Critical Evaluation of Synchrony and Diachrony

The article covers language aspects that reveal how multilingual experts have progressively become acquainted with the intricate interdependency between synchrony and diachrony. It revisits the ideas of De Saussure and those of his critics. The writer attempts to expose divergent view of the experts with the aim of unveiling the meaning of synchrony and diachrony.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Critical Evaluation of Synchrony and Diachrony specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The writer portrays De Saussure’s critics as ignorant on the topic. He/she reveals Jakobsons’ argument that langue cannot be identical with statistics and that langue is immutable. The writer also reports the opinion of Theses and Jakobsons that langue cannot be changed unconsciously. The article, however, fails to provide evidence to support these ideas. This helps the writer to achieve his/her objective. The article also covers Trnka’s argument that the distinction between synchrony and diachronic is insignificant. It provides facts that disapprove Trnka’s idea. The author asserts that it is almost impossible to trace and identify anyone else from the school of Prague. Another critical school of thought is of the view that diachrony has a system and a structure. Theses says that De Saussure was wrong to claim that there is insurmountable barrier between langue and parole. This, according to Theses, is because there are mixed elements in the langue. On the other hand, the article reveals the strong elements in De Saussure’s argument. It cites page 108 of De Saussure’s work that says langue is a heritage of the preceding time. He says that time guarantees the continuity of the langue. It is evident that De Saussure suggested that several conditions influence langue balance. Moreover, he records that the effects of transformation are counter-balanced by analogy. In addi tion, acco0rding to the article, De Saussure says that there are phenomena phonetically connected with distinctive conditions. The writer therefore succeeds in dismissing the opinion of the critics. Additionally, it records that De Saussure said langue change might occur subject to certain conditions. He does not refer to accidental or blind changes, as reported by critics. The article provides that De Saussure believes synchrony and diachrony are independent of each other, due to a different point of view.Advertising Looking for critical writing on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Regarding consciousness of change, it is apparent that De Saussure stressed that literary language does not develop naturally. This points out at Jakobson’s lack of information. The idea of state of langue according to De Saussure is that synchrony and diachrony has a state of langue and a phase of evolution. However, minimum chan ges may occur after some duration. The writer records some human weaknesses of De Saussure. For example, he records De Saussure’s admission that he did not know the causes of change in langue. The admission makes the article real and trustable. It depicts practical human weakness. Evidently, the critics have no evidence to back their arguments up. This makes the article appropriate for supporting the ideas of de Saussure. The article is even more helpful because it provides the accurate position of De Saussure making comparison of the varied ideas easy. Despite the writer’s success in supporting De Saussure, his/her article has weaknesses. First, the article says that De Saussure’s critics are completely ignorant. In deed, since, he/she agrees that further researcher is necessary, dismissing unconfirmed ideas is wrong. Next, the writer concludes by supporting De Saussure. The conclusion may make critics say that he /she is partisan. Nevertheless, after reading t he article, it is comprehensible that misconception is the leading cause of criticism of De Saussure’s work. The writer successfully portrays the critics as unable to identify traces and elements of the past that are found in language. He/she communicates that language is always developing, unraveled, fickle, and unbalanced in detail at the edges. In addition, the writer rightly advocates for further research to solve the differences in opinion. This critical writing on Critical Evaluation of Synchrony and Diachrony was written and submitted by user Addisyn Erickson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

San Francisco State University Student Union essays

San Francisco State University Student Union essays San Francisco State University Student Union Since the beginning of human history, people have hallowed out of their immediate surroundings an environment increasingly more pleasure, more efficient, and more beneficial to their existence. Interior design was uppermost in the human mind from the earliest years, and it reflecting social, political, and artistic growth. Back in the ancient time, people started to take into account proxemics, it is the nature of the interior space, our relationship to it, and our relationship to the people who share with us. The Student Union of San Francisco States University is considered a contemporary building, and it should provide comfortable lounge areas for rest, relaxation, conversation, or studying, but in reality it is not satisfy students needs for safety, comfort and privacy. The Students Union had been there for many decades, and it would be more convenience, secure and comfort for all the students if we make changes in floor plan and its structure. Because, from my point of view, the building is not safe and comfortable, I would change the exterior and interior of the Student Union into a new building that would accommodate all students needs and make them feel comfortable when they are in it. I would change the exterior of the building because the building itself has all the straight lines that make the building look very masculine and clumsy. I would be more beautiful if I change all the walls to circular walls to make the building looks more spherical and feminine. In addition, the pyramid on the top of the building is very odd, and I would like to remove it from the structure of the building, and replace with a semicircular roof. I would remove all the stairs outside of the building and placing several sculptures around. The wall from the main entrance of the Bookstore, I will change it to a glass tile walls. I would replace all the windows to cl...

