Pronunciation-Based Changes in the Spanish Words for And and Or

Two of the most common conjunctions in Spanish — y (meaning and) and o (meaning or) — can change spelling and pronunciation based on the word that follows. In that way, they are much like the a of English changing to an before a vowel sound. And, like the a-to-an change, the transformation is based on how the following word is pronounced rather than how it is spelled. When Do Y and O Change? Both the y and o changes help keep the conjunction from blending into the following word. (The blending of two words into what sounds like one is called elision when it involves the dropping or omission of sounds, and it is common in both English and Spanish.) Here are the changes that are made: Y becomes e when it precedes a word that begins with the i sound. Typically, y becomes e when it precedes most words that begin with i- or hi-.O becomes u when it precedes a word that begins with the o sound. Thus o becomes u when it precedes words words starting with o- or ho-. Because the changes are based on pronunciation rather than spelling, y does not change before words, such as hierba, that begin with the ia, ie, io, or iu sound, regardless of spelling. Those two-letter combinations are known as diphthongs; the initial sounds are very similar to the Spanish y sound when y comes before a vowel. Sample Sentences Showing Use of Y and O Reciben tratamiento cruel e inhumano. (They are receiving cruel and inhumane treatment. The y changes to e because the inhumano begins with the i sound.) Nuestro conocimiento nos enseà ±a dos cosas claras: posibilidades e imposibilidades. (Our knowledge teaches us two clear things: possibilities and impossibilities. The e is used because imposibilidades begins with the i sound.) Fabricamos barras e hilos de cobre. (We manufacture copper bars and wires. The e is used because hilos begins with the i sound even though the first letter is h.)   Està ¡ enteramente construido de nieve y hielo. (It is built completely of snow and ice. The y does not change because hielo begins with the ie diphthong.) Hay un equilibrio osmà ³tico y ià ³nico. (There is an osmotic and ionic equilibrium. The y is used because ià ³nico begins with the io diphthong.) Hay muchas diferencias entre catolicismo e hinduismo. (There are many differences between Catholicism and Hinduism. The y changes to e because hinduismo begins with the i sound even though its first letter is h.) Vendemos productos de limpieza e higiene. (We sell cleaning and hygiene products. Higiene begins with the i sound.) Usamos punto y coma para separar las frases u oraciones que constituyen una enumeracià ³n. (We use a semicolon to separate phrases or sentences that make up a list.) No recuerdo si fue ayer u hoy. (I dont remember if it was yesterday or today. Unlike with the changes involving y to e, the o changes even though oy is a diphthong.)  ¿Quà © operador de telà ©fonos ofrece las tarifas mà ¡s baratas para viajar a à frica u Oriente Medio? (Which phone operator offers the lowest costs for traveling to Africa or the Middle East? The rule of changing o to u applies even if the word following is a proper noun.) La Can Make Similar Change The desire to keep the sounds of important words from being lost due to elision is also behind the changing of la to el in some circumstances with feminine sounds. Although there are exceptions, el is used instead of la before singular feminine nouns where the first syllable of the noun is stressed. Thus the eagle is el à ¡guila even though à ¡guila is feminine. The change doesnt occur with plural nouns or where the stress isnt on the first syllable. In standard written Spanish, una becomes un (meaning one, a, or and) under the same circumstances. Thus, an eagle is un à ¡guila. These changes and those involving y and o are the only situations where Spanish changes words depend on sounds that follow. Key Takeaways The Spanish conjugation y (meaning and) changes to e when the word that follows begins with the i sound.The Spanish conjugation o (meaning or) changes to u when the word that follows begins with the o sound.These changes are triggered by pronunciation only, not how a word is spelled.

