The Janissaries from the Ottoman Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Janissaries from the Ottoman Empire - Essay Example The head of the Ottoman Empire was the Sultan and he was vested with powers that were absolute, though with the understanding that he ruled with the expectation of being just. This concept is the foundation of much Middle Eastern thought, reinforced by Islamic tenets of fairness. Both Turkish and Persian traditions bequeathed the Sultan with the role of the protectorate of the rights enjoyed by all citizens, with a special focus on those at the bottom of the class system. Because of this, the Sultan received his authority in the belief that it was the only way to ensure that corruption could be avoided (Hooker 1996). This fidelity to both the authority and fairness to the Sultan was a key element in the evolution of the Janissaries. A significant portion of the training of Janissaries involved indoctrinating them to believe they were a family and the Sultan was their father. Until the late 1380s, Janissaries consisted prisoners and slaves. Sultan Selim I transformed the conscription by filling their ranks with non-Muslim youths. The training was highly disciplined that obeyed Islamic laws such as celibacy and not being allowed to wear beards (Greene). The Janissaries were an essential element of the Ottoman Empire throughout its major wars and battles from the 1453 capture of Constantinople to the wars against the Austrian-Hungarian Empire several centuries later. In the beginning it was the Sultan himself who very often led his Janissary troops into battle. As they began to assert their dominance in battle, their reputation and favor increased, along with the desire of many to join them. While this was an advantage in the arena of recruitment, it also quickly proved to be something less then desirable to the Sultan and his political advisors. The Janissaries slowly began to realize that their reputation could bring them an even better life, as well as more power. Over the course of the next few centuries there the evolution of the Ottoman Empire was marked by a series of uprisings and revolts that all served to increase the power of the Janissaries. The first revolt by the Janissaries did not take place until 1449 when they demanded better pay. The success of this revolt doubtlessly set the stage for future revolutions. In fact, this rebellion created the precedent whereby each new Sultan was expected not only to extend a reward to each Janissary, but also to raise pay. A later insurrection in the 16th century resulted in Sultan Selim II bestowing permission for Janissaries to marry. The Janissaries had achieved such a position of power by the 1700s that entire Ottoman bureaucracy was dictated by their desires. Any mutiny by the corps could result in a change of political policy. Coups directed by Janissaries had the effect of replacing Sultans who were not specifically sensitive to their demands. A key, and ultimately fatal, mistake by the Janissaries was moving to block modernization of the military in an effort to hold onto their own power (Gerolymatos 152). In 1807 a Janissary revolt deposed Sultan Selim III, who had tried to modernize the army along Western European lines. His supporters failed to recapture power before Mustafa IV had him killed, but elevated Mahmud II to the throne in 1808. When the Janissaries threatened to oust Mahmud, he followed suit and had the captured Mustafa executed and

As I Lay Dying: Styles Used By William Faulkner :: essays research papers

As I Lay Dying: Styles Used By William Faulkner -Darl's Section (p.128) Most authors have certain styles that result in bringing across certain ideas. In As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner uses a subtle and discreet narrative manner to bring forth important pieces of information that adds to the story, and important themes. In one of the chapters narrated by Darl, this is shown very well In this chapter Darl uses a flashback to let us get a more in-depth look at the Bundren family; to let us see why it is so "dysfunctional." In this chapter we learn more about the relationships within the family, and more about Addie, about whom we previously have not learned much. We see how keen Darl's sense of intuition is, and we learn an important family secret. Darl is often used as an objective speaker, although he is indeed involved with the situation he is speaking about. In this chapter he recalls Jewel's purchase of his horse. This is a strong clue that Jewel is not Anse's son, since Anse is extremely lazy and would never work as hard as Jewel did for a horse. We also see the tension between Anse and Jewel. We see the lack of respect Jewel has for Anse. It is rather ironic when Anse says "He's just lazy, trying me" (p. 129) Since Jewel has been working really hard, and it is Anse who is lazy. Furthering on Jewel and Anse's relationship, I feel that it is fairly evident that Jewel knows that Anse is not his father. This is illustrated in the following section on page 136: "Jewel looked at Pa, his eyes paler than ever. 'He won't never eat a mouthful of yours' he said. 'Not a mouthful. I'll kill him first. Don't you never think it. Don't you never.' "The antagonism Jewel holds toward Anse is enormous, and this scene intensifies it showing that Jewel knows the truth or at least has a fair idea. We also see that Darl knows, and how he knows. At the end of the chapter, he sees his mother crying over Jewel when he is sleeping. He could see her anguish and almost feel it. His empathy and intuition led him to discovering the truth, and he also confirms his knowledge of Dewey Dell's pregnancy. We see the strength of his intuition and how it affects the rest of the family. The fact that Darl knows probably heightens the rivalry between the two brothers. In this chapter we see the way the family was before Addie's death and

