Friday, March 13, 2020
Sister City Program Dalian and Oakland Cities
Sister City Program Dalian and Oakland Cities Introduction In the international system, the idea of sister city program was established in 1958, even though little emphasis was placed on international trade and economic cooperation. In the mid 1960s to early 1970s, the focus shifted on economic, trade, and cultural cooperation.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sister City Program: Dalian and Oakland Cities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This was attributed to the increased participation in the plan by Chinese and Japanese cities, which were considered some of the best places to conduct business in the world owing to the massive business opportunities and expansive markets. Chinese cities, including the Dalian city, are taking part in the program due to Chinaââ¬â¢s official entry into the World Trade Organization in 20011. Chinaââ¬â¢s decision to join the sister city program is motivated by the special features, which are relevant to the American- Chinese relations. The main aim Dalian and Oakland cities is to engage in economic cooperation, which in their context means an obligation to augment financial and commercial interests in the two cities on a reciprocally beneficial terms. The two cities perceive the sister program as a centre or preliminary level for the establishment of a wider system of joint engagements (memoranda of understanding). The cooperation of the two cities is a prove that business and cultural and business practices in China are gradually changing in a way consistent to the western practices. However, the cultural practice of guangxi, popularly referred to as the personal networks, is one of the major impediments that are usually considered when designing policies that would govern the relations between the two cities2.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the United States, the idea of sister cities was brought into light by the former president, Dwight Eisenhower. His statement signified that the major objective of the sister city program was to encourage durable developmental networks in terms of communication, which would automatically reduce conflicts and misunderstandings. This paper analyzes the cooperation between Oakland city situated in California and Dalian city in China. Major Negotiations The major negotiations between the two cities entail education and culture, which have led to the establishment of additional negotiations related to business connections. The city of Oakland have established negotiations aiming at strengthening ties between universities, which is one way of strengthening cultural ties3. The Liaoning Normal University in China is one of the institutions of high learning cooperating with the Oakland city to strengthen cultural ties between the Oakland city and Dalian city. Furthermore, the chambers of commerce of both citi es are under negotiations to strengthen business connections, which would definitely strengthen economic development between China and the United States.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sister City Program: Dalian and Oakland Cities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 2004, the chamber of commerce in Oakland city and the chamber of commerce in Dalian city signed an agreement that would enable them cooperate in matters related to conducting exchange programs in business, which was meant to generate business development in the two cities. The companies in Oakland city would move to China in partnership with the Dalian entrepreneurs to open up joint business that would open up Dalian city to the global investors. The role of the Oakland companies was to stimulate trade by leading as an example to the local companies. A delegation of Oakland cityââ¬â¢s professionals have been visiting the Dalian city each ye ar to evaluate the effectiveness of the trade agreement signed in 2004. Through the cooperation of the two cities, string links have been established in the field of food processing, monetary services, and automotive trade. Culturally, the two cities have negotiated a deal that would allow American trade mission participants to return home with massive knowledge of the Chinese market and vice versa. American firms have been performing dismally in China due to the differences in culture between the two countries. Understanding the behavior of the market is one of the strategies that would help a company or an organization to outdo others in the market. Therefore, the city of Oakland came up with a plan that would enable American investors to participate in cultural shows and programs in China to help them understand the Chinese market. The American investors have come to the realization that it would take them time to learn and understand the Chinese culture. In this regard, the city of Oakland came up with a program to facilitate easy flow of trade, without considering cultural differences4. In the Dalian city, students from Oakland have an opportunity of interacting with their follow students at the Missouri State University branch.