1st Year BEN UniSZA 2008/2009

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you my dear readers?

Now, while I was driving later this afternoon, I was thinking about my first year in UniSZA. It was in 2008. 7 years ago. Time really flew. Huhuhu... I can not catch it. Ever.

But, I still remember the people who I first met during my first day. I was alone. In a land where things were so different. They were. Very different. I still remember how awkward the situation was when I was given the wrong key to the temporary room. They gave me the female dorm's key. Stupid they were indeed, but I cannot blame them for being confused with me. Hahaha... No, I was not even confusing to others, no.

Then, we were moved from the temporary rooms to the real ones. NOW, I was thinking, what it they were just trying to make us bring out baggage just to see us suffer from carrying all those bags. Hahaha... 

Then, I entered the class and in the class, we came from every sort of lives, trust me but the majority of the students were the ex-TESL students from the same faculty. Well, now you know. To be honest, the class was divided to several groups, the Ex-Tesl students, the STPM students, the 2nd intake, the 3rd intake and the pulled-in students. No bad people or terms and I will explain later.

1. Ex-TESL students

These students were the ex-TESL from the same faculty, Faculty of Languages and Communication but before UniSZA became UniSZA, it was Pusat Bahasa during KUSZA time. Diploma in TESL was offered for the students and that was where ex-TESL students came from. They were nice, yes. Some of them were good.

2. The STPM students

This was my group. Haha, I was too a STPM student who came just because I managed to get Band 2 (Upper) and my SPM was A2. Haha, my STPM result was not that good but I managed to get to university, talking about rezeki. I am grateful. Grateful indeed. We were the STPM students who happened to have potential but most of us not really know what English was. Haha, awkward. To be honest, I was not a good student before and I did not know how to speak using English language, but I learned. Now, alhamdulillah, we at least after 4 years, I am able to know some rules and grammar in English language, well, at least the simple ones. 

3.  The 2nd, 3rd and so one intakes

Even though they were 2nd or 3rd intakes, now, they ware scattered around Malaysia doing amazingly. For example, Dean, he is now a full time lecturer in UNIMAS and he has finished studying for his Master's Degree. Another is Fauzan, he is now in Terengganu and he was doing amazingly. I could not be proud with them. Amazing.

4.  The pulled-in students

As far as I am concerned, there were three pulled-ins, they were the late Shirazi, Nadhirah and also Fauzan. Why the heck, I called them the pulled-in, right? Now, the Dean at time was Madam Azizah Endut, I really heard rumours that she pulled some guns to get my friends in and to be honest, she really made a great choice because now, Nadhirah was not only the best student in the Batch, she is now a Master's Degree holder and a businesswoman. Beat that peaches. Haha, and Fauzan. I cannot be proud of him anymore. He is one of my bestfriends, he is amazingly great. Great human being, great person. Enuff said.

During my first year, I did quite okay, I managed to get 3.00 and 2.99 respectively for the two terms. At first, to be honest, my English structure was like, "What the heck" level, then I managed to get it fixed by learning more from friends and my own initiative. Love it. Haha.... 

My first was great and I managed to get along with great friends. Love it.

My innocence year.

1st year BEN UniSZA 2008/2009.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: I will write on my years more later on.

EEP 2011 : My Personal Experience.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

As promised, I will at least write ONE entry per day in English as a medium to improve my English language. Now, I have a story that I would love for you to know about.

In the year 2011, when I was in the university, we had a programme called English Enhancement Programme and it was conducted by the Faculty of Languages and Communication. As far as I am concerned, the faculty team *the first team, lecturers were very committed with the programme because they were sacrificing their times to ensure that the participants have the best time learning English language.

Then, they conducted this one Training of Trainers where they selected the Bachelor of English students as facilitators for this programme. It was great fun, the activity itself was amazing. You know, when you have the passion and you are willing to learn, you will not have enough time to think about what is not good for you, instead, you will just go with it. Well, I felt that, I enjoyed the activity and everything was great.

Then, we were back to the university where we have to share our knowledge and experiences with the participants. We were very eager to share what we have done. Yes. We also sacrificed our times to actually conduct this activity. I was chosen to become the head of facilitator for an activity called English Lounge, where, basically its all about speaking and interacting with each other.

At the first week, we received great feedback from the participants who came to our activity. They enjoyed the activity as a whole and somehow, they have a little faith in themselves in learning English language. Then, week two, week three, week four, the numbers of students were decreasing. Then, in the end of the programme, we only have ONE participant who came to the activity and we had to emerge to get the class going. We had too. 

I was not sure whether there was postmortem or what, I was not sure and I do not remember the postmortem programme. To be honest, this EEP programme was amazing! It is like the extra classes for English language. It was not burdening the students, no, it is just the mentality of the participants that made things worse. Now, let me tell you, most of the students who were selected to be in this programme were the ones who were weak in English proficiency and they had trouble with English language. We too are not as great as the native speakers at the beginning but we learned! and alhamdulillah, some of us are as near as the native speakers.

I myself had troubles with English language. Stroumble. Hehe, but as the time goes by, I improved myself just for the sake of learning. I learned. Passionately. So, for those who were doubting yourself, I advice would be, its good to doubt yourself but make sure that is not that long because doubting yourself for too long, its wrong. Okay? 

It is not that difficult in learning English language. All you need is love because when you love your learning, then nothing is impossible, okay?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: sometimes, things are not going your way, but dont lose faith.

