Latest news with #Yoda
Hans India
3 days ago
- General
- Hans India
How linguistic shapes learning and culture
Imagine an eight-year-old greeting her grandmother with a word unheard for decades. Without realising it, she is breathing life into a nearly extinct language—what linguists call 'back to basilection.' In that moment, history isn't just remembered; it is spoken. This power of language forces us to rethink how communication, culture, and education are deeply intertwined. The role of linguistics in learning Linguistics is more than memorising grammar rules—it's the study of how language works. By understanding phonetics (how sounds are formed), learners master pronunciation and accents. Studying syntax, morphology, and semantics enables them to build clear, precise sentences and expand vocabulary. This awareness enriches literary skills, empowering both individuals and societies. 'Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.' — Rita Mae Brown Syntax: The structure that guides meaning Like a road map for travellers, syntax is the framework that guides meaning. It dictates the order of words for clarity, logic, and cultural expression. Examples: 1. Correct Syntax (English) – The quick brown cat jumps over the lazy dog. (Subject → Verb → Object) 2. Incorrect Syntax – Jumps cat the over lazy dog brown quick the. (Meaning collapses when rules break.) 3. Cultural Nuance – Yoda's 'Powerful you have become' uses unconventional order to express character identity. Why it matters: Proper syntax avoids confusion ('Let's eat, Grandma!' vs. 'Let's eat Grandma!') and reveals how different languages—like Japanese (SOV) or Welsh (VSO)—shape worldview. 'Syntax is the skeleton of language; without it, meaning collapses.' — Noam Chomsky Branches of linguistics in education • Phonetics: How speech sounds are made. • Phonology: How sounds function within a language. • Morphology: Structure of words (un-happy-ness = three morphemes). • Syntax: Sentence arrangement. • Semantics: How meaning shifts with words (bank as a financial place or river edge). • Sociolinguistics: Dialects, code-switching, and speech patterns in different contexts. • Pragmatics: How tone and situation affect meaning ('Good boy' as praise vs. sarcasm). • Psycholinguistics: Identifying and addressing language disorders such as dyslexia or stuttering. • Applied & Computational Linguistics: Using technology to analyse and teach language. Real-world impact: Reviving languages In New Zealand, the Māori language was fading until linguists and educators introduced it in schools through phonetic training, syntax practice, and cultural immersion. Today, over 125,000 people speak Māori fluently—a testament to how linguistics can save heritage. 'A different language is a different vision of life.' — Federico Fellini Conclusion Linguistics transforms education by making language learning intuitive, preserving cultural identity, and supporting learners with special needs. It bridges generations, strengthens communication, and deepens understanding—reminding us that language is not just a tool, but the essence of human connection.
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams DC Chris Shula called this veteran the 'Yoda' of the secondary
The Los Angeles Rams are known for their young defensive line, but their secondary features a mix of veterans with a lot of NFL games under their belts. One of the most experienced members of the group is cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who's entering his ninth season and third with the Rams. Witherspoon, 30, re-signed with the Rams this offseason on another one-year deal to round out the cornerback room. And while his role isn't defined yet on the field, defensive coordinator Chris Shula sees a specific role Witherspoon will have on the sideline and in the locker room: Yoda, the iconic character from Star Wars. "He's like the savvy leader, the veteran," Shula said at training camp this week. "He is almost like the Yoda of that room if you know his personality." We've been wanting him the whole time and as far as the timing or anything, I'm not really sure.'" Witherspoon only started five games in 2024 after being a 17-game starter the year before, so he should serve as a key mentor for players like Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes and Derion Kendrick. The other elder statesman of the group, 32-year-old Darious Williams, should be the Rams' top cornerback. Witherspoon began his career playing against the Rams with the San Francisco 49ers. He played four years there before playing two for the Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Rams, starting in 2023. Witherspoon has 12 career interceptions, 58 defended passes and 235 combined tackles in 90 games.
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Abandoned dog waited 1,000 days for loving home. Then his wish finally came true
A sweet and active pup named Yoda has certainly been through the ringer. After being the star of a Mokena shelter since 2023, he finally thought he found a home, only to be left behind a short time later. But now, nearly 1,000 days after his first arrival, the Staffordshire terrier with ears like his namesake, Yoda, really has found the family he deserves. On July 5, NAWS Humane Society of Illinois posted a lighthearted video on Facebook, showing the excited 5-year-old pup with his new family. The shelter said one of the reasons it took so long to find a family that stuck was because he's not that social with other animals. 'When Yoda first came to NAWS, it became apparent he wasn't the most social dog,' NAWS shelter director Victoria Swyndroski told 'He liked some dogs, but not 100 percent. Not a fan of kitties—he's a prey-driven little guy.' Prey-driven, yes, but he also is known for his personality, the shelter noted in a May 28 post that celebrated his birthday. 'Yoda knows his basic commands,' the post said. 'Yoda is loyal. Yoda just wants to give you ALL the love. Yet at the end of the day.. he goes back into his create crying waiting for someone to open their home to him. He deserves so much (more) than shelter life.' Yoda was adopted in 2024 by a woman from Wisconsin, but he was later abandoned by her after he managed to break away, the shelter told Patch. 'He had gotten away from her on a walk, and she couldn't catch him,' Swyndroski said to the outlet. 'He was too much for her, and she didn't want him.' Everything happens for a reason, and now Yoda is being spoiled by his new family, the shelter said. Mokena is about a 35-mile drive southwest from Chicago.
