Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Analysis of Pronunciation Teaching and Remedial Proposals

Pronunciation and spelling are fundamental to verbal communication. Sounds and letters form the surface of oral and written language. Often, pronunciation receives little attention. Few people notice the pronunciation mistakes of politicians, TV contestants, neighbors, or even ourselves, though these may be more serious than misspellings.

In schools, pronunciation is often treated as a minor issue, except in second language instruction. Students are assumed to have mastered sounds by the time they reach middle school, learning through natural language acquisition. Consequently, few pronunciation practices are linked to literacy. Pronunciation is typically addressed only in the early grades.... Continue reading "Improving Spanish Pronunciation: Classroom Analysis and Remedial Strategies" »

Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations and Division of Labor

Adam Smith's work surged in the 18th and 19th centuries. His seminal work, *The Wealth of Nations* (1776), explored the division of labor and its impact on society. Karl Marx drew from Smith, recognizing that specialization increases productivity but also simplifies the complexity of work, potentially leading to worker alienation. Smith was concerned about the inequality of work and argued that the state must intervene to prevent workers from reaching exclusion or self-marginalization.

Max Weber: Alienation, Legitimacy, and Ideal Types

Max Weber was aware of Marx and Smith but held different ideological views. He believed that alienation is a characteristic symptom of progress in modern societies.... Continue reading "Adam Smith, Max Weber, Webb: Key Thinkers on Labor & Society" »

Varieties of Spanish

Northern Range

Hablaba is in the eleventh century, there were two: Navarroaragones and Asturias-Leon.

Southern Varieties

Dialects are: Andalusia, Extremadura, Murcia, Canary Islands.

• Lisp
• Yeismo
• Aspiration of the 's'
• Loss of 'd' between vowels
• Alternation 'l' and 'r'

Bilingual Communities

Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Valencia, Galicia, Basque Country, and parts of Navarre.

Spanish in America

• Phonics: Lisp, yeismo, aspiration of the 's', alternating 'l' and 'r'
• Morphosyntactic: Voseo disappears and you and your substitute for you, diminutives, adverbialization of adjectives
• Lexicons: Accept Spanish words, palabras Indias (Indian words), they use old words of Spanish, using neologisms

Castilian Origin

This is a Romance language, it has its... Continue reading "Spanish Language: Origins, Dialects, and Evolution" »

The Habsburg Political Model and Union of Kingdoms

The Habsburg monarchy was a multinational monarchy that developed the model established by the Catholic Monarchs (RRCC): an authoritarian monarchy with a growing concentration of power.

Organs of Government: The Polysynodial System

The Habsburgs ruled directly but delegated authority of major or minor validity, leading to growing centralization and bureaucracy. This system of government is known as Polysynodial.

Key Institutions and Roles

• The Monarch: The center of all power, supported by the Court.
• The Councils (Consejos): Central to the Polysynodial system.
• The Secretaries: Links between the King and the Councils, holding significant power.
• The Viceroys: The King's personal representatives in non-

Spain is a country rich in linguistic diversity, home to several co-official and protected minority languages. Beyond Spanish, these languages represent a significant part of the nation's cultural heritage. This document provides an insight into the status and characteristics of some of these unique linguistic traditions.

The Catalan Language

Spoken by approximately seven million people, most of whom are bilingual, Catalan is primarily used in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia (where it is known as Valencian), and surrounding areas. Outside of Spain, it is also spoken in Andorra, French Roussillon, and Alghero (Sardinia). Notably, in Andorra, Catalan is the sole official language.

Catalan boasts a rich literary tradition dating back to... Continue reading "Spain's Linguistic Heritage: Understanding Minority Languages" »

Understanding Contingency Leadership Theories

Contingency theories aim to identify variables or contingent situations that make one leadership style more appropriate than another. Effective leadership requires more than just business instinct; it demands an understanding of various factors within an organization and the ability to adapt one's approach accordingly. Several prominent models exist within this framework.

Fiedler's Contingency Model

Fiedler's model identifies three key situational factors that determine leadership effectiveness:

• Leader-Member Relations: This indicates the degree of trust, security, and respect subordinates have for their leader.
• Task Structure: This refers to the degree to which work assignments are systematized and

The 1812 Constitution of Cadiz

The Constitution of Cadiz was the first liberal constitution of Spain. It limited the power of the monarch and recognized the Cortes as the repository of national sovereignty. It established the rights and freedoms of citizens and was fundamental for the future introduction of liberal government in Spain. It was enacted in 1812.

Mendizabal and the Sale of Church Lands

The disentailment (the sale) represented the initial steps of the Liberal government led by Mendizabal. These measures aimed to counteract religious power and find a solution to the economic crisis in Spain. Church lands were confiscated and put up for tender so that the peasantry could potentially own property.

Carlists and Liberals

The Carlists supported... Continue reading "Spanish Liberalism and 19th-Century Labor Movements" »

Anarchism: A Dominant Force in Spain

Anarchism was the mainstream ideology in Spain during this period. The Federation of Workers of the Spanish Region (FTRE) was founded in 1881, with Anselmo Lorenzo as a prominent figure. The new federation augmented its membership and developed significant union activism and demands.

Internal disagreements and the continuing repression of the worker and peasant movement led a part of anarchism to choose "direct action," i.e., the revolutionary or violent strike and attack against the ruling classes. Anarchism was accused of being behind the Black Hand. The authorities' forceful response only fueled a cycle of actions. The defining moment of this spiral was the Montjuïc Trials. Direct action allowed the ruling... Continue reading "Political and Social Ideologies in Late 19th Century Spain" »

The Spanish Constitution of 1876

The Constitution of 1876 demonstrated a doctrinaire liberalism characterized by census suffrage and shared sovereignty between the Cortes and the King. It was conservative in nature and inspired by the traditional historical values of the monarchy, religion, and property.

The constitution regarded the monarchy as a superior institution and a moderating power, acting as an arbiter in political life to ensure stability. Consequently, it established shared sovereignty and granted extensive powers to the monarch.

The Cortes were bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the Congress of Deputies. While the constitution did not initially fix the type of voting, the law of 1878 established census suffrage, which was later... Continue reading "Spanish Constitution of 1876 and the Restoration System" »

Organizational Metaphors: Definitions & Examples

• Organizations as Machines: This metaphor refers to an organization designed to operate mechanically. The organization is considered static, like a closed system. It assumes that the behavior of workers can be matched to the operation of machine components.
• Organizations as Organisms: This metaphor refers to an organization designed to adapt to the environment. Organizations are born, grow, decline, and die in variable or changing environments.
• Organizations as Cultures: This metaphor refers to an organization that emphasizes a particular corporate culture. Ideas, values, norms, rituals, and beliefs are dominant.
• Organizations as Brains: This metaphor refers to fractal organizations based on teamwork