Diverse workforce management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Diverse workforce management - Essay Example Diverse workforce is necessary for the successful management of cross cultural business. For example, it is impossible for American company Apple to manage their business successfully in China with the help of American employees alone. It should be noted that the locals have better knowledge about the local market and hence their services are essential for Google like big international companies to manage their business successfully at different parts of the world. Moreover, immigration has been increased a lot in the recent past because of globalization. Exchange of workforce between countries is a common thing nowadays because of globalization. In America, Middle East and European countries, manpower is extremely scarce and hence it is extremely expensive there. On the other hand, in India and China like countries manpower resources are abundant and hence it is cheap there. Globalization helps expensive labour oriented countries to utilize cheap labour force available in India and China like countries. In short, management of diverse workforce is essential in most of the international companies at present. This paper analyses management of diverse workforce by taking American company Apple Inc. as an example. ... Torrington (2011) pointed out that â€Å"Apple is currently facing lot of difficulties in its recruitments and selection processes. â€Å"The key difficulty in recruitment process is the lack of specialist skills in the labour market† (Torrington et al., 2011, p.43). America is a country which is labelled as an expensive labour oriented country. In other words labour costs in America are extremely high compared to the labour costs in other parts of the world. So, in a heavily competitive business world, it is difficult for Apple to manage their business functions with the help of locals alone. It is necessary for Apple to exploit the services of overseas workforce not only for their American operations but also for their international operations. Kirton & Greene (2005) mentioned that â€Å"Diversity exists among men and women of the same ethnic group. It also exists among women community as well as men community of the same ethnic group (Kirton & Greene, 2005, p.14). In othe r words, diverse workforce is not at all a term related to people from different cultures or communities. Diversity can exist even among domestic workforce since no two individuals are alike. So, managing diversity means managing individuals of different kind. â€Å"It can be the integration of different parts of an organization; it can be the issue of national culture within a multinational organization and it can be the development of equal opportunities† (Kandola and Fullerton, 1998, p.6). Even though Apple is keen in maintaining a diverse workforce, several overseas employees working in Apple has many complaints about the attitude of the company towards them. Many of the top managers in Apple Company behave like

Website Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Website Review - Essay Example through incorporating effective web design measures that form the main aim of the study to analyze the criteria foe effective web design and comparison of two corporate websites. There are certain characteristics that a business must have to be considered effective in terms of design to be a driving force in meeting advertising and information delivery needs of the business. These characteristics include: Professional brand driven design: a website has to have a professional look and convey the brand image ensuring clients have a very easy time understanding the business and the access to information should be easy and quick. Professional design  allows the client to have access to required information in an effective and efficient manner in the website. Usability: designing a website to ensure the presence of links that are easy to recognize, moderate visuals, and a clear structure allowing the client easy navigation on the website in the other effective web design criteria. Websites are more effective when users can easily find their way through the information and links provided than when the websites are difficult to use. Use of effective writing: the writing style on a website has to be adjusted to meet user’s browsing habits and preferences. This can be achieved through using concise and short phrases, plain and objective language to allow the users make their en decision on the purchase, and merging textual and visual elements on the website. Effective writing makes use of bullets, content categories, and multiple subheadings in a website. Simplicity: providing a simple rather than a complex website is effective in meeting the needs of the clients. Using a simple design with icons providing additional information, headers, footers, and content in a simple manner, and lack of advertising allows for a good web experience for the clients. Content: the other criteria for an effective website are provision of useful and valuable information to the users.