Essay on Protest Songs Throughout the Vietnam War

Throughout all the anti-war protests and marches during the Vietnam War, it is interesting to note the changes in the music of that time. From the beginning of the war, where support and loyalty from Americans was present in songs, to the end of the war, where anger and distrust was evident in musical lyrics, American’s opinion changed about the war. This change in opinion was easily recognized by the altering of musical lyrics about the war when Americans grew tired of the constant sending of U.S. troops to Vietnam. The growing dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War led to increasing levels of anger and hostility in the popular music of the time. In 1965, Lyndon Johnson, with solid support from the American public, made the decision to†¦show more content†¦This area in San Francisco named after two interesting streets became a mecca, of sorts for the hippie movement. It was a generally peaceful movement advocating universal love and rejection of conventional values. T hey used songs such as â€Å"Where have all the Glowers Gone† and â€Å"Blowin in the Wind† to convey an anti-war message, that still had a peaceful tone. In â€Å"Where have all the Flowers Gone,† the girl in the song could be considered a metaphor for society in general repeating cycles of history, such as war, without learning from them. When Bob Dylan sang â€Å"Blowin in the Wind† he alluded to the answer to war being right in front of us but the inability to grasp it: Dylan says, â€Å"Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows/That too many people have died/The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,† (Lyrics.com). As more and more troops were being sent to Vietnam, and the casualties began to rise, people began to question the government’s involvement. â€Å"Even military troops came to mistrust their government’s reasons for keeping them there, as well as Washington’s claims that the war was being won†.(Vietnam War) The Vietnam war was the first war to be broadcast on television. This meant that for the first time the American people were able to see the war instead of just hearing about it on the radio. They were able to see firsthand the soldier’s faces, see the reality of where they were fighting and to see theShow MoreRelatedThe Song Bring Em Home 1743 Words   |  7 Pages The song â€Å"Bring ‘em Home† was a protest song about the Vietnam War. The song was written and performed by Pete Seeger. Pete Seeger was born in May 3, 1919. Since birth Pete Seeger had a musical orientated childhood. His parents were both involved with music in s ome way. His father majored in musicology and his mother was a concert violinist. Pete became interested with music in his teenage years. Seeger went on to the Harvard University but later dropped out. â€Å"Pete met, traveled and performed withRead MoreCivil War And The 1960s1631 Words   |  7 PagesA History of Protest Music – Revolutionary War to the 1960s Protest music in the United States dates back to the 19th century. This protest music focused around subjects that were topical for the time period. Among these topics were the Civil War. Another topic was slavery, and its abolition. A final topic was women’s suffrage. A famous group of protest singers was the Hutchinson Family Singers. Their notoriety, which spanned the mid-19th century, began in 1839. Their songs about abolition wereRead MoreHow Music Affected the Anti-Vietnam Movement1226 Words   |  5 PagesHumans throughout history have proven to be a very aggressive species. They disagree with one another, which might lead to conflict, and if the conflict is big enough, war. There have been many great battles and wars in the past, but one of the most controversial and protested war in human history was the Vietnam War. As World War II ended, the young males returned to their homes. They began families which brought a significant number of new children into the world. This dramatic increase in theRead MoreMarvin Gaye Whats Going On Analysis795 Words   |  4 Pageslisteners throughout the US. Written towards the end of the Vietnam War, What’s Going On would touch on subjects including war protests, unification of the American people, and the poor treatment of veterans. Gaye’s brother served in Vietnam, and much of this album shows the brother’s thoughts and feelings when he returns. Throughout his album, Marvin Gaye uses his own experiences to give us a look at why he and many others had a dissatisfaction with society and the government during the Vietnam War eraRead MoreSongs and Poems Written on Wars: Imagine by John Lennon 793 Words   |  3 Pageseffectively achieved through song. The Vietnam War also known as the American War was the longest major conflict that Australians have been involved in. It began in 1962 and ended in 1975. The Vietnam War was the cause of the greatest political and social dissent in Australia since World War 1. In 1959 war broke out between communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam. America and there allies, which include Australia, sent thousands of troops over to Vietnam in hope to stop the spreadRead MoreMusic And Cartoons Of The Vietnam War1710 Words   |  7 PagesMs. Harris AP US History June 