Life is Hard. Living is Harder. All You Need Is Faith.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Hi, how to you do readers? I really hope that you still have the patient or the urge to learn English language as I am. I love learning and reading, in fact, I was searching for articles and researches done by amazing academia to feed my brain. Yes, I am looking at several topics such as English teaching, English grammar, effects, affect and also a little bit on Malaysian education especially MUET.

Do you know what MUET is acknowledge in several countries including Singapore, United Kingdom and Japan? Its big right? Yes, amazing right? Now, you all know that STPM is also acknowledged one the hardest exams in the world, well at least before it became semester, something like that. I was too a Form Six student and to me, to have such amazing experience back then, it was very wonderful.

Okay, let me tell you something, I was actually not from the school, I was not entirely from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dong (SMKD), I was just there for two amazing years, just for Form Six but I made quite a number of friends. I actually was from Sekolah Menengah Agama Dong (SMAD), yes, I went to religious school and everything was chaos back then. I realised that I am not a person that really could memories all those kalimah like the others. So, I decided to go to SMKD and took my STPM there, and this one teacher actually very proud of me. I had never in my entire life someone said something nice to me at that time. I still remember what she said,

"I am very proud of you because you managed to get A2 for you English subject and you came from sekolah agama. Its wonderful".

Yes, the English teacher of SMKD said that, she was Teacher Junaidah. Why? It is because she knew that how difficult being a religious school with all those subjects both religious and core; she has a daughter that also went to religious school. The same school.

At that time, I did not know what to do and I just, well, I said thank you and at the early period, I did not know what to do and I had trouble blending in with them. I was very bland, I could say. I did not know the systems, the recess time, how things work and whatnot. It was quite difficult for certain times, but then things got better. I managed to mingle around and see things clearer. It was good. 

I too have my favourite subject during that period. I love MUET and I love BM and also Business. I scored in MUET, well, at least I managed to pass the BAND 2 requirement to further the studies at tertiary education. I managed to obtain BAND 3 for that time and for the course at university, I managed to get Bachelor of English with Communication (Hons) at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin. What a wonderful four years there. Love it. Met great friends and people.

But as you can see, to actually learn English language without proper outside-class-practice is surely hard. Amazingly hard. My parents do not speak English language, my family do not speak English language but I always tell myself one thing, "Keep reading and look for dictionary". And, alhamdulillah, I managed to get good grades.

And now, after reading Postgraduate Studies by MBA Edge, it makes me wonder many things but one thing in particular, after two years of doing part time work, after two years of soul searching, I asked myself, 

"How about furthering your studies?"

InshaaAllah, I will think about that thoroughly and my dad actually had ask me this question about 1 and half year ago, about furthering studies and taking Masters and my answer that time was no because I was busy in soul searching but now, I am not making this as my last choice, NO! something, the best things come when in big stress. You think that you are happy with doing what you love and the fact is, you have something better which is, I do not know, contributing to other people by doing what you love, teaching, maybe?

So, inshaaAllah, I will try to ask people around me about things that need to be done, haha.. but do not worry, I will try my best kay?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Other things can wait. Surely.

Language Learning Strategies : Memory Strategies

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Now, in the last entry I wrote about this,

Learning Strategies 

Bear in mind, this is about learning strategies not learning styles. They have their differences, okay? 

Now, we are going to talk about Memory Strategies.

What is memory strategies? Is it that important in learning language?

Memory strategies is a particular activity to help learning language by memorising the words and the structures of the language. 

It is actually very important because, since we are English Second Language Learners (ESL), we need to actually memorise words at the beginning but eventually memorising will become retrieve. Meaning, we know the word already, we have memorised them and all we need to is just retrieve. That is all. But at the beginning, it is memorising then it turned into already there. Hope this work. hehe... I am not really good in explaining things. hehe..

So, what are the memory strategies?

Well, as an example, have played flash cards before? Kindergarten maybe? So that is memory strategies, well, one of those million activities in learning English language using memory strategies. In Flash cards we tend to memorise them right? 

Usually in Flash Cards, there are two separate elements, which are, images (pictures) and also words (alphabets). Either way, the intentions is to make our mind memories the shown cards and learning language *thats the ultimate intention. 

It is also the same with songs. We remember the lyrics with the songs together but then when we know the words already, do we need to look for the lyrics in paper? No right? Why? Because we remember the words, the structures already. Why that happened? It happened because the words already stored in our mental lexicon bank. Amazing right? Cute. 

Well, that is all for now. Thank you.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: memory strategies is quite okay. Love it. It is learning acquisition. hehe...

Learning English : Language Learning Strategies.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

As promised, I would love to write about Language Learning Strategies which, this would actually help us in learning language (s) and in this case, it is English language. And since this blog is focusing on learning English language, lets just bear in mind it is about English language, yes?

Now, what is Learning Strategies? 

Learning Strategies defined as specifications, behaviours, steps, or techniques -- such as seeking out conversation partners, or giving oneself encouragement to tackle a difficult language task -- used by students to enhance their own learning (Scarcella & Oxford, 1992 p.66).

So that is language strategies. Back those days, my supervisor, Dr. Normah asked me to look for recent articles as the references, but, I am so sorry Dr. I found just those articles published on the internet but alhamdulillah, I managed to get good grade on that thesis. A few lecturers said that my topic is quite 'long-time-ago', I mean, I little bit 'not new' but, hey, I almost half way on that topic, please. Hahaha, there is no way I'm going to change it! please. 