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This implies that the two cities have allowed their universities to negotiate over the possibility of establishing branches in the two cities. The interactions are vibrant because they promote future business connections. Liaoning Normal University and Missouri State University operate jointly a business program at the Missouri University in Dalian city5. Chinese students are encouraged to pursue a course in business with supervision from the Missouri State University. It is established that the corporate culture of Chinese and Americans is very different. The combination of the two corporate cultures would be beneficial to students and business executives. In 2005, the two cities negotiated a deal that would see Chinese students learning English language, a program referred to as the English Corner. Similarities between Dalian City and the Oakland City Dalian city was given full authority to operate as an independent city given its potential and ability to expand. It was to serve a s a coastal open-up city, with a separate economic plan introduced in 1985, whose decision-making authority would come from the provincial headquarters. The urban population of the city is over fifty-seven percent implying that it has a good market for the finished products, given the fact that urban people spend differently from those living in rural areas. The city has favorable environment for investment, with an average temperature of less than 11 decrees. It has one of the reliable airports in the region, which serves both local and international citizens. Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport is situated at northwest of the town center6. It has direct flights to the mainland Chinese towns, as well as flights to other major international cities, including Seoul, Hong Kong, and Osaka. In the recent past, the economic strength of the two has gone up, with an approximated GDP growth of 257 billion Yuan. Since 1996, the city has experienced a growth in the growth domestic product. Industrial g rowth is approximated to b 21 billion Yuan. In other words, the growth of the city is ever growing as indicated by the GDP indicators. The city has experienced massive growth in agriculture, trade, tourism, and processing. In sports, the city has attracted various investors and sportsmen, which has boosted the economic growth of the city. The city has one of the greatest natural harbors, which has helped it in attracting investors and tourists. The harbor does not slit. It does not freeze either. Investors in the northern China region, as well as other investors from various parts of Asia rely on the harbor. The city is also rich in culture given the fact that Chinese paper cuts considered rich in content. People from the region believe that auspicious designs are the sign of luck. The designs are also known to keep the devil at bay. Other designs, such as the child, lotus, and bottle gourd are believed to represent the presence large families. The city engages in various economic a ctivities, including domestication of birds, rearing of livestock, and fish keeping. These activities have boosted the growth of the city. Oakland city shares a lot with the Dalian city in China. Just the way Dalian city is depended upon on many things, Oakland city is also valued in the US because it is considered the seventh developed city in the country7. A report released by Forbes Magazine placed Oakland city at number ten as the best city to invest. The population of Oakland is favorable to business because the average age of population in the city is 25 percent. The temperature of the city can be compared to that of Dalian because it is also favorable to business and tourism. Many investors and tourists prefer the city because it has cool weather for business. Oakland International Airport is similar to Dalian Airport because it serves very many people from domestically and internationally. For instance, the Oakland Airport served 13.5 million passengers and 0.6 million tons of cargo in 2003 alone. The 2003 airport passenger data shows that the city is a major hub for international businesses and tourists. Oakland boosts of a bay area while Dalian is well known for its harbor. This implies that the two cities have been able to grow due to their proximity to the sea. The bay area is usually relied upon in terms of information technology, biotechnology, and investment. In fact, other cities are fighting so hard to be like Oakland city meaning that it serves as an example to other cities in the US. The city is endowed with young talented labor force, developed real estate business, strong administration, and developed infrastructure. This has attracted investment and tourism. The port of Oakland is among the largest in North America in the world. The port serves many states in the US and other neighboring countries. The city is compared to Dalian city because they both influence transport in their respective regions. Just as Dalian city boosts of rich work s of art and design, the city of Oakland is also known for its internationally acclaimed Museum, which has an excellent Babylonian style roof. The museum is dedicated to promoting natural sciences and history. Any information regarding the city of California can easily be retrieved from the museumââ¬â¢s database. One of the publishing firms, Prentice Hall, rated the museum the best in the country. This