Hamlets Tragic Flaw

Procrastination is an action or rather an inaction, because when you procrastinate, you are avoiding completing a task. â€Å"Emotionally, Hamlet’s procrastination produces in him a growing rage that leads to his killing of Polonius (3. 4) †¦. Set in motion the incidents that lead to the bloody climax† (Boyce). This quote illustrates the topic of the following essay. It clearly outlines why the inability to act is ultimately the tragic flaw of the character Hamlet. Firstly, Hamlet’s procrastination ultimately leads to the premature death of many characters throughout the play.In act 3 scene 4, while confronting his mother, Hamlet hears a noise from behind a curtain. Thinking it was Claudius spying, Hamlet passes his sword through the curtain and stabs Polonius. Polonius calls out â€Å"O, I am slain! †(3. 4. 22), then falls and dies. Hamlets Procrastination led to this because his emotions are being built up so, that when he hears the slightest thing that may be Claudius, he reacts in a violent way. That is not a good thing, because the death of Polonius will lead to two other events that will eventually cause three other characters to die.Moreover, in the final scene, three more characters die. Claudius has a cup of poisoned wine for Hamlet, but Gertrude unknowingly drinks it and immediately starts to die. Just before she passes, she exclaims â€Å"No! No! The drink, the drink – O my dear Hamlet – the drink, the drink! I am poisn’d (dies)† (5. 2. 299-300). After Gertrude dies, Hamlet and Laertes fight more violently, and Laertes cuts Hamlet. In a brawl, Hamlet gets a hold of Laertes’ sword and stabs him. When Hamlet realizes the sword is poisoned, he turns and stabs Claudius.Hamlet says â€Å"†¦the point envenomed too†¦ (stabs the king)†¦ Follow my mother! (Claudius dies)† (5. 2. 311-317). After Claudius dies, Laertes says to Hamlet â€Å"†¦he is justly served†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (5. 2. 318-322) then dies. He says this to reassure Hamlet that he did the right thing. Hamlet’s procrastination led to the climax of the play, because if he would have killed Claudius sooner, he would have discovered that Hamlet knows about the murder and he never would have called the sword fight, and none of this brutality would have occurred.Secondly, Hamlet’s procrastination is causing other characters to plot against him. After Hamlet killed Polonius, Claudius plans to ship Hamlet away to England and make Polonius’ death look accidental. When he reveals his plan, he is talking to Gertrude and says â€Å"O Gertrude, come away! / The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, / But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed / We must with all our majesty and skill, / Both countenance and excuse! † (4. 1. 28-32). He is simply telling Gertrude that Hamlet will be on a ship to England before the sun rises.He also adds that they must both â€Å"co untenance and excuse† the death of Polonius to protect their identity. Furthermore, when Laertes hears of his father’s death, he returns to Denmark, and he and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet and make it look like an accident. The king devises a plan and tells Laertes â€Å"to thine own peace†¦ he shall not choose but fall†¦ even his mother†¦ shall call it accident† (4. 7. 61-68). Laertes is not fully satisfied with the kings plan and he says to Claudius â€Å"My Lord, I will be ruled; / The rather if you devise it so / That I might be the organ† (4. 7. 69-70).Laertes and Claudius devise a plan in which Laertes will kill Hamlet to avenge his father’s death, and Claudius will not need to worry about Hamlet revealing the truth of King Hamlet’s murder. Lastly, Hamlet’s procrastination allows time for events to unfold, ultimately bringing about his own death. Claudius caught on that Hamlet knows what happened to his father, so Claudius has Hamlet fight Laertes in a fencing match. We find out about this plan when a lord comes to invite Hamlet to the match. The lord entered the room where Hamlet was and said â€Å"My Lord, his majesty†¦ if your / Pleasure hold to play with Laertes† (5. . 186-190). Hamlet accepts the invitation to the match. The purpose of the fencing match is for Laertes to get revenge on Hamlet for killing Polonius. This will also serve as a means for Claudius to eliminate Hamlet so that he will not reveal the truth about King Hamlet’s murder. Furthermore, unbeknownst to Hamlet, the match is rigged. When Claudius tells Laertes that he is to kill Hamlet in the fencing match, Laertes responds â€Å"I will do’t†¦ I will anoint my sword. / I bought an unction of a mountebank, so mortal†¦ if I gall him slightly, / It may be death† (4. 7. 140-148).He says this because he wants to inform the reader that he will poison his sword to ensure Hamlet dies if h e cuts him even slightly. This shows how determined Laertes is to get revenge on Hamlet for killing Polonius. Therefore, the tragic flaw of Hamlet is ultimately procrastination. There are many examples throughout the play supporting this fact. If the other characters would have procrastinated the way Hamlet did, the play would have been much heavier with subplots and underlying moods and feelings. Based on this play, most people would think twice before putting off any large tasks that they may need to accomplish.

