Learning English as a second language

People using language only to convey information are usually indifferent to the sounds of the words and may feel frustrated by their connotations and multiple denotations. They would rather confine each word to a single, exact meaning. They use, one might say, a fraction of the word and throw away the rest. Poets, on the other hand, use as much of the word as possible. They are interested in connotation and use it to enrich and convey meaning. And they may rely on more than one denotation. Perhaps the purest form of practical language is scientific language. Scientists need a precise language to convey information precisely. The existence of multiple denotations and various overtones of meaning may interfere with this purpose. As a result of this, scientists have even devised special "language" such as the following:

                                                                SO₂ + H₂O = H₂SO₃

In such a statement the symbols are entirely unambiguous; they have been stripped of all connotations and of all denotations but one. The word sulfurous, if it occurred in poetry, might have all kinds of connotations: fire, smoke, brimstone, hell, damnation. But H₂SO₃ means one thing and one thing only: sulfurous acid.

The ambiguity and multiplicity of meanings possessed by words might be an obstacle to the scientist, but they are advantage for the poet who seeks richness of meaning. One resource for that is a multidimensional language using a multidimensional vocabulary, in which the dimensions of connotation and sound are added to the dimension of denotation.

The poet, we may say, plays on many-stringed instrument and sounds more than one note at a time.

The first task in reading poetry, therefore, as in reading any kind of literature, is to develop a sense of language, a feeling for words. One needs to become acquainted with their shape, their color, and their flavor. Two of the ways of doing this are extensive use of the dictionary and extensive reading.  

Meditation

Private religious devotion or mental exercise, in which techniques of concentration and contemplation are used to reach a heightened level of spiritual awareness.

The practice has existed in all religions since ancient times. In Hinduism it has been systematized in the school of Yoga. One aspect of Yoga, dhyana (Sanskrit: "concentrated meditation"), gave rise to a school of its own among the Buddhists, becoming the basis of Zen. In many religions, meditation involves verbal or mental repetition of a single syllable, word, or text (e.g., a mantra). Visual images (e.g., a mandala) or mechanical devices such as prayer wheels or rosaries can be useful in focusing concentration. In the 20th century, movements such as Transcendental Meditation emerged to teach meditation techniques outside a religious context.

Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Spiritual development technique developed and promoted by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a former Hindu ascetic.

A movement that became popular in the West in the 1960s, it is based on specific meditation techniques and is not strictly connected with any religious tradition, though the perspective behind it has roots in Vedanta. Practice entails the mental repetition of a mantra in order to still the activity of thought and experience a deeper level of consciousness. Through this process, the practitioner finds deep relaxation, which can lead to inner joy, vitality, and creativity.

Relaxation Through Meditation

My preference would be to call meditation relaxation – conscious relaxation, chosen relaxation. These are words that are more universally understood, more comfortable. Constantly working toward the goal of discovering my own ability to reach a state of serenity, I have learned to meditate.

Meditating is actually easier than you might imagine. Most of us have dabbled in meditation by participating in conscious relaxation. Maybe during an exercise class or to manage pain at the dentist or anxiety before a test. We start by paying attention to our breathing. The practical effort to focus completely on our breathing takes our minds away from the "mind clutter" that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind – to think of nothing, does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is, and I guarantee this, peace, serenity, calmness, eventually opening yourself to new insights.

Meditating for Life

Too much stress, stress reduction, chill out, let it go, detach – familiar phrases to all of us. Our world is fast, fun and exciting. It is also challenging, trying, demanding and frightening. These two sides of our lives produce stress, emotional reactions, anxiety, worry and anticipation. Our bodies and minds can tolerate only so much of any of these. After a while, each of us reaches a saturation point and the results become uncomfortable at best; for some it may be unbearable, even unendurable.

No magic pill is available to eliminate these feelings. The reality is, as the wise old man said, the answer is inside all of us. To manage these universal concerns we must go inside ourselves. Among the steps we can take is the learning and practicing of meditation.

What to Expect

With time and faith in the commitment to practice frequently, (daily meditating is ideal), during your meditation time you may "leave the moment." A feeling of separation exists where the mind is clear, clean and blank. You will still hear sounds around you, but they will not interfere with your meditation.

Sometimes you may weep -- you may not even be aware of what is making you weep. It is your own emotions having a voice of their own. Sometimes you may feel a smile across your face -- that is contentment showing itself. Sometimes you may fall asleep and awaken truly refreshed.

There is no right or wrong behavior during your meditation. It is your time for you. Everyone deserves this kind of personal attention. This is a self-care activity; loving oneself! Teach it to your children instead of a time-out in their room or corner. Teach it to your friends, family, anyone who will listen. We can share this gift and get back as we give. We are all better because of each person who meditates. The peace and joy felt by those who meditate enters the world for all of us as positive energy. From it the world is a better place. Imagine if we all practiced meditation!

 منبع: http://www.learningmeditation.com/

In the name of Allah

Here are some of the important words that are confused to be chosen by users:

 Imply  verb (implies, implying, implied) indicate by suggestion rather than explicit reference.

