Agent Nouns

Agent Nouns Agent Nouns Agent Nouns By Mark Nichol Why singer, but actor? Why doctor, but dentist? Why customer, but client? There seems to be no logic to the variation in endings for agent nouns. An agent noun, a word that identifies a person’s occupation or profession, place of origin or residence, or other association, or a device that performs a task, generally signals its function with a suffix. However, various endings are possible, and though the spelling of such words, because of their ubiquity, is often obvious, no set of rules is always reliable. Some people posit that the -er ending is found in words derived from Germanic sources, while the -or ending denotes Latinate words, but that’s not always true. (For example, adapt is from Latin, but its agent noun is adapter, not adaptor.) Alternatively, the -or ending appears in words referring to figures of authority (director, governor, inspector), but employer, manager, and teacher are counterexamples. (Occasionally, an agent noun has more than one spelling, as with adviser and advisor. It’s common practice in such cases to always prefer, for consistency, the first option listed in the dictionary, although in this case, doing so means that a writer will write adviser yet will spell the adjectival form advisory.) Another ending for agent nouns, -ist, might at first seem to consistently correspond to a positive value judgment, in that we associate it with scientist and words for those in scientific specialties (biologist, physicist), as well as powerful people (industrialist, philanthropist), but note the neutral bicyclist and the negative bigamist. Likewise, notice the variable status of people identified by the terms cineast (also spelled cineaste), enthusiast, and pederast, as well as the tongue-in-cheek neologism ecdysiast. Some endings for agent nouns are often associated with pejoratives, though there are exceptions. For example, beggar, burglar, and the archaic pedlar end with -ar, but so do registrar, scholar, and vicar. Bastard, coward, and drunkard, but steward and wizard. Mongrel and wastrel, but colonel and sentinel. Less common endings that might be associated with positive or negative words are -ant (accountant, but vagrant) and -ent (client, as well as agent itself, but indigent). Other rare examples are -aster (poetaster), which originally neutrally denoted partial resemblance but came to be exclusively derogatory; -ista, which is employed in lightheartedly pejorative terms such as fashionista (there’s also barista, borrowed from Italian, which in turn borrowed bar from English); and -nik (beatnik, peacenik), which in Russian or Yiddish is neutral but acquired a negative connotation in American English during the Cold War. As mentioned in the definition of â€Å"agent noun† above, that term also refers to inanimate objects. However, no consistent classification is possible for this subgroup: Why washer and dryer, but refrigerator? As revealed in these examples and the many terms for human agents referred to above agent nouns follow no rules of etymology or connotation. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals50 Types of PropagandaShow, Don't Tell

How to Use Definite Articles in German

How to Use Definite Articles in German A definite article (der Definitartikel) is that tiny word in English we refer to as the. In German, we have three: der, die, das. As in English, they are also placed before the noun (or their modifying adjectives). In German, however, each of the definite articles has a gender. When to Use Der, Die or Das Der :  der Hut (the hat)Die :  die Klasse (the class)Das :  das Kind (the child) Please note that the above forms are for nouns in the nominative case only, as you would find them listed in the dictionary. To see how definite articles change in the different cases, read about the four German noun cases. How Do I Know Which Definite Article to Place Before a Noun? There are some guidelines for specific groups of nouns. However, for the most part, you need to memorize which noun goes with which definite article. As you do so, keep in mind these two basic rules: Most nouns denoting male and female beings will be der and die respectively.For example: der Mann (the man)die Frau (the woman) but there are exceptions: das Mdchen (the girl) In compound nouns, the correct definite article is the one that belongs to the last noun.  For  example:   das Hochzeitsfest/the wedding celebration ( das Fest )