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Wage Theft in the Fast Food Industry - 1764 Words

Imagine having to clock out mid-shift to prevent getting paid overtime, but not leaving for another hour or two. Having to punch out for break but work through it, or having a paid vacation taken away as if it never existed? Situations relative to these are reality and are classified as wage theft, defined by the wage theft website as â€Å"a variety of infractions that occur when workers do not receive their legally or contractually promised wages† (Wage Theft). The public is generally uneducated of the concept of wage theft and the effects it has on our society, let alone what can be done about it. The Wage Theft Prevention Act, an act established in 2011 by the state of New York, provides laws protecting working citizens, and is an act that†¦show more content†¦economy, in an industry that’s making billions of dollars in record profits; and they’re stealing from the lowest income workers in this country. Is that right?!†. It is true- workers of these restaurants do not even make nearly enough to survive and are victims of wage theft while corporate workers make millions more a year, caring less about what is happening to the workers below them. In an article on AlterNet entitled â€Å"Fast-Food CEOs Making 1,200 Times Workers’ Wages Have No Idea What Their Greed Does To Employees† it revealed just how pathetic this industry really is. In the article by Alyssa Figueroa, she stated that â€Å"In the past decade, fast-food CEOs’ wages have increased more than 400 percent, while workers’ wages increased 0.3 percent†. In a later statement, â€Å"the average fast food CEO salary at $23.8 million in 2013 and the average worker salary at $19,000†. If we are a country that recognizes the issue of income inequality, why are we not doing anything in relation to this issue? The article featured numerous testimonies including many occurrences of wage theft. In a testimony by a woman named Marie Sanders, she states â€Å"I was 17 years old and I had problems at home, so I needed to budget my money in order to pay my expenses, I just stumbled upon it. I would ask my manager for printouts of my ti me. And that’s when I had noticed that I had been clocked out for days that I did not take breaks. And it would beShow MoreRelatedShould The Minimum Wage Be Paid?993 Words   |  4 PagesTalk poverty: As wages go down, the percentage of workers relying on public assistance gets higher: 60 percent of workers earning less than $7.42—only slightly higher than the $7.25 federal minimum wage—receive some form of means-tested public assistance. Overall, 70 percent of the benefits in programs meant to aid non-elderly low-income households—programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and the Earned Income Tax Credits—go to working families.and it help some people get out of the food stamp Because theRead MoreMusic and Film665 Words   |  3 Pagesintroductions: Technicolour, Cinemascope, 3D, and even a brief trial with Aromascope...all of these opportunities used to try make cinema-going a more involving experience. However, advancing technology has also had a n egative effect on the film industry. Since videos have become a form of watching a movie, film piracy has slowly become a huge problem, but even more so since the internet has become more powerful. Internet film piracy has become a global epidemic. As internet usage has expanded andRead MoreThe Idea Of Chipotle Company1375 Words   |  6 PagesI. Overview The idea of Chipotle started with its founder, chairman and co-CEO, Steve Ells. His idea was to offer higher quality food, combined with the speed and convenience of fast food, giving birth to a new trend: â€Å"fast casual†. Chipotle offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Chipotle opened with a single restaurantRead MoreThe Economics of the Fast Food Industry4390 Words   |  18 Pagesbest maximize their profits, the big fast food giant s created the franchise system. This system allows the companies to maintain overall control of the product, and give them a guaranteed rate of return, while at the same time allowing local owners to create a low-wage work force best suited to local conditions. For us, as workers, that means our immediate employers are often small business owners, and franchise owners who plead poverty when we demand higher wages. At present 2,708 of Pizza Hut’sRead MoreThe High Cost of Wal-Mart1646 Words   |  7 Pageswith the expense of hard-earned American taxpayer dollars being used to subsidize one