Now, lets comeback to the main topic.

What are the elements or the items under language learning strategies?

1. Memory Strategies

2. Cognitive Strategies

3. Compensation Strategies

4. Metacognitive Strategies

5. Affective Strategies

6. Social Strategies

These are the items under language learning strategies that we need to know. 

Above is the chart by Oxford (1990) and she divided into two main groups which are, Direct Strategies and Indirect Strategies. Later on, I will explain more one the items on each group. But, in order for us to know which strategy that used the most in learning English language, we need to talk a simple test, its called SILL ( Strategy Inventory of Language Learning). 

Sometimes, some of us might asked ourselves, why the hell I need to study this? It is not like I have give lecture to students. Well, you have those questions, give me five darling, I too had those questions before. But, when I think back, there reason why we learned all sorts of things, it is to prepare us for the world out there. Don't worry, keep learning, no one could stop you from learning, plus, its a good thing to learn, well at least you learn something, right? hehe...

For this entry, I will try to make it short and I just want you to know what are the strategies for language learning, that is all. Later on, I mean, in the next entries, I will explain more on the strategies. Yes, one by one with examples, okay? Don't worry, we try to figure this our together, okay?

Well, its just language, nothing more. hahaha...

Assalamualaikum wbt

p/s: some said, "learning English language is not good, you'd better learn Mandarin". B? are kidding me right? hahahha

Learning Curves!

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Have you heard about Learning Curve?

Well, I have, and I personally think, the learning curve should be like this.

It should not be like this. Why? To be honest, learning should not have curves, why? Because, its not only for women, it also for men. Well, men should not have curves. hahahaha.. Kidding.

Yes, it should not have curves. Plus, learning is a longtime, continuous activity. No one should consider stop learning. Learning can be formally or informally. Like me, I am now reading Task-based Language Learning and Teaching by Rod Ellis. I found it very interesting book and very helpful for a person like to start something else other than creative mind job, something like that. 

In addition, it took me two long years to know that I am really into English language. The technical terms, the systems, the grammar, the unique vocab, and whatnot. I really love it. The more I read, the more I don't understand and I love it. It makes me want to read more. It makes me want to know more about particular topic. Really.

Remember those tonnes of books that I owned from my uni life? I still read them, why? To be honest, reading is one of my hobbies. Reading makes me wonder, reading makes me think and most of all, reading makes me imagine things. I mean, the more I read, the more want to know about things. That is why, internet is so important nowadays. Books are important too, but books can only provide particular topic within the topic of the book, but internet can do some much that books. Really. 

That is why, learning should not have curve why? Because learning is a process. No one should stop but just keep soaring in learning. Improve and keep reading. Believe in yourself. It does not have to be formal, it you do not want the fuss about examinations and whatnot, keep reading and worry not about the exam, why? because you learn in informally. hehehe.. like me.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Next time, I will provide you with the Language Learning Strategies results. I wrote it as my thesis back in the day. hehe

Learning English Grammar : 'If' Conditional Sentence and its types.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

I feel like I have abandoned this blog for quite sometimes. Haish. I am so sorry blog, not posting any entry made me sick too, why? I lost the momentum already. There were times I was so darn excited in writing blog, like almost 2 entries per day, but now. Don't ask. Yes.

Okay, now, last week, we were on Whatsapp but then I did not able to reply because I did not have internet connection to active the Whatsapp and my friends were discussing about Conditional Tenses (English). Darlings, after a few websites and light reading, conditional tenses is actually quite tricky. Why? Well, there are five (5) conditions that we need to know in Conditional Tenses. What the the conditions?

 See the example above and also the explanation. As for the 'zero' conditional, it has this element that it will happen it this happened. So, the result is always right. See the example give. "If you heat ice, it melts". What does it mean? It means, when ice is heated, it will melt. why? Its science. Got it right?

 Then the Type 1 Conditional, okay, for this one, its a little bit tricky. Well, at least, to me, I do not know about you, I am not perfect darlings. hahaha.. well, no matter what, I will try to explain about it. As mentioned in the picture, its about the tense (time) both present and future and the situation is REAL but its too about the possibilities might be given by the other subject. Let say, 'If you make a mistake, someone will let you know". This is the example, as you can see there, the clause is 'if you make a mistake' and the main clause is 'someone will let you know'. What does it mean? It means, if you make mistake *in any possible ways people could think of, someone will let you know your mistake. That the possibility. And bear in mind that the situation is real.

 Well, for the Type 2 Conditional is more like the type 1 but honestly, its different. Trust me. It is also based on time but the situation is UNREAL. Why? Why Unreal? Let see the example above. 'If it rained, you would get wet'. Well, that the clause and the main clause, but since we are discussing about conditional tense, the use 'if' is important. In this Type 2 conditional, it is not based on fact. It more to the hypothetical condition with the probable result. Let say if it rained and I would get wet. Would I? there two things that we could ask back, 1, its not going to be rained, 2, i have my umbrella. So, would I get well. This is where the 'what is' questions would easily slipped from our own mouth when we want to have argument. Yes. But in terms of grammar, that is the clause and the main clause. It is just based on the hypothetical conditions where we do not even know what might happen. will it rain today? Right? now you know.