8, 2015 Art as History: Music and Cartoons of the Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was the longest war the United States has ever fought in and also the most controversial. Many Americans protested against sending their children across seas to fight in a war that did not involve the United States. Millions asked for a return to isolationism such as the 1920s. Meanwhile many protests went viral as the National Guard interfered, killing four at Kent State UniversityRead MoreBob Dylan Vietnam878 Words   |  4 Pagesdemonstrations against the Vietnam War. Americans were divided between patriotism and the desire for peace. Some agreed with President Johnsons involvement in Vietnam for the common goal of eliminating communism, others became entranced in the peace movements that usually involved mass protests. For those who protested American involvement in the longest war they ever took part in, songs of the times were an inspiration, particularly songs of Bob Dylan, whose influential songs often protested what manyRead MoreSongs Written Du ring War Times811 Words   |  4 Pagesnever a good war, or a bad peace.† said Benjamin Franklin, showing the importance of peace and unnecessariness of war. The songs are the symbol of sadness, love, desire, sorrow, expectancy and other unnumbered emotions. And on the other hand the lyrics are the voice of the society. Therefore, the lyricists and the artists composed songs for different occasions, such as hunger, poverty, demand for freedom, and war. The war songs were also composed during the World War II, the Vietnam War and the ColdRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Protest in American History Essay1090 Words   |  5 PagesThe Vietnam War is a perfect example of a group of protests that had many different outcomes. The Kent State shootings and the Democratic Convention of 1968 are examples of protests that went terribly wrong. Sit-ins and singing protest songs against violence are examples of peaceful protest. The Democratic Convention of 1968 took place in Chicago, Illinois. This convention is known as the people’s convention because it was put on during a time of confusion and turmoil over the Vietnam War andRead MoreMusic During the Vietnam War Essay889 Words   |  4 Pageswere at risk of being drafted into the Vietnam War. This war brought on revolutionary and innovative ways of thinking. The young people of this decade wanted change and this brought a huge difference in culture from the conservative fifties. Inspiration for many of the songs and lyrics of the time came from the Vietnam War. The war caused many people to protest and speak out about it. The main genres people used to show their attitudes about the current war were folk and rock. Hippies used music

Deception Point Page 35 Free Essays

The tourists laughed. Gabrielle followed past the stairway through a series of ropes and barricades into a more private section of the building. Here they entered a room Gabrielle had only seen in books and on television. We will write a custom essay sample on Deception Point Page 35 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Her breath grew short. My God, this is the Map Room! No tour ever came in here. The room’s paneled walls could swing outward to reveal layer upon layer of world maps. This was the place where Roosevelt had charted the course of World War II. Unsettlingly, it was also the room from which Clinton had admitted his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Gabrielle pushed that particular thought from her mind. Most important, the Map Room was a passageway into the West Wing-the area inside the White House where the true powerbrokers worked. This was the last place Gabrielle Ashe had expected to be going. She had imagined her e-mail was coming from some enterprising young intern or secretary working in one of the complex’s more mundane offices. Apparently not. I’m going into the West Wing†¦ The Secret Serviceman marched her to the very end of a carpeted hallway and stopped at an unmarked door. He knocked. Gabrielle’s heart was pounding. â€Å"It’s open,† someone called from inside. The man opened the door and motioned for Gabrielle to enter. Gabrielle stepped in. The shades were down, and the room was dim. She could see the faint outline of a person sitting at a desk in the darkness. â€Å"Ms. Ashe?† The voice came from behind a cloud of cigarette smoke. â€Å"Welcome.† As Gabrielle’s eyes accustomed to the dark, she began to make out an unsettlingly familiar face, and her muscles went taut with surprise. THIS is who has been sending me e-mail? â€Å"Thank you for coming,† Marjorie Tench said, her voice cold. â€Å"Ms†¦. Tench?† Gabrielle stammered, suddenly unable to breathe. â€Å"Call me Marjorie.† The hideous woman stood up, blowing smoke out of her nose like a dragon. â€Å"You and I are about to become best friends.† 41 Norah Mangor stood at the extraction shaft beside Tolland, Rachel, and Corky and stared into the pitch-black meteorite hole. â€Å"Mike,† she said, â€Å"you’re cute, but you’re insane. There’s no bioluminescence here.