ENTRY 10

Slang is a part of everyone’s everyday life, to say that I don’t use it would not be the truth, but it is a part of how I communicate to friends and family in a relaxed manner.  I avoid using it in my profession. Sometimes, in conversation my sister might say to me, did you see on the news that someone has gone postal, meaning that the person who did not show any violent tendencies, kills coworkers, families and members of the general public in an act of mass murder.  The slang came about after a series of postal workers had done these acts of supposed unprovoked violence. 

ENRTY 9

As a verbal communicator, I am becoming an effective communicator; in my speech I try not to use language conscientiously that will offend my listeners. I am beginning to use jargons that apply to the audience or people I am speaking too. I use vocabulary that applies to my listeners for example I teach children so I won’t use the word linguistic to infants, during a lesson because they won’t understand what the word meant or the context in which it is being used. So , I have to say I do demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.     

ENTRY 8

The Trinidad Express had an article about the recent raise in Muslims being targeted. At first glance of the title, I thought why the big fuss, because these people in my opinion are the reason for all the terrorist attacks in the world. So what if they are being targeted, finally they will understand the fear the rest of the world have been experiencing because of them.

But, as I continue to read I came face to face with the reality that not all Muslims are terrorist. But, they have family and friends that they are financially and socially obligated too. And Muslims are not all plotting and training in camps to kill people in the western world.

ENTRY 7

I knew nothing about the Colombian culture before my group presentation. Since the presentation I have learned that family is important to Colombians. The elderly are respected and perceived as beginning wise.

Men shake hands while looking directly into the person’s eyes, that they are talking too and they are a tactile people. When planning to visit someone fruits and flowers are accepted, but lilies are used for funerals.

I also learned that depending on where a person lives certain articles of clothes are used for different purposes, for example, a scarf will be worn in the high lands on the head to keep the person warm, and that same scarf will be worn in the low lands around the waist as decoration.

 After, this presentation I can better appreciate the way other cultures live, I believe the carnival season is the best time to communicate a tolerance and appreciation of other cultures.

ENTRY 6

From the class presentation I learned that a person’s accent, verbal and non – verbal communication can be based on where that person lives, for example in Columbia the persons in the high lands are more serious and direct in their speech, and they prefer to make eye contact while in conversation. Where as a person living in the lowlands tend to be more humorous and relaxed both in speech and attitude.

Through the presentations I gleaned, that in the Indian culture it is a mark of respect for a person to stand at least an arm’s length away, when speaking to someone. It is also respectful to bow low and touch an elderly person’s feet when greeting them.

In Italy for example, it is good business practice for the person you plan to do business with, to do a back ground check on you before they have a business meeting with you.

ENTRY 3

If I had to say anything about myself, I would have to say that I am a Christian, who loves to make people laugh. I have learned to be flexible and spontaneous because life is so unpredictable. I consider myself to be disorganized. It is said that the first step toward improvement is to admit you have a problem. Therefore I consider myself on the road to recovery. In essence I am a mom, a teacher, a friend and a counselor.

ENTRY 5

The Trinidad and Tobago culture has influenced the way I communicate in many ways.  Trinidad and Tobago is made up of mixed races, predominantly of African and Indian heritage and because of this diversity the average Trinbagoian is quite tolerant notwithstanding his or her race.  

I find that I don’t laugh at other peoples accents. However, I gesticulate a lot, using my hands to communicate. I have also been told by other cultures that Trinidadians seem to be always happy and the way we speak sound as if we are singing .
            As for my verbal and non verbal communication, my ex husband is Jamaican so when I was around his family I would have to speak slowly in order for them to understand what I was saying.  Moreover, a number of Trinbagonians, including myself, do not pronounce th as they should.  For instance, I know that sometimes I say tree for the number three. This obviously influences my communication with people who are not of my culture.

ENTRY 4

I read the Newsday article, dated Sunday February 12, 2012, on the death of thirty-four year old Randy De Couteau.  He was shot thirty-five times at his home in Moruga on Thursday night, for no apparent reason, according to his family.

When I started reading the article, I thought maybe this is another person killed because of drugs, or it may have been some gang related incident. The question in my mind was, “Even if it is, what is the police service doing about these killings?”  They are to protect and serve all especially law- abiding citizens.

As I finished reading the article my perception changed.  I began to think of the three children who are now fatherless.  I  began to wonder if anyone in government has really begun to look at the generation that is growing up without fathers.  It seems to me that over the years, fathers,  for one reason or another have not been there for their children; but to me, outside of slavery and wars, the numbers of absent fathers have never been so high.  Therefore,  I have to say that I am saddened by these events .