Missile Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Missile Crisis - Essay Example But though major powers were not directly involved, they armed or funded surrogates, lessening direct impact on the populations of their own countries, but increasing conflict and tension between millions of civilians around the world. One of the 'hot spots' in the Cold War was the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the then US President John F. Kennedy and the Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev were practically eyeball to eyeball, each with a finger on the trigger. One wrong move and this would have escalated to a nuclear confrontation, and ccompletely changed the course of history. For the Americans, the countdown began on Monday, October 15, 1962, when a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft revealed several Soviet nuclear missile installations in Cuba. They promptly swung into action and the subsequent 13 days has been recorded for posterity and popular consumption in a typical American good-guys-verses-the-bad-guys movie "Thirteen Days," where the good guys were, of course, the Americans. Who knows when it began for the Russians Perhaps the insecurity of being on the defensive started after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the use of nuclear weapons is seen by some historians as a warning to the Soviet Union. According to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's memoirs, he conceived the idea of placing intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba to counter an emerging lead of the United States in developing and deploying strategic missiles. At this point of time, MAD, or "mutually assured destruction" was a prominent feature of the nuclear arms race, supported in particular by the deployment of nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The idea was that the two super-powers would not attack each other because both sides had nuclear weapons to decimate each other, and worse, to make the entire planet uninhabitable. So, since launching an attack would be suicidal for either party, neither would attempt it. (Wikipedia) For the Soviet Union, what brought things to a head was the presence of U.S. missile sites in Turkey, which directly threatened cities in the western sections of the Soviet Union, tilting the balance of terror in favour of the U.S. As for the Cubans, ever since the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961, when the United States armed and funded Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro's government, the Cubans lived under the shadow of fear of more reprisals from the United States. It was to protect themselves from another such United States-sponsored invasion, that Fidel Castro gave the Soviet Union approval to build missile installations in Cuba. The differences in their view-points are reflected in how they subsequently remember the incident. The Cubans know it as the October Crisis, just one of the many run-ins with the Americans. The Soviets refer to it as the Carribean Missile Crisis, where the Cubans are merely instrumental in yet another confrontation with the Americans in the Cold War, while the Americans call it the Cuban Missile Crisis. However they saw it, the thirteen-day countdown (Timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis, n.d.) was it was considered one of the tensest and most perilous moments in history. Starting with the American discovery of the SS-4 nuclear missiles in Cuba, when President Kennedy immediately convened his Executive Committee to consider America's options, which ranged from doing

CHAPTER 9 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CHAPTER 9 - Coursework Example Prior to the First World War, the Jewish immigrants and Palestinians coexisted peacefully despite the confusion created by Jewish inhabitation of the area. However, the events of the First World War resulted into a protracted religious and nationalistic conflict that persists to date (White 258-286). The British wanted to win the war against the Germans. Therefore, it fuelled Arab’s hostility against the Turks with the promise of establishing a united Arab country at the end of the way. Instead of establishing a united Arab country as it had promised, the British divided the region into territories governed by families. There territories rivaled each other leading to eventual emergence of independent states such as Syria, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Gulf States. The British also promised the Jews that it will create a Jewish nation in Palestine. Creation of the state of Israel increased tension in the region which resulted into repeated wars between the Arabs and the Israel. Israel defeated the Arabs in each of these wars forcing the Arabs to turn to terrorism. Change of international policies can prevent future occurrence of the conflict. The international community should play a key role in demarcating the boundaries separating the countries. In addition, the countries should recognize each other as a sovereign state and also respect their religious