has strengthened the ties between the city and other cities in the world. International Trades International refers to the exchange of goods and services between or among investors from different countries. The Oakland city and the Dalian city are involved in various international trades, including inter-firm trade, intra-industry trade, and intra-industry trade. It should be understood that all forms of international trades entail importation and exportation of goods and services. The two cities are seriously engaged in importation and exportation of finished goods and human labor . However, the modes of importation and exportation of goods are different since entry of goods and exit of goods in a country is controlled by the state due to security reasons. The two cities engage in intra-industry trade because goods produced exported to the city are similar to those produced in the same city. Intra-industry trade means that an investor orders goods from another country, which are similar to what are produced locally. This has been advocated to boost the production and quality standards of goods produced in the two cities. In the United States, goods produced locally are usually expensive due to the costs involved in producing them. For instance, food produced locally is extremely expensive because of the costs related to labor and importation of raw materials. Similar goods are cheaper when imported from China because the cost of producing them there is very low. The city of Oakland imports automobiles from China because they are cheaper when compared to those produced in the country. Similarly, the city of Oakland exports food to China because the production of food in the US is cheaper8. Regarding intra-firm trade, the city of Oakland has entered into trade agreements with Chinese firms to produce goods with similar standards as those produced in the city. The same case applies to the Dalian city, which has various outlets in Oakland producing goods that are similar to those manufactured in Dalian city. The Oakland city exports materials to the Dalian city while investors in the Dalian city import unfinished products from Oakland city. This is inspired by the fact that the two cities differ in terms of technology9. A product manufactured in Oakland may demand that a certain special skill or machine is imported from Dalian city. Instead of importing labor and machinery, it would be cheaper to export the raw material. It is the role of the commerce chambers of the two cities to agree on the modalities of importing and exporting goods. Ma intaining Relationships The existing economic and cultural cooperation between the two cities can only flourish if a strong conflict resolution mechanism is established. The main conflicts that would probably derail the cooperation between the two cities are related to trade, such as unfavorable balance of trade whereby one of the cities would perceive that it is not reaping maximally from the relationship. In this regard, it is the responsibility of the citiesââ¬â¢ managements to ensure that conflicts are resolved before they escalates into something complex that would impede the relationship of the two cities. In the current international system, the major challenges include the security problem, which has been complicated by the terrorist organizations and Islamic extremism. The 9/11 incident showed that terrorism and extremism are the major threats to world business and cooperation. The two cities cannot coexist in case they do not come up with ways of stemming out terrorism because they are all affected. Terrorism is one of the challenges referred to as the global common because no state is safe as far as the activities of terrorism are concerned. Cooperation between the two cities could be brought to a halt in case they do not address the issue of terrorism. In this case, they should consider formulating policies that would be applied in the two cities. This is mainly because terrorists can take advantage of the free movement of goods and people to exercise their heinous acts of terrorism. If security prevails, the two countries will continue cooperating, but if something related terrorism occurs, they will have no option, but to cut their cooperation. Another issue that the two cities need to address in order to further their relations is the issue of trust, understanding, and civilization. They have to come up with clear policies that would govern their relations as regards to investment because Chinese investors have always complained that their Am erican counterparts are given undue advantage because they are favored by the organization in charge of trade in the world (WTO)10. Lastly, the two states can do well economically if they realize that global financial crisis is a threat to their cooperation. Future International Business Projects Through research, it is established that the two cities have great future in case they maintain their cooperation. However, they have to do more in order to boost their cooperation in the future. They have to come up with joint business projects to facilitate their growth. The two cities should come up with a taxation system that would be applied uniformly within the borders of the two cities because it would encourage investors to shift freely from one city to the other. Moreover, they should enact business laws that favor investors in the two cities. Investors from the two cities should be involved in the designing of laws to prevent any complaints in the future. Bibliography Bagwell, Bet h. Oakland: The Story of a City. Novato: Presidio Press, 1982. Eltschinger, Cyrill. Source Code China: The New Global Hub of IT Outsourcing. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2007. Haft, Jeremy. All the Tea in China: How to Buy, Sell, and Make Money on the Mainland. New York: Penguin, 2007. Jessen, Gene. The Powder Puff Derby of 1929. New York: Sourcebooks, 2009. Lippincott, Jonathan. The World is flat. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2006. McKnight, Tom. Geographica: the Complete Illustrated Atlas of the World, 3rd revision. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2001. Perrins, Robert. Great connections: The creation of a city, Dalian, 1905ââ¬â1931. Quebec: York University, 2005. Siegelman, Stephen. Trader Vics Tiki Party! Oakland: Ten Speed Press, 2005. Tramble, Thomas, and Wilma Tramble. The Pullman Porters and West Oakland. New York: Arcadia Publishing, 2007. Ulrich, Allan. ââ¬Å"Oakland Ballet Company review: Witty and eclectic.â⬠San Francisco Chronicle 3.1 (2011): 29- 65. Footnotes 1Jonathan Lippincott, The World is flat (New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2006), 37. 2Tom McKnight, Geographica: the Complete Illustrated Atlas of the World, 3rd revision (New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2001), 19. 3Stephen, Siegelman, Trader Vics Tiki Party! (Oakland: Ten Speed Press, 2005), 78. 4Allan Ulrich, ââ¬Å"Oakland Ballet Company review: Witty and eclectic,â⬠San Francisco Chronicle 3.1 (2011): 35. 5Robert Perrins, Great connections: The creation of a city, Dalian, 1905ââ¬â1931 (Quebec: York University, 2005), 15. 6Cyrill Eltschinger, Source Code China: The New Global Hub of IT Outsourcing (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2007), 39. 7 Gene Jessen, The Powder Puff Derby of 1929 (New York: Sourcebooks, 2009), 78. 8 Thomas Tramble and Tramble Wilma. The Pullman Porters and West Oakland (New York: Arcadia Publishing, 2007), 24-57. 9Beth Bagwell, Oakland: The Story of a City (Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1982), 48. 10Jeremy Haft, All the Tea in Chin a: How to Buy, Sell, and Make Money on the Mainland (New York: Penguin, 2007), 88.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The Holy Spirit in the books of Acts Research Paper
The Holy Spirit in the books of Acts - Research Paper Example Paulââ¬â¢s missionary journey in Rome. For better interpretation of the Acts of Apostles, it is important to note that the Acts of Apostles is the manifestation of the fulfilment of Jesusââ¬â¢ promise to His disciples that He wouldnââ¬â¢t leave them as Orphans, but that He would send them the Holy Spirit who would act as their guide in their mandate to preach the good news (Turner, 2003)1. The book of the Acts of the Apostles, therefore, is an account of how the Holy Spirit led the disciples in establishing the early Church: the Spirit inspired, strengthened, gave directions, gave the power to perform miracles, and guided the apostles in their mandate, given by Jesus Christ, to spread the Gospel to the whole world. That is why the book of the Act of the Apostles is often times aptly referred to as the book of the Holy Spirit (Bruce, 1973)2. This paper investigates the roles of the Holy Spirit, as the main character, in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. At the end of the paper, a conclusion is made based on the salient points elaborated and discussed in the body of the paper. THE PENTECOST The book of the Acts of the Apostles begins with Jesusââ¬â¢ instructing His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to remain there and wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Acts, 1: 4-5. The disciples in obedience to their master, Jesus Christ, remained in Jerusalem, in the upper room, patiently waiting and praying for the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in the upper room in form of tongues of fire, Acts, 2:3. The Holy Spirit strengthened the apostles and gave them the power to preach the Good News boldly. Prior to the event of the Pentecost, following the death of Jesus Christ, the apostles had gone into hiding for fear that the persecutors of Jesus may decide to look for them and kill them. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, therefore, marks the beginning of the Work of the Holy in t he Acts of the Apostles (Drumwright, 1944)3. Following this outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus Christ on Pentecost day, the work of the Holy Spirit was manifest in many of disciplesââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ future works as the missionaries of the Good News. THE HOLY SPIRIT STRENGTHENS THE APOSTLES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL (Acts, 2.) Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on Pentecost day, the disciples led by Peter stood to preach the Good News to the People. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage and the boldness to preach without fear. In the preaching, Peter emphasised that Jesus Christ is, indeed, the promised Messiah, and that Jesus Christ, actually, died, was buried, and on the third day He arose again in accordance with the writings of the