 Infer verb (infers, inferring, inferred) deduce from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.

A writer or speaker implies; a reader or listener infers. An implication is a meaning hinted at but not stated outright. An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence not complete enough for proof.

 e.g: If you imply that I am a snob, I may infer that you do not like me.

According to the proverb “Some people believe what they just see.”

((Be as an intransitive verb)) ===> Inference

Is used to equal in meaning: have the same connotation (inferred meaning) as:

●SYMBOLIZE●

For example:  ==> Love is a symbol for believing or understanding God.

Concept:

 According to the inference, that is a conclusion drawn from evidence. The mentioned sentence has been narrow-mindedly made by humans. That is to say there has been just 99 attributes made by humans.

Or: According to evidence.

In Persian, this usage is said ‘اضافه ی اقتران’ :

For instance: دست (به نشان) دریغ <== دست دریغ  

symbolizes  به نشان =  (نشان پردازی کردن) 

CAUSE + verb ‘to be’ + EFFECT

((Some sentences can be implied or stated)) ===> Implication

For example:

Stated: Our friends were late for the concert last night.

Denotation, Connotation, Sound

 A primary distinction between the practical use of language and the literary use is that in literature, especially in poetry, a fuller use is made of individual word.

   Sound

The average word has three component parts: Denotation

 Connotation

It begins as a combination of tones and noises, uttered by the lips, tongue, and throat, for which the written word is a notation. But it differs from a musical tone or a noise in that it has a meaning attached to it. The basic part of this meaning is its denotation or denotations: that is, the dictionary meaning or meanings of the word. Beyond its denotations, a word may also have connotations. The connotations are what it suggests beyond what it expresses: its overtones of meaning. It acquires these connotations from its past history and associations, from the way and the circumstances in which it has been used. The word home, for instance, by denotation means only a place where one lives, but by connotation it suggests security, love, comfort, and family. The words Childlike and Childish both mean “characteristic of a child” but Childlike suggests meekness, innocence, and wide-eyed wonder, while Childish suggests pettiness, will fullness and temper tantrums. If we list the name of different coins:

 Nickel, peso, lira, shilling, sen, doubloon

The word doubloon, to four out of five readers, immediately will suggest pirates though a dictionary definition includes nothing about pirates. Pirates are part of its connotation.

 Connotation is very important in poetry, for it is one of the means by which the poet concentrate or enrich meaning _say more in fewer words.

So, the dictionary meanings give denotation, but Connotation is made by what a reader or listener infers. That is, connotation equals to circumstantial evidence. It can be used in poetry. Some poets such as Akhavan Saales, Nima Yushij, use natural elements. They use tree, sky, sun, and others similar to refer to unorganized circumstances and impasses occurred at their time period.

Structure:

 connotation : con + notation = reading carefully as a result of a tendency to understand more  by notation.

 Denotation : de + notation = independence of notation in order to limit understanding

A poetry from Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)

There is no frigate like a book

There’s no Frigate like a book

To take us lands away

Nor any coursers like a page.

Of prancing poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of toll –

How frugal is the chariot

That bears the human soul

What is your survey about the poetry?

برداشت شما از این شعر چیست؟

برای دانلود pdf این مقاله اينجا  کلیک کنید.

برای گوش دادن به متن تبدیل شده به صدا، دکمه ی play را فشار دهید.

Here are some tips on how to become a good writer. It takes time, perseverance and practice but with patience, good practical approaches and determination, you can turn your creative desire into concrete writing.