DATA MINING AND VISUALISATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

DATA MINING AND VISUALISATION - Essay Example Name of Algorithm: Eulid’s Algorithm Criteria of the Eulid’s Algorithm To measure was defined as placing shorter measuring length S in a successful times (q times) along a longer length (L), until the remaining portion (r) becomes less than the shorter length (S). In other words, the remainder r = L – q x s, q as the quotient is the modulus, which is the integer fractional par left after the division. In order for this method to work well, the lengths starting the process ought to satisfy 2 requirements. First, the lengths need not be zero. Secondly, the subtraction need not be proper and the test should guarantee that of the two, the smaller must be subtracted from the larger one. Description of the Eulid’s Algorithm This algorithm was postulated by Euclid who poses a math problem. The problem is such that provided with 2 numbers that are not prime to each other one would find the greatest common measure for the two numbers. In this case, the number was d efined as the multitude consisting of units, a counting number, and a positive integer excluding zero. The original proof of the Euclid adds a third, in which the two lengths not being prime to the other. Euclid stipulated with a view to construct a proof that the common measure for the two numbers is in the greatest. ... This is again subtracted from 21 with the remainder being 14, from which 7 is subtracted. In this case, seven would be left. However, seven cannot be subtracted from 7 (Yanhong, 2002). The diagram below shows the Euclid’s algorithm. Advantages of Euclid’s algorithm Euclid’s algorithm has various advantages. First, the algorithm involves step-by-step rep. of the solution to any given problem and it also has a definite procedure hence it is quite easy understanding it. It is quite easy developing and converting it to the flowchart and finally developing it into a computer program. Additionally, the algorithm is independent of the programming language, and given that every step has its logical sequence it is easy debugging it. Disadvantages of the Eudlid’s algorithm. The use and development process of the algorithm is somewhat cumbersome, as well as time consuming given that the algorithm has to be developed first, then be converted into a flowchart and final ly a computer program. Name of the algorithm: Force-based Criteria of Force-based algorithm The force-based algorithms often achieve the pattern through assigning forces in a set of edges, along with the set of nodes. In this case, the straight forward method entails assigning forces as though the edges were springs and nodes as though they were particles that were electrically charged. The graph is stimulated as though it were the physical system with the forces being applied on the nodes, by pulling the nodes together and pushing the somewhat further apart. The process is repeated iteratively until when the system reaches the equilibrium state. In this case, the relative positions of the nodes are not altered from one position to the other. The graph is then drawn at such

Improve Customer Service In Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay

Improve Customer Service In Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay The main purpose of this report is to research the problems in customer service of hotel and promote substantive recommendations to solve the problems. The report comprises the special definition of service, analyses of problems and methods of solving the problems. In order to improve those weaknesses of customer service, this report also identifies some detailed strategies. 2.0 Introduction Along with rapid economic development, competition in hospitality industry is becoming more intense, and the customer service is becoming an important means of improving efficiency, building brand and expanding sales. The level of customer service will largely determine the outcome of competition. Guests check a hotel, buying not only the facilities, and guests have a dinner at the hotel, purchase is not limited to meals, more importantly, they want to receive high-quality and thoughtful service. Therefore, the hotels mission is to provide quality services for guests and to meet the needs of guests. It is common pursue of hotel manager that how to improve customer service quality and make the hotel in a dominant position in the fierce market. 3.0 Customer service definition Services can be defined as the sum of behavior effectiveness that hotel staff devoted their emotions to form with the basis of certain equipment and facilities and with the target of customers needs (Gavin B. and Gillian M., 2002). We can build a figure to explain the word service. Figure 1 As the figure 1 said that customer service contain eight means: smile, excellence, ready, viewing, inviting, creating, eye and giving (Joost P. M. Wouters, 2004). In fact, these are some of the dictionary explanation about service. It enables services definition more specific, more operational. It is a circle surrounding the center of hotel, and this circle form the definition of service. 4.0 Improving service quality is the survival basis for hotel Modern customer needs are diversified and personalized, and their requirements are also getting higher and higher. It requires the hotel starting from the customer needs and continuously improves service quality (Omar M. and Simon J. 2006). Fundamentally speaking, quality of service is the basis for survival and development of hotel. Competition among hotels, in essence, is the service quality competition. The reasons are as below: 1. Customers are sensitive to quality of service; 2. Customer satisfaction are positively related to service quality. 5.0 Customer service qualitys problems analysis 5.1 Level of service quality is low Many hotel staff lack of initiative. Smile service can not be carried out and lack of basic manners etiquette (Allan Yen-Lun Su, 2004), and the staff can not operate advanced equipments. Although the situation has been improved in recent years, it still does not meet customer satisfaction very well. 5.2 Lack of inter-departmental services co-ordination Hotel customer service products have the property of integrating and which is provided by different departments and staff. Hotel service quality is good or bad that depends on the degree of cooperation and coordination between different departments and staff. Many managers are more concerned with the performance of their departments, rather than the co-operation with other departments, the corresponding barrier will eventually rush the guests to turn to rival. 5.3 Service Quality Management is inefficient Hotel service quality products are not only the physical products, but also the intangible service. Intangible services principal is human-that is hotel staff  ¼Ã‹â€ Marianna Sigala, 2005). Regulating and controlling the conduct of staff is the fundamental way to improve the quality of services. 6.0 The implement measures to improve the quality of hotel customer service 6.1 Build support system of customer service level of hospitality industry Figure 2 (FL=foreign language skill OM=operation manage skill IK=information knowledge EK=etiquette knowledge) From the survey results, it is a must that strengthen the operation manage skill of high-star hotel staff, foreign language communication skills, as well as the growing populary information systems management knowledge and so on. Hotel should build the certification system of hotel industry staff training that implement a voluntary system of taking examination to post. Through scientific training, help new employees master certain amount of hotel industry business knowledge. 6.2 Hotel managers should strengthen awareness service quality The quality of customer service the centeral work in hotel daily management, thus all staff should have a sense of quality and managers must establish the concept of service quality. Only managers taken root deeply in the concept of customer service quality can he regard quality as the lifeblood of enterprises, and make staff recognize the importance of customer service quality (Ling-Feng Hsieh and Li-Hung Lin, 2008). 6.3 Establish perfact service quality management system Establish the organization of customer service quality management. Hotel should set up specialized organization of customer service quality management as ensuranment of service quality system. Specifically, it is that establish comprehensive, scientific and rational, and controlled service control system, and bring the hotel quality activities into a unified quality management system through a certain rules, methods and procedures. Make out quality standards and quality objectives. Hotel should make specific standards to daily management of each service item and service sectors, and make work norms and procedures to make employee have the rule to comply with. Hotel can accurately record service process of different positions and sectors, and then analysis carefully, further improve service according to quality manage requirement, finally rationalize it, and defined it with the form of text and graphics and then form a service program. 6.4 Implementing a system of first-staff being in charge As far as customers concerned, they visit hotel and spend money just for buying service, and they do not have interest in understand that with which thing they can turn to which person for help. They have the right to believe that any employee represents hotels and should solve problem for them. So this system means, any hotel staff working in the post, who is the first to be consulted by customers, will be the main person in charge of solving problems and request of guests (C. F. Cheung and W. B. Lee, 2003). 7.0 Conclusion In conclusion, many hotels need to improve customer service level. Therefore, control and review is required when implementing administration and marketing activities. The hotel has to establish business goals for controlling and reviewing.