of the richest corporations in the world. This is greed and should even be considered theft, as Wal-Mart can certainly pay their workers more an hour, but chooses not to. Rather, Wal-Mart chooses to steal taxpayer dollars to subsidize low wages, healthcare and other safety net programs for their employees. In this analytical paper, I plan to discuss the Wal-Mart issue as a whole and would like to delve into the corruptionRead MorePersuasive Essay On Minimum Wage1174 Words   |  5 Pages The US minimum wage should not be raised to $18.00 an hour for adults by 2020. Raising our minimum wage is just as good as destroying our economy and all the work our government has done to lower unemployment rates. Jamie Richardson, MBA, VP of the fast-food chain White Castle, stated that the company would be forced to close almost half of its restaurants and let go thousands of workers if the federal minimum wage was raised to $15. Peter D. Schiff, an investment broker and investor, stated inRead MoreIllegal Immigration 1280 Words   |  6 Pagesamounts are El Salvador (660,000) Guatemala (52000), Hondorous (380,000) and China (280,000)† (Infoplease 1). The rising number of illegal immigrants over the past ten years has led to an increasing concern about the effects of illegal immigrants on wages, national security, and public finances. Evidently, illegal immigration has been a source of economic stress, increased insecurity, low healthcare services, and reduced education s tandards. To delve deep in understanding the negative impact of illegalRead MoreStarbuckss Highest Quality Beans1640 Words   |  7 Pagesof a barista after their 2 weeks training to ground them to the importance of the everyday employees. Starbucks employees are also paid higher than industry average wages, and stock options â€Å"Bean Stock†. All partners â€Å"employees’ also receive full medical, dental insurance, disability and life insurance Innovation Starbucks leads the coffee industry in innovation. Innovation is the creation of new products or processes. Before Starbucks coffee houses where locally owned or franchises. StarbucksRead MoreFactors That Affect The Society Of The Food Service Industry1785 Words   |  8 Pagesanalyzed. In particular, the precarious conditions of workers in the food service industry. Precarity is defined as a position that is unstable and uncertain (Ahmad 2016: Slide 3). There are numerous causes for the insecurity within the workplace. The food industry very evidently consists of unpredicted, insecure and risky labour. Consequently, it immensely impacts the lives of laborers. The precarious conditions workers in the food industry face impact the body’s health very drastically. Employees dealRead MoreCrossing the Border, Reaching the Light1139 Words   |  5 Pagesproof of citizenship. So how do these people get jobs? Illegal immigrants can take any job, but most illegal immigrants have ver y little education so they tend to go for low income or harsh jobs. Some common jobs are in the construction, dairy, fast food industries, or in farming and landscaping; they also work as mechanics or janitors, and more. Illegal immigrants with higher education, such as college degrees, will have a hard time finding a job without papers, so they usually have to do jobs way below

Merchant Of Venice Shylock Character Analysis - 762 Words

The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most widely known and controversial comedies. Written in the late 1590s, its’ controversy stems from the modern mindset between tolerance and prejudice. Shylock, who was â€Å"at once a fabulous monster, the Jew incarnate, and also a troubling human uneasily joined with the monster in an uncanny blend†, is now looked at as a victim in light of the prejudice bestowed upon him now being recognized. Shylock’s character is so stereotypically Jewish that he becomes known as villainous instead of a victim. (1, Pg. 1) At this point of time, Jews were treated harshly and were ostracized by Christians. Shylock, because of his religion, is frequently looked down upon, spit at, and called derogatory terms.†¦show more content†¦Shylock is in the middle of lending Bassanio money, but, he requests â€Å"three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.† This is the first time Shylock mentions Anton io and it is with a negative connotation. He requests that Antonio be bound to the gamble. After a few moments, Antonio walks in and Shylock makes a speech in which he declares his hatred for Antonio. â€Å"How like a fawning publican he looks. I hate him for he is a Christian; But more, for that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. He hates our sacred nation, and he rails, Even there where merchants most do congregate, On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift, Which he calls ‘interest’. Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him.