 Now, the Type 3 Conditional, it is used in past perfect and the main clause is the perfect conditional. This one is very darn tricky. Hahaha.. i had to read a few times to understand it. Well, the nature of this Type 3 Conditional is UNREAL. The time is obviously, past. Let see this other example, 

"If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party."(But you didn't, and I have). This is usually comes with hatred. Hahaha... you want to tell the thing but then you choose to tell someone about it but then you denied it. Eff you! hahahaha.. Ask yourself, you might have done this before. Well, somehow it connected. Let see another example, refer the picture above, 'If you have worked harder, you would have passed the exam'. Would you? Even if you worked harder, would you passed the exam? Somehow, this Type 3 conditional sentences are more likely to get away from the situation. Awkward situation. Yes. And try to pamper people. This Type 3 conditional sentences. Bear in mind, contrary to reality, unreal, opposite. Obviously, two faces would love this type. hahaha...

Well, this one is mixed between two types. Type 2 and Type 3. But the result is in the present and in the past is unreal and the reality is what you already passed. Well, complicated?  A bit, yes. Let see the example given. "If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now". Can you see that? Its quite easy, now we look the words one by one. The if' clause is past perfect and the main clause is present conditional, we look at the past perfect first, 'If I had worked harder at school...' Well, since it is past perfect, we know he was not a good grader at school, right? And the second one, "...I would have a better job now'. Another negative meaning implied, well, obviously, we know that he have good job but he might me tired of his job. Who knows right? So, there you go. Understood already eyh? hehe...

No doubt its quite complicated. But we need to read it. I have this a little bit easy-to-understand sheet. 

'If' is often used in a Conditional Clause. We use the Simple Present tense in Conditional Clauses to show that things are likely to happen. The other clauses are the Simple Future Tense.

There is another Conditional Clause. The use of Simple Past tense in Conditional Clauses to show that things unlikely to happen. The other clauses are used in the Present Conditional tense (would or should + an infinitive).

Sooo? how? okay? hahaha... *broken English a bit. No matter what, we need to read more, since English language is not our mother tongue. Well, some of us, not me. My mother tongue is Malay. So, speak Malay lah? Gitu? hehehe..

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: its not that hard but reading brings joy to myself actually.

Source one
source two
source three
source four

Entertainment is one of the best way to learn English.

Assalamualaikum wbt,

I really want to thank Friso Gold commercial for featuring Bai Ann's song, The Incredible Journey because, today, I heard my nephew sings it to my ears today, and whenever the song comes out, they actually remember the melody and also the lyrics. 

So, congratulations to Friso Gold for doing great in the commercial.

I too have downloaded the amazing song from the internet and seriously, the song was soothing and yet very harmonious, I really love it.

It actually shows that, learning is at it best when it comes to music. I too learn *and still learning English language through music. Well, there are people learning English through games so, I could easily conclude that, learning languages (English) is at it best when it comes to entertainment. Obviously, people especially children love entertainment.

Since they were toddlers, most of the parents were singing them songs, then they bigger, the parents give them handphones, Ipads and what not to their children so that they could learn something from it. And when they managed to be able to tap on these touch screens gadgets, they are able to actually play something and most of the apps on the internet are in English, so, there you goes, my explanation is valid for present times. Haha...

But, those for children these days, but for me, I was not like that. I learned from books, tv, musics, lyrics *i even have lyric books, both Malay and English language. I just want to learn. That is all, I think, my passion is just English language. Why? I've tried to learn other languages, like Mandarin, French, German, but I just could not, but hey, nothing wrong with that right? hahaha..

So, that is all for now.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: I definitely getting my groove back.

Hobbies, what are yours?

Assalamualaikum WBT,

When we talk about hobby, people would easily say things they usually do when they have spare time. Yup, that the meaning of hobby, "thing (s) we do when we have spare time", I think so. Never mind.

I too have hobby. In fact, I have loads of them. Really. Yes. I love to sing, I am not considering it to be my career but if I have the opportunity, why not right? But, I love singing, and I would consider it as a hobby, yes. Love it. 

Do wish to see me sing? Feel free to click this link, this is my Keek and you can also comment on my Keek and I would love to hear it from you too. Thanks. akmallrazlan    

yup, I too love writing. Well, before blogging world was introduce to me, I did not even know what is blog, I just open them and I did not know I have been reading them for so long and in year 2010, it was introduced to me by my lecturer well, he asked me and some of my friends to do a Public Relations some kind of blog and to accept the challenge, I said yes and here I am, blogging about personal stuff. Asking me what happened to the PR blog? Well, I would say its a long story. Sorry, not interested to write something so formal. Nope, just not my thing. No. To present, I still blogging. Love it. Consider it as a pure interest hobby.

I too love reading. Reading would always be my long time favourite, since I can read, I love it very much. I still remember, I even borrow books from the library for week just to read the books again and again and again. Well, I just have this emotional thingy attached to the books. Sometimes, I just renewed the borrowing periods for certain time and it is waay long time, trust me.

Well, I think that is enough, a few hobbies would do, how about you? What are your hobbies. Why plural? I truly believe that no one has only one hobby. Pants of fire.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

p/s: nighty nite people.

