed because he felt so confident after his first case. Hubris and arrogance were the death of Christopher McCandless, for they made him underprepared and ungrateful of what he had. Christopher could still be alive had he taken more interest in learning more about the specific area around the Stampede Trail and taken more supplies with him, even if he did plan to use them, because after all, its better to be safe than sorry. Hubris leads to bad decisions no matter what your situation is, and these bad decisions can negatively impact your life, and that of others.