Sunday, February 9, 2020
How did Industrialization change America between 1860 and 1900 Essay - 1
How did Industrialization change America between 1860 and 1900 - Essay Example Among the greatest changes that took place in the United States with regard to industrialization is improved living standards. Industrialization brought with it numerous issues and one of the positive issues is that it created employment opportunities. With the increase in industries, there was a basic requirement of workers and these people came from the surrounding areas. These people worked tirelessly with the aim of achieving the most for their industries. The consequent result of this is that people gained more income from the industries and improved their living standards (Meyer 74). Another change that took place is an increase in population. Two major factors that led to this and it is important to review both of them. One of the reasons as to why population increased is because people got comfortable with their lives and decided to multiply. Another reason is the fact that the United States became attractive to many outsiders and thus many immigrants came in from different regions. The reason as to why they came into the country is to look for employment in the upcoming industries at the time. The transport system is another that faced many changes during that period. This happened because people required an elaborate transport system through which they would get to work. Another reason as to why the transport system improved is that entrepreneurs required a fast method through which they would transport their products. With the advent of industries, the food production increased and thus the market widened (Meyer 106). One of the political changes witnessed because of industrialization is the rise of taxation. Prior to industrialization, the concept of taxation was rare but with the increase in goods doing rounds in the market the government found a loophole. The government decided to start taxing traders and this would lead to its accumulation of funds. Thinking in the economic line,
Thursday, January 30, 2020
The Importance of Education Essay Example for Free
The Importance of Education Essay Can you believe that in some countries education is not free? And in ââ¬Å"Pakistanâ⬠, the Taliban doesnââ¬â¢t let girls go to school because they think, that ââ¬Å"God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to hellâ⬠. Just because of going to school. In my opinion, the importance of education is undeniable for every single person. It goes without saying that education has a positive effect on human life. All people need to study, only with the advent of education can people gain knowledge open up their mind a little more. Apparently, people may become more useful and civilized if better educated. For example, in areas where residents are not able to receive an appropriate education, life cannot be as thriving and prosperous as locations where there is a high standard for education. In fact, education plays such a rudimentary role on our society that we cannot even imagine a life without it. It is a determined element for the civilization of human society. Not only does It helps us develop healthy surroundings but it also generates an advance community. As a matter of fact, everything we create today is based on the knowledge that we obtain throughout our life by way of education. That is to say, by working and living among foreigners some of the barriers between countries can be broken down, helping to create a more educated peaceful world. As to say diplomatic reaction would be of benefit to all. Malala said ââ¬Å" We call upon the governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the worldâ⬠. I do agree with Malala, every child should have the opportunity to go to school and get some education that will help them have a better future, education is very important. Consequently, education is viewed as a vital key to success in life and knowledge has become every individual aim or concern, each one of us is born in a different medium and different social and cultural norms. However, most of us approve of educations positive effects on society. Therefore, ââ¬Ë Why do we need education?à ââ¬â¢ is the issues to tackle, to get a better grip of this complex theme we have to distinguish three different types of education, there is the formal education, like school, the life time education, learning through difficult situations and the education by our parents. To lead a successful county we have to keep it on a standard level of education to be able to import the cultural heritage to the younger generation. There is again a division to be made between the inherited educated or knowledge and the education tough at school, education develops a meaningful outlook on life. As a result, education is most important in life like our basic needs food, clothes and shelter. With the beginning we learn how to interact with others how to make friends because of education. Furthermore, Malala said ââ¬Å"Peace is necessary for education. In many parts of the world especially Pakistan and Afghanistan; terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to go to their schools. We are tired of these wars. Woman and children are suffering in many parts of the world in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labor. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by the hurdles of extremism of decades. Young girls have to do domestic child labor and are forced to get married at early age. Poverty, ignorance, racism and deprivation of basic rights are the main problems faced by both man and woman. To conclude, we can say that education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Education is the solution. Education first.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