† This speech gives us a glimpse into why Shylock hates Antonio and the anti semitism Antonio has towards Shylock and his religion that he is dedicated to. He starts off by insulting Antonio and declaring that he hates him because he is a Christian. His hatred for Christians can be due to the fact that Christians ostracized and belittled Jewish people, especially during this time period and place. He then continues on describing what Antonio does as a career, but, with much criticism. He explains that Antonio lends money out freely and brings down the rate of interest for his friends.Show MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis of Shylock from The Merchant of Venice469 Words   |  2 PagesWilliam Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice is a classic play that has also brought about some issues revolving around the antagonist of the story Shylock. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the character of Shylock in the play and also introduce the uses of that name throughout history down to the present day. Shylock in Shakespeares work is a money lending Jew who pursues money with strong vigor and attachment. Shylock is also portrayed as literally bloodthirsty as he demands punishmentRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice939 Words   |  4 PagesContrast of Shylock and Claudius Introduction This essay looks into the lives of Shylock and Antonio. These are two of Shakespearean antagonists of all time. They are alike in more ways than one. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is a Jewish moneylender based in Venice. He has been tormented and repressed mainly by the Christian population. One finds it easy to sympathize with him mainly because he has his own reasons to be loathing, greedy, and miserly. This ends up making the entire ‘Merchant of Venice’Read MoreRacism And Prejudice By William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice Essay1699 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion and what they believe in, however there is racism and prejudice present in the world. William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is one of his most controversial plays. Written in the 16th century England, the play poses many questions concerning racial, religious and human differences due to anti-semitism being very common at the time. The story is set in Venice where a merchant named Antonio lived. His poor friend Bassanio wants to charm and marry a lovely, rich girl of Belmont called PortiaRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice2059 Words   |  9 Pagesin The Merchant of Venice resembles a folktale known as â€Å"A Pound of Flesh† (325). Artese supports his supposition with background context and parallels between the two story lines. Literary versions of the pound of flesh story circulated during the sixteenth century and were collected since the nineteenth century because of the plot’s longevity and populairity Shakespeare would have been familiar with pound of flesh stories (326). Human commodification is a central issue in both The Merchant of VeniceRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice989 Words   |  4 PagesThe Play Analysis of The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare Comedy’s published in the First Folio. (McDonald 212) This analysis will review the written work of the play and the production from the Sweet Tea Shakespeare Theater Group. An overview on a few on the main stories within the play: the animosity in the relationship between Antonio the merchant and Shylock the Jewish moneylender, the courtship of Bassanio and Portia, and the secret eloping of Jessica and LorenzoRead MoreMerchant of Venice - Plot Structure1714 Words   |  7 Pagesof ‘The Merchant of Venice is apparently fanciful but in reality exactingly structured./b/center br brThe Merchant of Venice is a fairy tale. There is no more reality in Shylocks bond and the Lord of Belmonts will than in Jack and the Beanstalk. brH. Granville-Barker, in Prefaces to Shakespeare. br brThis is one way of looking at the play, reading it or enjoying the performance. But it can be a contradiction to our actual feelings about this complex play. ‘The Merchant of VeniceRead More Shakespeares Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice831 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeares Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice This essay is an analysis of how the character of Shylock, in the play The Merchant of Venice, is presented to the audience, by Shakespeare, in different ways. The riveting play shows the best and worst aspects of human nature and contains one of Shakespeares most reviled, complex and compelling characters. Love and romance end this play, yet before that come bigotry, racism, hatred, death threats andRead MoreMerchant Of Venice Essay Outline956 Words   |  4 Pages The Merchant of Venice Essay Outline Introduction: Hook: The theme is the main subject or message of a story. It is used to give depth and enhance the plot. The themes of The Merchant of Venice are used throughout the story of the play to make the plot move along and to encourage the characters into action. Bridge: When you read The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare there are many themes throughout the play and many lessons to be learned. Main Ideas: The most important themes are hatredRead MoreIs Shylock The Villain Or Victim In The Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1411 Words   |  6 PagesCharacter Analysis Shylock Is Shylock the villain or the victim in the Merchant of Venice? In the play the ‘Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare the antagonist Shylock is both the victim and the villain. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender and is initially portrayed as anger filled and bloodthirsty but as the play continues we begin to see him as more human and his emotions become more evident. As the antagonist, Shylock is a fearful adversary to Antonio, the protagonist. But as good begins toRead MoreAnalysis of The Merchant of Venice Essay513 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeares play The Merchant of Venice is based on a simple enough plot, but it gives a more complex view of the characters involved. It portrays each characters attitude, opinions and actions and shows how they affect the other characters. ====================================================================== Shylock is perhaps the most noteworthy character. He is centred on most of the plays events. Throughout the

Language Variation and Change in Sultanate of Oman Free Essays

Language Variation and Change in Sultanate of Oman Macro-Sociolinguistics Parsa Khan Student ID # 35700-1095 Arabic, the sixth largest spoken language in the world, which consists of 186,000,000 speakers around the globe and being the central language of the Middle East, is one of the most significant languages in this century. Sultanate of Oman which is an Arab nation and its national language is standard Arabic may not make up much of those 186,000,000 speakers but it surely has and maintains an essential part in the Arabic language. In this paper I will be discussing language variation change in Oman, focusing on Gender, Social Class and Religion. We will write a custom essay sample on Language Variation and Change in Sultanate of Oman or any similar topic only for you Order Now I will be especially look at the change in the use of vocabulary, dialects and tone used by the people of Oman. The Sultanate of Oman which is located on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula and has borders with UAE, Saudi Arabia and Yemen is one of the biggest countries in Middle East in terms of its land area. The reason I’m selecting this country as my main focus is because I have lived there for almost 18 years and thus I’ve had the opportunity to closely interact with its people and language. The Sultanate of Oman has a very rich culture and follows the monarchy ruling approach. The first king was His highness Said Al Said and later on and till date his son, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. In the early days, Oman was ruled by the Portuguese and then later on by the British. These two ruling parties left a huge impact on many aspects of the country, including language. Addition to that during the 19th century Oman took a lot of influence from East Africa, which included Tanzania and Kenya. Poole (2006) said † These links between East Africa and Oman are evident today African features of some Omanis and in the use of Swahili in the Sultanate, particularly among ‘Zanzibari Omanis’, who may have been born in East Africa or else can trace their family history to that region. † This influence leads to the addition of more languages in Oman and the main one being Swahili. Other languages which are spoken all around Oman are Baluchi and Farsi and English which is also the official second language of the country. English has official approval as the second language of Oman † Poole (2006). As a result, different varieties of Arabic and different languages are spoken all around the country. Even though Oman has a low population rate compared to other Middle Eastern countries, it has number of regions in the country; Governate of Muscat, Dhakliya, Sharkiya, Wusta, Dhofar (salalah), Batinah (Sohar) and Mussandam. Muscat being the capital of the count ry has a cosmopolitan society which means that all types of Arabic varieties are spoken there, including Hindi as well. As the Indian Ocean is attached, Oman took a lot of influence from India and many local Omanis understand Hindi. [â€Å"Indian varieties of English used in Oman often exhibit the lilting intonation patterns sometimes labeled ‘Bombay Welsh†] Poole (2006). The other main region which is the Dhofar region has taken the Yemeni Arabic influence because Yemen’s border touches the dhofar region. There is another rare dialect which exist, called the Jabali which is spoken by the people living in the mountains and â€Å"speak a variety of unique South Arabian languages that are not mutually intelligible with modern Arabic. Minority groups speak Arabic† (Anonymous). There are number of varieties which exist in the Arabic language especially in Oman but the two chief divisions of Arabic are Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic. Classical Arabic is the old Arabic, which originates from the holy book, Quran. While modern standard Arabic on the other hand is used in the current era in various domains such as home and work place and media as well. This paper will be focusing more on Modern Standard Arabic in Oman. Initially when the first king was ruling the country, Oman was not able to mark its existence strongly due to the methods the king had adopted. Few people really recognized Oman as a country and the people of Oman and the economy of Oman were not able to grow at the same level as rest of the Middle East. It was just recently when the present king took the throne; Oman was able to grow in various ways. Out of many factors which were developed immensely, I personally believe education was given the most importance by the current Sultan. At the moment Oman is ranked 126th out of 183 countries for having a literacy rate of 81. 