This is the last posting that I supposed to do in the end of the semester. This time my partner again is Ziela. This last assessment requires us to summary up the article “Beyond concordance lines: Using concordances to investigate language development in page 70-79”. Besides, another job that we need to do is searching the internet by finding articles and publications on the applications of concordance.

In this article, we find out some concordance software such as Wordsmith, MonoConc Pro and Microconcord. These software help in the tedious task of analyzing language data and greatly extend the potential of a corpus in language pedagogy. Corpora often help to inform on how words and grammatical constructions are used. The benefit of using a corpus in language is helping student to look at the systematicity of language as an interesting linguistic puzzle, rather than a set of boring rules to be memorized(Schmitt. 2002 :34). The new software such as “Range” has provided an additional perspective to corpus studies (Nation, 2002). The Emas corpus is an untagged and unedited learner corpus that contains written data in the form of 3 essays written by about 800 students.

Productivity in this article is indicated by the number of sentences per essay and the words per sentence, where as the range of vocabulary used in a corpus often determined by calculating the type of token ratio (Schmitt, 2002). This ratio is calculated by dividing the number of separate words in a text (type) by the number of words in the text (token) (Laufer and Nation.1995). Specialized software such as Range (Nation, 2002) is a vocabulary analysis program, which gives an indication of the kind of vocabulary used.

As a conclusion, although the concordance software can be used to analyze the language data available, but maybe its still easily disturbed by the huge amount of data available. The corpus data can be analyzed to inform language educators of language development.

Good translators are generally viewed as having at least the following three competencies: a solid understanding of the subject matter treated in the source text; an excellent command of the target language (usually the translator’s native language); and a good knowledge of the source language (usually a foreign language) (Sykes 1989: 35-39). In this study, we will consider only the first two of these skills (i.e. subject-field understanding and native-language competence), with a view to identifying the potential of a specialized monolingual native-language corpus as a resource for helping translators to improve these skills.

Two modes of use are envisaged for this software: trainer access to prepare materials, and direct trainee access. As an example of how such an approach can work, an account will be given of some material developed by the first author of this paper. The occasion was not a translation class, but a group consisting of a number of Greek Postgraduate research students, for whom the author was conducting a writing seminar. The students were all writing up research into 19th and 20th century Greek literary figures, and one problem was the extent of interference from Greek in the English of the students, and in the English of their arguments and hypotheses. One problem was that the students sometimes appeared to be over asserting their claims.

A search was conducted on would in A Brief History of Time and the Greek translation. The interleaved sentences, consisting of some 70 pairs, were reduced to some 30 or so by editing out all those where would corresponded to a Greek conditional form. The others were then printed out, and presented for discussion. Concordance is “economical in terms of time to implement because it requires only a program plus a text base” (Stevens 1990:5, cited in Stevens 1995).

Example:

A parallel French-English concordance on “pour” using an extract from Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

These kinds of words are translated for original French text to English text. With concordance translation software, readers are more easy to get the actual meaning.

THE SAMPLE OF ARTICLE ABOUT TRANSLATION

1. http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/1998/v43/n4/002134ar.html

Concordance is a method of displaying sentences or phrases that contain similar or identical words or expressions, to be able to copy and paste them in the translation. Concordance is an option provided in a computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool. A computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool rests on two steps –segmentation and translation memory (TM)– to boost the productivity of a translator. It also offers other terminology functions: concordance, glossaries, context search, reference search, terminology management, quality control, etc. Computer-assisted translation (CAT) is different from machine translation (MT). In computer-assisted translation, the computer program supports the translator, who translates the text himself. In machine translation, the computer program translates the text, with no human intervention during the translation process. More information refers to website: http://www.etudes-francaises.net/dossiers/translation.htm.

Another concordance is known as the Simple Concordance Program (SCP). Written by Alan Reed, this program is available free of charge. This program lets you create word lists and search natural language text files for words, phrases, and patterns. SCP is a concordance and word listing program that is able to read texts written in many languages. There are built-in alphabets for English, French, German, Greek, Russian, etc. SCP contains an alphabet editor which you can use to create alphabets for any other language. “Students could not see why the concordances could not be prepared in advance and handed out in class. This would allow more time for what they saw as more useful activities, essential practice of translation and summary” (Whistle 1999:77).

Example of concordances website that we can used for words translation to other languages

1. http://www.wordtheque.com

2. http://xml.coverpages.org/kingCreatingConcordancer.html

3. http://www.transgood.com/innovative.htm

As a conclusion, for all levels of language proficiency, one bonus to be had out of concordance is further development of electronic search skills, for example, transferable skills. In this module we have given an introduction to concordance as it is known now and with present technology – mainly in educational contexts, but increasingly web-sites run by publishers, newspapers, television stations and organizations of all kinds provide visitors with search forms.

