Dictation

A Word is dead

The title of the poem creates expectations in the reader because you do not generally use the adjective dead to refer to a word. “Dead” implies something was alive before dying. Therefore, the intelligent reader tries to understand the reason of the adjective “dead” and its meaning in the title.

The structure of the poem consists of 6 lines arranged into two tercets so that the reader tries to find out the reason of such pattern. As a result he or she must read the poem and understand what it is about.

The first tercet says that when somebody says a word it dies. This is the opinion of “some say”.

In the second tercet the speaking voice changes: somebody called “I say” says exactly the opposite. According to that opinion, when a word Is said, “It just begins to live that day”.

The structure of the poem is suitable to content because the text expresses two different opinions: they are just apposed by contrast. Contrast is therefore the most important device exploited by the poetess to make meaning. First of all, contrast is conveyed by the choice of the passive form (“it is said”) in the first tercet and the active form (“I say”) in the second one. In addition, in the first stanza the opinion of common unidentified people is expressed. In the second stanza, the opinion expressed is clear: it is one of a definite, precise person.

Contrast is also underlined by the different subject position. Semantic contrast adds to meaning as well: suffice it to say that dead comes from to die, which implies death, the opposite of to live, recalling life. The choice highlights the concept of difference and contrast once and again.

In conclusion, you can say contrast is structural and structuring as well. The real message is clearly on of the poetess or the poet both of them believing in the life and energy of words. If it weren’t so the existence of poetry would mean nothing since both poetry and words create communication that is to put something in common.

No words- no communication!

Animal-rights activist

You will hear an interview with an animal-rights activist calle Rachel Brooks, who is answering questions about animal-rights.

Interviewer:      Hello and welcome back to our week-long special dedicated to Nature and the Environment.

We are here with our guest, animal-rights activist Rachel Brooks. So, Rachel, what does it mean to be an animal-rights activist?

Rachel:             An animal-rights activist is basically someone who is dedicated to protect animal rights. We feel that animals have rights too and in a lot of cases they, the animals are being abused or used improperly

I:                      What do you mean by abused animals?

R                      Most people’s ideas of abused animals are those being hunted o killed in the wild illegally or legally, but abused animals can be much closer to home The most common accurancies  involve owners heating their pets, or animals being used in laboratories for experiments. I would describe abused animals as any animal isn’t leaving a normal peaceful life