Happiness

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Dalai Lama

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
Dalai Lama


I know that I feel happy when I am smiling or laughing. I know that I am happy when I start Irish Step dancing in place. I know that I am happy when I feel ready to take on the world, and I don't care who is watching.

One way that happiness can limit knowledge is in the sciences. The goal of many people's life is to be happy. Often, when one comes up with a hypothesis in a science experiment, they want it to be correct so that they experience the happiness that goes along with it. This can influence their results because they want to be happy and right.

Machiguenga - Saving a lost language

Machiguenga is a traditional language of Peru. It is spoken by approximately 10,000 people, near Cuzco. The Machiguenga people live in Peru, and have done so since the days of the Inca. They live on the river Urubamba, and make much of their living from the surrounding mountains.
Information Sources (sorry they are in Spanish): Cuidad Archeo Logico, Inka Natura Tavel

Why save Machiguenga?
In Peru, there are many different groups of indigenous people. However, the majority of Peruvians are Mezicos, or a mixture of Spanish and Indigenous people. In this way, many traditions of the native people of Peru are lost, and one important way to preserve this is through language.
Information Source: EF Tour February 2012 Peru, Tour Guides, Washington and Omar.

Image

This image shows a Machiguenga translation of the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible.
The Machiguenga language was first written down about 40 years ago, and some of the Machiguenga people are now graduating from tertiary education.
Information: A case study of the Manchiguenga of the Peruvian Amazon , Manchiguenga bible passage

Symbols

1. This symbol is called khamsa, and it is Arabic in origin.
2. This symbol is used to represent the number 5. It is also known as the hand of Fatima, or the King's favorite daughter. It stands for good fortune. It also means, support group, blood revenge group, or closest male relative of five degrees of separation.
3. This symbol is emotive. It is representative of good luck and familial bonds, both of which are positive.
4. The Hand of Fatima takes its name from a female. However, the meaning of the symbol brings the idea of male relatives. Also, the symbol has connotations of bringing good fortune. This makes it seem as though a male is needed to bring good fortune. When did the connotations change from female to male?

WOK language - global views

Culture and Language

Several different language studies are discussed in this article. One was about the difference in language of low income families and high income families. Several studies done in the late 1970s showed a large difference in the use of language in children of low income families and high income families. The studies showed that children of high income families were better able to talk about past and future events, problem solve, reach solutions, and better understood other's feelings and experiences. Another hypothesis is that children who are exposed to academic language at home will do better in school than those who are not. Also, children's socialization may vary with the expectation of competition versus collaboration.

One knowledge claim that is made is that children from low income families speak a different English dialect than children from high income families.