Moses Herzogs Confused Identity Essay -- Literature Narration Papers

Moses Herzog's Confused Identity While Moses Herzog sits in the Chicago police station after he has crashed his rental car, the narrator of Saul Bellow's work exclaims angrily, "See Moses? We don't know one another" (299). This is the lone moment in the book where the narrator explicitly suggests some separation between himself and Herzog. Much of the rest of the novel provides an unclear division between the narrator and the main character. I would argue that this unclear division occurs because these two figures, the narrator and Herzog, are in fact the same person. There are small logistical hints in the text that this is true. But these small elements of the text exist alongside much larger similarities between Herzog, and the narrator. In the largest sense, the uncertainty, the subjectivity that the narrator evinces in telling Herzog's story shows just how similar he is to the character he is describing. In the end even the quote that began this paper, the remark that ostensibly creates the strongest divis ion between the narrator and Herzog, is evidence that these two figures are really the same - that Herzog is really narrating his own story. The most visible element of the book that suggests some conflation of the narrator and Herzog is the narrator's confused pronoun use for Herzog. On occasion, the narrator confusingly refers to Herzog not in the third person as "he" but instead in the first person as "I," seemingly adopting Herzog's voice. Some of the times that this happens, it seems a stylistic device, such as when the narration is given in Herzog's voice, directly after Herzog's letters. Herzog writes to Madeleine's mother Tennie, before thinking about what he has just written: "It's in the vault, in Pitts... ...rose colored glasses. Similarly, Herzog having this emotional experience would not allow the narrator to empathize with, and thus understand Nachman. But it does. The narrator is, and would only be able to utilize Herzog's own emotional intelligence in narrating the story, because the narrator is Herzog. The confused pronoun references throughout the text strongly suggest that the narrator and Herzog are one. But the less overt moments, where the reader is brought to see the emotional closeness of Herzog and the narrator, are the truly convincing signals that these two figures are one. Even the question that ostensibly sets the two figures apart, in fact contains many of the similarities between the two figures. When Moses tells himself, "See Moses? We don't know one another," Moses is, in fact, keeping with all the uncertainties that define him as a character.