Contrastive Analysis Progress Test.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you do? It has been a long time eyh? Well, I want to share with you on this one subject. I took this subject during my 7th term or 8th term, I am sorry, I do not really remember. Sorry. Well, the subject was Contrastive Analysis. To be honest, I do love learning it, still, I am glancing and reading the book, even though, I am not taking any courses on language now. This was the first progress test on the subject.

Let me give you the questions and the answer *my answers.

1. What is Error Analysis?

The meaning of Error Analysis is the study of types and causes of errors. Meaning here, learning error analysis is able to analyse the error committed by the speakers or writers. For example, if a Spanish speaker uttered a sentence which we know has error, "She comed yesterday". It means here, we can analysed the types of errors and also the causes of error. As you can see in the example given, there is no 'comed' word and it is wrong and it is under Intralingual (the causes) is Ignorance of Rules. Therefore, by learning Error Analysis we can detect the errors committed by the speakers and writers.

*it anyone's game actually. 

2. What is the major defect of Contrastive Analysis?

Contrastive Analysis claims that all errors made in learning the Second Language could be attributed to interference by the first language. It is seen that the theory is challenged for that many errors predicted by Contrastive Analysis is not observed in learner's language. Some errors made by learners were not through the interference of the first language. Some of them, not all. In Contrastive Analysis, we have to analyse the two value languages. It means here languages have its own systems. Therefore, we will have hard time analysing the mistakes because of the language systems. It is also because of the transfer of first language in learning the second language.

3. Give THREE reasons why the second language learners' errors are significant.

a. They ( the Second Language learners) served as devices by which the learners discovered the rules of the target language.

b. The Second Language learners provided the researchers with evidence of how the language was learned.

c. They provided the researchers with information about how much the learners have learned.

4. Explain briefly the FOUR steps of Error Analysis.

a. Data Collection

In Analysing the errors, for the first step, we must collect the data. In data collection, we can collect both ways, either written form or verbal form (speaking). We can collect the data from random respondents. It is also concern with the field that we want to study. It depends on the Target Language and also the Native Language.  

b. Error Identification

After we collect the data, we need to actually identify the errors committed in speaking or written forms. In identifying the errors, we need to have the competency in the Target Language for example understand or master the grammar, morphology, syntax, lexical and so forth. For example, back to the example that I used in the question before, "She comed yesterday". We can easily identify the error straight away because we know the correct form of the sentence. *If only we have good understanding on the grammar and also the technical terms. The speaker or writer committed intralanguage error which means he/she must have been influenced by the Rules of Target Language. The correct  form is "She came yesterday".

c. Error Description

After we identify the errors, we need to describe the errors. We need to put the error in the correct item. As in the above example "She comed yesterday", the writer/speaker has committed the error in tenses. He/she made error might because  of his/her background but this intralanguage error, which means he/she has been influenced by the rules of Target Language ( TL ).

d. Data Explanation

After done with all the three steps above, we need to do is data explanation. In explaining the data, we need to consider all of our own knowledge that we mastered in the target language. We need to include the source, the causes of errors committed by the speakers or writers. We also need to add on whether the speakers or writers committed  what type of errors (interlanguage errors, intralanguage errors, avoidance or ignorance).

5. According to Richards (1974),  intralingual and developmental errors are caused by several factors. Explain, with TWO examples, the ignorance of rule restrictions factor.

The ignorance of rule restrictions factor is when the speakers or writers or both ignored the rule restrictions in the target language. The speaker, or writers or both tend to omit the rules of the Target Language. As for the example, in the sentence, "I eating'. In the sentence, we all understand the meaning of the sentence but the speakers or writers or both have OMIT/IGNORED the morpheme 'am'. He or she/ they have ignored the rule restrictions factor. Those who have the basic grammar will know about the error committed but for those who do not obtain the knowledge about the basic grammar of English language would easily concluded that the sentence 'I eating' is correct because they understood the meaning of the sentence but the truth is, its wrong. 'I' must have 'am' because it is always and forever like that. So in 'He does...', we cannot omit or change the system to 'I is ______ .' It can not be like that. Ignorance of rule restrictions under intralingual (types of errors).

The second example would be 'I comed yesterday'. Here, the error occurred is ignorance or rule restrictions. Even though, we know the meaning but the omitter ignored the rules of tenses. In English (Target Language), it is a tense (time) language, where we need to follow the rules of tenses. There are three major tenses, past tense,  present tense and future tense. Therefore, to utter such sentence like 'I comed yesterday' is wrong because there is another form of (past tense) the word 'came' to show past tense because it is the rule. If we do not use the rules/system which have/has been recognised for so long, we can assume that comitters have reached the level we called 'fossilised'.

Done, that is all! This subject was taught by Dr Kamariah. Thanks Dr.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Watching Twilight.

Basic Principles in Applying Effective Communication Skills.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you do? I am so very sorry for writing this late, I just get the ideas to write, so, here I am, writing again. 

Well, for this entry, I am not going to write about language, but I am going to write about Communication. Yes, effective communication. I did learn on communication during my uni life. Yes. Communication is important but effective communication far more important than just communicate. 

Alright, there are several things that we need to know when we want to communicate effectively. 

1. Start any conversation with warm sincere smiles on the face.

How to make warm sincere smiles? Hey, use your phone camera or mirror that you have with you all the time to practice. Practice makes perfect right? Smile always the perfect tool to start a conversation, with smiling we would easily know that the person who we want to talk with is a good human being. That would be the first impression, at least. 