Mint
21-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
International Yoga Day 2025: What's open, what's closed on June 21 — Banks, offices, schools, shops, more
The nation is all set to celebrate 11th International Yoga Day today. Wide-scale celebrations will be held across the country as the Centre is organising a multitude of events nationwide. It's time to know what's open and what's closed on Saturday, June 21. Even though International Yoga Day has received worldwide recognition, but the day is not recognised as an official public or bank holiday. Thus, all public and private sector banks, shops and offices will remain open and operate as usual, besides normal operation of public transport. The theme for Yoda day this year is "Yoga for One Earth, One Health." Several government institutions and schools will be hosting yoga events and awareness programs today. As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks are closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays and remain open on the first and third Saturdays. Since, June 21 is third Saturday, it will be observed as a regular working day for all banks. Delhi Metro commenced train service earlier than usual today as operations started on all lines from 4:00 AM to facilitate movement of Yoga participants. Change in train interval timing was made for morning hours until commencement of passenger services. Currently, summer vacation holidays are underway in government and private schools of most of North Indian states. However, Bihar Education Department issued orders to all District Education Officers to open schools from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM on the June 21 to mark 'Yoga Sangam.' In view of International Yoga Day, over 70 thousand government schools have been instructed to remain open, and all teachers and school students will be participating in Yoga Day activities today.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
JAMES RAY: Children in this country are desperate for strong paternal role models. I'm on a mission to help men be the best fathers they can be
Children in this country are desperate for fathers to rise to the occasion. All the research indicates that a key determinant of a child's ability to flourish – to make a success of growing up – is having a father actively involved in his or her life; to have a decent dad in the picture. The affection of a father can prove one of the most authoritative things in a child's life. But we have to help father figures rise to the occasion to create stronger role models. Boys particularly crave male mentors. This has been my experience teaching kids in an elite boarding school and now ministering to less privileged young people in the communities I serve. As a man, more than anything I want to answer this summons. To step up for my own two boys, certainly. But I also want to step up by standing in as an honorary dad. In 2010, following the death of his father, Jean (then 14) and his mother asked me to adopt him. I accepted the honour. A child's need for a paternal presence goes very deep. In his 1949 study, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell identified a common structure to our most beloved stories. A key component of what Campbell called 'the hero's journey' – according to which a protagonist initially resists the adventure they've been summoned to – is the encounter with an older mentor, a wise guide. Think Yoda, the Jedi master in Star Wars, who gives Luke Skywalker all the encouragement and advice he needs to take on the dark side of the Force. But here's the catch: to be a wise sage you must first have been a hero. As a father, and indeed as a father-figure, an awful lot rides on 'whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life', in the words of David Copperfield. What does heroism require from men today? Of all the heroic attributes we could name, in our cultural context I think the most important one is integrity. Integrity, best defined as 'being the same in every room', matters because for many of us our greatest danger lies in compartmentalising our lives. You hear professionals complain about having a poor work–life balance. More problematic is what we might call a 'work-life chasm' – i.e. a yawning gulf between my public and private life. 'Over there is my job, my colleagues, my dreams', I catch myself thinking; 'over here is my marriage, my kids, my responsibilities'. But you run a risk when you so strictly demarcate the various roles you play. The temptation is being a different person with different people: doting father, cutthroat trader, loving husband, predatory colleague ('a real character'). 'I contain multitudes', boasted the American poet, Walt Whitman. I'm not sure that's a good thing. But what do you need if you are to turn out to be the hero of your own life? The answer, of course, is other heroes; being able to turn to other guys who've embarked on the same road. Here the hero's journey needs to incorporate the buddy-buddy trope of the best detective films – the partner who consoles and cajoles. My passion for this kind of peer support is why I founded the charity, XTREME CHARACTER CHALLENGE. Since 2017 we've taken thousands of men on 72-hour adventures in the wild – a kind of MOT for men, or DofE for dads. Stranded in Snowdonia, your phone confiscated, we've found that being physically exposed to the elements can precipitate being emotionally exposed to one another. A rare thing indeed: men opening up about their deepest insecurities, unspoken dreams, strongest temptations and greatest fears. What happens, though, if you systematically avoid your peers? If you try to go it alone? Well, in storytelling there's another intriguing archetype. Instead of becoming a hero, the protagonist who refuses to learn lessons becomes the fool. The fool's fate inverts the hero's journey. Everyone who embarks on the adventure of life brings weapons with them – namely, their skills and strengths. But we also bring our injuries – our weaknesses, our flaws, what Alcoholics Anonymous terms our 'character defects'. Becoming the hero of your own life hinges on your ability to recognise and then fix these flaws. It's the only way to overcome the enemy and win the reward. The coward finds his courage. The hothead finds his peace. The cheat becomes honest. The liar tells the truth. The egoist becomes sacrificial. The fool, by contrast, is someone who continually denies their character defects. Refusing to learn from their mistakes he is doomed to repeat them. Put differently, the fool is someone who refusing to grow up, is condemned to a Nietzschean 'eternal recurrence', but of a distinctly puerile kind. 'I don't want ever to be a man,' he said with passion. 'I want always to be a little boy and to have fun…' J.M. Barrie certainly thought he was writing a hero's story. But is he a dude or a dud, the 43-year-old man who still defines fun in exactly the same terms he did when he was 16 – wasted in a pub every weekend; or racking up snogs at second-rate festivals. I hate to break it to you: Peter Pan is no hero. Neverland is a fools' paradise. The young people of this great nation are too imperiled for men to fall for being fools. It's not just my own happiness that depends on my sticking to the script, on my seeing out the hero's journey. There are other people at stake. So much so, in fact, we can even say that the way to change the world that's most available to us as men, which is the nearest to hand, is to raise the children we have fathered – and perhaps those who live next door too. James Ray helps people realise their potential through his work as a leadership development consultant, a wilderness adventurer and a priest in the Church of England. His book RESPONSIBILITY: BECOMING THE AUTHENTIC MAN is out now.