Citizens of America Essay Example for Free

Citizens of America Essay Fellow countrymen, I stand before you today, to present my job application details, for the highest office on land. Citizens of America, today stands a man who is willing to sacrifice his self ambitions, a man who is willing to lay off his personal plans and embrace those of the state, a man who is willing to sacrifice his self esteem on the alter of criticism and a man who is able to lead this country to heights unprecedented before. Indeed, this man stands before you today and passes on his application details unto you, to be evaluated and approved if you so feel that he qualify beyond any reasonable doubts to become the fiftieth president of the United States of America. You may be asking yourselves why is this man, so tender in age and so inexperienced in leadership vying for this office? Citizens of our homeland, you will agree with me that leadership is God endowed. I want to state before you today that it is not because of the power that comes with leadership than makes me vie for this office, neither is it because of any monetary gains or honors. I stand to campaign for the presidency of this country because of the heart of service and allegiance I have for our great nation. In my heart, I hold big dreams that will assist in the economic development and technological advancement of our great nation. Just as one of our greatest reformers in history, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before an electrified crowd that was almost the same size with the one gathered today and declared, â€Å"I have a dream†, I too want to state before all of you listening to me today that â€Å"I have a dream! † I have a dream that through my presidency, the freedom that our forefathers once fought to preserve will remain intact. I have a dream that the unity of the reformers like Martin Luther shall be preserved and I have a dream that one day we shall look back and be proud of this defining moment (Martin 1963). Let us not forget that America has always been a free nation and will always be known to the world for its freedom, peace and sovereignty. My presidency will not only enforce the virtues that America stands for but will also create a platform where every man, woman and child can have a dream and fulfill their dreams. Fellow country men, our country has come from far. We have fought many wars. From the American revolutionary war fought between 1775 and 1782 against the largest empire in the world (historycentral. com 2009) to the war against terrorism that begun in 2003, America has always proved victorious. What does this prove to you fellow countrymen? It shows that America has been and will always be destined for victory. No situation will ever change this. We are a victorious nation! I stand as a man who like our forefathers, will preserve these victories even with my own life if necessary should you elect me as the fiftieth president of this nation. I stand here as a man who will make America even more victorious if given the opportunity to become its head of state by the electorate. However, as we boast of our victory in far and near battlefields, as we testify on the strength of our armies, we must remember the economic wars that still stand to pose great challenges to us. The great depression of 1929 was the worst of all of them. Even though it lasted for only ten years, it left house holds devastated. 25000 banks fell with no likelihood of ever rising again. We must also remember that it was through the election of the skilled democrat leader, President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the war against this depression was fought and eventually won (Cary 2009). Currently, with the recessions of the stock markets and increase in the debt ratio, we, the today’s generation, stand at the threshold of another depression like that of the 1929. There exists unemployment as never seen before since the times of the great depression and the value of stocks is rapidly falling. You will agree with me my dear country men that these are sad times for our great nation. However, you should not look at the recent troubles without hope. I want to assure you that if elected as the president, I will do all in my power to ensure that the history of depression does not repeat itself. We must stand together as a nation and win this war. You must always bear in mind that extra ordinary circumstances require extra ordinary solutions. I present myself today as the extraordinary solution for the current extraordinary circumstances our great nation is going through in the present age. On the same tune, I want to state that my fellow brother who is also a runner in this race Mr. Willis Brown has always questioned my integrity to rule this country. Mr. Willis has often cited my tenderness of age and inexperience in governance as the reason as to why I should not be allowed to ascend to the highest office on land. As you all know, I have been