A Study of the Dramatic Roles of Women in Richard III Essays -- five f
There are five female characters in the play Richard III. Of these five there are four central female characters; the Duchess of York, Richard's mother; Anne who later becomes Richard's wife; Queen Margaret who was the former queen and Richard's arch enemy and Queen Elizabeth, the current queen. The final female character who plays a minor role in the play is Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth, but she is merely a pawn in Richard's plan and we never meet her. Each woman has a significant role in Richard III and is vital to the script. Anne is the first female character that we meet in the text (act 1 scene 2), which is where she is wooed by the ultimate villain in the play, Richard. Anne has just lost her husband and is wallowing in self-pity when Richard appears. Anne is a vulnerable and weak character throughout the play although she appears bold and vengeful at the beginning of this scene, trying to disarm Richard with words, 'Dost grant me, hedgehog? Then God grant me too/Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed!' Anne is confused and emotionally unstable which makes her more susceptible to Richard's charms. Anne's dramatic role in the play is to reveal Richard's power to charm and manipulate which he does exceptionally. Although the audience know of his true intentions and that he does not plan to 'keep her long' we are glad that he has succeeded because he is the typical villain that we love to hate, although Anne must be corrupt to succumb to him and his charms. He admits that he killed her husband and her father-in-law 'Nay, do not pause; for I did kill King Henry/But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me/'twas I ... ...use they have all been victims of King Richard and finally realise that they have to support each other because they have no-one else. Queen Elizabeth asks Queen Margaret for instructions in cursing 'O thou well skilled in curses, stay a while/And teach me how to curse mine enemies!' which I believe is her way of saying sorry and treating her as an equal. The women in this play are vital to the script and although they have no power whatsoever in this play, without them neither would Richard. Part of each of the female characters role was to show that in their era it was the men that held the power and the women were entirely powerless which Shakespeare presented superbly. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Richard III. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1997), 515-600.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Making Profits with a Twist â⬠Auntie Anneââ¬â¢s Pretzels
This is a good attitude to have when beginning a business, because it promotes solid values that the business will be based on, even after it succeeds.à It also remembers the people in the community, the customers.à A company will survive and thrive if customers feel cared about and welcomed to the business.à Customers are the livelihood of the business, and itââ¬â¢s important to care about them in the store, and outside it. However, conflicts may arise.à A business may not have enough money to keep itself going, much less give to the community.à A business that suddenly does not give to the community could cause criticism.à It can be difficult to make any profit when a decent chunk of money is going to the community.à A company may take on more than it can really handle when it promises this.à Depending on the size of the community, people may feel they are more involved in the business than they are, resulting in the business not being taken seriously, and possibly failing. 4. How do the advantages and disadvantages of franchise compare to other forms of business? A franchise is a great business for someone who wants to go into business for his/herself, does not have the drive to build a business from scratch (as a franchise company already has a reputation and doesnââ¬â¢t need to build one), and wants the financial backing and security that comes with being a part of an already established business.à The franchisee has corporate support, materials and recipes (in the case of a restaurant) provided.à The only thing the franchisee needs to do is the day-to-day managing, and making some decisions about what products to carry, pricing, etc. However, this also leads to a lack of freedom.à In a traditional start-up business, a person does not have any backing besides his or her own money and possibly reputation as a person in the community.