The Major Languages of South Asia - Essay Example

Pakistan and the Maldives are home to most Muslims, even though a large population also reside in Bangladesh. Buddhist populations are found in Sri Lanka and Bhutan. But they also represent minorities in Nepal and India.
The original native languages were impacted by Aryan invaders two centuries B.C. and continued with the British invasion. That influence exists today in the differentiation between the ‘t” and “d” in Indian English. Since the separation of the region into territories in 1947, South Asia has accepted outside assistance with political and security issues but culturally they interpret this as support of local (ethnic) issues, rather than on a larger scale. But, at the heart is the issue of disrespect of the native language and its associated religion and ethnicity. Regardless of the country or the language, the deep and ancient connection between religion and language results in racism and petty local haggling based on tribal customs and values.

Robinson, Francis. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Indian, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
von der Mehden, Fred R. South-East Asia 1930-1970: the legacy of colonialism and nationalism. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1974.

Essay2
Describe issues of loss and of preservation of Aboriginal culture in Australia. Make sure to cite any sources you use other than the text. Complete essays should be 200-250 words.

From the time of the arrival of the first Europeans, the Aboriginal Australians began losing their identity. They were so very much a part of the land, being able to survive without currency, without a written constitution or religion, they were able to live easily in a harsh land. Without the protections provided by law and religion, it was easy for new arrivals to take their land from them and exploit them as sheepherders and trackers. Some of their practices, such as polygamy, were offensive to new arrivals who took away their rights, and even their children. Many of these new arrivals were criminals cast out from England, and other countries who had no qualms about mistreating the black Aborigine.
Until 1967, Aborigines had no citizenship rights. In fact, they were so invisible to the public that they were not counted in the census. Perhaps even today, the Australians are waiting for the Aborigines to simply become extinct.

The struggle to return rights to Aborigines continues. The long history of land ownership by Europeans and the establishment of English as the official language hinders progress. Efforts by Aborigines to reclaim their heritage do continue. But, the staggering majority of voters are non-Aborigine and have nothing to gain by returning land to natives. Nevertheless, there are political movements afoot to preserve the Aborigine way of life—and they are definitely not extinct.

Welsh, Frank. Australia: a new history of the great southern land. New York: The Overlook Press. 2004.
 
Paragraph 1( doesn’t have to belong) What factors contributed to the origin and course of the Vietnam War?

A primary cause was that North Vietnam was under communist rule and was basically a military state. The only way for anyone to succeed, even as a doctor or teacher, was to first advance within the military. South Vietnam was a democratic, capitalist country that wanted all citizens to have the right to education and a good standard of living. Since the Soviet Union was already fighting on the side of North Vietnam, the United States feared the spread of communism around the world.

Paragraph 2( doesn’t have to belong) What is the impact of religion on the history and current nature and structure of South Asia?

Long before the Vietnam War, a new religion was introduced to the area: Catholicism. Those who refused to abandon Buddhism and embrace Catholicism were punished. Those who most enthusiastically embraced Catholicism were welcomed into a new ruling class – and educated in French. The French re-enculturation produced a very reluctant student, Ho Chi Minh, who took control of North Vietnam which he developed as a communist country. Read More