† Tolland now wished he’d thought to take some video; while Corky had gone to find Norah and Ming, the bioluminescence had begun fading rapidly. Within a couple of minutes, all the twinkling had simply stopped. Tolland threw another piece of ice into the water, but nothing happened. No green splash. â€Å"Where did they go?† Corky asked. Tolland had a fairly good idea. Bioluminescence-one of nature’s most ingenious defense mechanisms-was a natural response for plankton in distress. A plankton sensing it was about to be consumed by larger organisms would begin flashing in hopes of attracting much larger predators that would scare off the original attackers. In this case, the plankton, having entered the shaft through a crack, suddenly found themselves in a primarily freshwater environment and bioluminesced in panic as the freshwater slowly killed them. â€Å"I think they died.† â€Å"They were murdered,† Norah scoffed. â€Å"The Easter Bunny swam in and ate them.† Corky glared at her. â€Å"I saw the luminescence too, Norah.† â€Å"Was it before or after you took LSD?† â€Å"Why would we lie about this?† Corky demanded. â€Å"Men lie.† â€Å"Yeah, about sleeping with other women, but never about bioluminescent plankton.† Tolland sighed. â€Å"Norah, certainly you’re aware that plankton do live in the oceans beneath the ice.† â€Å"Mike,† she replied with a glare, â€Å"please don’t tell me my business. For the record, there are over two hundred species of diatoms that thrive under Arctic ice shelves. Fourteen species of autotrophic nannoflagellates, twenty heterotrophic flagellates, forty heterotrophic dinoflagellates, and several metazoans, including polychaetes, amphipods, copepods, euphausids, and fish. Any questions?† Tolland frowned. â€Å"Clearly you know more about Arctic fauna than I do, and you agree there’s plenty of life underneath us. So why are you so skeptical that we saw bioluminescent plankton?† â€Å"Because, Mike, this shaft is sealed. It’s a closed, freshwater environment. No ocean plankton could possibly get in here!† â€Å"I tasted salt in the water,† Tolland insisted. â€Å"Very faint, but present. Saltwater is getting in here somehow.† â€Å"Right,† Norah said skeptically. â€Å"You tasted salt. You licked the sleeve of an old sweaty parka, and now you’ve decided that the PODS density scans and fifteen separate core samples are inaccurate.† Tolland held out the wet sleeve of his parka as proof. â€Å"Mike, I’m not licking your damn jacket.† She looked into the hole. â€Å"Might I ask why droves of alleged plankton decided to swim into this alleged crack?† â€Å"Heat?† Tolland ventured. â€Å"A lot of sea creatures are attracted by heat. When we extracted the meteorite, we heated it. The plankton may have been drawn instinctively toward the temporarily warmer environment in the shaft.† Corky nodded. â€Å"Sounds logical.† â€Å"Logical?† Norah rolled her eyes. â€Å"You know, for a prize-winning physicist and a world-famous oceanographer, you’re a couple of pretty dense specimens. Has it occurred to you that even if there is a crack-which I can assure you there is not-it is physically impossible for any sea-water to be flowing into this shaft.† She stared at both of them with pathetic disdain. â€Å"But, Norah†¦,† Corky began. â€Å"Gentlemen! We’re standing above sea level here.† She stamped her foot on the ice. â€Å"Hello? This ice sheet rises a hundred feet above the sea. You might recall the big cliff at the end of this shelf? We’re higher than the ocean. If there were a fissure into this shaft, the water would be flowing out of this shaft, not into it. It’s called gravity.† Tolland and Corky looked at each other. â€Å"Shit,† Corky said. â€Å"I didn’t think of that.† Norah pointed into the water-filled shaft. â€Å"You may also have noticed that the water level isn’t changing?† Tolland felt like an idiot. Norah was absolutely right. If there had been a crack, the water would be flowing out, not in. Tolland stood in silence a long moment, wondering what to do next. â€Å"Okay.† Tolland sighed. â€Å"Apparently, the fissure theory makes no sense. But we saw bioluminescence in the water. The only conclusion is that this is not a closed environment after all. I realize much of your icedating data is built on the premise that the glacier is a solid block, but-â€Å" â€Å"Premise?† Norah was obviously getting agitated. â€Å"Remember, this was not just my data, Mike. NASA made the same findings. We all confirmed this glacier is solid. No cracks.† Tolland glanced across the dome toward the crowd gathered around the press conference area. â€Å"Whatever is going on, I think, in good faith, we need to inform the administrator and-â€Å" â€Å"This is bullshit!† Norah hissed. â€Å"I’m telling you this glacial matrix is pristine. I’m not about to have my core data questioned by a salt lick and some absurd hallucinations.† She stormed over to a nearby supply area and began collecting some tools. â€Å"I’ll take a proper water sample, and show you this water contains no saltwater plankton-living or dead!† Rachel and the others looked on as Norah used a sterile pipette on a string to harvest a water sample from the melt pool. Norah placed several drops in a tiny device that resembled a miniature telescope. Then she peered through the oculus, pointing the device toward the light emanating from the other side of the dome. Within seconds she was cursing. How to cite Deception Point Page 35, Essay examples