à The company is far more likely to fail (franchises usually donââ¬â¢t fail).à But, the person has the freedom to make any business decision he or she chooses.à He or she can take the business in a new direction, offer or stop offering any products or services, and do anything at all.à There is absolute freedom for a sole proprietorship.à A partnership shares the financial risk, and has some limit on freedom (decisions made equally between all partners), but the business doesnââ¬â¢t arrive ââ¬Å"ready madeâ⬠like a franchise does. It ultimately depends on what experience a person wants to have ââ¬â security in business, or freedom to do as she/he pleases. Works Cited McHugh, McHugh, and Nickels.à Understanding Business. Seventh edition.à New York: McGraw-Hill Company, 2004.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Definition and Examples of Hidden Verbs in English
Hidden verb is an informal term in traditional grammar for needless nominalization: a verb-noun combination used in place of a single, more forceful verb (for example, make an improvement in place of improve). Also known as aà diluted verb or a smothered verb. Because hidden verbs contribute to wordiness, they are generally considered a stylistic fault, especially in academic writing, business writing, and technical writing. Examples and Observations Common in functional prose is the weakened or dilute verb. Some writers avoid a specific verb like consider; they choose instead a general verb of little meaning like take or give and add the noun consideration with the necessary prepositions, as in take into consideration and give consideration to, devote consideration to, and expend consideration on. Thus they not only use three words to do the work of one, but also take the meaning from the strongest word in the sentence, the verb, and place the meaning in the noun that has a subordinate position. . . . Weak as a jigger of Scotch in a pitcher of water, this is neither good liquor nor good water. (Henrietta J. Tichy, Effective Writing for Engineers, Managers, Scientists. Wiley, 1966) Making a Sentence Say What It Means Heres a sentence from a report I once edited: The consumer must make intelligent choices when buying tires. The verb in this sentence is make. But is the consumer really making something? No. What the sentence means is that the consumer must choose. So we can improve this sentence by making it say what it means: The consumer must choose intelligently when buying tires. Alternatively, since the word consumer implies buying, we might revise the sentence even further: The consumer must choose tires intelligently. (Kenneth W. Davis, The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course: Business Writing and Communication, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, 2010) Latinate Suffixes When you turn a verb into a noun, you are nominalizing--a horrible thing to do. An obvious indication that you have just nominalized a verb is that the word gets longer, often by adding a Latinate suffix like tion, ization, or worse. . . . Dont abuse a verb by making it act like a noun. (Lisa Price, Hot Text. New Riders, 2002) Spotting Hidden Verbs The number of hidden verbsà is as great as the number of verbs to be hidden. However, these nine helping verbs commonly produce long, verb-suppressed constructions: have, give, perform, make, produce, accomplish, achieve, experience, and conduct. Compare the hidden verbs in the sentence pairs below. In each case, the second example contains a verb that has surfaced. The new law will have an influence on future building.The new law will influence future building.à We will need to perform an analysis of traffic volumes at this intersection.We will need toââ¬â¹ analyze traffic volumes at this intersection. . . .à The new policy produced benefits for employees.The new policy benefited employees.à We can conduct a survey of this lot.We can survey this lot.à Too many nouns will achieve the dilution of writing.Too many nouns will dilute writing. Looking for the helping verbs above is one good way to identify potential verbs. (Barry Eckhouse, Competitive Communication: A Rhetoric for Modern Business. Oxford University Press, 1999) Losing Weight Many writers suffer from an overdependence on nouns. Given the choice between a verb and the noun form of a verb (called a nominalization), they instinctively choose the noun, perhaps under the mistaken notion that the noun will add authority and weight to their words. Well, it does add weight, but its the wrong kind of weight, and this tendency results in a noun-heavy style. For example, rather than writing I need to revise that sentence, they will write, I need to make a revision in that sentence. . . . Heres another example of a sentence weighed down by nouns. My suggestion is that we make a reduction in our overhead. Compare that sentence with I suggest we reduce our overhead. The verb-energized version is not only more concise (six words rather than eleven), but also more emphatic--and the person standing behind those words sounds more decisive. (Stephen Wilbers, Keys to Great Writing. Writers Digest Books, 2000) Also See How to Recover Hidden VerbsBattologyConcisenessDynamic VerbsMore Ways to Cut the Clutter in WritingVerbosity
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