    

Blogging activities do help me improve our writing skill because I can apply what I have learnt from the written communication course to these activities. I can apply what I have learnt from written course such as writing a good and coherence paragraph. I have to write one paragraph to another paragraph, and I need to make sure the paragraph that I have done was having the idea that I supposed to give. Apart from this, as I write the posting, I have to using word processing software; it does help me in my writing skill. For example, it does help me to correct the mistake that I have made through writing the posting.      

        I think blogger can be useful experience for me because as I graduate from UKM, I may have to apply these skills that I have learnt. For example, I may have to design my blogger and putting all the information, where people can get the information and know more about me. People would have get information easily without going out to meet. Hence, they can save more time, and I have got lots of time to complete my job.     

        Before I can complete the blogging activity successfully, I would have to know what should do and how to do the task that have been given. I need to identify what actually the task is about and gets idea from lecturer and course mates too. I feel very lucky because I get help from my fellow course mates and lecturer as well to work on my posting task. Without their help, I would not complete the blogging activities so successfully. Although there are some part of the task that missing out in my blogging activities, but I try to complete it and do my best to mend it. 

         The problem that I face using the blog is does not know how to put the music into the word press. But after one of my course mates, Min Guan explains to me the procedure to put the music in it and now I know how to do it. Besides, another problem that I facing was did my third posting. As I went to PTSL, I could hardly found the information that I supposed to find. After that, I get some information about the task from my course mate, Hei Ling. She explains to me what actually should post in this third posting, so that I would not do wrong to my posting. Hence, I’m very grateful to have such good course mates.   

         I will recommend to my friends because it is a very good practice as we can design our website as creative as we can. Besides, having this website can help us to keep contact with one another. From my experience, I have learnt up so many things that I have not learnt before. Frankly said, first I do not even know what the blogger is, and what to do with blogger. But, after taking up this course, I feel very happy with this ICT course and the lecturer, who has been always give me advice about the blogging task. I now already learnt up the skills for upload the information about the task, which have been given, put the music in the blogger or word press and picture as well. I also learnt up how to design properly for my website.    

        Yes, I will continue using it even after the SKBP is over; I still can use it as one of my ‘contract place’ to all my lecturer, course mates and friends. So, we would not lost contact even after we graduate. We still can post the information about ourselves and decorate the web site beautifully. I hope that all my course mates will willing to continue work on it, so that it would become one special “place” for us to share our feeling or information about ourselves in the online blog. That is what I hope, and never forget to thanks my lecturers, both Pn. Zaini and Prof. Madya Datin Dr. Norizan Abdul Razak for giving the lectures, advice and comment to me.

   THE IMPACT OF ICT FOR BUSINESS

I have chosen this title as my third posting. As we know that we are now living in this globalization world with high technology, and this advance technology had helps in many aspect in our lives. The one of the aspect that ICT has given great impact is in the business sector. ICT, particularly the internet, become very important sources in dealing business. Any kind of business can be done via the internet. We cannot deny the important of internet in our lives. Business transaction can be done easily through the internet. For example, the seller can do him or her business by putting the information of products or services in the wed site, so that everybody around this world can know what kind of products are selling now.    

       The usage of ICT is defined as the experience of using e-mail, Internet service, video conferencing and videophone for either business or personal purposes. The results show that the use of ICT generates additional time use for out-of-home recreation activities and travel and increases trip-making propensity. Online and offline integration is regarded as the most innovative way forward for hybrid marketing and consumer purchasing.

       E-business has moving towards maturity, research interests shift to be investigation of opportunities for market exploitation of e-business technologies. E-commerce is therefore a sub-category of e-business. The characteristic feature of e-business applications is the complexity due to the large number of factors that have to be taken into consideration and aligned with regard to the products and services offered, the business processes used, the organization and the information technology applied. Both researches and practitioners state, that the alignment between IT and the competitive strategy of the business is paramount.       

       In the past, e-commerce transactions were conducted primarily using desktop computer. Today, many mobile computers and devices, such as PDAs and smart phones, can help access the web wirelessly. Some people use the term m-commerce (mobile commerce) to identify e-commerce that takes place using mobile devices. There are three different types of e-commerce. Those types are business-to-consumer, consumer-to-consumer, and business-to-business. Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce consists of the sale of goods and services to the general public. For example, Dell has B2C Web site. Instead of visiting a computer store to purchase a computer, customers can order one that meets their specifications directly from Dell Web site.

