7
Aug
2009
Language and its uses
What is language?
Language is a system of representing information, ideas and feelings. It is a way of thinking and well as communicating. It is a system that encodes and decodes information through the use of symbols and sounds, each of these representing a concept. Languages can be verbal, written or visual (such as sign language). All languages in order to be coherent and understood must represent concepts through accepted symbols, define the structural relationships between these signs (grammar), the context in which they are to be used (pragmatics), and the content specificity or specific meaning depending on context (semantics).
The symbols used by language are arbitrary, the symbols or sounds used to represent things do not have any inherent meaning except for what is given to them by common agreement. This is exemplified by the verse in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1594):
“‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy; / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague./ What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, / Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part / Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! / What’s in a name? that which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet…”
Linguistics
The study of language is called linguistics, which studies various aspects of language from grammar and semantics, to morphology (the formation and composition of words), syntax (the rules of how words are combined into sentences), phonology (the study of sound systems), and phonetics (the formation and perception of sounds). These are considered fields of theoretical linguistics which focus on developing models of linguistic knowledge.
Applied linguistics refers to the study of language for practical use rather than in a simply abstract and theoretical manner. It can be used to teach language, for speech therapy and pathology, translation and so on. It uses tools such as discourse analysis, stylistics, and literary criticism to put linguistics into practice.
24
Jul
2009
Study on the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast in southeast Queensland is well known for its subtropical climate, theme parks, active nightlife, pristine beaches and tropical rainforests. It is the most populous non-capital city in Australia with approximately 10 million tourists visiting every year, making tourism the region’s biggest industry. Its sunny climate, averaging 20° C most of the year, means it is very comfortable for experiencing Surfer’s Paradise.
The Gold Coast airport provides access to domestic and international flights, with Brisbane airport only an hour away with a wider availability of international flights. One of the major attractions are the theme parks on the Gold Coast, including Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, WhiteWater World, Wet’n'Wild and Sea World. Other attractions include Tropical Fruit World which offers interactive activities and over 500 varieties of tropical fruit. There is also the WRX experience which allows you to drive specially prepared Subaru WRX STi RAlly Cars with all the latest technology.
Studying on the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is a prime destination for students with its tourist attractions and perfect climate, but also the range of universities and colleges available. It has the most universities per capita than any other city in Australia. As a city with a booming economy in tourism there are many job opportunities for either part-time or full-time work, especially with the huge variety of cafes, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and shopping centres. There is also a huge range of accommodation to choose from, from exclusive hotels to beachside apartments and hostel accommodation. There are plenty of extracurricular activities to get involved in from music events, to sports, cultural festivals, and sightseeing. For example, there is the Nikon Indy 300 motorsports festical, the ANZ Ladies Masters Golf, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, and surfing competitions such as the Quiksilver.
24
Jul
2009
Studying in Queensland
Queensland, Australia
Queensland is a northern state of Australia, bordered by New South Wales to the south, the Northern Territory to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, and the Torres Strait to the north. As the second largest state there is significant variation in climates across it, from tropical to the north to temperate along the coast, and cooler inland. However as most of Queensland’s population lives in the southeast (Brisbane, Toowoomba, Ispwitch, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts) they experience two main seasons: a warm and dry winter followed by a hot, humid and wet summer. The capital of Queensland is Brisbane, and its principle industries are tourism, cattle grazing, mining and agriculture (sugar cane, bananas).
Why study in Queensland?
Queensland is a great place to studybecause it offers more than an academic experience. If you are coming to Australia to study English, Queensland offers some spectacular sights and experiences that will enrich your studies. These include the Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, the northern tropical islands, and the world-renown beaches of the Gold Coast. The Daintree Rainforest is located at Cape Tribulation and is the largest tropical rainforest in Australia. It is also a Heritage listed site because it is home to the largest range of planets and animals in the world, as well as being the oldest rainforest in the world.
The Great Barrier Reef is also a Heritage listed site that you can explore on a glass-bottomed boat or by scuba diving or snorkeling. It is the world’s largest coral reef system, located in the Coral Sea and composed of over 2900 reefs and 900 islands. Queensland also covers many of the Torres Strait Islands. Other World Heritage listed areas in Queensland include: the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites at Riversleigh in the Gulf Country and Fraser Island.