silent on this matter all this time for I felt that under no circumstances, should a leader with integrity such as me trade accusations with him. However, today as I make my last appeal for the office of the president, I want to settle the matter once and for all and state my case. Fellow countrymen, as you are all aware, it is not by the advancement of age that a country is ruled. You are also aware that it is not by the strength of the muscles that such a battle as this is fought. Leadership is seen through the policies and the ideas one has to offer for this great nation. Even if Mr. Willis was to succeed in discrediting my fitness for presidency and I was to fail in my quest, my great ideas for this nation will never die. Remember that as John F. Kennedy once stated, A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. ( brainyquote. com 2009) My ideas will never be killed! Don’t tell me I am too young to rule. Tell me that my policies and ideas for this country are wrong. Don’t tell me that I am inexperienced. Tell me that the presidency seat was never meant for the young and the vibrant. Fellow countrymen, I know that with your help and with the help of God, I, Franklin Carole, will surely become the fiftieth president of the United States of America. What Ideas do I have for this country? We note great with pride that our country has been the bedrock of the world economy over the years. We note with great pride that our country has been the home to scientific discoveries and inventions. When a time came for man to travel beyond the horizons of the world, it was America that ensured that the first of Adam’s race stepped on the surface of the moon. Indeed, in 1969, history was made when Apollo 11, a space craft under the command of Neil Armstrong became the first of its kind to land on the surface of the moon and as the first manned lunar landing mission (Lyndon 1993). Fellow countrymen, on that day, we watched with awe and wonder as one of our very own sons became the first man to step on the surface of the moon and lay the first footsteps there. It is from that time that we realized that America was a land where nothing could be considered impossible, a land where all had an equal opportunity to become what they wanted to be and a land that no other land can ever be compared to. To this land, great men endowed with great leadership skills have been born. From the first president of this country George Washington who took oath of office in 1789 to the time of Barack Obama, the first black president of this nation (Whitehouse. gov 2009), to these times that I now stand to become the fiftieth president, these sons of ours have served our nation with their lives. They have led our country in times of peace and in times of war, in easy times and in times of hardship, in times of scarcity and in times of plenty. Some have served for just a month while others have served for over twelve years. They were loyal men who were not afraid to lay down their lives for the sake of our prosperity. They were courageous men who did not fear the assassin’s gun. They were devoted to duty despite criticism and they were honest to their country in all they did. It is to the list of these men that I desire to belong. It is to the works of these men that I desire to add and it is to their unaccomplished dreams that I hope to accomplish only if you, fellow countrymen offer unto me that mandate. What do I have to offer at my tender age? Issues of education have been neglected for too long. Teachers are poorly paid and thus do not take the art of imparting knowledge to their students seriously. Some of our higher learning centers lack the proper equipments and finances to carry out research for the advancement of technology. Fellow countrymen, we must note that education is the only bridge that is left for the maintenance of our economic prosperity and success. We need to produce men and women from our educational systems who will not only be ready to fill in the vacant positions in our country but are fit to work and become competent on global levels. It is for this reason that when elected, my government plans to remove all tax paid by teachers and increase the government spending on education by fifty percent from its current standings. We realize that all of us passed through the hands of a teacher. We will ensure that we put in place machinations to ensure that teacher’s salaries are thus reviewed upwards to cater for their needs and boost their morales as they shape the future leaders of this nation. Terrorism is also a real threat to this country. From September 11th when the twin towers were brought down by terrorists, our country has never been the same again and our people have never felt safe. What can we do? Are we helpless when it comes to terrorism? Fellow countrymen, I want to tell you that America has means and ways to deal with terrorism. It is sad that while this country bleeds, the current government has forgotten