There are some references and resources that can be find on the following:

1.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V8J-44X0560-1&_user=150792&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2002&_alid=709790252&_rdoc=14&_fmt=full&_orig=search&_cdi=5872&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=15&_acct=C000012458&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=150792&md5=f3bbd494c8c06d2a1fcc756d41168bb2 

2.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V9T-49W24TJ-C&_user=150792&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F2003&_alid=709790252&_rdoc=12&_fmt=full&_orig=search&_cdi=5907&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=15&_acct=C000012458&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=150792&md5=37d29b12ce4ae8682dd4657c58577947#toc3  

3.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6V7X-4NP3P4G-1-1&_cdi=5854&_user=150792&_orig=search&_coverDate=08%2F31%2F2007&_sk=999669993&view=c&wchp=dGLbVzz-zSkzk&md5=bb61d5f155c8c3f398b323cba4e95dfd&ie=/sdarticle.pdf 

4,.http://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/pdf?vid=3&hid=9&sid=43f09944-2c3e-4e5f-bc84-02ebe317985e%40sessionmgr8

 5.www.scorpus.com.url-Library Hi Tech 25(2), pp 231-245-Wireless Personal Communications pp 1-15-ACM International Conferences Proceeding Series 258, pp.97-100 

6. Gary B.Shelly. Thomas J.Cashman.  Misty E.Vermaat.2007. Discovering Computers 2007.(pg.91-92)  

       As a conclusion, the impact of ICT make a big changes towards the business, with the advance technology, any business transaction can be done via the internet. Besides, any bills also can be pay via the online banking. The advance of ICT helps us to deal with many other things beside business.  

   COMPUTER ASSISTED WRITING

Research has found that most teachers are concerned with the final product of writing, but have little understanding of the process that successful writers use in creating that product ( Hansen, 1987; Harste et al., 1988). 

Word processor can become the centerpiece for an effective writing curriculum, encouraging early language production and providing students with opportunities to connect reading and writing. When integrating advanced technology into any curriculum, the teacher must always be aware that it cannot “eliminate” problems. But with instruction and support from the teacher and peers, most students can experience success in writing through the use of a word processor (Bright, 1990).      

 The word processor was designed for revising and manipulating language. For inexperienced writers (who tend to make corrections at the word level), proofreading is easier on the computer. As writers become more experienced, they tend to make more complex changes. These “reorganizational” changes involve moving sentences and paragraphs around, reorganizing whole sections of articles, inserting new materials, and discarding writing that no longer fits or serves.We can find the URL address that related to computer assisted writing on the following:

1.http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d97.html    

  Newman (1984) discusses two important issues: the first is the relationship of recent research on learning to write to word processing. Newman says writing improves more “by experimenting with many aspects of the process at the same time” than by mastering separate skills and blending them. Word processing allows rapid alteration and manipulation of the text, helping writers sustain the mental images they are trying to capture while experimenting with language. The search/replace capability encourages synonym substitution, and the immediate access to a clean copy stimulates further language play.      

Newman’s second point is that there is a difference between using computers for drill and practice and using them for word processing. With drill and practice software, the computer is in charge–this software tells the user what to do and controls what is learned. With word processing, however, it is the learner who exerts control both in using the computer and learning to write.    

 From Newman’s saying, we know that word processor helps us in our process writing when we using computer. Besides, we learnt the writing error, which we commonly made while we did not realize it. But with the word processor software, we leant what cause s the problems sentences, phrases or minor error or punctuation.The word processor software that we can find on the following URL:

1.http://librenix.com/?inode=511 

2.http://www.abisource.com/ 

3.http://www.atlantiswordprocessor.com/en/  

Another software that we use in computerize writing is the electronic mail software. The electronic mail helps us to deal with people by sending email via internet to every one in this world. This electronic software also helps us to keep contact with our family, friends or spouses anytime. We can pass the messages easily for them by just using computer.Accordind to Wikipedia, E-mail, short for electronic mail and often abbreviated to e-mail, email or simply mail, is a store and forward method of composing, sending, storing, and receiving messages over electronic communication systems.  These are the URL, where helps us to find out the electronic mail software.

1.http://www.glocksoft.com/em/

2.http://www.streamsend.com/html_email.html  

The word processor software and the electronic mail software help us in our process of writing. Besides, the word processor helps us in correcting our mistake of sentences or phrases. Where as the electronic mail software helps us in sending the information within a short time and save the time and money. Hence, these software become a great contribution for us. 

Besides,we can find out the website that can help us in our writing, such as the following URL.

1.http://www.blogger.com

2.http://www.wordpress.com

Some activities that can help me improve my writing skills are do the forum, using blogger or wordpress, using chat room. These kind of activties can help me prove my writing skills through out the time. For example, using wordpress. As I do my posting, I need to make sure that the answer that I post it is no mistake, or less mistake. As i post it in wordpress, I used the word processing software, which helps me to correct the mistake, such as verb tenses, sentence structure, and so on. Hence, I believe that my writing skill will improve over time. 

As a conclusion, these are the website that enable us to post the information and images or even doing assignment. Using these website, can also help us to improve our writing skills. By submit our work through website, we use the word processor to correct our spelling, sentence structure and phrases structure. 

This web blog helps me to deal with my ICT and Language courses. The introduction of web blog has enabled me to know how the ICT is related to the languages. 

My plan is to write more about the needs of my ICT language COURSES and decorated my blog as creative as i  can.