Well, let say you want to talk to a person in front of you. But then, you do not know what would be the topic to talk about. First thing that you need to do is, smile. That would create the biggest magic ever, then, you need to look at his/her appearance or look at her/his preference. Who knows that his/her preferences might be the same with you right? Then, start talking girl. 

2. A greeting with a proper handshake.

That smile you gave in the beginning is already great, but please, do not shake like you want to sign a three million contracts. Please, you barely know the person that you want to talk with *apply this to strangers them, but you use a big physical contact. Hey, this is not rugby. Take note people. The best way to make a handshake is to actually practice with shake your own hand. Feel your grip and if you think that your grip is too tight, so, do think that other people could bear your bear grip handshake? Think back okay? The proper handshake would be best described as a slightly downwards position, handgrip with a light-firm effect. 

3. The eyes and ears.

Your eyes and ears actually the biggest advantages and could be also be your biggest disadvantages. Why? Please, when you communicate with people, do not look other way, or make other people uncomfortable. Why? Like you were talking but then, other people were looking at other things and not you. What do you feel? Ashamed? Wondering? Angry? So, that would other people feel when you do the same.

Listen and hear others, trust me, they will listen and hear you too. 

4. Respect and trust.

Respect and trust always be the best tool in communicate effectively. Why? When you respect others, people will respect you back, but, when you talk bad about others, eventually, people will know you colours. 

Trust actually comes from your very words. So, please separate things that want to share and things that you need to keel for yourself. Do not be plastic, why? Because, eventually, people do not want plastic to ruin the environment. Be like a tree, see everything and shades other people. *what the heck I am talking about? Well, you got the point right? So, next! 

5. Always start with positive thought in mind.

Yes, it is actually really hard to do this, why? Because, not all people has fresh start everyday right? What ever it is, at least try to be positive mind okay? Yes, its hard but it is not impossible. 

6. Remember names.

This is actually a very hard thing to do. Why? If you are like me, I am a person who has good imaginary mind, I tend to remember faces rather than names. So, well, it is not like we have to describe people using their faces but at least, try to remember their names. If its hard to do, try to ask other people on their nicknames or, try to put one great name to remember their nicknames. For example, you friend's name is Heidi and try to take one unique character about her and put that to her name and see how it goes. It its did not work, just use 'darling', or 'honey', or 'sister' or anything else, meanwhile you'd better look for their names, okay? Do not hesitate to ask about their personal too, who knows it can be the trigger point to remember their names.

7. Thank you.

Say thank you. That would conclude EVERYTHING. It shows how mature your are and how good your are to people. But remember to watch out your tone when say 'thank you', it is an easy word to say but with using different tones, it would easily kill the mood. Sincere tone and sarcastic tone is actually very different tones. Please, take note, okay? as usual, practice makes perfect.

Well, that is all for now. Thank you to Uzaimah binti Ahmad Nizam for writing very nice articles. Her column is Communication English, VARSITI. Love her column, she helped me a lot. 

Assalamualaikum WBT,

p/s: we Moslem, can start with 'Assalamualaikum' to start a conversation, that would be best tool. Yes.

The Principles of Newspeak; The B Vocabulary.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

I am so sorry for not writing for quite sometimes, well, for those who read my blog, thank you very much. I love you so much, thank you. I have no words to express my great feeling.

Well, in the last entry, I wrote about The Principles of Newspeak. I did write about the first part of the principles, it actually have two more. The second one would be The B vocabulary. It is consisted of words which had been deliberately constructed for political purposes : words, that is to say, which not only had in every case a political implication, but were intended to impose a desirable mental attitude upon the person using them. 

To be honest, without a full understanding of the principles of Ingsoc it was difficult to use these word correctly. Well, I have problems to understand them too, hahha.. no kidding. To use something that really alien to use is actually hard eyh? The B words were a sort of verbal shorthand, often packing whole ranges of ideas into a few syllables, and at the same time more accurate and forcible than ordinary language. The B words were in all cases compound words.

They consisted of two or more words, or portions of words, welded together in an easily pronounceable form. The resulting amalgam was always a noun-verb, inflected according to the ordinary rules. Take this one example, the word goodthink, meaning very roughly, 'orthodoxy', or, if one chose to regard it as a verb, 'to think in an orthodox manner'. This inflected as follows; noun-verb, goodthink; past tense and past participle, goodthinked; present participle, goodthinking; adjective, goodthinkful; adverb, goodthinkwiser; verbal noun, goodthinker. These are just fron one example. Irregular formations of words in the B words are common. No word in the B vocabulary was ideologically neutral. A great many were euphemisms.

This is one important fact o Newspeak, euphony outweighed every consideration other than exactitude of meaning. Regularity of grammar was always sacrificed to it when it seemed necessary. For those who master Newspeak, they would be a really great note-taker, journalist. Why? Because they could easily understand things in Oldspeak and easily rephrase in Newspeak, right? 

If you can see, we have only few words to choose from this is because, Newspeak's vocabulary was tiny and new ways of reducing it were constantly being devised. Newspeak's lexical are actually increasing year by year and there is one famous word in Newspeak which is duckspeak. Meaning, people talked without even using their own brains. In other words, 'to quack like a duck". Well, you know duck? They quacking and making weird, loud sounds, but then, there is nothing. 

Well, I think that is enough for now. To be honest, this topic is not an easy topic. Plus, I surely do not use Newspeak in my everyday life. Well, I might but my language was called sarcasm. hahha, I used that a lot. 