its call to protect the citizens of America. As the president, I will deal with terrorist in a manner that will ensure that they will never again attack our lands. I will employ measures that due to security reasons, can not be mentioned here. This mechanisms, will use all our technologies and manpower to ensure that America remain free from terrorism. We understand that America can never be America without its citizens and it is in our interest to ensure that the citizens are safe. Fellow countrymen, like I earlier stated, employment has become an elusive matter in our nation. When a nation can no longer employ those whom it has educated, it is creating insecurity within itself. We as the new government will therefore direct for the expansion of industries to create more employment opportunities. We will also create an investor friendly platform and lay out a framework where all that are willing to invest and become self employed can get the profits from their labors. We will support the worker’s union and their fight for better working conditions for their members. We will support the retired men and women. We appreciate the fact that that they have given unrelenting services for this great nation and. We shall ensure that their retirement benefits are accorded to them in time and also add to them bonuses based on the amount of years that they worked. As I end my humble plea for your endorsement of my presidential ambitions, I want to remember the many that have taken their times and forgone other opportunities just to be here. I also remember those who have traveled with me throughout my campaign trails and have offered both financial and moral support until this final campaign. In a special way, I also wish to thank my wife Mary for the encouragement she gave me. I am forever grateful to all of you and to the American nation for giving me this chance to practice my democratic right. Fellow country men, though the campaigns end today, the journey continues. We today stand a chance to make history, to rectify the mistakes that we have done in the past and to ensure that America is stronger and better. Citizens of America, let us not be weary of fighting for better living conditions, let us not be weary of upholding the values of our constitutions. Let us not be weary of treating each other as brothers and sisters. Even after the elections are past and gone, we shall still remain citizens of this great nation. We have come from far. We are going still going far. These elections will be the landmark of the better future yet to come. For those who will vote for me, I want to tell you thank you for believing in my policies. For those who will vote for my opponent, I still appreciate you for practicing your democratic right. For those who will not vote at all, I want to challenge you to know that you are held accountable for not helping in shaping the political landscape of your nation. We are all Americans, we all belong to America and one day when we shall have all gone, America shall still remain with our children and grandchildren as its rightful inheritor. Let us take this time to change America for the benefit of the future generations by voting for me as the fiftieth president of this country. Never forget that when history will one day be written down, your works today will always be remembered and told on to the future generations. Fellow countrymen, I want to urge you not to meditate upon the words of George Santayana when he once stated that, â€Å"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it†(George 2009). God bless you all and God bless America. Works Cited Brainyquote. com John F. Kennedy Quotes, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/authors/j/john_f_kennedy. html Historycentral. com, America’s Wars, A complete History, 2009, Sourced On 28th April 2009: http://www. historycentral. com/wars. html Johnson, Lyndon B. , Neil A. Armstrong, 1993, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www.jsc. nasa. gov/Bios/htmlbios/armstrong-na. html King, Martin Luther, I Have a Dream Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963. Available: http://www. mlkonline. net/dream. html Nelson, Cary, About the Great Depression, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. english. illinois. edu/maps/depression/about. htm Santayana, George, Quotations, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. quotationspage. com/subjects/history/ Whitehouse. gov, George Washington, 2009, sourced on 28th April 2009: http://www. whitehouse. gov/about/presidents/georgewashington/

Great Expectations By Charles Dickens :: Great Expectations Charles Dickens Essays