4%. For instance there was a time when there were only two schools which were controlled by the expatriates but now Oman has number of government and private schools and universities and one huge well reputed university-Sultan Qaboos University which is funded by the Sultan. The reason I mention this fact is that I believe education plays a very important role when it comes to being fluent at any language be it even the mother tongue. In addition to that, it supports my first main sub topic which is gender. Gender is defined is a variety of characteristics used to differentiate between  males and  females, and to sign the  masculine  and  feminine  attributes. Linking gender and Arabic will lead to other variables such as education and age which I will be discussing below. In the whole of Middle East, we can clearly see that men are usually more dominant in many aspects. However in recent times we can see a change in how women are treated and given more importance. In the case of Oman, one can see this change clearly. By promoting education, the sultan not only allowed girls to attend school but also offered them jobs in the government. This change has definitely influenced Oman as the literacy rate of women aged 15-24 in Oman rose from 75% in 1990 to 97% in 2005. (Reem Bassiouney,2009). Also currently Oman has the highest number of women ministers compared to other Arab countries. All around the word all languages have certain words which are only used on a specific gender, for example in Arabic if you want to address someone by saying â€Å"you†, we would say â€Å"inta† for a man and â€Å"inti† for a woman. Thus this establishes a difference between the two genders and the language differences that exist. In Oman, women are generally expected and seen in the household, doing regular chores and taking care of the kids. Girls are less likely to be found using slang or even vulgar ways of speaking unlike boys and especially younger adolescents. When Oman was underdeveloped and there was no sign of literacy, these women would just interact with their family members and learn whatever is being taught to them. Now things have changed and women talk and work freely. This has brought some significant changes in language use in Oman. For instance, if we compare two women from the same tribe but one is educated and lives in the city while the other still lives in the village, we will see that the tone and the words both of them use will be different. Example: the woman from the tribe would greet another lady with a long hello which will be â€Å"Asalam le kum wa rahmat ul wa bara kato† in a high pitch, while the other lady will have more of a mellow tone and greet with just â€Å"Asalam le kum†. This might not always be the case, but as far as what I have observed this is what is happening these days. Commonly women in Oman who have not been provided with formal education are likely to speak in a higher tone and perhaps use vernacular vocabulary. The men in Oman are considered to be very kind and generous in behavior. However depending to whom they are communicating, they will use certain words and even change their accent. If a group of friends are talking they will use a lot more slang, regardless of what age group they belong to but if they are talking to their elders we will see that they would use prestigious dialects and make it formal as much as possible which is the similar case in women as well. Back in the days, men would interact in a more strong tone with harsh words which in today’s modern Oman it might be considered as rude as well but this was just a way of expressing the masculine side and power of the man. Jones and Ridout (2005) found † [Of equal importance in the discussion of recent developments that follows below is what Fredrik Earth characterizes as Omani male society’s powerfully internalised â€Å"ideology of politeness,†4 which turns out to be more than just a matter of superficial grace and elegance, but integral to a sense of social identity†] The next topic we will be focusing on is social class. In Oman ones identity and from where which tribe or family one belongs to, has tremendous importance for the people. Omanis do not have the caste system but have a hierarchy of families, which divides people and as a result shows where they belong socially. The top of the hierarchy we have the Saids, which come directly from the Sultans family. Under them we have the Al Busaidis and so on. In Oman a person’s social status is judged by identifying which tribal family one belongs to. The use of language in these different tribes only starts varying if we keep going down in hierarchy. The group belonging on the top uses the prestigious Arabic consisting of modern standard Arabic, while the lower class would use the Bedouin Arabic. Aside from Arabic, we will focus more on English under this topic. As mentioned above, English has been made the second official