Assalamualaikum WBT

ref : 'The Principles of Newspeak' written by George Orwell 1948.

p/s: To be honest, I need to read more about this. Yes!

The Principles of Newspeak.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Well, well, well... I am back again with more new information. After Malaysia's 13th General Election, dramas, dramas and dramas. Hahaha.. Well, whatever it is, the results were out and Barisan Nasional is back AGAIN to rule Malaysia. *sigh? hahaha.. I do not know. I wish for better Malaysia, I love Malaysia, but then.. Well, enough! 

Now, I am going to write about Newspeak. Do you know what is Newspeak? Well, Newspeak was official language of Oceania, and it had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc. What is Ingsoc? Ingsoc is English Socialism. Ingsoc is also a Newspeak, Eng-lish and Soc-alism so, Ingsoc. In the year, 1984, there was not as yet anyone who used Newspeak as his sole means of communication, either in speech or writing. The leading articles of the Times were written in it, but this was a tour de force which could only carried out by specialist. It was expected that Newspeak would have finally superseded Oldspeak (or standard English language, as we should call it) by about the year 2050. 

Meanwhile, Newspeak gained ground steadily, all party members tending to use Newspeak words and grammatical constructions more and more in their everyday speech. The purpose of Newspeak was not only provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible. It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought -- that is, a thought diverging from the principles of Ingsoc -- should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought it dependent on words. 

Its vocabulary was constructed as to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning that a party member could properly wish to express, while excluding all other meaning and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods. This was done partly by the invention of new words, but chiefly by eliminating undesirable words and stripping such words as remained of unorthodox meanings, and so far as possible of all secondary meaning whatever.

Let us see an example, the word free still existed in Newspeak, but could only be used in such statements as "The dog is free from lice" or "This field is free from weeds." It could not be used in its old sense of "politicaly free" or "intellectually free", since political in intellectual freedom are no longer existed even as concepts, and therefore it is necessity nameless. Newspeak was designed not to extend but to diminish the range of thought, and this purpose was indirectly assisted by cutting the choice of words down to a minimum. 

Newspeak was founded on the English language as we now know it, though many Newspeak sentences, even when not containing newly created words, would be barely intelligible to an English-speaker of our own day. Newspeak words were divided into three distinct classes, known as the A vocabulary, the B vocabulary, and the C vocabulary. It would be simpler to discuss each class separately, but the grammatical peculiarities of the language can be dealt with in the section devoted to the A vocabulary, since the same rules held good for all three categories. 

A vocabulary : words are simple, concept word.

There are two outstanding peculiarities, 1. almost complete interchangeability between different parts of speech. 2. Regularity.

Number 1 is for example, speedful meant "rapid" and the noun verb, and adverbs by adding -wise as in speedwise meant "quickly". Goodful, goodwise and so on. Other examples, could be negative by adding the affix- un-, or could be strengthened by the affix plus-, or, for still greater emphasis doubleplus-. Thus, for example, uncold meant "warm" while pluscold and doublepluscold meant, respectively, "very cold" and "superlatively cold." Given the word good, there was no need for such a word as bad, since the required meaning was equally well --indeed better-- expressed by ungood. All that was necessary, in any case where two words formed a natural pair of opposites, was to decide which of them to suppress. Dark, for example, could be replaced by Unlight, or light by undark, according to preference.

I will continue with B vocabulary and C vocabulary, plus duckspeak and more.

Read this first and be good okay, do not be ungood.

Assalamualaikum WBT

Ref : 'The Principle of Newspeak' written by George Orwell 1948. 

p/s: Need to read more.

Introduction to Psycholinguistics.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Hi, we are here again. Well, I am so sorry for not writing here, I have a lot of works needed to be done, so, since I have got the time, now I can write. In my uni life, I had a few subjects that I love learning, one of those subjects is Psycholinguistics. Yes, I love learning it.

They say, Psycholinguistics is not an easy subject to be learned. I do not know that, as long as we are interested in something, obviously, nothing could stop us right? *drama much? Please. Well, before we go any further, it is better for me to tell you a bit what psycholinguistics in brief. 

Language in general is important not only because it distinguishes human beings from all other animals on the earth but because, directly or indirectly, it makes possible the elaborate organisation of civilised society... and language in general is interesting because, although everyone knows and uses a specific language, few people understand what they know. Becoming self0-consiciously aware of what is known unself-consiciously carries a special brand of excitement. - George A. Miller

There are few main points that need to be in our minds are, 

1. Psycholinguistics is the study of how individuals comprehend, produce, and acquire language.

2. The study of psycholinguistics is part of the field of cognitive science. Cognitive science reflects the insights of psychology, linguists, and to a lesser extent, fields such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and philosophy.

3. Psycholinguistics stresses the knowledge of language and the cognitive processes involved on ordinary language use.

4. Psycholinguistics are also interested in the social rules involved in language use and the brain mechanism associated with language. 

5. Contemporary interest in psycholinguistics began in the 1950s, although important precursors existed in the 20th century.

The psychological study of language is called psycholinguistics. The diversity of how we use language is daunting for psychologists who wish to study language. How can something so widespread and far-reaching as language be examined psychologically? An important consideration is that although language is intrinsically  a social phenomenon, psychology is principally the study of individuals. They psychology of language deals with the mental processes that are involved in language use. There are three sets of processes needs to be remembered which are, language comprehension (how we perceive and understand speech and written language), language production ( how we construct an utterance for idea to completed sentence), and language acquisition (how children acquire language).