Great Expectations By Charles Dickens Charles Dickens makes this extract memorable and significant as it is the first time Pip, a working class boy from the forge, meets Miss Havisham and Estella who are going to have an important and significant affect on his life. Pip is invited to Miss Havisham's residence Statis house. This is important as he doesn't know why he was invited and before he goes he is told there may be something in this for him. The reader knows this might be true due to the title of the play "Great Expectations" Dickens makes Pip's first encounter with Miss Havisham and Estella at Statis House a significant and memorable point in the novel in a number of ways. The first point that makes it memorable is that it is written in first person narrative. Pip says "sat the strangest lady I have ever seen, or ever shall see". This image is seen through the eyes of a child so it will be memorable to him as he will never forget this lady. This also gives the reader first hand experience into what Pip is seeing. Another point why Dickens makes this a significant and memorable part of the novel is that at the beginning of the extract we do not know who the lady is. Dickens uses pronouns to name her, he uses words like "she" and "her". This makes it significant as Dickens is building up an appearance of the character before he tells you her name. Dickens makes a memorable part of the novel when he describes the lady's clothes. He says "she had a long white veil dependant from her hair and she had bridal flowers in her hair". This gives the impression of a young bride. Dickens uses the adversative clause "but" so we know something is going to be wrong. Dickens then says "her hair was white". This then changes the reader's perception of the character so this is why it is memorable as it now sticks in the readers head. Another memorable part of the extract is how Dickens gets across that this lady is wealthy. Dickens just doesn't say she is rich he describes her assets that pip can see in the room. He describes the fabrics "rich material- satins, and lace, and silks". He also describes her jewellery "bright jewels" and "some other jewels lay sparkling on the table". These all tell you how rich she is and the adjectives "bright" and "sparkling" makes it memorable to the character and the reader. A way Dickens makes this a memorable and significant part of the extract is when he describes what sees when he enters the room, he

Catfish and Mandala Essay

Andrew Pham, author of Catfish and Mandala, is on a journey of self-exploration. Family dysfunction, the illusions of the past, and the inability to move forward and find meaning to life when living between two cultures, are all catalysts’ for Pham return Vietnam. Contrary to being welcomed with open arms, Andrew is referred to as Viet-kieu when he is in Vietnam, a derogatory term meaning Vietnamese-American. Vietnamese people feel that the Viet-kieu abandoned everything about their culture when transplanted to America. This is an additional layer to the struggles Andrew faces. Andrew’s life is fractured into many pieces. His family is plagued with deep-seated hostility and trauma that developed long before his birth. From the abuse his father endured as a child and then transferred to his own children, the family decay after the Vietnam War, and the displacement of his family to America, Andrew has no sense of identity. Andrew is troubled with the duality of being Vietnamese and American and feels if he returns to Vietnam he will find meaning for his life. He does not assimilate to either culture and his anxiety grows as he tries to find a place to belong. Pham reminisces on his childhood, and includes deep memories of his other family members as well. The fissure in his family stems from the physical abuse and inability for the entire family to merge the two cultures and adapt together. The damage from the violence moves like a virus through the family, branching off and taking victim after victim. Chi-Minh, Andrew’s transsexual brother, cannot rise above the hardship and kills himself. Through out the book, Andrew goes back and forth giving the reader insight into Chi-Minh conflicts. Andrew never moves past Chi-Minh’s death and writes about his last moments with his brother,† It was my season of unraveling. And his as well. I couldn’t remember all, what he said. Nor what I said. Maybe he wished I’d said something. And I him. Perhaps we should have shared our troubled hearts. But in the end – My long-staying memory – I heard only the wavering catch in his voice† (334). Pham regrets not being able to open his heart to Chi-Minh, and overcome the emotional disconnect of the Vietna mese culture. Chi-Minh struggles to maintain a healthy existence and find life meaning. Sex change aside, Andrew blames the Vietnam War, family dysfunction and abuse, and a forced move to America as reasons for Chi-Minh’s short life and suicide. He draws parallels between his own struggles and Chi-Minh’s inability to create a life in America. The trauma of Chi-Minh’s death is an emotional vehicle for Andrew’s bike journey to Vietnam. As Children, Andrew and Chi were brutally beaten by their father. Even as a teenager, Chi survived a dreadful caning that resulted in her running away. Later, Andrew’s father recants