Kirjahaku

English in the World: History, Diversity, Change examines the English language as it has developed through history and is used across the globe today. The first half of the book outlines the history of the language from its fifth-century roots through its development as a national, a colonial, and now a global language. In the second half, the focus shifts to the diversity of the language today.The book explores varieties of English across the English-speaking world, as well as English-related varieties such as pidgins and creoles. It also examines complex processes of variation, hybridity and change in English, and in the shifting styles of individual speakers. Throughout, the focus is on the international nature of English and its use alongside other languages in a diverse range of communities.Drawing on the latest research and The Open University’s wide experience of writing accessible and innovative texts, this book:explains basic concepts and assumes no previous study of English or linguisticscontains a range of source material and commissioned readings to supplement chaptersincludes contributions from leading experts in their fields including Joan Beal, Suresh Canagarajah, David Crystal, Jonathan Hope, Kay McCormick, Miriam Meyerhoff, Rajend Mesthrie, Robert Podesva and Jennifer Smithhas a truly international scope, encompassing examples and case studies from the UK and North America, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Asia, and Africais illustrated in full colour to bring the fascinating study of the English language aliveincludes a comprehensive index as well as useful appendices showing the historical timeline of English and a brief introduction to the description of linguistic featuresEnglish in the World: History, Diversity, Change is essential reading for all students of English language studies.

Modern technology has changed the way we live, work, play, communicate, fight, love, and die. Yet few works have systematically explored these changes in light of their implications for individual and social welfare. How can we conceptualize and evaluate the influence of technology on human well-being? Bringing together scholars from a cross-section of disciplines, this volume combines an empirical investigation of technology and its social, psychological, and political effects, and a philosophical analysis and evaluation of the implications of such effects.

Modern technology has changed the way we live, work, play, communicate, fight, love, and die. Yet few works have systematically explored these changes in light of their implications for individual and social welfare. How can we conceptualize and evaluate the influence of technology on human well-being? Bringing together scholars from a cross-section of disciplines, this volume combines an empirical investigation of technology and its social, psychological, and political effects, and a philosophical analysis and evaluation of the implications of such effects.

Learn effective ways to assess and evaluate reference services in YOUR libraryInnovation and the constant evolution of technology continually spur academic librarians to find superior ways to deliver high quality reference service to students, faculty, and researchers. Reference Assessment and Evaluation offers librarians and administrators a plethora of fresh ideas and methods to effectively assess and evaluate reference service in any academic library. Leading experts share their own best practices in delivering digital reference, training staff and student workers, and providing instruction through case studies from academic libraries of all sizes. Because of fiscal pressures, the need to attract the best and brightest students and faculty to the academy, and increased competition from Internet search engines, the evaluation and assessment of reference service remains one of the most important challenges for academic libraries. Reference Assessment and Evaluation provides practical tips and clear examples on assessing and evaluating several diverse aspects of reference services. This book discusses in detail case studies from various colleges and universities on wide-ranging issues such as virtual reference evaluation, merging reference desks, peer evaluations, library instruction, and staff development. Academic libraries of all types will find opportunities to modify these innovative ideas to remain at the forefront of reference service.Topics in Reference Assessment and Evaluation include: a case study of the library at the University of Colorado at Boulder’s efforts to implement a drop-in research consultation program for students enrolled in the introductory writing course coordination of an annual professional development program for specialized instruction targeted at faculty and staff members at Colorado State University peer observation between the reference staff members of Augustana College Library and St. Ambrose University Library the merging of San Jose State University’s government publication desk with the reference services deskalong with the public library’s reference desk Valparaiso University’s main library’s training and use of student assistants analyzing user and librarian satisfaction within virtual reference transactions evaluation of the University of South Alabama’s Baugh Biomedical Library’s chat reference service evaluation of the University of Texas at Arlington’s virtual reference service library technology’s impact on reference desk statistics statistical analysis of reference desk data for staffing needs at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Reference Assessment and Evaluation is timely, important reading for academic references librarians and supervisors.