The Scope of Psycholinguistics.

Psycholinguistics is part of the emerging field of study called cognitive science. Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary venture that draws upon the insights of psychologists, linguists, computer scientist, neuroscientists , and philosophers to study the mind and mental processes. As the name implies, psycholinguistics, is principally a integration of the fields pf psychology and linguistics. Linguistics is the branch of science that studies the origin, structure, and use of language. Like most interdisciplinary fields, however, psycholinguistics has a rich heritage that includes contributions from diverse intellectual traditions. 

Language Processes and Linguistic Knowledge

There are two questions that need to be answered in psycholinguistics, one would be What knowledge of language is needed for us to use language? and other one is What cognitive processes are involved in the ordinary use of language?

In a usual sense, we know how to use a language but we are fully aware of this knowledge. A distinction may be drawn between tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge refers to the knowledge of how to perform various acts, whereas, explicit knowledge refers to the knowledge of the processes or mechanism used in these acts. We may distinguish between knowing how to speak and knowing what process are involved in producing speech. Generally speaking, much of our linguistic knowledge is tacit rather then explicit. I could simply say that tacit is the surface and explicit is the deep under the sea type of knowledge. Meaning, explicit knowledge is where we need to look deep down to actually get the knowledge, we need to learn as much as we can to gain the knowledge. For example, we know how to smile, but we do not know how many muscles are needed to make us smile right? If you know how many muscles needed to make us smile than you obtain the explicit knowledge. Easy right?

The same information as my entry in here, there are four broad areas of language knowledge, which are, Semantics, Syntax, Phonology and Pragmatics. Let me give you the brief definition on this areas. Semantics deals with the meanings of sentences and words. Syntax involves the grammatical arrangements of words within the sentences. Phonology concerns the system of sound in a language and last but not least, Pragmatics, it entails the social rules involved in language use. It is not ordinarily productive to ask people explicitly what they know about these aspects of language. 

Well, I personally think that is quite enough to digest and I will write more on this introduction to Psycholinguistics. Love it. There are a few more topics need to be written here so, I will analyse it first then, I will write it. Okay? Wait for it eyh? Thank you.

Ref : Psychology of Language by David W. Carroll.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Need time to rest. Really. Ugh.

An Introduction to Language.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you do? It has been awhile since my last entry eyh? Well, I am so sorry for writing late entry, I had to settle a few things. Well, for this entry, I would love to share with you my first year's subject, my first semester's subject, An Introduction to Language and it was taught by Dr Ee Chop Ler. 

Before I go any further, my first years was not that great actually, honestly, I did not know much about English language, but surely, I have big interest on English language. So, in order for me to catch everything up, I had to learn everything in the fast lane. Best method? Learning it from your besties who have the better English than yours and converse with them using proper English eyh?

Okay, in An Introduction of Language, I learned about the language itself. Meaning, learning how we could know and utter the words but we do not learn it. Yes, we are all intimately familiar with at least one language, right? Our own language. Yet few of us ever stop to consider what we know when we know a language. No book contains, or could possible contain, the English or Russian or Zulu language. Yes, when we learn second language we usually have the guide and the A-Z about the particular language,but when we learn our own mother tongue, sometimes, we best acquired it from the surroundings, the environments, that is for sure, indeed. Not all words from certain language can be listed in a dictionary. Speaker use a finite set of rules to produce and understand an infinite set of possible sentences.

These rules are part of the grammar of a language, which develops when you acquire the language and includes the sound system (phonology), the structure and properties of words (the morphology and lexicon), how words may be combined into phrases and sentences (the syntax), and the ways in which sounds and meanings are related (the semantics). The sounds and meanings of individual words are related in an arbitrary fashion.  Arbitrary means, when you know the language, you know the system.

Well, more explanation on arbitrary is, as far as I am concerned, the concept of arbitrary would be, when you know something, let say, a dining table. You would be able to recall the concept of dining table. It does not mean that we have the same thing on our mind but as long as it is dining table, the concept is already there, that the arbitrariness is understood. Another example, if people draw you an symbol of 'hand', then they asked you to answer it in five different languages, Malay, English, Japan, Spanish and Arabic. When you are able to answer the question, you already possessed the concept of arbitrariness. Why? Because, you know the word of 'hand' in five different language, no one could argue with you because you know the language already. Is that okay?

In all languages in the world, there will be Grammar rules. Grammar rules actually prevent from the language to extinct and also prevent the speakers of the language to be more creative in using the language without damaging the language. 

I told my lecturer about influences on language. I told her that I could easily influenced by songs both the melody and the lyrics. This actually interrelated with Sapir-Whorf hypothesis which hold that the particular language we speak determines or influences our thoughts and perceptions of the world. Let say, I am using English to speak the entire time, my way of thinking would be different. Who knows right? 

Well, to be honest, this is just the surface of the An Introduction to Language but I will write more about this. This is just a small portion on An Introduction to Language and this is just under that first chapter, 'What is Language?', so, I have a lot more to write here.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Keep on learning.

p/s: For this entry, I was using An Introduction to Language by Victoria Fromkin, Robert Rodman and Nina Hyams, the Eight Edition.