his temper and wishes he could have â€Å"been more like an American father† because â€Å"They know how to cherish their children† (320). Andrew watches his own father struggle with being Vietnamese in an American society. He was use to a father who had a â€Å"survival instinct† and â€Å"refused victimization† (321). His brothers are homosexual, this is a point of embarrassment for Andrews father. Andrew tries to explain how they are successful and happy, but the definition of successful and happy are vastly different in the two countries, with his father being â€Å"Old-World† (321). Andrew realizes his entire family has trouble converging Vietnamese and American cultures and he is not the only victim of the abusive and dysfunctional life. In his preparation to bike across Vietnam and absorb the country that he believes keeps the roots of his existence; he is unaware of the drastic changes since the Vietnam War. Andrew remembers Vietnam through the eyes of a child and the memories are mostly happy and quite biased. Pham’s illusion of the past leads him to an emotional awakening while traveling and he compares current-day Vietnam to a prostitute. Vietnam has been reduced t o poverty in most places. Andrew remarks, â€Å"Saigon was thick with almsfolk, every market, every street corner, maggoty with misshapen men and women hawking their open sores and puss-yellow faces for pennies† (106). Although his description is putrid, Andrew weeps for the poor. Having sympathy for the impoverished is an American way of thinking, and this is a point of shame for his family that he stays with in Vietnam. Crying is seen as weakness in men. The reader sees the internal struggle that continues as Andrew tries to â€Å"be Vietnamese† or to â€Å"be American†. Andrew is repulsed by the cold hearts of his Vietnamese family members, and then ashamed for having ill feelings against his family. Andrew believed he would find his identity with the Vietnamese people and his life would move forward with strong meaning and purpose. Andrew goes through life living for his parents, living for the happiness of others, and in this neglects to find his true self. Before his ride to Vietnam , he rode to Mexico, then through the coast of America, and through Japan for 45 days. His physical journey mimics his stagnant and redundant state. He was wandering, living a superficial life. Andrew held the stress of the first-born son, to make his parents proud. He became an engineer, just as his mother told him he would do when he was four. He acted the role of the â€Å"Good Oriental employee† (25). Andrew recalls, â€Å"My father said ‘Good’ to me twice in my life. I showed him the glowing congratulatory letter from the national honor society†¦and for landing a cushy engineering post at a major airline† (24-25). As he travels, Andrew speaks as an American, and as a Vietnamese man. Chapter two begins with Andrew stating that he is â€Å"Vietnamese-American† (10). He lists out his likes and dislikes, implying that he has a strong sense of self. The reader soon finds out this is superficial. Andrew proclaims all of this to set up where he is now and gives a brief family history of the stark difference of where he came from. When he arrives to Vietnam, he is ready to embrace the culture and be Vietnamese. On the plane Andrew is divided by his feelings toward the Vietnamese as they fight for toys that have spilled, â€Å"Mortified by the Vietnamese’s behavior and equally dismayed that I feel an obligatory connection to them, I sink deeper in to my seat, resentful, ashamed of their incivility† (64). This is the beginning of the conflict Andrew faces about being American yet being from Vietnam. Instead of finding his way, his identity, value for his life, he is engorged with a larger paradox of emotion. Who is Andrew X. Pham? This is the question that Catfish and Mandala tries to answer by using memories and events of the past and journey of the present. A chasm opened in his family when they all integrated into American culture through very unique ways. The family inadvertently makes the journey of self-exploration difficult for each other, with Chi-Minh’s being virtually impossible. Abusive treatment of the children acts as a symptom of the disorder and illusion of self through out the entire family. Andrew writes his memoirs in a rhythmic motion swaying back and forth through past and present, in hopes of finding who he is to be in the future. Andrew is torn between being Vietnamese in America, and American in Vietnam. He is afflicted with living a placid half-life, never socially accepted by either society, and forced to carve his own path and make his own statement of self. From Vietnamese immigrant, to respected engineer, and now famous author and food critic, Andrew has found a way to merge the Vietnamese and American cultures to fit the mold of Andrew X. Pham, the Original. Works Cited Page Pham, Andrew X. Catfish and Mandala. New York: Farrar, Stratus and G, 1999. Print.