language of Oman after Arabic due to various reasons which is one of the main language change we can see in this society. Even though I have observed, most omanis including the youth are not able to speak English fluently. Speaking English in Oman, reflects your social standing and education level, so if one speaks English fluently he or she is considered to be from the upper class. As (jabour,.. ) found English language is associated with many stereotypes and issues. Social status and levels are also associated with learning English. Wealthy people take advantage of their high status in most aspects of life whether in employment or education. Many wealthy people may have lower score on their national exams, but may still get access to higher educational opportunities and in turn develop better English skills by virtue of their class standing. From the above findings we can clearly see that English in the omani society has a lot of importance as it is connected with one being educated, getting a better job and just generally being respected in the society. Islam is the official religion of Oman and most of the population consists of Ibadhis followed by Sunnis and the Shias. According to US department of state † Non-Ibadhi and non-Sunni religious communities individually constitute less than 5 percent of the population and include various groups of Shiite Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Christians† (Oman, International Religious Report,2007). As known the language used in Islam is Classical Arabic in holy book of Quran and hadiths and thus even regional ceremonies and prayer classical Arabic used. According to Reem Bassiouney, In Arab countries, religion is not seen as an individual’s personal choice but more as person’s identity and â€Å"family affilation†. 2009). Thus we will not see a huge change or variation in religion in Oman. Addition one other main reason is that unlike other religions such as Hinduism or Christianity which have different holy books, Islam only follows one book since the origin of the religion and till now. This gives less chance for the language used in religion to change. Having said tha t, we can still point out minor details the three Islamic groups have. As Hoffman (2004) found â€Å"Ibadhi Muslims complain that although they read the literature of all sects, non-Ibadis hardly ever look at Ibadhi literature†. This shows that even though this group has their own work, not many people are aware of it and thus the new generation just follows and reads what the sunnis and shites have provided which leads to less variation between language use. According to western thinking, Islamic women are suppose be covered at all times and just working at home at all times. Addition that it is also interpreted that Islam does not have any women right and that they are always under mens authority. To change such concepts from the peoples mind and show them the true role and Islamic women has, many educated Omani women wanted to take the advantage of knowing English language to tell and explain the other societies what they do not know about them. They would like to share why they believe in Islam and what they see as the real message behind the religion. They expressed concern over how the media is delivering a distorted picture of Islam and over the lack of awareness about the prophet Mohamed, his life, and his morals. Jabur,2008) In conclusion I think that there has been number of language changes in Oman in many aspects. In Arabic itself and the use of English language all over the country is the main change one can notice in this society. Oman as a country is very much stable, compared to other Middle Eastern countries and is developing in various ways which gives the people of Oman the opportunity to learn and diversify themselves more. The importance of education in this country will surely make Oman stand out and this shows the beginning of a successful nation. However we can say that this is just the beginning and in future we are likely to see more language changes in this society due to more exposure the people will get and the recent boom in tourism. More influences from different societies will occur and Oman will be an impressive cosmopolitan society. As I was conducting my research on this paper I also realized that not many research and studies have been performed on Oman, which indirectly shows that a lot more is yet to be discovered and can be learned from this nation. I expect that the English language will be the dominate language in Oman within a few decades. Sadly to say, the Arabic language might lose its users, its elegance, and its influence on the Arabic culture and individuals, but English might help them in overcoming their obstacles and constraints. (Jabour,2008). This last statement leaves the reader with a thought provoking feeling that maybe the country which is known to keep its tradition and values intact is losing its official language while on the quest of developing as and educated society. On a personal note I disagree as living in this society I strongly believe that Omanis, no matter how educated or modern they get will always remember their mother tongue and How to cite Language Variation and Change in Sultanate of Oman, Essay examples