Steps

1. Write every day. Write when you just wake up. Instead of longer writing sessions, try writing in little paragraphs or phrases all throughout the day. You can build on this practice. Work up to longer writing sessions.
2. Read all sorts of things, but really take the time to dig into an old-fashioned book. Regular reading will influence your style, tastes, background, and ideas. It will also help expand your vocabulary and improve your grammar.
   • Determine what is good writing and what is not. Find your literary heroes. Read both historical and contemporary authors.
   • Read a variety of topics and styles, with a focus on styles or genres in which you wish to write.
   • Make good use of your local library, both as a source of a variety of reading materials and as a resource.
3. Expand your vocabulary. Read books, especially newspapers daily. If possible, reading a dictionary or thesaurus can also be very useful.
   • Even if your vocabulary is not as large as you'd like, write in words that you know. Using fancier words doesn't make you a better writer, especially not if you are straining to use them or the result seems hackneyed or overwritten. Writing can be fascinating without being complicated or flowery.
4. Review your grammar. While you shouldn't get hung up on grammar on your first draft of something, you should certainly be able to edit and come out with clean copy. The most enjoyable way to improve your grammar is simply to read lots of good writing. Eventually, things will start to sound or feel right or wrong to you. You should also formally review grammar. If you have a fairly good intuitive grasp of it, try reading The Elements of Style, by William Strunk^[1]. It's a slim volume that covers the most common errors.
5. Get 2 notebooks. One is a 'Vocabulary Notebook', the other an 'Inspirational Notebook'.
   • In your Vocabulary Notebook, write down new words and their meanings, and also some mnemonics (memory tips). If you like, also write interesting uses of words that you see.
   • In the Inspirational Notebook, write down bits and pieces from your daily life, like a fun conversation you overheard in the mall, or a joke a friend told you. This can also be a diary/journal. When something you read makes you laugh, or think, or tempts you to read it out loud to someone, try to figure out just why that caught your attention. Keep a list of these incidents.
   • Jot down ideas whenever they occur to you. Don't throw something out just because it seems strange or you don't like it.
6. Join online or neighborhood writing groups.
7. Brainstorm before starting to write. Go straight for the throat of the story or the main idea. Put down any idea, even if it is far-fetched or unlikely to be fruitful. You never know when an unusual idea might work or prompt another, better idea.
8. Consider the purpose and main idea for each piece you write. It will help to focus your writing.
9. Plan your writing, especially for factual writing. Use whatever technique works best for you. You can make an outline, put a collection of notes on cards and arrange them until they are in order, or draw a tree or map. It is possible to organize a broad topic very quickly with a tree or map structure.
10. Write as fast as you can for the first draft. If you can type without looking at the keyboard, do so. Don't stop to fix things now. Write at least a few paragraphs before going back and correcting or editing.
11. Do your homework. Whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction, do your research. Research is incredibly important for non-fiction writing, because facts must be true. It is also important for fiction because you want your novel or short story to sound plausible. Collect all the relevant information regarding the subject about which you have decided to write. Think of the sources from which you could gather more information on the subject: Your library, your friends, television, Internet, your professors etc. Approach all of them and collect a lot, so that your knowledge of the subject will be deepened.
    • Take it easy on the research at first if you're writing fiction, according to your style and your subject. You may find it is best to do the main points of the plot, then fill in details for color. On the other hand, the details may drive the course of the story.
12. Be specific. In most cases, it's best just to say what you want to say, rather than hinting, implying, or over-generalizing. On the other hand, try to include only the relevant details. Anything more is just clutter.
13. Tailor your writing to your purpose and your audience. Just as you change your clothing for the weather and the occasion, so you should change your writing for your audience and your message. Flowery writing, for example, might fit better in a poem than in a status report. If you think anybody in your audience will have difficulty reading or understanding your writing, keep your words simple and your sentences a moderate length.
    • Be careful of jargon and assumptions about what your audience knows. If you are writing about a subject you know well, it is very likely that you know something about it that they don't. Work on explaining things in language that everybody (or everybody reading your work) will understand.
14. Edit your writing. Once you have a first copy down on paper, reread it and rewrite it. You are not only looking for grammar and spelling, but also style, content, organization, and coherence.
    • Editing is an iterative process. You may edit a piece many times.
    • Give yourself time between writing and editing, if at all possible. Longer is better, but even a short break can give you some of the necessary distance and detachment to edit well.
15. Have someone else read your writing. If at all possible, get a second set of eyes to read your writing, too. Choose someone you trust to be forthright and frank.
16. Make sure that people understand and interpret your writing the way you intend. Try it on a test audience and see how they react.

 Tips

• Just write! It doesn't matter if it feels blocked or looks like gobbledygook to begin with; let the words flow out and things will begin to take shape. Leave for a few days and come back. You will see something in what you have written and be able to start transforming it.
• Read about writing. There are many good books on the subject for a variety of writing styles and genres.
• Write to a particular audience, even if it is imaginary (people 100 years in the future) or general (people who don't know this subject yet). Having an audience in mind will help immensely to focus your writing.
• Choose a particular purpose for your writing. It will help you to have focus.
• Experiment. If you normally write short fiction, try a poem now and then. Write nonfiction sometimes.
• Write letters. Letters are an excellent way to practice writing. The Internet makes it easier than ever to find a pen-pal with similar interests in another country. Besides writing practice, you'll very probably get a new perspective, as well.
• Follow your inspiration. Have you ever felt driven to write? Have you ever had an idea that wouldn't leave you alone until you got it down on paper? Keep a notebook handy and write, write, write. At least scribble some notes for later.
• Follow your heart. Write about what is most important to you. What gets your goat? What inspires you?
• Conquer the blank page. If you don't know what to write, start writing anything at all. Even if you start with "This is boring and I don't know what to write," you may soon find yourself wandering into writing something more.
• Make lists. If you're warming up or just doodling around looking for ideas, make lists of interesting things. Here are some topics to get you started:
  • Questions you'd ask somebody famous
  • Things you would do if there were no risk
  • Things to do with a million dollars
  • Names you'd give an exotic pet.

Warnings

• Have a room or a space to write in. Distractions are dangerous to a writer.
• Don't skip out on writing time for something else. It's tricky to catch up, and missed time piles up quickly.

Things You'll Need

• Books
• 2 Notebooks
• pencils
• pencil sharpeners
• A vivid imagination

Source: WikiHow