The American Dream

The "American Dream" is what almost everyone comes to America for.  So many people request citizenship in the US, and even risk their lives trying to cross the border all in hopes of becoming free and having this "dream."  So what exactly is this "American Dream?"  I would describe this dream as an opportunity.  Not everyone will succeed, but everyone is given the opportunity to try and fulfill what their passions are, and what they want to do in life.  This is the American Dream because not every country offers or can provide these opportunities that America can.

Many people think that with the American Dream comes wealth.  This is not necessarily true.  Most people don't set out to become wealthy, they set out to do what they love and the wealth is a nice bonus.  When you were a little kid and some would ask you what to do you want to be when you grow up, the answer was never, "Rich!"  Wealth to some would mean having lots of money.  Wealth to others means how rich they spent their life: How many lives they touched, how many relationships they made with friends, how many places they traveled, their wealth is measured in memories. That is the definition of wealth that I choose to go by, because at the end of the day money doesn't matter, it is who you surround yourself with.

A majority of the people in America would be classified in a middle-class living range. Neither wealthy nor poor.  It's sad to say that I think a lot of the poverty that goes on around us is ignored, or even looked down upon.  In high school it is all about keeping up appearances to make sure you fit in with the "cool kids."  If you're poor you don't want to show that side to any one.  People think about poverty being in third world countries and other places far away, when really it could be right down the street.  I think America and everyone else need to do a better job at fixing this and making people more aware.  All it takes is a simple donation of your old clothes that you'll never wear again, or giving some on the side of the road some crackers and water. 

The "American Dream" is very possible, especially when in America.  People need not to think that it is going to be easy after they get here to achieve this dream.  The "American Dream" is just an opportunity, you as an individual still need to work hard in order to succeed. 

Blog Post 12

#1:As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

Using the word "awoke" makes it sound as if he has just woken up on his own and wasn't startled.  The sentence doesn't flow from "uneasy dreams" into "he found himself..." it needs an and in there or some other word to make it sound better.

#2:Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.

The word "bug" is not as formal as the word insect so the connotations associated with it are more gross and broad.  One would say bug if they found it in the house or outside, and use insect when studying them.  Also when the word "changed" isn't as dramatic as some of its synonyms, it sounds gradual. 
#3:When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.

This sentence makes me think that Gregor was having nightmares and all of a sudden woke up.  The word "enormous" makes me think that the bug he has changed into is as big as he was.

#4:One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.

This sentence contains the most grammar and has a lot of breaks in it.  It makes the sentence long and exaggerated.  Saying "monstrous vermin" also confuses me as it is not as direct as saying bug or insect.  The way it is described, by saying "monstrous" makes me picture something scary, and as if the rest of the book will be scary as well.

How does the word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each affect meaning? Is one more effective than another? Why? What does this exercise bring up about the difficulty of reading translated texts? How do different translations effect the tone of the sentence?  

     At first glance, a comma here or a comma there, or using this word instead of that one might not mean much to someone.  When looked at more in depth, it can actually change the whole meaning of the sentence.  Word choice affects what the reader is going to picture about that particular scene.  Almost every word has multiple other words that mean the same thing by its definition.  What the translator has to look out for when picking the correct word to use is its connotation.  This is the feelings that are associated with each word.  For example,  the word carpet versus rug.  The word carpet is more formal and implies it is nicer and maybe more expensive.  The word rug sounds worn out and implies it may be older and rugged looking.  Picking these words influences not only the message the author is trying to get across, but also what the reader interprets it as.  

     There are definitely translations that are more effective than others, but only the original author can tell you which is right and which is wrong.  When translations are done, I think there are two things that need to be in place in order to get the most accurate translation as possible.  The translator needs to be more than fluent in each language.  He or she needs to know the culture and the way they live, not just what you can find out from a text book.  The second thing is that the author needs to be present when the translation is occurring.  This way if the translator is unsure if the word he or she picked is accurate the author will be right there to clarify.